"Oh, Teddy, you gave me such a fright," she said, trembling.

"I'm sorry, Nancy," the little boy replied. "I won't leave you again."

Teddy kept his word. During the rest of their tour of the circus grounds, he kept tight hold of Nancy's hand.

There was so much to see—the wild animals, the beautiful horses, and the astonishingly large cafeteria where the circus people ate.

"Can we have breakfast here, Nancy?" the little boy asked.

"I'm afraid not, Teddy," the girl replied. "They don't sell food here. The cafeteria is only for the circus people."

"Can't we buy something to eat?" Teddy persisted. "Popcorn or hot dogs? They always sell those at circuses."

Nancy smiled and explained that the refreshment stands were not open yet. Teddy was so hungry by this time that it was hard to dissuade him from going into the cafeteria tent. As he stood hungrily eying the long row of portable stoves on which the circus chefs were cooking, a man brushed by them rudely, pushing the little boy out of his way.

The man was tall and wore a rather long mustache. His black hair stood straight up and his eyes flashed. On one arm was a large blue-and-red tattoo mark.

"Is he one of the freaks?" Teddy asked loud enough for the man to hear. The little boy had never seen a tattoo.

The man stopped short, turned, and glared at the youngster. Then, pointing a menacing finger at him, he exclaimed:

"Get out of here!"

Teddy leaned against Nancy, who tried to excuse the boy, but the man would not listen.

"I said, get out of here! Visitors aren't supposed to be in the cafeteria. Strangers are a nuisance, anyhow. If I had my way, there wouldn't be one inside these grounds until performance time."

"I'm sorry," Teddy said tearfully.

Nancy led Teddy away. He was clinging to her and shaking like a leaf. She patted his shoulder and told him that he must not be frightened. As a pleasant-looking woman, carrying costumes over her arm, passed them, Nancy stopped her and asked about the man with the mustache.