Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 363, 24 March 1907 — Page 9

1 Gold a,nd the Guinea's StMiuip m leo

Cefyright. 1907, by Thomas H. McKte. SCOTTY had the last draw from the yards, and when the gilded den containing the only giraffe in captivity was in its proper station, he unhooked the eight grays for their feed. It was a quiet Sunday morning, a springtime morning, with the dew gleaming in the sparse grass of the "lot," and the raw edge of the dawn-wind just beginning to yield to the sun's rays, gentle and pleasing. The show had arrived In the night. Now a few boys, with the sleep jet in their eye-corners, stumbled across the "lot," gaping amid eagerness. From the far fields, seeming to leap out of a bank of mist which had taken refuge in a grove, came the sweet pealing of bells. And the "big top" was going up, by special permit, and there wafted the appetizing odor of cooking from the kitchen-wagon. "Sunday," muttered Scotty. He went down among the chests to find his clean blue shirt. Soon he appeared from the dressing tent transformed. HJ3 hair was brushed, his face was perfectly clean red from scrubbing, he wore a suit of checks

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which had once been silver until the browns rebelled and reclaimed it, and he conspicuously exposed the bosom of the shirt of blue. Scotty did cot wear a collar. That was a luxury in advance of the show business. Only the owner, the pressagent and the double-roll acrobats wore collars 2 (even on Sunday), and these were people out of Scotty's class. . He lounged over to the entrance of the women's tent, where a moment before he had seen Mother Belle, who had charge of wardrobe mending. Mother Belle often relaxed the dignity assumed with that Important post, remembering the days when she had been the wife of Blevlns, the stable boss, now dead, and she sometimes noticed the better of the show hands, always Scotty. "Morning, mother," said Scotty pleasantly. "Scotty, I do believe you've got on your best Sunday clothes this morning." "That's what, mother," he replied cheerfully, feeling in a side pocket for his pipe. Slowly he commenced filling his pet briar, which was always a reflective operation with Scotty. He glanced' out over the lot. "Seems just like the old Baltimore, eh, mother?" : he suggested. "Well, there's some difference, mebbe," she replied. "Better lot than that one on the Belair Road, if, I can recollect." "Ain't been on that Belair Road lot since the Adam Forepaugh days. You weren't along then, mother." "Wasn't I. though?" "Was you? Well, well ward-robin'?" "What did ye think, young man loopin th loop?" Scotty laughed, he had finished loading the briar i.and sucked at it comfortably. ' 1 "I remember, mother sure, you was there, all " right I was jokin. An therewas Benny Jackson, remember him? The fellow what used to make the long swing from the middle pole over to a trapee an back again. Course ye do. Broke his neck in that act out In Columbus. By Christmas! I saw him that night at six o'clock, that very night, an" he was sparkln a girl an to think of it! At half . past nine he was dead, an' me carryin him outer - the ring. It made me sick, it did. Yes, an there was Davo Oelrich, he " Scotty paused, looking over the shoulder of his listener. He seemed to see something as in a vision, causing Mother Belle's curiosity to become " nctive, when she turned to see for herself. A young woman came toward them. She was busily engaged in buttoning gloves. Scotty had seen that she was prettily dressed, and that she had abundance of dark red hair. "Thought I knew every one with this layout," . he said softly. "What's she do, mother bareback?" "Pshaw! that's the new girl on your car. Scotty." "New girl?" "Sure. Mame ain't to be Goddess no more, an this girl's doing the part in the 'come-on. " "Well, by Christmas!" said Scotty to himself, bs she neared them, "she's all right." Now the glove was buttoned and the girl came tip to Mother Belle. "I heard the bell3," she Faid. Scotty did not move away, but glanced shyly at her, noting that she was very pretty, quite tall and well formed. "Golnt? church?" askedMother Belle. "If you " will show me the way," the girl answered. "Scotty, where's the churches?" Inquired the mistress of the wardrobe, being ignorant of temples. - "There's a church right over yonder," said Bcotty, removing his pipe and pointing with it countryward. "Calls it St. Ann's, I think anyway, it's over there."; . ; . "That "way?" said the girl, looking at him and noting the faded suiting, the blue shirt not unlike pn engineer's, and the sturdy length of neck innocent of adornment. Scotty flushed. He could not understand the mild review. les," He said, again pointing. "Over there. Miss." "Thank you." She had taken a ew steps In the direction Indicated, when a sudden boldness seized on the usually shy and diffident Scotty. His old self fought with It for supremacy, but the old self lost, and the new force carried Scotty right up to the side of the new Goddess. "May maybe I can show ye. Miss" he stammered. v "No," she replied, coldly critical, surveying him Bgaia. "No you haven't your collar." Then she wont on. leaving Scotty standing whero he had offered himself. He looked after her;" his hand crept up stealthily to the band of his shirt, snJ he pnlled gently, without knowing why, at the

