Evening star., 1915-01-17

dirt to canvas Honest, we could Say,
Mister, lemme put it to you on the level.
You buy in with me on this Great Australian
Hippodrome, half int rest for twelve thou
cash, leave me the transportation and talent
end, while you do the polite CAB at the
main entrance, and if we don't lug away the
daily receipts in sugar barrels I'll own the
boxin' kangaroos for first cousins! Why,
it's the chance of lifetime! What do you
say to it,"
And YOU should have seen the look on
Cuyler Morrison's aristocratic map as he
inspects Hunk up and down and it dawns
on him that he's bein' invited to break in
to the circus business. But after the first
shock has passed off he ends by srnilin' in
dulgent.
@Mv good fellow" SAYS he, "you hatter
me- My qualifications for such partner
ship are entirely too limited
"If you mean you couldn't get away with
it." says Hunk, "you got another guess.
Why, in one forenoon | could coach you up
for spiel that would set 'em mobbin' the
ticket wagons And with you iii white silk
lid drivin four spotted ponies and leadin'
the grand street parade say, they'd be let
tin out the schools for our matinees!H
Out of the tail of my eye | could see that
]. Bayard was speechless with indignation.
But what could | do? The only way of stop
pin Hunk was to choke him, which want
any pink tea proceedin'. Besides, Cuyler
seems to be mildly entertained at it all.
"A fascinating picture, truly" says he.
Il have often envied those important per-
sonages at the head Of street parades with
out ever dreaming that some day the OPP
portunity might come to me Of But alas!
l have no twelve thousand to invest in such
an estimable enterprise.
"Ah, quit your kiddin'!7 says Hunk
He wouldn't believe for minute that
Cuyler couldn't cash a check for twice that,
wouldn't even listen to Mr.. De Kay while
he protests that really he's poor man livin'
on a gov'ment salary. Hunk knew bet
ter! The ribbon on the shell-rin eyeglasses
had got him too.
"Very we'll" laughs Cuyler, givin' up the
attempt. But | must insist that have no
surging ambition, at my time of life, to
drive spotted ponies in public. In fact, I've
no ambitions at ALL
Then that's Just why, you ought to hook
you've been out week on the road; that1l
be enough to get you interested in the game.
And, take it from me, there amt any game
like it,-pilin' out of your berth at new
pitch every mornin', breakfast in the mess
car on the sidin', strollin' out to the grounds
and watchin' the pegs sunk, drivin' around
town to take glance at the paper display,
for1nin' on for the parade, sizin' up the side
walk crowds, and a couple of hours later
seein' 'em collectin' from all sides around
the big top; then at night, when you've had
two big houses, to check up the receipts and
figure out how much you are to the good!
Say, don't make any mistake, that's livin'!
1t amt layin back easy and havin' things
handed you on a platter: it's goin' out after
what you want, your jaw set and your
shoulders braced, and bringin' home the
bacon!7
Cuyler, he's still listenin' sort of amused;
but he's inspectin' this crude specimen in
front of him with little more int rest. He
shakes his head though.
"I've no doubt the life is all you describe
says he. However, it is not for me-
"Why not?" demands Hunk. "Didn't |
just hear you tellin' how you was travelin'
with bunch of dead ones? Amt stuck on