The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-22

world she had ever expected to see.
"Are you n sky pilot?"
THAT'S what he am. chile" Mandy
slipped the words In slyly, for she
knew that they were against the pas
tors wishes, but she WAS unable to re-
strain her mischlevous impulse to sow
the seeds Of curiosity that would soon
bear fruit In the inquisitive mind Of
the little invalid.
viii you get on to me a-landin' into
mixup like thls?" She continued to
study the uncomfortable man at her
side. "I never thought I'd be a-talliin'
/ to one Of you guys. What's your
nAme?"
Douglas" He spoke shortly.
CANT you got no handle to it?"
"If you mean my Christian name, it's
John"
well. that sounds like a sky pilot
oil right: But you don't look like
s'posed tbAv did"
"Why not?"
81 always sposed sky pilots was old
an grouchy-lIEe. You're Almost as
good lookin' as our strong man."
Il done tole him lie was too good
lookin' to be an unmarried parson,"
Mandy chucklcd, more and more
amused at the pastors discomfort.
Looks don't play very important
part in my work." Douglas answered
CURLY. Mandy's confidential smokers
made him doubly anxious to get to a
less personal topic.
We'll, they count for n whole lot
with u.s." She nodded her head decid-
eddy. How long you been shown in
this town. anyhow" {.
about year." Douglas answered,
with something of n sigh.
"a year" she gasped. "In a burg
like this! You must have an awful lot
Of laughs In your act to keep EN-
a-comin' that long" She was wise in
the ways of professional success.
mot many, I'm afraid" He Won
dered for the first time If this might
be the reason for his rather Indifferent
success.
DO you give them the same stuff. or
have you get rep?"
"a rep?' he repeated in surprise.
Sure, repertory, different actS-en-
tries, some calls 'em. Uncle Toby's got
twenty-seven entries. 1t makes a heap
of difference in the big towns where
you have a run"
"oh, understand" Douglas answer
ed in n tone Of relief. well. | try to
say something new each Sunday"
What kind Of spells do you give
'em:' she inquired. with growing in
terest.
81 try to help my people to get on
better terms with themselves and to
forget their week day troubles" He
had never had occasion to define his ef.
forts so minutely
"Well, that's jes' the same as u.s."
Polly told him, with an air of conde-
scenslon, only circuscs draws more
people an churches"
yours does seem to be more pop.
ular form OF entertainment" Douglas
answered dryly. He was beginning to
feel that there were many tricks In the
entertainment trade which he had not
mastered. And, after all, what was his
preaching but an effort Mt entertain.
ment? If he failed to hold his congre-
CATION by what he was saying. his lis
terers grew drowSy and his sermon
fell short Of Its desired effect. 1t was
true that his position and hers had
points of similarity. She was appar.
emily successful. AS for himself he
could not be sure. He knew he tried
very hard and that sometimes tired
mother or sad faced child looked up
at him with smile that made the
service seem worth while.
Polly mlstook the pastors reverle for
envy. and her tender heart was quick
to find consolation for him.
"You amt got all the worst Of It."
she said. "1f we tried to play a dump
like this for six months, we'd starve to
death. You certainly must give 'em a
great show" she added, surveying him
with growing interest.
ut doesn't make much difference
about the show Douglas began,
but he was quickly interrupted.
That's right; it's jes' the same with
n circus. One year you give 'em the
rottenest kind of thing, an they eat
1t up; the next year you hand 'em
Knockout an It's a frost. Is that
the way 1t is with church show?
"Much the same" Douglas admitted,
half amusedly, half regretfully. Every
often when work the hardest seem
to do the least good"
air of condescension, "only there aln't
so much danger in your act"
I'm not so sure about that" he
laughed.
"well, you take my tip" She leaned
forward as though about to impart
a very valuable bit Of information.
Don't you never so in for rIdIn'.
There oln't no act on earth so bard
as ridin' act. The rest of the bunch
has got 1t easy alongside Of US. Take
the fellows on the trapeze. They Ill
ways get their tackle up in jes' the
same place. Take the balancln' acts.
There ain't no difference In their Law.