The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-10-19
In the Dressing Tent.

the boy into partial wakeful-
ness.
Get up" said Grinaldi.
what are you doing here?"
The lad would have rushed away
into the darkness behind him had it
not been for the restraining grip on
his arm. He felt himself being drag
ged into the stufy. mysterious vesti-
bule of the tent, into plain view Of a
half dozen wildly attired persons. al
most under the feet Of stolid, gayly
caparisoned horses wearing the great
back pads.
BE was not dreaming-he was In
the dressing tent of the circus. envel-
oped by the dull, magic atmosphere
that comes in the smoke OF burning
oils, an atmosphere that Is never to
be found outside the low walls OF a
dressing tent.
His bewildered axe took in the
horses, the boxes, the trunks. the ring
paraphernalia, the properties" the
discarded uniforms of attendants. cast
In apparent confusion here, there and
everywhere. Somehow as he stared
this conglomerate mass of unfamiliar
things seemed to creep away into the
black shadows he had not perceived
before. The drab dome OF the tent
began TO swirl above his head like a
merry-go-round. The lights danced
and then vent out.
Grineldi. the clown, caught him In his
arms as he slipped forward In a faint.
When he regained consciousness he
was lying on a thick, dusty mattress.
his head pillowed on a bundle of cloth
that smelled Of cotton and d~yestuffs.
Faces emerged from the gloom around
him. Some one was holding a torch
over his strange couch. He tried to
raise himself to his elbow. Some one
supported him from behind. As he
turned his head TO thank this person
It was with difficulty that he ~repressed
a cry OF alarm. The being who braced
him with friendly arms was a glitter
ing. shiny thing Of green with a hui
man face that leered upon him.
Grinaldi laughed.
Hes not a boa constructor, lad.
He's the homeless wonder He's as
gentle as a spring lamb and not art
as tough. Signor Anaconda, the hu-
man s~nake-that's wot he's called on
the bills. Ed Casey's is real name"
Jaw. cheese It, Joey!' growled the
amiable signor. "Say, young Teller.
what's ailing your Where'd you come
froml'
Tho etrapoar q, +hga ourIo,,a world
faced his audience. a sudden wariness
in his eyes. Before venturing a word
Of explanation, he allowed his gaze to
sweep the entire group. There were
men In tights and women in tights
in pink and red and green and blue
some OF them still painting and breath
less after their perilous work in the
ring. He took them all In at a glance.
but his eyes rested ut last on the n
figure that seemed out of place in this
motley crowd; the tall, graceful figure
of the oma in street clothes. He
looked long at the sweet. gentle. UNI
painted face of this woman and drew
his first deep breath Of relief and hope
when she smiled. she moved quickly
through the crowd of acrobats and rid
ers, followed close behind by the slim,
wide eyed girl in the long red cloak.
What has happenedF' asked the tall
woman gently. 'Have you-have you
run away from home, my boyT'
How long have | been hereT' There
was a suggestion of alarm in the abb
rupt question.
His voice, qucrulous through excite
ment. was quite strong and musical.
The tone and his manner of addressing
the questioner proved beyond contra
diction that he was no ordinary tramp,
or show follower, such as they were in
the habit of seeing in their travels. a
dozen fine old Virginia gentlemen, per-
haps, one after another. had lived and
died before him: down that precious
line of blood had come the strain that
makes for ;he finished thoroughbred
the real Virginia aristocrat.
You tainted ten minutes ago. Are
YOU feeling better now? Give him some
brandy, one of you. How wet you are.
You must have come far"
lie watched her face all the time she
was speaking. No sign of trust or con
tidence came into his own as the result
OF her kindness. Instead. the wari-
ness grew.
Only across the mountain" he said
slcciutly, 1--WE been out IN the rain.
ma'am." III vouchsafed.
He had never been SO close to men
and women in tights before. The
nuay. abbreviated tarlatan skirts of
two women bareback riders who stood