Beadle's Dime Library, No. 406 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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already. as my face is presentable we'll follow up that show and kill it.” ‘‘ And what am I to do?” asked Leonard, be- wildered at the rapid talk of his friend, who had even forgotten to snuffle in his excitement. ‘‘ Nothing—stop—yes. Your mines are in Coalville. How many men are there in your employ there?” ‘* About fifteen hundred.” **Good. When they strike Coalville, we'll run ’em out, I must find their route and fix it ahead. Let them forget all about it, and some day, when they least expect it, come down on them like lightning out of a clear sky: Then they’ll remember Colden A. Stone, And then, George, you can take your pick of the girls in that show, or I’m a fool.” Perhaps ze are, Mr. Stone. lainy go a long way, but virtue and courage G0 further. We shall see how your plan works after awhile, Money and vil- CHAPTER VII. ON THE ROAD. Por Hrcxs’s show was on the road in North- ern Pennsylvania, moving from Anthracite City to Pittsville Station, after a week of poor business. Pcp had experienced eee before, but never in such a form as it had come on him that rear. : He had run on rival shows, crossing their routes, following or preceding them, and had had his share of the ups and downs of show life, as all showmen have. But this was the first time that a rival had followed bim from stand to stand for a whole week, showing at the same hours, pitching tents opposite to him, flooding the town with one at the same time, making parades on parallel streets and drawing away crowds, so that there was no such thing as a paying house for either party to the controversy. When he started out, that morning, in his old red-wheeled road-cart, with the big piebald horse in front, with Moone on the same seat, to get to Pittsville Station before the show and distribute bills, he wore a very serious face, and as soon as they were alone, ahead, broke out: ‘* Moone, this won’t do; it won’t do.” Moone shrugged his shoulders. ‘**T know that, Mr. Hicks.” ** But what are we going to do, boy? What are we going to do? I’ve been in the show busi- ness forty-five years now, and never saw such a time. Who’s behind Bownsse? Who's behind him? He hasn’t got stamps enough to stand = racket. He’s losing more’n I am, every ay. * He’s losing exactly one third more than you are,” replied Moone, who had a way of makin statements that impressed all show people wit the idea that he was a very deep person. ‘“ I’ve had a man counting the houses, every town, and I know his expenses toa dime, He’s losing just two hundred dollars a day.” ‘* And we've been out ten days,” mused the old showman, ‘‘and I’ve lost twelve hundred Moone, it won’t do. A wet week would cost us five thousand dollars, easy, and I can’t afford to lose it. We've got to compro- mise somehow.” Moone looked at the dash-board intently, but offered no observation, till Pop Hicks continued irritably: ‘“ Why don’t you speak? What's to be done? How are we goiug to get out of this?” Moone turned and looked at him. ‘T’'m only your newspaper man, sir,” he said. ‘“‘Tf you've any orders to give, I'll take them.” Pop Hicks dealt the piebald a sharp cut that sent it off its regular trot, and compressed his lips angrily as the cart bounded forward, “*Can’t you give us your ideas?” he asked. ** Certainly, sir,” replied Moone. + But he said nothing more, and Pop Hicks mi yt out, angrily: : “Give ‘em then, you cold-blooded little sin- ner. What's the use of a little guy like you, if he hasn’t an ideain his head? You can’t ride; you can’t jump; you can’t holler; you can’t do an act worth ten dollars a week. What’s the good of you, if you don’t have ideas? Spit ’em out. What ought we to do?” , Thus urged, little Moone, who justified his employer's epithet, ‘‘ cold-blooded little sinner,” by never potting into a passion, demanded: _*' Am I to understand you are asking my ad- vice as to what we can do to escape a failure _ this season, Mr. Hicks?” —_—— ee ‘Yes, yes, of course. That’s what I said.” ‘Then, sir, I su ou mean to follow it?” Pop Hicks’ turned and stared at him in min- gled surprise and an 3 The old man had all a great acrobat in his day, and was as strong as a horse yet. He changed bis reins to the other hand and caught Moone by the scruff of the neck in his huge paw, saying, with a certain