The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-10-31

ed so tightly together that they IoOkeu
like wrinkles. Christine BraddOck
named i'm this morning. forgot to
tell you. David. Your name II Snips-
Jack Snipe"
David flushed. "why did she can
me that: Z" he asked.
Because you were lonesome. and
there is nothlnk 80 lonesome as jack
suipe. Leastwise, that's wot she says.
She asked me IL Id ever seen Jack
snipe on IL wet. dreary day. a-standin4
on sandbar. all alone like and for
lorn. She said she always felt 20
sorry for the poor little cuss-no. shs
didn't say cuss either. What was N
she said. Casey? You was there"
"She said thing" said Casey briefly.
wot she says goes in this ere agEreEa-
ton. 20 from now on you are just Jack
Snipe." He lowered his voice. There
won't nobody call you David Or Jeui.
son after this. my boy. Its too dan.
gerous.'
David was thoughtful. 40 you mean
to say" he said. after q pause. ''thnt
, every perxon in this show knows who
| really am?"
You bet your life they d." said
Casey.
"And what am wanted forr'
Certain. Wot's that got to % With
it,"
DO they think I'm-I'm Guiltyr
"well. I reckon most Of 'em do"
said the contortionist bIandiy. But"
he added in some haste. they don't
give dang for little thing like that"
But" said David nercely. II don't
want them to think I'm Euilty. can't
hear to think that every one II look.
ing upon me as a criminal. Why
why. what must the ladies Of the-oe
the show think Of met ~
Joey Grinnldi put his hand on the
young fellows shoulder. "They don't
think you done 1t. Jack-not one Of
'em. I heard 'em speaking Of you last
night as II you was . reg'lar angel.
Come on. now. Mrs. Braddock wants
| to see you minute
| David's heart eaped. 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 tho
| amazement of the interested group the
young virgininn lifted her hand to hls
lips. Mrs. Braddock flushed warmly,
an exquisite smile Of appreciation leap
ing to her rather somber eyes.
you must let me Introduce you to
these ladies'" she said. after a few
low words of greeting "rhis is Jack
Sn,pe. our new clown" she said,
naming for his benefit the RIDERS. the
ropewalker. the snake charrner and
the homeless wonder. David was pro-
foundly polite. almost old fashioned
In his acknowledgment Of the intro
duntion. 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 resortinG to slang.
where is Miss Christtnc?" asked
David. turning to Mrs. Brnddock with
| Il shy smile.
She did not answer at once. When
she did. it was with pnlpable uneasi.
ness. "Niy daughter usually takes her
, sleep at this time. Dav-Jack.'
Dayid's cheek slowly turned rcd. He
remembered what Braddock had said
! to him.
You are all very good to me-" he
murmured. for want Of anything better
! to say. His sensitive heart WIS
humping quickly. driven by hunilla.
tion. 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.
ler's pad. Just where they had been
seated the night before.
MY husband is hard sometimes.
David she said gently. ut will last
for Il few days. that is all. We must
not aggravate him now. In a little
Willie 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
l want her to be with-with some one
who is different from the people here.
You understand. don't you:"
Yes" said David. suddenly en-.
!ighiened. Il know what you mean.
l shall I've very happy. too
/ 'Ah. how gently you did that" she
cried. wistful CLEAN In her dark
eyes. How ;he blood tells its story:
Yes, David. I want her to know you;
want her toto be with her own
kind" Her face famed with sudden
fervor; he was struck by the almost
pathetic engerness that leaped into
her eyes. transfguring them. II have
tried so hard to give her something
of what I had myself. David. when
was Il girl. Everything depends on
+, the nett year or two. She is thinking