Smyrna times., 1908-06-17
RANDALL'S
BEST CATCH.
By Colin S. Collins.
Copyright. 1908. by Associated LIT
erary Press.
By Colin S. Collins.

Winter quarters had wakened from
It's long nap. Over in the car sheds
men were touching up the brilliant ad.
vance cars with vermillion and gold
leaf. In the wagon shop stood rows of
chariots respondent in gilt and Grim
son. In the loft last touches were be-
ing 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 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 Randalrs appearance in the
ring barn was the signal for a 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.
The rest of the boys are here and
have your traps all up" he told Galley.
with a glance alOft where the trapeze
rigging of the Randall-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. 81 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
we'll in the big act. Come over and
I'll introduce you"
He led the way across the tanbarl1
to " here stood a little group of men
aud 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 RandalPs boys were standing with
the group; but, after pleasant nod tC
his own men and an acknowledgment
of the Introduction to the strangers
Randall saw only one Of the troupe, q
1.-THE. graceful girl not yet out of hel
teens.
Barnard hurried to compliment Ran
dali on his work. but Galley scarcely
heard him. His attention was centereC
upon this queenly girl with the flash
ing black eyes, and when at last ht
moved on to the dressing room to SEE
that his trunk was all right he turned
to his "bearer," who did the catches fo
his leaps.
what was the old chap saying?' h'
asked. 81 didn't quite catch"
Clute laughed.
Better get that idea out of you
head" he advised. "The girl is tn,
whole show with that troupe, and tn
old man doesn't want her marryin!
into another act"
"You be hanged" said Randall 81
you think you're funny l don't mint
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 10
to the hotel, where most of the pei
formers stopped, and by . they wer
in practice dress and up in the dome o
the practice ring, getting the stiffness
out of their joints.
1t was the custom with the show t
mass all the aerial acts into one bi
troupe for a finish to the show Will
the arena was being made ready fo
, the hippOdrOme races the attentio
was centered upon the one big act, an
in this Bannards troupe worked wit
Randall's. A huge special apparatu
was provided for this act, and it wa
to get used to this that the two act
were to rehearse together.
To his delight Galley found that Ban
nard's daughter did the principal leal
ing for their act and was to share th
narrow perch from which he worked
1t was scarcely more than a shell
high above the ring. but to the gym
nasts it was as secure as the ring
self, and Galley found time to chat wit
the girl while they worked out the d
tails of the routine of tricks.
But once the rehearsal was over an
Galley. hurrying into his street clOthe
reached the exit to wait for Grace Ba
nard he realized that what Clute ha
said was right. Barnard whisk'
Grace and her sister off to the boar
ing house where they were stOppiI
before Galley had a chance to say
word.
But opposition only made him Il
more determined. There was lit
time to talk up on the shelf where the
rehearsed, for either Galley or the gi
was flying through the air while Il
other rested. and at best conversatit
was fragmentary.
Two weeks passed. and Galley b
came more and more certain that b
in+orost was returned Evidently Ba