Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-13

that the weapon had missed frs. Moth,
ing daunted, and atill with an appar-
emit perfect calmness, every movement
being eagerly watched by the audience,
Bosco reloaded the pistol and again
raised it, There was q sharp click,
followed by loud report, and in an
other second the child stepped for.
ward, holding the shattered apple in
his hands, The suspended breath OF
the audience returned and broke out
into deafening shout.
Bravo! bravo!' came from a thou.
sand Threats simultaneously, and
thousand pairs of hands met in APP,
prevail.
Encore! Do it againl' rose above
the din, and the idea catching hold de.
veloped into a loud roar; DO it
again!"
Bosco seemed pleased and panied at
once He hesitated.
'Do it again." and the shout assumed
a peremptory tone. Some one threw
half-crown into the ring; it was fol
lowed by another, and soon shower
of silver lay at the performers feet.
How could he resist? He motioned to
the boy, and second apple was
brought and placed in position. The
lads excessively pale face attracted
general attention now, but few sym
pathetic voices raised in protest were
howled down by the impetuous de-
mand do it again"
Bosco showed some traces of excite
ment as he reloaded his weapon, and
the operation seemed to occupy a
longer time Could it be that his nerve
was failing him, or was it the sight of
the boys face that filed him with
dread? Again he raised the weapon
amid increased excitement and fred.
The shot Was again true, and for the
second time the lad brought forward
the shattered apple.
Amid the applause that followed,
Bosco took the hand of his son and
was about to retire when once more
the unre asonable shout was raised;
"Do it again! Do it the third timel"
The perform err declined.
The shouts grew louder and more de-
termined.
again, again. resounded through
the place, until it seemed that mad
infatuation had seized upon the people
and they were thirsting for tragic
end. again! Again." rose the shout,
each time uttered in a more angry
tone. 1t was flung from gallery to pit;
the amphitheatre caught it up and
threw it back again, until the whole
house rang with the tumultuous de-
mand.
Still Bosco declined, until on a per-
sonal appeal from the proprietor, who
feared the growing storm, he reluctant
ly yielded.
When it was seen that he had given
way, wild shout of triumph rent the
air, almost inhuman in its ferocity. Is
it thus that audiences play with their
favorites?
For the third time an apple was
placed in position and the glaring light
again thrown on. How terribly pale
were those features now! Bosco's
hand visibly trembled as he loaded the
deadly weapon. The few tender
hearts in the vast multitude sickened
at the sight.
Making a tremendous effort to re,
cover his self-possession, Bosco raised
the weapon and took aim. There was
again sharp click, loud report, and
the boy fell heavily to the ground.
my God, what have | done? What
have done?" exclaimed the performer
in an agony of grief, and he rushed
from the ring. A few attendants
lifted the lads PROSTATE form and con
veyed it to an inner tent, while muir
muir akin to remorse escaped the vast
crowd.
A painful suspense followed, during
which the band struck up lively tune
but it sounded like a funeral march.
"The boy! the boy! What about tn,
boy?" the audience shouted. The,
were human again now. At length the
manager appeared. He told them tn,
lad had been i'll all day and had tal1el
part in the performance at grea
ris k The mental strain was too mucl
for him, however, and as the last sho
was fired his strength gave way and h
swooned. But he is not hurt" tn
manager concluded, land as soon a
, the fainting fit is over he shall be pre-
sented to you. See, here he comes!
and as he spoke Boscoe emerged fror
the tent leading by the hand his littl
son, displaying the remnants of tn
third apple.
Such q shout arose as has never sine
been heard under the canvas of Ga.
, laxy's monster tent, and when Bose
raised the boy in his arms and kisse
, him affectionately on both cheeks tn
cries of Bravo! Bosco!" could hay
been heard for miles around.
Alfredo Bosco has never told hov
) that very fainting fit of Alfonso
saved the lads life, for he, and h
only, knew that his aim was defective
and that the shot struck the apple ju,
as the swooning boy was falling to tn
ground William Tells historic an
never-to-beforgotten feat no longt
, forms an item in Signor Alfredo Bo
! cos extensive repertory. Tit
| Bits.
3 Readers for Cigarmakers.
S Literature and tobacco go togetht
8 in Key West" said citizen of tha