The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-09

of Splinters, the clown, killed by the
lion Lancelot. A triple tragedy ana
all because Of q womans coquetry ana
the diamond from the sky!
The new manager OF the circus Ii
optimistic. He Is inclined TO believe
'the big blow off," as he calls the
tragedy. will be great press stuff for
the show" But the triple tragedy and
the panic and riot that followed 1t
have brought the creditOrs-whO are
numerOus-dOwn upon the show. ana
it is seized for debt and will be sold
at auction. The disconsolate perform
ers and attaches, their salaries long In
arrear. realize II IS a bad season for
the show business and are fully aware
the returns from sherif's auction
will pay little If any Of their salaries.
Then Bill Hull, acrobat, remembers
the great diamond Santley gave La
Belle before the lion Lancelot killed
her-inspired to the deed by the jeal-
Gus clown Splinters, the show believes
Gossip as to the value of this great
gem has been rife about the circus
since Williams. the billposter, brought
II In from the woods where he said he
found it and lost it to Santley at dice
II this diamond were recovered II
would be an asset that would perhaps
pay all salaries when sold. Bill HULL
the acrobat, rem embers Sankey, the
stableman, was one who snatched at
the diamond. Hull knows Sankey. In
previous season, with smaller snow,
some Of the animals had been stabbed
at Sankey's.
The sheriff Is Informed. and the aero
bat, donning an overcoat to hide MS
tights-for the sheriff's seizure has
stopped the shorv-leads the way 10
Sankey's stable. With the sheriff ana
the acrobat go policeman and the
manager Of the circ1s pro TEN.
They have reached the stable yard
IN an auto just prev ious to the arrlVai
Of Quabba with his monkey and pony
and street piano cart that he stables
here. While Quabba faces Luke Low
ell at the alleys mouth. the sherlH
with the acrobat and others are In tue
stable Sankey has been In the loft
searching vainly for the diamond,
where he hid 1t beneath the hay. lie
comes down the ladder and faces the
sunlight from the open door. and there
between him and the daylight. gleam-
ing like a star. bangles from the hay
rack over the pony's empty stall the
diamond from the sky!
Co diamond
from where it had been left unseen
by Quabba in his pony's hay the sheriff
and his party are at the door and grab
The sinking stableman.
Out from the place they struggle. the
diamond glittering in the sun, clutched
In Sankey's grimy hand. that is in turn
clutched by the others In wrestling 1t
| from the desperate stableaman the dia
nOnd is passed almost aga inst the eyes
of Quabba and Luke Lowell. who have
hurried upon the scene frs,m the alley
mouth at the first sounds of the strug-
gle.
How we'll they know that dazzling
jewel! 1t had been q fortune Tor them
both. a fortune briefly held and quickly
lost!
| The next day the papers ring with
the account Of the recovery Of the dia-
mond. the aftermath Of the grVat cir
Gus tragedy. The value Of the dia mond
can hardly be estimated. the Los An
geles papers say. There Rre CONFLICT
ing stories as to how II came into hhe
possession Of the dead circus prcpriA
tor. This only is known: 1t will be
sold at sheriff's auction ~ an asset OF
the Santley circus. bankrupt
I, ,Hs&ee-- xl,.--n2ill li0natre~- reads.
the story. Homer Graydon IL old In
years. but. as he says. young at heart"
Wicked at heart would b. the truer
saying.