Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-26

that the weapon had missed fire. Moth
ing daunted. and still with an sppar-
ent perfect cslmness, every movement
being eagerly watched by the audience,
Bosco reloaded the pistol and again
raised II. 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.
"Bravol bravo!" came from q thou
sand throats simultaneously, and .
thousand pairs Of hands met In sp-
prevail.
"Encorel Do II AGAIN." rose above
the din, and the idea catching hold de.
veloped into = loud roar: DO II
sgain!"
Bosco seemed pleased and panied at
once He hesitated.
do II again" and the shout assumed
. peremptory tone. Some one threw
half-crown into the ring; II was fol-
lowed by another, and soon shower
Of silver 10y 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 a few sym.
pathstis voices raised in protest were
howled down by the impetuous de-
mand; do II again"
Bosco showed some traces OF excite.
ment as he reloaded his weapon, and
the operation seemed to occupy
longer time. Could 1t be that his nerve
was failing him, or was 1t the sight Of
the boys face that filed him with
dread' Again he raised the weapon
amid increased excitement and fired.
The shot was again true, and for tho
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 moro
the unre asonable shout was raised;
do 1t againl Do 1t the third timer
The perform er declined.
The shouts grew louder and more de-
termined.
again, againl" resoundcd through
the place, until II seemed that mad
infatuatlon had seized upon the people
and they were thirsting for tragic
end. "Againl Again." rose the shout,
each time uttered In q more angry
tone. 1t was flung from gallery to pit;
the amphitheatre caught it up and
threw II back again, until the whole
house rang with the tumultuous de.
mand.
Still Bosco declined, until on per.
sonal appeal from the proprietor, who
feared the growing storm, he reluctant.
ly yielded.
When II was seen that he had given
way, a wild shout Of triumph rent tho
air, almost inhuman In Its ferocity Ia
II thus that audiences play with their
favorites2
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 o tremendous effort to re-
cover his self-posscssion, Bosco raised
tho 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 IN agony Of grief, and he rushed
from the ring A few attendants
lii1ca ,ne 'aa spros'la'e form una CON
voyeo :. W III innef 'cn'' ",i'io " muir
mut aAin W ie'no's0 os''pe" 'he vas'
oro"u' -
~, = p"lniu, suspense followed, during
Y 'ne 1a',u ~ s'ru's up l'vcly .ane'
ou .s, :. Soun'.cu iiHe u iunerai lnarch.
anc ooy' 'le ooy' Wha1 aoout the
were human again now. At length the
appeared. lie told them the
lad had been III all day and had taken
part in the performance at q great
risk. The mental strain was too much
for him, however, and as the last shot
was fired his strength gave way and he
swooned. But he Is not hurt" the
concluded, land as soon as
the falnting ct Is over he shall be pre-
sented to you. See, here he comcsr'
the tent heading NV the hand b,s Nt,is
son. disnlavlno H. remnants ~ Tho
Third annie
Such a shout aroso Ar hes never s,nc.
been heard nnder tha conyss -, al.
lavv,s ,non.tsr tant ava rhen posoo
raised the hov IN hls arms md L,sssS