Milford chronicle., 1906-05-11

Luilhs
"What way?' snapped the manage
"Its-it's the papier mache weigh
/ sir; light as a feather. II used
y practice with it." stammered Hercr
les. But they-they wouldn't knoN
L it from the real thing, sir; not on you
life. Git two Of the groOms, Dan'l an
= Pete. sir; 1 know 'em well enough
{ They'll perspire an purtend a bit whel
they bring it on. savez the idee, hey
, 1 reckon you do. sir-ha, hal
"Ha. hal Ha. ha. haw laughed thu
manager heartily. splendid, Hercu
les. splendid. I'll write to Barkalow
You get a bonus for this-ha, ha! Anc
we can staye off challenges for one
night, Ell? Tomorrow Wen invite in
spectioh. Very good. sir, v-very good
indeedr'
And so it was arranged.
Came 8 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, whooplah! Crack!
Through ribbon ring after ribbon ring
the ma'amselle jumped, landing al
ways fair and dancing on her plush
platform saddle. Suddenly whoOp.
whoop. swish! A tissue drum went
into shreds. and Pierrot stepped down
from his pedestal and looked proudly
at the lady. "IIurrah, hurTahr The
audience cheered and clapped their
hands "Well DONE well done"
But now it was number eight on tEe
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.
Jauntily the manager advanced and
made brief announcement. Two blue
coated, quick action grOoms spread out
a brilliant carpet star, and two others, |
red faced and with straining arms and |
shoulders doubled over, brought on the
plaything of the giant.
"Haw In a moment he was there .
before them, smiling and bowling, a
spangled vision in scarlet and gold, a
miracle of physical strength and big
ness. He stretched out his long right
arm, his left, too, and the muscles Of
them rose up like plated whipcords.
Then he breathed, and every man
breathed with him. He broke a poker
across bis thigh, and the cheers rang
wild and deafening. He looked at the
weight, at the trapeze above, at ma am
selle with critical eye, and again
the audience cheered. If before they
had doubted the claims in number
eight it was evident now that they be-
lieyed.
Mirabeau? White as chalk beneath
her mask, she held her breath and
glared from her steed at Pierrot And
Pierrot? Eyes bulging outward, he
the little trapdoor in the
betting below the orchestra stand
Suddenly the giant stepped before
the weight and faced the high priced
seats. Above his head he raised his {
hands. "Once twice, thrice?' On the I
.hird call he would swing and grasp :
md juggle with the dead weight as I
With toy.
Click Click! {
Pierrot. and only Pierrot, heard it. '
The viOlins and the flutes were muir &
lering sound. and the clowns heart {
bumped his chest like a drumstick c
Deating the time. S
Click! Click c
Up went the trapdoor, and boy, t
cry little boy, hatless, but with sun c
risped thatch Of curly hair, struggled a
trough the ring. For a moment he a
esitated, blinking his big blue eyes /
q the glare of light; then quick as a t
ash he was over on the big carpet star C
"Pierrot, Pierrot," breathed ma'am-
ellie. squeezing the cold fingers resting
n her saddle. q
"Once, twice-once. twice-whoop- L
lhr' shouted Hercules, bending swift n
7 and throwing his mighty arms be- q
ween his legs. q
But the boy was first. In his tiny 9
and he grasped the weight and. hoist q
lg it to his slender shoulder, sped r.
18th it like a startled hare across the Il
ing and out through the qulvering o,
lrtain. b
"Ah. ha! Ha, ha, har' It was one :,
rief trickle of laughter accentuating y
le intense silence that followed, for in -
le thrill of a flute it all happened, and r
o one had attempted to stop him.
Rat-tat-tat!
''Now, all togetherP' commanded the
ader of the orchestra, coming gal +,
ntly to the rescue, and a bunch of m
Iandolins and violins ripped the air. g.
ut music had no charms for the out al
lged audience, and at last the storm Al
roke. Loud, long and deep voiced it m
lged-ribald laughter, shrill jeers, II
ark threats and Kisses like the angry n
Ihaust of steam. n,
Gentlemen, gentlemen
In vain did the manager attempt to I
EN- the avalanche, but like a sick
ans whisper against a battery can
made his explanations and apologies
elted on soundless lips. lo
Gentlemen. gentlemen, one minute, k
ld l will explain, r. d
Yes can't do it! Yes can't do itg'
ped thin, querulous voice. u
''Tricksters! Swindlers! Money back! m
oney back! Boo for Barkalowg
lorused the galleries. bl
49, H.. !