Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1891 — DOUBLE DICK AND JOE; [ARTICLE]

DOUBLE DICK AND JOE;

The Poorhouse Waifs.

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER XVl—Continued. Mrs. Brown coolly counted the roll. “Very well —you can tell Mr. Buckett I want just $lO more, at least. Fifty dollars won t do it—and make the appearance he will expect. I'll put as much of your money to it as will make it out—and Mr. Buckett will give it back to you. * “Of course, he will—and be very much obliged to you, also,” said Ben. “I’m glad its all settled. I would have teen content. Double Dick, if I'd got sls a week —but I’ll leave it to all hands here *—a Queen of Arabia is dirt cheap at S4O • month” Whereupon they all laughed heartily. “I’ll get these things made to-morrow; meantime the Queen of Arabia must condescend to wear my clothes,” said Mrs. Brown, gayly. The next day, as Dick was walking through the city, he was confronted with a bill on which he beheld his new name in letters half a foot long. Beneath, in many colors, the marvelous dexterity, fearlessness and crowning achievements of “Idalia” were narrated. Ben smiled at Dick’s confusion. “Buckett puts it pretty steep, don’t he? He knows the art of putting things, Buckett does. That’s the way he made his fortune. And when yo-H are as old as I am, you’ll appreciate the art of putting things 7t’s worth a mint of money; you can gamble on that, Double Dick. ” That afternoon, when Dick was mounted on the black mare, the circus attendants still manifested considerable curiosity to see how she would come it, for the sex of the rider was referred to from that hour in a way that began to be very amusing to Dick. “Black Bess ’ll dump him yet," said one in his hearing. “She’ll take a kink, and he’ll get it ” “Bet you five dollars down. ” “I’ll take the bet." And Dick saw the money placed in the hands of a stakeholder. He felt that he was an object of Interest to the humblest hangers-on and employes now, and his blood tingled in his veins with pleasura This was another world altogether from Barnesville Poorhouse. “Now, then,” said Ben, becking into the green-room. The man holding the black mare's head released his grasp. The mare trotted into tho ring, turned around once, threw her head up, then raised her heels. The movement was so quick Dick was almost unseated, but he recovered himself in time. If it wasn’t for the dress, he said to himself, he would be all right If he only could rido like a man—wouldn’t he “welt” the mare into subjection. Everybody saw now there was to be another contest between the mare and her rider. Bets were made by spectators that the mare would throw the rider. They were heard by Dick. The clown of clowns was making a great deal of noise, but his eyes were fastened upon Dick anxiously. He made an excuse to pass near the mare, and said to Dick: “You must conquer her now or never —the devil’s in her yet.” Then he rolled like a hoop across the ring. Black Bess was backing, backing, trying to get the bit between her teeth —backing—backing, when a blow on her nose made her mad with pain. Dick had cut square down her face as hard, as wickedly as he cou d drive the blow with his cowhide whip, that was painted red and ornamented with a tassel looking harmless. The mare shot forward like an arrow from a bow. and sped around the ring, and as she galloped Dick held the reins tight, cutting her now on tho haunch, now on the shoulder. The ringmaster stood all eyes in the center ot the ring. The attendants held loops ready to spring as one man on the mare. Tho clown squatted near the circle tho mare swept, looking apparently open-eyed at the dsring rider. The mare suddenly whirled around, and as she swerved from her course rose on her hind feet straight in the air. Dick clung to her mane; with otie hand he held on for life, as with the other he plied the rawhide until the mare so l on all fours and whirled around in pain. The rawhide came down again and again, then the mare flew around tho ring. Never did Bess gallop like that before. The multitude stood on their feet, women shrieked, the band ceased to play, and the attendants strove to check the mare in vain.

It was now a question of endurance. Ben was striving to catch Dick’s eye, but in vain. The mare was flying so fast it was impossible. Dick felt that unless he did something soon, the mare might bolt into the green-room with him —and what might happen then he dare not think. He had put the mare to her utmost speed—now he would try to bring her in. Could he do it? If he succeeded he would be tho wonder of the circus people—of the spectators. He resolved to do, or die in the attempt. The mare was going at the utmost limit of her speed. The sawdust rose in a gale behind him. The silence was significant—ominous. Dick took the reins in both hands, rose, flung his right leg over the mare’s back, and settled himself for the work he had resolved upon. The multitude murmured. There was the faintest attemot at a cheer, which the cheerers quickly checked in their deep anxiety. Dick gave the reins a jerk—the mare paid no attention to it. He let her have her head, slipped the cowhide into his right hand, brought the mare a tremendous cut over the face, then braced himself and jerked her bit with all the power he could exert The mare was stunned. She shook her head, checked her headlong speed—to receive another cruel cut across the face. And again the bit was brought down on hvr quivering flesh. Another free rein, savage welt, another bruise 4 tongue and Mouth, and the mare stopped—stopped so suddenly Dick nearly shot over her head.

