The evening world., 1921-01-21


"a Of breath, and stood, arms
! "A akimbo, waiting for action
\ from the preacher Unde-
cided as the latter may have
been up to that point, he saw his
duty now. incidentally, the unusual
sight of the preacher and the old
maid standing in the street sur
rounded BY the boys attracted a
goodly crowd Of people. This fact
served to urge the preacher on.
BOLIVAR" he said sternly, this
thing has gone far enough You must
destroy that sign"
"Yes, Bolivar Brown, you're dis
gracing the church" shouted the old
maid. IF you don't quit it I'll get
the law onto you, YOU hear me?'
The crowd increased in size steadily
and Bolivar noticed that the snow
was receiving excellent advertise
! ing. The preacher began to edge
toward the sidewalk. 1t was up to
Bolivar to say something.
90 course, Mister Beggs,' he said,
I'VE won't do nothin' for you an Miss
Chase's heather II you amt agree
able TO it. We only got block more
tc go so well march on an then we
won't parade any more with the
sign. Is that all satisfactory
DR.. Beggs, anxious to fade from the
public eye, readily agreed and the
| procession formed again and moved
away with the crowd, or most Of II,
| following and laughing. The sign
| had done the work Bolivar Browns 5
show for the heather was the talk
of the town. Ann Eliza Chase was
rip-roaring mad over it and did not
hesitate to say so.
When Miss Chase stopped in front
Of Uncle Ezra FoX's house, on her
/ i'm
how the church had been disgraced,
Uncle Ezra laughed. II was one of
the side-splitting laughs for which he
was famous.
why, Miss Chase" nc said. when
he recovered, you wusn't never a
boy"
For which l am truly thankful"
she snapped.
well, ! wus," Uncle Ezra con-
tinucd. I'm a goin' to that show.
I'd go II had TO pay a dollar - get
in an had to bOrrer the dollar. Boys
ull be boys an that BOl Brown sure
Is a wonder. It's a front seat at the
, show for me-" And Uncle Ezra in
. dulgcd in another sides splitter.
: Ann Eliza Chase was furious with
b Uncle Ezra. Frowning deeply she
! moved away without further COM
? ment.
/ "Better come along an see the
show" Uncle Ezra suggested.
Not mel" was her reply, as she
: quickened her pace.
Although the curtain was not 10
, rise until $50 o'clock, by l there
were a dozen boys waiting at the
door Of the blacksmith shop TO be
admitted. Half and hour later, when
Bolivar began to sell tickets. there
were more than thirty. by 2.15 an
audience Of about fifty people had
gathered In the theatre" Boys were
in the majority, but the number ~
/ girls and adults surprised Bolivar
! greatly He had not expected them
shortly after Iucio Ezra ap-
preached Bolivar nuI bought ticket
"TIow much, Bol?" he asked.
III cents"
Here's a quarter. Amt got nothin
less"
And Uncle Ezra moved toward the
entrance, refusing his change. At
that point rustic Of skirts was heard
and a shrill voice said:
Bolivar Brown, / want a ticket.
There's your nickel"
1t was Ann Eliza Chase. She glared
at the boy like a tigress.
Bolivar was greatly surprised; 30
was Uncle Ezra. She received her
ticket and. turning, came face to face
with Uncle Ezra.
"Whv. howdy, Miss Chase!" he said
with a twinkle in his eye. Thought
you said you wusn't comm to the
show?"
Looking straight at Bolivar, the old
maid replied: 81 wasn't, but l thought
the church should have somebody
here to see these good -fer-nothing
boys don't heap any more disgrace or
a. That's why I'm here"
with that Miss Chase gave heI
ticket to Skeets, at the entrance, and
passed haughtily in. Uncle Ezra
grinned at Bolivar; then at Skeets.
Gee, whi2, boys!" was his COM
ment as he proceeded into the the
promptly at 2.SO by Uncle Ezra'
watch, Bolivar and Skeets went be
hind the scenes, leaving the door il
charge of Eddie Berry, one OF th'
small boys in the audience. Eddie
although he had paid his nickel Il
soc the show, was highly honoreC
with the duty imposed on him. IL
guarded the entrance zealously, ever
going so far as to chase little negr
bow away from the sidewalk and |,
throw rocks at a big dog that wa
loafing on the other side of the street
After ten minutes spent in smear
! ing their faces with DurnL COTk o
their own make, the boys, with tn
exception Of Inky and Skeets, tool
their places in the semi circle. Ink!
and Skects, being the endmen, re
mained behind to make a grand en-
trance" and. incidentally, to pull tn,
curtain up. All being in readiness
Bolivar, from his position in the mid
die, gave the signal, and the wall o
white. composed OF the three sheets
was pulled out Of the way. The au
dience applauded vigorously. Whel
the noise died away, Bolivar stood N
and said:
"I will now interduce Mr Skeets
endman for the cave, and Mste
Inky, endman for the heathens,"
Skeets and lnky marched across
, the stage in true minstrel style anC
' took their places at the ends Of tn,
erni-circle, Ann Eliza Chase haC
been seen 10 start nervously at III,
h mention OF the word "heathens," bu
~ she remained silent Uncle Err
r Fox was almost ready TO burst will
e suppressed laughter.
u The eudmen having arrived, Boil
var announced that lnlSy would s.u!