Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-09-24
CHAPTER VI

=, CHAPTER vi.
A. e"n"hlle two unusual things had
saKen place in Chetwynd street. John
nanoury, twenty-six years of age, of in
Tepehdent fortune, had entered it with
Dora Ashton, aged twenty, to whom he
was privately engaged to be married
Ooia mad never seen any Of the poorer
paris OF Chicago, and he, after much
eApostulatlon and objection, consented to
escort her through Chetwynd street.
AT the eastern end, William Sampson,
negro and street entertainer, had enter
Gu the street, prepared to perform, hoping
70 win a few coppers from the loungers.
he was tall man with round shoulders
anu restless eyes, was gesticulating vio-
iently and, addressing loud speech, appar-
entity to the hrst-hoor windows of the
houses opposite him il Chetwynd street.
1ne negro turned his face toward John
danbury and Dora Ashton. He had be-
SIDE him, on the ground, two cubes Of
stone, one the size of an iron half-hun-
dredWeight, the other somewhat bigger.
In his hand he held a small, square, thin
board.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen said he,
IKE a great opera singer, l earn the
bread L put into my mouth with the
mouth put it into. Here is my stock in
trade" patting his chin and cheek and
Jaw He made a hideous grimace, at
which there Was laugh mingled with
cheer
This laugh brought Mr.. Williams to
his door, and finally into the street. He
glanced at the negro and the crowd with
benignant liberation, then, turning his
eyes upward, he saw Leigh at the win
dow, whittier he had been attracted by
the noise of the crowd. The window
was open, and Leigh was leaning out and
watching the group below.
Williams called out to the hunchback.
"COme down, Mr.. Leigh and see the fun.
A man who could afford to give good
American money for a dead Egyptian
prince would surely be interested in a
living African black, whom he could
see for nothing"
Leigh hesitated for a moment, then
called out, can right" and disappeared
from the window.
Meanwhile the athlete was continuing
his harangue
IT carry them stones there about with
me to prove to any man, who won't take
my word for it, that l am the strongest
jawed man in all the world. Ladies and
gentlemen, you have often heard of the
Rocky Mountains-there," pointing to the
stones, "there they are"
"What will he do with the stones,
Jack?" whispered Dora, with some appre-
hension of danger.
"Eat Them" answered Hamburg in a
whisper.
At this point Oscar Leigh opened the
side door OF Torbes' bakery and stepped
IL INJ, ,tn,,rx witt
Dora Ashton on his arm, was standing
at the curb. About fifty people, men,
women and children, were now gathered.
Leigh took up his place by the landlord,
without word, and stood leaning heavily
on his stick. He fixed his quick, piercing
eyes on the negro.
The latter first took up the smaller
block, tossed it high into the air, and let
it fall on the road. saying, in defiant
voice. Eighteen pounds" Then he
took the larger block, and treating it in
the same way, said 'Twenty-four pounds.
The two together forty-two pounds!'
Then Black Sam began series OF
tricks with the stones. Before starting,
he placed on the ground square piece
of white thin board. Then he balanced
a stone on the point of the first finger
Of each hand and then jerked the lesser
stone from the point of his left foretinger
to the top of the larger stone, still bal
anced on the forefnger of his right hand,
ond kent both uprighs on the point Of his
rioht forefinger for half minute.
The negro stopped carefully, seized the
larger stone, threw it few feet into the
cir and caught and balanced it on the
ton of the smaller one resting on his
shoulder.
Something more wonderful than the
oontortions Of Black Sam at that mo-
u,ont attracted Leigh's attention. He
bod caught sight of Dora Ashton, and
Io;cb,s ewes were fixed on the slender
eorm and male olive face of the girl with
an EXPRESSION Of amaZement. He looked
,;Lo an animal that suddenly sees some
+hing II breads and from which it desires
- ramain concealed. He seemed stupe-
God stunned, dazed. All the scorn had
cone out Of his face. He leaned forward
MORO heayily<sthan formerly on his crook
al stick. He appeared to DOUBT the evil
dence of his senses.
plack Sam lifted his body couple or
inches. resting his entire weight on his
foot. then, passing his hands PACK, ne
LID Them under the lower cube. and rais-
"a hoth hands from the ground, the lower
aAho resting OH TIC peaAh1S' ''AtA 0A~AA
CO a. a how. he thrust out his head,
n Den1 the piece of board in his mouth
ho sIIa1 n the horizon; then he swung his
6rst forward, then backward, and
pouy' ,rod;gious effort and violent thrust
OF ' his arms and head between his his legs
tnre .r,tonad himself like flash, stepped
strals ,ace and. still holding the piece
oae white board in his enormous mouth
OF VII 70 the horizon, caught the two
CUBES l,, on was a loud cry Of exultation.
Hanbury forgot the girl by his side dea for Or
rot everything but the black man and ms
feat. v2,, asked Dora.
nat 20 oEa out What does he mean
II throwing himself down in n that ha nv way
and s lssni help him, Jack. Look under his