Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-05-27

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 sclous. A year ago she would have said You het!" He looked at her awkwardly. She hurried on: "Hasty told me you were showing in Wake. field. I knew you'd come to see me. Iow's Barker and all the boys?" She stepped with catch in her throat and added more slowly. "I 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 well 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 ain't much good no more. None of the other riders can get used to his gait like you was. There ein't nobody with the show what can touch you ridin': there never will be. Say. mebbe you think Barker won't let out yell when he sees you comin' back" Jim was jubilant 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 seen you. an when Bar, ker sent me over here today to look arter the adyertisin' he said he guess ed you'd had all you wanted Q church folks. 'Jes' you bring her along to Wakefield be said. an tell her that her place is wsitin' for her. an l will too" He turned upon Polly with sud den decision. Why. feel jes' like pickin' you up in my arms an carryin' you right off now"
 Wait. Jim!" She put one tiny hand on his arm to restrain him.
 "l don't mean-not-today-mebbe." " he stammered uncertainty. but well be back here a-showln next month"
 Don't look at me now" Polly an. swered as the doglike eyes searched her face. because nave to say some thing that is going to hurt you, Jim"
 You're conin', ain't 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 ain never comin 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 "lt isn't because l don't love you just the same, and 1t was good of Barker to keep my place for me. but can't go back"
 He turned away. She clung 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 1t all. the cheerless wagons, the mob In the tent. the ring with its blazing lights, the whirling round and round on Bingo and the hoops. always tie 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 riding through the streets in tights. Jim tightsI' She covered her face to shut out the memory. T couldn't go back to 1t. Jim! just couldn't. She turned away. her face still hidden in her hands. He looked at her long while in silence.
 "l didn't know how you'd come to feel about it." he said dogredly.
 You aren't angry. JimT' She turned to him anxiously. her eyes blending for his forgiveness.
 "Angry?" he echoed, almost bitterly 'T guess it couldn't ever come to that atween you an me. I'll be all right" He shrugged his great shoulders. its just kinder sudden. that's all You see. l never dgured on givin' you up, an