Beadle's Dime Library No. 236 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

’ t me ren ne rennet ene ne ent er en nae a ee If you're a wise man you'll go to Wall street aa save money to fix up a show out of the jeces. Meantime I want to tell you a little hing, Newgate.” As he spoke he went toward the door, as if about to leave the room, and Newgate said: “What is it? Any points?” ‘‘-Yes, on human nature,” The old man lifted his brows. ‘‘ What are you talking about, May?” ‘* About human nature. It pays to study it, This business gives a splendid opportunity. ‘Well, what’s your point?” asked piel hg ‘*Only this: Did you ever read the Bible?” Newgate colored slightly. ‘*Of course. What are you driving at?” * Well, you remember about Adam and Eve in the garden, don’t you?” ‘Yes. What have they got to do with old Hoopler and the show business?” ‘You'll find out presently. Well, you've geen the Cannibals old Marinelli brought over?” ‘*'Yes, What of them?” Didn't have a rag on ’em except brown tights, did they? And old Tattoo, the same, only a pair of trunks.” ‘Will you tell me what you're driving at?” asked Newgate, testily; but May pursued in his imperturbable way: z ‘‘Nobody ever complained of their being nakei, did they? No one complains about ictures or statues, and they pay big prices for hem too. Nobody complains the Corinne girls are indecent, any more than Maiden and the tumblers in the ring. No one complains when prize fighters come out to spar, naked to the waist. No one complains of a lot of college boys in a boat-race, with less on than we ever allow in the circus. But just let a girl be trained up apprentice by a man like Cola from a little kid: used to going in tights till she don’t know anything about it any more than Eve knew about fur cloaks, before she and Adam got the grand bounce for eating that apple; just let that girl lay the least claim to be considered a lady, and treated likea lady, by people who earn their living the same as she does; le: her be as modest asshe may; as virtuous as she may: let her be insulted without cause by cowardly little beasts like Pierrelli; or treated like adog by a soulless lout like Jack Maiden; and by the Lord Harry, Newgate, she'll find some old church member, with daughters of his own, to help her on the down road with a sneer, as ‘only a tight-wire te and to punish any one that dares to take er part, like that fellow Samuels. Bah, there I go again. I beg your pardon, George. You didn’t mean it, and I didn’t either; but, b Heaven, this show business is enough to demoral- ize the Angel Gabriel.” And the eccentric advance manager went out, slamming the door. CHAPTER XX. SAM'S REVELATION. SAMUELS went back to his post in the show at rehearsal, and found the girls in a group of show ladies, who seemed to have taken their rt against Pierrelli, for hot words were passing tween them and Madame, who was a better four-horse rider than English scholar, and could mot match the voluble ladies of ‘“‘Gittuppe’s Particular,” who had, for a wonder, taken sides with Corinne. The arrival of the big man quieted the hub- bub, and Maggie went to the ing-room to prepare for her wire test, while Samuels stood with his arms folded, watching for Pierrelli. Presently he saw the little man at the other end of the ring, and strode toward him, a new look on his face, Pierrelli saw him coming, and immediately turned to walk away, with as much dignity as he could put into his gait, without a run. But Samuels overtook him in the stables, then deserted, and said quietly: ‘Mr, Pierrelli, one word; only a minute.” “T don’t want nothink to do with you,” said Pierrelli, very pale, and walking on. Samuels passed him, and as the otber tried to evade him, cornered him in an empty stall, and interposed between bim and the door. ‘“Now, look bere,” he said, quietly, and look in my eye if you think you dare fool with me Pierrelli looked as if fascinated, and Samuels went on, almost in a whisper: ‘You complained of me at the office to-day, and you knew I wasright. Mr. Newgate says he’ll discharge me if I have any more trouble with you. Do you know that?” Pierrelli stared at him with dilated eyes. ‘“Yeg. And I'll complain again if you hever offers to touch me. Let me hout. D’ you ear?” He tried to bluster, but quailed as Samuels lifted his finger, and shook it saying: “Take care. Forewarned is forearmed. Now, I'll tell you what J’ do.” “‘ What?” stammered Pierrelli. “ The next time you dare to speak to