Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 1915)
it THE DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL, SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOV. 27, 1915, ' i v i i By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER. Creator of "Wallingford." . and CHARLES W. GODDARD Copyright, 1913, by th Star Company. All Foreign Rights Reserved CHAPTER II. . 8lllng a Circus. 1 1TH tho first blare of the distant music Blackle Daw leaned eagerly forward In bis chair and rested bis a cms on the rail of the Booty House porch, looking up and down (he main street of Burrvtlle with the sparkling eyes of youth never ending. "Boom-de-ra-a-a-h-dubt Boom-de-ra-a-a-h-dahl"be sang In unison with the strident trom Ixwes, beating time with both feet and ano band, while Walllngford, standing Agulnst the rail, looked down on him with a Indulgent smile. The band blared louder as It turned from Court House square toward Main street A. horse and buggy, both sleek and shiny, came dnshlng down Booly Hi reel and turned up Main toward the oncoming parade. The driver was a "flporty" farmer, whose nearness to the soil no city clothes could conceal. "Thafs Li Bogger," whispered a pret ty waitress, bending down between Walllngford and-Blackle. "Ills wife's dead, and he's sold Ills farm and put all bis money In the bank, Ho always takes his dinner here when be comes to town, and I've arranged to seat blni between you two men." "Protty good detective work for two days, Miss Faunlo," complimented .Walllugford, with a smile Into the uparkllng brown eyes, "nave any trou ble getting 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 could have had a Job, too, only you thought I had better'not" "Getting Information about Mr. Bug 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 bate him." "What's bis bank roll?" asked Wal llngford speculatively. "They say everything up to two hun dred thousand," whispered Fannie. "I've sifted It down pretty well, though. I think he has about $75,000." "And forty thousand of that he stole from us when father died," said Violet, with a trace of bitterness. She held In lior hand a small memorandum book in which was a long list of names. At (he head of the list was E. n. Falls, and this name was crossed off. The next name was Ellas Bogger. Blackle reached over and closed the book. "Dou't worry about Ellas," he advis ed her, patting the hand which held the book. "We're hero to see that Ellas restitutes, principal, Interest and expenses. Isn't LI the village cutup? Ho't the llfo of the party." Indeed, Ellas Bogger was an active .diversion, for now tho entire police force of Rurrvllle had stopped bis liorse, which stood beautifully pranc- "What's his bunk roll?" atksd Willing. ford. lug wlille a hundred ihronls yelled do Halve direction to the officer and to Uogger. Willi a purling cheer from the crowd Mr. Bogger, with 11 rush end a clutter and a whoop, diovo iirouml behind the ilooly House to the sta bles. ' "Bonm-do-ru-a-a-h dith! Boom-de ra- iihduh!" song Blackle Daw again, springing to his feet with tho ecstasy of n boy. "Gee, how I'd like to be a kid initio and seo this all for tho first thud Hooray! Here come twenty ot (ho P. T. Burnc peg driver disguised .h princes. "TIs a great day for Buirvllle," chuckled J. Itufus afler the passing of tlio cnlllop and the local grocery wag PM f tt iv i 1 1 irx 1 1 v i i i r ons. "But I'm wondering If It was a good plan to come after Ellas when there's so much else doing." He turn ed to smile at Fannie, but she bad hur ried In to save her three Important seats. . "Ilusb, Jimmy!" objected Blactle, reaching down to buy a handful of balloons. "I don't care for business unless I can combine pleasure with It I'm glad we're here. I want to go to the circus. I want to be an Innocent youth again and short change a rube." "That's what you were doing the first time I met you," mused Walllngford, 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 bad been stolen from the Warden orphans Violet and Fannie had been In a constant state of bewilderment over their new friends. "You were the finest shell worker, Blackle. that ever cleaned up a county fair. Run away, Miss Violet. Here comes Bogger." There was a mad scramble when the dinner bell rang, but Wulllngford and Blackle found seats waiting for them, three tilted chairs being held flrnily by the hands of Fannie Warden. They sat down, leaving the middle e.hatr va cant. Fannie, keeping a sharp eye on the door, ran to meet Ellas the minute he came In, led him to the vacant chair and seated him triumphantly. Ellus was a spare man, considerably past middle age, whose leathery face, In Its queer pattern of bronze cheeks and white jowls, betrayed that his now natty goatee had but recently been whlHkers. Ills sparse.