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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1915)
THE SUNDAY OBEGONTAW. PORTLAND, OCTOBER 10. 1915. Presented COLLABORATION lIlOlll maauhcre mm WRITTEN BY GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER Author of "Get-Rich-Quick-Wallingford DRAMATIZED BY CHARLES W. GODDARD' Builder of the World's Greatest Serials INTRODUCING BURR MCINTOSH - - - MAX FIGMAN LOLITA ROBERTSON - - - - J. Rufus Wallingford - - - Blackie Daw ------ Violet 3. W 'ITH the first blare of the distant music, Blackie Daw leaned eagerly forward in his chair and rested his arms on the rail of the Booly House porch, looking; up and down the main street of Burrville with the sparkling eyes of youth never end ing, "Boom-de-ra-a-ah-dah! Boom-de-ra-a-ah-dah!" he sang in unison with the strident trombones, beating time In unison with both feet and one hand, while Wallingford, standing against the rail, looked down on him with an Indulgent smile. Across the way the springing to his feet with the ecstasy of & hoy. The band had turned the corner in its gaudy red-and-gilt wagon drawn by six plumed horses. "Here come the elephants. Violet! They're only size 13, but they're real, cross-my-heart, so-help-me-geminy elephants; and three of 'em, count' em, three! And two camels, Jim! How the Lord must have giggled when he made the first camel! Boom-de-ra-a-ah-dah! boom-de-ra-a-ah-dah! Gee, how I'd like to be a kid again and see this all for the first time. Hooray! Here come expectant crowd, hitherto in loosely ? ot the p- T- Barnes peg-drivers dls- shlftlng array, surged solidly to the curb, while out of the stores poured excited country folk of all descriptions and from every window popped four or five heads. The porch of the Booly House filled as if by magic. In the street redfaced. perspiring fathers and frantic mothers darted after bewildered children, while the balloon and whistle venders held the open spaces to them selves and their discordant voices. The band blared louder as It turned from Courthouse Square toward Main street. Four assorted policemen a fat one, a skinny one, a pigeon-breasted one and a runt swung around the corner, and In the pompous might of their purple-visaged authority, beat back the populace to a pulpy human wall. A horse and buggy, both sleek and shiny, came dashing down Booly street and turned up Main toward the on-coming parage. The driver was a aporty" farmer, whose nearness to the soil no city clothes could conceal. "That's Li Bogger," whispered a pretty waitress, bending down between Wallingford and Blackie. "His wife's dead and he's sold his farm and put all his money In the bank. He always takes his dinner here, when he comes to town, and I've arranged to seat him between you tve men" 'Pretty good detective work for two days. Miss Fannie," complimented Wal lingford. with a smile into the spark ling brown eyes. "Have any trouble setting? a job as waitress?" "With a circus coming to town?" laughed the blue-eyed girl who came out Just behind Fannie Warden. "Of course not. I co'ild hnve had a job too. only you thought I had better not." "Getting information about Mr. Bog ger is so easy it's stupid," went on the brown-eyed Fannie. "All the girls know him, for he's a country masher, and they hate him." "What's his bank roll?" asked Wal lingford speculatively. "They say everything up to two hun dred thousand." whispered Fannie, looking about her furtively; but the throng on the Booly House porch was so Interested in the excitement of the street that they paid no attention to the four conspirators. "Tve sifted it down pretty well, though. I think he has alout seventy-five thousand dol lars." "And forty thousand of that he stole from us, when father died," said Vio let, with a trace of bitterness. She held in her hand a small memorandum hook In which was a long list of names. At the head of the list was E. H. Falls and this name was crossed off. The next came wis Ellas Bogger. Blackie reached over and closed the book. "Don't worry about Ellas," he ad vised her. patting the hand which held the "book. "We're hero to sea that Ellas restitutes, principal, interest and expenses. Isn't LI the village cutup? He's the life of the party." f Indeed. Ellas Bogger