The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-04-17
E5RANDALL'S
CATCH.
BY Colin S. Collins.
=f-oovright. 1905 by Associated Lit
erary Press.

downright. 1908. by Associated Lit
erary Press. II
Kinter quarters had wakened from
long nap. Over in the car sheds
were touching up the brilliant adj
200 cars with vermillion and gold
In the wagon shop stood rows of
RIOTS resplendent in gilt and Grim
In the loft last touches were be-
giyen to the big tops" the huge
nros structures which went to make
IL the city of tents. From animal
,. ,sa and training barn could be heard
4< sounds of activity as trainers put
srses and elephants through their
S. ees while the performers freshed up
81 air acts. In three weeks the show
.,zsud take to the road, opening in the
nth to escape the frosts and to get
.# additional month Of season"
haley Randalls appearance in the
~ o barn was the signal for general
a<nnpace of work on the part Of those
10 had been with the show the sea-
- before. Randall had been a gen.
IA fayorite, and even the equestrian
55ractor the autocrat of affairs in the
no came over to greet the newcomer
..Tbe rest of the boys are here and
ave YOUR traps all up" he told Galley,
uith 4 glance aloft where the trapeze
icing of the Embellishments troupe
uttered in the light, filtering through
lie wire glass. ''The other troupe is
here."
s'Who the mischief are they?" de-
81 onded Randall curiously. 81 never
teard of the Barnard troupe"
Z .sNeither did any one else" agreed
lie director. 'They do a ripping good
listing act. though, and they'll work
1 ell In the big act. Come over and
III introduce you"
He led the way across the tanbark
ID where stood little group of men
Snd women curiously regarding his ap-
roach. Randall was famous in the cir
HIS world, and the Bannards, accus-
1bmed to the drudgery of obscure one
ING wagon circuses and small vaude-
Nile performances, looked with awe
mon this star of the big show. Some
ii Randalrs boys were standing with
HE group; but. after pleasant nod to
lis own men and an acknowledgment
bf the Introduction to the strangers,
Randall saw only one of the troupe, a
Athe, graceful girl not yet out of her
feens.
Barnard hurried to compliment Ran
daIi on his work. but Galley scarcely
heard him. His attention was centered
hpon this queenly girl with the flash
ing black eyes, and when at last he
moved on to the dressing room to see
hat his trunk was all right he turned
10 his bearer" who did the catches for
bis leaps.
what was the old chap saying?" he
psked. 81 didn't quite CATCH"
Clute laughed.
Better get that idea out of your
head" he advised. ''The girl is the
whole show with that troupe, and the
bid man doesn't want her marrying
into another act"
you be hanged" said Randall. eff
you think you're funny don't mind
telling you that you're not"
you agreed to a rehearsal at 8
o'clock" said Clute. Its all right, Ca
icy. I'd be stuck on her myself If l
wasn't married. Come out and get u
bite to eat"
Randall followed Clute across the lot
TO the hotel, where most of the per-
formers stopped. and by . they were
In practice dress and up in the dome Of
tine practice ring. getting the stiffness
put of their joints.
1t was tn custom with the show to
mass all the aerial acts into one big
troupe for finish to the show. While
the arena was being made ready for
the hippodrome races the attention
was conferred upon the one big act, and
IN this Bannard's troupe worked with
Randal's. A huge special apparatus
was provided for this act, and it was
TO get used to this that the two acts
were to rehearse together.
To his delight Galley found that Ban
pard's daughter did the principal leap
ing for their act and was to share the
barrow perch from which he worked.
1t was scarcely more than a shelf,
nlgh above the ring, but to the gym
nasts it was as secure as the ring it.
Self, and Galley found time to chat with
tne girl while they worked out the de
talls of the routine of tricks.
But once the rehearsal was over and
Caley, hurrying into his street clothes,
reached the exit to wait for Grace Ban
nard he realized that what Clute had
said was right. Barnard whisked
Trace and her sister off 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
lime to talk up on the shelf where they
fehearsed, for either Galley or the girl
was flying through the air while the
prher rested, and at best conversation
was fragmentary.
Two weeks passed, and Galley be-
game more and more certain that his
interest was returned. Evidently Ban
1ard was not ignorant Of the state of
AHairs. and he redoubled his watchful-
hess.
For wears no hod Mo vod in tho small