The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-31
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and the beautiful senorita'-here he
raised his hat and bowed profoundly to
Carmen-"that my troop should give
a performance here tonight? And would
they generously contribute of their
wealth TO in some small meager reward
our efforts TO please them"
Again the maestro paused and looked
about him to observe the effect of his
words, while at his silent signal, the
orchestra within the wagon struck up a
lively air intended to inspire interest in
the show.
"A circus ont here on the plainl"
"Well, that beats my time!" 'Why
not?" Lets all chip in, boys, and help
the thing alongl" Here's a dollar for
my sharer were ordinations and re-
marks thut arose among the men about
the station door.
The Snowman looked toward Don Ra-
mon, being evidently of the belief that
the decision Of the matter would rest
with him. II is a trait Of the Mexican,
of high and of low degree alike, 10 be
interested in public shows and pagcants
of every kind, and the maestro knew
that he could safely count on the chances
that even SO poor an affair as his pre-
tentiously advertised exhibition would
not come amiss 20 the sturdy don TO
while away an hour or two Of the even
ing at the station. And indeed after a
few minutes conversation with the
Snowman, Don Ramon informed us of
the terms that would recompense the
maestro for an evening entertainment
If we would pay him $40 i'll cash, and
contribute provisions to serve his troop
of eight persons with supper and break
fast, the maestro would raise his show
tent in the space before the house and
give performance for the edification
of all gathered at the station.
I There was no reason to doubt that
the money could be promptly raised,
but the supplying of the troop with
provisions was matter more difficult
TO arrange, and the trouble in this re-
spect threatened to be insuperable. The
station storehouse was the obvious
source Of supply TO look to for this pur-
pose, but from what the keeper had said
| Of his fears Of a scarcity of provisions
there seemed little hope that he would
draw from what ne had TO feed the tTav-
| cling showmen. We had all become IN
! lerestCd IN the maestro and his troop
! and wanted 10 see the show which
| promised agreeably to diversity the sus
! pense and tedIum Of our waiting at the
station amid the constant danger of In
dian attack The station keeper unex
pectedly came TO decision favorable
to our wishes After suoking his beard
rehectlvcly he turned to one Of his herd
ers with the question:
! What do you say. BoneyI Shall we
spare the show people out Of our stock
| enough bacon and -four and coffee to
give them two rations all moundf
Things are mighty unsettled just now,
and we'll have to take our chances Of
runnin short ourselves before the sup
| ply team Will get to US again
shall we? Yes, you bet, said
the man addressed It'll be many a
day before we have "a Mexican circus
pull up to our door again and offer to
give us show. III risk the runnin
short if you will, and / know my pard
will agree 60 it without askin. "
Its a so, then. Get out the grub. p"
The keeper nodded to the maestro and
pointed at the herder Go with that
man, and he'll fix you out Now the
rest Of you can raise the money, and
well have the show. Some one pass
around the hat. "
He looked toward Felix, who rose,
took his hat in hand, dropped into it a
silver dollar and passed it around for
contributions. Every one to whom it
vas presented gave something. When
ne counted up the receipts, they amount.
ed to Sll. The Pike county mans offer
ing was half dollar.
IT IN not as mighty we'll fixed, but !
reckon l ought to give as much as that,
seein the size of the family bring" he
drawled. THE ole woman III the chill
dren think powerful sight of show,
N you can bet your pile they'll all be
thar.
The giving of the performance, so fan
as depended on our fulfllment Of tho
terms, was assured. Felix counted the
money in the presence of the maestro,
but did not hand it to him. He tied II
up in handkerchief and put it in the
breast pocket of his shirt.
Its yours after the show, senior, '
he said. He understood the Mexicar
character.
The members of the troop, whose ap
pearance bctOkencd that they recently
} bad been anything but overfed, set e
work to prepare their supper. The pro
spcctivc audience attended TO its individ
ual concerns or sat about and waitet
for the time when the performance
should begin.
| Other visitors were on their way t.
us. Out of the falling dusk three horse
{ men emerged like phantoms, close a
> hand, and came on toward the station
They were well mounted. and thei
5 clothes, the usual cowboy costume o
3 wide brimmed hats and suits Of Califor
mia overalls, were new and clean EacI
| one of the three carried IA pair of revolv
q crs at his belt and repeating carbiu