The Dolores star., 1924-11-07
Sawdust Ring
f. and a Pretty
Love Affair
By ELIZABETH COBB
+t++++++I.I.I.I.F.t.fIlI.4I--....-.E

peSdu>e sue bdu DSth Drought
II.
Gloria's father watched his moth
'ess child as the apple of his eye. i
vas Jealous OF any attention besluw,
upon her by her fellow actors.
He leaves the show and disappear
md you never see him ON the street.
said Mr., Rice one day To the manag,
What matters. So he Ills the b
md draws the crowdy" returted Il
manager.
Yes, he does that, all right" "!
Onceded.
Then there happened something III,
invoke both gratitude and meas.n,,
the old ringmaster one nj -lit, js
$ Gloria was rounding the ring vi
lp-toe elegance, Il gasoline chundeli
ell across the head of the stCed s..
ode
Gloria sprang lightly to the saw
iGst floor of the arena. A whiri of ii
gathering flames, however. had caugi
.er light gauzy dr. s..
The ringmaster stood petriiied wit
eipless dread. \ quick 5gure SUI
ienly flew past dressing room curtain,
was Marley.
He had torn down a drnn ry in Il
nad rush. How he did ii. lie hims
'oGid not tell afterwards. hut In tids
re had enveloped that belg ed forl
Ntinguished the flames ana Glora
ler hair barely singed. bowed an
lniied to the audience. while MARI
offered back out Of view. face al
lands scared and llisterel.
The audience yelled and clappu.
heir hands until the manager force
Marley into the ring. Gloria. radian
rad caught his hand. and both stoo
1owing amid the deafening plaudlts.
The thrill of that sweet contact r..
yarded Marley for all he suffered
harley held Gloria us high above hir
IS the stars. Besides that. Il certai
secret in his life oppressed hin
rushed him, shut him away from AZ
nearlng as the true man that he real,
was.
Ii was one morning, about wee
rfter this episode, that "A few of Il
ctors met to rehearse new aCr
The ringmaster, for wonder, was at
sent, but his daughter and Marley
were both on hand
They had drawn aside In the dress
ng room entrance to await their cal
the act being rehearsed. and wert
onversing casually when two me-
anne through the main entrance an
approached the manager.
You have a man here named Mar
ey.' spoke one of them.
"ies, what of it?" snapped the man
tger, ruffied at the intrusion
I'VE are officers of the law and W.
nave warrant for his arrest a,
,harles Page"
Gloria fixed her startled eyes upor
Ter companion. Marley had paled He
'hrank back slightly.
He is criminal, an embezzler,"
'ontinued the officer.
Il shall go with him." spoke Marley
quickly. Il am neither Charles Page
Ior an embeZzler. but duty demands
hat | should be the scapegoat for
5oth.'
"Oh, | knew you were innocent ~
ried Gloria, her hands clusping his
rm fervently. NO. you shall not sac
ifice yourself. Quick-thls way"
1t was with considerable wonder
nent that "A search for Marley began
he manager noted that he had disap
peared.
Gloria's heart fiuttered for hour,
lfter that. More than once her eye,
danced toward the cage where heI
performing tiger, Hudah, was coniined
She learned that guard of off
GERS hung around the outside Of the
tent.
And there within. in the cage, hid
den by the great canvas cover of the
cage wagon, Marley lurked. He was
at the mercy Of the ferocious Hudah
but he held a talisman that made tho
animal gentle as a kitten towards him
the scarf Gloria always wore when
IN the cage. When the great circus
Iai uNdh "elueu ltS SLOW, Rauuy way
from the city the next day, the watch
ing officers again missed 1t In finding
a clew to the man who had vanished.
The show made long trip across
four states. That evening they settled
at their fixed stand; Rice called Mar
ley into his room at the hotel.
"Now, then, want your story" he
ssid mandatorily
"Why?' challenged Marley.
For Gloria's sake"
That was enough. II Gloria was in
,erested. All was 1t friendship, graf.
itude only? But Marley recited all the
"details of an event, where, to save q
Borrowing mother, he had assumed the
ELAINE of the crime Of another.
~ have an offer for a long tour In
Europe" said Rice There you would
he safe"
But why should I trouble you
lhus-" began Marley, and the ole
ringmaster answered:
81 think Gloria will wish to 70 where
you go. She believes in you. Are you
IpnSe Innnf She Ioyae vou and