The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-15
A SERIOUS JOKE.
An Old Circus Tnck Causes Bloody
 Encounter

Encounter
 Several nights ago. al a circus perform. anoe in Arkansaw. the con. en,ionai drunken man ~ho goes into the rlng and wants to ride ,ha; " hoss played his part tnile hner than he intended. Sitting near the ring were a couple oi men from away over the eteek." They were per iee,ly wrapped ap In the entertainment. and setc very much annoyed when the drunken fellow interrupted the pe,torm. ance
 = want you to so away the uns-mas- ter sald. /" Non arelnte,tapang our show .
 Nanter ride iha' ho>,
 You can't ride hou arr ,oo drunk a
 IN ar.er ndc that hoss.
 Here" said the clown. assuming d setous at. want you Ia leave here
 IN anter fidc ,ha, hoss
 IL, as much h you can do to walk, and yea can't nde ,ha, spirited anrmal. We pald tol the pil, ilege ei sho~ing here. and intend 10 gtve A good show. but ii you keep on lntertup,Ing ns VIC can't do anything
 He's the blamcdes, fool l eAer saW. . said one of the men itom away over the creek
 Yes his companion replied. and fl he keeps aa progIekin round here. Fl show him ,ha, spent my money ,o see ,his show an don, wsn'tcr be heated outen my nghts by drunk fool We ean see drunk ieliers every day. hei i show a show. lc'amc tell you
 The drunken lelle, fell in front fl the horse and came n ono oi beng iaa over. The clown seifed hum and threw him from the rng He started ln 70 bae k. when one of the creek men jumped up and said:
 No. l Il be blamed fl you % DAek .
 The audience though, tha, II was s part of the ,uck and roarrd, and the creek man, thinking ,ha, h,s course had received the approval ot the crowd. was much encouraged.
 let away sad the old lokef. m an under;onc, "thi, IS a part of tho shov. .'
 "les. an It'll be mighty sorry part for you II you don't g,, ou,en here
 Look out 70 and the old Joker uird ,o shove the creek man aSide. This was more than the other oon,fyman could endure and sprtnging up. he struck the perpe;ta- tor of ociogenarian mitth and his com panion seized hlm, and began to drag him ou, The clown ani ung nss'et rushed ou; and ,ted ,o rescue hts ffiend, already stood too much Inc drunken fellow, who by thss tune WIS de 'dedly sober. had gone beyond the bounds of forgiveness and should be punished. The audience. s,ill regarding the whole affair as a grand iaiherly )oae ~ss ,lucs, add with Ioy-
 |" Dinged II you Sha. pcf;cc, sseh d fool as ,h,s IS and one ai the creek men struck the clown in the ta~e and knof ked hin down Fresh fuel for the htes of fun. and Inc audience ho~led and roafod and some Of the seats lei. and A mighty shout arose. he fing-nAs,er vas knoc kci down ~!th the heavy end oi his own whip, and then the audience saw ,ha, the performance was baatness-!lke and practical. A number oi the as,ors rushed 70 inc confic', and party of cross-roads boys reinfoi cd the men from over the creek The hiiy-siI spertal con s,zbles Joined the tray and after awhile, the entire circus oItf'. wi,h IS t4tered canvass and blood-s;aincd men, looked AS melanc holy AS the shank end of day when a note falls due. l, IS not often that an old and ~ell-scasoned loke causes trouble. and the oirous manager, ,.;iered and torn A he ls, ;. >eaIchlng the eLosn annals of the ,~lligh; ages, n a hope ,h4, he may find ,rlek old enough for the publit.