The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-10-18
Ia the Dressing Tent

ness.
Get up" said Grinaldi.
"What are you doing hereT
The lad would have rushed away
into the darkness behind him had 1t
not been for the restraining grip on
his arm. He felt himself being drag
ged into the stuffy. mysterious vest-
bule Of the teEt. into plain view Of a
half dozen wildly attired persons, al
most under the feet OF stolid, gayly
ca parisoned horses wearing the great
back pads.
He 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 bewtldered gaze 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 went out.
Grinaldi, the clown. caught him In his
arms as he slipped forward In a faint.
NNhan ho pavayraI onacin,upoa ho
was lying on a thick. dusty mattress.
his head pillowed on a bundle of cloth
that smelled Of cotton and dyestuffs.
Faces emerged from the gloom around
him. Some one was holding a torch
over his strange ouch. He tried to
raise himself to bis elbow. Some
supported him from behind. As he
turned his head to thank this person
1t 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.
Ginaldi laughed
He's not a boa constructor, lad.
He's the boneless wonder He's as
gentle as a spring lamb and not art
as tough. Signor Anaconda, the hui
man snake-that's wot he's called on
the bills. Ed Casey's is real name"
"Aw, cheese 1t, Joey" growled the
amiable signor. Say, young Teller.
what's ailing your Where'd you come
from?"
The stranger In this curious world
faced his audience, a sudden wariness
in his eyes. Before %venturing q word
OF explanation, he allowed his gaze to
sweep the entire group. There We're
men in tights and women in tights
m Of them still painting and breath
less after their perilous work in the
ring. lie took them all in at a glance,
bat his eyes rested at last ON the one
figure that seemed out of place in this
motley crowd; the tall, graceful figure
of the roma in street clothes. He
looked long at the sweet, gentle, I'M
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 tho long red cloak.
What has ~happened?' asked the tall
woman gently. Have y~ou-have you
run away from home, my boy?'
How long have | bcen here:' There
was Il suggestion of alarm in the alb
rupt question.
His voice, querulous through excite
ment, was quite strong and musical.
The tone and his II of addressing
the questioner proved beyond contra
diction that he was Ito ordinary tramp.
or show follower. such as they were in
the habit of seeing III their travels. 4
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 III. finished thoroughbred
the real Virginia aristocrat.
You tainted ten minutes ago. Are
YOU feeling better now: Give him som
brandy. one Of you. How wet YOU are.
You must have come far
He watched her face all the time she
was speaking. No sign of trust or con
fdence came into his own as the result
of her kindness. lpstead. the wari-
ness grew.
Only across the mountain he said
succintly. I've been out in the rain.
ma'am,'' he youchSafei.
He had never been so close TO men
and women in tights before. The
,:.4r ,lIrpY;4 tn,l ~ Ilat fan Ei-i,.rc .f
Two women bareback riders who stood
uot more than I'VE yards away seemed