Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-11-27

out where Barnes is, and cook up some
scheme to keep him out of the way for
an hour. Do that and I'll sell Eli some
experience"
go as far as you like, and see II
Barnes cares" airily responded Blackie.
"Old p. Il. hasn't been with the show
minute this season, and his manager,
fat burglar by the moniker OF Joe
Unger, is grating all the velvet. He's
so strong at 1t he hasn't paid salaries
for three weeks"
J. Rufus strobe straight across to the
main entrance. into which solid
stream Of moist humanity was already
wedging. Wallingford, broad Of shoul-
ders and head taller than the mass,
pushed his way impatiently along be-
tween the swaying ropes and was
about to push as impatiently past the
ticket taker when that gentleman, a
heavy framed thug, grabbed him
roughly by the shoulder.
"Tlcketw he rasped.
"Where's Joe UngerT demanded
Wallingford. with frown as black as
night.
The ticket taker glanced toward a
beefy man who stood Just beyond him,
his Buffalo Bill sombrero in his hand,
mopping his head with gray silk
handkerchief. The heavy gentleman
making no sign. the ticket taker turned
again to Wallingford.
81 said where's your ticket?" he de-
manded.
you're firedw Wallingford roared
with a flare of anger. shaking his big
forefnger in the ticket takers face.
"Get Off the lot! And II somebody
don't hunt up Joe Unger for me with
In about thirty seconds I'll fire the
lot of you. Where is he?"
"I'm Joe Unger," the beefy man
barked gruffly, though much troubled
"What do you want?"
Wallingford turned to an eye patch
ed thug.
Here, Bill, or whatever your name
ls," he ordered In the voice Of author
lty, "you take tickets till put new
man-on the box. Now, Unger, how
was yesterdays business?"
"Who wants to know?" demanded
Mr.. Unger, endeavoring to assert his
customary czarship, but feeling It slip
ping from him.
81 do" snapped Wallingford.
"And who are your" inquired I'm
ger, angry that his voice was losing its
strength.
"Sears" snapped Wallingford.
Unger repeated the name feebly, but
had not the nerve to ask who Sears
might be.
"If the fact that I'm Sears isn't
enough for you I'll have Johnny tin
plate tell you more" declared ]. Rufus,
watching narrowly, and being well
pleased with the effect Of this threat
of local officer of the law. "Now,
look here, Unger, the governor wants
to know why the business is so rotten,
and I'm here to find out, What was
your take-in yesterday
"Well," hesitated Unger, ut looked
like rain over in Cattlesburg, and the
play fell off little. Thirty-three hun.
dred on the day."
81 got different report" declared
Wallingford. looking the man squarely
In the eye. "You had to hunt the
clouds with telescope yesterday in
Cattlesburg, and the take-in is four or
five hundred out Of the way. There's
going TO be shakeup around here"
Within fifteen minutes 1t was
"nolsed" all over the grounds that old
p. IT'S right hand man was with them.
and a general tightening up took place.
In stern disapproval of everything j.
Rufus let Unger lead him about and
Introduce him as ~. Monckton Sears
but when the manager began to ask
him personal questions Wallingford
shut him with:
"How's the salary list? Is 1t paid
upT
"Well, not quite" admitted Unger.
"How far are we behind| He was
very stern
"Oh, a week or So" The manager
looked nervously about him as If plan
ming an escape.
"rhat means three or four. I sup
pose"
"Well, three for a few of 'em.'
"I see. Unger, you're common
thief, | haven't made up my mind |
what I'll do with you yet, but | may
put you over just for amusement. It
depends on how the old man
feels after | sell out for him."
The relief In the face of Unger was
tremendous. "The old man going to
sell?" he asked.
Depends on the price" returned
81 want a statement Of |
he past weeks business and an in
voice Of the plant in an hour And, by
he way, If the expenses are too high |
md the receipts too low there'll be no
sale, and then I'm likely to make some
body trouble"
believe me-" promised Unger fer
'ently, "today's business will show
grand little proftr'
"See that 1t does" warned Walllng.
ord. "rell the treasurer what want
Ind then hurry back to me in the ami
nal tent" And, leaving Unger to al
ornate hopes and fears, he strobe
lway, hurrying into the menagerie In
earch of Blackle and Bogger. He