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Webster—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tiny {width: 15%; margin-left: 42.5%; margin-right: 42.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - -.tdr {text-align: right;} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} - - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { - margin-left: 7.5%; - margin-right: 7.5%; -} - - -.bbox {border: 2px solid; padding: 1em;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.gap {padding-left: 5em;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - -.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} -.large {font-size: 125%;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} - - -.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -.figleft { - float: left; - clear: left; - margin-left: 0; - margin-bottom: 1em; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-right: 1em; - padding: 0; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - - -.x-ebookmaker .figleft {float: left;} - -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {display: inline-block; text-align: left;} - -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -.illoright {padding-left: 22em;} - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - padding: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jack the runaway, by Frank V. Webster</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Jack the runaway</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>Or on the road with a circus</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Frank V. Webster</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 30, 2022 [eBook #68413]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David Edwards, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK THE RUNAWAY ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“Jack excelled himself”<br /> - -<span class="illoright"><i>Page <a href="#Page_170">170</a></i></span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt="" /></div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1> -Jack the Runaway</h1> -<p><span class="xlarge">Or<br /> -On the Road with a Circus</span></p> - -<p>BY<br /> -<span class="xlarge">FRANK V. WEBSTER</span><br /> - -AUTHOR OF “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” “THE YOUNG FIREMEN OF LAKEVILLE,”<br /> -“TOM THE TELEPHONE BOY,” “THE NEWSBOY PARTNERS,” ETC.</p> - -<p>ILLUSTRATED</p> - -<p>NEW YORK<br /> -<span class="large">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY</span><br /> -PUBLISHERS</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="bbox"> - -<p class="ph1">BOOKS FOR BOYS</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>By FRANK V. WEBSTER</i></p> - -<p>12mo. Illustrated. Bound in cloth.</p> - - - - -<p>ONLY A FARM BOY, Or Dan Hardy’s Rise in Life</p> - -<p>TOM THE TELEPHONE BOY, Or The Mystery -of a Message</p> - -<p>THE BOY FROM THE RANCH, Or Roy Bradner’s -City Experiences</p> - -<p>THE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER, Or Fred -Stanley’s Trip to Alaska</p> - -<p>BOB THE CASTAWAY, Or The Wreck of the -Eagle</p> - -<p>THE YOUNG FIREMEN OF LAKEVILLE, Or -Herbert Dare’s Pluck</p> - -<p>THE NEWSBOY PARTNERS, Or Who Was Dick -Box?</p> - -<p>THE BOY PILOT OF THE LAKES, Or Nat -Morton’s Perils</p> - -<p>TWO BOY GOLD MINERS, Or Lost in the -Mountains</p> - -<p>JACK THE RUNAWAY, Or On the Road with a -Circus</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Cupples & Leon Co., Publishers, New York</i></p> -</div></div></div></div> - -<p class="center">Copyright, 1909, by<br /> -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY<br /> -<br /> -JACK THE RUNAWAY<br /> -<br /> -Printed in U. S. A.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<table> - - -<tr><td class="tdr"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">I</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Wants a Dollar</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">II</td><td> <span class="smcap">At the Show</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11"> 11</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">III</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Is Punished</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18"> 18</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IV</td><td> <span class="smcap">Disquieting News</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_26"> 26</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">V</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Serious Accusation</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_34"> 34</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VI</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Runs Away</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43"> 43</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VII</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Narrow Escape</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50"> 50</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Side-Door Pullman</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_58"> 58</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IX</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Loses Something</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_66"> 66</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">X</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Fruitless Search</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72"> 72</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XI</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack at the Circus</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81"> 81</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Does a Stunt</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_90"> 90</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Planning an Act</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_100"> 100</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIV</td><td> <span class="smcap">His First Performance</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_106"> 106</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XV</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Has Enemies</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113"> 113</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XVI</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Flying Machine</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_120"> 120</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XVII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack Makes a Hit</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129"> 129</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XVIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Professor Klopper Appears</span>     </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_138"> 138</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIX</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack’s Trick</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145"> 145</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XX</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Treacherous Act</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_152"> 152</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XXI</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Monkey’s Escape</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_161"> 161</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XXII</td><td> <span class="smcap">In a Storm</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_170"> 170</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XXIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Mad Elephant</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180"> 180</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XXIV</td><td> <span class="smcap">Jack’s Bad Fall</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187"> 187</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XXV</td><td> <span class="smcap">Left Behind—Conclusion</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_193"> 193</a></td></tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> - -<p class="ph2">JACK THE RUNAWAY</p> - -<hr class="tiny" /> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br /> - - -<small>JACK WANTS A DOLLAR</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Professor</span>, will you please give me a dollar?” -asked Jack Allen, of the elderly man who sat reading -a book in the library.</p> - -<p>“A dollar, Jack?” and Professor Simonedes -Klopper, who had retired from the position of -mathematical instructor in a large college, to devote -his declining years to study, looked over the -rims of his big glasses at the boy before him. “A -dollar? Why, what in the world do you want of a -dollar, Jack?”</p> - -<p>“I—I want to go to a show,” and Jack rather -hesitated for he was doubtful over the outcome of -his request.</p> - -<p>“A show?” and the professor’s eyes opened so -wide that, seen through the powerful lenses of his -glasses, they reminded Jack of the orbs of a cuttlefish.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span>“Yes, professor. There’s going to be a show -in town to-night, and I’d like to go. All the boys -will be there.”</p> - -<p>“Does it cost a dollar to go to a—er—a performance?”</p> - -<p>“No; not exactly. The tickets are fifty cents, -but I wanted a little extra to treat some of my -chums with.”</p> - -<p>“Treat? Ah, yes, I presume you mean to furnish -some sort of refreshment for your youthful -companions.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. Can I have the money? I haven’t -drawn all my allowance this month.”</p> - -<p>“No; you are correct there. There is still a -balance of two dollars and thirteen cents in your -allowance account for this month, computing the -interest at six per cent. But I shall not give you -the dollar.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Why not? Because I don’t choose to.”</p> - -<p>“My father would, if he was here.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he isn’t here, and I’m in charge of you, -and the money your parents left for your care and -support while they are away. I most certainly -shall not give you a dollar to waste on any such -foolishness as what you term a ‘show’ by which I -apprehend that you mean a performance of some -character.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span>“It’s a vaudeville show,” went on Jack. “It’s -real funny.”</p> - -<p>“Funny!” ejaculated the professor with a snort. -“Fun is a very poor substitute for knowledge, -young man. If you have an evening to spare you -should spend it on your books. You are very backward -in your Latin and mathematics. When I -was your age I used to devote my entire evening -to working out problems in algebra or geometry.”</p> - -<p>“Will you give me fifty cents?” asked Jack -desperately, not wishing to let the professor get -too deep into the matter of study.</p> - -<p>“Fifty cents? What for?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I can go to the show for that, but I -wanted some to treat the boys with. They’ve -bought sodas for me several times, now, and I -want to pay them back.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! That is all the rising generation -thinks of! Having a good time, and eating! No, -Jack, I shall not give you a dollar for any such -purpose. And I will not give you fifty cents. Do -you know that one dollar, put out at six per cent, -will, if the interest be compounded, amount in one -hundred years, to three hundred and forty dollars? -Think of it! Three hundred and forty dollars!”</p> - -<p>“But I don’t expect to live a hundred years, -professor. Besides, it’s my money,” spoke Jack, -with just the least bit of defiance in his tone.</p> - -<p>“It is, to a certain extent,” answered the crusty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> -old professor, “but I am the treasurer and your -guardian. I shall certainly not permit you to -waste your substance in riotous living.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t call it riotous living to go to a vaudeville -show once in a while, and buy an ice cream -soda,” retorted Jack.</p> - -<p>“You know nothing about it; nothing whatever. -Now if you had asked me for a dollar, to buy some -book, that would impart to you useful knowledge, -I would have complied at once. More than this, -I would have helped you select the book. I have -a list of several good ones, that can be purchased -for a dollar.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want any books,” murmured Jack.</p> - -<p>“You shall have no dollar to spend foolishly.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think it’s foolish,” insisted Jack. -“Look here, professor, I’ve been studying hard, -lately. I haven’t had any fun in a good while. -This is the first chance I’ve had to go to a show, -and I think you might let me go. Dad would if -he was here.”</p> - -<p>“You shall not go. I think I know what is best -for you.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’m going anyhow!” burst out Jack. -“I’m not going to stay shut up in the house all the -while! I want a little recreation. If you don’t -give me the dollar, I’ll——”</p> - -<p>“What will you do?” asked the professor -quickly, shutting his book, and standing up.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> -“Don’t you dare to threaten me, young man! -What will you do if I don’t give you the dollar? -I shall write to your father. The postal authorities -must have located him and your mother by -this time, even if they are in China.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you had any word yet?” asked Jack, -a new turn being given to his thoughts.</p> - -<p>“No; and it is very strange. All trace of them -seems to be lost after they left Hong Kong, but -the letters will finally reach them. I shall inform -Mr. Allen of your conduct.”</p> - -<p>“I think he’d say I was right,” murmured Jack.</p> - -<p>“That would make no difference to me,” declared -the professor. “I know my duty and I am -going to do it. But you have not answered my -question. What did you threaten to do if I did -not give you the dollar?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t threaten anything.”</p> - -<p>“You were going to.”</p> - -<p>“I was going to say if you didn’t give me the -dollar I’d go to the show anyhow.”</p> - -<p>“How can you go if you have no money?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll find a way. Please, Professor Klopper, -advance me a dollar from my allowance that dad -left with you for me.”</p> - -<p>“Not one penny for such a frivolous use as -that,” replied the professor firmly. “Now let me -hear no more about it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m going!” fired back Jack. “I’m<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> -bound to see that show, and have a good time once -in a while.”</p> - -<p>“That will do!” cried the professor so sharply -that Jack was startled. “Go to your room at -once. I will deal with you later. I never inflict -any punishment when I am angry, and you have -very nearly made me so. I will attend to your case -later. Go to your room at once!”</p> - -<p>There was no choice but to obey. Slowly Jack -left the library, and mounted the stairs to his own -apartment. His heart was bitter, and he was not -a little worried concerning his father and mother, -for, since Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Allen had -reached China, on their trip around the world, -news had been received that there had been serious -uprisings against the “foreign devils” as the Mongolians -call people not of their race.</p> - -<p>Jack Allen, who was a bright, sturdy youth, of -about sixteen years, lived in the town of Westville, -in one of our Eastern States. He was an only -child, and his parents were well off.</p> - -<p>Mr. Allen was very fond of travel, and so was -his wife, but they had had little chance to gratify -their tastes. A short time before this story opens -Mr. Allen’s firm had some business to transact -abroad, in several countries. Mr. Allen was -offered the chance to go, and, as it was a long-awaited -opportunity he decided to take his wife,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> -and, while they were about it, make a tour of the -world.</p> - -<p>Jack begged hard to be allowed to go, but, as -it would have broken up his schooling, and as his -father wanted him to become an electrical engineer, -he was, much against his will, left at home.</p> - -<p>Jack attended the Westville Academy, and was -one of the best students in that institution. When -his parents decided to make their long trip, they -discussed several plans of having their son taken -care of while they were away. Finally they decided -to send him to live with a former college -instructor, Professor Klopper, who was an eminent -authority on many subjects.</p> - -<p>The professor was a bachelor, and, with an -elderly sister, lived in a somewhat gloomy house -on the outskirts of Westville.</p> - -<p>There Jack had been for about a year, attending -school in the meanwhile.</p> - -<p>He had never liked Professor Klopper, for the -aged man was crabbed and dictatorial, and very -stern when it came to lessons. He made Jack -study more than any other boy who went to the -academy, and was continually examining him at -home, on what he had learned in school. This, -undoubtedly, was good for Jack’s scholarship, but -the boy did not like it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Allen had arranged that the professor -should have complete charge of Jack, and a goodly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -sum had been left with the scientist for the keep -of the boy.</p> - -<p>“Give him a little spending money,” Mr. Allen -had said to the professor, “and see that he does -not waste it.”</p> - -<p>The trouble was that the mathematical mind of -the professor and the more liberal one of Jack’s -father differed as to what a “little spending -money” was, and what was meant by “wasting” it.</p> - -<p>The consequence was that Jack led a very miserable -life with the professor, but he was too manly -a lad to complain, so his letters to his parents said -nothing about the disagreeable side of his sojourn -with the former college teacher.</p> - -<p>But, of late, there had come no letters from Mr. -and Mrs. Allen. Jack’s boyish epistles had not -been replied to, and the professor’s long effusions, -containing precise reports as to his ward’s -progress, were not answered.</p> - -<p>All trace of Mr. and Mrs. Allen was lost when -they got to China, though up to now Jack had not -worried about them, as he realized that mail in -some foreign countries is not as certain as it is in -the United States.</p> - -<p>“Professor Klopper is the meanest old codger -that ever lived!” exclaimed Jack, as he mounted -the stairs to his room. “I wish dad and mother -would come back. It’s been a long time since I’ve -seen them, and things are getting worse here instead<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -of better. The idea of not giving me a -dollar!</p> - -<p>“All the fellows are saying sneering things -about me, too,” he went on, “because I don’t treat -oftener. How can I treat when I don’t get any -money? I’ve a good notion to write to dad, and -tell him about it. If I only knew his exact address -I would, but I’ll have to ask old Klopper, -and then he’ll catch on. No, I suppose I’ve got -to stand it. But I wish I could see that show to-night. -I wonder if I couldn’t raise the money -somehow? I might borrow it—no, that wouldn’t -do. I don’t know when I could pay it back. If I -had something I could sell——”</p> - -<p>He thought a moment, and then an idea came -to him.</p> - -<p>“My catching glove!” he exclaimed. “It’s a -good one yet, and Tom Berwick will give me a -dollar for it. If I play shortstop this summer -I’ll not need it. I’ll sell that.”</p> - -<p>Jack, who had been rather downhearted, felt -better after he had reached this decision. He began -rummaging in a closet that contained various -articles, more or less intimately connected with -boyish sports, and presently withdrew a large, -padded catching glove.</p> - -<p>“It cost seven dollars, just before dad went -away,” he remarked. “It’s worth three now, but -I’ll let Tom have it for a dollar. That will give<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -me enough to go to the show and treat the crowd -I owe sodas to. I’ll do it. I’ll go to the show, -no matter what Klopper says. But I’ve got to -sneak out, for if he sees me he’ll stop me. Most -likely he’ll be reading in the library this evening.”</p> - -<p>Jack knew his temporary guardian would not -make him remain in his room without supper, for -the professor was not needlessly cruel. As the -June afternoon was drawing to a close, Miss -Klopper, the professor’s sister, came to Jack’s -door.</p> - -<p>“Here is your supper,” she said, handing in a -tray, none too well filled. “My brother says you -are to remain in your room until to-morrow morning, -when he hopes you will have repented. I -hope you will, too. Boys are such perverse -creatures.”</p> - -<p>Jack said nothing. He took the tray, for he -was very hungry. But he did not intend to remain -in his room all that evening, when there was -a vaudeville show in town.</p> - -<p>“It won’t be the first time I’ve gotten out of -the window,” thought Jack, when Miss Klopper -had closed the door.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br /> - - -<small>AT THE SHOW</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Jack</span> knew there was little fear of detection, -for, on several other occasions, when he had been -denied the privilege of going out on an evening, -he had climbed from the window of his room, out -on the roof of a low shed, and, by means of the -lightning rod, to the ground. He intended doing -it this time.</p> - -<p>He finished his supper, and wished it had been -larger. But he consoled himself with the reflection -that he could fill the void in his stomach later -with an ice cream soda.</p> - -<p>“Now to get out,” said Jack, as he went to the -door and listened, to see if the professor or his -sister was about. He heard nothing.</p> - -<p>It was a small matter for the boy to get out -of the window. He had wrapped the big catching -glove up in a paper, and he dropped it out of the -casement, so that he might have both hands free -with which to climb down.</p> - -<p>“So far, so good,” he murmured, as he picked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> -up the glove, and started down a rear path to get -beyond the house, when he would strike out for -the village. But, just as he thought he was safe, -he heard some one moving on the other side of a -large lilac bush, and, before he could get out of -the way, he was confronted by Miss Klopper. -She had been out to feed a late supper to a hen -and some little chickens in the lower part of the -garden.</p> - -<p>“Does my brother know you have left your -room?” asked the lady of the house.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” replied Jack.</p> - -<p>That was truthful enough, for Mr. Klopper had -a habit of sneaking up to Jack’s room, to look -through the keyhole, on such occasions as he sent -the lad to his apartment for punishment, and the -crabbed old man might, even now, have discovered -the absence of his ward.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t he tell you to stay in your room?” went -on Miss Klopper.</p> - -<p>“He did, but I don’t want to. It’s too nice out,” -and Jack took in deep breaths of the air, laden -with the sweet scent of roses.</p> - -<p>“You must go back at once,” went on the -spinster.</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to,” replied Jack. “I’m going -to have a good time for once in my life.”</p> - -<p>“I shall tell my brother of your insubordinate -conduct.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>“I don’t care,” fired back Jack, as he hurried -on.</p> - -<p>“What have you in that bundle?” demanded -Miss Klopper, as she saw the package the youth -carried.</p> - -<p>“Something of my own.”</p> - -<p>“I demand to know what it is!”</p> - -<p>“And I’m not going to tell you. It’s mine, and -I have a perfect right to do as I please with my -own things. Suffering cats!” exclaimed Jack -softly. “I wish dad and mom was home,” and, -not caring to have any further discussion with Miss -Klopper, he passed on, before she would have a -chance to summon the professor.</p> - -<p>Jack was a good boy at heart, and he never -would do a mean act, but the professor and his -sister had treated him so harshly, though perhaps -they did not appreciate it, that his spirit rose in -rebellion.</p> - -<p>Life at the professor’s house was becoming intolerable -for Jack. How he wished his parents -would come home. Yet it seemed now, with no -news arriving from them, that it would be several -months more before he could hope to be released -from the guardianship of Mr. Klopper.</p> - -<p>Jack made all haste to the town, from which -the professor’s house was distant about a mile. -He wanted to find Tom, and dispose of the glove -in time to see the show from the start. He knew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -Tom would buy the mitt, for he had often expressed -a wish to purchase it, and Tom usually -had plenty of spending money.</p> - -<p>Passing through the village streets Jack met -several boys he knew.</p> - -<p>“Going to the show?” was the question nearly -every one of them asked of him.</p> - -<p>“Sure,” he replied, as though he had several -dollars in his pockets, with which to buy tickets. -“I’ll meet you there. Seen Tom Berwick?” he -went on.</p> - -<p>“Yep. He’s down in Newton’s drug store buying -sodas.”</p> - -<p>Jack turned his steps thither, and met Tom coming -from the place. Tom was wiping his mouth -in a suggestive manner.</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you see me a minute sooner?” he -asked. “I’d have bought you a soda,” for Tom -was a most generous lad.</p> - -<p>“Wish you had,” replied Jack. “Say, Tom, -want to buy my catching glove?”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with it?” asked Tom -quickly, for he had several times before offered to -purchase the big mitt, only to be met with a refusal. -“Ain’t it any good?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, it’s good!”</p> - -<p>“Then what you want to sell for?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m going to play short this season, and -I don’t need a catching glove. It’s a dandy. Look<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -at it,” and Jack handed it to Tom, having taken -off the paper wrapping when he was out of sight -of the professor’s house.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right,” acknowledged Tom, after a -critical inspection. “How much?”</p> - -<p>“Give me two dollars?”</p> - -<p>Jack had his own ideas about finance.</p> - -<p>“Go on. I will not.”</p> - -<p>“It cost seven.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; two seasons ago. I can get a new one -for three dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Not like that.”</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe not, but good enough.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll let you have it for a dollar and a half,” -went on Jack. “That’s cheap enough.”</p> - -<p>“Give you a dollar,” replied Tom quickly, who -knew how to bargain.</p> - -<p>“All right,” and Jack sighed a little. He had -hoped to get enough to put aside some cash for -future emergencies.</p> - -<p>Tom passed over the dollar. Then he tried on -the glove. It certainly was a good one.</p> - -<p>“Come on in and I’ll treat you to a soda,” he -proposed generously, for he decided that he had -obtained a bargain, and could afford to treat.</p> - -<p>“Going to the show?” asked Tom, as the two -came out of the drug store.</p> - -<p>“Sure. That’s what I sold the glove for.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>“What’s the matter? Don’t your dad send you -any money?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he left some for me, but it’s like pulling -teeth to get it from old Klopper. He wouldn’t -give me even fifty cents to-night, and he sent me -to my room. But I sneaked out, and I’m going -to have some fun.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the way to talk! He’s a regular hard-shell, -ain’t he?”</p> - -<p>“I should say yes! But come on, or maybe we -won’t get a good seat.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I got my ticket,” replied Tom. “Besides, -I want to take this glove home. I’ll see you -there.”</p> - -<p>Jack hastened to the town auditorium, where, -occasionally, traveling theatrical shows played a -one-night stand. There was quite a throng in -front of the box office, and Jack was afraid he -would not get a seat, but he managed to secure -one well down in front.</p> - -<p>The auditorium began to fill up rapidly. Jack -saw many of his chums, and nodded to them. -Then he began to study the program. An announcement -on it caught his eye. It was to the -effect that during the entertainment a chance would -be given to any amateur performers in the -audience to come upon the stage, and show what -they could do in the way of singing, dancing or -in other lines of public entertaining. Prizes would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> -be given for the best act, it was stated; five dollars -for the first, three for the second, and one -for the third.</p> - -<p>“Say,” Jack whispered to Tom, who came in -just then, “going to try for any of those prizes?”</p> - -<p>“Naw,” replied Tom, vigorously chewing gum. -“I can’t do nothin’. Some of the fellows are, -though. Arthur Little is going to recite, and Sam -Parsons is going to do some contortions. Why, -do you want to try?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to.”</p> - -<p>“What can you do?”</p> - -<p>“My clown act,” replied Tom. “I’ve got some -new dancing steps, and maybe I could win a -prize.”</p> - -<p>“Sure you could,” replied Tom generously. -“Go ahead. I’ll clap real loud for you.”</p> - -<p>“Guess I will,” said Jack, breathing a little -faster under the exciting thought of appearing on -a real stage. He had often taken the part of a -clown in shows the boys arranged among themselves, -but this would be different.</p> - -<p>“Ah, there goes the curtain!” exclaimed Tom, -as the orchestra finished playing the introduction, -and there was a murmur all over the auditorium, -as the first number of the vaudeville performance -started.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br /> - - -<small>JACK IS PUNISHED</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> show was a fairly good one, and Jack and -the other boys, as well as older persons in the -audience, enjoyed the various numbers, from the -singing and dancing, to a one-act sketch.</p> - -<p>More than one was anxious, however, for the -time to come when the amateurs would be given -a chance. At length the manager came before the -curtain, and announced that those who wished -might try their talents on the audience.</p> - -<p>Several of the boys began to call for this or that -chum, whom they knew could do some specialty.</p> - -<p>“Give us that whistling stunt, Jimmy!” was one -cry.</p> - -<p>“Hey, Sim; here’s a chance to show how far -you can jump!” cried another.</p> - -<p>“Speak about the boy on the burning deck!” -suggested a third.</p> - -<p>“Now we must have quietness,” declared the -manager. “Those who wish to perform may come -up here, give me their names, and I will announce -them in turn.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>Several lads started for the stage, Jack included. -His chums called good-naturedly after him as he -walked up the aisle.</p> - -<p>“I might as well have all the fun I can to-night,” -thought our hero. “When Professor Klopper -finds out what I’ve done, if he hasn’t already, he’ll -be as mad as two hornets.”</p> - -<p>The boys, and one or two girls, who had stage -aspirations, crowded around the manager, eager -to give in their names.</p> - -<p>“Now, one at a time, please,” advised the theatrical -man. “You’ll each be given a chance. I -may add,” he went on, turning to the audience, -“that the prizes will be awarded by a popular -vote, as manifested by applause. The performer -getting the most applause will be considered to -have won the five dollars, and so with the other -two prizes.”</p> - -<p>The amateurs began. Some of them did very -well, while others only made laughing stocks of -themselves. One of the girls did remarkably well -in reciting a scene from Shakespeare.</p> - -<p>At last it came Jack’s turn. He was a little -nervous as he faced the footlights, and saw such a -large crowd before him. A thousand eyes seemed -focused on him. But he calmed himself with the -thought that it was no worse than doing as he had -often done when taking part in shows that he and -his chums arranged.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>While waiting for his turn Jack had made an -appeal to the property man of the auditorium, -whom he knew quite well. The man, on Jack’s -request, had provided the lad with some white and -red face paint, and Jack had hurriedly made up -as much like a clown as possible, using one of the -dressing-rooms back of the stage for this purpose. -So, when it came his turn to go out, his appearance -was greeted with a burst of applause. He -was the first amateur to “make-up.”</p> - -<p>Jack was, naturally, a rather droll lad, and he -was quite nimble on his feet. He had once been -much impressed by what a clown did in a small -circus, and he had practiced on variations of that -entertainer’s act, until he had a rather queer mixture -of songs, jokes, nimble dancing and acrobatic -steps.</p> - -<p>This he now essayed, with such good effect that -he soon had the audience laughing, and, once that -is accomplished, the rest is comparatively easy for -this class of work on the stage.</p> - -<p>Jack did his best. He went through a lot of -queer evolutions, leaped and danced as if his feet -were on springs, and ended with an odd little verse -and a backward summersault, which brought him -considerable applause.</p> - -<p>“Jack’ll get first prize,” remarked Tom Berwick -to his chums, when they had done applauding -their friend.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>But he did not. The performer after him, a -young lady, who had undoubted talent, by her -manner of singing comic songs, to the accompaniment -of the orchestra, was adjudged to have won -first prize. Jack got second, and he was almost -as well pleased, for the young lady, Miss Mab -Fordworth, was quite a friend of his.</p> - -<p>“Well,” thought Jack, as the manager handed -him the three dollars, “here is where I have spending -money for a week, anyhow. I won’t have to -see the boys turning up their noses because I don’t -treat.”</p> - -<p>The amateur efforts closed the performance, -and, after Jack had washed off the white and red -paint, he joined his chums.</p> - -<p>“Say, Jack,” remarked Tom, “I didn’t know -you could do as well as that.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t, either,” replied Jack. “It was easy -after I got my wind. But I was a bit frightened -at first.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to be on the stage,” observed Tom, -with something of a sigh. “But I can’t do anything -except catch balls. I don’t s’pose that would -take; would it?”</p> - -<p>“It might,” replied Jack good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>“Well, come on, let’s get some sodas,” proposed -Tom. “It was hot in there. I’ll stand -treat.”</p> - -<p>“Seems to me you’re always standing treat,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -spoke Jack, quickly. “I guess it’s my turn, -fellows.”</p> - -<p>“Jack’s spending some of his prize money,” remarked -Charlie Andrews.</p> - -<p>“It’s the first I have had to spend in quite a -while,” was his answer. “Old Klopper holds me -down as close as if he was a miser. I’ll be glad -when my dad comes back.”</p> - -<p>“Where is he now?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p>“Somewhere in China. We can’t find out exactly. -I’m getting a bit worried.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess he’s all right,” observed Charlie. -“But if you’re going to stand treat, come on; I’m -dry.”</p> - -<p>The boys were soon enjoying the sodas, and -Jack was glad that he had the chance to play host, -for it galled him to have to accept the hospitality -of his chums, and not do his share. Now, thanks -to his abilities as a clown, he was able to repay -the favors.</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose I might as well go in the front -door as to crawl in the window,” thought Jack, -as he neared the professor’s house. “He knows -I’m out, for that old maid told him, and he’ll be -waiting for me. I’m in for a lecture, and the -sooner it’s over the better. Oh, dear, but I wish -dad and mom were home!”</p> - -<p>“Well, young man, give an account of yourself,” -said the professor sharply, when Jack came<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -in. Mr. Klopper could never forget that he had -been a teacher, and a severe one at that. His -manner always savored of the classroom, especially -when about to administer a rebuke.</p> - -<p>“I went to the show,” said Jack shortly. “I -told you I was going.”</p> - -<p>“In other words you defied and disobeyed me.”</p> - -<p>“I felt that I had a right to go. I’m not a -baby.”</p> - -<p>“That is no excuse. I shall report your conduct -to your parents. Now another matter. -Where did you get the money to go with?”</p> - -<p>“I—I got it.”</p> - -<p>“Evidently; but I asked you where. The idea -of wasting fifty cents for a silly show! Did you -stop to realize that fifty cents would pay the interest -on ten dollars for a year, at five per cent?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t stop to figure it out, professor.”</p> - -<p>“Of course not. Nor did you stop to think -that for fifty cents you might have bought some -useful book. And you did not stop to consider -that you were disobeying me. I shall attend to -your case. Do you still refuse to tell me where -you got that money?”</p> - -<p>“I—I’d rather not.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, I shall make some inquiries. You -may retire now. I never make up my mind when -I am the least bit angry, and I find myself somewhat -displeased with you at this moment.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span>“Displeased” was a mild way of putting it, Jack -thought.</p> - -<p>“I shall see you in the morning,” went on the -professor. “It is Saturday, and there is no school. -Remain in your room until I come up. I wish -to have a serious talk with you.”</p> - -<p>Jack had no relish for this. It would not be the -first time the professor had had a “serious talk” -with him, for, of late, the old teacher was getting -more and more strict in his treatment of the boy. -Jack was sure his father would not approve of the -professor’s method. But Mr. Allen was far away, -and his son was not likely to see him for some -time.</p> - -<p>But, in spite of what he knew was in store for -him the next morning, Jack slept well, for he was -a healthy youth.</p> - -<p>“I suppose he’ll punish me in some way,” he -said, as he arose, “but he won’t dare do very much, -though he’s been pretty stiff of late.”</p> - -<p>The professor was “pretty stiff” when he came -to Jack’s room to remonstrate with his ward on -what he had done. Jack never remembered such -a lecture as he got that day. Then the former -college instructor ended up with:</p> - -<p>“And, as a punishment, you will keep to your -room to-day and to-morrow. I forbid you to stir -from it, and if I find you trying to sneak out, as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> -you did last night, I shall take stringent measures -to prevent you.”</p> - -<p>The professor was a powerful man, and there -was more than one story of the corporal punishment -he had inflicted on rebellious students.</p> - -<p>“But, professor,” said Jack. “I was going to -have a practice game of baseball with the boys to-day. -The season opens next week, and I’m playing -in a new position. I’ll have to practice!”</p> - -<p>“You will remain in your room all of to-day -and to-morrow,” was all the reply the professor -made, as he strode from Jack’s apartment.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br /> - - -<small>DISQUIETING NEWS</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Well</span>, if this ain’t the meanest thing he’s done -to me yet!” exclaimed Jack, as the door closed on -the retreating form of his crusty guardian. -“This is the limit! The boys expect me to the ball -game, and I can’t get there. That means they’ll -put somebody else in my place, and maybe I’ll have -to be a substitute for the rest of the season. I’ve -a good notion——”</p> - -<p>But so many daring thoughts came into Jack’s -mind that he did not know which one to give utterance -to first.</p> - -<p>“I’ll not stand it,” he declared. “He hasn’t -any right to punish me like this, for what I did. -He had no right to keep me in. I’ll get out the -same way I did before.”</p> - -<p>Jack looked from the window of his room. -Below it, seated on a bench, in the shade of a tree, -was the professor, reading a large book.</p> - -<p>“That way’s blocked,” remarked the boy. -“He’ll stay there all day, working out problems<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -about how much a dollar will amount to if put out -at interest for a thousand years, or else figuring -how long it will take a man to get to Mars if he -traveled at the rate of a thousand miles a minute, -though what in the world good such knowledge -is I can’t see.</p> - -<p>“But I can’t get out while he’s on guard, for he -wouldn’t hesitate to wallop me. And when he -comes in to breakfast his sister will relieve him. -I am certainly up against it!</p> - -<p>“Hold on, though! Maybe he forgot to bolt -the door!”</p> - -<p>It was a vain hope. Though Jack had not -heard him do it, the professor had softly slid the -bolt across as he went out of the boy’s room, and -our hero was practically a prisoner in his own -apartment.</p> - -<p>And this on a beautiful Saturday, when there -was no school and when the first practice baseball -game of the season was to be played. Is it any -wonder that Jack was indignant?</p> - -<p>“It’s about time they brought me something to -eat,” he thought, as he heard a clock somewhere -in the house strike nine. “I’m getting hungry.”</p> - -<p>He had little fear on the score that the professor -would starve him, for the old college instructor -was not quite as mean as that, and, in a short time, -Miss Klopper appeared with a tray containing -Jack’s breakfast.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>“I should think you would be ashamed of yourself,” -she said. “The idea of repaying my -brother’s kindness by such acts! You are a wicked -boy!”</p> - -<p>Jack wondered where any special kindness on -the part of the professor came in, but he did not -say anything to the old maid whose temper was -even more sour than her brother’s. Since his -parents had left him with the professor, Jack had -never been treated with real kindness. Perhaps -Mr. Klopper did not intend to be mean, but he -was such a deep student that all who did not devote -most of their time to study and research -earned his profound contempt. While Jack was -a good boy, and a fairly good student, he liked -sports and fun, and these the professor detested. -So, when he found that his ward did not intend -to apply himself closely to his books, Professor -Klopper began “putting the screws on,” as Jack -termed it.</p> - -<p>Matters had gone from bad to worse, until the -boy was now in a really desperate state. His -naturally good temper had been spoiled by a series -of petty fault-findings, and he had been so hedged -about by the professor and his sister that he was -ripe for almost anything.</p> - -<p>All that day he remained in his room, becoming -more and more angry at his imprisonment as -the hours passed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>“The boys are on the diamond now,” he said, -as he heard a clock strike three. “They’re practicing, -and soon the game will start. Gee, but I wish -I was there! But it’s no use.”</p> - -<p>Another try at the door, and a look out of his -window convinced him of this. The professor -was still on guard, reading his big book.</p> - -<p>Toward dusk the professor went in, as he could -see no longer. But, by that time Jack had lost all -desire to escape. He resolved to go to bed, to -make the time pass more quickly, though he knew -he had another day of imprisonment before him. -Sunday was the occasion for long rambles in the -woods and fields with his chums, but he knew he -would have to forego that pleasure now. He -almost hoped it would rain.</p> - -<p>As he was undressing there came a hurried -knock on his door.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“My brother wants to see you at once, in his -study,” said Miss Klopper.</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear,” thought Jack. “Here’s for another -lecture.”</p> - -<p>There was no choice but to obey, however, for -Mr. Allen in his last injunction to his son, had -urged him to give every heed to his guardian’s -requests.</p> - -<p>He found the professor in his study, with open -books piled all about on a table before which he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -sat. In his hand Mr. Klopper held a white slip -of paper.</p> - -<p>“Jack,” he said, more kindly than he had spoken -since the trouble between them, “I have here a -telegram concerning your father and mother.”</p> - -<p>“Is it—is it bad news?” asked the boy quickly, -for something in the professor’s tone and manner -indicated it.</p> - -<p>“Well, I—er—I’m sorry to say it is not good -news. It is rather disquieting. You remember I -told you I cabled to the United States Consul in -Hong Kong concerning your parents, when several -days went by without either of us hearing -from them.”</p> - -<p>“What does he say?”</p> - -<p>“His cablegram states that your parents went on -an excursion outside of Hong Kong about two -weeks ago, and no word has been received from -them since.”</p> - -<p>“Are they—are they killed?”</p> - -<p>“No; I do not think so. The consul adds that -as there have been disturbances in China, it is very -likely that Mr. and Mrs. Allen, together with -some other Americans, have been detained in a -friendly province, until the trouble is over. I -thought you had better know this.”</p> - -<p>“Do you suppose there is any danger?”</p> - -<p>“I do not think so. There is no use worrying, -though I was a little anxious when I had no word<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> -from them. We will hope for the best. I will -cable the consul to send me word as soon as he -has any additional news.”</p> - -<p>“Poor mother!” said Jack. “She’s nervous, and -if she gets frightened it may have a bad effect on -her heart.”</p> - -<p>“Um,” remarked the professor. He had little -sympathy for ailing women. “In view of this -news I have decided to mitigate your punishment,” -he added to Jack. “You may consider yourself at -liberty to-morrow, though I shall expect you to -spend at least three hours in reading some good -and helpful book. I will pick one out for you. -It is well to train our minds to deep reading, for -there is so much of the frivolous in life now-a-days, -that the young are very likely to form improper -thinking habits. I would recommend that -you spend an hour before you retire to-night, in -improving yourself in Latin. Your conjugation -of verbs was very weak the last time I examined -you.”</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t think I could study to-night,” said -Jack, who felt quite miserable with his enforced -detention in the house, and the unpleasant news -concerning his parents. “I’d be thinking so much -about my father and mother that I couldn’t keep -my attention on the verbs,” he said.</p> - -<p>“That indicates a weak intellect,” returned the -professor. “You should labor to overcome it.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -However, perhaps it would be useless to have you -do any Latin to-night. But I must insist on you -improving in your studies. Your last report from -the academy was very poor.”</p> - -<p>Jack did not answer. With a heavy heart he -went to his room, where he sat for some time in -the dark, thinking of his parents in far-off China.</p> - -<p>“I wish I could go and find them,” he said. -“Maybe they need help. I wonder if the professor’d -let me go?”</p> - -<p>But, even as that idea came to him, he knew -it would be useless to propose it to Mr. Klopper.</p> - -<p>“He’s got enough of money that dad left for -my keep, to pay my passage,” the boy mused on. -“But if I asked for some for a steamship ticket -he’d begin to figure what the interest on it for -a hundred years would be, and then he’d lecture -me about being a spendthrift. No, I’ll have to let -it go, though I do wish I could make a trip abroad. -If I could only earn money enough, some way, I’d -go to China and find dad and mom.”</p> - -<p>But even disquieting and sad thoughts can not -long keep awake a healthy lad, and soon Jack was -slumbering. He was up early the next morning, -and, as usual, accompanied the professor to church.</p> - -<p>The best part of the afternoon he was forced -to spend in reading a book on what boys ought to -do, written by an old man who, if ever he was a -healthy, sport-loving lad, must have been one so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> -many years ago that he forgot that he ever liked -to have fun once in a while.</p> - -<p>Jack was glad when night came, so he could -go to bed again.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow I’ll see the boys,” he thought to -himself. “They’ll want to know why I didn’t -come to play ball, and I’ll have to tell them the -real reason. I’m getting so I hate Professor -Klopper!”</p> - -<p>If Jack had known what was to happen the next -day, he probably would not have slept so soundly.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br /> - - -<small>A SERIOUS ACCUSATION</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Hey</span>, Jack, where were you Saturday?” asked -Tom Berwick, as our hero came into the school -yard Monday morning. “We had a dandy game,” -he went on. “Your catching glove is nifty!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Fred Walton played short,” added Sam -Morton. “We waited as long as we could for you. -What was the matter?”</p> - -<p>“The professor made me stay home because I -skipped out the night before to go to the show.”</p> - -<p>“Say, he’s a mean old codger,” was Tom’s -opinion, which was echoed by several other lads.</p> - -<p>“Is Fred going to play shortstop regularly?” -asked Jack, of Tom Berwick, who was captain of -the Academy nine.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. He wants to, but I’d like to -have you play there, Jack. Still, if you can’t come -Saturdays——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll come next Saturday all right. Can’t -we have a little practice this afternoon?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>“Sure. You can play then, if you want to. -Fred has to go away, he said.”</p> - -<p>The boys had a lively impromptu contest on the -diamond when school closed that afternoon, and -Jack proved himself an efficient player at shortstop. -It was getting dusk when he reached the -professor’s house, and the doughty old college instructor -was waiting for him.</p> - -<p>“Did I not tell you to come home early, in order -that I might test you in algebra?” he asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. But I forgot about it,” which was -the truth for, in the excitement over the game, -Jack had no mind for anything but baseball.</p> - -<p>“Where were you?” went on Mr. Klopper.</p> - -<p>“Playing ball.”</p> - -<p>“Playing ball! An idle, frivolous amusement. -It tends to no good, and does positive harm. I -have no sympathy with that game. It gives no -time for reflection. I once watched a game at -the college where I used to teach. I saw several -men standing at quite some distance from the bare -spot where one man was throwing a ball at another, -with a stick in his hand.”</p> - -<p>“That was the diamond,” volunteered Jack, -hoping the professor might get interested in hearing -about the game, and so forego the lecture that -was in prospect.</p> - -<p>“Ah, a very inappropriate name. Such an -utterly valueless game should not be designated by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -any such expensive stone as a diamond. But what -I was going to say was that I saw some of the -players standing quite some distance from the bare -spot——”</p> - -<p>“They were in the outfield, professor. Right -field, left field and centre.”</p> - -<p>“One moment; I care nothing about the names -of the contestants. I was about to remark that -those distant players seemed to have little to do -with the game. They might, most profitably have -had a book with them, to study while they were -standing there, but they did not. Instead they remained -idle—wasting their time.”</p> - -<p>“But they might have had to catch a ball any -moment.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed the professor. “It is an -idle frivolous amusement, and I regret very much -that you wasted your valuable time over it. After -supper I want to hear you read some Virgil, and -also do some problems in geometry. I was instructed -by your father to see that your education -was not neglected, and I must do my duty, no -matter how disagreeable it is.”</p> - -<p>Jack sighed. He had studied hard in class that -day, and now to be made to put in the evening over -his books he thought was very unfair.</p> - -<p>But there was no escape from the professor, -and the boy had to put in two hours at his Latin -and mathematics, which studies, though they undoubtedly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -did him good, were very distasteful to -him.</p> - -<p>“You are making scarcely any progress,” said -the professor, when Jack had failed to properly -answer several of his questions. “I want you to -come home early from school to-morrow afternoon, -and I will give you my undivided attention -until bedtime. I am determined that you shall -learn.”</p> - -<p>Jack said nothing, but he did not think it would -be wise to go off playing ball the next afternoon, -though the boys urged him strongly.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you write and tell your dad how -mean old Klopper is treating you?” suggested -Tom, when Jack explained the reason for going -straight home from his classes.</p> - -<p>“I would if I knew how to reach him. But I -don’t know where he is,” and Jack sighed, for -he was becoming more and more alarmed at the -long delay in hearing from his father.</p> - -<p>But Jack was destined to do no studying that -afternoon under the watchful eye of Professor -Klopper. He had no sooner entered the house -than he was made aware that something unusual -had happened.</p> - -<p>“My brother is waiting for you in the library,” -said Miss Klopper, and Jack noticed that she was -excited over something.</p> - -<p>“Maybe it’s bad news about the folks,” the boy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -thought, but when he saw that the professor had -no cablegram, he decided it could not be that.</p> - -<p>“Jack,” began the aged teacher, “I have a very -serious matter to speak about.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder what’s coming now?” thought the -boy.</p> - -<p>“Do you recall the night you disobeyed me, and, -sneaking out of your window like a thief, you -went to a—er—a theatrical performance without -my permission?” asked the professor.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Jack, wondering if his -guardian thought he was likely to forget it so soon.</p> - -<p>“Do you also recollect me asking you where you -got the money wherewith to go?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I now, once more, demand that you tell me -where you obtained it, and, let me warn you that -it is serious. I insist that you answer me. Where -did you get that money?”</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t want to tell you, Professor -Klopper.”</p> - -<p>“Are you afraid?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir,” came the indignant answer, for there -were few things of which Jack Allen was afraid.</p> - -<p>“Then why don’t you tell me?”</p> - -<p>“Because I don’t think you have a right to know -everything that I do. I am not a baby. I assure -you I got that money in a perfectly legitimate -way.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>“Oh, you did?” sneered the professor. “We -shall see about that. Come in,” he called, and, to -Jack’s surprise the door opened and Miss Klopper -entered the library.</p> - -<p>“I believe you have something to say on a subject -that interests all present,” went on the professor, -in icy tones.</p> - -<p>“She knows nothing of where I got the money,” -said Jack.</p> - -<p>“We shall see,” remarked Mr. Klopper. “You -may tell what you know,” he added to his sister.</p> - -<p>“I saw Jack just as he got down out of his -window,” Miss Klopper stated, as if she was reciting -a lesson. “He had a bundle with him. I -asked what it was and he would not tell me.”</p> - -<p>“Is that correct?” inquired the former teacher.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Jack, wondering how the -professor could be interested in his catching -glove, which was what the bundle had contained.</p> - -<p>“What was in that package?” went on the -professor.</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t care to tell, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I insist that you shall. Once again, I warn -you that it is a very serious matter.”</p> - -<p>Jack could not quite understand why, so he kept -silent.</p> - -<p>“Well, are you going to tell me?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p>Jack had no particular reason for not telling,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -but he had made up his mind that the professor -had no right to know, and he was not going to give -in to him.</p> - -<p>“This is your last chance,” warned his guardian. -“Are you going to tell me?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Then I will tell you what was in that package. -It was my gold loving cup, that the teachers of -Underhill College presented to me on the occasion -of my retirement from the faculty of that institution!”</p> - -<p>“Your loving cup?” repeated Jack in amazement, -for that cup was one of the professor’s -choicest possessions, and quite valuable.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my loving cup. You had it in that -bundle, and you took it out to pawn it, in order to -get money to go to that show.”</p> - -<p>“That’s not true!” cried Jack indignantly. “All -I had in that bundle was my catching glove, which -I sold to Tom Berwick.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe you,” said the professor stiffly. -“I say you stole my loving cup and pawned it. -The cup is gone from its accustomed place on my -dresser. I did not miss it until this afternoon, -and, when I asked my sister about it, she said she -had not seen it. Then she recalled your sneaking -away from the house with a bundle, and I at once -knew what had become of it.”</p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p040.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“I say you took my cup!”<br /> - -<span class="illoright"><i>Page <a href="#Page_41">41</a></i></span></p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>“You couldn’t know, for there is absolutely no -truth in this accusation,” replied Jack hotly.</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that I am telling an untruth?” -asked the professor sharply. “I say that -you took my cup.”</p> - -<p>“And I say that I didn’t! I never touched your -cup! If it’s gone some one else took it!”</p> - -<p>Jack spoke in loud and excited tones.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you dare contradict me, young man!” -thundered the former teacher. “I will not permit -it. I say you took that cup! I know you -did!”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t!” cried Jack.</p> - -<p>The professor was so angry that he took a step -toward the lad. He raised his hand, probably -unconsciously, as though to deal Jack a box on the -ear, for this was the old teacher’s favorite method -of correcting a refractory student.</p> - -<p>Jack, with the instinct of a lad who will assume -a defensive attitude on the first sign of an attack, -doubled up his fists.</p> - -<p>“What! You dare attempt to strike me?” -cried the professor. “You dare?”</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to have you hit me,” murmured -Jack. “You are making an unjust charge. I never -took that cup. I can prove what I had in that -package by Tom Berwick.”</p> - -<p>“I do not believe you,” went on the professor. -“I know you pawned that cup to get spending<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> -money, because I refused to give you any to waste. -I will give you a chance to confess, and tell me -where you disposed of it, before I take harsh -measures.”</p> - -<p>Jack started. What did the professor mean by -harsh measures?</p> - -<p>“I can’t confess what I did not do,” he said, -more quietly. “I never took the loving cup.”</p> - -<p>“And I say you did!” cried the old teacher, -seeming to lose control of himself. “I say you -stole it, and I’ll have you arrested, you young -rascal! Go to your room at once, and remain -there until I get an officer. We’ll see then whether -you’ll confess or not. I’ll call in a policeman at -once. See that he does not leave the house,” he -added to his sister, as he hurried from the room.</p> - -<p>Jack started from the library.</p> - -<p>“Where are you going?” asked Miss Klopper, -placing herself in his path. She was a large -woman, and strong.</p> - -<p>“I am going to my room,” replied Jack, sore -at heart and very miserable over the unjust -accusation.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br /> - - -<small>JACK RUNS AWAY</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Jack</span> closed the door of his apartment and sat -down in a chair by the bed. His mind was in a -whirl. He wondered if the professor would carry -out his threat, and call an officer.</p> - -<p>“He’s mean enough to,” thought the boy. “But -I don’t see how he can accuse me of taking that -cup. I know he values it very highly, and feels -very badly over its loss, if it is gone, but I had -nothing to do with it. I can easily prove, by Tom -Berwick, that it was a glove I had in the bundle.”</p> - -<p>Then another thought came to Jack. He -remembered that, after getting out of sight of the -house, he had thrown away the paper from the -catching glove. All Tom could say was that his -chum had sold him a glove. Tom would know -nothing about any bundle that Jack had carried -away from the professor’s house.</p> - -<p>“I may have hard work proving that I only took -the glove with me,” mused Jack. “The professor -is so quick tempered that he’ll not believe such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -proof as I can bring forward. It looks as if I -was in a hole.”</p> - -<p>The more Jack thought it over the less inclined -he was to await the return of the professor with -an officer.</p> - -<p>“I’ll not submit to the disgrace of an arrest, -even though I know I am innocent,” he declared. -“That’s carrying things too far. If dad was only -here——”</p> - -<p>He stopped suddenly, and a lump came into his -throat, while there was suspicious moisture in his -eyes.</p> - -<p>“This is the limit!” the boy exclaimed, at -length. “I’m not going to stand it! I’ll skip out! -I’ll run away! I’ll go anywhere rather than stay -in this house any longer!</p> - -<p>“Whatever happens to me, or wherever I go I -can’t be much worse off than I have been here, -with old Klopper and his sister. I’ve got a little -money left, and I guess I can get work somewhere. -I’ll pack up my clothes and leave. Dad wouldn’t -blame me, if he knew. Neither would mother. -I’ll go; that’s what I’ll do!”</p> - -<p>Once he had formed this resolution Jack set -about ways and means. First he looked to see how -much money he had.</p> - -<p>“Two dollars and fifteen cents,” he said, as he -counted the change. “Not an awful lot, but I’ll -have to make it do. I wish there was another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -show coming to town. Maybe I could make a -little money doing my clown stunt on amateur -night. But I haven’t any time to wait for such a -thing as that. I’ve got to get out at once.”</p> - -<p>Next he began to consider what he had better -take with him. He had several suits of clothes, -and a plentiful supply of other garments. Selecting -the best he placed them in his dress-suit case.</p> - -<p>“Now to get away,” he murmured. “The professor -will have to go to town for an officer, and -he can’t get back inside a half hour. I’ve got about -fifteen minutes left. Guess I’d better go by the -window. That old cat of a sister of his will probably -be on the watch downstairs if I go out the -door.”</p> - -<p>Jack gave a last look around the room that had -been his for the past year. There were no very -pleasant memories connected with it. He saw his -school books lying on a shelf.</p> - -<p>“I won’t need you, where I’m going,” he said. -“The term is almost closed. By the time I get -ready to come back, or hear from my folks I can -start a new term, but I hope I’ll never have anything -more to do with Professor Klopper.”</p> - -<p>Jack went to the window to look out, to see if it -would be safe to drop the suit case, and then follow -himself. To his surprise, coming over the back -path, which he often used as a short cut to the -village, he saw the professor and a policeman.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>“It’s too late!” he exclaimed. “He took the -short way home, and got here quicker than I -thought he would. He kept his threat, and is -going to have me arrested. What’ll I do?”</p> - -<p>Jack thought rapidly. He had made up his mind -that he would not submit to the indignity of being -taken into custody, even though he thought he -could, after some trouble, prove his innocence of -the charge.</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to let them get me,” said Jack -softly. “What had I better do? I know. I’ll hide -in the big attic closet. He’ll never think to look -for me there. But, before I go I’ll just make them -think I got away out of the window. Then they -won’t spend so much time looking for me.”</p> - -<p>Jack took a piece of rope, one of the many things -in his room which he had stowed away, thinking he -might some day find a use for it. He tied one end -to his bed, and threw the other out of the window, -taking care that the approaching professor and the -officer should not see him.</p> - -<p>“There, they’ll think I got down by that,” he -said, “though I never use it. The lightning rod is -good enough for me. Now to hide!”</p> - -<p>Softly opening his door, which, fortunately was -not bolted, and carrying his dress-suit case, he went -up to the big attic, which took up the entire third -story of the professor’s house. There was a roomy -closet, or store room in it, and, selecting a place behind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -a large chest, Jack sat down there, stowing -his case away out of sight.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe they’ll find me here,” he said, -with a smile. “Gee, but I’m glad I decided to skip -out! I couldn’t stand it any longer!”</p> - -<p>He listened intently, and soon he heard his name -being called by the professor.</p> - -<p>“They’ve found out I’m not in my room,” he -said. “Well, let ’em hunt.”</p> - -<p>He heard his name being shouted again.</p> - -<p>“That’s Miss Klopper,” he remarked. “I’ve -fooled ’em.”</p> - -<p>Then he heard confused sounds throughout the -house, and he knew they were searching for him. -But he had selected his hiding place well. Besides, -the dangling rope did deceive the professor -and the policeman.</p> - -<p>“The rascal has gotten away,” said Mr. Klopper, -when a superficial search of the house failed -to reveal the boy. “I did not think he would do -that.”</p> - -<p>“Most any boy would, under the circumstances,” -observed the policeman grimly. “You shouldn’t -have told him you were going to have him arrested. -If you’d come away quietly and got me -we would have him now.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll get him yet,” declared the professor savagely. -“I will compel him to tell me where he -pawned my gold loving cup. I shall also cable to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> -his father of what he has done, as soon as I get -his address. I never supposed, after all my teaching, -that Jack would prove such a rascal.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe he didn’t take the cup,” suggested the -officer.</p> - -<p>“I know he did,” insisted the former teacher, -as if that settled it.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Jack remained in hiding. He heard -the house grow more quiet after the officer took -his departure. The professor had given up the -search, though he had asked the authorities to send -out a general alarm for the runaway boy.</p> - -<p>“It must be quite dark outside by now,” thought -Jack, after an hour or more behind the big chest. -“I wonder if it’s safe to venture downstairs? I’m -almost starved, for I didn’t have any supper. -Guess I’d better wait a while. The professor and -his sister go to bed early, and they’re sound sleepers. -Then I’ll sneak out and get something from -the pantry.”</p> - -<p>He waited another hour. Then, taking off his -shoes, and carrying them in one hand, while in -the other he carried the dress-suit case, he stole -down the attic stairs.</p> - -<p>He listened intently. There was not a sound. -The house was dark, and, as he stood there, -anxiously waiting, he heard a clock strike ten.</p> - -<p>“They’re asleep,” he said softly. “Now for -something to eat.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>He made his way to the pantry. He struck a -match, one of a supply he always carried, and -found a piece of candle. This he lighted, and, by -its flickering glow, he made a meal from cold -victuals which were on the shelves.</p> - -<p>“Guess I’ll take a little lunch with me,” he remarked -softly. “It may come in handy.”</p> - -<p>He did up some bread and meat, a bit of cake, -and a piece of pie in a paper, which he thrust into -his pocket. Then, having put on his shoes, and -grasping his case, he let himself out of the front -door.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve run away,” he remarked grimly, as -he looked back at the dark and silent house. “Now -for a free life, without being scolded every minute -by old Klopper. I’ve got the whole world before -me, and I shouldn’t care if I never came back, if -I could only get to where dad and mom are.”</p> - -<p>Poor Jack! he little realized what was in store -for him before he would see his parents again.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br /> - - -<small>A NARROW ESCAPE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">With</span> the one thought firm in his mind, to get -safely away from the house, Jack gave little heed -which way he went. Naturally he headed away -from the village, for he knew, late as it was, nearly -midnight now, some one would be about who might -know him.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got to keep out of sight for a while,” -thought the boy. “If I guess right, the professor -will be so mad because I have run away that he’ll -have the police in all the nearby places on the lookout -for me. Nearly every officer in Westville -knows me, so I don’t want to meet any of them.”</p> - -<p>He walked on, keeping in the shadows, until he -was about a mile from the house, having traveled -in an opposite direction to that in which the village -was situated.</p> - -<p>“I’d better make out a plan of campaign, the -way Cæsar did,” he said. “Queer I should think -of that old warrior, when I hate Latin so, but then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> -he knew a good deal about battles, though I don’t -remember that he ever ran away much.</p> - -<p>“Let’s see,” he went on musingly. “If I go this -way I’ll reach Cloverdale in about an hour. They -have a regular uniformed force there, and probably -they’ve been warned by telephone to look out -for a boy with a dress-suit case. If I bear off to the -left I’ll get to Pendleton in two hours. There are -only a couple of constables there, and I don’t believe -they’ll be on the watch for me. From Pendleton -I can take a train to some other place.”</p> - -<p>Jack thought matters over a little more. He -wanted to be sure and make no mistake, as this was -a very important period in his life. He recalled -several stories he had read of boys running away, -but none of them seemed to fit his case.</p> - -<p>“The trouble is, I don’t know just where to go,” -he thought. “I don’t want to go to sea, I don’t -care about going out west to fight Indians or dig -for gold, and there’s no special kind of work I can -do. The only thing I would like to do would be to -find my folks. Maybe I can, some time, though -when I’ll have money enough to go to China I’m -sure I don’t know. I wonder where I’d better go -after I get to Pendleton?”</p> - -<p>Jack thought hard. It was quite a problem for -the lad. There were so many things to consider. -First of all, of course, was to keep out of the -clutches of a policeman.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>“I think I’ll go to Rudford,” he announced to -himself. “That’s quite a town, and it’s far enough -off so that the professor will not think of telephoning -to it. It will take almost all my money to -get there, but when I arrive I’ll have a better -chance to get a job than I would have in these -small towns. I’ll go to Rudford. There’s a train -from Pendleton to Rudford about three o’clock. -I can just make it.”</p> - -<p>Off he trudged once more, proceeding faster, -now that he had a definite plan before him. It -was rather lonesome, walking along the deserted -country road at night, but Jack had no fears. The -worst he could meet with would be tramps, and he -did not worry about them.</p> - -<p>Still, as he came to a stretch where the road ran -through a rather dense patch of woods, he was -a little nervous, especially when he heard something -stirring in the forest close to the highway. -He stood still, and he could feel his heart pounding -against his ribs.</p> - -<p>“Maybe that’s a crowd of tramps,” he thought, -for, of late, several members of that road fraternity -had been committing petty depredations in the -vicinity.</p> - -<p>The rustling in the woods became louder. It -seemed as if some one was running toward the -road, snapping the branches under foot.</p> - -<p>Then, from the darkness of the woods, two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> -bright eyes peered out at Jack, reflecting in the -light of the new moon. They showed red and -green.</p> - -<p>“An animal,” said the lad to himself, with a sigh -of relief. “A fox, most likely.”</p> - -<p>Then a distant owl hooted, and the fox, if such -the beast was, disappeared like a flash.</p> - -<p>“I might have known it,” thought Jack, but, -nevertheless, it was some time before his heart -beat regularly. At length he saw a distant light, -and knew that he was approaching Pendleton.</p> - -<p>“I’ll soon be there,” he thought. “Then for a -ride on the train, and, as soon as it’s daylight, I’ll -look for work in Rudford. I ought to get a place -easily. I’m strong for my age.”</p> - -<p>Half an hour later Jack was tramping through -the silent streets of the village, on his way to the -railroad station. He had been there once before, -when the Academy nine played the Pendleton -team, and he knew his way about.</p> - -<p>Just as the youth was turning a dark corner, on -a street which he remembered led to the depot, he -heard some one coming toward him. He peered -ahead, and, from the fact that the man he saw -carried a long club, he concluded that the person -was a constable.</p> - -<p>“I mustn’t let him see me,” thought the boy. -“It’s just possible there’s an alarm for me here.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> -The dress-suit case will give me away, sure. I’d -better hide it until he gets past.”</p> - -<p>Fortunately, Jack was in the dense shadow cast -by a building. The constable was coming directly -toward him, and if he turned back, the officer -would hear him. A sudden idea came to the lad.</p> - -<p>Setting his dress-suit case down in the doorway, -where it would be out of sight, Jack advanced -boldly to meet the constable. The officer rather -started on beholding the boy appear from out of -the shadow.</p> - -<p>“Can you please tell me the way to the railroad -station?” asked Jack. “I want to get a train.”</p> - -<p>“Right down this street,” replied the officer, -which fact Jack knew well. “Out rather late, -aren’t you?” asked the officer suspiciously.</p> - -<p>“Well, it is late,” admitted Jack, as if some one -had disputed it. “But I couldn’t get here any -sooner,” which was the truth. “I’m on my way to -Rudford, to work,” he added. “I had to leave -rather suddenly, and this is the first train I could -get. There’s one about three, isn’t there?”</p> - -<p>He was glad he knew something about the timetable, -though it was not much.</p> - -<p>“Three-eight,” replied the officer. “You haven’t -seen anything of a lad with a dress-suit case, have -you?”</p> - -<p>“A lad with a dress-suit case?” repeated Jack, -as though such a curiosity was not to be met with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -outside of a circus. Then the alarm for him had -been sent here, after all, he thought. But his -natural manner fooled the constable.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” went on the officer. “We’ve got orders -to arrest a lad with a dress-suit case. Telephone -came from the police at Westville.”</p> - -<p>“What’s he wanted for?”</p> - -<p>As if Jack did not know!</p> - -<p>“Stealing a gold cup from some professor there. -I don’t know much about the case. I was only told -to arrest a lad with a dress-suit case, and I’m looking -for him. I thought you was him, first, but you -haven’t any case.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” spoke Jack, hoping the one in the -doorway would not be seen.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to arrest him,” continued the constable. -“I hear there’s a reward offered for him, -and I’d like to get it.”</p> - -<p>Evidently, Professor Klopper must have been -very much incensed over his ward’s escape to offer -a reward, for he was very fond of money. Jack -resolved to use every means to avoid capture.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’d better be getting on,” said the officer. -“If you go right down this street you’ll come to -the depot. You can just make the train. Generally -it’s a little late. If you see a lad with a suit -case, tell the first constable you meet.”</p> - -<p>“I understand,” answered Jack, and grinned to -himself.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>He walked on slowly, looking back once or twice -to see if the constable was watching him. But that -officer evidently had no suspicions, for he did not -once peer after Jack.</p> - -<p>When the man had gone some distance, and had -turned down a side street, Jack ventured to retrace -his steps and get his suit case.</p> - -<p>“I can’t leave that behind,” he thought. “It’s -all I’ve got in the world now.”</p> - -<p>He reached the station without further incident, -congratulating himself upon his narrow escape. -Then, as he walked up the depot platform, he -resolved to practice another bit of caution.</p> - -<p>“The agent there has probably been warned to -be on the lookout for me,” he reasoned. “My -dress-suit case seems to be the most conspicuous -part of my make-up. I’ll just leave it outside when -I go in to buy a ticket.”</p> - -<p>He was glad he did so, for, when he asked for -passage to Rudford, the agent, rousing himself -from his nap, looked out of the little brass-barred -window at the boy in front of him. Very evidently -he was looking to see if Jack carried a suit -case.</p> - -<p>“No baggage?” he remarked, in questioning accents.</p> - -<p>“Not so’s you could notice it,” replied Jack, -making use of a bit of slang that served his purpose<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> -well, without compelling him to make a direct -statement.</p> - -<p>He went outside, got his case, and remained in -the shadow of the depot shed until the train came -along.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br /> - - -<small>THE SIDE-DOOR PULLMAN</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Jack</span> fancied that the conductor, when he took -up his ticket, looked suspiciously at him, but probably -this was only the result of his imagination. -At any rate, the runaway was glad when the train -stopped at Rudford, and he could get out.</p> - -<p>It was early morning, and rather cool, in spite -of the fact that it was the last of June.</p> - -<p>“A cup of coffee and some rolls for mine,” -thought Jack, as he saw a small refreshment stand -in the station.</p> - -<p>The food tasted good to him, and he decided it -was wiser to spend a little of his money for it than -to draw on the supply of cold victuals in his pocket.</p> - -<p>“No telling when I’ll need them,” he thought, -“and I want to be in good shape to look for work.” -Then another thought came to him. He could not -very well go about looking for a job carrying his -suit case. Besides, it would look suspicious, in case -there was any alarm here for him. He saw a notice -at the refreshment stand to the effect that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -valises and small parcels would be checked at the -rate of ten cents a day.</p> - -<p>“That will suit me,” decided Jack, and he -handed over his large valise, receiving for it a -paper check. “Now I can travel about better,” he -added.</p> - -<p>Jack’s one idea now was to get a place to work. -He did not intend to stay permanently in Rudford, -but he wanted to earn enough money to take him -to some larger place, and that he needed money -was very evident, when he looked over his cash -and found he had less than a dollar. The railroad -ticket had taken the most of his small capital.</p> - -<p>Now, whether Jack was not exactly the sort of -boy the merchants needed, or whether there was already -a plentiful supply of lads already in town, -or whether there were more boys than there were -jobs, Jack did not stop to figure out. The fact was, -however, that he tramped about all that morning, -asking in a score or more of places for work, without -getting it.</p> - -<p>“Well, it isn’t going to be as easy as I though it -was,” he said to himself. “Tramping about makes -me hungry. I’ve got to eat. I’d better tackle the -stuff I brought from the professor’s house. The -longer I keep that, the staler it’ll get, until I won’t -be able to eat it after a while. There’s enough for -dinner and supper, and for breakfast. We’ll see -what turns up to-morrow.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>He found a secluded spot, where he dined frugally -on the bread and meat, and the piece of pie. -He washed it down with some cool water from a -street fountain. But, oh how he wished he could -have an ice cream soda!</p> - -<p>Signs advertising the various flavors of that -drink seemed to stare at him from every drug store -and confectionery shop window, and, as it was -warm from the sun, Jack longed for the cool beverage.</p> - -<p>“But I can’t afford it,” he decided. “Five cents -will get me a cup of coffee in the morning, and I’ll -need that more than I need a soda now.”</p> - -<p>In the afternoon he resumed his search for work, -but with no success. Once, as he was passing a -printing shop, he saw displayed that magical sign: -“<i>Boy Wanted.</i>”</p> - -<p>“I see you want a boy,” he remarked, as he went -in. “I’d like to get the job.”</p> - -<p>“Can you kick a press?” asked the man, evidently -favorably impressed by Jack’s appearance.</p> - -<p>“Kick a press? Why should I kick a press?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s easy to see you don’t know anything -about the printing business,” remarked the proprietor, -with a smile. “I need a boy to kick a press, -run one with his feet, I mean, and set up simple -jobs; but it wouldn’t pay me to hire one who -doesn’t understand the work.”</p> - -<p>“I could learn,” said Jack.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span>“No, I haven’t any time to teach you, and you’d -spoil more work than you’d be worth. Sorry,” and -he turned back to his desk.</p> - -<p>“I can’t kick a press,” thought Jack, as he went -out, “but I can kick a football. Only there’s no -chance on the gridiron these days. Wonder if I -could get a job in some theatre?”</p> - -<p>This plan seemed good to him, as he remembered -how he had been applauded that amateur -night, but he was doomed to disappointment, for, -on inquiring of a man, he learned there were no -theatres open in Rudford.</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s the end of that,” mused our hero. -“I’ll try a few more places for a job, though it’s -most closing time. I wonder where I’ll sleep to-night? -Running away isn’t as nice and easy as I -thought it was.”</p> - -<p>His search for work was unavailing. He -walked along the street, feeling quite blue and -lonesome, when something happened that caused -a great change in his plans. This was the sight of -a small type-written notice tacked on a bulletin -board outside of a red brick building. The building, -Jack decided, as soon as he had looked at it, -was a police station.</p> - -<p>The notice which so startled him was one offering -a reward for his capture. Before he realized -the danger of it, Jack had come to a halt, and was -reading the statement.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>A reward of fifty dollars was offered by Professor -Klopper for the arrest of the runaway, who -was charged with the theft of a valuable gold cup. -Jack was not very accurately described, for the -professor was not aware how his ward was dressed, -since Jack had taken several suits with him. Police -and others, however, were advised to be on the -lookout for a boy with a dress-suit case.</p> - -<p>“I wish I didn’t have it,” thought Jack. “But -there’s no help for it now. That’s the only thing -they’ll recognize me by. But I’d better be getting -out of here.”</p> - -<p>He hurried past the police station, and, just as -he came opposite the entrance, an officer rushed -out. He collided with the boy, and, to save them -both from falling, grabbed the lad.</p> - -<p>“I’m caught,” thought Jack desperately. But it -was merely an accident.</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon,” spoke the officer, as he released -Jack. “I’m hurrying to stop a fight down -the street. Word about it has just been telephoned -in. I didn’t see you.”</p> - -<p>“No, and you won’t again, if I can prevent it,” -thought Jack, as he hastened on, glad that the excitement -over the collision had caused the officer -to pass on without taking a good look at him.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got to get out of town as quickly as possible,” -thought the startled lad. “This place isn’t -safe for me. I wonder where I’d better go? I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -must get my suit case, and then see where I can get -a ticket for.”</p> - -<p>He went back to the depot, presented his check, -and received his case. As he reached his hand in -his pocket to get the ten cents, he was startled to -find but a single coin there. It was a dime. He -paid it to the man at the refreshment booth, and -then, walking to one side, began a hurried search -for the rest of his cash. It was gone!</p> - -<p>“Some one either picked my pocket, or else it -was jarred out when that policeman ran into me,” -he said. “Lucky there was this ten cents left. -Now I <i>am</i> up against it.”</p> - -<p>What was he to do? With no money, how -could he get out of the town where, doubtless, -every officer was on the watch for him, anxious to -earn the reward? It was a serious problem.</p> - -<p>“I mustn’t hang around here,” thought Jack. -“They’ll probably be watching the railroad stations. -I’ve got to walk about and think a bit.”</p> - -<p>He hardly noticed where he turned his steps, but -he was brought out of his unpleasant day-dream -by hearing some one address him.</p> - -<p>“What’s de matter, cully?” a voice asked. -“You look sort of cheesy.”</p> - -<p>Jack saw that the speaker was a tramp, but -rather a good-natured looking one, and not quite -so dirty and disreputable as the average. The boy -also noticed, for the first time, that he was passing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -along a street which bordered the railroad freight -yard, and that there were long strings of cars on -a track adjoining the sidewalk.</p> - -<p>“Down on yer luck?” asked the man.</p> - -<p>Jack nodded.</p> - -<p>“What’s de matter?” went on the tramp. -“Runaway, an’ sorry fer it?”</p> - -<p>“I’m not a bit sorry,” answered Jack, as he -thought of the mean professor. “But I want to -get out of town, and I’ve lost all my money.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dat’s easy,” remarked the tramp, though -whether he referred to losing the money or getting -out of town, Jack was not quite sure.</p> - -<p>“If you want t’ make a git-away, I kin fix youse -up,” went on the ragged man.</p> - -<p>“How?” asked Jack, becoming interested.</p> - -<p>“I’ll show youse how t’ git inter a side-door Pullman, -an’ youse kin ride as fur as youse wants.”</p> - -<p>“A side-door Pullman?”</p> - -<p>“Sure. Freight car, wid de side door; ain’t -youse wise to dem yet? Dat’s a swell way of travelin’ -when youse ain’t got de chink. Come on, I’ll -put youse next t’ one. Dere’s a freight bein’ made -up, an’ dere’s a lot of empties in it. Be youse particular -which way youse goes?”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied Jack.</p> - -<p>“Dat’s good. I am. I want t’ go west, but -dere’s a train bound fer de east goin’ t’ pull out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> -t’-night. I’ll help youse git inter one of de side-door -Pullmans on dat. Come on.”</p> - -<p>Jack followed the man, who, after a cautious -look around, to make sure that there were no police -or trainmen watching, led the way into the -freight yard. He stopped before an empty box -car, with an open door.</p> - -<p>“In youse go,” he said cheerfully, helping Jack -to climb up. “Dere’s yer baggage,” he added. -“Now youse is all right, cully. Git off whenever -youse feels like it. Yer ticket’s good anywhere,” -and, sliding the door almost shut, he walked away, -leaving Jack in the car.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br /> - - -<small>JACK LOSES SOMETHING</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Well</span>, things are certainly happening to me,” -mused Jack, as he tried to find the softest board -in the floor of the freight car, whereon to sit. He -finally decided that his dress-suit case would make -the best kind of a stool, and, turning it upon end, -he sat on it, leaning back against the side of the -“Pullman.”</p> - -<p>“Two days ago I would no more have thought -I’d be in this position than I would of trying to fly. -Yet here I am, I’ve run away from the professor, -there’s a reward for my arrest, I have just escaped -in time, and now I’m bound for I don’t know -where. Things are certainly happening to me. -Let’s see; that tramp said this train was going east. -I don’t suppose it makes much difference to me, but -I almost wish it was going west. I’d like to find -out what’s become of my folks, and the nearer I get -to California, the better chance I have of hearing -news from China. I think, after I get far enough -away so there’s no danger of me being arrested,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> -I’ll strike out for San Francisco. When I get there -I may have a chance to work my passage to -China.”</p> - -<p>This thought comforted Jack somewhat. As he -sat in the dark car, going over in his mind what -had happened in the last twenty-four hours, he was -suddenly nearly thrown to the floor as the vehicle -gave a lurch, following a loud crash. Another car -had bumped into the one in which Jack was.</p> - -<p>“They’re making up the train,” he said, as he -heard the engine whistle. “We’ll be moving pretty -soon.”</p> - -<p>He went to the door and peered out of the -small opening the tramp had left. He could see -brakemen running to and fro in the freight yard, -while men in greasy blue suits, carrying flaming -torches, for it was now getting dark, made hasty -examinations of the running gear and trucks of the -cars, so that any breaks might be detected before -the train started, while journal boxes, in which -rest the wheel axles, that had not a sufficient -amount of waste and oil, were filled, so that the -axles would not get hot, producing what is known -in railroad terms as a “hot box.”</p> - -<p>Then came more signals from the locomotive. -Jack heard men shouting out orders. Next came -two short, sharp blasts from the whistle.</p> - -<p>“That means we’re going to start,” thought the -boy, and, a moment later, with many a squeak and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -shrill protest from the wheels, the freight train -was under way.</p> - -<p>Jack soon discovered that riding in a “side-door -Pullman” was not very comfortable. The freight -car was not as well provided with springs as even -an ordinary day coach, and as it went bumping -along over the rails, he was jostled about considerably.</p> - -<p>“Guess if I got in a corner and braced myself, I -could ride easier,” he thought, and, carrying his -suit case there, he made himself as comfortable as -possible.</p> - -<p>“This is better,” he remarked to himself. -“Guess I’ll eat now, though I must save some food -for breakfast. But what am I going to drink? I -never thought of that.”</p> - -<p>There was no solution of that problem, and Jack -was forced to make a very dry meal on about half -of what remained of the food he had brought from -the professor’s pantry. In a little while he was -more thirsty than before.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know how I’m going to stand it,” he -said ruefully. “I’ll choke pretty soon. I’d ought -to have brought a bottle of soda water along. I’ll -know better next time. I can’t get out now. The -train’s going too fast.”</p> - -<p>The car was swaying from side to side, and to -jump from it was out of the question. There was -nothing to do but stand it.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>“I’ll get out at the first stop,” thought Jack, but -he did not know that he was on a through freight, -which made but few stops.</p> - -<p>Soon, in spite of his thirst, Jack felt sleepy. He -was very tired, and the monotonous sound of the -wheels clicking over the rail joints produced a sort -of hypnotic effect. Before he knew it, he was slumbering, -having slipped down from his dress-suit -case, to lie at full length on the hard floor of the -car, his head pillowed on the valise and his -bundled-up coat.</p> - -<p>When Jack awoke with a start, some hours later, -he saw by the daylight streaming in through the -partly opened door of the car, that it was morning. -He got up, feeling lame and stiff, and, for a moment, -he could scarcely remember where he was.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he remarked, with a grim smile, as he -donned his coat, “the conductor didn’t take up my -ticket, and the porter hasn’t blacked my shoes, but -I guess I’ll have to let it go. I expect I need a -good brushing down, too.</p> - -<p>“I wonder whereabouts I am,” he went on. -“Guess I’ll take a look. I want to get off as soon -as I can. My, but I’m dry! My tongue’s like a -piece of leather!”</p> - -<p>He picked up his suit case and went to the side -door. He caught a glimpse of green fields through -which the train was moving.</p> - -<p>Setting the case down in front of the door, Jack<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> -put his hands in the crack, to make it wider, in -order that he might see better. The door stuck a -little, and he had to use considerable strength to -shove it, but he finally found it was giving.</p> - -<p>He had one glimpse of a broad sweep of pretty -country, with a range of low mountains in the distance, -and then something happened.</p> - -<p>The train gave a sudden swerve as it went -around a sharp curve. The abrupt change in motion -nearly threw Jack from the car, but, instinctively, -he clung to the edge of the door with all his -strength.</p> - -<p>Just then the train thundered over a bridge -spanning a small river. The car rocked and -swayed with the motion imparted to it by the curve, -and then, before Jack could put out a hand to catch -it, his dress-suit case toppled over and slid out of -the open door, falling down into the river. Jack -could see the splash it made, as it disappeared beneath -the water, and then, as the train rolled on, -the rumbling caused by passing over the bridge was -changed to a duller sound, as solid ground was -reached.</p> - -<p>“My suit case!” exclaimed Jack, leaning from -the door and looking back. “I can’t afford to lose -that! I must get it. Maybe it’ll float, and perhaps -the river isn’t very deep. I must get out at -the next stop and go back after it. But will the -train stop anywhere near here?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>Anxiously he noted the speed. It did seem as if -the cars were not going quite so fast now.</p> - -<p>“If they slow up a little more, I’ll risk it and -jump,” said the boy. “I’ve got to get that suit -case!”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br /> - - -<small>A FRUITLESS SEARCH</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Holding</span> fast to the edge of the door, to steady -himself against the swaying of the car, which was -now rumbling along over an uneven piece of track, -Jack peered ahead to see if there was a station in -view.</p> - -<p>“Yet perhaps this freight doesn’t stop at the -regular stations,” he remarked. “I’m in a pretty -mess, I am. Guess I’d better take lessons in traveling -in side-door Pullmans. I need a keeper, I -do. Why couldn’t I have left the case in the -corner? Then the lurch of the car wouldn’t have -toppled it out. Well, it’s easy enough to think -that now, but that won’t bring it back.</p> - -<p>“That looks like a station just ahead there,” he -went on. “And I certainly think the train’s slowing -up. I believe I could almost jump now.”</p> - -<p>But a look at the ground directly below him -showed that the car he was in was moving too rapidly -to permit of a safe leap. Then came a perceptible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> -slacking of the train’s speed. At the same -time there was a long whistle from the engine.</p> - -<p>“That means put on brakes,” reasoned Jack, -who knew a little about railroads. “I believe we’re -going to stop. Oh, I see,” he added, a moment -later. “That’s a water tank just ahead there, instead -of a station. They’ve got to stop for water. -I’m glad of that; I’d rather not get out near a station. -Some one might want to arrest me, though I -must be pretty well disguised with all the dirt I’ve -gathered up from the floor of this car.”</p> - -<p>A little later the train came to a stop, and Jack -leaped from the car and started back over the route -he had come. He saw a little brook running along -the railroad embankment.</p> - -<p>“Water!” he exclaimed. “Just what I need -most in the world, next to my suit case. Whew! -But I’m thirsty!”</p> - -<p>He found the water cool and good, and drank -heartily. Then he washed his hands and face, -and felt better. He brushed as much dirt as possible -from his clothes, and then took to the track, -intending to walk along it until he came to the -river in which his valise had tumbled.</p> - -<p>“I might as well make my breakfast as I go -along,” he reasoned, as he took from his pocket the -last of his scanty supply of food. “Not very appetizing,” -he added, as he saw how dry and stale the -bread and meat was. Of the cake, none remained,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -but there was part of a very much crushed piece of -pie. Still, Jack was hungry, and he wished he had -more of the same kind of food.</p> - -<p>The railroad ran for some distance along a high -embankment, across a low stretch of meadow, and -then it turned, bordering a country highway. Jack -decided it would be easier walking on the road -than along the ties, so he crossed over.</p> - -<p>“It can’t be more than a couple of miles back,” -he said to himself. “My things will be pretty well -soaked, but I guess I can dry them out.”</p> - -<p>As he went around a bend in the road, he came -to a place where another highway joined the one -on which he was traveling. At the same time he -saw, coming along the other road, a country lad, -driving a wagon, in which were a number of milk -cans. The youthful driver spied Jack.</p> - -<p>“Want a lift?” he asked good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>“Thanks, but it depends on which way you are -going,” replied our hero.</p> - -<p>“I’m going along this road,” was the answer, -and the lad pointed to the highway bordering the -track. “I’m taking this milk to the dairy,” he -added. “Ye can ride as far as I go.”</p> - -<p>“Then I guess I will. I want to get to where -the railroad crosses the river, about two miles -back.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the Wickatunk creek; that ain’t no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> -river,” remarked the young milkman, “Goin’ -fishin’ in it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, you might call it that.”</p> - -<p>“There ain’t no fish in it, around here. About -three miles down is a good place, though.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t expect to catch any fish,” said Jack, with -a smile.</p> - -<p>“Ye don’t? Then what in Tunket be ye goin’ -fishin’ fer?”</p> - -<p>“My dress-suit case.”</p> - -<p>The boy, who had halted his horse, looked at -Jack sharply. Evidently he thought the stranger -was not quite sound in his mind.</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” went on our hero, with a smile. -“My suit case toppled into the river as I was -riding over it in a freight car. I’m going back to -see if I can’t fish it out.”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” remarked the other lad. “Well, come on -up, and I’ll drive ye there. I thought maybe ye -was jokin’.”</p> - -<p>“No, it’s far from being a joke. I hope I get -it out. I need the clothes that are in it, though by -the time I get them they may look as badly as this -suit does,” and he glanced down at the one he -wore, which was wrinkled and dirty from his ride -in the freight car.</p> - -<p>Jack got up on the seat beside the farmer lad, -and briefly told the circumstances of his loss, saying -nothing, however, about having run away.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>He said he was traveling in the freight car because -he could not afford any other means of transportation, -which was true enough.</p> - -<p>“I’ll help ye look,” volunteered the boy. “I’ve -got lots of time. I started fer th’ dairy early this -mornin’. Did yer satchel have anything heavy in -it, so’s it would sink?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know. I’m afraid it wouldn’t -float very well, after the clothes got water-soaked. -Is the river very deep?”</p> - -<p>“’Tain’t a river, I tell ye. It’s a creek.”</p> - -<p>“It looked like a river to me, and a mighty big -one, when I saw my case fall into it. Is the creek -very deep?”</p> - -<p>“Not very; only in spots. It’s kinder deep -where th’ railroad bridge is.”</p> - -<p>During the ride that followed, the two lads conversed -on various topics, Jack asking many questions -about the country in that vicinity. He made -cautious inquiries as to whether there was any -alarm out for his arrest, and found, to his relief, -that there was not.</p> - -<p>Arriving at the bridge, the country lad, who said -his name was Ferd Armstrong, tied his horse, and -went down to the edge of the creek to help Jack -look for his property.</p> - -<p>“That’s about where it fell in,” said Jack, throwing -a stone into the water as nearly as he could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> -at the spot where he had seen the case disappear. -“Maybe if I had a long pole I could fish it out.”</p> - -<p>“I know a better way than that,” volunteered -Ferd.</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Take off your shoes and stockings and wade in. -I’ll help ye.”</p> - -<p>The boys did this, and soon were walking carefully -about in the creek, peering here and there -for a sight of the case. The stream was clear, and -they could see bottom almost everywhere. But -there was no sign of the flat valise.</p> - -<p>“Th’ current must have carried it below th’ -bridge,” suggested Ferd. “We’ll look there. But -don’t wade under th’ bridge. There’s deep holes -there, made by an eddy. It’s over yer head in one -place.”</p> - -<p>They walked along the bank until they were below -the bridge, and then they resumed their search. -Jack got a long pole and poked it into places where -Ferd said it was too deep to wade, but their efforts -were fruitless. The dress-suit case had disappeared.</p> - -<p>“It’s either been carried a long way downstream, -or else some one saw it and walked off with -it,” declared Jack. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to -do without it. But it’s tough luck.”</p> - -<p>“Where ye goin’ now?” asked Ferd.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, exactly. I must get a place to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -work. Do you know of any farmers around here -who might hire me?”</p> - -<p>“Dunno’s I do. They mostly have all th’ hired -men they need by now. Do ye know anythin’ about -milkin’ cows?”</p> - -<p>Jack shook his head.</p> - -<p>“If ye did; dad might hire ye,” went on the -young farmer. “He needs a hand to milk cows. -Th’ last man we had left because a cow kicked -him.”</p> - -<p>“Then I don’t think I’d care for the place.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, pshaw! A cow kick ain’t nothin’. Their -feet is soft. A hoss hurts when he kicks ye, -though.”</p> - -<p>“I should think he would. I don’t believe I care -to be kicked by either. Well, if you don’t think -there’s any chance to get work around here, I’ll -have to travel on,” and Jack spoke rather wearily.</p> - -<p>“Ye might git a job at th’ dairy where I’m takin’ -this milk,” went on Ferd. “They have lots of men -an’ boys. If you want, I’ll give ye a lift there, an’ -ye kin ask. I know th’ foreman of th’ cheese department.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, I’ll try it. I’m afraid I have put you -to a lot of bother as it is.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, shucks! That ain’t nothin’. I got up -early t’-day, an’ I’ve got lots of time. Usually I’m -two hours later than this bringin’ over th’ milk -from our place.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>“What was your hurry this morning?”</p> - -<p>“I want t’ git back quick, so’s I kin go t’ th’ -circus. I ain’t been t’ one in two year.”</p> - -<p>“Is there a circus coming here?” asked Jack, a -sudden idea coming into his mind.</p> - -<p>“It’s comin’ t’ Mulford; that’s the next town. -It’s a dandy show. I seen th’ pictures. Be ye -goin’?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how I can, very well,” replied Jack, -though he did not say that the reason was because -he had no money. “I must look for a place to -work.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe ye’ll git a job at th’ dairy.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I hope I do, but if I should I couldn’t -leave it to go to a circus.”</p> - -<p>“No, I suppose not. Waal, that’s hard luck. -G’lang there, Dobbin,” this last to his horse. -“Waal, I’m goin’. I’ve been savin’ up fer it over -three months. I’ve got a dollar an’ thirteen cents. -I kin git in fer half a dollar, an’ have sixty-three -cents t’ spend.”</p> - -<p>“I guess you’ll have a good time,” commented -Jack.</p> - -<p>“Betcher boots I will! That’s what I got up so -early fer. Say,” Ferd added, as if a new thought -had come to him, “did ye have yer breakfast?”</p> - -<p>“I had some breakfast,” replied Jack. He -hardly felt like calling it his regular morning meal.</p> - -<p>“I jest happened t’ think they don’t serve meals<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> -in freight cars,” went on the country lad, with a -shrewd smile. “Say, how’d ye like a nice drink of -rich milk? Our cows give fine milk.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like it very much,” answered Jack. “But -can you spare it?”</p> - -<p>“Shucks, yes! I’ve got a hundred an’ sixty -quarts here in these cans. Wait; I’ll git ye a good -drink.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t a cup or a glass,” objected Jack, “and -I’m afraid I can’t drink out of one of those cans.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll fix it,” replied Ferd. He stopped the horse -and then, removing the top of one of the cans, -tilted the receptacle over until a stream of thick, -creamy milk flowed into the cover.</p> - -<p>“There ye are,” he announced. “Drink that, -an’ it’ll make ye feel better.”</p> - -<p>It certainly did. Jack thought it was the best -beverage he had ever had, not even excepting an -ice cream soda.</p> - -<p>The ride was resumed, and soon they came in -sight of a series of low buildings.</p> - -<p>“That’s the dairy,” announced Ferd. “Now -we’ll see if ye kin git a job there.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br /> - - -<small>JACK AT THE CIRCUS</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Ferd</span> drove the wagon up to one of the buildings -where a low, broad platform opened into a room -with a concrete floor, about which stood many milk -cans. In one corner was a big tank, partly filled -with milk.</p> - -<p>Jack was interested in what followed. Greeting -with a cheery “good morning” the man in charge, -Fred proceeded to lift out his cans of milk to -the platform of a scale.</p> - -<p>“Do you weigh the milk?” asked Jack. “I -thought it went by measure.”</p> - -<p>“We weigh it here,” answered the man. -“That’s the way they do at most dairies and cheese -factories.”</p> - -<p>Ferd was given a ticket showing how much milk -he had delivered, and then turning his wagon -about, he drove to a pump that stood on a sort of -elevated tank, with a trough extending from it to -a height convenient for the vehicle.</p> - -<p>“What you going to do now?” asked Jack.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>“Pump up some sour milk for th’ pigs,” replied -Ferd. “After that I’ll take you to th’ foreman -of the cheese factory.”</p> - -<p>He stepped up to the pump and began to work -the handle.</p> - -<p>“Jest hold that trough over one of th’ cans, will -ye?” he asked Jack.</p> - -<p>Our hero did as directed, and, as the country -lad pumped, a stream of curdled milk flowed into -the cans that had just been emptied.</p> - -<p>“This is what’s left after they take out th’ -cream, or use th’ milk for cheese,” explained Ford. -“It’s fine fer pigs. Ours love it, an’ I take some -home every trip.”</p> - -<p>He filled two cans with the refuse part of the -milk, and then, driving his horse out of the way of -any other farmers who might want to get some -of the sour milk for their pigs, for it was given -away by the dairy, Ferd invited Jack to accompany -him.</p> - -<p>“I hope you git a job,” he remarked, in friendly -tones.</p> - -<p>“So do I,” replied Jack. “But if I don’t get one -here I may land a place somewhere else,” for he -had a certain plan in his mind, though he did not -want to speak about it.</p> - -<p>“Hey, Si,” called Ferd to a good-natured looking -man, who stood in the doorway of another low -building. “How be ye?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>“Pritty tol’able. How’s yerself?”</p> - -<p>“Fine. I got up early t’ go t’ th’ circus. Here’s -a friend of mine. Can’t ye give him a job turnin’ -cheeses?” For cheeses have to be turned around -quite often to “ripen” properly, and it is quite a -task in a dairy where they make hundreds of them.</p> - -<p>“Waal, now, if you’d come yist’day I could ’a’ -done it,” replied Silas Martin, who was foreman -of the cheese department. “But we put a feller on -last night, an’ there ain’t no place now.”</p> - -<p>“Is there any other opening here?” asked Jack, -speaking for himself.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe there is,” replied the foreman. -“I’d be glad to give you a place if I had one, but -I can’t. Do you like cheese?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I’m quite fond of it,” answered Jack.</p> - -<p>“Come in and I’ll give you some that’s nice and -mild,” went on Mr. Martin. “Want t’ take some -home, Ferd? Your daddy likes it. It’s full -cream, and it’s just right.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” replied Jack’s new friend.</p> - -<p>The two boys went into the cheese room, which -smelled quite appetizing. The foreman gave them -each large portions of cheese, wrapped in paper.</p> - -<p>“This will help out on my meals,” thought Jack.</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute,” called Mr. Martin, as the -boys were about to leave. “There’s suthin’ that -allers goes with cheese. Can ye guess what it is?” -he asked.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>“Crackers?” replied our hero questioningly.</p> - -<p>“Crackers is one thing, an’ apple pie’s another. -My wife put me up a lunch this mornin’ an’ I guess -she thought I must have a terrible appetite. I’ve -got more’n I want.”</p> - -<p>He went to a closet and came back with some -crisp crackers, and two large pieces of pie, which -he insisted that the boys take.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got twice as much left as I kin eat,” he -said.</p> - -<p>Jack accepted his portion with many thanks, -and Ferd put his in one of his big pockets. When -he got outside he said to Jack:</p> - -<p>“Say, I ain’t got no use fer this. I had a hearty -breakfast, and I’ll have a bully dinner before I go -to th’ circus. Take this.”</p> - -<p>He handed over his cheese, pie, and crackers.</p> - -<p>“Sure you don’t want it?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“Sure not. It might come in handy fer you if -ye—if ye ain’t got no money.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I certainly haven’t any money, and I’ll -take this very gladly, if you don’t want it.”</p> - -<p>“Naw. I don’t want it. Say, if ye’ll come -back with me I’ll see that ye git a good dinner.”</p> - -<p>“I’m ever so much obliged to you,” replied -Jack. “But I think I’ll go on. If I thought I -could get a job at your farm I’d go with you, but -I know nothing about milking or work about cows<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -and horses. I think I’ll travel on. But I want to -thank you for what you’ve done for me.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, that’s all right,” responded Ferd. “I -wish I could ’a’ helped ye find th’ satchel thet fell -in th’ creek.”</p> - -<p>“So do I, but I guess it’s gone.”</p> - -<p>Bidding good-by to the kind and hospitable -farm lad, Jack, who had inquired the shortest way -to Mulford, set out for that town, carrying the -food supplies which had so unexpectedly been -given him.</p> - -<p>“Luck is beginning to turn my way,” he -thought. “When I get to where the circus is I’m -going to try and get a job there.”</p> - -<p>It was quite a tramp to Mulford, and it was -noon when Jack came in sight of the town, which -lay in a sheltered valley. He could see the white -tents of the circus, gay with many colored flags, -and his heart beat faster, as does that of every boy -when he nears the scene where one of the canvas-sheltered -shows hold forth.</p> - -<p>Though it was early, there was quite a crowd -about, watching the men erect some of the smaller -tents, arranging the wagons, or cooking the dinner -for the performers and helpers.</p> - -<p>“Guess I’ll eat my lunch, and then look about,” -decided Jack. The crackers, cheese, and pie tasted -most excellent, and when he had taken a long<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -drink from a spring, which served to supply the -circus, he felt in shape to look about for a job.</p> - -<p>He strolled over to where a gang of men were -putting up a tent. Something seemed to be going -wrong, and the man in charge was out of patience.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you gazaboos?” he -asked tartly. “You pull on the wrong rope every -time. Here, haul on the other one, I tell you! -What’s the matter with you? Do you want this -tent to get up to-day or some time next week? -Yank on that other rope, I tell you! Good land! -You’re worse than a lot of monkeys! Pull on that -short rope!” he fairly yelled.</p> - -<p>The particular man at whom he was directing -his remarks did not appear to understand. He -pulled on a long rope, instead of a short one, and -the tent, which was nearly up, was about to fall -down. Jack saw what was wanted. He sprang -forward, and, just in time to save the big stretch -of canvas from collapsing, he hauled on the proper -rope, pulling it into place.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I wanted,” said the man in -charge. “It’s a pity you fellers wouldn’t take lessons -off that lad. He don’t need a tent-stake hammer -to have sense knocked into his head. Hold -that rope a minute, sonny, and I’ll come over there -and fasten it. I never see such a lot of dumb -idiots in all my born days!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>Jack held the rope until the man took it from -him, and fastened it properly.</p> - -<p>“I’m much obliged to you,” he said gratefully -to our hero. “Only for you the whole blamed -business would have been on the ground.”</p> - -<p>“You’re welcome,” answered Jack. Then a -sudden idea came to him. “You don’t want any -more helpers, do you?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Well, I do need a couple of hands,” was the -rather unexpected answer. “If you want to stick -around, and help out, I’ll give you a couple of -tickets to the show.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do it,” replied Jack, for he had a further -scheme he wanted to try and this just fitted in -with it.</p> - -<p>“All right,” spoke the man in charge of the -tents. “Come with me. I’ll find something for -you to do.”</p> - -<p>Jack was soon engaged in helping put up other -tents, in carrying gasoline torches here and there, -filling them, and getting ready for the night performance, -though the afternoon one had not yet -been held. Several times the man who had engaged -him came around to see how he was getting -on.</p> - -<p>“You’re all right, kid,” he said heartily. -“You’ll do. I wish I had a few more like you. -Here, just take this note over to the ticket wagon. -Tell the man Ike Landon, the boss canvasman,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -sent you. He’ll give you a couple of good seats. -I guess you can knock off now. We’re in pretty -good shape.”</p> - -<p>He scribbled something on a piece of paper and -handed it to Jack, who took it over to the ticket -wagon. It was drawing close to the time for the -performance, and there was quite a throng in front -of the gaudily painted vehicle.</p> - -<p>As Jack was working his way through the press -to the window, he heard a familiar voice ask:</p> - -<p>“Waal, are ye goin’ to th’ show? Thought ye -didn’t have no money.”</p> - -<p>“Why, Ferd,” exclaimed Jack, recognizing his -friend of the milk wagon. “I’m glad to see you,” -he went on. “Have you bought your ticket yet?”</p> - -<p>“Nope, but I’m goin’ to.”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute, then. I can get two, and I’ll -give you one.”</p> - -<p>“Two? How ye goin’ to git two?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll show you.”</p> - -<p>By this time Jack had managed to reach the -window. He handed in the note, saying:</p> - -<p>“Ike Landon, the boss canvasman, sent me with -that.”</p> - -<p>“It’s all right,” replied the ticket man, as he -glanced at the piece of paper. “Here are a couple -of reserved seats.”</p> - -<p>“Say, ye’re a peach!” exclaimed Ferd admiringly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -when Jack gave him one of the pasteboard -slips. “How’d ye do it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I pulled the right rope in time,” replied -Jack, as he and his new friend went inside the tent, -where the band was playing a lively air.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br /> - - -<small>JACK DOES A STUNT</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Say</span>, ain’t this bully!” exclaimed Ferd, as the -procession which begins each circus performance -wound slowly around the arena. “It’s immense! -I wouldn’t ’a’ missed it fer a lot. I’m glad I met -you. Now I’ve got half a dollar more to spend -on stuff to eat. Besides, this is a better seat than -I would ’a’ got.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the seats are all right,” admitted Jack.</p> - -<p>“Ain’t you hungry?” went on Ferd, though he -did not take his eyes off the procession of animals, -chariots and performers. “I am,” he continued, -not waiting for an answer. “Let’s have some hot -frankfurter sandwiches.”</p> - -<p>A man with a basket of them was passing -among the audience. Jack eyed the brown sausages, -in between the white rolls, with a hungry -eye. The crackers, cheese, and pie had not been -very “filling.”</p> - -<p>“Hey, there! Give us some of them,” called -Ferd to the man.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>“How many? Speak quick. I’ve got to get out -of here in a hurry, before the performance begins,” -replied the vender.</p> - -<p>“Four,” replied the farmer boy. “Ye can eat -two, can’t ye?” he inquired of Jack, who nodded -his head in assent.</p> - -<p>“Say, these are all right,” remarked the runaway -lad, as he munched the meat and bread, on -which had been spread a liberal quantity of mustard. -“I’m glad I met you, Ferd.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’re even. But here comes the acrobats. -I like to watch ’em,” he added, as the procession -came to an end, amid a blare of trumpets, -and the show proper began.</p> - -<p>It was like any other traveling circus, better -than some, but not as good as the large ones, even -though the gaudy posters did announce that the -“Combined Bower & Brewster Aggregation of -Monster Menagerie, Hippodrome, Amphitheatre -and Colossal Exhibition challenged comparison -with any similar amusement enterprise in the entire -world.”</p> - -<p>“Look at that clown!” exclaimed Ferd. “Why, -there’s a whole lot of ’em,” he added. “Gosh! -but this is great! I never saw such a good show! -I don’t know which way to look!”</p> - -<p>In fact, so many things were going on at the -same time that it was difficult to select any particular -feature for observation.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>There were men and women on high trapezes, -others doing balancing feats on elevated platforms, -still others performing on the backs of -horses, while in a ring near the two boys ten elephants -were being put through their paces.</p> - -<p>Jack had often been to a circus before, and now, -from a reason for which he could hardly account, -he paid particular attention to the antics of the -clowns.</p> - -<p>“I believe I could do as good as some of them, -with a little practice,” he thought. “What is -needed is some sort of funny stunt to make the -people laugh. It doesn’t much matter what it is, -as long as it’s funny.”</p> - -<p>The clowns did seem to cause considerable -laughter. Some of them had trained dogs, pigs or -roosters which they used in their act. Others had -a partner who aided them in provoking smiles or -shouts of glee. Some did acrobatic stunts, some -sang or danced, and one, with the help of a companion, -acted as a barber using a whitewash brush -to spread the lather on his partner’s face.</p> - -<p>“This is the kind of life that would suit me for -a while,” said Jack to himself. “I’d like to travel -with a circus, and I believe I could do as good as -some of those clowns, if I had a chance. What’s -more, I’m going to try for a job here. I’ll ask the -boss canvasman if there isn’t a chance. I’d just -like to be with the show, and maybe I could earn<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -enough money in the season to pay my way to -China, and see what has happened to my folks.”</p> - -<p>This thought so occupied Jack that he paid little -attention to the performance. He made up his -mind he would seek out one of the managers, as -soon as the show was over, and make his request.</p> - -<p>“Say! Look at that! Did ye see it?” suddenly -exclaimed Ferd.</p> - -<p>“See what?”</p> - -<p>“Why, that man jumped over ten elephants in a -line!”</p> - -<p>“That’s pretty good,” remarked Jack indifferently.</p> - -<p>“Pretty good? I should say it was. I’d like -to see you do it.”</p> - -<p>“I think I’ll do it,” spoke Jack, who had just -arrived at a certain decision.</p> - -<p>“What? Jump over ten elephants?” asked his -companion, in astonishment. “Say, are you -dreamin’?”</p> - -<p>“That’s right; I guess I was,” admitted Jack, -with a laugh. “I was thinking about something -else.”</p> - -<p>“Guess you don’t care much about a circus,” -said Ferd.</p> - -<p>“I’m thinking too much of getting a job,” replied -Jack.</p> - -<p>Ferd shook his head as if he could not understand -Jack’s indifference. After the performance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -the farm boy wanted to treat Jack to popcorn, -soda, and more frankfurters. Jack declined -everything but the sausage sandwiches.</p> - -<p>“I can save them to eat when I’m hungry,” he -said in explanation. “I may need a meal to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you come home and stay with me -a few days?” suggested Ferd. “My folks -wouldn’t care, and maybe you could get a job -somewhere in the neighborhood.”</p> - -<p>Jack thanked his new friend, but said he had -other plans. A little later he parted from Ferd, -and, by inquiring, he found the boss canvasman, -who was taking a rest after his labors in superintending -the erection of the tents.</p> - -<p>Jack explained what he wanted—an introduction -to the manager, who had charge of hiring the -performers.</p> - -<p>“Sure I’ll take you to him,” replied Ike Landon, -“only I don’t believe you can do anything he’d -want. Circus performers have to train for a good -while.”</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe I can do something to earn a -little,” replied Jack. “Where will I find the manager? -What’s his name?”</p> - -<p>“His name is Jim Paine, and he’s a strict manager, -let me tell you. But if you make good, why, -he’s all right. Come on over and I’ll introduce -you to him.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>Jack followed the canvasman across the circus -grounds, from which most of the audience had -gone. Preparations were already under way for -the evening performance.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Paine, here’s a lad who wants to join our -circus,” remarked Landon, with a grin, as he presented -Jack. “He did me a good turn this morning, -and I’d like to help him if I could.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum!” exclaimed the manager, looking -at Jack sharply. The runaway noticed that Mr. -Paine was a very pompous sort of person. He -wore a red vest, with yellow spots on it, a big red -tie, in which sparkled a large stone, and he had -an immense watch chain.</p> - -<p>Jack wondered if the manager was not going -to say anything more than “Ha! Hum!” But -presently the big man made another remark.</p> - -<p>“What can you do?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Well, not very much, perhaps,” replied Jack. -“I’d like to learn to be a clown, but I’d be willing -to knock around and do almost anything for a -while, until I learned the business.”</p> - -<p>“Run away from home?” asked the manager -snappily.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Jack quickly, determined to tell -as much as was necessary of what had happened.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! First time I ever knew a boy -who had run away from home to admit it,” spoke<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -the manager. “You deserve credit for that, anyway. -What’s the trouble?”</p> - -<p>Thereupon Jack told of the unjust accusation of -the old professor, and what had happened to him -since he had left Westville.</p> - -<p>“So you want to be a clown, eh?” said the manager -when Jack’s story was finished. “Had any -training?”</p> - -<p>“I used to take the part in amateur shows me -and my chums got up, and I did a stunt on a vaudeville -stage one night.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s see what you can do?”</p> - -<p>Jack’s heart beat fast. Here was the very -chance he wanted. Could he “make good?” So -much depended on the first impression.</p> - -<p>“Is there a place where I can make-up?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>“Make-up? Do you know how to make-up?”</p> - -<p>“A little bit.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if Ike Landon says you helped him, you -must be all right, for he’s a hard man to please. -If you’re going to have a try-out, you might as -well do it proper. You can go to the dressing-tent.”</p> - -<p>“Where is it?”</p> - -<p>“Right over there,” and the manager pointed. -“Ike will show you. Tell Sam Kyle to give him -a hand,” the manager called after the boss canvasman. -“I’ll wait here for him,” he added.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>“Say, you’re in luck,” said Ike. “It ain’t many -he’d give such a chance to. Do you know what -you’re going to do?”</p> - -<p>“A little.”</p> - -<p>Jack was introduced to a small, fat man, who, -in the men’s dressing-tent, was busy washing the -red and white paint off his face.</p> - -<p>“Sam is the head clown,” explained the canvasman. -“He’s been in the business—let’s see, how -long is it now, Sam?”</p> - -<p>“Forty years this season. I was one of the first -clowns that Barnum ever hired. You’ll find some -grease paint over there,” he added to Jack; and -then he and the canvasman began to talk about -matters connected with the circus, paying no more -attention to the runaway lad.</p> - -<p>Jack was quite nervous, but he made-up after -an original idea of his own. He turned his coat -and vest wrongside out, and, with the aid of Ike, -put them on backwards. Then, feeling rather -foolish over what he was about to do, he stepped -from the dressing-tent and walked over to where -the manager had said he would wait for him.</p> - -<p>Several of the performers who saw Jack emerge -laughed at his curious costume and “make-up.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I must look funny, no matter how I -feel,” he said. “I hope I can do my funny dance.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum!” exclaimed the manager, when he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> -saw Jack. “That’s not so bad. Let’s see what -you can do.”</p> - -<p>A crowd of performers, and some of the circus -helpers, gathered in a ring about the boy. -Then Jack began. He repeated some of the -things he had done in the theatre at home, but -added to them. He sang, he danced, and cut all -sorts of capers, gaining more and more confidence -in himself as he heard the crowd laughing. He -even detected a smile on the rather grim face of -the manager.</p> - -<p>Then, to cap his performance, Jack caught up a -couple of paper-covered hoops, or rings, similar -to those through which some of the performers -jumped from the backs of running horses. Holding -these under his arms, like a pair of wings, he -began to imitate a clumsy bird. He hopped up on -a board that rested across a saw-horse, and, from -that elevation, pretended to fly to the ground, but -doing it so grotesquely that he stepped through -both hoops and was all tangled up in them.</p> - -<p>This produced some hearty laughs, and one or -two of the women performers applauded, for Ike -had whispered to them what Jack’s trial meant.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! Not so bad,” remarked the manager, -though his voice was not very cordial. -“That imitation flying was well done. That -might be worked up. I think we can use another -clown, as I’m one short. I’ll engage you, young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> -man. You’ll get ten dollars a week, and your -board, of course. Can you come right on the -road?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! Well, perhaps we can work you -into shape. You need some practice, but it’s not -so bad; it’s not so bad. You can consider yourself -engaged. Report to Sam Kyle.”</p> - -<p>Jack could hardly believe his good luck. An -hour before he had not known where his next meal -was coming from. Now he was engaged as a -clown in a large circus.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br /> - - -<small>PLANNING AN ACT</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Say</span>,” remarked Ike Landon, when Jack had -made his way through the little ring of performers, -“you did better than I thought you would. -The old man—I mean the boss—is mighty hard to -please. If you attend strictly to business now, -there’s no reason why you can’t become a first-class -performer.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to try,” said Jack. “I need the -money for a particular purpose, for I’m determined -to locate my folks if I can. I’ll do my -best.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell Sam to give you a few pointers. He -knows the business from A to Z, backwards and -forwards, and he isn’t jealous of a new performer -like lots of ’em in this game. You stick to Sam -and you’ll be all right.”</p> - -<p>“Do you suppose I can perform to-night?” -asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. Maybe so. Ask Sam.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>Jack found the head clown eating his early supper -in the big dining-tent.</p> - -<p>“Sit down and eat with me,” invited Mr. Kyle, -when Ike had related the result of the runaway’s -trial. “I don’t like to cut up capers on a full -stomach,” he went on, “so I eat early. Well, I -hear you made good.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Paine seemed to like what I did, though -I don’t know that it was very funny,” replied Jack -modestly.</p> - -<p>“It’s not so easy to make people laugh,” spoke -the old clown. “I’ve known elaborate acts to fall -as flat as a pancake, and, again, some simple little -thing would bring roars of laughter. It all depends -on how it’s done. I’ve been at it forty -years, and I’ve still got things to learn.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think it’s a good thing to have a specialty?” -asked Jack, as he began to eat of the plain -but wholesome food which a waiter set before him.</p> - -<p>“The best thing in the world. My specialty is -taking the part of animals, and I may say I’ve -been quite successful. If you can get up a novel -act, something that’s up-to-date, and which will -hit the popular fancy, you’re all right.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Kyle spoke quite seriously, and it seemed -rather odd to see him thus, when Jack remembered -what a queer figure he had presented while -in the ring, attired as a big rooster.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>“I was thinking of getting up some special act,” -said Jack.</p> - -<p>“What was it?” asked Sam quickly. “You -want to be careful of one thing,” he went on. -“Don’t try to imitate any of the other clowns. If -you do they’ll get down on you. Besides, one act -of a kind is enough. What were you thinking of -trying?”</p> - -<p>“I thought some stunt that had to do with a -flying machine wouldn’t be bad,” replied Jack. -“You know there’s so much of that going on now -that the public is interested. I might get up something -to look like an airship, pretend to fly in it, -and come tumbling down. Do you think that -would take?”</p> - -<p>“It might. At any rate, it wouldn’t be any harm -to try.”</p> - -<p>“I was wondering how I could get a make-believe -airship made.”</p> - -<p>“Why, Pete Delafield, the property man, will -help you out if you ask him. He makes all the -things the other clowns and I use in our acts. Of -course you can’t get it for to-night, though.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, I don’t expect to. I’ll have to plan it -out, and think up how I’m going to act. Where -can I find Mr. Delafield?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll take you to him after we finish eating. -You’ll go on to-night, won’t you?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>“Mr. Paine didn’t say anything about it, but -I’d like to, if you think I’m good enough.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it won’t much matter at night. You can -go out in the ring when I go, and do your stunt. -Even if the audience doesn’t laugh at you, you’ll -gain confidence, so when you’re ready with your -airship act you’ll not be afraid.”</p> - -<p>“That will be a good idea,” replied Jack. “I’m -much obliged to you.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right. I’ll go with you to Pete -Delafield in a minute.”</p> - -<p>While Mr. Kyle was finishing his second cup of -coffee, a stout man, whose manner at once proclaimed -that he was inclined to be nervous and -fussy, approached.</p> - -<p>“I say, Sam,” he began. “What do you think -of this? ‘A Death-Defying Double Dive Down a -Dangerous, Darksome, Decapitated Declivity.’ -That’s to advertise the new bicycle ride down a -broken incline, which we’re going to spring next -week. How does that sound to you?”</p> - -<p>“I’d say ‘descent’ instead of ‘dive,’” suggested -Mr. Kyle. “There’s no water in it, is there?”</p> - -<p>“No, but I might have ’em put a tank under it. -But I guess you’re right. I’ll change it,” and he -hurried away, writing as he went on a bit of paper, -and murmuring to himself: “Death-Defying Descent -Down,” etc. Jack looked at the head clown, -as if asking who the man was.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>“That’s Nolan Waddleton, our adjective man,” -said Mr. Kyle.</p> - -<p>“The adjective man?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. He gets up all the big words to describe -the special acts and attractions. Maybe he’ll be -putting yours in big type on the posters some -day.”</p> - -<p>“Not much hope of that.”</p> - -<p>“You never can tell, my boy. You may make -a big hit. I hope you do. But come on, now, -we’ll go see the property man.”</p> - -<p>Jack was introduced to Mr. Delafield, who -agreed to make Jack as good an imitation of a -small airship as possible, provided the boy would -describe what he wanted.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have it for you the middle of next week,” -he said. “I’ve got to make a fake automobile for -Ted Chester,” he added to Mr. Kyle.</p> - -<p>“Is Ted going to do an auto stunt?” asked the -head clown. “That’s pretty stale now.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Ted thinks he can freshen it up. It’s -none of my affair. I’m here to obey orders.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so, but I don’t believe Ted will make -a hit with an auto. He had one last season, and -the people are sort of getting tired of them.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I say, but you can’t convince -Ted.”</p> - -<p>“No, I suppose not. Well, Jack, come on over<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> -to my tent, and I’ll give you a few pointers about -to-night. I want to see you make good,” and the -kind old clown led our hero over to the rehearsing -tent, a part of which was screened off for his own -use.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br /> - - -<small>HIS FIRST PERFORMANCE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Jack</span> was more nervous than he had thought -he would be when he got ready for his first performance -that evening. Under Mr. Kyle’s direction -he painted his face, and then he donned a suit -belonging to a clown who had left the circus because -of ill health.</p> - -<p>“Well, you look, as good as the average clown,” -said Jack’s friend when the boy was fully attired. -“Now, it’s what you do that will count to-night, -and until you get your new act. Then you may -find it easier to make a hit. Don’t be nervous. -You may think all in the tent are looking at you, -but they’re not. Go ahead just as if you were doing -it for Mr. Paine. He’s the one that counts, -for if he doesn’t like your act he’ll discharge you.”</p> - -<p>“I hope I can do as well as I did this afternoon,” -said Jack.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you will, I’m sure. Just remember what -I told you. When you speak, speak slowly and -distinctly. A falsetto voice carries a good distance.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> -I used to be able to manage one, but I -can’t any more. I’m too old. But you can.”</p> - -<p>There was a glamour about the circus at night -that was absent in the daytime. Under the flickering -gasolene torches the dingiest suit looked fine, -and the spangles sparkled as they never would in -the sun.</p> - -<p>The band struck up a lively air. Once more the -procession of performers and animals paraded -around the big tent. Jack felt his heart beating -loudly. So far he only saw the bright side of the -circus life. It was all gaiety and excitement to -him now. But he was soon to know the other -and darker side.</p> - -<p>“We’ll go on in a minute, now,” said Sam Kyle -to Jack. “You certainly know how to make up -well. Lots of clowns take a year to learn that.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Kyle was adjusting a long black patch over -one eye, making his appearance more grotesque -than before. Suddenly the band stopped playing. -The last of the procession, having finished the circuit, -wound out of the ring. Then came a blare -of trumpets.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” cried Sam, and he ran from the -dressing-tent into the big canvas-covered arena, -where the performance had started. Other clowns -followed him, and a score of additional performers—acrobats, -tumblers and tight-rope walkers—ran -out. Jack followed more slowly. This was to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> -be the real test. He wondered how he would succeed.</p> - -<p>He decided he would repeat the same thing he -had done for the manager that afternoon. He had -secured several of the paper-covered hoops, and -he resolved to give as odd an imitation of a man -trying to fly as possible.