button holding it together. He did not have a collar. Scotty, somehow, felt that he was naked.

Scotty was up and about in the rry eariy looming. He felt that something must be done to relievo the symptoms of injured depression which still afflicted him. Never before had he known the abject misery of being collarless. 4 To retreat would mean only , to be scorned, to fight would only exhibit his colossal ignorance of decency; be must do something more than these things, something strategic, something subtle he must abdicate. The end justified the means. He set out to discover a collar. , Murdoch, a fellow who had lately Joined, and who had been transferred from doorkeeper to assistant in the advertising department at the right elbow of the grand adjective tosser and bewilderer of words, Scotty picked as the man who would be sure to possess the effete article, and who was low enough in the social rank to be sought. Scotty aroused Murdoch from his innocent slumber. "'Scuse me, old man, but I Jest had to do it. Say! what I'm after is one of them" he fished Murdoch's collar from the car-floor. It was rather the worse for having been worn a long time without rests. "That's my desire," said Scotty. "Ain't yeh got two?" Murdoch rubbed his eyes and stared at the other ' man as though he doubted the sanity of his proposition. "What d'ye want a. collar?" "Sure thing; my wash ain't come home yet." "Well go down-town an buy some," snorted Murdoch. "Now, see it my way, beau, protested Scotty earnestly. "I've just got to have a real collar for the 'come-on.' There ain't no time to waltz down Ik HE DID KOT HAVE A COLLAR. SCOTTY, to the city." "What!" yelled Murdoch. "You! a driver of wild beasts wear a collar! Why, it's against tho rules, ain't It?" "Mebbe so," said Scotty desperately. "But I'm egoin' to wear one." Murdoch crawled out from his bed and fished Into a little locker In the corner. He produced, after considerable search, one collar. It was a frayed collar. It had places where the original webbing peeped through the upper cuticle. Many hard-fought battles with vicious country laundries had brought this piece of gents' wearing apparel to the verge of utter dissolution. The brand of its maker was now pale and anemic, Its once beautiful proportions were deformed, the buttonholes had taken refuge in ragged vents, and the whole combination seemed a mute appeal to be put out of Its misery. "That'll do," rejoiced Scotty, making a dive for it. "How do ye know it'll fit?" asked Murdoch sleepily. "Little thing like fit don't worry me, pardner." "Got a tie?" queried the assistant adjective Juggler, with a grin. "Tie!" sneered the triumphant Scotty. "It ain't necessary." He disappeared to array himself. The next morning Scotty, wearing a collar and a perfectly conscious air which he thought represented disdain, walked into the large tent where his team was being harnessed to the great float wagon. This wagon was a gorgeous affair, the mirrored sides of it reflecting light and the brilliancy of gold. Upon the top, at the four corners, were low thrones, on which sat four women beautifully robed, while in the center of the car's roof rested a large globe, "representing the earth, and