was an active diversion, for now the entire police force of Burrville had stopped his horse, which stood beautifully pranc ing while a hundred throats yelled de risive directions to the officers and to Bogger. Elias, meanwhile, was having the time of his gray second youth, standing up In his new buggy, calling the four policemen by their first names, exchanging very, very funny Jokes with his friends in the audience and hawing and smiling to the ladies. Full o guised as princes. Oh. look who's , here! The ten-thousand-dollar beauty! Hello, Maggie!" He. blew a kiss to the perspiring "Queen of Sheba" on the dizzy top of her swaying and Jolting chariot, and she turned away from him, not in con tempt, but just tired. Ho did not even see this gesture, for he was already insulting the moth-eaten lions which followed her, panting with the heat in their dusty cage. " 'Tls a great day for Burrville, chuckled J. Rufus, after the passing of the calliope and the local grocery wag ons; "but I'm wondering if it was a good plan to come after Ellas when there's so much else doing." He turned to smile at Fannie, but she had hurried in to save her three Important seats. "Hush, Jimmy!" objected Blackie, reaching down to buy. a handful of bal loons. "I don't care' for business un less I can combine pleasure with it. I'm glad we're here. I want to go to the circus. I want to feed peanuts to the elephants. I want to see the hip popotamus chew a stick of gum. I want to watch a good gun-man glom a hick for his poke. I want to be an In nocent yc.uth again and short-change a rube." "That's what you were doing the first t'me I met you," mused Walling ford, smiling at the look of perplexity in the blue eyes of Violet Warden. Since these two careless and jovial soldiers of fortune had undertaken to get back the millions which had been Just for amusement, first one and then stolen from the Warden orphans, Vlo- the other. ai j cciiaiLUiJjuviuudiL lui Cv) ciayyg Mhe Plots 1mm Wallingford, Pow hurried over to J. Rufus. "I can't believe It yet Blackie." de clared his partner. "Ellas Bogger is either the prize boob of the universe or else he has me kidded to a stand still." "Take it from me, he's the prize lol-" lup." protested Blackie earnestly. "He looks like a remittance from mother." "He is If he buys my circus," chuck led J. Rufus. "Say Blackie. you find out where Barnes Is and cook up some and I'm here to find out.- What was your take-in yesterday?" "Well." hesitated Ungar, "it looked like rain over in Cattlesburg. and the play fell off a little. Thirty-three hun dred on the day." "I got a different report," declared Wallingford, looking the man squarely in the eye. "You had to hunt the clouds with a telescope yesterday in Cattles burg and the take-in is four or five hundred out of the way. There's go ing to be a shakeup around here." A little trickle of perspiration sud- scheme to keep him out of the way for denly gathered on Mr. Unger's forehead an hour. Do that and I'll sell Ell some experience." "Go as far as you like and see If Barnes cares." airily responded Blackie. and rolled off the tip of his round nose. "Somebody's been stringing you." he said feebly, feeling nervously of his trembling lower lip. There was some- Old P. T. hasn't, been with the show a thing ebo Wallingford which com minute this season, and his manager, a fat burglar by the moniker of Joe Unger. is grafting all the velvet. He's so strong at it he hasn' paid salaries for three weeks." The change in Wallingford was in stantaneous. He threw back his shoul ders, puffed out his broad chest and smoothed' down his vest, and in his eyes there glowed the light of smiling confidence. "Show me this Unger pelled belief. Possibly It was the breadth and quality of his waistcoat. "We'll find out about that," said Wallingford" sternly. "Now show me over the plant." IV. Within 15 minutes all over the grounds right-hand man was with them, and a general tightening up took place. Per formers paid extra attention to their It was "noised" that old P. T.'s party," he said. "I'm going to put him epangles. and were as nervous as act on the broiler properly. How dare he knock down on the governor?. Blackie. go back and grab this Bogger yip and strolled frownlngly about the grounds