Beadle's Dime Library, No. 406 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

a et . _ i a ae 2 a ai io - oe” %y : iy ¥ 5 a Old Pop a eS a ge ae — - Aas ! not leave the carcass of the pony, while it would not be safe for any one, even himself, to go near them while they were feeding, till they were quite satiated with blood and flesh. Elephant Jim looked dazed and stupid. He saw Lion Charley, saw the menin the show, and seemed not to understand where he was, now that quiet was restored. ‘‘Where’s Bownsse?” he asked, vaguely looking around him at the men. ‘* You’re not in Bownsse’s show,” said Pop Hicks, who had just come upon the scene, ‘This is my show, Jim Perkins, and God forgive you for this night’s work.” ‘Not Bownsse’s show? My God, then where am I? Howcame Philip here? My God, Pop, have I got’em at last?” ‘*Got what? The jim-jams?” asked Pop, excitedly. ‘‘My gum, you ought to have ‘em, and go and bu’st your darned brains out ona rock! Look what you’ve done, arter all I’ve done for you, Jim! You’ve ruined me in one night.” Indeed, so it seemed, from the looks of what was left of the show. Wagons and vans overturned and broken; the lions and tigers loose; the interior of the tent a scene of hideous confusion, when they entered it, avoiding the group of beasts; and, in the midst of all, the cage of monkeys, all smashed to bits by King Philip, the poor little creatures trampled to a jelly in the ruins of their house by the malicious monster, No wonder Pop Hicks, in his desperation, cried aloud to Jim Perkins: ‘God in heaven forgive you for what you've done, Jim, for I'll never, never for- give you! Go! go! I’m ruined!” Elephant Jim seemed to be sobered by the sight, for he ceased to look wild, and said, apologetically : ‘* No, Pop, by gosh! ye ain’t ruined at all, as long as I’m alive. I had no hand in this; I swear it.” ‘‘How dd you come here, then?” cried Pop, still more excitedly, for he thought Jim was adding insult to injury. ‘‘ Your show left the place four hours ago—yes— five—and here you are back with your cursed elephant smashing things for me, as if it wasn't enough you’d sold oat to the other show at the beginning of the season. By gum! Jim Perkins, hangin’s too good for you! You ought to be thrown to them easts!”’ Jim looked round him stupidly. ‘*My show gone! Then who druv Philip here? l’ve been abed since—here, Noble— you know where I was. I leave it to you.” Lion Charley, in his even, passionless tones, replied at once: ‘‘ Certainly I know where you were. You were dead drunk at noon to-day, and I put you to bed in the hotel myself. You lay down in your clothes, and it was I roused you when we heard the muss,” Here one of the men uttered aciy of sur- prise. s ‘“Then who in blazes performed King Philip? for he was on afternoon and even- 1D ann Fim uttered a perfect shriek of rage. “Handled my elephant! Show me the man and I'll pound the life out of him! CHAPTER XXXV. CAGING THE LIONS. Proressor Rapperrs here raised his voice: ‘1 can tell you that, I think.” _ Everybody looked at the little ringmaster in surprise, and Pop asked: ae ou? Why, what do you know abou Pee urged, os little professor told his is usua i "1 ora ding od wenine: grandiloquent way, con ‘‘He was a large man, but not as big as you, Mr. Perkins. He had on your ring- dress of green and gold, and Bownsse's cart was waiting for him behind, driven by Tom Pride. I recognized his face. Who the other man was | don’t know, but he drove the ele- phant down to this show, sir, yes, down to this show, And when I shouted for help, sir, he ran at me to kill me—yes, sir, to kill me, I conscientiously believe. And when this trouble was at its hight, sir, he fled—yes, sir, fled like a coward. But I can swear to _ << at ‘ei EL LE =< CC LL LLL LC his face in any court, sir, though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him before. But | think I have—yes, sir, I think I have.” Here Lion Charley asked, in his quiet way: ‘Where do youthink you've seen him?” Rabbetts hesitated. ‘*] don’t know—I’m not sure; but I think it is the same man that was put out of our show at Popokus for raising a disturbance.” Jim Perkins had been listening hungrily, and now he burst into a yell: ‘“That man! Gosh darn his ugly picter, I'll fix him for it.” ‘Then go and do it, and don’t talk about it,” interposed Lion Charley, quietly. ‘* It’s the same man, and his name’s Stone.” Jim looked round him in despair for a mo- ment, muttering: “And I’mallalone here. Who'll help me catch King Philip?” ‘‘Telp me cage my beasts, and we'll all help you,” answered Lion Charley. ‘‘ Now's your time, Jim, to show what you’re made of. Your brute did the mischief. You're the may to help.” Jim’s only answer was: ‘Give your orders. I ain’t used to this kind of beast, but you know your business.” Lion Charley held out his hand. ‘Do as I tell you, and [ll say you're a man. Let’s see to the cages first.” They hunted up the remnants of the big cage, and found it less damaged than they had expected. King Philip, in his charge, had upset it, and burst the doors open, but beyond that it was still safe to hold the beasts. They dragged it outside as near to the ani- mals as they dared, the bright moonlight as- sisting them very materially in their work, | The cage containing the tigress and her cubs had escaped, and they found the two leopards hiding under the broken seats in a corner of the tent, not daring to go out and join the larger beasts, though they crept as close as they thought safe, and eyed the feast hungrily. Lion Charley called all hands to form a great circle, impressing the services of the hundreds of townspeople who had come flocking out of their beds, attracted by the noise. He instructed them to remain