grim playfulness: ‘Look here, you cold-blooded little varmint, if you j me any more of that sauce, blame ine if I don’t pitch you out of the wagon. Fol- low your advice? If it agrees with my own no- tions, and if it’s on Nothing more. Now go co pad, and don’ me any of your games on shaniaod do you advise me to do?” , Old Pop 7 Se. eye. < . Hicks, Showman. vd ‘“‘Look here, Moone,” he said, “ you’re all business, and I don’t quarrel with that. It’s natural for you, L suppose, to see. a story in everything, and make it up for the newspaper guys. But, by gosh, young fellow, 1 want you to understand one thing.” Here his voice sunk to a low and earnest tone, trembling with anger: ‘“My darter’s my darter, and I don’t want her name in no papers as havin’ dudes after her. Celestine’s all right; bokays are all right. Biz is biz. But I don’t want my darter’s name i: use violence toward him, while the pluck in his | every loafer’s mouth, like a song-and-dance-v v- small frame never gave way, except in the | man. Sally rides her act, and that’s the last of presence of a general free fight, when he wisely | it. Write up that, all you like; but 1 don’t got out of the road of larger men, | want no sympathy rackets about Sally. Ycu Pop Hicks looked at him for a moment with a | understand me?” frown, and then burst out in a laugh, and Moone bowed slightly. His cold, calculating slapped his back, crying: little heart was touched in spite of himself at ‘“* There, there, Mooney, make it up. I didn’t | the old man’s delicate pride in bis child, and he mean what I said. What's your advice? I | answered, hurriedly: Moone rearranged his rumpled collar and looked at the dash-board again. ‘* When you choose to ask it in a proper man- ner, 1 1l give it, Mr. Hicks. I’m not your slave, and im willing to take ‘my dismissal to-mor- row. It was his way of treating his big and testy employer, and generally it succeeded to a charm. He was such a puny little fellow, with a pale face and general air of ill-health, that a big man like Pop could not find it in his heart to — never was in such a pickle before. What’s your “All right, sir, all right. Ill attend to it, advice?” But, suppose this Mr. Leonard keeps up his per- ‘“My advice is to get out,” said Moone, | secution. Either we’ve got to go under, or let quietly. le know what the trouble began with. He’s Pop started and frowned fiercely. ‘hind Bownsse, and I feel sure he’s the party “Get out? What d’ye take me for? And | that is supplying him with money. What are have that suoozer, Brownsse, going round, | we to do to fight him?” blowing how he drove Pop Hicks out his own | Pop Hicks sighed heavily. route, that he’s head for twenty years? You _ ed if I know, Moone. Darned if I must be sick, Moone,” know. That’s why I want ideas. But, what- ever comes, keep Sally’s name out of the muss, That’s flat.” Moone shook his head. ‘*Not sick yet, Mr. Hicks; but I shall be, if this thing goes on muchlonger. It’s no use my working my life out when this man follows us to every town. [I like to see something come of . my efforts, but this circuit isn’t big enough to | aN eee hold two shows.” PITTSVILLE STATION was called ‘‘ a good one- ‘*T know that as well as you do, but I’m not | night stand,” on Pop's circuit, and the tents going to get off it for a stranger,” returned Pop, | were duly pitched, while the band-wagon pa- obstinately. ‘* Now then, remember that. | raded the town, and the performers followed in What’s your advice if I say 1 can’t get out?” pairs for the edification of the gaping country- Moone considered awhile. men who crowded into town. ‘Then you. must run the other man out, and But, just as Pop had foreseen, when he en- the longest purse wins. You know that af well | tered town with Moone and began to shoot his as I do, sir.” ‘* flyers” and ‘* dodgers ” through the air wher- Pop Hicks nodded. ever he saw a crowd, Bownsse’s man entered “Yes, I know that, and I know Bownsse. | with him, comin by another road, and He’s well fixed; but I’ve as much as he has. | Bownsse’s band made the streets echo, interfer- That ain’tit. There’s some one behind him | ing with his own band and distracting the at- now. Who is it?’ tention of the ‘‘ guys,” as he had done before, Moone favored his employer with a blandly The old showman fumed and fretted; but lit- innocent look. tle Moone, who sat beside him, said nothing,_ ‘* How can J tell, if