Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-05-14

enpnng n anu out from the dressing
tent to the big top as gayly decked
men, women and animals came or
went
DrowSy dogs were stretched under
the wagons, waiting their turn to be
dressed as lions or bears. The wise
old goose. with his modest gray mate.
peckcd at the green grass or turned
. his head from side to side. watching
the singing clown. who rolled up the
painted carcass and long neck Of the
imitation giraffe from which two prop
erty men had just slipped, their legs
still incascd In stripes.
Ambitious canvasmen and grooms
were exercising, feet In air In the
| hope Of some day getting into the per
| formers ring. Property men stole n
minutes sleep in the soft warm grass
| while they waited for more tackle to
| load in the wagons. Children Of the
| performers were swinging on the tent
ropes. Chattering monkeys sat astride
the Shetland ponies awaiting their en-
| trance to the ring. The shriels of the
| hyenaS In the distant animal tent. the
roaring Of the lions and the trumpet
ing OF the elephants mingled with the
incessant clamor Of the band. And
back OF all this, pointing upward I'm
mute protest, rose a solemn church
spire. white and majestic against n
! vast panorama Of blue moOnlit hills
| BAT lnI III
Jim's eyes turned abscntly toward the
| church as he sat fumbling with the
lock of the little brown satchel.
lie had gone from store to store in
the various towns where they had
played looking for something to in
! spire wonder In the heart Of miss
newly arrived ut her sixteenth year
Only the desperation Of a last moment
| had forced him to decide upon the imi-
tation alligator bag, which he now
held In his hand
| 1t looked small and mean to him as
the moment Of presentation approach
ed, and he was glad that the saleswo-
man in the little country store had
suggested the addition Of ribbons and
laccs. which he now drew from the
pocket Of his corduroys. He placed
his red and blue treasures very care
/ fully in the bottom Of the satchel and
remembered with regret the strand Of
coral beads which he had so nearly
bought to go with them.
He opened the large property trunk
! by his side and took from 1t laundry
| box which held little tan coat that
was to be Toby's contribution to the
| birthday surprise. lie 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 Polly's turn was an
nounced that the big fellow gave up
fcasting his eyes on the satchel and
| coat and hid them away in the big
I property trunk. She would be out in
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 it, feeling like 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 himself to
! rush into reckless extravagances for
: her sake and how she had been more
J nearly angry than he had ever seen
her when they had put their months
/ salaries together to buy her the span
gled dress for her first appearance. 1t
had taken n great many apologies and
promises rs to their future behavior
to calm her. and now they had again
disobeyed her. 1t would be great re-
lief when tonight's ordeal was over.
Jim watched Polly uneasily rs 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 rs she turned
her eyes toward him.
| Say, JIM" she said. with western
drawl. ''them's n funny lot Of guys
what goes to them church places. amt
they"
Most everybody has got some kind
Of 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 our wagon broke
down? Well. that bunch we butted
into wouldn't "a give Sells Bros. no
cause for worry with that show a
theirn, would they. jim" She looked
Mt 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. If
1 had to wait another ten minutes rs
long rs that one I'd be too old to so
on a-ridin'."
Jim Flowed" some church shows
might be better than that un." but
Polly said he could have her end Of
the bet and summed up by declaring
1t no wonder that 1.-The yaps In these
towns Is daffy about circuses II they
don't have nothin' better AN 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 I'M
easily
you just bet am" Polly answered.
with an Independent toss Of her head.
This Is the night we're goin' to make
them Rubes In there sit up. amt 1t,
Bingo" she added. placing one arm
affectionately about the neck OF the
big white horse that stood waiting
near the entrance.
/ -