those ladies, 1'll — yourreporting. I won’tdo what I did, but V1 t you so you'll never crack a whip again Laave them alone and I won’t burt you. If I’m te leave this show that you may insult them, I’ll see you never enter a ring again. Do you understand?” Champion Sam. a ee “Why—what—you won’t murder me?” said Pierrelli ghastly pale. Samuels smil “No, but I'll break both arms and legs for you, and lay you up fora year. Moreover, I’ll do it now, if you don’t swear solemnly to leave those ladies alone. No one’s looking at us. ‘You’re in my power. Do you swear?” As he spoke, his eyes flashed and his face took on such a terrible leok that Pierrelli faltered: ‘For ’eaven’s sake don’t! I swear I'll never speak to’em again. I won’t report you. Oh, ’eavens, man, | ain’t no match fur oe ‘*T know it,” said Samuels coldly, ‘ not in one way. But you are ip another. f must use my advantage, or you'll use yours. Now re- member, the first insult to them, you’d better gay your prayers, for if I hit you once the office won't heal your bones.” He turned away, and came back, as if a thought had struck him saying: ‘By the by. Come among the rest, I am going to oe gad to you before the com- pany. mean it. Another thing. If you want to complain about me to any one, tell Mr. Cola. I give you leave to tell him. He’s a man nearer my weight. Come along.” Pierrelli was glad enough to get back before the rest of the company, and Samuels followed him closely. Every one stared at the pair curiously, and Samuels, in his usual slouchy way, said: “Mr. Pierrelli, I hadn’t ought to have laid hands on a man of your size, but I was riled. I Laks sir.” Dek on’t mention it,” returned Pierrelli ia his blandest tones. ‘‘I wasmadtoo. I didn’t mean to insult the ladies, I’ve the ’ighest respect for ’em. Shake ’ands and no malice.” He put out his hand and Samuels gave it such @ grip that Pierrelli said: ‘Ow! ow! Lain’t a steam engine, man.” And the little episode passed off in a burst of laughter, while Maggie came out and tried her wire act without any notice from the Pierrelli party. As Samuels hel her out of the net she said to him, speaking for the first time in weeks: **I want to thank you for saving my sister's life. Pa hasn’t allowed us tos to you; but we're not so ungrateful as you think.” Samuels felt the lump in his throat ef which he had told Stevens, but he managed to say in a low tone: “‘And I, too,am not quite as mean as you think, e South.” She startei slightly; looked at him closely, and finally said in the same guarded tone: **That’s the second time you've called me by my old name. Whoare you! I don’t remem- ber your face.” He affected to busy himself with the net, as he yee quietly: “If I could see you to talk to, 1 could tell you. Her woman’s wit scented a secret, and she smiled as she said: “‘Pa’s away. To-night. See me home, Can Lil come “*No,” he said firmly. hear what I have to say. *“*Tll come,” she answered; and then tripped away to join Lily, and went home. That was a happy day for Samuels, and bis old mentor noticed his air of abstraction, and quickly divined the cause, ‘*Tt’s a-comin’, boy,” Stevens told him. ** Justice is a comin’, and don’t you forget it. She's all-fired slow, but all-fired sure, too, Samuels hardly heeded him, He had forgot- ten all about justice in love. That afternvon his hand trembled when he teuched Maggie’s and the girl colored and smiled as she looked at bim. In the evening she behaved with a skill and daring he had never seen her exhibit before, and drew thunders of applause on her final dive into the net. As she came out, she smiled and whispered: ‘*T’ll be ready in ten minutes.” He went off to the place where the hands laid their working-clothes, and, for the first time in his career in the show, took off his rough gar- ments, and showed a quiet, dark suit under it, such as he only wore on Sundays. Then he went to the entrance, and waited till she came out of the dressing-room. Presently she came forth, in a sealskin jacket and silk dress, her little feet incased in pretty T'll come alone. ‘You alone can boots, a bright bonnet on her head, looking iquante and pretty, as be had never seen her in the show. She glanced round with an air of disappoint- ment, as if expecting to see some one, for she did not ize in the tall, trim-looking young manin the doorway, the slouching, burly figure of Samuels, No one else was in the entranceway; but it was not till he turned his face toward ber that she knew him. Then