The Rose in the Ring

or the sudden antipathy he felt toward

n Ethiopian, gave to the upper part of his face a sheep-like expression. His lower lip, thick and blue and loose, protruded with flabby insistence beyond its mate, which was short and straight. The chin receded, but was of surprising length and breadth. His ears sat very low on his head and were ludicrously small. Above them rose a massive dome, covered with thick, well-brushed hair of a yellowish hue,

nd virility. His hands were long and slim and very white. A huge diamond glittered on one of the fingers of the left hand; another quite as large adorned the bosom of his shirt. I

o occasionally traverse her figure from crown to foot. The boy's dislike grew to actual r

haracteristic of the man who knows that he is operating against his own best interests in the face of one who fully understands the weakness that impels him. Mrs. Braddock stood before him, cold, passive, unconvinced. Her greeting for the n

and she nodded her head dejectedly. Braddock's next rema

talk it over there. I think you will see it my way, Mary. You'l

to take his arm, the tall man coldly withdrew himself from the contact, displaying a far from mild aversion to the advances of the tipsy showman. Braddock dropped back, like a cowed d

hey crossed the lot in the direction of the street. She apparently paid no heed to his remarks. Braddock made no effort to keep up with them, but loafed beh

wrong with his friend and supporter, but what it was he could not even venture a g

'ere aga

ering over his shoulder, his erstwhile

e?" deman

assed from view beyond a "snack-stand" that he sighed mightily and jammed his hands int

d harshly. "That's

to do with the

follows the show in them capacities. Not he. He's too big a guy for that. No, sirree. He pinches the dollars by the thousands, that chap does. No ten-dollar rube games for 'im. But I'll tell you all about 'im at supper. There's Ruby waiting for us at the door. I'm 'aving

g bustle and paniers, was directing the contortionist in his efforts to construct a table o

e can sit on the boxes. Here, dad, you and Jack get the boxes up. The boys will be here with supper in a minute or two. Oh, I say, isn't i

o eat what they have there. If you can't understand French, you're sure to eat somet

ow? You've nev

't, eh? My dear, I'd have you to know

popped

had 'em after my wife's cousin had been up to our shack of a Sunday to get a good square meal. He was a waiter at Delmonico's.

usual banquet. In the menagerie tent beyond wild beasts were growling and roaring and snarling a weird interlude for the benefit of

d have a runaway boy with us every night or

of his daughter. He ate in silence, his brow

d at last, interrupting a tale that Ruby

" she exclaim

om Casey, also

ra

skunk her

ering 'er, too. Makes love to 'er right afore

ing, her fingers clenched. David recalled the muscular bare arms he had seen during the trapeze

ppen," she said. "I saw a cross-eyed ma

tious. Not one, but all of them, carry charms, amulets or lucky

g to paste that guy on the nose,"

omily. "He carries a gun, and he'll use it, too. And if he didn't,

Braddock is in love w

is heart

m glared at him-

he despises 'im. I said as 'ow he was in love with

at kind of a woman,"

ow about women?

omes of a very good old New Orleans family. He spoilt it all by being a colonel in the Union army during the war. He wasn't for the North because he was patriotic, but because he knowed the North would win and he saw 'is chance to get rich. He's just a nateral-born gambler. Of course, he ain't been back to New Orleans sin

t at it and so died an honest man. It seems that he borrowed one of Colonel Grand's riding hosses to go after a doctor one night, some years ago, and didn't return it for nearly eighteen months. He wouldn't 'ave returned it then if the Colonel 'adn't seen 'im riding it in Van Slye's street parade out in a little Indiana town during county fair w

like. In course o' time, Tom's father worked it so's Tom could practice 'is bareback acts at Colonel Grand's stables. He was the best rider in the country at that time. The Colonel got 'im to drinking and gambling. That was the beginning. The poor cuss 'adn't been such a bad lot up to that time. Him and Mary had always got on fairly well until he got to drinking. It wasn't long afore the Colonel took a notion to Tom's wife.

