New-York tribune., 1921-04-03
CIRCUS
MAR GILL describes himself
as unlucky, but that is not
the truth. AS a miracu-
y e IL

lously gifted spiller of the
well known beans Omar stands alb
solutely alone, by himself and with
| out peer. He is genius and no
body can deny it, and, just to prove
it, take that long, dry and discour-
aging series of incidents up in the
San Dimas Valley, when we tried to
blow the breath of life into the Ber-
nal P. Tufts Mammoth Circus.
Well do ] remember our initial
meeting with Bernal P. Tufts and his
merry men.
Coming down the San Dimas Val
ley, we found the asphalt bubbling
gently in the monday sun, with the
mercury trying to make out it was a
red knitting needle, and we likewise
encountered the town of Amalfi,
Calf, where we tried to pursue
secret and scientific Investigations.
Our personnel included Harmony
Childs, leading steerer; myself and
Omar. We fooled around Amalfi, at
tracted undue attention and came to
distinct understanding with the
Chief of Police, who was a petulant
and impulsive old wolf.
I'm givin' you swindlers one hour
to leave town." he said, facing the
three of US. Zone hour"
WE THEREUPON assumed a dig
" nifed demeanor and started
south on foot, following the state
highway and having no particular
destination. Eight miles from Amalfi
we observed cloud of dust on the
horizon, and when we came up with
it we discerned a one-night stand
circus caravan at halt. The bag
gage wagon was in the ditch, and
the proprietor of the circus was
telling its driver what he thought,
IN burning words Of one syllable.
Harmony suddenly exclaimed: "If
that amt Bernal P. Tufts Pm goat.
He owes me eight hundred dollars" "
followed his pointing finger to-
ward the little chap who was cursing.
He was a red-faced man with white
eyebrows. and as bald as a Chinese
egg.
From the appearance of this
circus" remarked Omar, "if he owns
it, he's going to keep on owing you
the eight hundred To me this looks
like circus that hasn't much to
. live for"
Hes owed me eight hundred dol
lars since that time in Butte" Har-
mony continued. "When l saw him
last he said he was going to pay me
the following week. Let's go over
and see about it,"
1T WAS a discouraging moment to
see any man about an old debt.
The baggage wagon was deep in the
ditch, the trunks were tun1bled here
and there, and Bernal P. Tufts was
rapidly approaching apoplexy.
Hello, Bernal," Harmony began
/. "How's the circus business?"
I Mr.. Tufts stared more closely at
+ our leader. Then his red and steamy
countenance relaxed itself in a brief
I grin.
Harmony Childs," he said. "Har
Euh?"
4 They shook hands, we were intro
duced, and the circus man returned
at once to his job While he swore,
we gazed in surprise at the rest of
the caravan. Probably four men
were tugging ut the back wheels of
that overturned baggage wagon. On
the remaining vehicles the drivers
sat mute, motionless, and bored, and
behind them, spreading down the
road, the circus performers patient
ly waited, all very languid, uncon-
cerned and inert. Occasionally they
gave US a calloused glance.
"Why don't you get the rest of
your hired men to help?" Harmony
naturally asked.
"Them?" returned Tufts in dis
gust, looking at his circus. "They
wouldn't give a glass of water to a
dying fish. They won't help me-"
"Why not?"
Because they're mad at me-" said
Tufts, scowling.
That's too bad" said Omar at
this point. eve might as we'll give
the men hand, hey?"
This idea suited Tufts, SO we
pitched in, and in no time at all we
had the wagon on its four wheels
and loaded anew, while the jaded
and sulky performers regarded us
with scorn.
"Can you drive four horses?" Mr..
Tufts inquired.
Harmony answered that any one
of us could drive eight horses and
probably twelve.