The Springdale news., 1909-06-01

tent listening indifYerently 10
 IN" the chatter about the Heap of death" girl Jim waited in the lot outside, opening and shutting small leather bag which he had bought for her that day He was as blind to the picturesque outdoor life as she to her indoor surroundings. for he, too. had been with the circus since his earliest recollection.
 The grass inelosure where lie waited was shut in by circle of tents and wagons. The great red property vans were waiting to be loaded with the costumes and tackle which were coil stantly being brought from the big top. where the evening performance was HON going OH. The gay striped curtains at the rear of the tent were looped back to give air to the pantine musicians, who sat Just inside Through the opening q glimpse of the audience might be had, tier upon tier, flaming and shifting uneasily. Near the main tent stood the long low dressing top. with tue women performers slowed away in one end the ring horses in the center and the men performers in the other end
 4 temporary curtain was hung be tween the main and the dressing tent to shut out the curious mob that tried to peep in at the back lot for Il glimpse of things not to be seen in the ring.
 Colored streamers fastened to the roofs of the tents waved and hoated in the night air and beckoned to the townspeople on the other side to make haste to get their places forget their cares and be children again
 Over the tops of the tents the lurd light of the distant red fire shot into the sky. accompanied by the cries of the peanut 'sbutchers," the popcorn boys, the lemonade vendors and the l.exhurtations of the sideshow spieler, whose flying banners bore the painted reproductions of his freaks Here and lhe.e stood unhtched chariots, half filled trunks, trapeZe tackle, paper hoops, stake pqllers or other proper ties necessary 10 the show
 Torches tie med at the tent entrances. While oil lamps and lanterns gave light for the loading of the wagons
 There was constant stream of life shooting In and out from the dressing tent to the big top as gayly decked men, women and animals came or went.
 DroWsy dogs We're stretched under the wagons waiting their turn to be dressed as lions or bears The wise old goose with his modest gray mate pecked at the green grass or turned hls head from side to side, watching the singing clown. who rolled up the painted carcass and long neck of the Imitation giraffe from which two prop erty men had just slipped, their legs still incased ill stripes.
 Ambitious canvasmen and prooms Were exercising feet iH air. in the hope of some day getting Into the Der. formers ring. Property men stole minutes sleep In the soft warm grass while they waited for more tackle to load in the wagons Children of tho performers were swinging on the tent ropes Chattering monkeys sat astride the Shetland ponies, awaiting their en. trance to the ring. The shrieks of the hyenas in the distant animal tent the roaring of the Hons and the trumpet. ing of the elephants mingled with the incessant clamor of the band. And back of all this, pointing upward In mute protest. rose solemn church spire. white and majestic against vast panorama of blue moonlit hills that encircled the whole lurid picture. Jim's eyes turned absently toward the church as he sat fumbling with the lock of the little brown satchel.
 He had gone from store to store in the various towns where they had played looking for something to in. spire wonder In the heart of a miss newly arrived at her sixteenth year Only the desperation of last moment had forced him to decide upon the imt