Putnam patriot., 1913-05-30
imagination. T


 Tn spite of the lions?" she asked, almost sterniy.
 You needn't tell me word," Ab- bolt said. ''I know all that one need know; it's written in your face, a story of sweet innocence and brave pa- uence"
 But I want you to know" "Good!" he replied with a sudden smile. Tell the story. then: If you were an Odyssey. you couldn't be too long,"
 "The first thing remember is walk ing up to feel the car jerked, or stopped, or started and seeing lights flash past the windows-lanterns of the brakemen, or lamps of some town, car was home-the only home knew. All night long there was the grooming of the wheels, the letting off of steam, the calls of the men. Bounder Broth CTS had their private train, and moth- CT and lived in our Pullman car. Aft CT while knew that folks stared at us because we were different from oth- CTS. We were show-people. Then the thing was to look like you didn't know. or didn't care. how much people stared After that, found out that I had no father; he'd deserted mother. and her uncls had turned her out of doors for marrying against his wishes, and she'd have starved If 1t hadn't been for the show-people."
 Dear Franl" whispered Abbott ten derly.
 Mother had gone to Chicago, hoping for position in some respectable of fee, but they didn't want a typewriter who wasn't a stenographer It was winter-and mother had mel was so little and bad! In a cheap lodging house, mother got to know La Gonizetti, and she persuaded mother to wait with her for the season to open up, then go with Bounder Brothers; they were wintering in Chicago. It was such kind of life as mother had convenient than starving. and she thought it would give her a chance to find father-that travelling. all over the country. La Confetti was a lion tanner, and that's what mother learned, and those two were the ones who could go inside Samson's cage. The life was awfully hard, but she got to like it, and everybody was kind to us, and money came pouring in, and she was always hoping to run across clue to my father-and never did,
 She paused, but at the pressure of Abbott's sympathetic hand, she went on with renewed courage:
 'When I was big enough, l wore tiny black skirt, and a red coat with shiny buttons, and l beat the drum in the carnival band. You ought to have seen me-so little. Ab- bolt, you can't imagine how little l wasl We had about a dozen small shows in our company. fortune-tellers, minstrels, magic wonders. and all that tent to the next, and stand out in front and play, to get the crowd in bunch. so the free exhibition could work on their nerves And I'd beat away, in my red coat and there were always the strange faces, staring, star ing-but 1 was so little! Sometimes they would smile at me, but mother had taught me never to speak to any one, but to wear a glazed look like this"
 How frightfully cold!" Abbott shivered. Then he laughed. and so did Fran. They had entered Littleburg. He added wickedly: And how dread fully near we are getting to your home"
 Fran gurgled. Wouldn't Grace Noir just die If she could see us!"
 That sobered Abbott; considering his official position, it seemed high time for reflection.
 Fran resumed abruptly. But I new CT really liked 1t because what want ed was a home-to belong to some body. Then I got to hating the bold stare of peoples eyes, and their fool ish gaping mouths, I hated being al- ways on exhibition with every gesture watched, as if I'd been one of the trained dogs. I hated the public. wanted to get away from the world clear away from everybody |. like am now with you. Isn't 1t greatP
 Mammoth" Abbott declared, wa tering her words with liberal imaginA- ton.
 T must talk fast. or the Gregory house will be looming up at us. Mother taught me all she knew. though she hated books; she made herself think she was only in the show life till she could make little more-al- ways just little more-she really loved it, you see. But loved the s-study-anything that wasn't the show. It was kind of friendly when I began feeding Samson"
 Poor little Nonpareil!" murmursd Abbott wistfully.
 And often when the show was be- ing unloaded, I'd be stretched out in our sleeper. with . school book pressed close to the cinder-specked window, catching the first light. When the mauls were pounding away at the tent pins, maybe I'd hunt a seat on some cage. if it had been drawn up under a tree. or maybe it'd be the ticket wag- on. or even the stake pile-there you'd see me studying away for dear hfe,l dressed in a plain little dress. trying to look like ordinary folks. Such a queer little chap. I was-and always trying to pretend that I wasn'tl, You'd have laughed to see mo-"
 Laughed at youi" cried Abbott in dignantly. Indeed shouldn't"
 "No?" exclaimed Fran. batting his arm impulsiveiy.