The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-10-31
A Stranger on the Scene.


Noakes.
W. "I'll talk that over with i'm.
Brad" announced the clown.
And let me add something else" re-
sumed Braddock. with an oath. I'm
not going to have you ha"sin' around
my wife and daughter II 'ou do stay
with US. Remember one thing: you're
Il cheap clown and you've got to know
your place. My daughters a decent
girl. She's got good blood in her. un-
derstand? D. fine blood. I'm not 60
Ing to have her associatin' with a.
"'Old ON. Brad!" interrupted the old
clown. glaring at him. II won't stand
for it. You got five 'undred from this
boy. and you ought to treat i'm decent.
He's got just as good blood In i'm as
Christie's got-and better. blow me. be-
cause it's probably good on both sides
which Is more than you can say for
her, poor girl Thank God. she don't
show that she's got your blood in 'er
veins"
Here! Do you mean to insinuate
that she's not mine?" gasped Braddock.
a-tremble. Much as he trusted to the
virtue Of his wife. he never was able to
comprehend the miracle that gave him
Christine for daughter. There was
no trace of him to be seen In her.
you know better than that" said
the clown coldly.
Well" said Braddock. nervously
shifting his cigar and lowering his
gaze II he had intended to say more
1,s., 1-x~I
ward the center of the tent. where men
were throwing up circular bank about
the ring.
Hes drunken dog" said the clown.
giaring after him. "She's the finest wo-
man in the world. And to think Of 'er
beln the wife OF that bounder."
David had been thinking Of 1t and
ptlzzling his tired brain for hours.
"Iow did she happen to marry
NO time for that now" said Gri-
uaIdi briskly. ''AIebby I'll tell you
about her some other time, not now.
You'd better keep away from her and
Christine for couple Of days Brad
will forget it in no time. specially If
he thinks he can scrape some more o
that money out of you. I advise you to
stick to the show for awhile-at least
until we're good ways off. Take up
is offer. You can ave chuck with me
just do wot l tell you and you'll be Il
ciown--not a good one. but good enough
to earn two and Il 'arf."
"I'l do just as you say" said David
simply.
Now come over ere by the band
section and I'll tell how we work it
out. There's my daughter over there.
Amt she sumner? Best trapeZe
worker In the business. if do say it
myself And 'er mother was the best
Columbine that ever appeared i'll
Drury Lane pantolnime. poor lass. She
died when Ruby WAS born"
That afternoon David appeared in the
ring. once more clad in the striped suit
and beSmeared with bismuth. lie was
even more frightened than at his first
appearance, but he managed to get
through the performance without mis-
hap. He followed instructions blindly
hut faithfully. barking his ShinS twice
and tripping over an equestrian banner
once with almost dircfuI results. The
audience laughed with glee. and Gri-
ualdi congratulated him on the hit he
was making.
"Hit:" iloaned DaSid. ruhtin@ his
elbow In earnest. Good heaven! Was
that hit:'
ANY boy. they'd laugh if You were to
break your neck said the clown
gravely.
Christine Eraddock came on for her
turn early in the program. David was
told that her mother. who per'istently
though vainly opposed ring career
for her loved one. compromised with
Eraddock on the condition that she
was to appear early in the perform
Gnce.