ors on opening night. The old-time ela tion came upn Wallingford as he don't lose him. Hold him in the men agerle until I look you up. even if you have to lock him in with the monkeys." "I don't get you." objected Blackie. much troubled. "I don't see why you don't chase right after this aforesaid in company with the thoroughly scared Unger. By the time a half-dozen cir cus attaches had kowtowed to him he felt that he was playing his part and playing it well. In stern disapproval of everything he let Unger lead him mortal error, lead him gently up to a about the tents and introduce him as fountain pen, and take a check for $50,000 out of his nerveless fingers.' L, Moncktoif Sears." but when the manager began to ask him personal "Exactly," agreed Wallingford. "Then questions. Wallingford shut him with: I suppose we put on green whiskers "How's the salary list? Is It and whitewash our hair, and hire the paid up?" ' Plnkertons to keep Bogger away from "Well, not quite," admitted Unger. us." "How far are we behind?" he was "Tes, I suppose it would be danger- vcry 8tern- ous." admitted Blackie. "Xcs 7kS&: TZs 775 t etc c Sfm f Goto drt&Z)z. vf " "Dangerous?" repeated Wallingford indignantly. "It would be criminal, and I don't make speeches to grand Juries. The only thing I don't like about you, Blackie, is that you have "Oh, a week or so." , The manager looked nervously about him as if plan ning an escape. "That means three or four, I sup pose." "Not four," Ungar immediately pro- some of the instincts of a crook. Fol- tested, mopping his head. circus, maybe?" he wanted to know. hand pat, which Elias tried to bestow "Not this one," explained Blackie n her hand, and held her laugh until apologetically, paying no attention to she reached the pantry. When she Walllngford's frown, "it belongs to my friend, P. T. Barnes," and he waved his hand suavely in the direction of Wallingford. J. Rufus bowed in reluct ant acknowledgment as one bored to be known of strangers. Mr. Bogger Inspected him with becoming awe. "I sold mine several years ago," resumed Blackie. "I was glad enough to be rich, but at that I Just naturally grew weary or seeing the money pile up; so low me and learn how a man cen be honest and still stay out of Jail." He strode straight across to the main entrance, into which a solid stream of moist humanity was already wedging. 'Three, then." Wallingford's voice was growing angry. "Well, three for a few o? em." " I see. Unger. you're a common thief." "I may make you prove that!" Un ger's tone had in it the low-voiced "speiler" upon a gaudy platform. Loafing in the near of the platform, lazily inspecting the crowd, slouched brought the meal all at once, from an enormous man with a violent mus- soup to dessert, she rushed away tache. which gave him a most ferocious Wallingford, broad of shoulder snd a again- cas of countenance; and to this for- head taller than the mass, pushed his xnere was a nine silence xoliow- Diaamg citizen Blackie Daw sidled, way impatiently along between the and deadly indignation of an honest ing her departure, in which all three grinning at him in waiting expectancy swaying ropes, and was about to push man. but his lip was not steady enough, men bent themselves to the soup. Hav- until the thlck-calfed girl with the as impatiently past the ticket-taker "What good would it do?" demanded ing finished this,.- Mr. Bogger leaned sleepy snake around her neck, reached when that gentleman,a heavy-framed Wallingford. sure he had his man and forward with a sigh. over and kicked the giant on the head. thug, grabbed him roughly by the burdening him down more with that j. a iiso 10 ouy a, circus," saia ns -rriena o' yours, EdT" she husked, shoulder. io xsiacKie. indicating Blackie. "Can you furnish A-l credentials" de- Texas Ed looked around, and his "Ticket!" he rasped. "Where's Joe Unger?" demanded I retired. Now I follow circuses around manded MJ- Daw with a trace of se- face Immediately lit with welcome. Wallingford. with a frown as black as let and Fannie had been in a constant state of bewilderment over their new friends. "You were the finest shell worker, Blackie, that ever cleaned up at a county fair." "The good old days of my childhood," regretted Blackie. while Violet laughed and frowned