The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-25
THE DAI
sHoR / sT /
Patty Of the Swings
~ MlLL i. AMEs.

ASA tAlGu NCStAG e%t4A $500 ,
Thomas, the head ticket wagon
man, was on the point Of 1ackinsI
bis Job. Then the "old man" came!
To Jeff's terms and wired for hin
4 70 relieve the amlable but impossi.
y bic Herbert as soon as the limited
would bring him. Big show ticket
sellers are born. JeH was as good
as the best. Thomas and he made
the finest team in the business. it
was big money that the old man
had 10 pay TO get Jeff. my last
year at H." Jetr told Thomas when,
the latter had joyfulIy greeted him
} This seasons pay will fix me for
the peach orchard"
Herbert was working out his last
N show, o slim matinee. So JET,
shaking hands with old acquaint.
ances by the way. drifted over to
the big top. fle was swapping
tovial insults with McCarron, the
shows detective, near the perform
I ers' entrance. when two girls, wear
ing robes of flame and white,
passed close on their way to No. b
ring. who's that?" demanded
len, With his eyes on the second
OF the pair.
Lay off, boz" laughed McCarron.
They're the Montrose Slsters-dc
J "a pip oR.a double on the swings. But
the black one'll bite your eye out II
she sees you looking at the yaller
Starred one. They're sisters. all
right, and the brunette's boss"
Humphi" was all the rejoinder
Macallister made, for his eyes were
on the girls as they flung their gay
srobes to an attendant and ran into
the ring. Veteran Of the circus as
he was. Jeft to his amazement
found himself curiously concerned
about that slender, infinitely grace.
nlfgure with the golden hair that
was being lifted by the running
arope to that perilous perch far up
Under the canvas, He didn't stop
70 think that he had seen scores OF
women risk their lives on the
trapeze,, on hundreds OF occasions
without d tremor; he only knew that
he wished this girl. II she must
needs be a circus performer at all,
We're in some less perllous line
than that.
Il proved TO be, indeed, spler'
didsac as McCarron had said. With
j three fourths of the risk devolyins
on the light-haired sister. But JEFF
Macallister only enjoyed its very
end, when, with the running rope
sptraled about one lavender.claG
leg. tho girl slid slowly. with ex.
tended arms, back 10 solid earth
again. Then he drew a long breath
like any OF tho hicks in the audi.
ence.
Il was stout Mrs. Boyle, an old.
time loyal friend OF Jeft's. who, By
virtue OF her office as dresser and
an Unborn love of matchmaking, in.
troduced Macallister to the young.
or OF the Montrose sisters-at his
earnest solicitation.
And when Patty Montrosc-Patty
1Saw, ut home, as she promptly con-
fided to him-met Jeff's earnest
brown eyes with her own almost
violet gray ones. her heart beat
faster than it had ever done when
she looked up the far length OF n
5Q.foot center pole at the beCkon.
ing trapeze.
Within n week-though nowhere
is there more time.filling business
than that Of a circus on. the road
Jeh Macallister had made so many
opportunities for confidential talks
with Patty Kaw despite the expert
Opposition Of the handsome, domi-
mating Laida, that Patty knew all
about the peach orchard down in
Delaware, and would have been
binder than any circus girl ever
was had she had realized whom II
was that JEFF hoped to make mis-.
tress Of his home. So when Jetr,
on the Sunday lay.off, cIrcumvent-
ed 9Laida and took Patty for drive
IN, a hired car, she was prepared for
his proposal.
III wasn't hard.boi'ed show
guy" declared JEFF, land didn't
know that the second season wa.
the safest, I'd have you OF those
swings and quit the game tomor.
row, even II had to stick plaster
on the orchard. But never again.
sweetheart, after next fal1-no more
Of the road or the high pcrches,
for my wife,
He took It so for granted that
I Patty only sighed happily.
It was in the sleeper. over on the
siding, that night that Patty, not
without misgvings. conslded the
great news to LaIda. Laida, bend.
ing over her black train trunk, was
J portentously ssilent, seeking self.
Hcontrol. When she faced Patty pity
AZ Eas written on her couutenance.
S7.fYou poor kid" she exclaimed, "if
n had only known! You'll have to
get over this, girlie-all over It
THAT JEFF Macallister Is all wrong"
All wrong? Laida. what do you
mean? What do you know about
him? You said you didn't know
i him at all"
at was today, dearie. Mrs. Boyle
l-you remember how she talked
TO US when we came with tho show
how she said, Circus folks, per.
formers, arc as straight as anybody
and better than most. but girl
can'e have anything to do with
men from the executive car"
\ but 1t was Mrs. Boyle that in.
T troduced u.s." protested Patty, near
/ to tears.
: YES" assented Laida: "thats
why she came to me this afternoon
and said she was worried aud blam.
ing herself. 1t was Macallister,'
\ she Whispered to me, that made
that little French wire walker throw
herself under the train--the one n
told you about
For ten minutes Patty KawI
ie8ayad az TnfhInC Frhar ii, = a,,..s