The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1909-11-25

"You mean that you atYa't never co17,tYf
bGckf"
scious. A year ago she would have
said "You bet!" He looked at her
awkwardly. She hurried on: "Hasty
told me you were showing in Wake
field. knew you'd come to see me.
How's Barker and all the boysT' She
stopped with catch in her throat and
added more slowly, Il suppose every
things different now that Toby Is
gone" ~
He'd "a liked to seen you afore he
cashed in," Jim answered, "but maybe
1t was just as we'll he didn't. You'd
hardly "a knowed him toward the last.
he got so thin an peeked like. He
wasn't the same after we lost you
nobody was, not even Bingo."
'Have you still got Bingo?" she ask
ed, through her tears.
yep, we got him." drawled Jim,
"but he amt much good no more.
None Of the other riders can get used
to his gait like you was. There amt
nobody with the show what can touch
you ridin'; there never will be. Say,
mebbe you think Barker won't let out
a yell when he sees you comm back"
Jim was tubilant now, and he let out
little yell of his own at the mere
thought Of her return. He was too
excited to notice the look on Polly's
face. "Toby had a notion before he
died that you was never a-comin'
back, but l told him I'd change all
that once l seen you, an when Bar
ker sent me over here today to look
arter the advertiser he said he guess
ed you'd had all you wanted O. church
folks. 'Jes' you bring her along to
Wakefield he said, am tell her that
her place is waitin' for her. an I will
too" He turned upon Polly with sud-
den decision. "Why, l feel jes' like
pickin' you up in my arms an carryin'
you right off now" 49,,
"Wait, Jimw She put one tiny hand
on his arm to restrain him.
II don't t-today-mebbe,'
he stammered uncertainty, "but Wen
be back here a-showin' next month"
Don't look at me now," Polly an
swered as the doglike eyes searched
her face, because have&io say some
thing that is going to hurt you. jim
you're comm, amt you, Poll?'
The big face was wrinkled and care
worn with trouble.
"No, Jim," she replied in a tone so
low that he could scarcely hear her.
"You mean that you amt never
comm back?" He tried to realize
what such decision might mean to
him.
"No, Jim," she answered tenderly,
for she dreaded the pain that she must
cause the great, good hearted fellow.
"You mustn't care like that" she
pleaded, seeing the blank desolation
that had come into his face. ut isn't
because l don't love you just the same,
and it was good Of Barker to keep my
place for me, but can't go back"
He turned away. She chung to the
rough brown sleeve. why, Jim, when
lie in my little room up there at
night"-she glanced toward the Win
dow above them-"and everything Is
peaceful and still l think how it used
to be in the old days, the awful noise
and the rush Of it all, the cherries
wagons, the mob in the tent, the ring
with it's blazing lights, the whirling
round and round on Bingo and the
hoops, always the hoops, till my head
got dizzy and my eyes all dim, and
then the hurry after the show, and the
heat and the dust or the mud and the
RAIN and the rumble Of the wheels
in the plains at night. and the shrieks
of the animals. and then the parade.
the awful. awful parade. and I riding
through the streets in tights, Jim
tightsT She covered her face to
shut out the memory. II couldn't 60.
ba TX to 1t. Jim! just couldn't!" She
turned away, her face still hidden in
her hands. He looked at her a long
W - in silence ~-N - 49, -