Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-11-09


ed so tightly together that they looked
like wrinkles. Christine Braddock
named i'm this morning. 1 forgot to
tell you. David. Your name is Snipe-
Jack Snipe."
David flushed. "Why did she call
me that:" he asked.
Because you were lonesome. and
there is nothink so lonesome as jack
snipe. Leastwise, that's wot she says
She asked me if I'd ever seen a jack
snipe on a wet. dreary day. a-standing
on a sandbar. all alone like and for
lorn. She said she always felt so
sorry for the poor little cuss-no, she
didn't say cuss either. What was 1t
she said, Casey? You was there"
"She said thing" said Casey briefly.
Fright, my lad. Thing it was. Well.
wot she says goes in this ere aggrega-
ton, so from now on you are just Jack
Snipe." He lowered his voice There
won't nobody call you David or Jeni-
son after this, my boy. It's too dan
gerous.''
David was thoughtful. do you mean
to say he said, after a pause. that
every person in this show knows who
1 really ann"
you bet your life they do said
Casey.
'And what I am wanted forT'
Certain. Wot's that got to do with
itT'
do they think I'm-I'm guiltyT
"WeH. 1 reckon most of 'em do"
said the contortionist blandly. But"
he added in some haste, they don't
give a dang for little thing like that"
But" said David fiercely, 81 don't
want them to think I'm guilty. 1 can't
bear to think that every one is look
ing upon me as a criminal. Why
why, what must the ladies of the-of
the show think of me? IT
Joey Grinaldi put his hand on the
young fellows shoulder. They don't
think you done it. Jack-not one of
EN- 1 heard 'em speaking of you last
night as If you was a regular angel.
Come on, now Mrs. Braddock wants
to see you a minute"
David's heart capped. He followed
the old clown into the open tent, his
eyes bright with eagerness.
She was standing near the entrance
to the main tent. talking with half
dozen of the women performers. all in
street attire. She smiled and motion
ed for him to join the group He was
not slow to obey the summons. To the
amazement of the interested group the
young Virginian lifted her hand to his
Iips Mrs. Braddock flushed warmly,
an exquisite smile of appreciation leap
ing to her rather somber eyes.
s'You must let me introduce you to
these ladies'" she said, after a few
low words of greeting. "This is Jack
Snipe. our new Clown she said,
naming for his benefit the riders. the
ropewalker, the snake charmer and
the homeless wonder. David was pro-
foundry polite. almost old fashioned
in his acknowledgment of the intro
duction. The women were suddenly
conscious of new found glory in
themselves. The homeless wonder talk
ed of his elegance for weeks. and al
ways without resortinC to slang.
where is Miss Christine?" asked
David. turning to Mrs. Braddock with
a shy smile.
She did not answer at once. When
she did. it was with palpable uneasi-
ness. my daughter usually takes her
sleep at this time. Dav-Jack.'
David's cheek slowly turned red. He
remembered what Braddock had said
to him.
You are all very good to me-" he
murmured. for want of anything better
TO saw His sensitive heart was
humping quickly. driven by humilia-
ton She looked steadily into his eyes
without speaking and then walked
away from the group. directing him to
follow They sat down upon the tumb-
Ier's pad. Just where they had been
seated the night before
My husband is hard sometimes.
David she said gently. 1T will last
for a few days. that is all. We must
not aggravate him now. In little
while he will forget that he has-has
said certain things Then. I hope that
you and Christine will be good friends.
IL want her to know you well. David
want her to be with-with some one
who is different from the people here.
You understand don't your
Yes said David. suddenly en-
iightened- Il know what you mean.
/ shall be very happy. too
..Ah. how gently you did that she
cried. wiStful CLEAN in her dark
eyes. How the blood tells its story.
Yes. David, I want her to know you;
I want her TOTO be with her own
kind Her face famed with sudden
fervor: he was struck by the almost
pathetic eagerness that leaped into
her eyes, TRANSPORTING them Il have
tried so hard to give her something
of what had myself. David. when /
was a girl Everything depends on
the net year or two. She is thinking