Then the fcsrc stood quite sfffi, and everybody could see her veins swell as she trembled. Meanwhile Dich sat motionless —like a statue—forgetting that the Queen of Arabia was astride her steed. The clown hastened to Dick's sida The ringmaster hastened to tho other side. When the' attendants gathered round, and Dick, holding the mare firmly, hit her repeatedly—but she never ffynVPfl , ..r ———— - „ bJR. JASPEB COUNTY. I n _____ fl. point every time. ” Dick bowed the vast audience, and then Beu, with all the deference he could put in his manner, lea Dick out of the ring. The cheers that followed them thundered in Dick’s ears until he was deafened. A man—a bright-looking man, caught the clown just as he was entering the green-room.. “Introduce me, Ben.” Dick looked at him; he forgot he was a woman for the time until Ben coolly turned and said: “Miss Dick, permit me to introduce an old friend, Mr. Miller, of the—by the way, you’re on the Press, ain’t you?” “No; the Item. The Item's the paper here, Ben.” “I suppose you’ll put a string of stuff in about Miss Dick here—ldalia on the hills, you know confidential this, Miller. Nobody knows her name but you.” “She’s pretty as a picture," said Miller in a low tone. “And as good as she is pretty, as my wife will tell you. Now, don’t overdo the thing—just enough to clip,you know —that’s what tells, and helps us most And I’m sure Miss Dick will be ever so much indebted to you.” “You have made too much of it —I shall be very glad, indeed, to be able to render Miss Dick a service. Any time, she can command me freely. ” Dick could only bow. He did not—could not trust himself to speak. He could scarcely preserve his countenance until he was a good distance in the greenroom—the sat down on a camp stool and laughed until his eyes were wet with tears. The attendants looked at him curiously. Some wondered if he was going to take “histrikes. ” “See here—if you don’t know how to use a word, don’t use it,” said Ben tartly. “Hj sterlcks. ” “Well, it s the same in the end,” said one man. “Bunker—you’re a fool—Miss Dick is laughing at a young man who is in love with her.” Then the attendants roared and bent thmselves double. When Dick drew the clothes over him that night (he slept in the dressing-room that night), he would not have exchanged places with a king.

CHAPTER XVII. IN WHICH DOUBLE DICK ACHIEVES A GREAT TRIUMPH AND SEES A .VISION. Dick was awakened the next morning by somebody shouting loudly: “Now, then! All alive there!” It was the voice of the master of transportation for the “Monster Aggregation of Talent and Combined Curiosities of the Entire Globe,” to quote from the bills. Mr. Parisian Perks, as Ben Brown called the master of transportation, had condescended to play the part “awkenor.” Dick recognized Parisian Perks’ voice —it was one that nobody who had ever heard it was likely to forget. It was like a fog-horn and nutmeg-grater combined—a good deal of grating to the squeak, as the clown persisted in saying. Other people likened Mr. Perks’ voice to a rag-machine-nobody liked it. Mr. Buckett, it will be observed, was liberal in titles. What with master of transportation, master of sustenance, master of equestriennes, master of the ring, master of the arena, this, that, and the other, they made a lot of titles as awe-inspiring as ever dumbfounded a lot of people ruled by a crazy king. Ben Brown, be it obsarved, refused to accept the enchanting title of “Momus, Master of Mirth ” He would not have it billed that way. What he wanted, and stipulated in his agreement, was three hundred dollars a month for self and wife, and first-class fare on all steamers and passenger cars, and firstclass hotels. And the clown got it without a murmer, or attempt at rebate. Hj: did not remonstrate —how could he?—when Buckett billed him as “the most excruciating jester the world ever saw—the Prince of Funmakers,” which his wife said was a modest announcement, considering he leaped higher and farther, rode better and faster, vaulted with more grace and case than any man in tho company. “Look alive there! Such snorers—you’d shake the rafters of heaven!” Dick glanced out slyly. Yes, it was Parisian Perks, with his gold-headed cane in his hand. Dick wondered if he slept with it. “Tumble out! roll out! crawl out! anyway to get out, and give us the canvas. Do you think you are turtles, and I count on carrying your cover with you? Here it is almost ten o’clock!” (It was ! barely five.) “Ten —ten o'clock, and ! we’re twenty-five miles from New York. Twenty-iive miles and six finger-lengths. ‘ I can make the twenty-five miles easy—- : what bothers me is the finger-lengths. ” Dick smiled; nobody Daid the least I attention to Mr. Perks’ abjurgations. “What! Nobody stirring. Here, you 1 loafers! Up, up, scoot, vanish, perambulate, make yourselves scarce!” | “Oh, go away, wi.l you, Perks!” ex--1 claimed a voice that Dick quickly recogI nized. “That you, Brown? ’Pon my soul it’s I gone five, for a fact” “Well, I’m just ready for another nap, and I’m going to have it.” “Nap! Hear him, ye gods! Been 1 sleeping there seven hours to my knowledge; now he wants a nap!” “Fire away, Perks. ” I “I will fire away. I’ll bring the ele- ■ phant around. ” | “It you do I’ll hiss my dog on you; so move off now, Perks. We’ve plenty of | time. Confound you, because your conscience won’t let you sleep, you don’t want any one to enjoy a little rest. ” Perks beat a retreat, and Dick, who was now wide awalce, listened to the hum of voices in the kitchen, to the drivers and tent men whom Perks had “routed up.” When the tent men awoke, they awoke tltogethe' Iseemingly. They were very

