know what's
the matter, all right."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Jim, sharply.

"I mean that all your time's took up a-carryin' and a-fetchin' for that
girl what calls you 'Muvver Jim.'"

"What have yer got to say about her?" Jim eyed him with a threatening
look.

"I got a-plenty," said Barker, as he turned to snap his whip at the
small boys who had stolen into the back lot to peek under the rear edge
of the "big top." "She's been about as much good as a sick cat since she
come back. You saw her act last night."

"Yes," answered Jim, doggedly.

"Wasn't it punk? She didn't show at ALL this afternoon--said she was
sick. And me with all them people inside what knowed her, waitin' ter
see 'er."

"Give her a little time," Jim pleaded. "She ain't rode for a year."

"Time!" shouted Barker. "How much does she want? She's been back a month
and instead o' bracin' up, she's a-gettin' worse. There's only one thing
for me to do."

"What's that?" asked Jim, uneasily.

"I'm goin' ter call her, and call her hard."

"Look here, Barker," and Jim squared his shoulders as he looked steadily
at the other man; "you're boss here, and I takes orders from you, but if
I catches you abusin' Poll, your bein' boss won't make no difference."

"You can't bluff me," shouted Barker.

"I ain't bluffin'; I'm only TELLIN' yer," said Jim, very quietly.

"Well, you TELL her to get onto her job. If she don't she quits, that's
all." He hurried into the ring.

Jim took one step to follow him, then stopped and gazed at the ground
with thoughtful eyes. He, too, had seen the change in Polly. He had
tried to rouse her; it was no use. She had looked at him blankly. "If
she would only complain," he said to himself. "If she would only get
mad, anything, anything to wake her." But she did not complain. She
went through her daily routine very humbly and quietly. She sometimes
wondered how Jim could talk so much about her work, but before she could
answer the question, her mind drifted back to other days, to a garden
and flowers, and Jim stole away unmissed, and left her with folded hands
and wide, staring eyes, gazing into the distance.

The memory of these times made Jim helpless to-night. He had gone on
hoping from day to day that Barker might not notice the "let-down" in
her work, and now the blow had fallen. How could he tell her?

One of the acts came tumbling out of the main tent. There was a moment's
confusion, as clowns, acrobats and