The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-04-09
sereneiy; Down

You're no Daniel. II / am q Charmer.
No dens for us."
Nor lion cages!" inquired Abbott.
still inscrutable; never again7"
Never again." came her response,
Fran stopped before the Ferris
Wheel.
Let's take a ride" she said, q little
tremulously. Wont need tickets. Bill.
stop the wheel; ! want TO go right up.
This In a friend OF mine-Mr. Ashton.
And Abbott, this 10 IN older friend
than you-Mr. Bill S%mookins."
Mr.. Bill Smookins VAS an exceed.
ingly h%ard.featured man. OF no recog.
nizable age. Externally. he was blue
overalls and greasy tar.
Abbott grasped Bills hand. and In.
quired about bssiness.
Awful pore, sense Fran lef' the
show" was the answer. accompanied
by a grin that threatened to cut the
weather.beaten face wide open.
Fran beamed. "Mr. Smookins knew
my mother-didn't you, Bill? He was
awful good TO me when ! was a Kid.
Mr.. Smookins was q Human Nymph In
those days. and he smoked and talked.
he did. right down under the water
remember. Bill? That was sure-enough
water-oh. he's a ~sure-enough Bill. let
me tell you!"
Bill intimated. as he slowed down
the engine. hat tho rheumatism he
had acquired under the water. was
sure-enough Observation-Disclosures his
change OF occupation. Il was strong
enough to be n Human Nymph." he
explained, but not endurable. Nobody
cant last many years as a Human
Nymph."
Abbott indicated his companion
Here's one thatll last my time"
The wheel stopped. lie and Fran
were barred into a seat.
And now" Fran exclaimed. "it's all
ups and downs. just like a moving pic
ire OF life. Why don't you say some.
thing. Mr.. Ashton? But no you can
keep still-I'm excited to death. and
wouldn't hear you anyway. | want TO
do all the talking always do, after
I've been In the cage My brain Ia
filled with air-so this IL the time To
be soaring up into the sky, isn't II!
What Is your brain filled Without
never mind. Well be just two bal.
loons-my! aren't you glad we haven't
any strings on us-suppose some PEG
pie had hold!-I. for one. would be
willing never to go down again. Where
are the clouds Wish we could meet
a few. See how I'm trembling-al.
ways do. after the lions. Now. Abbott,
I'll leave a small opening for just one
word"
I'll steady you." said Abbott. brief,
ly, and he took her hand. She did not
appear conscious Of his protecting
clasp.
Il never see the moon 80 big" she
rel on. b%reathlessly. without think.
ing OF that night when II rolled along
the pasture az II It wanted to knock
US OF the foot.bridge for being where
we oughtn't. ! never could understand
why you should stay on that bridge
with n perfect stranger. when your
duty was TO be usher at the camp.meet-
ing! You weren't ushering me, you
know. you were holding my hand
mean. | was holding your hand, as
Miss Sapphire says ! shouldn't. What
n poor helpless man-as I'm holding
you now. | presume! But ! laughed In
meeting People ought to go outdoors
to smile, and keep their religion In a
house. | guess, I'm going to tell you
why | laughed. for you've never
guessed, and you've always been
afraid to ask"
Afraid OF you. Franz"
lawfully. I'm going to show YOU
let go, so | can show YOU. No. I'm In
earnest-you can have me. afterwards.
|. Remember that evangelist +!
There he stood, waving his hands--as
I'm doing now-moving his arms with
his eyes fastened upon the congrega.
tion-this way-look. Abbott"
Fran! As II | were not already
looking"
"Look-just SO: not saying a word
only waving this way and that
And II made me thing OF our hypno,
tizer-the man that waves people into
our biggest tent-he seems to pick EN-
up bodily and carry them In his arms.
Well! And II the people are TO be
waved into a church. II won't take
much OF a breeze to blow them out
don't believe In ~souiwaving. Hut
that doesn't c that I don't believe
In the church-does lido you
Think"
you believe In convictions. Fran,
And since you've come into the church
you dom. have to say that you believe
In IT,"
"Y~es--there's nothing on the ont
side. and oh. sometimes there's &c
little. 80 little under the roof-wha,
do you think OF me. Abbottf"
Fran. ! think you are the most"
"Dut do you'll" she intsrpossd. still