The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-30
THE EVENING STORY
Randall's Best Catch.

winter quarters had wakened from
| It's long nap. Over in the car sheds
men were touching up the brilliant
advance cars with vermillion and gold
Leaf. In the wagon shop stood rows
OF chariots respondent in gilt and
crimson. In the loft last touches were
being given to the "big tops" the
| huge canvas structures which went
/ to make up the city of tents. From
animal house and training barn could
| be heard the sounds of activity as
trainers put horses and elephants
| through their PAGES, while the per-
formers freshed up their acts. In
| three weeks the show would take to
the road, opening in the south to es-
cape the frosts and to get an addition
| al month OF season."
| Galley Randall's appearance in the
ring-barn was the signal for gen.
| eral stoppage of work on the part of
those who had been with the show
the season before. Randall had been
a general favorite and even the eques-
itrian director, the autocrat of affairs
OF the ring, came over to greet the
newcomer.
1.-The rest of the boys are here, and
have your traps all up" he told Galley
rigging of the Randa1l-Ransome
troupe glittered in the light, filtering
through the wire glass THE other
troupe is here"
"who the mischief are they?" de-
manded Randall curiously. 'I never
heard of the Barnard troupe"
Neither did any one else,'' agreed
the director. "They do a ripping
good casting act. though, and they'll
work well in the big act. Come over
and I'll introduce you
He led the way across the tanbark,
to where stood a little group of men
and women curiously regarding his
approach. Randall was famous in
the circus world and the Bannards,
accustomed to the drudgery of OBJ
scure one-ring wagon circuses and
small vaudeville performances, look
ed with awe upon this star of the big
show. Some of Randalls boys were
standing with the group. but after
acknowledgment of the Introduction
to the strangers, Randall saw only
one of the troupe, 1.-THE, graceful
girl not yet out of her teens.
Barnard hurried to compliment
Randall on his work. but Galley
scarcely heard him. His attention
was conferred upon this queenly girl
with the flashing black eyes, and
when at last he moved on to the
dressing room to see that his trunk
!. was all right, he turned to his bear
!, err who did the catches for his leaps.
"What was the old chap saylng?
he asked. ST didn't quite catch"
Cluta laughed.
"Better get that idea out of your
! head" he advised. 1.-THE girl is the
old man doesn't want her marrying
into another act"
"You be hanged" said Randall. "It
you think you're funny, I don't mind
telling you that you're not
| "You agreed to a rehearsal at
t o'clock" said Clute Its all right
Galley. I'd be stuck on her myself i
1 wasn't married. Come out and gel
! a bite to eat"
: Randall followed Clute across the
5 lot to the hotel. where most OF the
r performers stopped, and by two they
I were in practice dress and up IN the
: dome of the practice ring, getting the
!, stiffness out of their joints
. 1t was the custom with the show tc
mass all the aerial acts into one DIE
troupe for a finish to the show. While
: the arena was being made ready fol
the hippodrome races the attention
was conferred upon the one big act
/. and in this Bannard's troupe worked
: with Randalis. A huge special ap-
!, paratus was provided for this act
4 and it was to get used to this that the
!. two acts were to rehearSe together.
To his delight, Galley found thai
Bannard's daughter did the principal
leaping for their act, and was te
share the narrow perch from wnich
f he worked. 1t was scarcely more than
r a shelf, high above the ring, but TIC
the gymnasts it was as secure as the
: ring itself, and Galley found time to
] chat with the girl while they worked
e out the details of the routine OF
e tricks.
/ But once the rehearsal was over
4 and Galley, hurrying into his street
: clothes, reached the exit to wait for
Y Grace Barnard, he realized that what
Clute had said was right; Bannaro
: whisked Grace and her sister off to
the boarding house where they were
stopping before Galley had chance
to say a word.
But opposition only made him more de-
: termned There was little time to talk up
) on the shelf where they rehearsed, for
either Galley or the girl was flying 5hrougn
a ahe be sr CONVERSATION Mn's was fragmentary
Two weeks passed and Galley became
more and more certain that his interest
not ignorant of the state. of affairs, and
HE redoubled his watchfulness.
For years he had playea IN wo one whieh
! had enabled him to get with q Dig snow
and he was not minded to lose this ad-
, vantage the first season out.
Sometimes he knew she would get mar
ried and he would have to go BACK 70 tne
wagon shows where the artists SIS, mao ,,a 10
to the next stop Meanwhile he would en-
10y the comparative luxury of the more
employed to get up the tent and the per-
! formers could spend the night comforta-
bly, in the sleeper and not nave 10 reach
But Galley was not to be kept on. They
were having their last rehearsal before
the traps were taken down ana pu!I
there would be little time for courtship
and he determined to put his fate to
Next time we work it will be before
an audience" he commented as he climb
had been hoisted mo more chance for
chats then. ,;.,,
smile Wen be too busy then
| Galley let his swing go and sway across
the space Clute slipped down on his
| swing to catch the count, and a moment
LATER Galley shot across the space, let go
of his swing to grasp Clute's hands. pir-
Quite and catch the swing again on It's