Oxford Democrat., 1915-07-20
CHAPTER TX.
The New Star.

AN, Penrod, Herman ana Vef-
man withdrew In considerable
~ state from nonpaying view and,
repairing to the hay loft, de-
clared the exhibition open to the pub
lie. Oral proclamation was made by
Sam, and then the lettering multitude
was enticed by the seductive strains Of
band, the two partners performing
upon combs and paper, Herman and
verman upon tin pans with sticks.
The effect was immediate. Visitors
appeared upon the stairway and sought
admission. Herman and Verman took
position among the exhibits, near the
wall; Sam stood at the entrance off,
ciating as barker and ticket seller,
while Penrod, with debonair suavity,
acted as curator, master Of ceremonies
and lecturer. He greeted the first to
enter with a courtly bow They con-
sisted Of Miss Rennsdaie and her nurs-
cry governess, and they paid spot cash
for their admission.
Walk In, lay-deeze; walk right In.
Pray do not obstruck the passageway,"
said Penrod In remarkable voice.
pray be seated. There Is room for
each and all"
Miss Rennsdale and governess were
followed by Mr.. George Basset and
baby sister (which proves the perfec-
ton Of Georges character) and six or
seven other neighborhood children. a
most satisfactory audience, although,
subsequent to Miss Rennsdale and gov
erness, admission was wholly by pin.
"Gen-til-mun and lay-deeze," shouted
Penrod, II will first call your attain
shon to our genuine South American
dog, part alligator He pointed to the
dachshund, and added, In his ordinary
tone, That's him" Straightway re-
assuming the character Of Snowman,
he beloved: Next you see Duke, the
genuine, full blooded Indian dog from
the far western plains and Rocky
mountains. Next, the trained Michi-
gan rats, captured way up there and
trained to Jump and run oil around
the box ut the-at tfie-at the slightest
pre-textr' He paused, partly to take
breath and partly to enjoy his own sur
prised discovery that this phrase was
In his vocabulary.
"At the slightest pre-text!' he repeat
ed, and continued, suitlng the action to
the word: "I will now hammer upon
the box, and each and all may see
these genuine full blooded Michigan
rats perform at the slightest pre-text!
There! (There's oil they do now, but
and Sam are goin' to train 'em lots
more before this afternoon.) Gen-tl-
mum and lay-deeze, /. will kindly now
call your at-tain-shon to Sherman, the
wild animal from Africa, costing the
lives of the wild trapper and many OF
his companions. Next let me kindly
Interodoos Herman and Verman. Their
father got mad and stuck his pitchfork
right inside Of another man, exactly as
promised upon the advertisements out
side the big tent, and got put IN jail.
Look at them we'll, gen-til-mun and
lay-deeze. There Is no extra charge,
and re-mem-bur you are each and all
now looking at two wild tattooed men
which the father Of is In jail. Point,
Herman. Each and all will have
chance to see. Point to sumpthing
else. Herman. This Ia the only genuine
one fingered tattooed Wild man. Last
on the program, gen-til-mun and lay
deeze, we have Verman, the savage
tattooed wild boy, that can't speak
only his native foreign languages.
Talk some, Verman."
verman obliged and made an instan-
taneous hit. He was encored raptur-
ously again and again, and, thrilling
with the unique pleasure Of being ap-
preciated and misunderstood at the
same time, would have talked all day
but too gladly. Sam Williams, how
ever, with true showman's foresight,
whispered to Penrod, who rang down
on the monologue.
"Gen.til.mun and lay-deeze, this
closes our puftormance. Pray pass out
quietly and with as little jostling as
possible. As soon as you are all out
there's goin' to be new pufformance,
and each and all are welcome at the
same and simple price Of admission.
Pray pass out quietly and with as lit
tie jostling as possible. Re-mem-bur
the price Is only / cent the tenth part
Of 4 dime, o. twenty pins, no bent ones