He smiled
blandly and lied nobly, like a true Virginia gentleman.
"No, Miss Braddock. Instead of that, he has hired me to go with the
show."
"Oh, I am so glad," she cried. "I knew he would not take your money."
David swallowed hard; and then, fearing to speak again or to meet her
radiant eyes, he hastened after Grinaldi.
A moment later he was in the center of an excited, whispering group of
performers, in various conditions of attire, but singularly alike in
their state of mind. They were softly but impressively consigning
Thomas Braddock to the most remote corner in purgatory. They plied
David with questions. He reported the impatience of the officers, and
Braddock's decision to protect him for the time being.
"I saw them chaps out there, standin' by the menagerie doors," said
the contortionist. "Spotted 'em right away, I did."
A bareback rider looked in. His horse already had started for the
ring.
"Lay low!" he whispered. "One of the boys says they won't be put off
by Brad. They're going to search the tent with the town marshal."
Grinaldi, who had been deep in thought, suddenly slapped his knee and
uttered a cackle of satisfaction.
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