The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-01-14
was always hoping to run across q clue

49, u ~ AAsA' 49,
on with renewed courage:
when | was big enough, ! wore n
tiny black skirt. and a red coat with
shiny buttons. and I beat the drum
In the carnival band. You ought to
have seer me-so little. Ab.
bolt. you cant imagine how little !
was! We had about a dozen small
shows In our company. fortune.tellers,
Ministries. magic wonders. and all that
and the band had to march from one
tent TO the next. and stand out In front
and play. to get the crowd In a 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 | was so little! Sometimes
they would smile ~ mo. but mother
had taught me never 20 speak TO any
one. but to wear a glazed look like
this"
How frightfully cold!" Abbott
shivereh. Then he laughed, and 90 did
Fran. They had entered l.ittleburg.
He added Sickedly: And how dread.
WI H'os W. W b'NNihb w y'u'
home"
Fran gurgied. Wouldn't Grace Noir
Just die II she could see u.s."
That sobered Abbott: considering
his official position. It seemed high
time for reflection.
Fran resumed abruptly. But I nev-
er really liked II because what ! want.
ed was n home-to belong to some.
body. Then | got to hating the bold
stare OF peoples eyes. and their fool
ish gaping mouths. | hated being nj.
ways on exhibition with every gesture
watched. AS II I'd been one OF the
trained dogs. ] hated the public.
wanted to get away from the world
clear away from everybody
like ] am now with you. Isn't
II great"
Mammoth" Abbott declared, wa.
tering her words with liberal imagina.
ton.
Il must talk fast. or the Gregory
house will be looming up at us.
Mother taught me all she knew, though
she hated books, che made herself
think she was only In the show life
Till she could make n little more-al.
ways Just n little more-shc really
loved II. you see But ! loved the
MISUNDERSTANDING that wasn't
the show. 1t was kind OF friendly
when | began feeding Samson"
Poor little N%onpareil!" murmured
Abbott wis''ully.
And often when the show was be.
ing unloadcd, I'd be stretched out In
our sleeper. with n school book pressed
close TO the ci~nder.specked window,
catching the first light. When The
mauls were pounding away ut the tent
pins. maybe I'd hunt n seat on some
cage. II II had been drawn up under q
tree. or maybe it'd De the ticket wag
| on, or even the stake pile-thcre you'd
sec me studying away for dear life
dressed in a plain little dress. trying
to look like ordinary folks. Such Il
queer little chap. | was-and always
trying to pretend that ! wasn't!
You'd have laughed to see me-"
Laughed at you!" cried Abbot, In
d~ignantly. Indeed | shouldn't"
Nor exclaimed Fran. pattlng his
arm impulsively.
Dear little ~wonderi" he returned
conclusiyely.
IL must tell you about one time" she
continued gaily. We were In New
Orleans at the Mardi Gras. and | wal
expected 10 come into the ring ridinI
Samson-not the vicious old lion, bu,
cub-that was long after my days o.
the drum and the red coat, bless you
] was a lion-tamer. now. nearly thir
teen years old. II you'll believe me
Well! And what was saying-yot
keep looking no friendly. you make m,
forget myself. Goodness. Abbott. L..
so much fun talking 10 you
I've never mentioned all this to on,
soul In this town Weil-oh
yes: ! was TO have come into tho ring
riding Samson. Everybody was wait
Ing for me. The band nearly blew II
self black In n face. And what d.
you think was the matter?"
did Samson balk?"
mo. II wasn't that. was lying OF
the cage floor, with my head on Sam
son--Samson the Second made such
gorgeous and animated pillow!-and
was learning geology. I'd Just foun,
out that the world wasn't made In sew
EN- United States days, and II wa
such surprising news that I'd forgot
ten all about cages and lions and tent
If you could have seen me lynn
there-if you Just could!"
But ! cant" Abbott declared
your long black hair Ia mingled will
his tawny name. and your cheeks ar,
blooming"
And my feet are crossed" erie,
Fran.
And your feet are crossed; an