Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-11
DREAMLAND
ADVENTURES
UNDER THE CIRCUS TENT
by DADDY
CHAPTER III

The comicaI Clown
DOGGY and Billy were almost sorry
4 they had crept under the circus tent
Thev had thought It would be great fun
seeing what the insides OF clrcus
looked like when show wasn't going
on. but now they were finding thInus
almost too exciting. First they had beer
caught by an ugly old camel. from
them; and now cross-looking ariima,
Keeper was coming toward them. Per-
haps he would catch them and put
them out Of the tent.
The children crouched behind the
legs OF the friendly elephant ana tried
~ make themselves as small as possible
they hoped the keeper wouldn't, see
them. And perhaps he would have
passed by II the ugly camel, still smart
ing from the whack the elephant had
given. him on the ear, hadn't begun to
grunt and groan. The camel wanted the
keeper to come In that direction 80 he
would see Peggy and Billy. -. .
Sure enough the keeper heard the
grunting and the groaning and, OF
course, he thought the camel was sick.
He walked over to the camel's pen 70 see
what was the matter AS he drew near
the camel quit grunting and groaning,
but stared at the legs of the elephant
behind which Peggy and Billy we're nid-
ing. The keeper turned to see what the
camel was staring at in that queer
way, and though the elephant tried hts
best to cover the children. the keeper
caught glimpse of Peggy's dress. He
he found them.
"Hoity-toity. what's this? Where did
you come from?" shouted the keeper.
We came in under the tent from
outside" answered Billy truthfully. II
carried water for the animals this morn
ing and a man said he would give me
tickets for the show"
"oh, no, RI give you tickets to a
kind of show you didn't expect. I'll
give you the hardest thrashlng you ever
got in your life. That will teach you
not to sneak under a circus tent" Yell
ing this the keeper grabbed Peggy ana
Billy and dragged them to wagon.
There he seized an animal whip and was
lifting II to lash them with II when a
shout from the entrance to the main
tent stopped him.
Halt. Mighty Lord Executioneer
Stay thy cruel hand ="
The keeper did stay his hand and also
loosened his hold on the children. They
turned to see who had come to their aid
and their eyes beheld a comical sight.
There was clown-a funny. grin.
ming clown. with his face painted white
and his clothes made of rufiles. He was
! standing In a chariot and the comica
thing was that the chariot was drawn
| by pigs. with a pig as driver, and pigs
| pushing behind. They had just come
| from the arena tent, where. apparently
| tney' nau Deen praCtlcing their act fol
the afternoon show.
This boy and girl sneaked under the
| tent. I'm going to thrash them ant
throw them out" said the anima
keeper gruffiy.
Nay, say not So" cried the clown, a.
| the pigs drew the chariot near Me,
| thinks I have seen this lad before Die
| he not spend the morning In labor
carrying. water to the animals of tn,
| menagerie?"
| Yes, and was promised tickets fol
| doing It," spoke up Billy
| mo one had any business promisln,
you tickets" declared the keeper. 'Ou
you GO" He raised the whip to strik,
| Billy. but before the lash could com,
down the clown gave n shout. ,"Whoop
La" said the clown, and at the word
the pigs dashed madly forward. The,
| knocked the legs of the keeper from
| under him. and down he went, ker
thump! "Whoop-la !" shouted the clowi
again and leaning over the side of tn
| chariot he picked up Peggy and Bill,
and gathered them into the chariot witt
him. Away raced the pigs down tn
tent. leaving the keeper sprawling ol
the ground.
"Avaunt, cruel monster !" shouted tn
clown. This noble lady and gailan
youth are my guests Woe to him VIII,
Iraises n finger against them!''
Peggy and Billy thrilled with joy a
the chariot swept into the show ten
and around the Arena. but what hap
pened next will have to wait to be toll
tomorrow.