The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-20
a WoMAN'S WIT.

A WoMAN's WIT.
Crack, crack, crack
One Of the horses dead! The driver
nmblss down from his seat. second
ater followed by an outside passenger
The crash of glass. fving splinters, the
,hrill whistle of rifle balls Over and
above all, the unearthly yells of t5e
Taken prisoners-Billy and
Dave Hopkins, known on threatrical
posters as "the Balsamo Brothers !"
g aMademoiselle Helene, the Queen Of the
Floating Wire," in private life, Mrs.
Billy Hopkins; "El Nino, the Child
Wonder" in fact, Billy Hopkins, jr-I
Dead-@Sthe driver and two passengers.
The Balsamo Brothers, Mademoiselle
Helsse and FL Nino, were en- route to
or an engagement in Denver, just then
assuming the Importance Of a mining
city. The prisoners were tied Upon the
coach horses and hurried some ten or
fifteen miles away. When night ap.
pfoached, green spot was selected by
a running stream, and the party encamp-
ed cir ie
Words fail to portray the anxieties,
the agonies Of the prisoners. Poor lit
tie Noman! How she reproached her
self 10 an agony of tears-for she it was
who urged the acceptance of this Yves
tern engagement. The salary, which
was something wonderful in figures, was
to be paid in gold. It's dszzling light
blinded Mrs. Lucy to the risk Of which
they had spoken, and at which they had
laughed; the salary which would 60 sc
far toward paying for the little home
they meant to buy, and for which they
had been boarding ever since their boy
was born.
"Great heavens, Dave! what are We
to do2 These devils mean to torture
US. See, they are collecting wood fol
that purpose Ny wife and child may
be saved for worse fate"
alt would have been much better fol
us all to be lying on the road, stiff and
stark like those other poor fellows!" !
81 tell you what, Dave, l mean tt
give them trouble yet"
"What can we do, Billy7 Our hands
are tied, and wherever we 60 we are
guarded" -
The two men relapsed in gloomy
silence.
For some time the Indians amused
themselves over the wardrobe of the
show people. Especially were they de
lighted with the stage jswelry, and tht
fluffy skirts in which the Queen OF the
Floating Wire appeared in public. The
tights belonging to the Balsamo Broth
ers, however, occasioned. much wonder.
uent. Over these they gesticulated and
vocifcrated as they were passed from
hand to hand Presently, couple o
the braves brought the garments for
ward and received off words, the pur.
port of which the brothers might no
have fathomed, hal the gestures beer
omitted. 1t was evident they asked al
explanation of the uses or merits OF til,
singular affairs.
81 cay, Dave" spoke up Billy, quick
ly, "they want to know what these
tights are. II we can only persuade
them TO allow as TO do some stage bust
ness it may save our lives day or two. >
"Or they may take US for medicine
men," answered Dave. "It we get oul
hands free we may escape somehow"
With this idea in THAR minds they
went through great amount OF pauto
mimic dialogue, and succeeded in cnn,
yeying some ideas into the brains ot
their dusky captors, which. resulted in
their being released, still carefully guar.
ded. however. They swung the trapez.
from the bough Of large oak-per.
formers on this contri7ance always Car.
rying the necessary ropes and bars with
them. The savages watched every move
ment with the deepest interest, their Gu
riosity increasing with every movement
Billy managed to exchange few words
with his wife. and was glad to see sht
had her hands free.
"Lucy, when you see these fellows
looking their eyes out, take the boy ant
slip away. Follow that star and yo,
will strike some town before long"
"And leave you, my husband 2 New
er! We can die together!'
"You must fly my. darling! A wors
tate than death awaits you Oh, m
God, Lucy, do not hesitate! We vii
keep them interested as long as we can
You must hasten away with all you
might. l would plunge knife in you
heart myself rather than leave you t
the mercy of these worse than bru,es.
"Come on, Billy" shouted Dave
They are impatient.
Billy, with whispered "Good by
God keep you safe!" left bis wife.
1t was curious sight, certainly, th
like of which the mammoth trees abou
them never before witnessed The Bal
samo Brothers had performed be'cr
many audiences in the East, but neve
we're they so anxious to excel as on thi
occasion. Pride in their skill, the wisl
to astonish the blood.thirsty audience
and the thought of the woman and chilt
they would save, conspired to stimulate
them. As they sprang from the bushes
before the crowd, q murmur OF surpris
and admiration came from the braves
For a moment, the acrobats stood lik
marble statues, saving alone the em
broidered skirt about their waist ant
the little bracelet which ornamented til
wrist. In the red man S eye they looked
like gods-like beings from anotbe
world. Both men we're models of phys
ical beauty, and the light from the blaz
ing fame-wreaths added to the glamour
The half-audible expression OF wonder
ing appreciation reached their ears. AM
nerved them for the task. Billy cast
fond look in the direction OF his VIII
and child. A shiver ran through hi
heart as he asked:
"Shall ever see them again 7"
Hand in hand The brothers advance
until directly beneath the trapsza. Wit
a bow as graceful and profound as the
would have besto wed on Fifth-av. a,
dience. they took their places on the ba
Lucy and the child were sestei in I'll
shadow, not far distant, and in full vie
of the trapeza. The savages recline