Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1904-07-24

shouting and there seemed nothing to
do but return to town.
| On the way, among the sunflowers
beside the road, he came on his settler
friend and told him the story.
"You can't get it back, Charlie"
said the old man sadly. Let it go
don't get into trouble"
wait and see. III try desperate
ly hard before give up"
The advice not to get into trouble
was repeated by several Of the mer-
chants with whom he consulted, but
from the young men of the town he
met with llcar:ier sympathy.
Stand by NE, boys" he urged, land
we'll help the old man some, anyf W.
It's good chance 70 show our grit"
| The adventure appealed to the 9th
| ers and a score promised to assist. ii
necessary, in making the showmen
give up the money.
| An appointment was made for half
past nine O'Clock when Harris was to
meet his friends, and then ne started
home for supper.
AS he went up the street he heard
shrill whistle and turned to see
handsome team of spotted ponies
driven to gaily colored road wagon,
plainly rig from the circus. A young
man was in the vehicle and as he
drew uD to the sidewalk Harris recog-
nized one of the ticket sellers.
Here is note for you" said the
stranger, handing out an envelope.
Harris opond it a1l read this scrawl
in lead pencil;
Come to the te2t at eight o'clock.
Can tell you something"
There was 40 signature, and VII N
he looked up to ask d question of the
young man, the spotted ponies were
pattering rapidly away, half block
distant.
With the note in his pocket the
young clerk sought the tents just as
the faring torches were lighted in
readiness for the night performance.
A ticket seller took. him inside
where the man in military coat
waited.
We'll, have come" were Harris
opening words.
Eyes, yes, about that money" began
the man suavely. II have found out
that some hangers-on of the show got
it. They have spent part, but think
| can get the reSt-you see we don t
want any trouble"
you can get it ALL" declared Harris
positively. He saw that he had
Fr;o Io III bor ID
right here and you know about it,
"You are mistaken, young man, but
I'll try what can do"
Let me tell you something" said
Harris, impressively. There are
about forty young men Of my size up
town who are waiting for a chance to
have fun with your old show. If they
on horseback prepared to cut the
ropes and wreck the tents, it will be
good deal more expensive than to
give the old man his money. Under.
stand?"
They wouldn't do that?" the man.
ager asked anxiously.
We'll. can't tell what they will do
but if I don't go back with some
sort of success they may be hard to
control. There hasn't been any real
fun in this town in long time"
The circus man was agtated. Go
out there and get into the ticket wag
on" he commanded, land when the
crowd gets in we will see what can be
DONE"
There was plainly an understanding
of what was to be done, for when the
bank clerk approached the wagon the
door on the side was opened for him
and soon he found himself in the in
side with the two ticket sellers, facing
the eager throng OF people. 1t was in
the shelf in the rear of the wagon and
to watch the skill of the seller in max
ing change.
Harris was so interested in it that
he did not notice that one of the men
left the wagon. When the crowd had
passed under the canvas and the band
was playing for the grand entrance in
the circus tent, the other ticket seller
gathered the money in sack and also
slipped through the door. Harris was
about to follow, but the door was
bolted on the outside; almost at the
same instant the shutters in the rear
slammed together and he was pris-
oner.
He had scarcely time to consider
what he should do next when there
was movement of his prisOn-it was
being hauled away from the chow
grounds at rapid pace.
Over the rough fields and uneven
prairie sod the wagon bumped, and
the music from the tent grew fainter
and fainter until he could hear it no
longer.
Harris was not frightened. He re-
flected that the circus men could not
afford to do him injury and that they
Ii ~