The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-09
HIS NERVE FAILED
One Girls Face Spoiled a Well
Laid Advertising
Scheme.
Bv n. M. EGBERT.


sneered Chauncey b. Popoff, English
manager of the Popoff Linoleum
company, to Harry Burnett, as they
sat in the company's Offices at Earl's
court. England.
Il will dare, and, what's more, I'll
carry 1t through to the bitter end"
answered Burnett. you largely ex-
aggerate the difficulties because you
don't understand the English psychol-
ogy," he continued. How will they
know I'm not duke in Disguise?
Besides, II always was done in the old
en- days, and a mere four or five hum
dred years are not enough to upset
an established precedent In this coun-
try"
We'll. Burnett, l wish you luck"
answered Popofr sceptically. "Of
course II you do-wels, anyway. the
materials are all downstairs in the
shipping yard and the men have gone
home. The gray truck horse has had
a feed and you'd better get busy"
Burnett rose and. accompanied by
the other. went down into the deserted
yard. Hinged round by the blank
walls Of high buildings, 1t Afforded a
perfect spot in which to practice evo-
buttons unobserved by curious-minded
persons. At one end Of the yard
huge gray, of the Flanders breed.
stood munching at a few oats remain
ing In the bottom OF his crib. Near
by was a great packing case. filled
with what looked like iron imple-
ments.
Now help me into the armor, Pop
off. and stop your confounded sheer
ing" said Burnett, and together, not
without difficulty, they took the
pieces from the case. There was a
steel helmet with the vizor attach
ment. greaves, hauberk, arm-pieces-
all the Complementary parts of a
knights business suit and. to CON-
plete the outfit. sectional lance.
some IL feet long, and padded at the
point.
by Barnum's tooth, I'm glad I'm
not In your Shoes" said Popoff. as he
helped the other to don the steel
pieces. you look hot, Burnett Say,
wouldn't Miss Ware throw fits II she
could see"
See here, Popoff, you cut that out"
growled Burnett through the bars of
his vizor. ANY more talk of that
sort and we part company. Under
stand?"
Popoff subsidized sulkily and helped
the trussed knight to adjust the leg
and arm pieces. When at last this
was done he propped him against
wall and proceeded to attire the horse
in chest-piece and head armor. As
this protection was more for show
than for utility, he found It easy to
carry and adjust the steel pieces,
though the gray showed considerable
restlessness during the operation.
Finally, with . prodigious effort, be
placed Burnett upon the horses back
and. having taken his lance, Burnett
passed round the yard at ponderous
canter, from time to time testing the
accuracy Of his aim against circle
chalked on wall. After some half
hour Of this performance the perspir-
ing knight was embarrassed, the ar
NOR packed away, and the steed was
given a drink of water and a fresh
feed.
Five days later the celebrated tourn-
ament was 10 be held In the Earl's
Court grounds, at which the nobility
OF English and many who were not
noble were to participate in a grand
revival OF the medieval sport. Bur-
nett who had recently gone to Eng
land in the interests Of the Popoff firm,
had been an authority on the tourna-
ment; he had written thesis on ME
dieval Armor" which had attracted
some attention among psychologists
When his father, obsessed by the be-
lief that a commercial existence was
indispensable for young man, had
given him the alternative between en-
tering the employment Of the Popoffs
and being stricken out of his will,
Burnett had rather sulkily gone to
England, as advertising manager, to
find the whole country agog over the
forthcoming pageant. And the wild
idea had come to him Of engaging In
the tournament
I'm pretty fair rider, Popoff," he
argued. Il didn't often get thrown
when | was bronco-busting in Wyom-
ing-and | kept my seat on the greas-
ed rail at Coney last year, during the
carnival, and won a pewter challenge
cup, Why shouldn't enter as an I'M
known knight and meet the nobility
on equal terms?"
Because the cops will stop you be-
fore you can get in" said Popoff.
Wen see," responded Burnett con-
fldently. Il guess it will take some
cops to stop me when I'm in my tour
neying toys"
And so, FIVE mornings later. the
workmen having received special
holiday on full pay, to enable Burnett
to accouter himself unobserved, the
young man mounted the sullen gray
and passed through the big gates into
the busy Earl's court road, to the
amazement of the public.
In the distance he saw white pa
vllon set in meadow; as he rode
nearer he perceived circle of tiers
Of wooden seats, on which were hun
dreds OF spectators; In roped of
portion was group Of ladies', and, In
the center OF these. the Queen of