Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-01
CHAPTER XIV.

l other on their way to and from the main tent.
 | Polly stood in the center of tue lot | frowning and anxious. The mere men ten of the pastors name had made it seem impossible for her to ride to- night. For hours she had been whip | ping herself up to the point of doing ! 1t, and now her courage failed her She followed Barker as he came from | the ring.
 Mir. Barker, pleasew' ] He turned upon her sharply.
 "Well, what is it now?"
 "I want to ask you to let me off again tonight" She spoke in a short. ierky. desperate way.
 "Whatv' he shrieked. "Nct go into the ring. with all them people inside what's paid their money because they knowed you?"
 That's itr' she cried. T can't! can'tr'
 You're eettln' too tonyw Barker sneered. 'That's the trouble with you You ain't been good for nothin' since you was at that parsons house. You didn't stay there. and you're no use here. First thing you know you'll be out all round" ] "Out?"
 ''Sure. You don't thirk I'm goin' to head my bill with dead one,' do youT'
 'I am not dead one,'" she answer ed excitedly. I'm the best rider you've had since mother died. You've said so yourself"
 "That was afore you got in with them church -cranks. Ycu talk about your mother! Why, she'd be ashamed to own you"
 "She wou,dn'tw cried Polly. Her eyes were flashing; her face was scar let. The pride of hundreds of years of ancestry was Quivering with indigna- 1 tion. T can ride as well as 1 ever could. ard I'll do 1t too. I'll do 1t to- morrow"
 "Tomorrow?" ?" echoed Barker "What do you mean by that?'
 "I mean that I can't 90 into that ring tonight" she declared, "and | won't"
 She was desperate now and trading upon strength beyond her own.
 He looked at her with momentary iu- decision. She was a good rider. the best since her mother, as he had often told her. He could see this meant an issue. He felt she would be on her mettlc tomorrow, as far as her work was concerned, if he let her alone 1 tonight.
 Ali right" he said sullenly. You can stay off tonight. l got the crowd in there anyway. and got their money. I'll let Eloise do turn on Barbarian, but tomorrow you'd better show me your old act"
 "I'll show you" she cried "T'n show your
 "Well. see that you do." He crossed into the ring. Polly stood where Barker had left her, white and tense. Jim came toward her from the direction of the wagons. He glanced at her uneasily. "What's he been a-sayin' to you?" ''He says I can't ride any more." Her lips closed tightly. She stared straight ahead of her. He says I was no good to the people that took me in and I'm no use here"
 "It's not sor' thundered Jim.
 "No, it's nOt!" she cried. 'I'll show him, Jim! I'll show him-tomorrowr She turned toward the dressing tent. Jim caught her firmly by the wrist.
 "Wait. Poll! You ain't ever goin' into the ring a-feelin' that way" Her eyes met his deflantly.
 "What's the difference? What's the difference?" She wrenched her wrist quickly from him and ran into the dressing tent, laughing hysterically.
 An I brung her back to it," mum bled Jim as he turned to give orders to the property men.
 Most of the first half props" were loaded. and some of the men were asleep under the wagons. The lot was clear Suddenly he felt some one ap- preaching from the back of the in closure. He turned and found himself face to face with the stern. solitary figure of the pastor, wrapped in his long black cloak. The moonlight slipped through rift in the clouds and fell into circle around them.
 What made you come here?" was all Jim said
 q heard that Miss Polly didn't ride today. was afraid she might be Ill.,"
 "What's that to you?"
 "She isn't ill?' Douglas demanded anxious.y, oblivious to the grufness in the big fellows voice.
 "She's all right" Jim answered shortly as he shifted uneasily from one foot to the other and avoided the pastors burning gaze.
 And she's happy, she's contentT Sure
 'I'm glad" said Douglas duly. He tried to think of some way to prolong their talk. 'l've never heard from her you know"
 US folks don't get much time to write." Jim turned away ard began