The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-04-29

RANDALL'S
BEST CATCH.
BY Colin 5. Collins.
Copyright. 1908. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

men were touching up the brilliant ad-
vance ears with vermillion and gold
,eaf. In the wagon shop stood rows of
rhariets Respondent in gilt and Grim,
son. In the loft last touches were be-
ing given to the big tops the huge
ranyas 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 Randall's appearance III 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 u gem
eral fayorlte, 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 glance aloft where the trapeze
rigging of the Randall Ransome troupe
gllttered in the light, filtering through
the wire glass. 1.-The other troupe is
here"
who the mischief are they?" 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
well in the big act. Come over and
III introduce you"
He led the way across the tanbark
TO where stood little group of men
and women curiously regarding his APP
proaeh Randall was famous in the cir
Gus world. and the Bannards. accus-
toned to the drudgery of obscure one
ring wagon crcuses and small yaude-
vile performances, looked with awe
upon this star of the big show Some
of Randall's boys were standing with
the group; but after Il pleasant nod to
his own men and an acknowledgment
of the introduction to the strangers,
Randall saw only one of the troupe, a
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 centered
upon this queeply girl with the fash
Ing black eyes, and when at last he
moved on to the dressing room to see
thaf hfg al nj r1,t h., f,,p
| to his bearer" who did the catches for
| his leaps.
What was the old chap sayingf" he
asked. II didn't quite catch"
Cute laughed.
Better get that idea out of your
head" he advised 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. III
you think you're funny don't mind
telling you that you're not"
you agreed to rehearsal at 3
| o'clock" said Clute. ITS all right, Ca
ley. I'd be stuck on her myself II |
waYl't married. Come out and get
bite 10 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 mp In the dome Of
the practice ring, getting the stiffness
out of their FONTS.
1t was the custom with the show TO
mass all the aerial acts into one big
troupe for finish TO the show Vbile
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
Randalfs. 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
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 n shelf
high above the ring but to the gym
nasts 1t 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 Clute had
said was right. Barnard whisked
Grace and her sister off to the board
ing house where they were stopping
1911 ~ '"'
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