Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24
By Leo Crane
Drawings by Arthur William Brown

Flinders and his wonderful wife, great headliners."
The manager smiled for the first time that week:
Glad some happiness is to emerge from this wreck,
he said.
An, say we need wardrobe. also want to
buy old Skinned Milk, an whatn you take Tor
Toby?" asked the bride elect in single breath.
Sure, Bet!' Flinders finished rapidly. AN the
trained bull hound that used to ride the pony until
he hurt his leg, we'll need him too.
The manager eyed them incredulously. You
really that you intend to start show?" he
asked: with a sorrowfu shake of his head
We do assured Flinders solemnly I'VE get
married tomorrow, and then no for the road
The manager glanced around and then drew
closer to the clown That bull pup" he said mean
ngly has been your property from the start of the
season. You remember that, don't you? OF course!
Just claim him. There'll be no kick Then the
couple of suits of spangles-well you own them too.
Look 'em up an make strong protest for EN- AS
for SKINNED Milk an that cuss Toby, they go up at
auction tomorrow. We're away off from nowhere,
an perhaps you get EN- cheap. Skinned Milk
is too old take the eye of the farming element an
for Toby, who wants him? They'll be knocked
down without quarreling, I'll gamble With that
my small advice an forget it: This show ought to
teach you better sense. You'll be couple of tramps
inside week followed ed by hungry ePhant that
married if you want to- but that enough trouble to
start out With
The manager turned on his heel and went off to
tell the boss of the onetime that Flinders
had gone mad in company with Betty Morrison, who
ought to know better. The deserted boss of the big
tent shook his head sadly and consoled himself with
an extraordinary chew of tobacco
It's the clownin', SIR he said THAT an this
bust-up. Clownin will get any mans goat in time.
1t stands to reason. 1t amt human
WHETHER this severe criticism justified or
w not the remainder of the program proceeded
as foretoid. There marriage in the morning.
with the manager best And at the sale in
the afternoon old ring horse milk white and fat
young elephant just past the baby stage of growth
knocked down by the auctioneer to Flinders,
who retained very slim family purse after paying
the highest bid.
"D'you think we can get away with it, sweet
hearth" he asked the wife beside him. The respon-
sbilities of these strange possessions had already
brought wrinkles to his gravely comic countenance.
Sure we will" she replied bravey.
Early next day the tiny outfit started. It's first
march began auspiciousy. The sunlight mellowed
drying road, and the trees green after mid
night rain. Skinned Milk, the steadiest old horse
that ambled around ring bore his rider and her
possessions. Alongside clumsily numbered the pudgy
little elephant. suspiciousy snuffing at times and
wondering why burden had been loaded him.
goad. In advance waddled the bull hound turning
and then to see if his charges followed The
owners waved farewell to the gray tents behind.
PUT fortune does not always settle comfortably
- upon the banners of those who have expected
much in the JOY OF a new venture. The woes of the
lowed it's every part, and the little at
serious disadvantage from the beginning. 1t had no
tr1mpets to its coming and for shelter de-
pended either upon the hospitality of the country
side or its own meager capital. Proceeding from
place to place on foot and without the gauds with
which greater showmen allure the simple minded,
they viewed vagabonds and with suspicion.
Often because of the ungainy Toby they were
fused admittance at the inns When it was impos-
sible to secure place in which to perform, Flinders
had to array his talent the village green depend
ing the contributions of the curious. He
learned that countrymans generosity is not to be
measured by the size of his eyes The caravan began
sighted ahead of it.
"Once we get close to the vaudeville routes