The San Francisco call., 1904-06-05

understand, 1 understand. Ma'amselle.
Tonight you must answer 'Oui,' or he
will drop the dead-weight from his
teeth when you hang below!'
"Pierrot. Pierrotl" she cried. Il can
not, viii not perform tonight! See
see-I tremble; 1 could not stand; l
could not ride Comanche Bill must
beg off. I am sick. II will tell the
manager,"
"Ma'amselle! No, no, Ma'amselle.
one moment, one moment" cautioned
Pierrot, OBTAINING her. and pressing his
hand against the crimson diamond on
his forehead.
But Pierrot. Pierrot." she insisted.
Il must, must. Il"
Non. non. Ma'amselle, you must
noti" he whispered. Il have it, Pier
rot has it, And again he glanced in
tently at the programme. "Bien, bien,
I have IT, In number seven you ride
Comanche Bill. Ride him, Maam-
sell. Pirouettei Jump! Jump through
the drum; 1 hold it, Ma'amselle. Look,
number seven, 'Mirabeau on Conan
che Bah. beg off? Non, non, trust
Pierrot. Have no fear. You will not
swing from Hercules weight"
But, Pierrot. how? How? You must
tell mel"
Fing-ting-ting-t -ting-ting!
Second bell Ma'amselle," he in
terrupted, second belll" and grasping
the curtains he peeped through the
faded fringe. "Ah. the tiers. thew are
black with people, black. Ma amselIe!
There is no time. no time to tell.
Trust Pierrot. trust, trust!" And in
moment he was gone.
Fifteen minutes later, with an angry
scowl Hercules, the lightweight litter,
raised the flap Of the managers tent
and entered. Sir" he announced,
my weight-m-my weight! 1t is
stolen. Some providers, curse theml
THE last moment tool"
Stolen, stolen!" repeated the man
ager in his highest key. by heavens,S
man, and we have 5000 unbelievers in
that tent all waiting to see your act.
We've posted 1000 bills: we've adver-
tised it for a month. We've-we've-
Hercules, what is to be done?"
We'll. sir" growled the champion,
darkly, 'it amt my fault, no. sirl But
there's one way out Of it; one way, I
think"
What way?" snapped the manager.
''It's-it's the papier mache weight,
sir; light as a feather. II used to
practice with IT," stammered Hercules.
But they-they wouldn't know it from
the real thing, sir; not on your lifel
Git two of the grooms, Dan1 and Pete.
sir; 1 know 'em well enough. They'll
perspire an purtend bit when they
bring it on. Savez the idee, hey?
reckon you do, sir; ha, ha.'
"Ha, ha, Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the
manager, heartily. Splendid, Hercules,
splendid. I'll write to Barkalow. You
get a bonus for this-he, ha! And we
can stave off challenges for one night,
eh? Tomorrow well invite inspection.
Very good, sir. v-very good, indeed"
And so it was arranged.
Came at o'clock dinging and dying
amid railway siding sounds; and six
items, like SNOW in a tropical sun, had
melted from Barkalow's big wonder
list Comanche Bill, pink-nosed and
piebald, with Mirabeau, was prancing
around the mammoth ring. 'Whoop,
whoop, whoop, whoop-lah" Crack!
Through ribbon ring after ribbon ring
the ma'amselle jumped, landing always
fair, and dancing on her plush platform
saddle Suddenly, "Whoop. whoop.
Swishi A tissue drum went into shreds
and Pierrot stepped down from his
pedestal and looked proudly at the
lady. "Hurrah hurrah!" The audience
cheered and clapped their hands. We'll
done. well donew and ma a'amselie
bowed and adimpled through her mask
of rouge.
But now ii was number eight on the
programme, and all eyes were focused
on the performers entrance.
Hercules, Hercules" The excited
whisper gathered force and chased
along and up and down the tiers. Jaun-
tily the manager advanced and made
brief announcement. Two blue-coated,