- long top hair was combed carefully over the spot which had n tendency to become bald, and his neck moved about so uncom fortably in bis high collar that It was certain he bad not long endured the things. "Fine day for the circus," he said to Walllngford In a hasty, little high pitched voice, having Inspected all the ladles In the room. Walllugford, laying back to study Bogger, left the conversation to Blackle. "Buck In eighty-four, on July 17, to be more exact, we had Just such anoth er day for a circus as this, and none since until now," Blackle stated. "You don't sayl" exclaimed Ellas, very much Impressed by Blackle's ac curacy. "You must be an old circus mrin. Is this your circus, maybe?" "Not this one," explained Blackle apologetically, paying no attention to Walllngford' frown; "It belongs to my friend, P. T. Barnes," and be waved his hand suavely in the direction of Walllngford. J. Itufus bowed In re luctant acknowledgment as one bored to be known of strangers. Mr. Bogger inspected him with becoming awe. "Must be a lot of money in a circus," suggestod Mr. Bogger with a question ing glance at Walllngford. "Money!" said Blackle, with a wide ly expressive wave of bis hand, and then he lowered his voice to on ex tremely confidential tone. "Circuses make so much money," he went on, "that over twenty years ago It was found necessary to form the circus trust, not to make more money, but to keep circuses from tuklng all the mon ey out of circulation.- Now nobody Is allowed to start a new circus. There are only twenty-two, large and Biuall, permitted In tho United States, and the only way to get ono Is to buy one." "They must cost a lot," guessed the other man. "Well, no," returned Blackle. "The price is standardized. Circuses ruu from r,000 to $r,00(),0no. This one, for Instance, Is n $30,000 one, being knowu In tho business as a Class C show, and Mr. Barnes would lay him self open to severe iemiltles it lie ask ed more for It." Walllugford looked properly gloomy. no wus reuuy so. "There's so much money lu the busi ness thut no man Is permitted to own a circus longer than ten years," Illttclilo wont on, "Even If ho hasn't made, enough to suit him by thut time he Is compelled to sell out und give some ono else a chance." "You don't say!" exclaimed Ellas, thoughtfully stroking tho whiskers which were not there, and be gazed at lllacklo quite earnestly for somo mo ments. Then he went on with his meal. "I'd like to buy a circus," gnld be to Blackle after awhile. "Can you furnish Al credentials?" (lemuiKiea Mr. Daw, with a trace of severity. And now he saw that Wal llngford was listening with eager tliouglitfulnes. "Everybody around bore knows Ellas Uogger," returned the other botweeu bites of pie. "I've got the money, too Unit Is, to buy a Class C circus. My wlfo died Inst winter, and I sold the farm. I made a little money ou a rail road deal, too," and bl eye narrowed -"$10,000!" "I see," said Blackle, with a glance at Wulllngford. "What you want U a business thut Is safe, nmki9 an enor mous protlt and let you bavo a lot of, fun nil at the same tlmo. You're a sly old dog, I cun see that." "Not so very old," quickly protested Mr. Bogger. "i never pass for within ten years of my age at that." He rose and went out . "He believes everything anybody tells him," whispered an eager voice, and Fannie, her eyes shining with ex citement, darted away, leaving Blackle and Walllngford In chuckling conversa tion. When she came back the men were waiting for her. . "Where's Miss Vloletr asked Wal llngford. "Up lu my room." "Flue!" approved Walllngford. "You girls doll up and go out to the grounds as soon as you can. Go Into the 'kid show' that's the main side show, you know and look at the freaks until we need you." - Already the country and village folk were overflowing the grounds, though It lacked an hour or more of opening time. Loafing lazily. Inspecting the crowd, slouched on enormous man with a violent mustache which gave blm a "Everybody around hore knows Elia Boggor," said tho othtr batwaon bit of pi. most ferocious cast of countenance, and to this forbidding citizen Blackle Daw sidled, grinning at blm In wait lug expectancy. Texas Ed looked around, and his faco Immediately lit with welcome. "Hello, sport!" he roared, giving Blackle g hand a viselike grip, "It's been a coon's age since I see you trlm mln' the geeks on the pumpkin circuit What's your grift nowadays?" "I got a new game," explained Black le gravely. "I carry around a wad of wet chewing gum on the end of a string and fish coppers out of blind men's cups." ... "Same old