CHAPTER IV HIS STORY

"Iranawayfromacircus,"beganBen,butgotnofurther,forBabandBettygaveasimultaneousbounceofdelight,andbothcriedoutatonce,— "We'vebeentoone!Itwassplendid!" "Youwouldn'tthinksoifyouknewasmuchaboutitasIdo,"answeredBen,withasuddenfrownandwriggle,asifhestillfeltthesmartoftheblowshehadreceived."Wedon'tcallitsplendiddowe,Sancho?"headded,makingaqueernoise,whichcausedthepoodletogrowlandbangthefloorirefullywithhistail,ashelayclosetohismaster'sfeet,gettingacquaintedwiththenewshoestheywore. "Howcameyouthere?"askedMrs.Moss,ratherdisturbedatthenews. "Why,myfatherwasthe'WildHunterofthePlains.'Didn'tyoueverseeorhearofhim?"saidBen,asifsurprisedatherignorance. "Blessyourheart,child,Ihaven'tbeentoacircusthistenyears,andI'msureIdon'trememberwhatorwhoIsawthen,"answeredMrs.Moss,amused,yettouchedbytheson'sevidentadmirationforhisfather. "Didn'tyouseehim?"demandedBen,turningtothelittlegirls. "WesawIndiansandtumblingmen,andtheBoundingBrothersofBorneo,andaclownandmonkeys,andalittlemiteofaponywithblueeyes.Washeanyofthem?"answeredBetty,innocently. "Pooh!hedidn'tbelongtothatlot.Healwaysrodetwo,four,six,eighthorsestooncet,andIusedtoridewithhimtillIgottoobig.MyfatherwasANo.1,anddidn'tdoanythingbutbreakhorsesandride'em,"saidBen,withasmuchprideasifhisparenthadbeenaPresident. "Ishedead?"askedMrs.Moss. "Idon'tknow.WishIdid,"—andpoorBengaveagulpasifsomethingroseinhisthroatandchokedhim. "Tellusallaboutit,dear,andmaybewecanfindoutwhereheis,"saidMrs.Moss,leaningforwardtopattheshinydarkheadthatwassuddenlybentoverthedog. "Yes,ma'am.Iwill,thanky',"andwithanefforttheboysteadiedhisvoiceandplungedintothemiddleofhisstory. "Fatherwasalwaysgoodtome,andIlikedbein'withhimaftergrannyd