Putnam patriot., 1909-07-16

were being carried from the ring, and Jim turned away to - superintend their loading. Performers again rushed by each
 other on their way to and from the
 main tent
 Polly stood in the center of the lot. frowning and anxious. The mere men
 tion of the pastors name had made it
 seem impossible for her to ride to 1 night. For hours she had been whip 1 ping herself up to the point of doing | It. and now her courage failed her
 She followed Barker as he came from the ring
 MT. Barker, pleaser' He turned upon her sharply. Well. what is 1t now?' "I want to ask you to let me ofY
 again tonight" She spoke in a short. jerky. desperate way. "Whatr he shrieked. "Not go into the ring. with all them people inside what's paid their money because they knowed your" ran'tw
 You're gettin' 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?e
 .'Sure. You don't think I'm goin' to t~t s.l. H1 youY
 q am not dead one,'" she answer l ed excitedly. Pm the best rider you've had since mother died. You've said so yourself" That was afore you got fin with | them church cranks You talk about your mother! Why. she'd be asha med to own you" "She wouldn'tw cried Polly. Her let The pride of hundreds of years of ancestry was auivering with indigna- l tion. T can ride as well as l ever could. and I'll do 1t too. I'll do 1t to- l morrow"
 Tomorrow? ?" echoed Barker. What | do you mean by that?" "I mean that I can't go into that ring tonight" she declared, "and l won't.'
 She was desperate now and trading
 upon a strength beyond her own. He looked at her with momentary in- | decision. She was 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 mettie tomorrow, as far as her work was concerned, if he let her alone | tonight.
 "All right" he said sulienly. You can stay off tonight. I got the crowd In there anyway. and got their money. Hi let Eleise do a turn on Barbarian, but tomorrow you'd better show me your old act.''
 "I'n show you!s she cried. 'In show you,''
 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 1 was no good to the people that took me in and I'm no use here.' "It's not sor' tbundered Jim. .No. it's notr, she cried. I'll show him. Jim! I'll show him-tomorrow. 7" A Jim caught her firmly by the wrist. "wait. Poll. You aint ever goin' Into the ring a-feeiin' that way" Her eyes met his denantiy. .whats the difference? Whats the difYerencey' She wrenched her wrist quickly from him and ran into the dressing tent laughing hysterically. An I brung her back to it." mum bIed 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 q rift in the clouds and fell into a circle around them '.what made you come hereT was all Jim said T heard that Miss Polly didn't ride today I was afraid she might be Ill., whats that 10 you." "she isn't nly' Douglas demanded anxiously. oblivfous 10 the grunness in the big fellows voice. ~she's all right Jim answered shortly as lie shifted uneasily from . one foot fo the other and avoided the pastors burning gaze. And she's happy, she's eontent?" sure