Putnam patriot., 1909-05-21

IVlzt-1 14e AldGS IDI the audience ''sit up' when they swept into the ring. She
 4 was so young, so gayly clad, SC Iight and joyous in all her poses. She seemed scarcely to touch the back of tbe white horse as they dashed round the ring in the glare of the tent lights The other performers went through their work mechanically while Polly rode.
 As for Polly. her work had never lost it's first interest. Jim may have been right when he said that the spirit of the deaf mother had got into her but it must have been an unsatisfied spirit, unable to fulfill its ambition in fhe body that once held 1t. for it some times played strange pranks with Pol ". Tonight her eyes shone and her lips were parted in anticipation as she Ieaped lightly over the many colored streamers of the wheel of silken rib bons held by Barker in the center of the ring and by Toby and the tum- tlers on tEe edge of the bank
 With each change of her act the au. dience eheered and frantically applaud. ed The band played faster; BIngo's pace increased; the end of her turn was coming. The tumblers arranged themselves around the ring with pa- per hoops. Bingo was fairly racing. She went Slrough the first hoop with s crash of tearing paper.
 .Heigh. Bingo" she shouted as she bent her knees to make ready for the final leap.
 Bingos neck was stretched He had never gone so fast before. Barker looked uneasy Toby forgot to go on with his accustomed tricks. Jim watched anxiously from the entrance.
 The paper of one hoop was still left unbroken. The attendant turned his eyes to glance at the oncoming girl. The hoop shifted slightly In his clum- sy hand as Polly leaped straight up from Bingo's back, trusting to her first edge of the hoop. She clutehed wildly at the air. Bingo galloped on. and she fell to the ground. striking her head against the ironbound stake at the edge of the ring.
 Everything stopped. There was . gasp of horror The musicians drop ped their instruments. Bingo halted and looked back uneasily. She lay unconscious and seemingly lifeless.
 A great cry went up in the tent Panic stricken men, women and chil- dren began to chamber down from theif seats. while others nearest the ground attempted to jump Into the ring. Bar ker. still grasping his long whip rushed to the girls side and shouted wildly to Toby:
 Say something. you. Get 'em backe'
 Old Toby turned his white face to the crowd. His features worked con vuIsively. but he could not speak. Ills grief was so grotesque that the few who saw him laughed hysterically. He could not even go to Polly. His feet seemed pinned to the earth.
 Jim rushed into the tent at the first cry of the audience. He lifted the limp form tenderly and, kneeling in the ring. held her bruised head in his hands.
 Cant you get a doctor?' he shouted desperately to Barker.
 Here's the doctorw some one called, and stranger came toward them. He bent over the seemingly lifeless form. his fingers on the tiny wrist, his ear to the heart
 Well. sir?" Jim faltered. for he had caught the puzzled look in the doctors eyes as his delft hand pressed the cru ely wounded head.
 T can't tell just yet" said the doc tor "She must be taken away"
 Where can we take herr" asked Jim. a look of terror in his great, trou- bled eyes
 "The parsonage is the nearest house." said the doctor. "l am sure the pastor will be glad to have her there until we can find out how badly she is hurt"
 In an instant Barker was back i'll the center of the ring. He announced that Polly's Injuries were slight, called the attention of the audience to the wonderful concert to take place and hade them make ready for the thrill ing chariot race.
 Jim. blind with despair, lifted the light burden and staggered out of the tent. while the band played furiously and the people fell back into their seats. The Roman chariots thundered and clattered around the outside of ;he ring. the audience eheered the win per of the race. and for the moment Polly was forgotten.