New-York tribune., 1921-04-03

disgrace of permitting a fabby ex-
bartender TO wipe him up. He
stated that his pride was hurt and
that Dorlando's boasting made him
sick. Finally the boss wrote to King
City and communicated with q lad
named Duffy Loomis, a second-rate
boxer, whom he had known in San
Francisco. The result Of this was
that Loomis agreed to box with the
circus from King City on, and Omar
was to be relieved.
'That's fixed" Harmony said.
you'll have to go on boxing till
we reach King City, but Loomis
will be waiting there"
cts about time" Omar replied.
II couldn'-. stand much more Of this.
I'm willing 20 help you, Harmony,
but there are limits"
#
THEN came the fateful morning
when we arrived in King City,
and luck seemed to be with us for
once. 1t was q fine, brisk day, and,
as the show had been we'll heralded,
the rural population began drifting
into town early in the day. The
rusty automobiles kept on coming
until noon, when there must have
been between three and four thou
sand anxious visitors, all buying soda
pop and peanuts and waiting pa
tiently for the Tufts Mammoth Cir
Gus to warm up and entertain them.
We had in plain sight at least two
thousand dollars for the afternoon
show, and perhaps similar amount
for the evening, which would stand
us on our financial feet, pay off the
help and start us bounding toward
prosperity and fame.
Harmony was jubilant over the
outlook until a few minutes after
noon. Word came that the wagons
containing the circus seats had
broken down on the road, twelve
miles north Of King City. The rest
of the organization arrived on time,
but there was no going ahead with
the afternoon performance without
those seats.
When Harmony heard Of the dis
aster he swore mildly and found
way out. The afternoon show was
billed to begin at o'clock, and the
crowd acted as though its appetite
for circuses was keen. Therefore, if
those seats didn't get in we would
lose the patronage Of some four
thousand eager souls at SO cents a
soul.
Hastily he set about the prepara-
tions. We couldn't give the conven-
tional circus parade, because we
lacked material. We didn't have
enough parading matter to take four
seconds passing a given point.
"All right" Harmony said briskly.
"Well string the wagons around the
town square. Well have a grand
concert by the band, after which /
will make them little speech, telling
them of the ocular joys to come. We
will then have free boxing exhibi-
ton between Dorlando and Omar"
"Not Omar" said that individual,
speaking up sharply. "Not at all.
You said Duffy Loomis would box
the tiger feeder"
II know" Harmony replied impa-
tiently. "But Loomis can't box until
the regular show. He's late, too.
He's over in Salinas getting pair of
green trunks, and when I see him
III give him a good lacing. How
ever, this is the last time, Omar.
You won't mind boxing Dorlando just
this one more time to hold the crowd.
Think how much depends on it."
"Well," said the little fellow, "if I
must, I must. But remember, Har-
mony, there's limit"
Harmony then passed on to other
matters, and Omar went away to put
on his boxing pants with the blue
ribbons.
>
1T WAS highly successful and di-
verting show in the open air, with
out the charge of even thin dime. We
pulled the battered but mysterious
wagons into hollow square, and in
the center we erected the portable
ring. The band climbed aboard and