Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-16

/ MI
| IL IL him di sheartened
q from the field could
he have heard them.
But his eyes were fixed on the ringmaster
and his thoughts on poor Dick. so that he
barely noticed the buzz of comment which
arose as he faced the manager.
Now, my boy" began Ringmaster Mac
Intyre, Il don't want you to have an at
tack of stage fright and fall off and break
! your neck when you get up yonder. There
| isn't any real danger If you don't get rat
tied. and hardly think you'll do that. Are
you ready to try it?''
up you go, then, and good luck attend
ye"
| Slipping his right foot into a bow line
| that hung from the pole ring, and with
both hands FIRMLY clutching the rope, Paul
was rapidly hauled aloft by two property
boys until he reached the platform even
with the wire cable, where the bicycle was
fastened.
Waving his hand as signal to stop, he
swung himself into the eyrie, released his
foot from the loop, and sent the rope down
again for the use of the Kelseys.
Up they came together, laughing and
| chatting lightly, as if it were the Jolliest
picnic imaginable. Their gayety, whether
false or genuine, served to reassure Paul.
who, to tell the truth, was almost in a blue
funk. But he held his teeth close together
| to keep his heart from taking an unexpect-
| ed leap outward, and a logged determine
ton to go through to the end possessed
| every fiber of his being.
Loosing the chain which pinioned the
| wheel to the pole he let the machine slide
| along the cable until il was clear of the
platform and then held it steady until the
gymnasts had taken their seats on the
| trapcze below.
Now came his turn. For an instant he
glanced below and saw the set face of the
| manager ho
edge of the ring. He caught a glimpse of
i the main guy on the reserved seats sur
| rounded by the flower of the troupe now
strangely silent, and then, with a queer
| ringing In his ears and slight film before
his eyes. he vaulted into the saddle and was
half way between the poles before he re-
allied what had happend.
bravo! bravo! Chicaso!'' arose from a
| uo1eh throats, accompanied by vigorous
ciapping OF hands, the company testi-
ned its appreciation Of Pauls grit
arrived at the further pole, the young
| bicyclist reversed the action of the treadIes
and worked backward 10 the starting point.
repeating the operation several times until
ne mad acquired perfect control of the
| machine.
During these preliminary trials the per-
| formers remained inactive on the bars. NOT
deeming II prudent TO attempt any of their
| Ieats uhtll the rider had become thoroughly
accSstomed to the novelty of his POSITION.
| Inc severest test was yet to be made
| AFTER the fourth trip across, the gymnasts
| started in to rehearse their program and as
| the wheel swaye1 dangerously over from
| left TO right and then back again IL was all
| Paul could do to keep from throwing him
| self from his perch and grasping the cable
| at his feet. But the worst shock of All
came at the finale. when the male tumbler,
| hanging suspended by his knees caught his
| sister by the right wrist and left ankle and
dexterously turning her face downward
held the girl outstretched in full view Of the
| audience.
| The end japnasS ~ ,ha ,,,o,-o-..-.
the wheel far out to the right: then back
| II new to the left of center, rocking fright
| tully on its grooved tires and threatening
| every second to become displaced For n
| moment Paul had an awful feeling of
nausea at the pit Of his stomach. then his
| hair seemed to shoot straight upward, his
lower limbs trembled SO violently that his
| feet played fandango on the treadles and
a great desire to emit an agonizing yell be-
| came paramount. But the wheel righted
| the webbing ceased, and, with the word
go rising from below. the discounted
rider pulled himself together and slowly
worked the machine back TO the platform
which he quickly occupied
| Fastening the wheel to the pole he was
! ready In an instant to make the descent
| and minute later was treading the saw
| dust and receiving the congratulations of
| Ringmaster Macintyre and the entire troupe
He had won his spurs and was property boy
| no longer
| Paul was to make his initial bow to the
| colonials at the matinee performance As
| he could not appear in his working clothes
| II was absolutely necessary that he he fur
| nished with a suitable outfit. so the ward
| robes of the entire troupe were ransacked TO
| supply his deficiencies. A pair of sinners
| from one, silk tights from another trunks
| from a third. a spangled vest from a fourth
| with belt and other generous contribu-
| lions from the feminine side of the dressing
| room served 10 provide him with a hand
| some equipment for his new position. His
| trinity built, compact figure. which showed
| to good advantage in his snug-fitting gar
ments, evoked numerous comments from the
| performers as Paul FASTENED toward the big
| tent in response to the call from a property
| boy, and the sentiment was general that
old Mac" had made ten-strike in hiring
! Chicago"
! AS usual, the audience filled every seat
| and spread over the ground clear to the
| edge of the ring wherein Paul and the
| Kelseys now stood. with the girl hand
| clasped in the center, making their initia-
| tory bows. This was no time to show the
| white feather, and yet that same sickening
| sensation which he experienced in the fore
| noon was insidiously stealing over him as
he mounted to his aerial perch. Again he
| clinched his teeth, and by sheer will force
| fought back the horrible feeling which
| threatened to overwhe,m him. He WON
dered, as he stood there watching his COM
panions ascend. If this were akin to stage
| fright. and whether 1t would result dsas-
/ trously in spite of his efforts. HIS heart
| beats were so violent that he fancied every
| person In the tent must hear them, and
] IOr d moment ne nel0 MS mana at his left
| side as If to stiie the palpitations. But now
| the gymnasts were seated, there was no
| excuse for delay, and with a great gulp
| that was half sob, half sigh, he swung
| himself into the saddle and began anew
| his experiences of the morning
| All at once the unpleasant sensations left
| him. 1t was as IL a leaden weight had been
| sratched from his shoulders and dropped
| into the ring below. The revulsion was so
| great that he could have shouted for ioy
| had 1t been consistent with the dangerous
| part he was enacting. Back and forth he
| rode. utterly unmindful OF the tumblings
| of the gymnasts and not even at the final
| coup, which so upset him in the morning
/ did he experience the slightest tremor
| There smile his face that was
I genuine as he bowed his ACCOMPLISHMENTS
| to the storm of applause which greeted
| the trio when they descended and the
| ringmasters CHEEKY "Well DONE Chicago"
| amply repaid him for the cost But better
| than all was the thought that Dicks wei
fare was assured.
| Two pounds a week in English money and
his expenses was the modest stipend which
| MacIntyre allotted Paul for risking his
| neck twice day in this manner. The sum
was not large, but 1t more than sufficed for
the lads wants, and in few weeks he
| had managed to add materially to his
Scanty wardrobe, which sadly needed re-
plenishing. Before leaving WELLINGTON ne
| called at the hospital to see his friend
| Dick, but the poor fellow was deirious and
| failed to recognize the youngster he had