Show F FICTION I 1 CT 10 N CORNER she floats through the air by JOHN n ai HOSE tony silently worshipped wor shipped the petite trapeze queen but she did not know ho he existed until his heart and imagination combined to brin bring g about a unique introduction had bad just emerged through the rear flap of the sideshow tent when he heard the steady rumble of the snare drums sounding from the big top just a few feet away he hurried across the straw littered areaway which was the actors entrance to the circus the gayly colored pennants floated in the breeze high above the mammoth canvas performers in gay costumes lounged Ue surely about the rear ot of the tent awaiting the grand finale lumbering elephants pushed and heaved to move the animal sages ages into the menagerie tent the big tawny cats snarled viciously in anger at having been returned to confinement again atter after their performance but tony was oblivious to all this activity as he moved intently into the tent and slipped quie quietly aly onto the grass near the end of the hippodrome track his position gave him EL a commanding view of the space directly over the center ring multicolored spotlights played upon the spangled figure ot of a dainty lady silhouetted against the tent top the gentle music of a waltz now wafted wafred through the tent from the bandstand poised upon the tiny platform 80 feet above the ground stood the petite annette ann ette queen of the aeria aerialists lists many said she was the greatest since langtry the swinging bar floated rhythmically back and forth as she swung it gently and evenly away from her far across the space atop the tent her assistant swung a similar bar back and forth annette was wa readying herself for the highlight ot her performance the feature attraction of americas greatest circus she was about to perform her triple somersault defying death as she swung her lovely slim body through the top of the tent there were no nets ben beneath eathl the slightest miscue would spell instant death tor for the intrepid annette with the spectators tony stared upward as the drums again began their ominous roll and annette floated out on her swinging bar A silent pause then the drums increased their pace furiously and the leading lady of the big top hurtled out and up toward the roof her body revolving once tah ah ah ah ah ah ah ab beat the drums taige tah ah ah ah ah ah ah rump three times tah ah ah ah ah ah ah rump she met the bar swinging out to her with perfect precision and in a trice stood upon the platform on the opposite side smiling down on the vast sea of faces below A great ah of relief escaped from the crowd and then the applause re sounded throughout the tent tony sat entranced as annette acknowledged the plaudits pl audits of the multitude then she quickly slid down the rope to the ground took several graceful bows and scampered toward the exit already the performers and horses were pouring into the tent tor for the grand finale but tony watched only the movement of the raven haired beauty annette twice each day he came to the main tent to watch the star of the high swings how his heart yearned tor for the little french actress but annette was entirely unaware of his affection tor for her tony was billed as anthony Fra giotto creator and manipulator of marionettes he was part of the sideshow and had been with the circus about six months joining them two months before they left winter quarters tony was in love with annette but the shy lad from vicenza euganeo province in far oil off italy scarcely dared speak to the star of the show let alone declare his feelings for her tony had been a farmers son working in the fields of those rolling plains when a boy but guiseppe Frag Fra giotto lotto was no ordinary farmer he was the village wood carver and for years had delighted the peasants in the vicenza region with his puppet shows naturally he be taught his son antonio the art when tony was big enough to assist his father in the manipulation of the gayly costumed dolls they traveled to vicenza como and even padua to present the Fra giot to puppets at the street carnivals then the war had come comet the Fra giotto family had gone underground when the germans flowed into italy eventually tony had come to america and with him he had brought his precious puppets he found work as a farm arm band in pennsylvania where he exhibited his puppets one evening at a red cross benefit show not long lone after that night the circus agent agent had contacted him and he was on his way to the circus quarters there he became part of the strange conglomeration which comprised the side show during the months in winter quarters tony had seen annette practicing her teats feats on the rings and bars high above the ground each day he be became more enamored ot of the beautiful aerialist but how could a poor youth who scarcely spoke english express his admiration for the star of the show in the early part of the season tony began to formulate a plan whereby ho he might show