, he paid 'im back dollar for dollar. We 'ad a good season and he got the show cheap. Tom give up riding because he was tight all the time, nearly killing Christine once or twice. Every once in awhile, come so the Colonel would turn up and travel with the show for a week or so, inducing Tom to play poker and drink. Tom allus lost and then the Colonel'd stake 'im for a month or so to run the show on. This 'as gone on for two years, Tom getting wuss all the time and the Colonel more pers

wonderful persistent. Like as not he'll help Tom out some more afore he leaves, just to draw the web closer. He'll stay a few days, 'anging around 'er like a vulture, paying no attention to 'er re

his brow was damp with perspiration. Casey

ed David, his fine

nything for whiskey. He's got to have it. We've all talked to 'im. No good. I-I don't like

et, his face quivering

ou are afraid to stand up for her, I will show you h

"I like to hear you talk that way. But don't you go 'round gabbing a

and then sank back to his s

-that I've got a

u are David Jenison and-well, it's a fine old name, my 'eartie, but t

the other, his eyes dark wi

y doesn't she leave him? Why not get a divorce? No woman should l

t all right,' says he, 'you can thank me, but if it goes wrong, don't blame me.' So there you are. It strikes me that God don't intend a good many things, but they 'appen just the same. As for 'er getting a divorce, she's too proud. She made 'er bed, as the feller says, and she'

to marry such a

story. I 'ope, Casey

"I was coolin' my mouth. Try that coffe

im," said Ruby, more to h

s comes to the town where she was attending school. The young ladies were took to the afternoon performance by the-er-school-ma'ams. They all perceeded to fall in love at first sight with a 'andsome young equestrian. He was very good-looking, I can tell you that, and he 'ad a fine figger. As clean a looking young chap as ever you see. Well do I remember Tommy Braddock in them days. He was twenty-two and he rode like a A-rab. Well, wot should 'appen but 'is hoss, a green one, must bolt suddenlike, scairt by one of the balloons that 'it 'im on the nose. Brad fell off as the brute leaped out of the ring, terrified by the shouts of the ring-men. The hoss started right for the seats where the school misses was setting. Up jumps Brad and sails after 'im. The hoss got tangled in some ropes and stumbled, just as he was about to leap into the place where Mary Portman sat. Brad g

e butler did shut the door in 'er face. So she turned 'er back on 'er father's 'ome and went to the little one Tom made for 'er in Baltimore. She never even wrote to 'er father after that, and she won't ever go back, no matter wot 'appen

lus scairt to death on account of the gal. I think nearly all of the last five years of her life 'ave been spent in wishing that Tom would fall off and break 'is own neck, but he couldn't do it very well without breakin' the kid's, too, so she didn't know wot to do. Then he got to drinking so 'ard that he did fall off, 'urting 'imself purty bad. After that he give it up, buying a share in Van Slye's show, and letti

lack eyes had caught sight of a figure approaching from the b

ho knew her only as a strong, courageous defender. A wan smile crept into her tired eyes as she carne up to them and

alacrity. The contortionist found a small trunk and placed it betw

supper, Mrs. Brad

have enough for me without robbing yourselves. You work so hard, you know, m

dy," announced Joey conclus

called up a boy and sent off to the performer's cook top for a pit

own faring?" she asked

with a

he replied. "I have be

nown food to t

atrocious. I can't eat the fo

allowed it obediently but with evident distast

gain," ventured the contortionist,

e toyed with the tin-cup with nervous fingers for a moment and then turned t

, nodding his

th Tom. Oh, if we could only have a spell of g

said the clown. "It

ddo

performers were absolutely dumb in

y service to you?" asked

fair, David. You are very, very good, but-" She checked the words resolutely

," announced the boy,

Mrs. Braddock hesitated for a seco

n additional expression of hatred had she not lifted her finger imperatively. "Yo

"I've got to rehearse you a bit. You've got

r money for you. Do you object to Mr. Noakes taking it for awhile? Until we c

ith you," he

ever see it again." He was struck by the increase

ive it to him. But-but I want you to know that if you ever need any of it,

he quickly withdrew the flat purse from the bosom of her dress and

his inside coat po

him and Casey to stand by you. In a few days we will be in Ohio. The danger will be small after that, Dav-I mean, Jack Snipe. I-I have worried about this money ever since-well, ever since last night. You must not hav

ve I committed the crime I am accused of," s

ccusers," she

d Grinaldi, his patience

om at the hotel," she answered,

, I suppose," he

certain details." She

ked up i

to say you are-y

y friend," she s

nk so," said

dock aros

hristine. Will

xchanging a quick glance with her fa

Joey. "Strip them cloth

rn. Ta, ta, Casey. Don'

ur bones, if y

o a portion of his clown's dress under the direction o

Joey took the boy's arm and said, wit

e show business since she was two. Her mother and 'er grandmother afore 'er, too. But the business ain't wot it used to be. I want 'er to get out of it. I don't want 'er marrying some wuthless 'Kinker' or even a decent 'Joy.' Mrs. Braddock 'as done worlds for 'er, mind you, but it's the men she's associated with that I objects to. They're-they're too much like me. That's wot I mean, Jacky. Would you mind just

above that of his present associates that even the most scornful of them felt the distinction. He recalled the profane respectfulness of the boss ca