kldder," declared Ed. "Say, you ought to be with this outfit Coarsest grift you ever saw, Every body' In It, from the manager 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 In Con necticut" "What does be look like?" "Like a tub of pork. Fur be It from me to say such, with me so uffectlonnte toward my salary, but Unger's a fat old fluff!" "Thanks, Ed." Blacklo threw away bis cigarette. "I'll post my pal right away and hurry back. I want you to shllluber for a fancy grift" "Wise me," husked Ed, with pleas ure! "wise me." Blackle hurried off to the cane rack, where he had planted J. Itufus, but Just as he neared his partner, and be fore he could speak, Walllugford was nstoniMUea to see Blackle look back over his shoulder and start away on a gallop. Ellas Bogger wus tho explana tion, no was talking to Texas Ed, and the watchful Funule was not four peo ple away from him. "That wus my full guy," explained Blnekle, arriving breathless Just after Bogger had departed. "What was bis llueofcou?" "He's the richest mark that ever ask ed the price of lemons," laughed big iiu, gazing in wonder after tho depart ing Bogger. "Ho pointed out Hint fat party over there and wanted to know If he was Barnes." "Of course you wlaed him up?" wor ried Blackle. "Did I not? I did not!" replied Ed. with Infinite scorn. "I told him It was Barne aud that he'd bad himself dyed a bruuotto to keep from looking llko tils own lithographs, so people wouldn't keep trying to buy blm out." Blackle grluned In sheer delight and hurried over to J. Rufus. "I can't believe It yet Blackle," de clared bis partner, . "Ella Bogger Is either the prize boob of the universe or else ho ha mo kidded to a standstill." "Take It from me, be' the prize lol , f i h"l ' J n - , f lop," protested Blackle earnestly. "He looks like a remittance from mother." "He la If be buy my circus," chuc kled J. Rufus. "Say, Blackle, you find out where Barnes Is, and cook up some scheme to keep him out of the way for an hour. Do that and I'll sell Ell some experience." "Go as far a you like, and see If Barnes cares," airily responded Blackle. "Old P. T. hasn't been with the show a minute this season, and his manager, a fat burglar by the moniker of Joe Unger, Is grafting1 all. the velvet. He' ao strong at It be hasn't paid salaries for three weeks." J. Rufua strode straight across to the main entrance, Into which a solid stream of moist humanity was already wedging. Walllngford, broad of shoul ders and a head taller than the mass, pushed his way Impatiently along be tween, the swaying ropes and was about to push as Impatiently past the ticket taker when that gentleman, a heavy framed thug, grabbed him roughly by the shoulder. "Ticket!" he rasped. "Where' Joe Unger?" demanded Walllngford, with a frown a black as night. The ticket taker glanced toward a beefy man who stood Just beyond him, bis Buffalo Bill sombrero In bis hand, mopping his bead with a ray silk handkerchief. The heavy gentleman making no sign, the ticket taker turned again to Walllngford. "I said where' your ticket?" he de manded. "You're fired!" Walllngford roared with a flare of anger, shaking his big forefinger In the ticket taker' face. "Get off the lot! And If somebody don't hunt up Joe Unger for me with in about thirty seconds I'll fire the lot of you. Where Is he?" "I'm Joe Unger," the beefy man barked gruffly, though much troubled. "What do you want?". Walllngford turned to an eye patch ed thug. . . "Here, BUI, or whatever your name Is," he ordered In the voice of author ity, "you take tickets till I put a new man-on the box. Now, Unger, how was yesterday's business?" "Who wants to know?" demanded Mr. Unger, endeavoring to assert his customary czarshlp, but feeling It slip ping from him. "I do," snapped Walllngford. ' "And who are you?" Inquired Un ger, angry that bis voice was losing Its strength. "Sears!" snapped Walllngford. Unger repeated, the name feebly, but had not the nerve to ask who Sears might be. ' ' . "If the fact that I'm Sears Isn't enough for you I'll have a Johnny tin plate tell you more," declared J. Bufus, watching narrowly, and being well pleased with the effect of this threat of a local officer of the law. "Now, look here, Unger, the governor wants to know why the business Is so rotten, and I'm here to find but What was your take-In yesterday?" "Well," hesitated Uilger, "It looked like rain over in Cattlenburg, and the play fell off a little. Thirty-three hun dred on the day." "I got a different report," declared Walllngford, looking the man squarely In the eye. "You had to bunt the clouds with a telescope yesterday In Cattlesburg, and the take-In Is four or Ave hundred out of the way. There's going to