Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-03-03
POLLY
Of the
CIRCUS
By MARGARET MAYO
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead and
Company

AeeihS 'h"t Hel opportunity nao now
arrived. IAN | had the wors' time
a-keepin' him in bed. He act jes' like
you did"
did he?" Polly was delighted tc
ind that the pastor had "nothin' on
her." as she would have put it.
You ought to have heard him"
continued Mandy. made eloquent by
Polly's show Of interest. "What will
dose poor folks do? he kept a-sayin'.
Jes' yo' lay where yo' is | tole him
Dem poor folks will be better off dan
dey would be a-comin' to yoah fu-
neral"
Poor folks?" Polly questioned DO
You give money to folks? We are al
ways itchin' to get 1t away from 'em. q"
4 Before Douglas could think Of words
With which to defend his disapproved
methods Mandy had continued eager
ly:
AN den on Sunday, when he can't
60 TO church an preach She got no
further. A sharp exclamation brought
both Mandy and Douglas to attention.
Preach Polly almost shouted. She
looked at him with genuine alarm this
time.
THAT will do. Mandy" Douglas com.
nranded, feeling an unwelcome drama
gathering about his head.
Great Barnum and Baileyw Polly
exclaimed, looking at him as though
ae were the very last thing in the
world she had ever expected to see.
Are you a sky pilot?"
That's what he am, chile" Mandy
slipped the words In slyly, for she
knew that they were against the pas
tors wishes, but she was unable to re-
strain her mischievous impulse to SOW
the seeds Of curiosity that would soon
bear fruit in the inquisitive mind of
the little invalid.
"Will you get on to me a-landin' into
a mixup like this?" She continued to
study the uncomfortable man at her
side. Il never thought I'd be a-talkin'
to one of you guys. What's your
namew
Douglas" He spoke shortly.
"Ain't you got no handle to it?"
IF you mean my Christian name, It's
fhn."
swell. that sounds like a sky pilot
all right But you don't look like
s'posed they did"
"Why not?"
II always s'posed sky pilots was old
an grouchy-like. You're Almost as
good lookin' as our strong man."
lookin' to be an unmarried parsOn."
Mandy chuckled. more and more
amused at the pastors discomfort.
Looks don't play very important
part in my work." Douglas answered
CURLY. Mandy's confidential smokers
made him doubly anxious to get to "A
less personal topic.
well, they count for a whole lot
with u.s." She nodded her head decid.
edly. How long you been shown in
this town. anyhow"
about a year." Douglas answered.
with something Of a sigh
"a Year, she gasped I'm a burg
like this! You must have an awful lot
OF laughs in your act to keep 'em
a-comin' that long" She was wise in
the ways Of professional success.
"Not many, I'm afraid" He won
dered for the first time If this might
be the reason for his rather Indifferent
success.
"Do you give them the same stuff. or
have you got repY'
"a rep" he repeated I'm surprise.
"Sure, repertory. different acts-en.
tries, some calls 'em. Uncle Toby's got
twenty seven entries. 1t makes q heap
of difference in the big towns where
YOU have a run"
"Oh, understand Douglas answer
ed in tone Of relief. "Well. try to
Say something new each Sunday"
what kind Of spells do you give
'em?' she inquired, with growing in
ferest.
Il try to help my people to get ON
better terms with themselves and tOI
forget their week day troubles" He
bad never had occasion TO define his of
forts so minutely.
"Well, that's jes' the same as us.
Polly told him, with an air of conde
ecenslon, "only circuses draws more
people AN churches"
"Yours does seem to be a more pop
ular form OF entertainment" Douglas
answered dryly. He was beginning TO
feel that there were many tricks in the
Entertainment trade which he had not
mastered. And. after all, what was his
preaching but an effort at entertain
nent? II he failed TO hold his congre
CATION by what he was saying. his lis
teners grew drowsy and his sermon
EEL short of Its desired effect Ii was
nue. that his position and hers had
points of similarity. She was appar
entity successful. As for himself he
cCuld not be sure. He knew he tried
very hard and that sometimes Il tired
Mother or a sad faced child looked up
~ him with O smile that made the
eryice seem worth while.
Polly mistook the pastors reverie for
HTy, and her tender heart was quick
q Md consolation for him.
'You amt got all the worst Of II,
she said, IF we tried to play dunn
he this for six months we'd starye &C