CHAPTER IV HIS STORY

WhowasMissSt.John?"askedMrs.Moss,ratherconfusedbythesuddenintroductionofnewnamesandpeople. "Whyshewas'Melia,—Mrs.Smithers,theringmaster'swife.Hisnamewasn'tMontgomeryanymore'nherswasSt.John.Theyallchange'emtosomethingfineonthebills,youknow.FatherusedtobeSenorJoseMontebelloandIwasMasterAdolphusBloomsbury,afterIstoppedbein'aflyin'CoopidandainfantProgidy." Mrs.Mossleanedbackinherchairtolaughatthat,greatlytothesurpriseofthelittlegirls,whoweremuchimpressedwiththeeleganceofthesehigh-soundingnames. "Goonwithyourstory,Ben,andtellwhyyouranawayandwhatbecameofyourPa,"shesaid,composingherselftolisten,reallyinterestedinthechild. "Well,yousee,fatherhadaquarrelwitholdSmithers,andwentoffsuddenlastfall,justbeforetentingseason'wasover.Hetoldmehewasgoin'toagreatridin'schoolinNewYorkandwhenhewasfixedhe'dsendforme.IwastostayinthemuseumandhelpPedrowiththetrickbusiness.HewasanicemanandIlikedhim,and'Meliawasgoin'toseetome,andIdidn'tmindforawhile.Butfatherdidn'tsendforme,andIbegantohavehorridtimes.Ifithadn'tbeenfor'MeliaandSanchoIwouldhavecutawaylongbeforeIdid." "Whatdidyouhavetodo?" "Lotsofthings,fortimeswasdullandIwassmart.Smitherssaidso,anyway,andIhadtotumbleuplivelywhenhegavetheword.Ididn'tminddoin'tricksorshowin'offSancho,forfathertrainedhim,andhealwaysdidwellwithme.Buttheywantedmetodrinkgintokeepmesmall,andIwouldn't,'causefatherdidn'tlikethatkindofthing.Iusedtoridetip-top,andthatjustsuitedmetillIgotafallandhurtmybackbutIhadtogoonallthesame,thoughIacheddreadful,andusedtotumbleoff,Iwassodizzyandweak." "Whatabrutethatmanmusthavebeen!Whydidn't'Meliaputastoptoit?"askedMrs.Moss,indignantly. "Shedied,ma'am,andthentherewasnooneleftbutSanchsoIrunaway." ThenBenfelltopat