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thi3 supported a fifth throne, the seat of the Imperious beauty who had signified her preference for churches and collars. All this purple and fine linen, however, reposed with a delicate safety in the hands of one Scotty, collared or collarless. who managed with the precise judgment of Apollo's charioteer the twelve . grays furnishing the motive power. And no one knew this better than did the inan himself. His wonderful control of the big wagon was marvellous. He could whip it around a corner when on a trot, and he had never been known to run down the small boy who is determined to "get killed on circus day. Scotty felt a great pride in his skill and acknowledged power, for he was the only man with the show who could or would drive that wagon. He modestly entered the tent, stiffly garbed, conscious of his might. Joe Bingham, who was fastening the last trace, caught sight of the rehabilitation first. Joe Bingham, being a chronic user of tobacco in the chewing form had to spend a few moments recovering a perfect mastery of his portion. Then he uttered a single syllable to wit: "Gawd!" But they were afraid to rag Scotty about it. He seemed too serious. He had failed to make the collar connect with the buttons because of the Increased area of the buttonholes and so, perforce, he had tied it on with some blue yarn. That day. was a. glorious one .for the recreated Scotty. Never before had he felt so satisfied with, himself. Formerly he had looked on the parade as something to be endured, and hump-shouldered he had driven the Car of the Globe, satisfied if the route was not too long. But this day the route was all too short. He saw a new meaning in the gaze of the admiring throngs, a triumph for himself. He handled the ribbons over the backs of his twelve grays in magnificent style, swinging them about corners with the precision of a master. Like

Al., v;... - SEV ! ' H vs& mv -uJk mm ' X- 1 Til w.1 A' J SOMEHOW, FELT THAT HE WAS NAKED. some newly decorated knight he bore his honors with rare dignity. And the chafing of the collar he did not consider, since he had made a step upward, toward something, toward a new life. A great deal of joking was the reward of Scotty. He was given the title of "The Man with the Col-, lar." Mother Belle looked on this Innovation as a mild form of insanity, and Joe Bingham told the boys that Scotty had become respectable through queer doings. He darkly hinted at the Salvation Army, whereupon Scotty threatened hlta with dire and serious punishment. But no man ever lifted himself above the herd, adopting newer ideas and taking newer paths, without reaping the cruel Insinuations of jealous people. And Scotty restrained himself from violent outbreak, adopted an Injured air and pretended not to count the many grins decorating his section of the dining tent. But Scotty learned after awhile that though a woman may be caught with a uniform, the simple addition of a collar to an otherwise mediocre outfit was not sufficiently beguiling. She avoided him. Once he sought to help her up to the Globe, and he suffered a rebuke. . Imagine his consternation one evening when he discovered that the fair lady of his dreams was smitten with the tall, handsome gentleman who managed the twenty-horse act in Big Ring No. 1. Scotty observed them chatting in a secluded place. Then he crept nearer to listen. The horse act in Big Ring No 1 was over, and spotlessly arrayed, I still carrying his long whip, Mr. Carlino. as he was billed in giant type, had appeared at the place

of trvst. The girl sat on one ot the guy-ropes, swaving it slightly to and fro. Scotty knew Mr. Carlino for a faker of the first water, so he held his breath and listened. "Of course, you mean what you say," hesitated the girl. Scotty wondered what this nicely shaken devil had said. "To be sure," smiled Mr. Carlino. otherwise Oscar Smith. "We can get away from the show atjthe next town, right after the horse act. You can meet me outside the costume tent and we will go off. It will be an easy matter to get a whitetied gentleman to perform. After which we will surprise these folks by introducing Mrs. Carlino. Mnvbe thev'll let you help me in the horse act." "Won't that be grand!" said the girl. "Simply Immense," echoed Mr. Carlino. "Young fool," thought Scotty, muttering dire things. She was a nice girl. too. He wondered why the Lord allowed nice girls to go about loose in this manner. Here was the oiliest villain of the show, a man no better than a hyena a fellow who smfrked at every woman he saw. who plumed a mustache, and who combed his hair pompadour. In addition to all this. Scotty knew Mr. Carlino. alias Oscar Smith, to have a wife in Hagerstown, which Is an unsuspecting place. And Scotty knew that Mr Carlino. otherwise Oscar Smith, did not visit Springfield, Ohio, but alwavs managed to have Mr. Gambettina Cin private life James O'Leary). a second knight of the long whip, handle the unexcelled act in that town. Mr. Carlino always skipped Springfield, Ohio, though there had been numerous inquiries made for him at the Big Tent on former occasions, before, during and after the Big Show, and the large, weighty looking persona who learned that Mr. Carlino, the famed horseman, was detained through nervous prostration in New York always expressed keen disappointment. Scotty knew the man for a perfect scoundrel, and his honest blood boiled within him. Besides, his own earnest endeavor seemed to have been wasted. Was it for this that he had subjected himself to the slavery of a collar, a mere adornment, a starched, erect, unbendable method of scientific torture? There must be something personal in his revenge. Scotty vowed to himself that between the time of his fortunate eavesdropping and the ending of the horse act in Ring No. 1 on the next night something would happen to Mr. Carlino, which he, Scotty. would not strain himself trying to prevent. "She must be saved If I have to wreck the show," ld Scotty.

