Beadle's Dime Library, No. 406 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

le neg ———— ———<—- eee ee Cee ee If you merely want to get the girl, I'll help you cheerfully—” ‘* Will you?” interrupted Leonard, in a trance of delight. ‘‘How? How?” ‘‘How? Simply by going over in a busi- ness way to see her, and telling her she's a fool to throw away a chance of establishing herself in life, that’s all,” replied the old sen- sualist, coolly. ‘‘The girl would be a fool to reject it. But you'll have to come down, you know. She’s worth a hundred dollars a week in any show in America.” Leonard’s eyes rolled up in horror. ‘*Good Heavens!” he ejaculated. ‘‘ A hun- dred collars a week? Why, that’s five thou- sand dollars a year, man.” Taylor grinned, ‘‘ What of that? It’s not guztethat, for the season’s Only forty weeks. But if you’ll set- tle that on her, for a certainty, ’ve no doubt all her friends will advise her to take it, when she can get it without risking her neck twice a day to do so.” Leonard shook his head resolutely. ‘‘No, by Jove, that’s too stiff. I wouldn't mind going fifty a week, you know, for a year or two; but, hang it, four thousand a year, just to get a girlwho rides well to go out with a fellow! Oh, no, no! Stone’s right, by Jove. It’scheaper to follow his way, you know.” Taylor shrugged his shoulders. He was a sensualist who had not hesitated to give the most immoral advice, but like most men who are sensual by bodily temperament, he im- agined himself virtuous when he came on one of his few scruples, and he had a great contempt for anything like parsinomy, being a spendthrift by habit and inclination. ‘‘Very well, gentlemen,” he said, rising, ‘‘you can consider my services at an end, and I’ll make you a present of this week’s salary. You got yourselves into this scrape by not being frank with me in the first in- stance. Now get out as you please. Good- day.” And he rose to go. CHAPTER XXVIII. A GREAT TEMPTATION. Tre threat of abandonment brought Leon- ard to terms at once, and he jumped up to detain Taylor, urging for a little time to con- sider, The wily old agent had made the threat on purpose to secure a compromise, and he suc- ceeded at last. Stone and Leonard agreed to leave the show and keep out of sight on account of the scandal their presence created, and Taylor guaranteed to hush matters up and drive Pop Hicks to the wall for them. His condition was that his salary should be doubled, and his allowance for expenses be made large enough to cover all the bribery he foresaw he would have to resort to Leonard, who was, as Taylor had found, mean in the midst of all his lavish and waste- ful expenditure, ‘‘ kicked” for a long time against the agreement, but finally consented, and wrote the letter that Taylor demanded before he would stir in the matter. Then the veteran set to work with all the skill of which he had become master in twenty years’ show experience,’ to get Bownsse cut of the slough of despond in which he had been cast so utterly unexpected- ly, and to rehabilitate the ‘‘Show of all Shows” in the public eye. The four-in-hand publicly left Quarry Center that very afternoon; and the evening avers contained a card from ‘‘G. B. Bownsse, anager,” couched in a strain of virtue that Was positively ascetic, in which the noble- hearted G. B. B. stated that: “Having discovered when too late the character of his wicked associates, he had dissolved partner- ship with them forthwith, at a cost of thousands of dollar preferring an honest crust to the most luxu- rious fare that gilded iniquity could provide; and lamenting the fact that his easy and trustful nature, inherited from a long line of religious ancestors in the town of Eastport, Maine, had rendered him so liable to imposition from men whose respectability wa vouched for by the Governor of the State him- self. Taylor and Bownsse chuckled over the card as it went into the papers, for the Bowery manager had recovered his spirits as soon as Stone left, and reflected that so far in the campaign, he had actually made some money, and had been advertised on other Old Pop Hick — ee ee ——— — ee men’s cash to an extent he never could have accomplished by himself. And the money was still to come in, as he reflected, while all the advantage that would accrue from the fight was to belong to G.B. B., and the losses were certain to fall to Stone and Leonard, as men not in the business, and therefore to be fleeced at all hazards. The publication of the card had a decided- ly good effect. It came out in the evening papers, anil Bownsse had about half a house, not unfavorably disposed. Taylor put in his work well, and, for a man of his weight and inactive habits, per- formed wonders for the next week, during which the ‘‘Show of all Shows” managed nearly to clear itself thcugh not making any money. But Bownsse saw plainly that his rival was in hardly any better plight after the first burst of sympathy was over, and Pop Hicks had no such backers as he had, in the men with whom a feeling of revenge for slights and eagerness to win were about equally mingled. So the shows went on their way through the Pennsylvania towns, to the borders of Maryiand, when little Moone met his re- doubtable antagonist, Taylor, for the first time on their trip since the young man had fooled the old one. He expected to meet with anger and even with violence, for his puny little frame, worn out with work and anxiety, made him un- usually nervous that day; but, to his surprise, the other greeted him with a cordiality that overwhelmed and awed the shabby little man, who saw in Taylor only the greatest of advance men, whose word could make or unmake him in many different ways. The older man shook hands with him, congratulated him on the ‘‘ splendid way, by Jove, sir, in which you handled that affair. It did you honor and shows you have ¢édeas, sir, ideas, a thing very few