be a shakeup 'around here." Within fifteen minutes It was "noised" all over the grounds that old P. T.'s right band man was with them, and a general tightening up took place. In stern disapproval of everything J. Rufus let Unger lead him about and Introduce blm as "L. Monckton Sears," but when the manager began to ask him personal questions Walllngford shut him with: "How's the salary list? Is It paid up?" "Well, not quite," admitted Unger. "How far are we behind?" He was very stern. "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." '. "Well, three for n few of 'em." "I see. Unger, you'ro a common thief. I haven't mnda up my mind what I'll, do wth you yet, but I may put you over just for amusement. It altogether depends on bow the old man feels after I sell out for him." The relief In the fnce of Unger was tremendous. "The old man going to sell?" be asked. "Depends on the price," returned Walllngford. "I want a statement of the past week's business and an In voice of tho plant In an hour. And, by the way, If tho expenses are too high and tho receipts too low there'll bo no sale, and then I'm likely to make some body trouble." "Believe me," promised Unger fer vently, "today's business will show n grand little profit!" "See that It does," warned Walllng ford. "Tell the treasurer what I want and then hurry back to me In the ani mal tent" And, leaving Unger to al ternate hopes and fears, . ho strode away, hurrying Into the monngerle In search of Blacklo and Bogger. He found Blacklo alone In front ot a Hon' cage. "Where' Bogger?" "Bogger," stated Blackle placidly, "1 anchored In eat 1, lection Accounting the bouse and estimating the today' profits; and Just behind htm, never moving her brown eyes from the back of bis bead, sit cute little Fanule War den." . "Where' Vlolot?" "Busy," grinned Blackle. "She I In charge of the most mother-like dames In the circus, being all dolled up like the lion tamer' bride." , , . When Blacklo came with the anxious Bogger, Walllngford wa raking Unger over the coal at a great rate. "Beg your pardon, lr," atd Blackle, touching Walllngford on the arm, "but my friend, Mr. Bogger, want to ask you question or two, Mr. Barnes." "I'm not Barnes," declared Wallln ford gruffly. . "I am his personal rep resentative and business executive. My name s Sear. "Unger, I never saw such a dirty lot or uniforms. If I have to sell this clrcu for Mr. Barnes I want It In de cent ehape. What are today' profits?' "Over 11,000," said Unger brighten log. "A thousand!" Walllngford' face was purple with fury. "Unger, I'm go ing to Investigate this thing. If you Know wnata good for you you won' let me see you on this lot today!" ' Walllngford let the unfortunate Un ger go. "If I ain't Intruding, Mr. Sears, let talk business as man to man. I know the truth about your fix. You have to take $50,000 for this show today. I'm here with the money." . " Walllngford glanced Incredulously at Blackle, but he put out bis hand depre catingiy. "I promised to sell it to a friend." "Oh!" Mr. Bogger gulped. He was only stopped for a moment, however. 1 11 give you flfty-flve!" "No." "Sixty!" ' . Walllngford hesitated. . "Make It sixty-five, spot cash, and we'll go right up to a lawyer's and draw up a bill of sale." Ellas studied a long time. "Well, he concluded, "I'm satisfied about the money part I've asked six or seven men around the grounds here, and, though they don't all say the same thing, they've convinced me that there's a fortune In It every day. Come on, We 11 go up to my bank." Mr. Bogger walked on the grounds of the P. T. Barnes Colossal Aggregation of Tented' Wonders as monarch of all be surveyed Just as the torches were being lit in the hour before tbe evening performance. He held his bead very high. He could go In and order an ele phant bitched to his buggy If be liked. Just between the main tent and the cook tent "Daredevil Demo" accosted blm. "They tell me you're the new boss and have the coin. I'm three weeks back, aud I want mine." Well," exclaimed Bogger, "I'll have to look Into this. How much do you get a week?" Five hundred and fifty dollars," De mo calmly told blm. Mr. Bogger almost dropped dead on the spot "A week, did you sayl" he gasped. A week. I get snot out of a cannon to a platform up in tbe dome, grab a bicycle, ride down a 200 foot chute, Jump a forty foot gap and land in a tank of water. Do I get my back pay?" "I'll see about It," promised Bogger, much troubled, and he started" to turn away. Demo grabbed htm by the shoulder and turned him around with one swing. "I get it now!" he declared, "or I'll close up your bloomln' show! I ain't so strong for this outfit, anyhow, es peclally since a bay's going to