at the same time. "It seems like a million years since I held the rubber pea in the crook of my little finger while the whiskered boobs tried to guess which walnut shell it was under, and bet money crusted with pink sweat. I wonder who has the trimming privilege with this circus?" "We'll meet some good grafter we know,"remarked Wallingford, then he "Must be a lot of money in a circus," suggested Mr. Bogger with a question ing glance at Wallingford, who already had his broad chest expanded, look ing as nearly as possible like a man who had his pockets full of million dollar bills. To the eye he was perfect ly satisfactory. "Money!" said Blackie, with a widely expressive wave of his hand; and then he lowered his voice to an extremely confidential tone. "Circuses make so much money," he went on. "that over twenty years ago it was found neces sary to form the circus trust, not to make more money, hut to keep cir- verity; and now he saw that Walling ford was listening with eager thought fulness. "Everybody around here knows Ellas Bogger," returned the other with proper pride. "I've got the money, too; that is, to buy a Class C broad chest of hie. "Whatever you've stolen from the governor, you've salt ed. I haven't made up my mind what I'll do with you yet. but I may put you over Just for amusement. It al together depends on how the old man Hello. Sport! ' he roared, giving: nleht Blackie's hand a vice-like grip. "It's The ticket taker Klaneed toward a been a coon s age since I see you trim- beefy man who stood just beyond him. feels after I sell out for him." min" the geeks on the pumpkin cir- his Buffalo Bill sombrero in his hand. The relief in the face of Unger was cult. What's your grift nowadays?" moping his head with a gray Bilk tremendous. "The old man going to "I gOt a new game." eXDlalned hnnHkrrhUf Th hnvv rnntUmnn soil?" ha asked. to, w ouy a. iass circus. Aiy Blackie gravely. "I carry around a wad maklnir no ie-n th tl-v.r.tkr wife died last Winter and I sold the of wet chewing gum on the end of a turned again -to Wallingford. rami. I made a little money on a string and fish copers out of blind railroad deal, too," and his eyes nar- men's cups.' rowed. "Forty thousand dollars." "Same old kidder." declared Ed. 1 see. said Blackie. with a glance guess nothing much is changed except at Wallingford. "What you want is a that we're all older. I have to boot business that is safe, makes enorm- my lions now every time I want 'em ous profit, and lets you have a lot of to look fierce. Say, you ought to be run an at the same time. You're a sly. old dog, I can see that." "Not so very old," quickly protest- "Depends on the price." returned Wallingford. "I want a statement of the past week'e business, and an invoice of the plant in an hour. And. by the way. if tne expenses are too high ami the receipts too low there'll be no sale, and then I'm likely to make somebody trouble." Believe me." promised Unger ferv- cuses from taking all the money out of turned abruptly to the girl. "Run away, circulation. Now nobody is allowed to Miss Violet. Here comes Bogger." start a new circus; there are only 22, large and small, permitted in the H. United States, and the only way to get There was a mad scramble when the one ja to buy one." He grinned at J. dinner bell rang, but Wallingford and RUfus knowing that Wallingford was three tilted chairs being held firmly ml(rht Interfere with their later plot. " . ?P , J , bv the hands or Ifanme waraen. iney "Thv must nst a. lot." guessed the sat down, leaving the middle chair va- other man, keenly interested in Black- e lea array ul iuuivukuij iiuyxuuiyiu facts. Well, no, returned Blackie, con ed Mr. Bogger. "I never pass for within 10 years of my age at that." "I'd never guess you to be nearly as old as you say you are," declared Blackie. "At any age you want the circus business. Aside from the money that's in it, it's fascinating. You see that even I, as rich as I am. cant. Fannie, keeping a sharp on the door, ron to meet Elias eye the minute he came in, led him to the va- There's a lot of fine-looking wom- wifh this show," said Mr. th a musing smile at Wallingford, whose hastily manufactured leer at the line was more savage than insinuating. At that moment an old neighbor of "I