The San Francisco call., 1910-08-14


er's new business enterprise, the Star
roller skating rink, and Frank wouldn't
have missed 1t for a great deal, es-
pecially as he held the high and re-
sponsible position of grand marshal.
But the Office provided another and
graver responsibility than the mere
management of the affair Ben Jor-
dams hostile band had been very active
lately, having inflicted several humili-
ating defeats on Joe Fishers crowd
Frank Williams was the only boy who
could ever fight Ben's crafty ways
successfully, and it was feared that
Ben would take special pains to bring
disaster on the Star rink There was
double reason for this apprehension.
as Frank had once before signally de-
IeateA Ben when the Crystal ice rink
was opened last winter.
The Star roller rink occupied an
empty warehouse in Joe's neighbor-
hood. The building was owned by
the 1ather of one of the young capital
lists In Joe's company, which may have
had something to do with the surpris-
ingly low rental paid Fortunately tho
floors needed but little repairing. so.
having installed main entrance and a
box office and made arrangements for
night sessions by having the light
turned on. the roller rink was ready
to be launched
Joe called the grand opening the
Roller mardi gras, as 1t was to be q
masked fancy dress affair no skater
peing allowed on the floor unless in
mask and costume. Joe had a good
zeal or business ability and he saw to
1t that q good slice of the company's
capital went into advertising.
Wi
the best costumes. and while the man
agement didn't guarantee to CRAFTY
the guests with great moving floats
such as the open air mardi gras pro
vides. yet the public was assured it
would be treated to Sensation on SEN
sation as the gorgeous and glittering
spectacle unfolded to the delighted
gazer
Frank Williams. who wrote that
notice, would have been very much
astonished boy il he could have fore
seen what one of those Sensations"
was to be.
splendid crowd turned. out on
opening night. Frank. in the full
glory of his drum majors uniform,
was busily engaged in his duties of
forming the masked skaters in line
Tor the grand march when note was
passed to him by one of the directors
or the company He read it. asked
lhc dSSiSldHt grand marshal, Charlie
woodward, to look after things and
went to the box Office. He found the
chief stock holders of the Star rink, all
In costume. gathered around a very
much excited young clown.
Tell Frank" cried Napoleon Bona
parte. whose voice identified him as
Joe Fisher.
ben Jordan's here He's come as
Captain Kidd and we'd never have
known 1t if hadn't happened to see
him accidentally drop his mask" ex-
planned the clown. who in private life
was Norrie Hicks.
did he see your" asked Frank.
NO, he looked around to see If he
was noticed. but l ducked," answered
Norrie.
Frank thought hard. Probably
Ben's whole masked gang was scat
tered about the skating hall Some
thing must be done In hurry. but
what could be accomplished with the
enemy effectually disguised in the
throng Of masked skaters? Yet Ben
was recognized. Ben didn't know it
and finally plan evolved from this
fact alone.
Frank returned to the skating hall.
where the first thing he did was to
put the unsuspecting Captain Kidd in
certain part of the rapidly forming
line. Frank then placed Napoleon,
the clown. the sultan of Turkey, Lit
tie Memo and a dozen others whom he
knew by their costumes. These mem
bers Of Joe's crowd he assigned
directly In front and in the rear of
the pirate enemy.
Then Frank waved his drum majors
baton. the band burst into march
and the gay paraders skated slowly
ahead. following the grand marshal's
lead. The grand march had begun.
Now the large main floor of the old
warehouse was not the only available
skating area. There were various
dark hooks and corners at the back
OF the building. toward which Frank
led the winding procession. Captain
Kidd was seen to enter the darkest,
most obscure room but he didn't leave
it, at least not with the parade