annette how he felt for her during the hours when he was not exhibiting his puppets tony carved furiously creating new properties scenery and characters the triumph of this frenzied activity was a beautiful doll the deiy very image of annette soon the trappings were wera completed it was vv aa 1 it the leading lady of the big top hurtled out oot and up toward the roof tonys plan to assemble the miniature circus on a sunday when the show would be laying over he had planned how he would invite annette to see his new acal what if she wont come he thought but surely she would not refuse this simple request the thoughts raced through his mind as he watched the object of his affection leave the tent slowly he arose from the grass he would wait until she had changed her costume then he would go to the mess tent he knew the exact mom moment ent when she would enter for her evening meal after an interval that seemed literally hours to tony annette came into the dining tent shyly he approached her 69 E please signorina Signor lna an ll 11 nette oh Frag lotto trilled annette and how are you today tony was pleasantly surprised that the circus queen knew who he was if the lady has the little minute he stammered 1 I antonio have created the new pop pets they are the of circus he mouthed the words carefully in in his broken english 1 I would like please the advice of the signorina Signor lna about how very charming laughed annette with a toss of her dark hair and a merry twinkle of the sparkling blue eyes 1 I would be delighted Fra giotto perhaps you could show them to me tomorrow when we have no performance for mance that is what iwas I 1 was the enking said tony 1 I will have them as in the th side fide show tekit offer after dinner tomorrow fine replied An amnotte Ann notte tt 1 I have h ave often watched your charming show I 1 would be delighted fra alotto perhaps you would be to so kind as to show me how to make them work this was even than tony had bad dreamed be b possible Inde edl Inde edl he shouted enthusiastically 1 I shall expect you then tomorrow the next afternoon tony was wa ready with the puppets long lone before the dinner hour he talked to them affectionately as a he put the them through their paces to beppo the clown he chuckled and now beetle fonny man you make the boys and gurls to laugh no the beautifully carved wooden horses pranced and danced as ai gracefully as their real counter parts in the big tent across the way but the truly artistic masterpiece was the replica ot of annette An tenderly he placed the tiny puppet into place on the aerial swing in his miniature arena my beautiful one he almost whispered we shall see if you can do the triple rees king your lovely life eifel As the graceful puppet tumbled through space at the behest of tonys nimble fingers he became entranced in his work he did not see annette slip into the tent he was startled when she exclaimed but it is perfect she scampered behind the scenes to examine the trappings of the new show she oh ed cd and ah ed at the beautifully wrought details of the tiny circus and when tony handed her the tiny duplicate of herself she was utterly speechless finally she said oh tony its beautiful t too 00 beautiful I 1 dont really lo 10 look ok like that do I 1 she queried looking coquettishly up into his eyes the blood rushed to tonys face and he stammered weakly oh tony show me how to make her work pleaded annette dancing up and down excitedly me like a child with a new toy can you really make her do a triple somersault like myself yes laughed tony but it is not easy you must practice now see he said placing the toggle sticks in her hands as she clambered onto the platform beside him when you move thees one so the arms and legs do your heeding when you move thees one so he indicated the other stick the head and body move at your command annette moved the sticks awkwardly and the little doll gyrated wildly in her hands in her effort to disentangle the puppet she became involved in the strings tony reached around her shoulders to straighten up the entanglement when she raised her face brushing his chin with her soft hair her lovely feminine fragrance held tony entranced and acting impulsively pul he be kissed her upturned lips alees me I 1 I 1 he stammered but annette was not angry rather she seemed pleased ever so tenderly she cuddled against tony and speaking softly she said but tony little annette is still a all U tangled tangled up she will surely never make the somersault if you do not help me tonys heart was making the th e somersaults now as once again he put his arms about her then the words came pouring forth the words he had whispered to the puppet annette oh my beautiful annette he sighed these long months I 1 have loved you I 1 never dreamed 1 but his words were lost for an bettes lovely face was lifted to his and her warmth and beauty engulfed him as he kissed her long and tenderly and annette the doll somer faulted again and again at the end of her tangled strings |