The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-10-19
In the Dressing Tent.

In the Dressing Tent
THE clown Grinaldi had shaken
the boy Into partial wakeful-
ness.
Get up," said Grinaldi
"What are you doing hereT
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 stufry. mysterious vest-
bule of the tent. into plain view Of
half dozen Sividly attired persons. al
most under the feet OF stolid, gayly
caparisoned horses wearing the great
back pads.
He was not dreaming-he was in
the dressing tent Of the circus, enyel-
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
dressing tent.
His bewildered 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
merry-go-round The lights danced
and then went out.
Grinaldi, the clown. caught him In his
arms as he slipped forward In faint,
When he regained consciousness he
was lying on a thick, dusty mattress,
his head pillowed on a bundle Of cloth
that smered Of cotton and dyestuffs.
Faces emerged from the gloom around
him. Some one was holding 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
cry of alarm. The being who braced
him with friendly arms was glitter
ing. shiny thing OF green with hui
man face that leered upon him.
Grinaldi laughed,
Hes not boa constructor, lad.
He's the homeless wonder He's as
gentle as a spring lamb and net art
as tough. Signor Anaconda, the hui
man snake-that's wot he's called on
the bills Ed Caseys rs real name
"Av, cheese It, joey" growled the
amiable slgnor. Say. young teller
what's aillnS you! Whcre'd you come
fromY
The stranger In this curious world
faced his audience, sudden wariness
in his eyes. Before venturing word
OF explanation, he allowed his gaze to
sweep the entire group. There were
mon in tights and women in tights
in pink and red and green and blue
some of them still painting and breath
less after their perlous work In the
ring. lie took them all in at glance
but his eyes rested ut last on the one
figure that seemed out of place in TINS
motley crowd; the tall. graceful figure
Of the woman in street clothes. lie
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 the long red cloak
What has happcncd:' asked the tail
woman gently. Have yon--have you
run away from home, my boy?'
How long have been here!' There
was Il suggestion of alarm in the aD-
rupt question.
lis voice, uuerulous through excite
mcnt, was quite strong and musical
The tone and his manner of addressing
the qucstioncr proved beyond contra
dictiou that he was no ordinary tramp
or show follower. such rs they were III
the habit of seeing in their travels y
dozen fine old Virginia gentlemen. per.
haps one after another. had IlNcd ana
died before him: down that precious
line of blood had come the strain that
makes for the finished Thoroughbred
the real Virginia aristocrat.
You tainted ten minutes ago. Are
You feeling better now? Give'h him some
brandy, one of you. How wet You are.
You must have come far
He watched her face all the time sue
was speaking. No sign Of trust or con
fidence came into his own ms the result
of her kindiiness. Instead. tue wari'
uess grew.
Only across the mountain be said
succmtly. I've been out 10 the raIu'
na'am,' he vouchsafed
He had never been 50 close 10 men
and women in tights before Inc
hu0H abbreviated taratan Skir's y,
two women bareback riders VINO S'""u
\ not more than two yards away sccincu