Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1891 — DOUBLE DICK AND JOE; OR The Poorhouse Waifs. [ARTICLE]

DOUBLE DICK AND JOE; OR The Poorhouse Waifs.

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER VlU—Continued. The man and woman were vastly amused. Dick now blushed more than ever and wished he had been out of the way when the fancy struck Ben to dress him in woman’s clothes. Buckett came along as the gallant cavalcade were moving down to the road, and seeing Dick beside Ben and his wife stared at him, “Let me make you acquainted with our new member,” said Ben, soberly, to Buckett. “Bosh!” said Buckett in reply, in a low tone. “Where did Mitchell pick her up?” Mitchell figured on the posters of Buckett’s Mammoth Aggregation as Master of Equestrians. “Don’t you remember her?” “No.” “That’s the boy you saw beside me.” Buckett looked, stared with all his might at poor Dick, laughed, and rode ahead. Then Mitchell made an excuse to fall behind; he, too, stared at Dick, and rode oiT smiling. This was all strange and very puzzling to Dick. He felt like asking Mr. Brown to let him get down and walk. Mrs. Brown, seeing his embarrassment, spoke to him. “You will ride beside Ben, Dick. I will ride with some one else. ” “Thank you," said Dick, greatly relieved

“But we needn’t make the change until we get into town, if you’d rather ride with me. ”

“Thank you,” said poor Dick again, blushing through his paint. And thus it happened that Dick was habited as a member of a circus company, riding on the public highway before nine o’clock one morning. The gay cavalcade were riding slowly along the country road, laughing and talking; as merry a group as were ever brought together. They were all “up” in their business; a hard-working and hardworked set of people, for Mr. Buckett got all out of brain and muScle that could b 3 got. ’ He had the best company in the country; the best that money could secure. He paid on the nail, and paid fair prices. But he contrived to deceive the world; he gave ontthat his expenses were twice as much as they really were. As the company (I refer now to the people who were employed as “artistes” in the ring) were crossing a road, Dick heard a loud clattering of horse’s feet. Looking to the right his heart rose to his mouth. There, within twenty yards of him, was Zeke Caper on a horse. He was accompanied by two men who looked like, and proved to be, officers Of the law. Zeke addressed the master of equestrians. Mr. Mitchell shook bis head, as he rode on. The company filed past the JSuperintendent,until Ben Brown reached that individual, who sat looking at them euriously. Brown checked his horse, and . held Dick’s. “Looking 1 for anybody, eh?” “Yes; I’m looking for a rascally boy—the worst boy in Acorn County. If we find him I’ll see he is landed in the penitentiary." “Thought you’d find him here?” “Yes. I heard there was a circus camped near here, and we came over to see.” “Well, like as not, he's in the crowd. Boys come and go all the time. We don’t want ’em, do we, Lize?” This to Dick, who was looking straight at Caper more in hate than in fear. Dick really felt murder in his heart when he beheld his old persecutor. He started when Brown addressed him; “I was saying to this gentleman how we are pestered with runaway boys. We don’t want ’em, but they will run after us. You’d like to see this gentleman find the rascally boy lia is hunting, wouldn’t you?” “I don’t care, I’m sure.” And Dick rode on, but not until he heard Caper say to the officers: “That little one is the prettiest girl in the lot ” Then Ben Brown laughed loud and long. As for Dick, he was so overjoyed at his escape that he joined in the laughter. “That’s as good as a play,” said Ben to bis wife. “Why, that’s the beastly fellow that runs the poor house at Barnesvllle, and he's took with Doubie Dick.” And then Ben bent over the pommel of his saddle with smothered laught

