Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24

from Eastern publications. 1 explained as
much of the Blue Hippo's history as l
thought they should know, sent a bellhop
to my room for bundle of photographs,
from which l gave each samples, and told
them to go to it.
and you can go as far as you like with
the story said l. @The beast is blue, a fact
that you can prove in an hour by tele-
graphing. These papers want stories and
pictures. I've given you both. If you want
to see Harold personally, the Mighty Har-
kins Show will pay your expenses to and
from the next town we play. We're on the
level, and here's chance for you boys to
pick up some regular change"
While l passed this remark Howe of
Wells & Howe was eying and caring me not
'telegraphing Both of the reporters tele-
phoned me that evening. Their city editors
wished them to investigate the geological
phenomenon. l shipped the pair off on a
morning train to meet the show at Tex
arkana.
MCCAIN and had a rather easy time
A'A of it after the first rush of kilograms,
reporters and Wells & Howe was over. The
blue hippopotamus story landed so big at
the start that there was no doubling the
tremendous publicity the Mighty Harkins
Show was to have, and the follow up arti-
cles written by the two young men who
journeyed north to see for themselves
served to whet the monumental desire of
everybody to get peek at this strangest of
all mammals. In view of the fact that we
were to give four performances in this, the
last stand of the season, l splurged little
on billing and newspaper advertising, al
ways with an eye on Wells & Howe, who
. logged my tracks night and day the way
the celebrated lamb is said to have "dogged"
the footsteps of its equally famous mistress.
But thanks to the hippo and the furore
kicked up by his literary admirers our work
was rather light. We spent most of our
waking hours trying to have a good time,
and we succeeded.
Ever been in New Orleans? Some town,
isn't it? Not the least of our pleasures was
the companionship of Miss Dorothy Nc
Cam, who came on from San Antonio the
day after our arrival After greeting Jack
and me her first query was about Sam Har-
kins We convinced her that the old fellow
was never better, although he had been
rather grumpy when we last saw him. The
tale of Harold's change of color caused her
to laugh deliciously, and over a tabeful of
shrimps at Antoine's we devised all sorts of
intricate plans for amusement-plans which
somehow or other seemed to center about
. Sam. Each day heard from the show, and
each message told of big business and the
fast color of the hippo's hide.
AT last the circus arrived. Jack, Miss
a Dorothy, and were waiting for it; so
was half the populace. Wells & Howe,
dolled out in shiny plug hats, boutonnieres,
gloves, and diamonds, were among those
present, and with the possible exception of
McCann's sister were the most excited per-
sons in the crowd. Sam stepped of the
front platform of his car, and with grin
that quickly changed into smile and blush
pulled off his hat and grabbed Miss Dorothy's
Sttle hand before he had even a "howdy"
for Jack and me.
well, l am glad to see you, Miss Nc
Cann!" said he, and kept on squeezing her
fingers.
aI'm glad to see you-Sam," said she, and
colored prettily.
aAnd how have you been-Dorothy?
said he, just to prove that he could be in
formal too.
That's as much of the conversation as
remember. doubt if any more took place,
and l mention these two or three irrelevant
items only because they had a bearing on
something that happened later. Into the
Wells