Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-12-21

"interDerry, for if ever a man tespry
ed to be called Pet Mr.. winterberry.
according TO Mrs Garthwaites de
scription, was that man There was
no doubt that Mr.. Winterberry had
oeen murdered and that these heart.
less wretches meant to make capital
of his body
NO. said Syrilla tearfully, You
don't care a hang for the nerves OF the
auy ana gent freaks under your care.
Mr.. Dorgan."
Don't you worry. You didn't muir
der him. said Mr.. Dorgan. "You amt
got him on your conscience"
He looks so lifeliker' sobbed Sy
rilla.
"Oh, Hoxie!" shouted Mr.. Dorgan.
Yes. sir?" said the Strong Man, com.
ing to the car door.
rake Syrilla in and tell the girls to
put Ice on her head. She's gettin' hys.
terics again. And when you've told
EN- you go up to the grounds and tell
Blake and Skinny to unpack the Petri.
ned Man. Tell 'em I'm goin' to use
MIN again today. and If he's lookin'
shop worn have one of the makeup
men go over his complexion and make
him look nice and lifelike."
The Petrif1ed Man had been one Of
MS mistakes. In days past petrified
men had been important side show
features. and Mr. Dorgan had supposed
the time had come to reintroduce them.
and he had an excellent petrified man
made OF concrete, with steel reinforce.
ments In the legs and arms and a BODY
or hollow tile, so that 1t could stand
the rough travel At each side show
performance for week the Fortified
Man had reposed on a platform In a
glass case
Unfortunately the features of the
Fortified Man had been intrusted to an
artist who had learned face modelling
In a wax figure establishment devoted
to the making of clothing dummies
Instead of an Aztec or Cave Dweller
cast OF countenance he had given the
Petrifed Man the simpering features
OF the wax figures seen In cheap cloth
ing stores on Third avenue. New York.
The result was that instead of gazing
at the Petrified Man with awe as a
wonder of nature the audiences laugh
ed at him. and the living freaks dub
bed him "the Pet" or, still more rude
ly. "the Corpse" and when the glass
case broke at the end of the week Mr..
Dorgan ordered the Pet packed In a
box.
At this juncture however. the fight
of the Tasmanian Wild Man and the
involuntary departure of Mr.. Winter
berry at the command of his wife after
his short appearance as Waw Waw.
the Mexican Hairless Dog-Man. sug-
gested new use for the Fortified
Man.
circus grounds the glaring banners had
not yet been erected before the side
show tent, but all the tents except the
big top were up. and all hands were
at work on that one or supposed to be.
Two were not Two of the toughest
looking roustabouts, after glancing
here and there. glided into the proper.
ty tent and concealed themselves be-
hind pile of blue cases, hampers and
canvas bags. One of them immedi,
ately drew from under his coat small
but heavy parcel wrapped in an old
rag.
Say, cul," he said in coarse voice.
you sure have got head on you.
This here stuff will be just as safe In
there as in bank See? Gimme the
s.rewdriver."
mot to be opened until Chicago"
said the other gleefully, pointing to
the words daubed on one Of the blue
cases. But guess 1t will be, hey, old
pal? l guess SOL
Together they removed the lid Of the
box, and Detective Cub, seeking the
side show, crawled under the wall of
the property tent just in time to see
the two ruffians hurriedly jam their
parcel into the case and screw the lid
In place again.
Very quietly Phio Gubb wiggled
backward out of the tent, but as he
did so his eyes caught a word painted
on the side of the blue case. 1t was
"Petv'
Mr.. Gubb would have waited near
and taken the first opportunity after
the departure of the two men to exam
inc the contents of the case had not
six or seven property men entered the
tent at that moment He backed away
therefore, and proceeded to the next
tent. STOPPING, he peered inside, and
what he saw satisfied him that he had
found the side show Around the In