CHAPTER IX. DICK DISGUISED AS A PKINCE3S DISCOVERS THE CLOWN. The proprietor of the circus—l beg Mr. Buckett’s pardon—the proprietor of “The grandest aggregation of talent and beauty ever assembled under a monster canvas covering nearly ten acres,” Mr. Buckett, rode on ahead and awaited the coming of his “aggregation” in imposing order. He usually made it a point to head his people, but on this occasion he contented himself with a place beside the Mayor of the city, impressing him meanwhile with the “energy, enterprise and indomitable perseverence” he had expended in assembling the mammoth aggregation. The parade was a pronounced success. The newspapers employed many more adjectives to describe the effect, but not having so many at my command I content myself with recording the. fact. When Dick was. to use Ben Brown’s words, “whisked off his horse” and into the gentlemen’s dressing-room (tent) Mr. Mitchell came in after them. “I sav. Brown, what are you going to do with the boy?” “I’ve not made up my mind. I’ll wait and see what the boy can do first.” “vVhy can’t he go on as a lady rider? He’ll do as well —better for looks—than most of them. ” “I dare say,” Ben replied. “I’ll see about the boy by-aud-by ” “Why not decide it right away?” “I’d rather wait a day. ” “Well, this isn’t a poorhouse, remember.” “See here, Mitchell—l’ll pay the boy’s subsistence. I’ve made my calculations to do that ” “Yes, but you know our rules. Wo don't wan't hangers-on, Brown ”

“It seems to me you are in a hurry to send the boy away. I’ll attend to that matter, Mr. Mitchell, and without your assistance. ” Ben Brown’s manner was independent. His tone expressed a degree of indifference that surprised Dick, who heard the greater part of this conversation unperceived by either. He bad almost decided to interpose, and tell them he was.going away, but he did not like to speak until Ben Brown had done. A few minutes later he overheard Ben and his wife discussing his future. “Why, Ben,” said his wife; “may be this boy can not only take care of himself, but make a nice sum—if you’ll manage for him. You see that he gets a fair price if he can do anything.” “I will. They'll not get him for nothing. If he can ride, and learns to tumble, they’ve got to pay him.” Then Ben went out, and presently Dick, who was all eyes and ears now, overheard Ben talking to Mr. Buckett. He heard scraps of the conversation. “Grand entry anyhow. ” “Matter of course, Mr. Buckett. ” “See what’s in him —turn out a good investment —to be sure—what’s fair always, don’t I?” “Understand —I’m responsible for him —interference from Mitchell ” “Of course—Mitchell don’t run this show as ” “Then —wife furnish dress ” “Yes, yes—and I’ll speak to Mitchell go ahead now—at once—have him on to-day. ” What did it mean? Dick knew he was discussed. He had not long to wait. His suspense was brief. Ben came into the tent and said quickly: “See here, Double Dick —think you can stick on a horse in the ring—just at a canter—an easy canter?” “O, yes: I’d manage to hold on, Mr. Brown, but ” “But what?” demanded Brown, shortly. “How will I look? Among all the nice riders, too?” “Pooh. Just you sit up straight. The horse knows what to do. You must let your horse alone-Mie’s been in the ring eight years—you couldn’t put him out if you'd try. ” The proposition set Dick’s pulse throbbing. He experienced a feeling of inexpressible joy. He—he was going to appear in a circus—as a circus rider — among the elegant ladies and finelydressed knights with helmets and lances. The helmets and lances were lying about the dressing-room now. Some of the riders had placed their helmets on their heads; they looked magnificent. Dick had never beheld anything a hundredth part as grand or gorgeous. Would he be a

Just then Ben broke in upon his speculations. Dreams vanished in an instant.

