The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-07-28

find scattering evidence Of the senti.
mental side Of the rugged life the cir
Gus nomads must lead. Here, and
there in the moving throng could be
singled out interesting pairs who
moved more leisurely than did most OF
their companions.
Yank Hawkins made free with his
position as an irresponsible atom
among the rest by shouting a taunt to
some Of the laggards whom he passed
IN his rush for the cook house."
Come on. Corkey; take hold Of her
hand and run with her. She needs
her cakes more than she does your
soft talk" bawled Yank to one OF the
acrobats. And you, Flip; that's good
advice for you, too"
But Flip paid no heed. Too deeply
was he immersed in his own thoughts
Of the disappointing hour when he
must part from La Belle, the famous
animal queen. who walked silently by
his side.
All season these two-F1ip, the IA
nous clown, and La Belle La Sieur-
had sought each others company early
every morning when the train pulled
into town. and they were seldom apart
for many moments of the day until
time came to seek their berths when
the circus started on its all-night run.
Flip was sad with the thoughts that
came In realizing how soon he must
part from the girl whom he had grown
to love so dearly. despite an insur-
mountable barrier that stood between
them.
La Belle La Sieur was distressed in
heart and mind with the memories re-
called by their arrival in this quaint
old southern city where. two years
previously she had made the great
and grave mistake OF consenting to
marriage with man she did not love
and had since learned to loathe.
II was right here in this old south
ern town that she had narrowly es-
capped death, when the circus she first
Travelled with had closed its season,
Just as THE Worlds Greatest Show"
was then closing its season the day
Flip and La Belle became the central
figures In the present story.
Doctor Lund was called to attend
her. He devoted more than a physi-
clans care to the circus girl and after
she had recovered he prevailed upon
her to meet him In st. Louis and be
secretly married.
Rtff hn nrrir,t
failed to become an equally attentive
husband, and was content to have her
travel with the circus and make her
own way-while he paid infrequent
visits to her, and then only when 1t
was most convenient and agreeable
to himself The wife played, In his
life, role of minor Importance.
The day passed for Flip, La Belle
and the rest of the circus folk Just as
every day had been spent since The
Worlds Greatest Show" began its
tour.
Dinner over, the rush of the after
noon show was on. And then came
the pleasantest hour OF all the circus
day for everybody with the show
the quiet and care-free interim be-
tween the afternoon and evening per-
formances.
Ladies and gentlemen, your atten-
ton, for one moment, please" rang
out the stentorian voice of the AN
nouncer." I'VE now present as the
GROWING feature of our performance.
Mile. La Belle La Sieur. with her den
of ferocious tigers. Dimples, Babe and
Beauty. Mile. La Sieur will now en-
terrain you with the most thrilling and
death-defying exhibition of control
over these wild and savage beasts
ever presented before the eyes OF NOR
tai mani"
fantastic harmony. La Belle La Sieur
bounded into the ring.
Look out for Dimples." said Yank
Hawkins In hurried undertone as he
held safe the short run" that led to
the cage door. "She's been acting
ugly ever since the afternoon show.
when you gave her the iron for her
meanness."
La Belle seemed not to hear-there
was no time to think, no desire to
heed anything save the wild rush of
the three great beasts as she quickly
sprang through the door. and 1t
was slammed behind her
Flip had for that one night donned
the uniform OF property man and
stood. as one transfixed. close be-
side the cage. in the fascination OF the
moment.
So many times had Flip watched
La Belle work her big cats" during
the season that he knew every move
that was to be made during the act by
girl and beasts-and he knew. before
the door had fairly snapped shut be-
hind the fearless maiden, that some
thing was dangerously wrong.
Crack! Snap C-r-r-ack!-La Belle
flashed the whip under the noses Of
Babe and Beauty.
Dimples crouched low In a corner
where she had never been known to
&C before. With her back to the door,
La Belle had Babe and Beauty in