The next day. the day of vengeance (If vengeance was to be at all accomplished), began passing In a most alarming manner. In the morning there was a thousand and one things to be performed. The tr!gging-up of a circus after the" first night does not allow for the scheming of petty vendettas. ' There were ropes to be tightened, straw to be spread afresh, horses to be rubbed down end fd. to say nothing of tidying rings and makfng the first minor preparations of that night's exodus, which is something greater than any ring act of the Big Show. Noon had slipped around before Scotty had had any time In which to think. In the afternoon, when the show was on again. Scotty stowed himself away in a vacant corner and worked his fertile brain overtime. He saw the girl go past on her way to take part In the Great Gorgeous Gathering of Graceful Grecians, which opened the big first part, and the sight of her in her robes as Queen goaded him to fresh stimulus. But the plot would not shape Itself. Scotty was in despair. He took a walk through the animal tent, muttering to himself. Porters, who helped handle the trained lions, saw him coming and called out: "You look as bad as old Poison. He's in a devil of a humor. Tried to reach a man awhile back, and all, but reached him, too." "It would be too bad If he got loose onct." remarked Scotty. "Well, I guess." grinned Porters. "He'd Just bout rip this town wide open." Scotty passed on to the den of the big Tfon named Poison, who had the reputation of killing three men and badly mauling half a dozen more. Poison was pacing up and down his long cage, sniffing and growling and rubbing the bars with his skull. Then a thought came to Scotty like an Instant glimmering of lightning. The thought grew wider and wider and then convincing. "Ah! Ha-a-a!" said Scotty. knowing this to be the correct thing to say, and he Immediately repaired to a brilliantly lighted place across the roadway at the end of the lot. Sure enough, he found Joe Bingham inside. Scotty mysteriously motioned for him to vacate his place for a conference outside. "Joev," he said softly, "do you want to make a dollar?" "Is it possible to make It honest?" asked Bingham suspiciously. "Listen. There's a dollar In It for you, Joey. All you have to do is stand around Poison's cage to-night after the horse act, and when I give you the wave of the hand from the side flap, why stir him up a bit. Understand?" "What's the game?" questioned Bingham doubtfully. "Won't the boss get wise and make himself sore." "I'll make It two dollars, Joey. "I'll whip the boss for five dollars," offered Bingham mellowly. "No that ain't necessary. All you have to do Is stir Poison into a fierce mood. Make faces at him. chew up some Honest Ned and hit his eye. You're good at that." "Jest betcher life! Say! when I get started on that slab-sided mutt of a lion, he'll have to go Into a corner and lay down Just to get his wind. Why. I know the time when " "You'll do it, sure?" Bingham was In mellow humor. He laid a fatherly hand on Scotty's shoulder and staked hlf personal reputation on the matter. That night Scotty took up his station close to the place where Mr. Carlino, the famed horseman, had promised to meet the Queen of the Globe Car. Scotty took numerous peeps through a slit in the canvas, and each time he noted the dutiful Bingham lounging near the cage of the man-eater. "It'll go," he said to himself a score of times; "it'll go." Now the horse act was nearlng Its finish Scotty saw a shadowy figure approach and he knew it was the girl. She was a nice girl, too. Scottv again wondered why Providence had allowed such a girl to be away from mother and the farm Five minutes later a man hurried np. Scotty heard their greetings. He watched them go off. It was dark outside the tent and there were no Idlers around. Scotty knew that Mr Carlino had provided a carriage for the Journev He waited nntil the girl was seated and Mr Carlino Just clamTvring to the seat beside her. Then Scotty made a sweeping signal to the waiting Bingham and that loyal soul got busy with the nature of the fretful beast. Immediately sonnds Issued from the animal tent These sonnds began with a surprised and