“I say, Doub.e Dick, come along with me—no; stay here till I bring my wife — no! how the deuce am I going to manage? I see now; well, go to the ladies’ dress-ing-room, ani I’ll call her out.” Dick followed Ben. A few people—loungers and drivers —saw him with Ben, and made way for him. Then he remembered he was still in woman’s attire, a fact that lie had wholly forgotten. The loungers thought he was a young lady. At the entrance to the dressing-room, Mrs. Brown started on noticing Dick, then smiled. She held a whispered consultation with her husband, entered the dressing-room, and speedily emerged with a pareel in a paper, which Ben thrust into his pocket, and then Dick returned with him to the gentlemen’s dressing-room. “See here, Double Dick, I’m going to try to help you all lean. You keep mum —sing low—don’t talk till I tell you to. You’ll go on in the grand entry, and I'll see how you do. You’ll go on just as you are. ” “In there, Mr. Brown?” “Didn’t I just to|l you! Just as you are. I’ll fix you up a little ” Ben had the pareel out now. Producing some pins and paint and puffpowder, and a brilliant scarf —an elegant scarf it was, with fringe a foot long and gold borders —he proceeded to adjust the scarf on Dick’s shoulders and about his waist, all the time talking. “You see, women are scarce, and a nuisance when they’re fit for anything, with their airs. If my wife was like some of ’em, we'd make thirty or forty dollars a month more—but thero isn’t many like Kate Brown. And don’t Buckett and Mitchell know it? Oh, no! I guess not! Thcie. A little —just a trifle on the left cheek —and a little powder on the forehead and nose. ” Ben was putting carmine on his cheeks and lips—daubing his face here and there, aud talking, all the while eyeing him critically. “By George! You’re a stunning beauty, my boy—you’ll fetch the house down, you will." “I’m ashamed of this dress, Mr. Brown. ” “What’s the kid talking about?” inquired a valiant knight with visor down, as he looked at the artist and his subject. “Boy. do you know I’d give a hundred—yes, I d give a thousand dollars if 1 could make up as you look. I'd make it pay.” Dick looked at this knight in amazement. “I guess you'll do now. Dan. tell Moss to have Whitey ready for this lady. ” Dick started. He was called a ‘lady’ by Brown. “Now, stay where you are until I tell you to mount.” # Then Ben Brown proceeded to dress himself. Meanwhile Dick looked at the curious scene about him. Some of the knights in full dress were sitting on camp stools and trunks, reading newspapers or novels. The band near at hand somewhere were trying their instruments. Everybody seemed as much at home in the sawdust as though they were sitting at their fireside. Here and there a knight whistled or hummed a tune. Beyond, he heard the lions roaring—the keepers were stirring them up It was wonderful the way Ben became a knight. He was dress din two minutes, seemingly. Ben was the quickest man in the company. He stoid before Dick presently looking like a giant. “Hera you are, now—hero s the horses. ” The horses were brought in trotting, neighing. They champed their bits and tossed their heads up. Ben s.ngled out a white hor.te—a very intelligent animal —and helped Dick mount him. “Now, then, you’ll rde with me first, then you'd do just what the horse does.” And these were his sole directions, The band biar.d: it was a tremendous blast Dick heard thousands of voices, thousands of feet coming into the “monster” tent. He did not know whether he was dreaming—it seemed like a wonderful dream to him—when, ] the ladies with ?ashes, and the knights . with ribbous on their lane s. swarmed 1 around him, got ir.tr lines, and then all i

moved forward out or the tent, that served & meeting ground, into the monster fravilion. He saw nine ladies who looked princesses. attended by ten gallant knights. Yes, thero ( were just ten. The multitude in the pavilion cheered as they rode into the great ring, and around it. Dick’s eyes blazed with excitement The band blared, the crowd hurrahed, the horses began to trot and then Dick was in heaven. Around they went—then the horses formed in lines in fours, with outriders —then in twos again—then they all stretched across the ring in a line, a knight and a lady alternating; then the ladies formed a line, the knights a lino, the ladies another, the knights ahother —then they wheeled thus, five abreast—broke into circles of ten —broke again single file —came up solid, ten ladies facing one way, ten knights another. Now Dick discovered the people looked at him more than at any of the others, unless it was Mrs. Brown. He heard the women and men praise his beauty — he was a princess, too —he was the tenth —and had been counting only nine until now. Why, it was as easy—as easy as riding the colt at Barnesville Poorhouse.Then, at a sign from the elegant gentleman with the whip, the knights and princesses trotted out of the pavilion—and Dick drew a long sigh. Ben was at his side in an instant. “You’ll go on again with Kate. Just a foil; just sit up, and let Whitey go his own gait. ” There was an interval of four or fivo minutes: then Dick and Mrs. Brown rode gayly in together, and Mrs. Brown, as the “Queen of Arabia,” performed some very fino feats on a horse with plenty of mettle in his heels. Whitey was doing all manner of awkward things —reversing things gouerally and making people laugh. There was a roar of laughter, and Dick beheld a grotesque figure flying ’across the ring in front of him. Now he was under his horse No; he was on his back. No; he had turned a somersault and lit on his feet. Now he had the cramps! Now he was howling, and the ringmaster’s whip was curling in the air.