try to run It. If I dou't get my coin before I go on tonight nd show! And If these rubes don't see my act they'll tear down the tent I'm what brings 'em here!" The "Trelvo Trio of Aerial Acrobats" descended upon Mr. Bogger In a body before Demo had finished with blm, They were Swiss and knew but little English, but they very energetically conveyed to Mr. Bogger the fact that they were three weeks In arrears lu salary and wanted their money. If they didn't get it, no show; also n sheriff t More came running, bareback riders, wagon men, tumblers, trainers, chariot drivers and even some of tbe young J- ,,i Mftf ,v:,!t Trior Cam a Mighty Tug at th Rop Boggor Was Holding. Indie of the spectacle, nil with Ellas Bogger as their objectlvo point, and all screaming a mnd demand for money! Gazing about him In desperation, the uew proprietor saw Walllngford stand ing by a big rear tent and ruBbed to ward him for protection. J. Rufu seemed to know Instinctively that Bog ger wa In growing fear of his life, for ho lifted up the edge of the tent, cbov ed Ella through and met tbe madden ed mob himself. The smile on Wal llngford's Jovial face deepened, us pres ently there came from the Interior of that tent a hubbub of shrill cries. A moment later Mr, Bugger came out ot i ft f IXh- V; ' ' , - J ' ft t that tent on the dead run, followed by a platoon of chorus ladle, screaming for vengeance. With them was Violet Warden, all dolled up as a lion tamer, It took all of Walllugford' persuasive ness to rescue Ellus. "That wag full of women dressing!' pan tea Mr. Bogger. "wnat did you shove me lu there for?" ' ; "Didn't they know you were tho pro prietor? ' inquired .1. Kufus In astonish mcut "Come over to the big top," invited Bluckle. "Fred Bristol's going to try out a new flying trapeze act before the performance," and be led the way. . The main tent was big and high and dim and mysterious, with Its one torch lighted. ' Away up In the dome a tiny trapeze swung on long strands, which, from the ground, looked like spider webs. Upon a Ilttlo ghelf, far away, stood a slender, graceful man In pink tights, and from either side of the shelf stretched down long ropes. A man with a coat and trousers oa over his tights hurried up to Bogger and band ed him a rope. "Here, pal," he said; "hold this line, will you?" nnd he thrust it into Bog ger s bands. "Get a good grip on it" Tbe pink clad acrobat upon the high shelf drew the trapeze far across and up to blm with a tape. All at once there come a mighty tug at the rope Bogger wag holding, and It was Jerked from bis clasp. A cry of horror burst from tbe throats of a score of circus attaches, and down, down through the dusty air of the big tent, with Us rows upon rows of dismally empty benches came whirling and sprawling a pink figure! A shriek burst from the pallid lips or Bogger as it thudded upon the ground. Tbe circus men, mostly acro bats, rushed to the spot where tbe pink figuro lay, concealing it from view. There was a piercing shriek from woman near the entrance. "This way out!" aud Walllngford shoved Bogger, running ahead of him, to an opening and thrust blm through. Bogger bad ruu a third of tbe length of this lnclosure before he realized that he was once more In the women's dress ing tent, and then the faces of the furies spurred blm on to such speed as his legs had nevor yielded In his life, There was but one logical end to such blind speed, and thnt was a stumble. A little drainage ditch got him nnd laid him low to listen to tbe beating of his heart and Imagine that trip ham mer noise to be the patter of pursuing feet. Walllngford and Blackle Daw caught up with him presently, helped uliu with kind and comforting words, when a Bad procession filed out of the main tent Four men bore a stretcher, upon which was a limp form, covered, by the Irony which was a chance, with one of the broad red ribbons over which bareback riders Jump. Quite a number of men with bowed beads followed It down to the railroad siding, where the circus sleeping cars stood. It looks bad," said Walllneford: "very, very bad! I don't know whether the man Is Is dead or not, but In any event you're up against It. Botreer. tred Bristol is one of tbe best high trapeze men In the business, and It means a fifty thousand dollar damage suit, wblcb you'll probably lose." "Wbere Is be! Where Is he!" bellow ed a bull-like voice from out of the darkness. It was the voice of the bil lion tnmer husband of a pretty bare oacK riuer. "(Jlrcus, circus!" moaned Bogger. "I wouldn't be a proprietor of a circus for million dollars!" "You'll have to be the proprietor." said Walllngford coldly. "It's a legnl- ly binding transfer, nnd you're luckv If you