agitated roar, as If something had happened suddenly to aggravate the sensitive feelings of an unsuspecting brute. But this was only the prelude. It was a gentle overture to that which followed. Poison was no slouch when it came to emitting sound,-and he was provoked beyond measure. Something had gotten into his eye and It felt weird. A harsh, rasping, growing, awesome series of frantic screams seemed to lift the tent-top. They began in the lower register and ascended by quick Jumps, increasing in volume nntll the immensity of the crescendo was staggering. There seemed to be no end to it. It accumulated, and quadrupled. It was terrifying, thrilling, heroic Scotty broke out from the tents and began to run. The carriage was moving off at a sharp trot, the horse feeling a trifle uneasy because of the uncouth noises in his rear. Scotty tore on, urged by a superb burst of sound in which were commingled all the race, insulted grandeur and pain of impotence possessed by the brute creation. Breathless, Scotty managed to reach and grasp the tail-" end of the carriage. He made considerable noise. Mr. Carlino made an effort to draw in his horse. "Go on!" yelled Scotty, simulating terror. "Go on! Drive like everything was after yeh an' more. Poison's loose!" "What!" gasped Mr. Carlino. his eyes beginning to bulge. "Poison's loose, you fool! Drive for your life!" The girl gave a little nervous cry. Scotty gave a good Imitation of physical collapse, speaking amid gasps and jolts as the carriage swayed. "He was eatin' the boss as I came outer the tent he sure was savage, an Drive on! Listen to him, will j eh! He acted like he was awful hungry " "Do you think he will come after us?" whimpered the Queen. "He was headln this way," admitted Scotty regretfully. Mr. Carlino uttered an excited oath and again applied the whip without mercy. For the next mile Scotty was Bolely occupied In remaining fixed to the vehicle. After awhile It was noticeable that Mr. Carlino had quite driven one faithful horse free of the livery stable life. The beast came to a stop, blowing. "Think they got him?" tremulously Inquired the horse trainer. ; , "Don't hear anything? said the cautious Scotty. "We can get out here and walk across the fields." suggested Mr. Carlino. "1 believe they got him anyway." "Yes. I believe they have," said Scotty dryly. "I fact, Mr. Carlino, they had him all th while. Yeh see, he never really got away." "You said he was loose." "I meant that his voice was loose." "What what do you Have you been tricking us, you " "No only tricking you, not the lady. I don't trick ladles. You do that. I only brought you out here for her good. I wanted her to listen while you told of your wife up In Hagerstown." The Queen of .the Globe Car gasped: "His his wife!" "Tell her about your wife. Carlino," snarled Scotty, reaching for the famed horseman. There was some little business here which ended In Mr. Carlino being dragged out Into the road. He was at a decided disadvantage,, for Scotty was a big, husky fellow who didn't care. For the space of three long minutes Mr. Carlino wax thumped and

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mauled. He left Impressions In the face of thai road. Then a pair of viselike fingers nipped his neck and his face was thrust Into the light of the "Going to tell her now?" asked Scotty, grimly. The Queen was silent. Mr. Carlino blubbered something through a pair of puffy Hps. "Have you a wife In Hagerstown?" pointedly questioned Scotty. "Yes," spluttered the famous equestrian. "And ain't your real name Oscar Smith?" "Yes," Mr. Carlino gasped with effort. "I'd be ashamed of it myself," said Scotty. kicking him away Into the darkness. The thicket crashed as if a cow had gone through. Scotty climbed into the carriage and picked up the relnj "We'll go back now," he said gently.When they reached the show grounds the band was blatantly banging out the grand finale. The people were streaming out Into the road. Most of the big tent had disappeared. There was a wellregulated confusion everywhere. "Why didn't you speak to me about that before?" said the girl. "You wouldn't let me talk to you," replied Scotty. "I don't know how to thank you," she said. "Why, I'd try my hand on old Poison himself It I thought It would help you. miss. I ain't going to let harm come to you." He caught sight of her very grateful face in th flare of an oil lamp. "What is your name?" she asked. Something caught In his throat. Ha had not thought of that his name. "I guess guess I'm Just Scottv." he said tlmMlv

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66 The ' Vicarious L 99 Pottle,

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