Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-25
3" a.
Fi j Fortune.
W -. - :. 80
By ALICE THURSTON

up In flames one night, it marked the
Of the road that had never paid. A
| saddened group was gathered about
| the personal property they had res.
cued from destruction. The clown Of
the show was the most solemn faced
Of the throng.
perhaps the insurance money Is
| better than a forced auction saie," he
remarked. ''That would have come in
a day. or two, for we've been on the
rocks for the past month" ::
"What you going to do Barton?' he
was asked by the ringmaster.
Rolfe Barton shrugged his shoulders
lightly. mot the sawdust ring any
more" he responded. 1.-THE flare and
tinsel have grown stale. I've been
thinking for some time Of getting a real
job, farming, railroading. Particularly
I'd like to run a nice little rose gar
den."
"With Mademoiselle Inez Delevan to
help him." whispered a trapezist.
| ''Wonder why she quit when he fell
III love with ner!
That was question that even Bar
ton could not answer and wished that
he could. There had come to the show
about a year before an ambitious aspi-
rant for equestrienne honors, Mile.
1nez Delevan. She was charming
creature as to beauty and spontaneous
cheerfulness.
He had told IneZ of his love. Ten
der and plying, she showed him the
folly of adding wife to his already
heavy burdens. Two days later she
disappeared.
There came brief note to Barton
from her. 1T is best that should go.
Till fortune smiles, be patient and do
not forget me-"
| And now the gaudy tent and its
properties were ashes. Resuscitation
was hopeless. Barton had managed to
save his trick mule, julius Caesar,
from the blaze. He left the dismal,
uncertain circus group with no fixed
ideas as to his plans for the future.
There was a lurking thought in his
mind that they would hit the road at
random, and let circumstances and a
spell Of tramping it idly and enjoyably
lead them to the goal luck had in store
| for them. It was respite from ring
discipline to pass several days along
pretty country roads, in leafy groves.
giving show all by themselves on
village commons and picking up thus
from voluntary contributions enough
TO buy. food and fodder, then in some
coy copse they would lie side by side
on the soft sward, under the cleaning
stars, lulled to sweet repose by bird
note and chirping crickets.
! One day Barton and his faithful,
friend entered quite large town and
selected O. vacant lot to give. their
impromptu performance. As he was
setting the wire stakes he carried with
him to support the ring rope, he no.
ticed man eye him sharply and then
dart away.
Ten minutes later the proprietor of
the town hotel, the marshal and two
assistants came upon the scene. The
marshal seized Barton, his companion
the mule.
"Hey! what is this?" challenged
Barton, struggling to release himself.
| Its arrest for embezzlement for
you," announced the marshal, "and the
seizure Of your animal here to be sold
In due course Of the law to liquidate
the debt you owe the landlord Of the
Globe hotel"
| At that, Barton recognized the land
lord in question. The circus, he now
recalled, had shown at this town six
months previous. He had been depu-
tized by the circus manager to ar
range for the accommodation of the
troupe. He was not: aware until now
that the manager had never paid the
bill.
Truly he found himself in the hands
Of the Phihstines! A prejudiced Judge,
an officious marshal had decided to
make an example of Barton. He was
informed that he was safe for q six
months sentence at breaking stone If
he did not pay the bill. As It was,
the mule would be sold and the
proceeds applied on the hotel bill.
That was what worried Barton most
as he lay in prison cell.
The mule was impounded awaiting
due process Of the law. The trial OF
Barton came up three days later.
Then came vast surprise for the
dictatorial marshal. When the case
was called, two of the most eminent
lawyers in the state appeared. With
in an hour they tore the fimsy case
against Barton to shreds. he stood
outside the courtroom q free man,
with an order from the court for
"Julius Caesar, Circus Donkey"
.""What does 1t ,mean?" questioned
the astonished Barton of one OF the
lawyers.
IT. had better explain" spoke fem
mime voice, and Inez Delevan, radiant,
happy! faced, confronted the man she
loved. 3"'1 wrote you at the last cir.
Gus stand, but .you had left before the
letter arrived, fancy. Then I learned
Of your trouble here, and, Rolfe, dear
times have changed with me. An old
aunt has left me farm and some
money. You used to dream Of d farm,
remember1 The last time we met you
asked me to marry you. Rolfe, ask
me now
Which he did. glowing with love and
happiness, and husband and wife, and
loyal old Julius Caesar, found the end
Of their journey at a; quaint Old farm
house worth living IN.
/ <,s..s...,.~ ----.--------
Cows Sleep ,Upst.lrs. '~'.