mtjen aßve under Mr. Perks - abjurga tions and moving appeals, ~ Dick soon rose, and, washing liiinself, was surprised to meet Ben looking for him. He was surprised still more to .see how quickly the “ten acres of canvas” disappeared liko magic. “About this time I take a drink,” said the clown, addressing his protege, tendering a cup to Dick. “Thank you. I never touch it " -t “O, you don’t! Never drink fresh milk?” , “I—l thought it was whisky. ” k “Yes; I knew what you thought ! 'here’s lots of people who ought to now better who think we drink heavy. (Thy, if I drank once a day, what do you oppose would become of my, nerve? 'd lose my grip and eye in a yeiK” I’d 0 downhill—l’d just naturally drop right utofthe business.” Dick took the milk and emptied the cup. - “When I can got it, I take cream. ” “I want to ask you one thing,” said Dick, shyly. “Do you rub yourself with oil?” “Rub! Rub! Every night I just swim. Fact Buckett keeps a whaler out just to catch whales for the oil we use. It’s a great saving. ” “You are laughing at me,” said Dick. “He don’t. ” “Talk senVe, Ben," said the clown’s wife at that moment Here the master of equestrians put his head into the green-room “Breakfast, ladles and gentleman, in exactly five minutes.” “No seconds to spare," added Ben. “What makes you so lively this morning, Ben?” his wife asked, as she adjusted his cravat •“Nothing particular that I know of, unless it’s Double Dick’s luck. Just imagine something like this on the bills next”

Ben threw his head back, assumed a pompous manner and said, tn a high monotone that moved everybody near to uncontrollable laughter: “The great, world-renowned aerial sprite, or the etherial artiste —how would ‘etherlalized’ sound? —the air-endowed arch enchantress—that's alliterative—sounds beautiful—ldalia, the Arabian Queen, essaying extraordinary and unparalleled achievements. Why, Kate —we’ll paralyze the natives. Vivid posturing! Physical pictures presented on horseback—all worth a dollar a word, and dirt cheap at that Vivacity united to grace—and—whal goes with a ‘v,’ Kate?” Suddenly a cry arose on the morning air. The clown looked around; the group at the entrance of the green-room scattered; all looked at something in the inclosure back of the wagons, which were ready to move. Then the voice of Mitchell was heard: “Hl —hi, there—catch her with a loon! Look alive, there." “It’s that devil, I bet,” said Ben, with knit brows as he ran out and raised himself where he could see what caused the excitement “It isn’t Firefly, is it Ben?” “Well it Is —and she’s raising—"fl is unnecessary to add the word. “If! had my way, I’d shoot that devil before she does any more harm!” “Look out, there! Look out!” The cries rose on all sides. The knot of riders near the green-room mounted to places of safety. They were not a moment too soon, A fiery-eyed, milk-white steed galloped madly, straight at the green-room. Ths cries of those near It diverted her from her aim; she turned in her tracks at gracefully as a fawn, and shot in the opposite direction, speeding on, on, at a pace that threatened all near her. Dick had bolted to a clear place In the Inclosure, whence he could see all that passed. The white steed rushed directly at him, with distended nostrils and flaming eyes. A number of drivers were following her, pursuing with loud cries of warning. The clown’s face expressed anger. “I told Buckett that Mitchell would wish he hadn't bought her." “She will kill somebody before Buckett sells her,” said his wife. Meantime the white mare was taking tremendous strides. She was the embodiment of fury and swiftness. She made a series of rushes that startled all who saw her. Suddenly she wheeled about and made straight for D ck. Ta all appearances Dick was stunned —stupefied. In reality he was thinking what he would do if the white mare threatened him. Those looking on gave the boy over to death. They expected to see the mare trampling him under foot, tearing him with her teeth. What was their amazement when Dick suddenly vaulted squarely upon tho mare's back and grasped her mane with both hands. “He will be killed, Ben—save him!” exclaimed the clown’s wife. Biit. now Dick’s practice with the colts at thb poorhouse proved useful to him in a manner he did not demonstrate witt Black Bess. [to be continued.]