The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-16

uOESc8 anu ciepudutS tHl0uBu LAc2L
PAGES, while the performers freshed up
their acts In three weeks the show
would take to the road, opening In the
south to escape the frosts and to get
an additional month Of season"
Galley Randall's appearance in the
ring barn was the signal for general
stoppage of work on the part Of those
who had been with the show the sea
son before Randall had been a gen.
eral favorite, and even the equestrian
director, the autocrat Of affairs In 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,
with glance aloft where the trapeze
rigging of the Randall Ransome troupe
glittered in the light. filtering through
the wire glass. 'sThe other troupe is
here"
"Who the mischief are theyY de-
manded Randall curiously. II never
heard of the Barnard troupe"
Neither did any one else" agreed
the director "They do ripping good
casting act. though. and they'll work
wei III Tile DlS dCb. OomC OfCA anu
I'll introduce you"
He led the way across the tanbark
to where stood a little group of men
and women curiously regarding his ap.
proach. Randall was famous in the cir
Gus world. and the Bannards, accus-
toned to the drudgery of obscure one
ring wagon circuses and small vaude-
vile performances, looked with awe
upon this star of the big show. Some
of Randall's boys were standing with
the group; but. after pleasant nod to
his own men and an 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 Ran
dali on his work, but Galley scarcely
heard him. His attention was conferred
upon this queenly girl with the flash
ing 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 "bearer," who did the catches for
his leaps
what was the old chap saying?" he
asked. IT didn't quite CATCH"
Clute laughed.
Better get that idea out of your
head" he advised 1.-THE girl is the
whole show with that troupe, and the
old man doesn't want her marrying
into another act"
"You be hanged. said Randall. "If
you think you're funny | don't mind
telling You that you're not"
"You agreed to a rehearsal at
o'clock" said Clute Its all right. Ca
ley. I'd be stuck on her myself If |
wasn't married Come out and get
bite to eat"
Randall followed Clute across the lot
to the hotel, where most of the per-
formers stopped. and by 2 they 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 to
mass all the aerial acts into one big
troupe for a finish to the show While
the arena was being made ready for
the hippodrome races the attention
was centered upon the one big act, and
In this Bannard's troupe worked with
Randalf's. huge special apparatus
was provided for this act, and 1t was
to get used to this that the two acts
were to rehearse together.
To his delight Galley found that Ban
nard's daughter did the principal leap
ing for their act and was to share the
narrow perch from which he worked.
1t was scarcely more than shelf,
high above the ring, but to the gym
nasts it was as secure as the ring It
self, and Galley found time to chat with
the girl while they worked out the de-
tails Of the routine of tricks.
But once the rehearsal was over and
Galley, hurrying into his street clothes,
reached the exit to wait for Grace Ban
nard he realized that what Chute had
said was right. Barnard whisked
Grace and her sister of to the board
ing house where they were stopping
before Galley had a chance to say a
word.
But opposition only made him the
more determined. There was little
time to talk up on the shelf where they
rehearsed, for either Galley or the girl
was flying through the air while the
other rested, and at best conversation
was fragmentary.
Two weeks passed, and Galley be-
came more and more certain that his
interest was returned. Evidently Ban
nard was not ignorant Of the state Of
affairs, and he redoubled his " -tchful-
ness.
For years he had played in the small
circuses. 1t was only Grace's work
which had enabled him to get with a
big show, and he was not minded to
lose this advantage the first season out.
Some time, he knew, she would get
Szrried. and he would have to go back
to the wagon shows where the artists
had to help with the horses and even
drive a van to the next stop. Mean
while he would enjoy the comparative
luxury of the more important circus
wuere .-razorb lcks" were employed to
get up the tent and the performers
could spend the night comfortably In
the sleeper and not have to reach the |
lot until breakfast time.
But Galley was not to be kept of. |
They were having their last rehearsal
before the traps were taken down and
put aboard the cars. Once the season
opened there would be little time for
courtship, and he determined to put
his fate to the test
Next time we work 1t will be before
an audience" ne commented as he
climbed to the platform to which she
already had been hoisted. mo more
chance for chats then"
az should say not" she assented,
with smile. "We1l be too busy
then"
Galley let his swing go and sway
across the space. Clute slipped down
IN his swing to catch the count and a
moment later Galley shot across the
,pace let go of his swing to grasp
,lute's hands, pirouette and catch the
wing again on its return. Just as he
cached the platform Grace shot past
lin to do her leap She landed back
N the platform presently.
I'VE won't have a chance to talk
Iown below either" Galley went on as
as though they had not
10Th risked their necks since the pre-
eding sentence. 81 never get chance
0 talk to you"
Father doesn't like she commenc-
q as Galley sprans from the platform. !