don't have manslaughter against you as well as a damage suit." Whore is he!" again bellowed Texas Ed out of the darkness. "Please, Mr. Sears, please, I beg of you, let me out of this!" pleaded Bog ger, with quivers of terror In bis voice. "Take bnck your bill of sale nnd give me my money. Please!" "And stand this damage suit my self?" inquired Walllngford, with scorn. I should say not. A sale Is a sale." Again the voice from tbe darkness. this time nearer, Bogger Jumped. "I'll discount it," he offered, "only get mo awny from here! I'll give you anything you say!" "Right outside is a buggy," said Wal llngford. "I'll Jump you In that and take you to town as soon as we come to terms. I'll tako your bill of sale and tear It up and give you $10,000 nnd deny that you were the proprietor when you held that rope." "Ten thousand dollars!" exclaimed Bogger. "Ten thousand dollars! It's robbery!" "There's that damage suit" Walllng ford reminded him. "You may win It" protested Bogger. 'Give mo forty thousand nnd I'll set tle It." Hero he Is!" yelled Walllngford loudly to the angry husband Borne whero In tho darkness. "Don't! For heaven's sake, don't!" Rogger half sobbed, "nere'g your bill of sale! Give mo tbe money! Now. iliore's that buggy?" In the tent of the departed Manager Unger gathered tho tired but happy conspirators, nnd, on the little folding table J. Rufus Walllngford threw $50,- 000 In rcnl money. Prlnclpnl, Interest nnd expenses," he declnred with satisfaction. "I used five thousand to pay off Texas Ed nnd the acrobat who dropped tho dummy rrom tho trapeze, and our other good friends who hclpod. nnd I set nslde a big chunk for a Sumlny treat to the hole circus, Including the nnlmnls. Thl ten we'll take out for the ex penses of the gang, and the forty thou sand, Indies, goc to tbe ' restitution fund of the cstuto of the late Mr. War- den." "And that crosses off the name of Ella Bogger," added lllacklo. bending over Violet, who had tbe little book In her Band. (Continued next Saturday-) A Galley o Fun i POSTAGE AND PACKING. "When I was a gander-nec&ee? ytouth,"' pessimisti-reminiscently re marked, the Old Codger, "I had a habit of answering advertisements wherein Wonder Books, Golden Boxes of Goods, and other rare bar gains were offered absolutely free; ill I had to do was to send cer tain number of cents to pay for post age and packing. Somehow, when f received my loot, the Golden Boxe lidn t glitter enough to injure my eye sight, the Wonder Books caused au to wonder why anybody wondered at them, the rare bargains were more ar less raw, and, of course, the postage and packing cost more thaa tS goods were, worth. THOSE OLD SONGS. 'I cannot sing the old songs!" Her voice rane sweetlv ciearr It rilled my heart with happiness, it calmed my every fear. 'I cannot sing the old songs I" Gadzooks! But that's all ritrhtf For these are those she used to sing rrom early, morn till night: Has Anybody Here Seen Kellyf 'School Davs." "Put on Your Old Gray Bonnet." 1 ve Got Kings On My Finger." T 1 .f Tl It By the Light of the Silvery Moon." Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay." That Mesmerizing Mendelssohn Tune." 'What's the Matter With Fatharr Take Me Out to the Ball Game.'" She cannot sing the old songs As In the days of yore I'm glad of that; I've heard them all I en thousand times or more. She cannot sing the old songsl What rare, good luck, by gee! They may be dear to some folks, bat: I hey are not dear to met TO OUR SUMMER APHRODITE. Men come and go; changes harass; Old ocean rounds his seasons' surge; New customs age, and pall, and pass Still dost thou cut thine old-time? splurge. Dainty, superb; Venus or elf; t'air. fond or friizid. bold .or cav: Through time and fashion's change, thyself, Still dost thou work us fricf and joy. dryad l.ntRliing In the sea; A mermaid musing on the shore: siren, lurinir men to thee Still art thou as thou wert ot yore. ' ( A narrowed skirt, an altered cap'. A freer reach of limb and arm.' A frill out off or on, mayhap. Still leave thee maid of ruth ami charm. '' A siren, Diana, Venus, maid. Temptress and angel, lure ani' meed. , Hail! As thy generations fade Still dost thou bloom to meet Cuff need. AIDS TO THE MEMORY. "What's that string tied on your finger, Bilby?" That? My wife put that there." "To remind you?" "Yes, to remind me to to Bless my soul, what was It to re mind me of, now? Oh, yes, I knowt My wife tied that string on my finger so that if anything worries me .I'tV remember to forget itl" THE INDISPENSABLE BOY. Caller. How is your new oflice-bojf letting along these days? Lawyer. O, fine! lie's got thingf!. so mixed up now that I couldn't gef along without him! IP. lip