quiet, unless the beasts approached them, when they were to shout together in chorus and frighten them back. : Then he lighted his furnaces and heated a large quantity of irons, after which he or- dered the cage to be backed close to the animals, By this time the unfortunate pony was al- most devoured, and several of the animals were standing still, glaring around them and licking their chops. ‘* Now’s the time,” said the lion-tamer in low voice to Jim. ‘‘Comeon, and do as 1 0.” The two men took up one of the little fur- naces by the long handles, each carrying one of the glowing irons in his other hand, and carried the apparatus boldly toward the lions and tigers. They were allowed to get within nearly forty feet, when one of the tigers, still unsa- tiated, made a snarling rush toward them, open-mouthed. ‘Drop it,” said Charley, quietly. . In half a second the furnace was down, and both men faced the tiger, an iron in each hand. ‘* Back, sir, back!” commanded the lion- tamer, in cold, even tones, ‘‘ Into the cage, sir, quick!” The tiger paused in its rush, to crouch for a spring, when Lion Charley, quick as a flash, ran in and planted both irons on the beast’s nose. With a howl of fear and pain the tiger turned and ran, with the instinct of long training, to the only place of refuge it knew —the open cage. ‘‘Charge!” cried Charley. ‘‘ Back! back, into the cage, all of you! In! in!” Elephant Jim kept with him, pace by pace, as they charged the collection of brutes that had looked so formidable but a moment before; and, to the awe of the amazed towns- people, who stood looking on afar off, came a chorus of growls and yells, as the whole mob, like a flock of sheep, turned and hud- dled into the cage, following the demoraliz- Hicks, Showman. rr a eC —.00— S00 OTT aeaeeO 8» Se S—eeeSes——“<_é‘_ lane ot ed tiger, and crowding over each other, in their eagerness to escape the red-hot irons. A moment later Lion Charley had pulled to the door, and passed a chain securely | round the bars to replace the broken fasten- ing. Then he turned and called out: ‘* Bring the spare cage for the leopards. Let them go at what’s left of the meat. They won’t leave it.” His prophecy proved true. No sooner were the big beasts caged than the two leop- ards came gliding out like snakes from their hiding-place and fell on the remnants of the ¢- feast with an avidity that showed how bhun- , ery they were. he spare cage—a small affair, used in shifting the animals—was brought out after a while, and rolled near to the leopards, which immediately began to drag away their pieces, : as if they feared to be robbed, snarling all ae the while but evidently afraid. 7 Then the door was thrown open, and Lion Charley, manifesting no haste or excitement, picked up the remnants of the unfortunate pony that the leopards had left, and threw them ostentatiously into the open cage, so the: beasts could see it. Then he said to Jim: ‘Come onand let’s drive them in. They’re- slippery. Head ’em off if they start to run from you. Fresh irons.” th The two men separated and maneuvered. > Sal exactly as if they were trying to drive two : skittish colts through a gate. pi The leopards, small as they were, proved more troublesome than the big beasts, the more so that the cage was strange to them: but after a half-hour’s active work they were safely housed at last, and Lion Charley said to Pop: jee ‘* Now, Mr. Hicks, if you'll attend to the — repairs here, Jim and I will hunt up the stock and bring it back. This show’s nob dead yet; and let me tell you one thing, be~ fore the boys: I never wentoutwithashow yet that didn’t clear itself and come into uarters at last with a clear profitinthe box. his night V’ll show you Lion Charleys luck!” . a 7e CHAPTER XXXVI. ee CONCLUSION. + 2 Lion CHARLEY and Elephant Jim left the — aa show at once, while Pop Hicks was mourn- fully turning his attention to repairing dam- ages, and took their way to the hotel. gt Out of all the circus stock only one horse remained, the stout piebald that traveled in the road-cart, and that was safe simply be- cause it had been put up at the hotel stable. The two men got out the cart, harnessed up the piebald and drove back past the tent, On where they found every one hard at work, — with the cheerful resignation to disaster common among showmen, repairing dam- ages and packing up to move though they had no teams to draw the wagons. > They had almost passed it when they ae heard some one behind them call out: fe ‘*Hi! hi! Charley! oh, Charley!” eo ‘Looking round Elephant Jim exclaimed: ‘Gosh darn my skin! if it ain't Sally Hicks and Flirt. Well, I'm glad the mare warn’t in the muss, too.” a It was Sally herself, and she galloped up to = hurriedly: ut ae “1 couldn’t stay behind. Pa didn’t see — me, I guess; he’s so busy. You'll want alk — you can get.” iia Lion Charley shook his head. eee We don’t want you. This is dangerous work, Miss Sally. You'd better go back.” **T won't go back,” said the girl, obstinate- ly. ‘‘I couldn’t stand it at the hotel any ~ more when I heard what was goingon. Tom + ae 2) i Fowler’s saved hissecond ring horseand hell = be after me very soon. I tell you, you’llwant all youcan get. Here hecomes. Weain’t | dead yet in this show. Cheer up.” a Her tone was so pleasant and jolly, her gayety so contagious that Lion Charley could not resist a smile as he answered: (a ‘‘ Well, if you will, I suppose you must. But let Tom do the coaxing. Wecan’tafford — to lose you.” se ae Here the clatter of hoofs announced the coming of Tom Fowler, the bareback’ rider, Ss Me who came up to say as he passed: ) ‘es “‘T'll go ahead and find Philip, That’s the first, ain’t it, Jim?” we “Yes,” answered Jim, gloomily, 'ef ye 4 Se OI, (E| (0 Ko) com