The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-25
EOening Story
Patty of the Swings.
BY WILL T. AMES.

wagon man, was on the point of jack
1 ing his job. Then the "old man" came
to Jeffs terms and wired for him &c
relieve the amiable but impossible
Herbert as soon as the limited would
/ bring him. Big show ticket sellers
are born. Jeff was as good as the
best. Thomas and he made the finest
team in the business. 1t was big mon
JEFF. My last year at it." JEFF told
Thomas when the latter had joyfully
greeted him. This seasons pay will
fix me for the peach orchard"
Herbert was working out his last
show, a slim matinee. So Jeff, shak-
ing hands with old acquaintance by
the way, drifted over to the big top.
He was swapping jovial insults with
McCarron, the shows detective, near
the performers entrance. when two
white, passed close on their~Way to
No. 1 ring. Who's that?" demanded
jeff, with his eyes on the second of
the pair.
Lay off. boz" laughed McCarron.
They're the Montrose Sisters-do a
pip of a double on the swings. But
the black one'll bite your eye out if
she sees you looking at the yaller
haired one They're sisters, all right,
and the brunette's boss
''Humph" was all the rejoinder
Macauister made, for his eyes were
on the girls as they flung their gay
robes to an attendant and ran into the
ring. Veteran of the circus as he
was. jeff to his amazement found
himself curiously concerned about
that slender, infinitely graceful figure
with the golden hair that was being
lifted by the running rope to that
perilous perch far up under the can
vas He didn't stop to think that he
had seen scores of women risk their
lives on the trapeze. on hundreds of
NHyfth frzav !,
knew that he wished this girl, if she
must needs be a circus performer at
all. were in some less periIous line
than that.
1t proved to he. indeed, a splendid
act, as McCarron had said, with three
fourths of the risk devolving on the
light-haired sister. But Jeff Mac
allister only enjoyed its very end,
when. with the running rope spiraled
about one lavender-cIad leg, the girl
to solid earth again. Then he drew
4 long breath. like any of the hicks
in the audience.
1t was stout Mrs. Boyle, an old
time loyal friend of Jeffs, who. by
virtue of her office as dresser and an
INFORM love of matchmaking, intro
1uced Macallister to the younger of
he Montrose sisters-at his earnest
And when Patty Montrose-Patty
Naw, at home. as she promptly con-
sided to him-met Jeffs earnest
brown eyes with her own almost violet |
gray ones, her heart beat faster than
t had ever done when she looked up
he far length of 50-foot center pole |
1t the reckoning trapeZe.
Within n week-tho nowhere is |
here more time-filling business than |
hat of a circus on the road-Jeff |
had made so many OPP |
,ortunities for confidential talks with |
Patty kaw despite the expeI- opposi- |
ion of the handsome dominating
aida, that Patty knew all about the |
'each orchard down in Delaware. and |
would have been binder than any cir |
us girl ever was had she not real
zed whom it was that Jeff hoped to |
make mistress of his home. So when
eff, on the Sunday lay-off, circum-
-ented Laida and took Patty for a
rive in hired car, she was prepared
or his proposal.
IF 1 wasn't a hard-boiled show
n.y." declared Jeff. 'tand didn't know
d have you off those swings and quit
he game tomorrow. even if 1 had to
tick a plaster on the orchard. But
ever again, sweetheart, after next
all-no more of the road or the high
erches, for my wife,
He took it SO for granted that Patty
My sighed happily.
1t was in the sleeper. over on the
Iding, that night that Patty, not with
ut misgivings, confided the great
ews to Laida- Laida, bending over
er black train trunk. was portentous-
? silent. seeking self-control. When
ne faced Patty pity was written on
er countenance. You poor kid!" |
ne exclaimed, eff I had only known!
QUILL have to get over this, grille
Il over it That Jeff Macallister is
Il wrong"
"All wrong? Laida, what do you
lean? What do you know about
inn You said you didn't know him
/ a1l.''
at was today, dearie. Mrs. Bowie
ou remember how she talked to us
hen we came with the show-how
lie said. Circus folks, performers !
-e as straight as anybody and better
ian most, but a girl can't have any
ling to do with men from the execu-
We car "
But it was Mrs. Boyle that intro
iced u.s." protested Patty. near to {
ars. !
yes" assented Laida; chats why
lie came to me this afternoon and S
i'd she was worried and blaming her I
II. 1T was Macallister,' she whis- I
red to me, that made that little =
-ench wire walker throw herself un- S
n the train-the one I told you Il
,out."
For ten minutes Patty Kaw stared T
nothing Then she reused herself.
ssed Laida and said, Don't worry, f
ar, shall never speak to him
ain. Mrs. Boyle wouldn't lie" Q
Patty sent a chuck tent boy to Jeff 5,
tn a bitter, final little note, and tore g
without reading the note the boy +,
ought back. Twice that Monday K
Iida's sheer strength of fingers alone Il
we'd Patty from a fall. And Patty II
Il that she wouldn't have cared. At p
e night performance Jeff intercepted w
T on her way from ring to dressing "
Mt And Patty, white faced. ap-
aled to the ringmaster, who hap Il
ned to be close by.
Sorry, Jeff" said that autocrat OF =
c big top during show hours. 'if =
Q lady says no it's no. even to d
Q old man himself c
So crashed into y-reckage of misery D.