Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-12-26

II WANT TO GO HOME. PLEASE TAKE ME"
birthday. and her mother had given
her a dollar to buy herself a present.
She still had the dollar, and the thought
occurred TO her that she could take a
girl friend to the vaudeville tonight
and see this wonderful man. Then she
recalled that her mother objected to
girls going to the theater alone. After
eating her dinner she decided that she
was too tired. She would stay at
home.
The ringing of the doorbell after din
ner aroused her from her lethargy.
She went to the door and opened it,
Hello, Janetl''
why, Billy, won't you come in, or
shall we sit on the stoop? It's pretty
warm inside"
Il came around TO see if you would
go with me TO Peck's Vaudeville to-
night The handcuff king is there. you
know, and today is your birthday"
"Oh. Billy, will you really take me?
I've been longing to go ever since l
read about him. You sit here on the
stoop. and I'll be ready in jlffy"
Billy sat down to wait and Janet
was soon In the midst of her toilet.
She donned her best brown frock and
flower trimmed hat because she no
ticed that Billy had put on his best
gray suit and had his cane with him.
They found the theater packed and
were fortunate in securing two bal
cony seats. The noisy songs and tire
1fa1p,ytae whit fba
handcuff kings appearance on the bill
seemed interminable. No finally ap-
peared-hiS number He came out
not the strong. big man she had pic
tured, but a 1.-THE, muscular foreigner,
and ;hey chained him hand and foot.
locked and relocked the leg irons and
handouts on and left him there - get
ont aS hest he could
Janet hung over the balcony rail-, ana
Billy's eyes feasted on the bright and
happy face beside him The little fel-
low on the stage began his act Slow
iy twisting, turning and writhing,
seemingly in great pain, for several
moments he made no headway
"Billy he is being hurt! Why don't
some one help him z" Janet implored.
"Of course II hurts him, but no one
can help him. He must get out alone"
YES, but that's cruel. Just see the
veins in his arms! Oh, Billy l can't
stand it TO see a poor man suffer so!
Look, Billy! His face is getting red
der and redder every minutew she
cried as she hid her face in her hands.
There was deathlike silence In the
house. You could hear a pin drop In
the awful stiffness in which the man
held the audience. Janet peeked out
between her fingers. but dared not
really look Billy leaned little closer
and gave her arm Il reassuring pat 1t
encouraged her to speak. Leaning
close to him. she whispered:
Billy, I'm ashamed to tell you, but
I want to go home Please take me.
I'm so frightened"
why, OF course, little girl, but /
thought you wanted to see him get
loose"
II didn't know 1t would hurt him."
she whispered.
Out in the street, with a tight hold on
his arm, her fear left her, and when
Billy suggested Green's for a plate of
ice cream she readily agreed. Away
from the atmosphere of the theater
and the picture of that writhing, suf-
ferlng man she was once more herself.
suddenly Janet stopped eating, her
eyes stared straight ahead. and in
stinctively Billy turned to see who
had attracted her attention. 1t was
the handcuff king, not king after all;
Just a mortal man thirsting for a dish
of ice cream
-Oh, Billy. I'm SO glad he got out.
never could have slept with the picture
of that poor man In chains"
"Of course he got out, you silly child.
He always does. Janet, you women
are funny lot You never know what
you want I came home this afternoon
and passed you as you were stsnding
there gazinG at th- Li''s - -