Why. this must be the clown! It was the clown. He led first two, then a third, then a fourth horse to the Queen of Arabia, and she stood on them all by turns—rode them singly, by twos, and rode lour abreast. The clown-was wonder-stricken —then he was convulsed with merriment. He rolled himself into a ball; rolled all around the ring. How the crowd laughed. He was the oddest creature over seen. The most grotesque face, the funniest eyes; ycu couldn’t help laughing just to glance at him. Now he began to patronize the Queen of Arabia. He looked very knowing, assumed a dignified mein, and spoke to her. Why, it was Ben Brown’s voice. Ben was the clown! Just as Dick made this discovery, Whitey ran out of the ring, and the other four horses followed at Whitey’s heels. [to be continued.]

Intelligent Chimpanzees. Among the most remarkable stories in Mr. Stanley’s book on Africa is one told to the explorer by Emin Pasha. Here it is: The forest of Msongwa is infested by a tribe of chimpanzees of great stature, who make almost nightly raids on the villages and little plantations of the Mswa natives, carrying away their bananas and other fruits. There is nothing very remarkable about this fact, since many kinds of animals make pillaging forays upon the habitations jof men; but the surprising part of Emin’s narrative is the statement that in these thieving raids the chimpanzees make use of lighted torches to hunt out the fruits. “If I had not been myself a witness of this spectacle,” Mr. Stanley reports i Emin as saying, “nothing would Iver have made me believe that any race of monkeys possessed the art of making fire.” On one occasion, Emin says, a chimpanzee of this intelligent tribe stole a drum from the huts of his European troops and made off with it, beating'it as he ran. j The monkey took the drum to the j headquarters of his own “people,” who | were evidently much charmed with it | for the Egyptian soldiers often heard j the monkeys healing it vigorously, I but irregularly. Sometimes in the middle of the night some sleepless chimpanzee would get up and go to beating the drum. But what the other chimpanzees thought of this midnight musical performance will never be known positively, but from the fact that no sound of battle aud slaughter among the intelligent chimpanzees ever followed, the Egyptians were foiced to conclude that they liked it. Here at least, there'ore, we find an indication that the grade of intelligence i of even the chimpanzees of Msongwa | is still far below that of the human ! race. —Sheffield Telegraph.

There are now twenty-six submarine cable companies, and they have $200,000,001) invested in ocean cables. Their revenues amount to $17,000,000 a year, and they pay from 1 to 14 per cent, dividends in their business. The receipts each year from the Atlantic cables alone amount to $4,000,000; 1,045 cables are already laid under water, 798 belonging to governments, and 247 to private companies. The total length of these cables is 120,070 nautical miles, of which 107,546 miles belong to private companies, nearly all English, and 12,524 miles to governments. Our first Atlantic cable was laid in 1858, and the first message sent over it on August sth of that year. Many of the government cables are very short. Of these the largest number is owned by Norway, which has 236, averaging only about a mile in length each. France has 2,269 miles total length, but with fifty-one distinct cables. Four monster locomotives have been built for taking trains through the St. Clair tunnel. The approaches to the tunnel have a grade of 105 feet to the mile, and require powerful engines, and these have each five pairs of drive wheels. These engines are of the tank pattern, the tanks being on both sides of the boiler. They run on 100-pouod rails and weigh * 195,000 pounds each.