the empty road - 19. the circus

by bofa xesjum

part nineteen of forty

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daggett was born under a bad sign, and raised in the hills by wolves who were loyal to no man. when he was old enough to walk , he walked into town and was picked up by a traveling circus. he was billed as the world's youngest geek, by the maestro, shady ray meadows, a hardened con man. ray meadows taught young daggett everything he knew about playing chumps for suckers, and suckers for chumps. daggett was a quick learner, especially in the art of the double cross, to ray's cost. there was a hoochie-coochie dancer with the circus, named lily, and she belonged to ray. little willie, as dagget was then known in the circus, began following lily around. lily laughed, as did most of the performers and roustabouts, but ray didn't. ray could not stand to be crossed , even by a little kid. lily was his girl, see, and it was no laughing matter. but daggett had learned a few things from the wolves. they found ray one morning with his throat cut. or maybe torn out - so some folks said. little willie was gone - so was lily. they kept it in the family. ray's brother sam took over. the show went on. town to town. nobody talked. circus! next