she flushed scarlet, turned white again, and it was with an air of timidity that she came forward toward him. He stood up, raised his hat—a new one—very politely, and said to her: 23 ‘May I dare to offer my arm, Miss M She ran hers into his withouta word, and they ararpee out into the darkness. n he felt ber to be trembling excessively, and he was nearly as bad himself. At last he began in a low tone: ‘‘[ beg your pardon for being so mean as te listen that cay [I’ve felt ashamed cf myself ever since. ou were right to despise me, I know you have a perfect contempt for me.” ‘**Oh, no, I haven't,” she answered, very low. f ag sure you always—always treated us— w Sates Here she stopped, and seemed about to cry, when be went on rapidly: “You mean respect? I hepe so. I don't kpow much of women. I don’t even remember my mother. I never had a sister. But, oh aggie South, I have felt so mean since day, to think you despised me. 1 wanted to see you to beg your pardon, to ask you to forgive me for spying on you—” “Not on me,” she interrupted, gravely, ber trembling van ‘‘on Lily. It’s her pardos ou ought to oe ou beard her insulted—oh Don be stung her! And you never punished im. ‘*Do you want me to punish him?” asked the young man, eagerly. ‘Say the word, and I'll go back now and do it before them all, in the roiddle of the ring.” ‘“No, no, no,” she exclaimed, hurriedly, clutching his arm hard, ‘Don’t think of i He’s only a poor creature. He didn’t know any better.” ‘*So I thought,” replied Samuels, quietly, ‘‘ Besides, I don’t want to take away a man's living when he ros No on his body for it.” ‘“Who are you!” suddenly asked Maggie at this juncture. ‘‘ You epeak differently from what you doin the show; you look quite dif- ferent; you know my name. Who are you?” ‘‘A man,” he said, in a low tone, “ who stays in a menial position for love of you.” Instantly she withdrew her arm, saying: ‘Sir, we are alone. I have trusted to your honor. No more in that tone, or I leave you.” He drew himself up. ** As you please, Maggie South. Ifit bean in- sult to say that 1 love you, I cannot recall it; but I can ask pardon, and promise to say it no more. ‘* See that vr keep your promise,” she said, in a tone of gentler meaning, taking his arm again. ‘‘ Remember you're astranger. I don’t know who you are— ‘“*T know you,” he interrupted. ‘ I remem- bered your face, after twenty years, and when I saw the scur I was certain.’ ‘* What scarf” she asked, puzzled. ‘“ Ah, you've forgotten it,” he said, in a sad, musing tone. ‘It’s like you to forget it. You always forgot yourself, Maggie. But I shall never forget it, for I made it, and I’ve loved you ever since that day.” The girl walked on, as if musing toe. ‘“*IT don’t remember,” she said. ‘‘ I—I—twen- ty years ago, you say?! Why, I was a little bit ¥ a child then, And you—how old are you eh ia years older than you, Maggie,” he said. ‘* Do you remember France?” She shuddered slightly. **'Yes, yes. Don’t recall that. I had a bad fall there once, in Lyons.” *Howf Lyons? I didn’t know,” he said. recs was about eleven,” she replied in a low ne. % I n on the wire at seven, and they put me on the trapeze afterward, with two French boys. One of them was jealous of me, for get- ting applause, when he was a better performer: and one night he let me fall on purpose. couldn’t go on again for a year, till pa found me, and began to train me for this act, Did you know me then?” ta he anew page ‘not then, but ong ore. Tell me, who was yo teacher?’ nes ri irs that I eae mii animation. ‘“‘It was dear old Uncle Char] Chase: I'll never forget him. He was the best and kindest teacher, I ever had. And little Sam too! What a tty boy he was, in his Cupid act! But such a temper! Did you ever know him?” A year companion answered, with another ques- ** Do you remember, the wire, and you cu of broken tea-cup?’ She opened her eyes wide, and he could see ne Did het” Poss id he oor little fellow! he didn’t mean it, if be did. He was such a darling, with all his tem r. It was over in a minute.” And you’ve forgotten all about it?’ he ask- edin a trembling tone. ‘ Don’t you remember, dear? It wasin the old stri practice tent, And how he thought he’d ed you, and how he kissed ra the blood, and how yon pre- mised not to tell, and said that you fell your- self. Don’t you remember it, Maggie Souther" Maggie looked up as if the light broke in on her d as he spoke. she replied with when he pushed you off your forehead om a piece Ebooks (E(0)