The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-06-23

cesslVe sJra1n upon lt-Where Dan ana Pete
watered the team.
Afterward they crossed the square and
stopped by the Baptist church, In full view
OF tho circus tents, whence arose at that
moment prolonged and sullen roar.
"They're feedin' Of the nannimals.n ex.
claimed Mr.. Pinson, In familiar, off-hand
sort of way, whereat Mrs. Pinson shuddered
and hugged the sleeping baby closer to her
bosom.
Old Baldy and jimmy were unhitched and
fed from the trough at the back Of the
wagon; the painting dogs lay down in the
shade Of the church; the children had a
snack all around out Of the yellow poke, and
Becky and her mother fetched out the
chairs and sat down TO shave dip"
ut air haffn nour yit twel the dos Is
OPEN" said Mr.. Pinson, finally. 'Jes ye
an the Children stay right here, Nance. I'm
goin' to tramp down to the pos'-office an
git the las lection news, an sich. I'll be
back the mint 1t air time, an min all be
ready, lcssn we don't git no seats"
Mrs. Pinson nodded, and he strolled away.
"This here beats me-" he kept saying to him
self. Johnsburg was indeed in an unwonted
state Of excitement. Riddler's was the first
circus that ever quilted tho line of railway
and ventured across the long sandy reaches
OF post-oak rough to the little isolated town
In WestTexas. And the whole surrounding
country had pulled to its doors like the Pin
sons, and responded to the invitation of the
huge posters: "Come One. Come ALL"
Nevis progress was slow, owing to the
frequent encountering Of neighbors and the
necessity of inquiring after the health of
their families. He did at last. however,
reach the post-office, ram-shackle building
next to the blacksmith shop. AS he turned
Inc corner he came upon calSe-and-lemon-
ade stand. His hand went instantly down
into his pocket, and came up with the extra
fifteen cents, which he exchanged for three
solid slabs of mahogany-colored ginger
bread "Fer Nance an the children" he
explained, as the woman in charge wrapped
up his purchase. The bleary old creature
looked at him with sudden kindly smile,
and slipped stick Of peppermint candy into
the parcel
With one foot on the post-office step, he
paused to look at man who had planted a
gigantic yellow umbrella out in the dusty
square, and, standing bareheaded beneath
II, was yelling some unintelligible jargon at
the top OF his lungs Mr.. Pinson hurried
over and Joined the ring of gaping specta-
tors On bit of board in the shadow of
the umbrella couple of odd little mario
nettes of colored metal were circling in a
kind of grotesque waltz. SLOTS of fun for
twenty-five centsv' shouted the Snowman,
STOPPING now and then to touch up the fig
ures with a stubby forefinger "Lots of
fun for twenty-five cents The greatest toy
invented In this age or any other. So sim
pie that crawling child can not fail to
manage it, Those who know the trick will
please say nothing CHEAP, gentlemen, for
Twenty-Five cents. o, see the gentleman is
going to buy!'
Newt grinned and shook his head regret
fully.
"One for one, two for t,uo three gets the
half-a-dollah!" bawled another individual
who had set table near by covered with
wooden nine-pins. Jack Carter and his
crowd were throwing at these with little
painted balls. A cigar, Jack explained to
Newt, was the reward for one pin knocked
down at throw; two cigars went to the
player who knocked down two; while the
lucky thrower who succeeded in knocking
down three received fifty cents. zone for
one, two for tpo, three gets the half-a-dol-
lah," went on the proprietor monotonously.
"Three throws for jive cents Step up, gen.
tlemen, and try your luck! For a nickeU
One for one, two for tpo, three gets the half
a-dollah!"
"Lord! efI hadn't of bought this burned
ginger-cale!' groaned Mr.. Pinson in spirit,
gathering the paper-parcel more securely
under his arm and moving on with the
crowd.
A step or two brought him to an open
wagon from which patcnt-medicine man
was holding forth. "7ry the remedy" he
whined, flourishing stout black bottle and
pewter spoon. "Cures all diseases Try
the remedy! Administered free Of charge
to any one in the crowd. This superb bottle
filled with the remedy only fifty cents. The
wise man tries, the fool dies. TRY the
remedyW
''This here beats me-" murmured Newt,
mechanically wiping the perspiration from
his forehead, and backing against the court
house fence, where he leaned fairly ex-
hausted with the variety and novelty of his
emotions. 1.-THE haffn hour mus be nigh
bout up. Dinged of amt glad" he con-
tinued, letting the crowd drift on without
him to where the health-lift man was ex-
horting the cautious ranchmen to "try the
machine, try the wonderful machine, gentle
men. Excellent for the CONSTRUCTION! Only
five cents trial. TRY the machine" and
the reckless cowboys were emptying their
pockets at the invitation of the vender of
the prize-boXes.
"Curious game that, SIR" said a smooth
voice at his elbow. He looked around,
startled. A seedy but respectable-looking
parsonage was standing by him with his
arms crossed on the low fence. He jerked
his head as he spoke toward little knot of
men hanging around the stile-steps leading
into the weed-grown court house yard.
Newt walked over and looked on. 1t was
a simple-enough-looking game at cards. An
innocent-faced little fellow with black hair
and curly mustache was manipulating the
greasy deck. The bet was five dollars. Two
countrymen,s unknown to Newt, with sus-
piciously stiff white collars above their
coarse hickory shirts, and scrupulously
clean fnger-nails, won successfully five dol
lars, and the dealer much chagrined, seemed
on the point Of giving up.
Newt made half step forward. His heart
was beating violently and the blood was
surging in his ears. "I'm perfessin' men,
ber," he argued mentally with himself,
while the cards were once more shuffied and
spread out, "yit 1t air jes bout the easies'
thing in creation to tell which one Of them
cyaras air the right one. AM Nance an
NELL hev mon time to trade out the five
dollars whence the show air over. Shucksr"
And he counted out and laid down his
handful Of dimes and niclkles, and hazarded
bet. He bent forward eagerly, and ,un-
consciously stretched forth hand. "This
here monty air a mighty deceivin' game"
remarked the blacksmith, with an air of
conviction, as the dealer raked Mr.. Pinson's
money into his own pocket and walked
jauntily away. e iinl. alt,i u.
Newt turned about, half dazed by the
suddenness Of the whole transaction, and