men have, sir. I bear you no malice, for I lied to you, and deserved all I got.” ‘““And why did you lie to me?” asked Moone. Taylor hesitated. ‘To tell the truth, my dear boy, I was really and truly ashamed to sign my name as the agent of a little concern like that, and I was not known in those small towns; so I a concealed my name and took my mother’s, 3ut I tell you what it is, you ought not, with your talents, to be slaving for old Pop Hicks. He’s a good enough, old fellow; but close, sir, close as they make’em. Why don’t you come over toour side? I can get you in at treble your present salary, at once.” Moone trembled all over. He had a little family at home who took all his slender salary, while he lived on the expenses he was allowed on the road, not by any means great in the Hicks show. The temptation came to him at a moment when he was particularly weak, for he had begun to see that his efforts were all in vain to lift the show that was followed with such persistent malignity as to render a monetary success impossible. ‘‘Saturday nights” were telling on Pop Hicks, in temper as well as pocket, and the old man had more than once bitterly re- proached him for bringing his daughter’s name into the papers against orders, and, as it had turned out, to only temporary effect. Tom Fowler, the bare-back rider, had been growling for some time about his salary be- ing behind, sometimes as much as half a week, and the whole show was pervaded by an atmosphere of discontent, that comes over the most united bodies in times of financial depression, And here came to Moone in the guise of a big, jolly, Falstaffian individual, the tempter of ease and comfort, offering him a sum that, to the overworked and underpaid agent, seemed to be a colossal fortune. Taylor saw the struggle in his thin face and continued kindly: ‘‘ What's the use of your killing yourself to pay for a dead horse? You may work all you like, and we’re bound to win in the end, I'll not deny that you may carry Hicks on your back a few weeks longer, nay, even to the end of the season; but he’ll go into win- ter quarters without a penny, if he does pull through, which | doubt; and you’ll have the name of having been connected with a losing show.” Moone shivered slightly, but controlled his s, Showman. nn rr tL TC RR RR RR 21 face to its habitual weary calm, to answer, slowly: ‘Mr. Taylor, 1 don’t know what right you have to talk to me in this way. You would: n't break your contract with a man, would you? In our business a man’s word must be held, sacred, or he may as well move out at once.” Taylor shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘ As you please. Very proper, of course. 4 Yes; I'll admit that honor is supposed to gov- ern our transactions in the main, but no man is bound to refuse an offer which will better him in the world.” Moone had recovered his self-control, which had been sorely shaken by the insidi- ous offer of the tempter, and he replied, with perfect coolness: ‘‘I’m not aware that I’ve had any offer yet, Mr. Taylor.” Taylor colored slightly with pleasure, and. asked abruptly: ‘‘ Would you entertain one, if it was made to you at once?” ‘“‘Oertainly, I would,” replied Moone, calmly. “You would?” ‘““Of course | would entertain it. I don’t say I would accept it. That’s a very differ- ent thing.” | ‘* How?” asked Taylor, suspiciously. Per ‘“‘T mean, it would depend on the natureof the offer.” | The old agent looked relieved. ‘*T see, I see. Very proper to be prudent. But you’d entertain it and, even if you re- fused it, the matter would remain in confi- fidence between us?”’ “T don’t say that, either,” returned © Moone, quietly. ‘* I wouldn’t deal with you — alone.” Taylor flushed angrily. “Why not, why not?” ee Moone smiled serenely. dad ‘* Because you’re not the party that would)” be responsible for the offer. That’s plain, 1 hope. You're making me an offer tobuy my services. If I sell, I must be certain of — my money, and you know you are not pecu-. niarily respousible.”’ The old agent laughed. He did not seem . — to be in the least offended by the littleman’s © frankness. "aims “You’re quite right, Moone. I spend all I get, and more, tco. But suppose I brin iss, you a definite offer from good and responsi- ble parties, how then?” aa. Moone pursed up his lips. 8 ‘*It must be in writing, from a party of known responsibility, before I can look at it. I don’t trust Bownsse. You don’t your- self, or I’m mistaken in you.” ae Taylor evaded the point. a . ‘You're a smart little guy, Moone, but that’s none of your business. All you want to know is that your) money is safe. — Isn’t that so?” 152 ye ‘Not entirely.” oe “Why not?” tS eae “| must know who’s going to pay it.” ‘ ‘*] shall.” a ‘‘Then I’ve nothing to say bat good-even- __ ing, Mr. Taylor.” Ts And the little man rose to go off, when ~ Taylor caught his sleeve and pulled him ~— down, half-forcibly, half-jocularly, sayingas he did so: 2 ‘“‘Confound it all, Moone, I like youl — There’s the right stuff im you, and I’m going to hire you for my assistant. I’m gettingtoo old and stout to work asl used. T’'lltell you what I'll do with you.” yum He paused awhile, as if to collect his thoughts, and went on slowly: mae fo “Il bring you a written offer from a re- sponsible party, with a certified check fora quarter’s salary, at forty-five dollarsa week, if you'll promise to say yes or no when you ~~ receive it. There! isthatfairenough?”’ | — Moone nodded. Y ae ‘Perfectly fair, but I shall requirea day. to think over it.” ca “You can’t have it. I'll hours. Is that a bargain?” oa Moone bowed his head. | ac? _~ ae @ - oo give you three Re ' x “Tt is. When will you bring the offer to me, and where?” OL A ‘To-morrow, at Charlestown. Noon.” ~ “It’s a bargain,” said Moone, gravely. — ‘*Good-night, Mr. Taylor.” es He went away and telegraphed at once tc Pop Hicks: | (E(0) econ 4 ‘ nicbooks (E