The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-06

quicksr'n scat he put three bullets through
the wagon window to ease his mind, and
the CRATER began to pepper back, rather
regardless of the pronisouous crowd. l
skipped of to the gold chariot at one side.
got behind a big wooden angel at one cor
ner of it. and stayed there where / could
look out with little danger of getting 4 pei
let. But they stopped shooting pretty soon.
You see, the CRATER had tive mon in the
wagon who grabbed their gum the minute
the fuss began and blazsd away ut the old
man. while the CRATER had settled down to
odds were against him and he lit out.
swearing vengeance He had only 4 scratch
on tho shoulder, but 4 stout oopper-oolored
old lady from over tho border inadvertently
got between him and ono OF tho sluRa from
the ticket wagon, and didn't live to SEQ the
fault. but the CRATER ap%ologized and passed
him in free, so he made up his mind to let
bygones be bygones.
II think it was just after the big bare
back act that everybody In the tent sud
denly heard guns popping outside. Bot the
We didn't pay much attention to the matter
until casual bullets began to interfere with
the comfort Of the audience. and whom the
clown was bowled over and had to be
carried out on 4 banner 4 good many pso-
pie became so interested in the proceedings
outside that they paid little attention to
the performance. Then all at onoe there
was a sonmotion near the dressing tent
entrance, and a pack Of thirty mounted
cowboys galloped into the ring. The old
hayseed was at the head Of them, and every
man had his fireworks out and ready for
business, -@-r -@
"As you fellows know T7s Travelled for q
frearms house for twenty years and have
hahdied weapons by the thousands. but
when it comes to a front visw of shooting
machines in the DAVIS of a crowd Of earnest
citizens Pm disposed to retire from bust
ness.
II was afraid the visitors meant mischief,
and was about to drop down between tho
seats and crawl out under the edge of the
tent, whom they began cracking away at the
trapezs ropes. and in five minutes they We 9
all down. They wsrs evidently in a playful
mood and wouldn't kill anyone in the audi
enee without serious proyooation. After
this preliminary sport they forced every
performer to CONC in end entsrtain them
with a special act. To wind up they brought
in the CRATER. He was bound hand and
foot and was looking dismal, for somebody
had shot q hole through his car, and it hurt.
They unbound him aud made him rig up in
tho toys Of the dead clown, after which thoy
requested him TO shin up the center pole.
He rather objected to this, but the rustic
and ono or two more fellowa full of fun
began to shoot into the sawdust around his
feet and he started to climb.
HE spent a good deal of his strength in
swearing, and stopped to rest once or twice,
but, being urged on by the popping of ro-
~volvcrs. he managed to roach tho top of the
pole. Ho wore one Of those high clowns
hats, and tho cowboys ordered him to hold
it out in HIS hand. They then amused
themselves for a few moments shooting at
it. The elephant WAS next ordered in. and
every man of Thorn had a ride on the boast.
BY this time the visitors were weary of the
sport and withdrew. and tho audience
rushed out after thom psll-mell."-Buffalo
Courier, @