Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-05-14

He opened the large property trunk
by his side and took from 1t a laundry
box which held a little tan coat that
was to be Toby>s contribution to the
birthday surprise. He was big hearted
enough to be glad that Toby's gift
seemed fine and more useful than his.
1t was only when the leap of death"
act preceding Pollys turn vas an.
nounced that the big fellow gave up
feasting his eyes on the satchel and
coat and hid them away in the big
property. trunk. She would be out In
a minute, and these wonders were not
to be revealed to her until the close
OF the nights performance.
Jim put down the lid of the trunk
and sat upon II, feeling like a criminal
because he was hiding something
from Polly.
His consciousness of guilt was In.
creased as he recalled how often she
had forbidden Toby and hin Aelf to
rush into reckless -extrnvagances for
her sake and how she had been more
nearly angry than be had ever seen
her when they had put their months
salaries together to buy her the span
gled dress for her first appearance. II
had taken a great many apologies and
promises as to their future behavior
to calm her. and nov they had again
disobeyed her. II would be a great re
lief when tonight's ordeal was over.
Jim watched Polly uneasily as she
came from the dressing tent and stop
ped to gaze at the nearby church stee-
pie. The incongruity of the slang that
soon came from her delicately formed
lips was lost upon him as she turned
her eyes toward him.
"Say, jim" she said, with a western
drawl, "them's a funny lot Of guys
what goes to them church places, amt
they?"
Most everybody has got some kind
of a bug" Jim assented- Il guess they
don't do much harm"
"'Member the time you took me into
one of them places to get me outa the
rain, the Sunday wagon broke
DOWN. Well, that bunch we butted
into wouldn't "a give Sells Bros. nc
cause for worry with that show a
theirn, would they, Jimf" She looked
at him with whitening disgust Say,
wasn't that the punkiest stunt that
fellow In black was dom on the plat
form? You said Joe was only ten min
utes gettin, the tire ON to our wheel
but, say, you take 1t from me. Jim, II
I had to weit another ten minutes as
long as that one I'd be too old to &c
on aridin'."
Jim flowed" some church shows
might be better than shat un," but
Polly said he could have her end OF
the bet and summed up by declaring
1t no wonder that the yaps in these
towns is daffy about c~ircuses If they
don't have nothin' better IAN church
shows to go to-"
One of the grooms was entering the
lot with Polly's horse. She stopped to
tighten one of her sandals, and as she
rose Jim saw her sway slightly and
put one hand to her head. He looked
at her sharply, remembering her faint
ness in the parade that morning.
"You amt feelin' right" he said un-
easily. n
l%s>Asnesl iust-bet ! am" Polly aAsWec0
with an independent toss of her head,
This is the night we're goin' to make
them Rubes In there sit up. amt 1t,
Bingor'' she added, placing one arm
~affectionately about the neck of the
big white horse that stood waiting
near the entrance.
"You bin ridin' too reckless lately
said Jim sternly as he followed her,
81 don't like it. There amt no need OF
your putin In all them extra stunts.
Your act Is good enough without en-
Nobody else ever done 'em, an no.
body d miss 'em If you left 'em out"
Polly turned with a triumphant ring
in her voice. The music was swelling
for her entrance.
you amt my mother, Jim; you're
my 0rdndmother," she tainted, and