Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/93

 ble. One of the circus's best attractions was minus a performer. Dapples could not perform alone.

"So you live at the poor-farm, do you?" he inquired of Freckles.

"Yes, I have always lived there."

"Have you any parents or relatives?"

"No," returned Freckles, "not a one that I know of."

"If you like horses," the ringmaster said, "perhaps you can ride. Some boys ride naturally. They don't have to be taught."

"Ride, yes," cried Freckles. "I can ride anything that has four legs and a tail and is called a horse. I can do almost as well as this equestrian wonder on the poor-farm colt."

"How would you like to ride Sir Wilton?"

Freckles looked at the ringmaster in amazement for several seconds, then buried his face in the heavy mane of the Shetland and sobbed for joy.