The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-10-25

somewhat doubtfully supported by his
own Investigations, Is proved by the
lact that he decided to follow the
show until he was positively assured
that his quarry was not being shield
ed by the circus people. With no lit
tie a%stuteness he and his companion
resolved that they could accomplish
nothing by working openly. Their
only chance lay in the ability to keep
the circus people from knowing that
they were following them. IN this
they counted without their hosts. At
no time during the next three days
We're their movements unknown to
the clever band OF rascals who follow
ed the show for evil purposes, and
who, with perfect integrity, kept the
proprietor advised Of every step taken
and of every disguise affected.
Despite his uncomfortable position
and the natural thrills Of excitement
and peril, David was sound asleep
before the wagon was fairly under
way. Complete exhaustion surmount-
ed all other conditions. He would
have slept if Blake's hand had been
on his shoulder.
Daybreak came, and the ghostly
wagon train slipped from darkness
into the misty light Of a new day.
Cocks We're growing afar and near.
and birds were chirping in the bushes
at the roadside. Out of the somber,
cr;p l-iip~ pirhf rnl1n1 tho rod onA
white. and golden juggernauts, gradu-
ally taking shape in the gray dawn,
crawling with sardonic Indifference
past tollgate and farmhouse, creaking
and %groaning and swapping in weird,
uncanny chorus.
Early risers were up to see the "cir-
Gus" pass. 1t was something Of an
epoch in the lives Of those who dwelt
afar from the madding crowd.
The elephants. the cages OF Wild
beasts. the horses. the towering char
lots, the amazing pole wagons-all
slipped down the road and over the
hill. strange. unusual objects that came
but once a rear and seemed to leave
the countryside smaller and more mar.
ION llldI IL lltN Dctu DtlOIt.
The country people looked on and
wondered and shuddered at the though,
of the terrific creatures at their very
door yards. Then they hitched up their
teams and f1ocked to town in the wake
Of the peril. there to marvel and de
light in the very things that had awed
them in their W province. And all
through the land people locked their
doors and put away their treasures.
The circus had come to town!
1t was 3 o'clock before David was
routed from his strange bed. For a
moment he forgot his predicament. He
stared in utter bewilderment. vastly in
ferested in the great transformation
Under his very eyes a city OF white
was about to spring into existence.
Some n touched his shoulder. not
urgently. He started in sudden alarm.
a rough looking fellow in a soiled red
undershirt was standing at his elbow.
THE boss says you'd better come to
the cook top and get somethin' to eat,
/ young feller." That was all. He
terked his head in the direction Of the
long. low tent in the corner OF the lot
and started off. David followed. sharp
~ conscious Of a revived hunger.
A score of men were seated at the
long tables. gulping hot coffee and
boiling their food. From the kitchen
beyond came the cracking Of fats. the
odor Of frying things and the aroma OF
strong coffee. The clatter Of tin pans
and cups. the rattle of pewter knives
and forks and the commands OF hungry
men to the surly lads who served them
assailed the refined ears OF the young
virginian as he stopped irresolutely ut
the mouth Of the tent.
"Eet down here, kid" said his escort,