The Womans Way - Page 71/222

"All right," said Mr. Bloxford. "But it seems to me that you're the

popular man of this crowd. Oh, I don't walk about in my sleep, young

man. I can see as far as a blind horse. You've got through your bit like

a little man; and no nonsense, neither--no side and no frills. And no

fooling about with the women, eh?"

He shot a glance at Derrick who shrugged his shoulders, and Mr.

Bloxford, after another glance, appeared to be satisfied with the shrug.

After they had counted the money as best they could, for some of it was

strange to them, and had locked it in the safe, they joined the company.

Their appearance was hailed with a cheer. Mr. Bloxford was conducted,

with theatrical pomp, to the head of the trestle-board which served as a

table, and Derrick, after some protest, was installed at the bottom. The

simple, almost child-like, folk enjoyed themselves amazingly. Bloxford's

and Derrick's health was drunk, and it was with unfeigned reluctance

that Derrick at last broke up the party and ordered them off to the rest

they had so well earned.

On the second night there was another packed audience; but there was a

larger proportion of the rougher element, and Mr. Bloxford remarked on

the fact somewhat anxiously to Derrick.

"There's always a lot of cowboys in the city," he said, "and there's a

good many of them here to-night. They come in from the plains for a

lark, and they generally see that they get it."

"Oh, they'll be all right," said Derrick. "They're bound to be pleased."

"Well, keep an eye on things," remarked Mr. Bloxford, who was evidently

still rather uneasy. "It there's any disturbance, turn on the band. Make

them play like blazes, the louder the better."

Derrick nodded, and hurried off to overlook things. He found that the

women were rather nervous, for they had heard of the fate of the last

circus; but they, too, were encouraged by his cool and easy manner and

the few words of cheer which seemed to come so easily to him. The early

turns went well, especially those of Isabel, Alice, and Sidcup. Sidcup's

was followed by an exhibition of bareback riding by two men. One of them

on this occasion was Jackman, who was taking the place of a rider who

had strained his ankle on the previous night. Jackman had been drinking,

not heavily, or Derrick would have noticed the fact, but just enough to

make him unsteady and uncertain, and in attempting to leap from the

ground to the horse while it was in motion he missed and sprawled on the

tan.