Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-02-18
CHAPTER VII

awake. He tIptoed to the Mushroom
carrying his shoes. Once his eyes had
opened, sleep had departed wholly
This, he realized. was tomorrow.
He must make 1t such in every way.
He had come upon the show in the
belief OF debt owed to others. his
own affairs therefore must he sub.
1ugated. 1t was a self-hypnolism
which changed his attitude toward life
greatly. A half-hour later, out ut the
circus grounds Bill Curry, the boss
canvas man, looked hard at the young
man who faced him.
Aren't You performer" be asked
Yes, sir" said Joe Barry.
Then why" asked Bill Curry with
some amazement, do You want TO
know II there's any work around the
lot for you? Performers don't have
to help put up the circus"
Joe grinned.
oh, | know that But, you see, I'm
new. I'd learn a lot about the circus
by working this way. Besides, I'd
like to-"
WELL II that's the way you feel
about 1t. answered Bill Curry with a
widening of his eyes. hop to 1t!
Blame yourself. though, Ii few OF
us bosses drop dead. We aIn't used
to having performers do much Of any,
thing but beef"
An hour later. when Uncle Dan and
Sue Dayton came on the lot, they
halted at the sight OF grimy being,
In borrowed overalls, who was assist
Ing with the unrollIng OF the big top
canvas. Again there was re-
monstrance; again the answer, this
time with boyish eagerness:
but | might learn something's
Uncle Dan and Sue walked on then.
and Uncle Dan whistled enthusiastIcal-
" all morning.
1t was beginning OF exertions
which did not end with the wearing
of of the first veneer OF Joes en-
thusiasm. His body was of the slnewy
type which reverted easily to muscle.
as soon MS the first soreness was over,
ne found q certain Joy In the strain
OF effort. to say nothing Of The mental
alienation which it gave him. For
this was A new world into which he
could submerge his own. here was a
life which seemed endless in its mys-
teries. It meant the opening OF new
nelds. new aspirations to be followed
In this beloved place OF deliverance.
The circus had been all Of that for
Joe. For the first ten days or so.
there had been certain amount OF
agony In his existence, the fearful
watchfnl attitude OF one who was
constantly amazed that out OF these
people. there was no one who should
recognize him. Then. too. there had
been the matter OF his name, to be
guarded every instant lest he should
allow the real one to slip. Hour after
hour and day upon day he had re-
peated 1t to. himself as II It were a
rote--
Joe Bradley. I'm from Great Bend.
Kan; Joe Bradley, I'm from Great
Bend, KAN
At last 1t had become second ma
ture to him. Now and then he thought
OF his true cognomen and 1t sounded
strange to him. Slowly he had be-
come Joe Bradley In reality. and with
that transition, 1t had seemed that
some OF the venom OF his memories
had departed. Likewise. the watch.
fulness. Gradually he was becoming
accustomed to the sight OF a police
man. Slowly. ever so slowly. 1t be.
came possible for him to walk through
the crowds when they gathered on the
midway before performance, or milled
across the circus lot after the show
was over. without the feeling that
covertness was the constant price OF
bis liberty.
All-pervading interest In this new
life had made these things possible.
1T was as though he had been seeking
this existence all his life. He went
about the task of adapting himself
TO it almost feyerishly. like a man |
striving to make up for lost time. Not
the least pleasnrable OF his duties
were those In the ring, when the
cleaning Iorio was In his grasp, to be |
from mere thing of |
pearl and silverstone and piano KEYS |
70 the guardian spot of all the music |
hat was in his SOUL II made little |
Inference to him that the song was |
temporal one: it was tribute to Sue |
Dayton, and he played 1t as though Ii |
we're classic Perhaps that is what |
made the throngs applaud. Perhaps.
90, 1t was the earnestness OF these
.wo, with all the rest Of the circus in
darkness while the multi-colored flood
lights played on them alone, upon
hem and the horse and the sparkling
accordion. And then one night. as
Toe Barry and Sue Dayton walked to
he cars, the man suddenly whirled
ooklng toward the light-splotched bic
op, and swapping his fingers as If in
distraction.
That's 1T! That's It'll" he ex-
'laimed.
What are you thinking about now"
Sue said it half laughingly.