Part 12 (2/2)

”La, la! La, la, la!” huht of those in the reserved seats--the sa over twice each day for the past irl as perched on a trapeze bar far up toward the doreat tent

Zoraya, for that was her na lightly into the strong, sure ar hted up the face of the clown for the hter of his, who had been his care since she was a child

shi+vers had taught her all she knew, and Zoraya was the acknowledged queen of the lofty tuht his breath as the lithe forraceful ”two-and-a-half” in the air, and, shooting doard, hit the net with a resounding smack that caused the spectators to catch their breath sharply

The clown shook a warning head at her, and Teddy so far forgot hiround

”Don't do it, Bright Eyes!” cautioned shi+vers, shaking his head warningly at the girl, as the child bounced up fro a so net ”It isn't in your contract Folks so kinkers that's not in the writings”

Her ansas a htly up a rope ladder to the platforht

”My, I wish I could do stunts like that!” breathed Teddy

”Just like a bird La, la, la! La, la, la!” sang the painted clown, turning a handspring and pivoting on his head for a grand, spectacular finish

His refined co to the occupants of the reserved seats, had now been changed to loud, uproarious buffoonery as he bowed before the blue, fifty cent seats where his auditors werefroe of the arena

He took liberties with their hats, passed familiar criticisms on their families and told the the noisy appreciation of the spectators

Teddy was put to his wits end to keep up with this rapid-fire clowning, and the perspiration was already streaking the powder on his face

All at once, above the din and the applause, the ears of the clown caught a sound different from the others--a scream of alar his twenty years in the sawdust ring, and, as he expressed it, the sound always gave him ”crinkles up and down his spine”

There was no need to start and look about for the cause

He understood that there had been an accident But the clown looked straight ahead and went on with his work He knew, by the strains of theat the mo through the air in a ”passing leap,” one of the feats that always drew such great applause, even if it were erous

”No, it can't be Zoraya!” he lance up there where her troupe orking in the air The cold sweat stood out upon hiht the net It was e right through the net

Then, too, he saw so under the net with outstretched ar to catch her,” shouted Teddy jubilantly

But Phil went down under the i attendants gathered about them, and in a moment the two for

Once, years before, shi+vers had been through an earthquake in South As about hi down about hi fashi+on

Now, that saain, and quarter poles seeiddyrows of blue seats appeared to be tilted up at a dangerous angle Then slowly the clown's bewilder, but his painted face reflected none of the anguish that was gripping at his heart strings

Teddy brushed a hand across his own eyes

”I--I guess they're both killed,” he said falteringly

Just then the voice of the head clown broke out in the old Netherlands harvest song: