Evening journal. [volume], April 01, 1907, Image 6

About Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932

Image provided by: University of Delaware Library, Newark, DE

                
THE EVENING JOURNAL.
■Mi
Gold and the Guinea's Stamp
By
LEO CRANE
Copyright, tfoy, hy ftnui H. McKtt.
COTTY had the last draw from the yards,
and when the gilded don containing the only
giraffe In captivity was In Its proper sta
tion. 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 yet
In their eye-corners, stumbled across the "lot," gap
ing amid eagerness. From the far fields, seeming
to leap out of a bank of mist which had taken ref
uge 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 cheats to find his clean blue shirt. Soon
he appeared from the dressing tent transformed.
His hair was brushed, his face was perfectly clean
and red from scrubbing, he wore a suit of checks
s
/«a
s.
'■>
\il72
nil $
|M
*
j
a
i'l ?
m
<5
V
a O. Vfrll
'■ >j
4 VJ, "C ;
which had once been silver until tho browns
rebelled and reclaimed Hi and he conspicuously
exposed the bosom of tho shirt of blue. Scotty did
not wear a collar. That was a luxury in advance
of the show business. Only the owner, tho press
agent and the double-roll acrobats wore collars
(oven on- Sunday), and these were people out of
Scotty's class.
He lounged over to the entrance of tho women's
( tent, where a moment before ho had seen Mother
\ Belle, who had charge of wardrobe mending,
ydother Bello often relaxed the dignity assumed
with that Important post, remembering the days
When she had been the wife of Blevins, tho stable
boss, now dead, and she sometimes noticed the
better of the show hands, always Scotty.
"Morning, mother." said Scotty pleasantly.
"Scotty. 1 do believe you've got on your best
Runday clothes this morning."
"That's what, mother," he replied cheerfully,
feeling In a side pocket for his pipe. Slowly he
commented 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 re
plied. "Better lot than that one on tho Belalr Road,
If 1 can recollect."
."Ain't been on that Belalr Road lot since the
Adam Forepaugh days. You weren't along then,
mother."
"Wasn't t, though?"
"Was you ?
"What did ye think, young man—loopin' th'
loop?"
Scotty laughed, he had finished loading the briar
and sucked at It comfortably.
"I remember. toother-—sure, you was there, all
right—I was j.ikln'. An' there was Benny Jackson,
remember him? The fellow what used to make the
long swing from the middle pole over to a trapeo
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'
ho was sparkin' a glrW— an' to think of It! At half
past nine he was dead, an' me carryln' him outer
the ring. It made me sick, It did. Yes. an' there
wan Davo Oelrlch, he——p"
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
active, 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—bare
back?"
"Pshaw! that's the now girl on your car,
Scotty."
"New girl ?"
"Sure. Marne ain't to be Goddess no more, an
this girl's doing tho part In the 'come-on.' ''
"Well, by Christmas!" said Scotty to himself,
as she neared them, "she's all right."
Now the glove was buttoned and the girl came
up to Mother Belle. "1 heard the bells," she
said. Scotty did not move away, but glanced shyly
at her, noting that she was very pretty, quite tall
and well formed.
"Goln' to church?" asked Mother Bello.
"If you will show me the way," the girl an
swered.
J
Well, well—ward-robin'?"
"That way?" said the girl, looking at him and
noting the faded suiting, the blue shirt not unlike
an engineer's, and the sturdy length of neck Inno
He could
"Scotty, where's the churches?" Inquired the
mistress of the wardrobe, being Ignorant of tem
pies.
"There's a church right over yonder," said
Scotty, removing his pipe and pointing with It coun
tryward. "Calls It St. Ann's, I think—anyway. It's
over there."
cent of adornment. Scotty flushed,
not understand the mild review.
"Yes." he said, again pointing.
Miss."
"Over there.
"Thank you."
She had taken a few steps In the direction Indi
cated. 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 stam
mered.
"No," she replied, coldly critical, surveying him
again. "No—you haven't your collar."
Then she went on, leaving Scotty standing where
he had offered himself. He looked after her; bis
hand crept up stealthily to the band of his shirt,
and be pulled gently, without knowing why, at the
Next Week. "The Vicarious Lovers,
By Emery Pottle .
»
button holding It together. He did not have a col
lar. Scotty, somehow, felt that he was naked.
Scotty was up and about In the very early morn
ing. Ho felt that something must bo done to re
lieve the symptoms of Injured depression which
still afflicted him. Never before had ho known the
abject misery of being collarless.
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 as
sistant In the advertising department at the right
elbow of the grand adjective tosser and bewllderer
of words, Scotty picked as tho 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.
"'Reuse me, old man, but I Jest had to do It.
Ray! what I'm after la one of them"-he fished
Murdoch's collar from the car floor. It was rather
the worse for having been worn a long time wltln
out rests. "That's my desire," said Rcotty. "Ain't
yeh got two?"
Murdoch rubbed his eyes and stared at the other
man as though he doubted the sanity of his propo
sition.
"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. "l've Just got to have a real collar for
the 'come-on.' There ain't no time to waltz down
V
V
Til
Mi
K
*
.<;
V<t
-•n
m
■■
.
■
.
si,
4 fv
jz / A
K
■M
%
A A
V
r
■
VK 4
mm
im
i:
■
V
J' '
P
Mm
Mi*
h
■
V,
l
■* m
S 1 !
i i
-
9i
%
I
hi
iffi
I
&
j**
14*
wed
iff
f
V
M. J,
'à/M
■
V
KjM
ài
•vÄ-r-'V
■s à ^
r- : Ï3
■ : f'v
M j
*
A
9%
Hi
v:
\'S 4
r
V'
wm
c 4 ' *y p
. ÜH
l W
n t
'
*\1
V
■
n.
■ *
V >
j
:
i
«S
-#
.
'7*fi
m
m
i %
m
If V
I f*.
.v
HE DID NOT HAVE A COLLAR. SCOTTY. SOMEHOW. FELT THAT HE WAS NAKED.
to the city."
"What!" yelled Murdoch,
wild beasts—wear a collar!
rules, ain't It?"
"Mebbe so," said Scotty desperately. "But I'm
agoin' to wear one."
Murdoch crawled out from his bed and fished
Into a little locker In tho 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,
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
proportion? were deformed, the buttonholes had
taken refuge In ragged vents, and the whole com
btuatton seemed a mute appeal to be put out of Its
/ misery,
"You! a driver of
Why, It's against the
Many
"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 Jug
gler, with a grin.
"Tie!" sneered the triumphant Scotty,
ain't necessary."
Ho disappeared to array himself.
Tho next morning Scotty, wearing a collar and a
perfectly conscious air which he thought repre
sented disdain, walked Into the large tent where
his team was being harnessed to the great float
wagon. This wagon was a gorgeous affair, tho
mirrored sides of It reflecting light and the bril
liancy of gold. Upon the top, at the four corners,
were low thrones, on which sat four women beau
tifully robed, while In the center of the car's roof
rested a large globe, representing the earth, and
"It
this supported a fifth throne, the seat of the Impe
rious 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
man 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 deter
mined to get killed on circus day. Scotty felt a
groat 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 chewdng
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. Ho
seemed too serious. He had failed to make the
collar connect with the buttons because of tho
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
4£onnerlv he had looked on the parade
as somethin» *o be endured, and hump-shouldered
ho had driven '
route was nui
was all too si Jrt.
gaze of the a< j
self. He ban
himself.
>e Car of the Globe, satisfied If tho
goo long. But this day the route
He saw a new meaning In tho
miring throngs, a triumph for hlm
f -d the ribbons over the backs of his
twelve grays fu magnificent style, swinging them
about ctvncrt with, the precision of a master. Like
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 up
ward, toward something, toward a new life.
• • •
—n w."'
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 him 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 in
sinuations of Jealous people. And Scotty restrained
himself from violent outbreak, adopted an Injured
air and pretended not to count the many grins dec
orating his section of the dining tent.
But Scotty learned after awhile that though a
woman may be caught with a uniform, the simple
addition df a collar to an otherwise mediocre out
fit 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 tho 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,
still carrying his long whip. Mr. Carllno. as he
was billed In giant type, had appeared at the place
of tryst. The girl sat on one of the guy-ropes,
swaying It slightly to and fro. Scotty knew Mr.
Carllno for a faker of the first water, so he held
bis breath and listened.
"Of course, you mean what you say," hesitated
the girl.
Scotty wondered what this nicely shaven devil
had said.
"To be sure," smiled Mr. Garllno, otherwise
Oscar Smith. "We can get away from the show
at the next town, right after the horse act. You
can meet me outside the costume tent and we will
go oft. It will be an easy matter to get a white
tied gentleman to perform. After which we will
surprise these folks by Introducing Mrs. Carllno.
Maybe they'll let you help me la the horse act."
"Won't that be grand!" said the girl.
"Simply Immense," echoed Mr. Carllno.
"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 smirked at every woman ho saw. who plumed
a mustache, and who combed his hair pompadour.
In addition to all this. Sootty knew Mr. Carllno,
alias Oscar Smith, to have a wife In Hagerstown,
which Is an unsuspecting place. And Scotty knew
that Mr Carllno. otherwise Oscar Smith, did not
visit Springfield, Ohio, but always managed to have
Mr. Gambettlna (ln privat» life James O'Leary),
a second knight of the long whip, handle the unex
celled act In that town. Mr. Carllno 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 persons
who learned that Mr. Carllno, 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 wltbln him. Besides, his
own earnest endeavor seemed to have been wasted.
Was It for this that ho had subjected himself to
the slavery of a collar, a mere adornment, a
starched, erect, unbendable method of scientific, tor
ture? 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
nlaht something would happen to Mr. Carllno,
which he. Scotty, would not strain himself trying
to preven£.
"She must be saved If I have to wreck the show,"
said Scotty.
• • •
The next day. the day of vengeance (If vengeance
to he at all accomplished), began passing In a
In the morning there
was a thousand and one things to be performed.
The trlgglng-un of a circus after the first night
does not allow for the scheming of petty vendettas.
There were ropes to be tightened, straw to bo
spread afresh, horses to be rubbed down and fed,
to say nothing of tidying rings and making tho
first minor preparations of that night's exodus,
which Is something greater than any ring act of
the Big Show. Noon had slipped aronnd before
Scotty had had any time In which to think.
In the afternoon, when the show was on again,
Rcottv stowed himself awav In a vacant corner
and worked his fertile brain overtime. Ho saw
the girl go past on her way to take part In tho
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.
Rcotty was In despair,
the animal tent, muttering to himself. Porters,
who helped handle the trained lions, saw him com
ing 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 hut reached him. too."
"It would be too bad If he got loose onct,"
remarked Rcotty.
"Well, I guess." grinned Porters. "He'd Just
'bout rip this town wide open."
Scotty passed on to the den of the big Hon
named Poison. who had the reputation of killing
three men and badly mauling half a dozen more.
Poloon 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
gllmmerlng'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 re
paired to a brilliantly lighted place across the road
way 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 Bing
ham suspiciously.
"Listen. There's a dollar In It for you, Joey.
All von have to do Is stand around Poison's cage
to-night after the horse acL and when I give you
the wave of the hand froth the side flap, why
stir him up a bit. Understand?"
"What's the game?" questioned Bingham doubt
fully. "Won't the boss get wise and make him
self 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 Hon. 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 his
personal reputation on the matter.
was
most alarming: manner.
Put the plot would not shape itself.
He took a walk through
That night Scotty took up his station close to
the place where Mr. Carllno, the famed horseman,
bad promised to meet tho Queen of the Globe Car.
Scotty took numerous peeps through a silt In the
canvas, and each time he noted the dutiful Bing
ham lounging near the cage of tho man-eater.
"It'll go," he said to himself a score of times;
•'It'll go."
Now the horse act was nearing Its finish. Rcotty
saw a shadowy figure approach and he knew It was
the girl. She was a nice girl, too. Scotty again
wondered why Providence had allowed such a girl
to be awav from mother and the farm. Five
minutes Inter a man hurried up. 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. Carllno had pro
vided a carriage for the journey. He waited until
the girl was seated and Mr. Carllno just clamber
ing to tho 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 sounds Issued from the animal
tent These sounds began with a surprised and
agitated roar, as If something had happened sud-J
denly to aggrai ate the sensitive feelings of an 4
unsuspecting brute. But this was only the prelude. I
It was a gentle overture to that which followed. I
Poison was no slouch when It came to emitting s
sound, and he was provoked beyond measure.«
Something had gotten Into his eye and It felt I
weird. A harsh, rasping, growing, awesome series 1
of frantic screams seemed to lift the tent-top. j
They began In the lower register and ascended by ,
quick Jumps, Increasing In volume until the 1m- :
menslty of the crescendo was staggering. There :
seemed to bo no end to It. Et accumulated, and
quadrupled. It was terrifying, thrilling, heroic.
Scotty broke out from the tents and began to
run. The carriage was moving oft at a sharp trot,
the horse feeling a trifle uneasy because of the
uncouth noises In his rear. Scotty tore on, urged I
by a superb burst of sound In which were com
mingled all the rage. Insulted grandeur and pain of
Impotence possessed by the brnte creation. Breath
less, Scotty managed to reach ahd grasp the tail
end of the carriage. He made considerable noise.
Mr. Carllno 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. Carllno. his eyes beginning
to bulge.
"Poison's loose, you fool! Drlvo for your life!"
The girl gave a little nervous cry. Scotty gavo
a good Imitation of physical collapse, speaking
amid gasps and Jolts as the carriage swayed.
"He w'as eatln' the boss as I came outer the tent
—he sure was savage, an'— Drive on! Listen to
him, will yeh! He acted like he was awful hun
gry
"Do you think he will come after us?" whim
pered the Queen.
"He was headin' this way," admitted Scotty re
gretfully. Mr. Carllno uttered an excited oath and
again applied the whip without mercy.
For the next mile Scotty was solely occupied In
remaining fixed to the vehicle. After awhile It
was noticeable that Mr. Carllno 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 tho
fields," suggested Mr. Carllno. "I bèlleve they got
him anyway."
"Yes, I believe they have." said Scotty dryly.
"In fact, Mr. Carllno, they had him all tho 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 trick
ing us, yon-''
"No—only tricking you. not the lady. I don't
trick ladies. You do that. I only brought you out
here for her good. I wanted her to listen while you
told of ypur wife up In Hagerstown."
The Queen of the Globe Car gasped: "His—his
wife!"
"Tell her about your wife, Carllno," snarled
Scotty, reaching for the famed horseman. There
was some little business hero which ended In Mr.
Carllno 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. Carllno was thumped and
»
<
ftp
\
'
\
hi
■'Jfi
mauled. He left Impressions in the face of the
road. Then a pair of vlsellke fingers nipped hla
neck and his face was thrust Into the light of the
carriage lamp. ,
"Going to tell her now?" asked Scotty, grimly.
The Queen was silent. Mr. Carllno blubbered
something through a pair of puffy lips. ....
"Have you a wife In Hagerstown? pointedly
questioned Scotty.
"Yes," spluttered the famous equestrian.
"And ain't your reql name Oscar Smith?"
"Yes." Mr. Carllno gasped with effort.
"I'd be ashamed of It myself," said Scotty, kick
ing him away Into the darkness. The thicket
crashed as If a cow had gone through. Scotty
climbed Into the carriage and picked up the reins
"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 or
the big tent had disappeared. There was a well
regulated 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 yon." she said.
''Why, I'd try my hand on old Poison himself It
ßfZ
A '
n
i A
A
I
ft
I ain't going
I thought It would help you. miss,
to let harm come to you."
Ho 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,
thought of that—hla name.
"I guess—guess I'm just Rcotty." he said tlmfdlv.
He had not