said Where's your ticket!" he de manded, immediate action lurking Just "I behind his eyeballs. Six brawny gentlemen, three on either side of the ropes, smiled grim ly and bent eagerly forward. One of them, with a black patch over his wii-n mis ouuiu coarsest grin you ever eye. edged up quite closely and mo- ently, "today s business will show a tioned the one next him, who had " grand little profit." thrice broken nose, to give him room "See that it does." warned Walling- for his right elbow. It was a ticklish ford. "Tell the treasurer what I want, moment In which Wallingford was con- and then hurry back to me In the anl- scious that the "bouncer" with three mal tent." and leaving Unger to alter- front teeth gone was grinning with nate hopes and fears, he strode away. hideous anticipation. In this emerg- hurrying into the menagerie in search ency his course was prompt and de cisive. "You're fired!", he roared with a flare of anger, shaking his big fore finger in the ticket-taker's face. "Get off the lot." saw. Everybody's in it, from the man ager down." "Manager, eh? Ed. slip me all the info, you can. - Where's Barnes?" "Old P. T's laid up with rheumatic gout, and so Joe Unger, he's the man ager, has been buying a farm up in Connecticut." "What does he look like?" "Like a tub of pork. Far be it from me to say such, with me so affection ate toward my salary, but Unger's a fat Bogger old fluff!" "Thanks, Ed. Blackie threw away of Blackie and Bogger. He found Blackie alone in front of a lion's cage, rigidly motionless, and after calling him three times had to touch him to arouse him. You leave it to me, I think It's his cigarette. "I'll post my pal right the alx bouncora looked at each other There was a second's pause, in which Joke ann0unced Blackie. "I've been cant chair, and seated him triumph- tentatively searching his fancy for BeT. slammed him rnThrback antly. Ellas was a spare man. considerably statements free from monotony; price is standardized. Circuses and leaned over his shoulder to him. and took him away. "Jim," we'll sell him the circus,' the run past middle age, whose leathery face, frora twenty-five thousand to five mll in its queer pattern of bronze cheeks non dollars. This one, for Instance, is and white jowls, betrayed that his now a fifty-thousand-dollar one, hsri hut Tfirmit v been 1 . 1 1 .. i r "."j o w " " ftuuffu ail mo uusiucab o vos whiskers. His sparse, long top-hair 8how. and Mr. Barnes would lay him- . . " ., . .,,. was combed carefully over the spot self open to 8eVere penalties if he asked 3'V o V. tTi,. if .iv v, j . hnn1. hirt - ..... ford. Hes too good to be true. No n.v. ii nnu a. iu..u . mura lui iu away, and hurry back. I want you to Bhtllaber for a fancy grift." "Wise me," husked Ed, with pleas ure; "wise me." Blackie hurried away to the cane rack where he had planted J. Rufus, dubiously, and the one with the cauli flower ear turned, with a troubled eye, to the equally troubled beefy man. "I'm doln what I'm paid for," growled the ticket-taker sulkily. "I got to have, your ticket." nla m u A T31alrfA -(!! m Vi n n f V. i ... V. o hilt 1 1 Q t D a Vi 0 ne.rd hta nnftnAt anA . ....... . -. . . . . i. bpinir . jjian I x ten you to gei on lue lot: . ( . . - . ass C had started as a "Josh" now looked llke before he COUld Bpeak' wHfrd was Wallingford bellowed, his face actually 'n th a! f ZJ? h!,, ww- here for 10 minutes trying to make the king of beasts quail before the power of the human eye. I think he's blind, blast him!" "He doesn't see you, anyhow," re plied Wallingford. "He's thinking of his native wilds of . Bridgeport, Conn- astonished to see Blackie look back pUrpiinK with the effect of his "bluff. were born. Where'i and his neck moved about so uncom- .WalUngforl looked properly gloomy, fortably fn his high collar that it was Ho WM really so. certain that he had not long endured "lt'n worth a lot more, isn't it?" in the things. He wore. too. a rusty and quired the goateed one, much con dusty and slightly frayed band of cerned. crepe upon the sleeve of his overly At least three times that," growled youthful suit, the black circlet con- Wallingford. as one aggrieved. man on earth is as rank a sucker as be seems to be." "They grow mighty rank In these swamps," peristed