Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-05-29

of Splintcrs. the clown. killed by the
lion Lancelot. A triple tragedy and
all because Of a woman's coquetry ana
the diamond from the sky!
The new manager of the circus is
optimistic. lie il inclined to believe
the big blow or" as he calls the
tragedy, VIII be great press stuff for
the show" But the triple tragedy and
the panic and riot that followed IL
have brought the crcdit0rs-who are
numerous-down upon the show. and
1t Is seized for debt and will be sold
ut auction. The disconsolate perform
ers and attaches. their salaries long In
arrear. realize IL Is a bad season for
the show business and are fully aware
the returns from n sherifr'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 tcal
Gus clown Splinters. the show believes.
Gossip as to the value of this great
gem has been rife about the circus
since Williams. the billpostcr. brought
II in from the woods where he said he
found 1t and lost IL To Santley nj dice.
In this diamond were recovered IL
would be an asset that would perhaps
pay all salaries when sold. Bill Hull.
the acrobat, remembers Sankey. the
stableman. was one who snatchcd at
the diamond. Hull knows Sankey. In
n previous season. with a smaller show.
some OF the animals had been stabbed
at Sankey's.
The sheriff is Informed. and the aero
bat. donning an ovcrcoat To hide his
tishts-for the sheri6's seizure has
stopped. the show-lcads the way to
Sankey's stable. With the sheriff and
the acrobat 70 n policeman and the
manager of the circus pro TEN.
They have reached the stable yard
III an auto just previous to the arrival
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 sheriff
with the acrobat and others are In the
stable. Sankcy has been In the loft
searching vaInIy for the diamond.
where he hid It beneath the hay. He
comes down the ladder and fnccs the
sunlight from the open door. n there
between him aud the daylight. CLEAN
Ing like n star. bangles from the hay
rack over the pony's empty stall the
diamond from the sky.
Just rs Sankey grasps the diamond
from where IL 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
clniched by the others. In wrestling II
fromShe desperate stablcman the dia-
mOnd Is passed almost against the eyes
~ Qnabba and Luke Lowell. who have
hurried upon the scene from the alley
mouth nj the first sounds OF the strug-
gle.
How well they know that dazzling
Jewel. IL had been a fortune for them
both. a fortune briefly held and quickly
lost,
The mex day the papers ring with
the account OF the recovery OF the dia-
mond. the aftermath Of the great cir
Gus tragedy. The value Of the diamond
ran hardly be estimated. the Los An
Geles papers say There are conflict
inT stories a. 10 how It came into the
possession OF the dead circus proprie-
tor. This only Is known: II viii be
sold ut sheriffs auction as nm asset Of
the SantIey circns. bankrupt
Homer Graydon. millionaire, reads
The story Homer Graydon Is old In
FEARS. but, a. LIE says, young at heart
Wicked at heart would Be the truer
saying
EA#N 4