you can’t, Mr. Hicks?” though he watched every face around them. Pop Hicks gave the piebald another cut, and At last he pulled Pop’s sleeve and whispered, said fretfully: in a guarded tone: ‘Never mind. I thought you could. You're “There they are. 1 knew it.” such a sly little guy. Never mind.” ‘Who, who?’ asked Pop, irritably. Moone looked up at his employer once more ‘“The mashers we put out. There’s the main to say: guy himself in the English box drag, or break, ** ve an idea, if that will help you.” ** What is it, what is it?” ‘*T think it’s that man you put out of the show at Popokus, for queering Celestine’s act. _ Moone never took liberties, though on famil- lar terms with his employer, and always spoke CHAPTER VIII. man that Noble knocked.” ‘““ Noble? Noble? who’s Noble?’ asked Pop, in his quick, nervous way. ‘*The beast man in Bownsse’s show. Didn't you know it?” ‘* Know what?’ of Sally Hicks by her ring name only. ‘That he helped us in the muss at Popokus, Pop Hicks nodded thoughtfully. when the girls screamed?” | ‘*T thought as much. ho is he?” Pop shook his head. The matter had been ‘* A rich mine-owner called Leonard.” ‘* Where are his mines?” **Tn Coalville.” Pop Hicks whistled. “Soll! The dickens!” Then he drove on silently for some little dis- tance further, till at last he said: ‘* Moone!” ey eh ees”. - “ Coalville’s my best holt on this circuit.” ‘*T know it, sir.” ‘“* Made two thousand clear, last year, in it, and the men swear by Sally.” ** Yes, sir.” ‘‘*Hem! Hem!” There was another short silence, and the old man burst out: ‘*Consarn the luck! I’m blowed to smash if I rig that place. It’s worth more’n all the rest. ‘You may have to drop it, Mr. Hicks.” kept from him, and he had been too busy in the fight himself to take any notice of side es. ‘“No. I never heard of it, Girl’s screamed? What about?” 2 “I don’t know, except that those dudes, while the row went on in front, tried to scare the girls at the back of the tent: and this Noble went for ’em and knocked ’em stiff.” Pop Hicks looked thoughtful. ‘“No, I didn’t know it. I know they helped us at last, when the townies hit one of their men. I'd have done the same for them. No showman can go back on the old cry, ‘ Hey, Rube? But say, Moone—” en; ee.” : ‘*That Noble must be a decent boy. If his folks are like him, we might patch up a peace.” Moone shook his head. **Look out yonder at that black drag, and “True, true. Don’t deny it. If their boss is | you'll see why we can’t make any peace, Mr such a mean skunk as to order the men to stay | Hicks. That’s the man that’s behind Bownsse.” away, they won’t dare to come. I know that, ‘*And there’s Bownsse, too,” muttered Pop. “Cheek by jowl with the solid guys.” He saw ahead of him the well-known yellow road-coat of Mr. G. B. Bownsse; with the man- ager of the ** Show of all Shows,” het in hand, bowing to the people; while, side by pics, ove his vehicle, was a stylish English break, with four iron-gray horses with silver-plated harness; a smart groom in the rumble, and a pair of fashionably dressed gentlemen on the box. The driver was dark, and the man beside him was fair; otherwise they were dressed alike, well enough.” ‘‘That’s not all, sir.” ‘¢ Why, what do you mean?” ‘* Suppose they raise a rumpus like the Popo- kus people did?” _ Pop stirred uneasily in his seat. “ Why should they do that? We never had a muss with them. They like us.” ‘* But, as you said, if their boss orders a muss, there’s fifteen or sixteen hundred hard cases, with picks and shovels, to go through this show, and that will cost more than if we drop the | and looked very much alike: while the drag be- town,” : hind them was full of gay bloods of the same The old showman nodded. kind as themselves. All were smoking cigars: all looked rakish and rich; and the people on the sidewalks stared at them more at Bownsse’s road though that was made on purpose to attract. But the feature that ck Pop with most force was, that the ultra rich party was evi- dently on familiar terms with the Bownsse par- ty, and that the occupants of the drag exchang- **There’s reason in that,” ‘* And more than that, too, sir.” «Tf we work it right we work it right, we may get up a sym- — racket about Celestine’s S etasoutiot by he dudes—” Be Peer turned and looked at Moone for the first time with real severity. mr TT LR = boo or whatever they call it, and the other’s the — ‘EoOmic Sn = a