Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-02-10
CHAPTER III.


IL they swept into the ring. She
was so young, so gayly clad, so
light and joyous in all her poses. She
seemed scarcely to touch the back OF
the white horse as they dashed round
the ring In the glare of the tent lights.
The other performers went through
their work mechanically while Polly
rode.
AS for Polly. her work had never
lost its first interest. jim may have
been right when be said that the spirit
Mandy was hOuSekeeper for the Rev.
John Douglas. but the unwashed sup
per dishes did not trouble her as she
watched the numbering elephants, the
restless lions, the long necked giraffeS
and the striped Zebras that came and
went in the nearby circus lot. And
yet, In spite of her own curiosity, she
OF the dead mother had got into her,
but it must have been an unsatisfed
spirit unable to fulfill it's ambition in
the body that once held it, for IT some
times played strange FRANKS with Pol
~. Tonight her eyes shone and her
lips were parted I'm anticipation as she
leaped lightly over the many cOlOred
streamers of the wheel Of silken rib
bons held by Barker in the center Of
the ring and by Toby and the tum-
blers on the edge of the bank.
With each change Of her act the au-
dienCe CLEARED and frantcally applaud
ed. The band played faster: Bingo's
pace increased: the end OF her turn
was coming The tumblers arranged
themselves around the ring with pa
per hoops. Bingo was fairly racing.
She went through the first hoop with
G crash OF tearing paper.
"Heigh, BinCow she shouted rs she
bent her knees to make ready for the
final leap.
Blngo's neck was stretched. He had
never gone so fast before Barker
looked uneasy. Toby forgot to 60
on with his accustomed tricks. Jim
watched anXiously from the entrance.
The paper Of one hoop was still left
unbroken. The attendant turned his
eyes to glance at the Oncoming girl.
The hoop shifted slightly in his clum-
sy hand as Polly leaped straight up
from Bingo's back, trusting to her first
calculation. Her forehead struck the
edge Of the hoop. She clutched wildly
at the air. Bingo gallOped on. and
she fell TO the ground, striking her
head against the ironbound stake at
the edge Of the ring
J-v-nrv-tbfpCr Thopa q
gasp of horror. The musicians drop
ped their instruments. Bingo halted
and looked back uneasily. She lay
unconscious and seemingly lifeless.
A great cry went up in the tent.
Panic stricken men, women and chill
dren began to Chamber down from their
seats, while others nearest the ground
attempted TO jump into the ring. Bar
ker, still grasping his long whip,
rushed to the girls side and shouted
wildly to Toby:
"Say something. you. Get 'em back
Old Toby turned his white face to
/ the crowd. His features worked con-
vulslvely, but he could not speak. His
grief was so grotesQue that the few
who saw him laughed Historically. He
could not even go to Polly. His feet
seemed pinned to the earth.
! Jim rushed into the tent at the first
cry of the audience. He lifted the
limp form tenderly and, kneeling in
/ the ring, held her bruised head in his
| hands.
Cant you get a doctor?'' he shouted
! desperately to Barker.
Here's the DOCTOR some one called,
and a stranger came toward them. He
bent over the seemingly lifeless form,
his fingers on the tiny wrist. his ear TO
| the heart.
"well, sir?' Jim faltered, for he had
caught the puzzled look In the doctors
eyes as his deft hand pressed the cru
ely wounded head.
81 can't tell just yet" said the doc
tor. 'She must be taken away"
"Where can we take herT asked
Jim, a look of terror in his great. trou-
bled eyes
1.-THE parsonage is the nearest
house." said the doctor. 81 am sure
the pastor will be glad to have her
there until we can find out how badly
she is hurt"
In an instant Barker was back in
the center Of the ring. He announced
that Polly's injuries were slight, called
the attention Of the audience to the
wonderful concert to take place and
babe them make ready for the thrill
ing chariot race.
Jim. blind with despair, lifted the
light burden and staggered out of the
tent, while the band played furiously
and the people fell back into their
seats. The Roman chariots Numbered
and clattered around the outside OF
/ the ring, the audience cheered the win.
ner OF the race, and for the moment
Polly was forgotten.