The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-11
TIE EVENING STORY
Betty Braden, Equestrienne.
(By Stacy E. Baker.)

"A Betty lett OlAJ Oil C<NAAAA
arating sense of adventure as the pie
bald pony suddenly took the bits be-
tween his teeth and raced madly
down the road. She even acknowl-
edged a little superior scorn for bit
of horseflesh that would attempt to
run away with her. She had all the
western girls contempt for the sober
steeds of the east, and this sudden
decision of Tom-the equine in ques-
tion-was rather to be commended
than otherwise. So, for few breath
less seconds, she let him have his
Willfu1 way.
Betty couldn't control Tom as cas-
lily as she had thought she could.
Much of the contempt died out of her
heart to make room for the dismay
that caused that very essential organ
to pump conVulsiVely-
Betty Braden even so far forgot
herself as to saw amateurishly at
the reins (afterward she was glad no
one saw this), and once a little femi-
nine scream of fear escaped her.
After all, Betty was only a very
handsome little yelloW-haired woman,
not yet twenty years of age, and the
bronchos that she had ridden on her
fathers ranch had all been carefully
selected for her by a knowing parent.
Tom continued to leave a trail of
battered stubbornly down the long
pike that led into town. There
seemed to be method in his madness.
Pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat!
Soon the spires of Barleyville
doomed before them.
Pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat,
sounded the hoofs of the beast as he
pounded down the principal thor
oughfare of the little city. Past star
tied drivers and neighing carriage
horses clattered the two. A great
breadth. of canvas suddenly swung
into view, and the pace of the pie
bald pony slackened. 1t was then
that Betty remembered.
Tom had, not so very many years
ago, been the bright and particular
scintiHant in the selected four foot
ed set of saWduSt stars with the Great
Undivided European and American
Shows. Betty's uncle, an enthusiasts
tic judge Of horseflesh, had paid a
fabulous price for the pony at the
winter quarters of the combination
and shipped him home. And now
Tom was returning to his own. By
some subtle instinct he had known
that this huge top with it's fluttering
flags that covered all the area re-
served by the driving park was none
other than the canvas city that was his
early home.
Tom neighed triumphantly as he
dashed past the gaudy rags that told
of the latest women and the smallest
dwarfs and into the entrance of the
played an alluring waltz, and as Tom
passed out of the menagerie and into
the congested main tent he threw his
head UP with a proud little gesture
and waltzed around like a tee-totum,
nearing with every move the sawdust
arena.
The crimson-faced girl on his back
fought for the bit; fought as she be-
- 11rrE 10
willy Tom only made believe that she
was signaling him to do his best, and
the artistic soul-if horses have souls
within his piebald breast responded
braVely. Judging from the applause,
Tom was huge success as come
back
Around and around the ring pranced
the horse, the band, after one squeaky
break of surprise, continuing enthusl-
astically, and the trombone blaring
announcement as Tom changed his
At last Betty raised her face and
stole furtive glances about her. Hor-
rOrsi 1t seemed as If very one whom
she knew in the county was there! She
would be disgraced! Tom, is If to
celebrate the shame that he had
brought down on her head, changed
his decorous waltz step for a mad
dance of his own devising, and the ap-
preciative watchers on the benches
clapped loudly.
Throughout this demonstration or
equine eccentricity, Betty had been
acutely aware of the presence of a
broad-shouldered, six-footed superior
example of circus ringmaster With
cracking whip he had welcomed
the innovation if it were not in
novation, and his sharp, Now, sir,
and Keep step, you rascal, to Tom
had further carried out the deception.
s'The little lady rides we'll"
A paIlid clown, in the peaked cap and
bagev pantaloons of his kind, began
brisk dialogue with the ring-master as
the band suddenly ceased playing, and
Tom, after bowling to the applause his
efforts had won, turned sedately toward
the exit.
Ladies' dressing rooms on the right"
came from the ringmaster in a low
voice, as the girl passed him. wait
there until I am done and will see you
So tely out of this"
Several female acrobats and aerial
artists eyed Betty curiously as she came
among them, but none seemed to take
her entrance as anything out of the or
her. Soon their various acts demanded
them and she was left alone.
Had Betty Braden been the conf
dent Betty of two brief hours ago she
would have ignored the ommand of the
ring autocrat and picked her own way
out into the air and home. But the girl
was peculiarly weak. Her nerves We're
frayed threads and the flush on her
cheeks had given way to a sick pallor.
She fell YEARLY onto a slim chair of the
camp stool variety and gave little
thought to the mutinous Tom, whom