The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-08-05
Story Of An
Acrobat
How He Fooled the Owner of An
Automobile Into Paying Him
Large Sum.

the sort of person one would intro
duce to friend, as being an earthly
angel. Yet few of his acquaintances,
if any, would have refused, or even
hesitated, TO loan him money in any
reasonable amounts. Therefore, when
the facts in his case were made known,
it was little wonder that the good citl-
Zens of the town should start their
tongues to wagging. Richard, or to
corrupt his appellation, Dick, as his
more intimate associates were wont to
address him, had been circus perform
er of some ability and was we'll known
among the professionals. Though for
several months, previous to the time
the events occurred which are here re-
lated, he had been living with his wild
owed mother. That good lady had
about all she could possibly manage to
make both ends meet at the end of each
month. True, her husband had left her
pension Of twelve dollars month
and the little cottage which she occu-
pied with her son. But then, Dick was
so sickly and needed medicine. OF
course, he was unable to do manual la
bor, other than that which he would
occasionally do about the house.
"If l could only rid myself of this
cough" Dick would often say, 81 would
get back into the sawdust ring, then
mother, you would have all the luxurles
that money can buy"
But there were other times when he
would take pessimistic view of things,
and wonder why his father had joined
the army before he Dick was born.
"If father hadn't joined the army"
Dick once said, she wouldn't have got
the consumption from lying around on
the ground in wet weather. But as /
have inherited the plagued disease,".he
would add, sit seems queer Uncle Sam
doesn't increase our pension. Not
much use in receiving pension if one
must spend it to cure disease one in.
berits from father WHO got it while
fighting for his country"
Well, one bright July morning Dick
and his mother were enjoying the shade
on the west side of the house where he
had been reading aloud from a local
newspaper, when sudden inspiration
flashed through his mind, which caused
him to dropstte paper and laugh until
his mother inquired what was the mat.
ter.
"Haven't you hesn listening?" he
asked her. "This article I've been read
ing says that a man in neighborine
town fell into an excavation and dis.
located his shoulder-that he sued the
city for damages and received three
thousand dollars for his injuries"
"Well, l don't see that there is any
thing so funny about that, that shoult
cause you to laugh" answered hil
mother.
mo, dear mother, you DON'T" sale
Dick. After speaking thus, he aroused
himself frorn short reverie, and pick
ing up his hat from the ground, saun
tered out through the front gate in the
direction of the village postoffice. Ar
irving at that public place. he cast {
quick glance at the second story win
dows in the frame building across th'
way. Being assured his friend was il
his office, he shambfed across and ul
the one flight of rickety stairs. Salut
ing his friend from the threshold of th
: door, he waited for ithe invitation t.
enter.
"Come on in, Dick" said Jim, "don'
stand there like wooden image"
"Jim," said Dick, "I've come up her
! to ask you if you will help me and no
for company's sake.
"Sure," was the laconic reply. An
so, for the next half hour, these tw
friends held an earnest conversation
I. At the conclusion Of which Jim sal
he would risk his reputation as law