Blackie. "Why, Jim. Elias swallowed that circus stuff with a gulp." "He believes everything anybody tells him," whispered an eager voice, and . , , , . , . , 11 1 111, W UIDUOI CU tt.II CKKOl 11 ll-C. HUM trasting oddly with the gay fr- "Then I shouldn't think It would ever rutMw her eyes shining with excite- over his shoulder and start away on a gallop. Ellas Bogger was the ex planation. He was talking to Texas Ed, and the watchful Fannie was not four people away from him. "That was my fall-guy." explained Blackie, arriving breathless just after Bogger had departed. "What was his line of con?" "He's the richest mark that ever asked the price of lemons," laughed his ancestors Bogger?" "Bogger," stated Blackie placidly, "is anchored in seat one, section A, count ing the house, and estimating today's profits; and just behind him, never t zurious energy, tne rour policemen """"--' -o rnent. darted away, leaving Blackie and " '' " w.iiinrrni .tonne tugged In as many different dlrec- nseyw . ger. Wallingford In chuckling conversation, parting Bogger. He pointed out that iettinB; the stream tions with as absardly unconcerted ac- "F.'dai . " h Itv iittt -Aj..?!!! X When she came back th. men had fat party over there, and wanted to J7ow alS tlon as four antstrylng to carry orr '"T-- ' " ct.d all the ZT" .Z", .-V';: finished their coffee and were wait- -now . was hi, question. Instead. a grassnopper. ane pigeon-Dreasiea - - ir for her. one, however, finally proving stronger than the others, pulled the horse around In his own direction, led him down to the corner and headed him away from Main street, when, with a parting cheer from the crowd, Mr. Bog srer. with a rush and a clutter and a whoop, drove around behind the Booly House to the stables. As authorlnzed horse-and-buggy driver, who drovo standing, entered now upon the ncene. stopping ever 30 feet or so to advise the pee-pul to hold their horses, to stand back from the elephants and to follow at once to the circus grounds, where Immediate ly after the arrival of the monster parade, a grand free exhibition would be given ia front of the mammoth can vasses of the P. i T. Barnes Colossal Aggregation of Tented Wonders and beware of pickpockets! He was a tall, commanding man with a voice like the hoarse roar of Judgment day, but the pee-pul paid no attention to him. They were waiting for the elephants. "Boom -de-ra-a-ah-dah! Boom - de-ra-a-ah-dahl" suig Blackie Daw again. ladles in tne room. so much money In the business that ..or, ... irii-. ..i,. w.it ried Blackie. Wallingford. laying back to study no man is permitted to own a circus iford "Did I not. I did not!1 "Up in my room." replied Ed 'And If somebody don'e hunt up Joe Unger for me within about 30 seconds. I'll fire the whole lot of you. Where is her iUO uuuuvoi ' . , i. .v.. 1 1, pointed out the beefy man. Just as that ' " , gentleman came forward, his guilt al- . ,had cut Fannj9 ready gripping him. W"dn' . "I'm Joe Unger." he barked gruffly. Wh"os e"" , V1 ..ch , 4 t,.,h n.,,,1, .hi Wht rfn von "Busy,' grinned Blackie. 'She is in want?" charge of the moot mother-like dames over to ioln him. ln tne circus, Demg an aoiiea up line of gaping country the llon-tamefa bride." but did not answer The wmcn;- gaspea waumgiora in he turned to the astonishment. eye-patched thug. A ricn play. Jimmy. ana Biacme "Here, Bill, or whatever your name twirled his pointed mustaches ln grat- with infinite scorn. "I told him it was- is," he- ordered ln the voice of author ity, "you take tickets till I put a new Bogger, left the conversation to longer than 10 years. Even if he DlonV!- ... V. n lABYiArf r ri T-TX- arrt WITh 1. 1 J l. ...I V. I n , . , i 1 1. J . , 1 J , """-,' " . 