Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-11-18
DeadwOOd
By
Charles H. Day
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. co.,

n RYANT thought it quite funny
u when he put at the top of
his letterheads a stipulation in regard
to the size of performers dressing
room and hotel trunks and the condi-
dons: Trunks at hotels twice a
week. No dogs or guns carried. No
deadwood permitted. In spite of
Bryant's rule and resolution he did
have to carry some deadwood, and it
came about through the necessity of
engaging an equeStrienne.
Bryant had no standing in the circus
business and was despised by artists
and managers alike. Stolid and mer-
cenary, he had a cuticle like rhinoc-
eros and when the comments of others
reached his ears he laughed at the I'M
complimentary criticisms, when a man
Of finer feelings would have blushed
for very shame.
One spring Bryant found himself at
n very late day minus that all impor-
tant feature, a lady rider, as already
stated. Several had applied, been
turned down and put off, or, better
said, bluffed in tho standard Bryant
way. Now that the man was in a
pinch he did not advertise or confide
his imperative necessity to his agents,
but doggedly declared obtusely:
1.-The show will go out, rider or no
~vider"
One afternoon he had a caller. 1t
was Flora IRVINE, rider of repute and
physical charms, and to the managers
nScI. L
cure an engagement.
Il thought you was engaged?" said
Bryant, as soon as the visitor made
known her errand.
81 Cancelled" was the reply.
'Because?"
Because l am married"
"Oh, ho!" exclaimed Bryant, mis-
trusting the reason of the cancella-
ton. rs your husband in the bust
ness?'
The equestrienne bit her lip before
she answered, hesitated while Bryant
looked upon her with something be-
tween glare and a grin:
my husband is not inc the bust
ness.''
II thought as much" blurted Bryant,
coarsely, and then he quickly recov-
>ered himself and remarked apologet-
lcally: Excuse me-"
An awkward pause followed, the Wis
ytor quietly breaking the ice anew:
IL learned that you were without a
rider and thought l would call"
The manager cut her off with the
blunt statement:
my trick, l don't"
"Deadwood!" repeated the eoues-
trienne.
"Y-e-s," drawled the manager
"Dead-wood, deadwood!" With that
ae pushed letterhead into his callers
hands, with his finger indicating the
conditions.
Then might as we'll be going
observed the equestrienne BY the
time that she had gained her feet he
had interposed a request for her tc
remain:
Wait leetle."
Bryant was not fool enough to throw
away a last chance, and he fastened t.
say, with an effort to conciliate:
'P'raps we might make a dicker an
include the-the-er your husband
that is, if you make the figure right
(Foxy Bryant never lost sight of the
dollar.) 'Twould lie nard to spoil Won,
honeymoon, wouldn't it? Ha, hat
{the visitor smiled mott. BRYAN
leered and chuckled I'm a widower
you know, but l never dreamt tina
you had an idea of matrimony."
The visitor looked grave and offend
; ed, whereat the manager ceased hi,
distasteful banter and proceeded t,
business, deal was made. and if i
scarcely necessary to state that BRYAN
took considerable advantage of tn,
situation. AS the eQuestrienne was de
parting with her contract the manage
remarked:
SET hope that while your husband i
With the show he will pick up SOM,
thing of the trade and not be exces
baggage all the season"
When Milton Folsom came on Wit