Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-12

Ill., o.
"As l hue, you shall hare a taste Of your
DUN treatment"
He knew that ''the swell' in question was
Capt. Ferrers, Of thu Scarlet Lancers, then
lying in Idleminster barracks. He knew
him quite well, for the officers had often
patronized the circus during the few weeks
the tent had been pitched in the city, and
once Capt, Ferrers had tipped him half a
crown for an especially difficult feat he had
performed on a bespeak night for the Off
GERS of the regiment.
1t was true that Mr.. Frisco had promptly
taken the half crown from him, but, all the
same, that fact notwithstanding, the mem.
ory of the giver had dwelt lovingly ever
since in his heart.
And behold! There was his benefactor
quietly and caressingly drawing Mr.. Frisco's
white thong through his fingers and smiling
down upon that gentleman's writhing
and quivering form in a way which would
have made the lad laugh out loud if he had
dared to do it.
He wondered what "the swell from the
barracks" would do next. And presently he
saw and heard.
"Here, stop that row." he said, authorita-
lively.
The lad rubbed his bruises and fairly
chuckled; the ringmaster continued his
writhing and groaning, throwing in an oath
here and there by way OF q little variation.
"Do you hearN said Ferrers, raising his
voice, 'or do you w~antanother taste of this!
Get upp'
Very slowly and unwilLingly the ringmas-
ter rose from the sawdust laid ground,
driven to it by tho significant spread of the
soldiers strong right arm.
care you this boys fatherM Ferrers de-
manded, CURLY.
"No.n
"Where is his fatherF'
"He's dead"
"And his motherg'
"She's dead toog'
"Ah!-and who looks after himP'
'Ido" very unwillingly).
ooh! you doa All! Nice way you'v got
Of doing i'll Well, if you want him back
again you can apply to the magistrates, and,
meantime, l shall give the police orders to
look after you at once. Come along, my
lad"
"He's my apprentice-he's bound to me,''
the ringmaster put in %sullenly, as the boy
crept round to his new friend and protec-
tors side. At the same time be edged away
from the reach of Ferrers' arm. HE has
cost me pounds and pounds, and"
Eyes. You can tell all that to the magls-
trates, you know" said tho soldier, blandly
"By the way, have you any papers to show9
Because, if you have, the magistrates will
be glad to see them also. However, here is
my ca%rd-though you know me well enough
without it,"
He made a gesture to the boy to go before
him, and went Out of the tent, still carrying
the whip in his hand. Frisco shook his fist
at his retreating figure, and growled OUT an
oath or two, not loud-he was too fearful Of
rousing the lion again for that-but very
deep.
There were generally a few loungers and
ne'er-do-weels hanging about the circus tent,
but not one Of them had thought Of going
within to inquire into the cause Of the
shrieks and screams which all of them hal
heard quite as plainly as Capt. Ferrers had
done. They were accustomed to them-a5
least, such as ~belongedto the company were;
it was only one of the youngsters getting an
extra licking, and if Frisco was q bit hard
on them, why, doubtless, Frisco had plenty
of provocation. Anyway, it was no business
Of any one else's, and Frisco wa a danger
GUS customer to interfere with.
Now, when the lad, followed by Ferrers,
emerged from the tent, there were q dozen
or so of them lounging against the railing,
which served for entrance and advertise
ment boards alike. They saw that the lad
had been in for it again-he always did
seem to be in for it, poor little t%oad-they
fancied it must be, half of it, through sheer
o~bstinacy, for he was an uncommonly
clever lad at certain things, Of which the
snake performance was one.
One or two Of the circus troupe looked up
in rough pity, which was, however, quickly
checked by the sight Of the big soldier-welI
known to all of them-who came just be-
hind him, carrying Frisco's better known
whip in his hand. Holloi they wondered
what was up now, and their wonder was GER
tainly not decreased when Capt. Ferrers
hailed a passing cab, babe the boy get in,
entered it himself, and vas driven away in
the direction of the barracks.
''That was Capting Ferrers," said one,
land he had Friscos whip in his 'and.n
'sBeen a-leathering O Frisco, I should
think" suggested another, but without the
widest idea that his words, uttered in jest,
we're as gospel truth.
"'Ere hei to speak for ITSELF. I'll ask
i'm" laughed a third, who CHANGED to be too
big to stand in any W of the ringmaster.
"'Ello, Frisco" he remarked lightly, "as
the swell from the barracks been a-leathering
of yerp
Frisco muttered something quite unintel-
ligible, and passed on, leaving the little
group staring after him in profoundest sur
prise.
"You've 1T the right nail on the cad this
time, old boy" exclaimed one at last, ad-
dressing the big young man who was not
afraid of Frisco.
swell, I'm bowed" said tho big young
man, blankly.
CHAPTER II.
The little acrobat, in his worn and shabby
tights. when CePt. Ferrers toll him to
get into the cab, seated himself meekly an
- -. - 49, .IIs. Al-.-l iii ...-s