7, - ;"7l , ;h. I' " I, r . " . ' "Fine." approved Wallingford. "You oarnes. ana mat u a s iu.ui ii tn b Now, Unger, how was eager interest, as if the topic of the that time, he is compelled to sell out r,rl. . t tn th ,rmlnd. a brunette to keep from looking like his .vr.. ... day's weather were the most Impor- and Kive someone else a chance." " . , " ,-. ,, own lithographs, so people wouldn't . . ' kid' you know, and look at the freaks until we need you." III. keep trying to buy him out." Blackie grinned in sheer delight at "Who wants to know?" demanded lficatlon. "You may be all right for the solid meat of a frame-up, but when it comes to the fancy touches leave It to your Uncle Horace." What have you been doing?" de- Mr. Unger, endeavoring to assert his manded J. Rufus, with a troubled brow. his luck. "How did you come to hand c""''"r' , lc s " him that gag?" he asked. " SfT w ,,i . a "The line of dope he'd been passing d." -"PPed Wallingford replied Ed with a " , ' , , s,. , v.,. .. angry that his voice was losing its sirengia. tions were screams. Why, the geek had an idea that a man was only al and horns, and workers of small for- lowed to own a circus 10 years, be cause there was so mucn money in It, and he wanted to know bow long He was sometimes afraid of Blackie's wildly whimsical schemes, in spite of the fact that they were always success ful. "Doing?" Blackie pushed up both The blue blotch on his lower sides of his mustache. "Framing the Hp tant in the world. "You don't say; exclaimed Ellas. Bhowthafs the main side show, ijacK in eigaiy-iQur, on jutjr seven- mougnuuiiy. siroaing me wmsKers teenth. to be more exact, we had just which were not there; and he gazed such another day for a circus as this; at Blackie quite earnestly for some and none since until new, he stated, moments. Already the country and village folk with all the gravity of a deacon con- Wallingford hastily choked himself were overflowing the grounds, though out won it for him, fessing his besetting sin at Wednesday on a drink of water, but Blackie never it lacked an hour or more of open- reminiscent smile. night prayer-meeting. turned a hair. The pretty waitress ap- ing time. "Slut, fakers," and "pitch "You don't say!" exclaimed Ellas, pearlng at his elbow at that moment, grlfters," or sellers of canes, whips very much Impressed by Blackie's ac- he turned to her and confidently or- curacy. "You must be an old circus dered a fancy meal, from oysters to tune tellng and gambling devices, man." tutti-frutti Ice cream. Fannie gased were making the welkin rasp with "Circuses," declared Blackie solemn- down at him with snapping eyes, but their grating voices. Here and there ly, "have been in our family for many stiff Hps. among the half-bewildered yokels generations; ln fact, they were named "I'm in a hurry." she calmly stated, moved lithe, nervous young men of after my great-great-great-grand- "Which will you have; corn beef and undeniable city types and travel-stained father. Napoleon B. Circus, who invent- cabbage, steak and onions, or plain clothing, whose furtive eyes and lying ed this sort of moral and educational steak T' amusement.' "I" leave it to you." returned i-iii ...n. .a k.i C21 a s lr ( sr. srvtkfe-tt 11 11 v " n-1 hH n-r tn hi, haldine: snot, and surveyed same fo'r all three of us." the 'early dimes, the morbid being ln- "Leave that to me." and as soon as look here. Unger. the Governor wants touching Wallingfosd on the arm, "but Blackie with due respect, "Ia this youx Eanny. rushed away, avoiding: the vited, lo see ths freaks by an expert Mr, Bogger had .walked, away, froa to kaow war the business u 0 rotten. turned purple, and Wallingford whole circus. Texas Ed Unger Is in on It. the play. All you have to do is to "Sears!" snapped Wallingford. boob Bogger;. Walt, and I'll bring him Unger repeated the name feebly, but to you." Barnes had to run yet." a not tne -nerve- to asx wno sears oena unecr ,. , m . "What did you tell him; nine years might be. Rufus. after a moment of thought- or a week?" inquired Blackie anxiously. "If the fact that I'm Sears Isn't When Blackie returned with .the Twenty-four hours." chuckled Ed. enough for you. I'll have a Johnny-tin- anxious Bogger, Wallingford was rak- "Hnw h' hurrvln riant over to the elate tell you more." declared J. Rufus. Ing Unger over the coals at a great smiles betrayed their, sinister designs fat party to buy the circus. I hope he watching narrowly, and being well rate and the unlucky manager was per upon unprotected pocketbooks. Even sells it to him. If he does. I want my pleased with the effect of thie threat spiring like a camp meeting exhorter. now. the "kid show" was grinding in bit." of a local officer of the low. "Now. "Beg your pardon elr. ' said Blackie. 5 v a,uiUBiyu via .uro evi jlCOteClUdd Ms ef&e &.