The Tomahawk., 1925-01-08

Harry Westphalia felt sorry for the
girl. l could see that much in the
glance he gave her as he walked out
| of the arena with the rest Of the
troupe. But I could also see that,
from that moment, he would look
down upon Miss Vance as a member
Of greatly inferior social class. The
lines Of caste are drawn with brutal
distinctness among circus people.
If. by some supreme effort Of the
mind, Miss Vance had succeeded In
recovering her old professional conf
dence. she would have been restored
to her former position. But no one
seemed to entertain the thought Of
such a possibility. Miss Vance GER
tainly did not. She knew that she
had lost the grip on herself, and to
that misfortune she resigned herself
without struggle.
Hale, Of the side show, offered her
a Job posing with the other girls; and
she took 1t. There wasn't anything
else for her to do; and suicide wasn't
quite In her line.
Those must have been hard days for
the girl. Side show people have their
| social limitations, and ours were no
| better than the usual run Of them.
And none Of the outcast performers
erstwhile companions would associate
with her. So, between the side show
canaille, who hated her, and the main
| top aristocracy, who despised her, she
was forced to lead a rather dismal
life. But she was patient little thing,
with q fortitude of spirit that would
do credit to the entire party socialistic
She suffered without complaining.
I used to talk with her when had
the opportunity. l think she liked me
well enough, and was grateful for the
friendly interest l took In her. But
could do no more than attempt to cheer
her with words. Professionally she
was beyond mortal assistance. In the
| evenings, while the wagons were being
loaded, I used to stroll with her. She
really had no one else to talk to.
One evening, as we were sauntering
out Of the lot, we happened to pass
Madame Westphalia and her seven
year-old son, Teddy. They were &c
companied by Harry. When Teddy
saw us he broke away from his moth
er and danced impudently In front Of
Miss Vance.
"Yah, yahl Ballyhoo grill" he
shouted.
Madame Westphalia gave no sign,
but Harry seized his nephew by the
arm and quickly drew him away.
For an instant I felt the girl cringe
beneath the sting of the taunt. The
naked soul Of her had been fiecked by
the words Of the demon child; but oh,
how bravely she bore 1t! Almost i'm
mediately she regained her self-con-
troll. resuming towards me her light,
bantering tone, as we continued our
walk
| A week later we were playing to
one of those record-breaking crowds
that, either kindly providence or 9
capable press department was turn.
ing out for US that year. The aerial
apparatus was in place, but the act
was not due for about fifteen minutes.
was just strolling into the big top
when Madame Westphalia came sprint
ing past me like loony woman. MY
boy, my boyl" she was shrieking; and,
sure enough, there was reason for the
mother alarm.
Teddy, in some manner, had climbed
to the madame's trapeze when no one
was looking. A childish within had
caused him to unfasten the tape by
which he might have descended. d.
rectly beneath him was pile Of hur'
dies that had been thrown there al
the end Of an equestrian act. The net
had not been stretched. Now, on his
uncertain perch, he had become fright.
ened, and was slipping from the bar
slipping, slipping from the bar!
The big audience was standing on
the benches-just standing, staring
rigid with horror. -.-
Then, felt rather than heard q
sharp sigh whip around the human
horseshoe, like the sudden intake Of
pneumatic copy tube. I saw that
the concentrated gaze Of the crowd
had been shifted from the boy to q
pair of hanging rings, some 30 feet te
the right. A girl in short, red dress
bad climbed to one Of these rings
She was swinging swinging in lat
eral direction-in rapidly widening
arcs-swinging with all the impetus
her 1.-the body and limbs could throw
into the movement-swinging until hel
heels dimpled the canvas top. Sud
denly she shot out over the arena to
wards the boys trapeze. There wal
a flicker of red, fearsome creakint
of ropes as the trapeze hauled taut
and the woman caught up securely OF
the bar with the boy. The shocf
threw him from his precarious resting
place, but strong, brown hand
clutched the looseness Of his blouse
as he fell, and held him antA he could