</p> - -<p>Once he had passed beyond the canvas curtain -that shut off the dressing-tent from the main one, -Jack beheld a scene that he long remembered. In -the light of the big gasolene torches, high up on -the tent poles, he saw many performers going -through their acts. There came to his nostrils the -smell of freshly-turned earth that formed the ring -banks, the damp sawdust, the odor of wild animals, -the stifling whiff of gasolene. He heard the -music of the band, the shouts of the ringmasters, -the high, shrill laughter of the clowns. And he -heard other sounds. They were the merry shouts -and applause of the big audience.</p> - -<p>For there was a large throng present. Jack -looked about on the sloping banks of people. -Their faces showed curiously white and their eyes -oddly black in the brilliant lights. Jack’s mind -was in a whirl.</p> - -<p>But he was suddenly roused from his daze by -a sharp voice calling to him.</p> - -<p>“Say, what’s the matter with you? Going to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> -stand there all day? What are you paid for? -Get busy! Do something!”</p> - -<p>Then came the sharp crack of a whip, and Jack -jumped, for the end of the lash had caught him -on the legs, which were but thinly protected with -his cotton clown suit.</p> - -<p>“Jump lively!” cried the voice, and Jack turned -to see Otto Mitz, the ringmaster, in his dress-suit -and white gloves, waving his long whip. Once -more the lash came curling toward Jack, but he -jumped aside in time to avoid it. There was a -laugh from that portion of the audience in front -of which he stood. Doubtless they thought it was -part of the show.</p> - -<p>With anger in his heart at the man who had -been so needlessly cruel, Jack broke into a little -run. Though he had not known it, he was suffering -a little bit from “stage fright.” The ringmaster -had cured him of it. The boy felt a fierce -desire to make the people laugh heartily—to show -that he could “make good.”</p> - -<p>He began his antics. Selecting a portion of the -large outer ring where there were no other clowns, -Jack did a funny dance, interspersed with snatches -of songs, though the band rather interfered with -this. Then seeing a board and a saw-horse near -him, he put them into place, so that he might jump -from the end of the plank, in his pretended flying -act.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>Flapping the big paper hoops, as a bird does -its wings, Jack leaped from the end of the springboard. -He tangled himself all up in the rings, one -coming around his neck and the other encircling -his legs. Then flapping his arms like the sails of -an old-fashioned windmill, he trotted off amid the -laughter and applause of the throng.</p> - -<p>He had been told by Sam Kyle that all the -clowns repeated their acts four times, in different -parts of the ring, so that the entire audience might -see them. Bearing this in mind, Jack prepared to -go through the same stunt a little farther along. -He succeeded even better than at first, and his -funny antics earned him loud applause.</p> - -<p>“Ha! hum! Not so bad,” murmured a voice -near him, as he finished his second attempt. He -looked up and saw Mr. Paine.</p> - -<p>“Keep it up, my boy,” said the manager. “I -guess you’ll do.”</p> - -<p>Jack was grateful for the praise, and almost -forgot the mean ringmaster, though his leg still -smarted where the lash had struck him.</p> - -<p>But if Jack thought he was to have such an -easy time winning success, he was mistaken. He -was going through his turn for the fourth and -last time when, just as he “flew” from the end -of the board, Ted Chester came along, doing a -stunt in a miniature automobile in which he sat, -propelling it with his feet. Unfortunately, Jack<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> -landed right in front of the other clown, who ran -into him, upsetting himself and overturning the -auto.</p> - -<p>This time the crowd applauded more heartily -than ever. They thought it was done purposely. -Jack arose, trying to untangle himself from the -paper hoops, in which he found himself fastened -differently than at any time before. He was surprised -to see Ted Chester glaring at him.</p> - -<p>“You did that on purpose!” exclaimed the older -clown in a low voice. “You wanted to spoil my -act.”</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t. It was an accident,” replied -Jack, rubbing his shin where he had struck it on -the small auto.</p> - -<p>“I say you did! I’ll fix you! I’ll complain to -Mr. Paine, that’s what I’ll do. I’m not going to -the trouble of getting up a good act to have a -green kid like you put it on the blink. Get out -of my way or I’ll punch your head. I’ll get even -with you for this,” and he shook his fist in Jack’s -face.</p> - -<p>The audience took this for part of a pre-arranged -act, and shouted their approval at the quarrel -between the two clowns. This made Ted -madder than ever.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have you fired!” he exclaimed as he righted -the auto and started off with it. “I’ll not work -in a ring where there are such clumsy dolts as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -you. What’s the profession coming to when they -take in green kids that don’t know anything about -acting? But you won’t be with the show to-morrow, -I’ll guarantee that!”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean to interfere with you,” said Jack. -“It was an accident.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ve heard that story before,” sneered -Ted. “You wanted to spoil my act. You’re jealous -of me because I get the most applause. So are -the other clowns. I shouldn’t wonder but what -some of ’em put you up to it. But I’ll get square -with you and them, too.”</p> - -<p>“Nobody put me up to it. It was an accident,” -insisted the young clown, but Ted, without answering, -made his way to the dressing-tent.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV<br /> - - -<small>JACK HAS ENEMIES</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> circus performance was almost over. They -were getting ready for the chariot and other races -which would bring the program to an end. Jack -went to the tent where he had made-up as a clown. -He found scores of the men performers getting -off their ring outfits and putting on their regular -garments. The clowns were washing off the grease -paint.</p> - -<p>“There he is now!” exclaimed a voice as Jack -entered the tent. “There’s the fresh kid that -spoiled my act. He did it on purpose, too. If I -find out who put him up to it——”</p> - -<p>“Look here!” exclaimed Jack, who intended to -maintain his rights. “You needn’t say that, for -it isn’t so. I’ve told you it was an accident.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I say it wasn’t.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the row?” asked Sam Kyle, coming into -the tent after a burst of applause had testified -to his abilities as an entertainer. “What’s up,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> -Ted? You seem angry, my child,” and he assumed -a playful, theatrical air.</p> - -<p>“Cut that out!” replied Ted in a surly tone.</p> - -<p>“Ah, you are peevish, little one,” went on Sam, -who was a great joker, outside as well as inside -the ring.</p> - -<p>“Ted says the new kid spoiled his auto act,” -remarked a clown whose specialty was to lead a -little dog about the ring with a rope big enough -to hold a battleship fastened on the beast’s neck.</p> - -<p>“That’s what he did,” spoke Ted. “He jumped -right down on me with those paper hoops, and -spoiled my act.”</p> - -<p>“It was an accident,” put in Jack hotly.</p> - -<p>“We’ll see what Mr. Paine thinks,” went on -Ted wrathfully. “I’m going to report to him.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll report to me first,” declared Sam. “I’m -in charge of this part of the show. Jack, let’s hear -your story.”</p> - -<p>Without stopping to remove his clown dress, -Jack told exactly what had happened, and how -the thing had occurred so quickly that it had been.</p> - -<p>“Now it’s your turn,” said the head clown to -Ted, and the latter made it appear that it was -Jack’s fault. Some of the other performers, however, -had seen what had taken place, and their -version made it clear that it was an accident.</p> - -<p>“You can report to Mr. Paine if you want to,” -said Sam, when he had declared that he believed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> -our hero, “but that’s all the good it will do. Jack -stays.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he does, eh?” replied Ted. “We’ll see -about that.”</p> - -<p>But he did not go to Mr. Paine, for which Jack -was grateful, for the boy thought perhaps, in spite -of Sam Kyle being his friend, the manager might -discharge him.</p> - -<p>“Don’t mind Ted,” said the head clown as he -took Jack aside and showed him how best to remove -the grease paint from his face. “He thinks -every performer is trying to spoil his act. He’s -jealous, that’s all. But look out for him. He’ll -try to make trouble for you, and he has an ugly -temper. Keep away from that part of the ring -where he is, and you’ll get along all right. I -watched you to-night. You did pretty well. Keep -at it.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” replied Jack gratefully. “I think I -can do a better act when I get my flying machine. -Where do we show next?”</p> - -<p>“At Haddington. That’s a big city. But you’d -better hustle, now, and get to the train.”</p> - -<p>Jack finished removing his make-up, and then -donned his street clothes. He was given a trunk -by Sam, in which to put his clown outfit and some -tubes of grease paint. So far his baggage was -very light.</p> - -<p>“Come on with me and I’ll see that you get a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> -place in the sleeping-car,” said Sam, for the Bower -& Brewster Show had its own special train, with -quarters for the hundreds of performers, employees -and animals.</p> - -<p>Outside the dressing-tent Jack found that very -little of the circus remained. The menagerie had -entirely disappeared, and now men were beginning -to take down the big tent. It was quite a -different scene from the one of an hour before. -Then it had been light, lively and gay, with strains -of music and the laughter of the crowd.</p> - -<p>Now it was dark; on all sides were rumbling -wagons drawn by struggling horses, and men were -shouting and calling to one another, trying to get -their vehicles loaded so they could drive them to -the flatcars by which they were transported. Yet -though there was seeming confusion, everything -was done by a careful system.</p> - -<p>Jack found that the interior of the sleeping-car -was not much like the regular Pullmans. But -it answered the purpose, and he soon followed the -example of the other circus performers and -crawled into his bunk. He was tired, yet the excitement -of what he had gone through kept him -awake. Then, too, there were many disturbing -noises caused by making up the train and loading -the big wagons containing the tents, poles, supplies -and animal cages.</p> - -<p>Gentle snores on all sides of him told Jack that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> -his companions were not disturbed by what, to -him, were unusual things, for they fell asleep almost -as soon as their heads touched the pillows. -Finally sharp whistles of the locomotives told him -that the train was ready to start, and soon he felt -himself being lulled to slumber by the motion of -the car and the steady click-clack as the wheels -passed over the rail joints.</p> - -<p>He was roused from his sleep by some one -shaking him, and he looked up to see the good-natured -face of Sam Kyle looking in on him.</p> - -<p>“Time for breakfast,” announced the head -clown.</p> - -<p>“Breakfast? Is there a dining-car on the -train?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, for the manager and the star performers, -but we’ll take ours in the tent.”</p> - -<p>“The tent? I thought—why—are we at the -next place where we’re going to show?”</p> - -<p>“That’s what,” answered Sam. “Come on. -It’s only a short walk to the grounds, and if you -don’t hustle there may be no steak left.”</p> - -<p>Jack looked from the window of his berth. He -saw that the train was in a railroad yard, and -from the flatcars men were sliding down the big -animal cages.</p> - -<p>He hurriedly dressed, made his toilet in the -washroom of the car, and went out to find Sam -waiting for him. They were soon at the circus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> -grounds, and the boy clown saw a crowd of men -laying out the canvas for the big tent. The animal -tent was already up, as was the dining one. While -Jack had been sleeping the circus employees had -been busy at work.</p> - -<p>Many performers were arriving from the train, -and there was an appetizing smell of coffee and -meat on the fresh morning air. Gathered about -were scores of small boys, and Jack remembered -the time when he, as a little lad, used to get up -early to see the circus come in. Men were leading -the camels and elephants to water, hundreds of -horses were being driven here and there, there -was the rumble of heavy wagons containing tents -and poles, the deeper thunder of the wheels of -the chariots and gilded cages that went in the -street parade, the sound of men yelling and shouting—seemingly -confusion added to confusion. -Yet slowly order was coming out of disorder.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” advised Sam. “There’s a good -meal waiting for us, and we don’t want to be left.”</p> - -<p>Jack followed his friend toward the dining-tent. -As he passed the heavy cage containing the hippopotamus, -he heard a man, concealed on one side -of it, saying:</p> - -<p>“He says it was an accident, but I know better. -Some one put him up to it. I’ll spoil his act the -first chance I get. I’ll be even with him.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I’ll help you,” spoke another voice,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> -and then Jack saw Otto Mitz, the ringmaster, and -Ted Chester walking away.</p> - -<p>Jack had made two mean enemies since joining -the circus, and through no fault of his own, -for though he could understand why the clown -should bear him a grudge, from not understanding -how the accident had occurred, he saw no reason -for the ringmaster holding enmity against him.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI<br /> - - -<small>THE FLYING MACHINE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Breakfast</span> was a much better meal than Jack -had expected, from knowing the hurried manner -in which it must have had to be prepared and -under what adverse circumstances. But he was to -learn that a circus cannot afford not to feed its -employees and performers well, and that the -preparation and cooking of meals had been reduced -to a science. Large stoves were carried on -wagons, the sides of which dropped down, making -a regular kitchen. Soup was cooked in immense -caldrons, and the supplies, which had been contracted -for in advance, the bread, meat, milk, vegetables, -as well as fodder for the animals, had been -brought to the circus grounds by local dealers before -daylight.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad we’ve had good weather this week,” -observed Sam as he finished his third cup of coffee.</p> - -<p>“Why? Did it rain much before I joined?” -asked Jack, feeling somewhat of a veteran already, -though it was only his second day with the show.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>“Did it? Well, I should crack my grease -paint!” Which was the clown’s way of remarking -that he should smile. “It rained for three days -straight.”</p> - -<p>“And you have to show in the rain, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Rain or shine, we go on. Only it’s not much -fun. It’s cold and dreary, and the crowds don’t -laugh worth a cent. The sunshine for mine, every -time.”</p> - -<p>Jack wondered whether he had better tell his -friend what he had overheard near the hippopotamus -wagon, but he decided he had better try to -fight his own battles, or, at least, wait until he -needed help against the schemes of his enemies.</p> - -<p>For Jack was convinced that Ted Chester would -endeavor to do him some injury. If not a physical -one, the vindictive clown would probably try -to interfere with Jack when the boy was doing -his turn in the ring. This would cause him to fail -to make the audience laugh, and he might get discharged.</p> - -<p>“I’ll keep away from the side of the ring where -Ted is,” thought the young clown. “I suppose I’ve -got to be on the watch against that ringmaster, -too. His whip certainly hurts. If he hits me -again I’ll tell Sam. I’m not going to stand it.”</p> - -<p>Jack found there was nothing special for him -to do until the street parade was ready to start.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> -This had been omitted in the town they had just -left, as the place was not considered important -enough for such a demonstration. Here, however, -one was to be given, and Jack learned that all the -clowns were to ride on top of a big gilded wagon, -each one playing some grotesque musical instrument.</p> - -<p>“But I can’t play anything but a mouth organ,” -the boy had objected to Sam, who told him what -was expected of him.</p> - -<p>“That doesn’t make any difference. We only -make all the noise we can on battered horns, broken -drums and all the odd things the property man -can get together. I’ll give you a trumpet. All -you’ll have to do is to blow it as loud as you can.”</p> - -<p>Jack thought this would be easy enough, and -he soon retired to the dressing-tent to make-up for -the street parade. The big wagon on which the -clowns were to ride was hauled by eight prancing -horses, and when Jack saw it, and knew he was -to be on it, he felt a sense of pride that he had so -soon been able to make a place for himself in such -a big aggregation as a circus.</p> - -<p>“All clowns this way!” cried Sam Kyle as he -came from the dressing-tent. “Here are your instruments.”</p> - -<p>The funnily-attired and painted men, including -our hero, gathered around their leader, who handed -out such a collection of noise-producing apparatus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> -as was seldom seen. Each one had once -been a musical instrument, but time and accident, -in some cases purposely done, had changed the -character of them. Now they produced nothing -but discordant sounds.</p> - -<p>“All ready!” called Sam. “Get up!”</p> - -<p>The clowns began to ascend to the top of the -high wagon, which was fitted with cross-seats.</p> - -<p>“Come! come! Hurry up!” cried Mr. Paine, -running up to the clowns’ wagon. “The parade -ought to have started an hour ago.”</p> - -<p>“We’re all ready,” replied Sam.</p> - -<p>“Step lively!” added another voice, and there -came a crack like a pistol shot. At the same time -Jack felt a stinging pain in his hip. He turned -in time to see Otto Mitz, the ringmaster, swinging -his vicious whip. The man did not have on his -dress-suit, but was ordinarily attired.</p> - -<p>Jack started with the sudden pain, and Ted -Chester laughed heartily.</p> - -<p>“That’s the way to wake him up,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you do that again, Mitz!” exclaimed -Sam Kyle, for he had seen the mean act.</p> - -<p>“I guess I will if I like. I’m practicing.”</p> - -<p>“Then you try it on yourself,” added Sam angrily.</p> - -<p>“I’ll try it on you if I feel like it,” went on the -ringmaster.</p> - -<p>Sam, with a suddenness that took Mitz by surprise,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> -rushed up to him, grabbed the whip from -his hand and threw it to one side.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t advise you to,” he said quietly. -“Don’t you flick that lad again with your whip.” -And then he turned and began to ascend the -wagon.</p> - -<p>There was an ominous silence about the clowns’ -wagon, and more than one expected to see a fight -between the ringmaster and Sam. But Mitz, with -a deep flush on his face, walked over, picked up -his whip, and disappeared into the dressing-tent.</p> - -<p>“He’ll have it in for you, Sam,” remarked a -jolly, fat little clown.</p> - -<p>“I’m not afraid of him,” replied Sam. “He’s -too free with his whip, and it’s time some one told -him so. Did he hurt you much?” he asked of -Jack in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Not much,” replied the lad, though the truth -was the lash had bitten deep, and he had had hard -work to refrain from crying out. But he bravely -repressed his feelings.</p> - -<p>Then the band on the wagon struck up, the -steam calliope began to play, and the parade started. -Soon the procession was in the midst of the -streets of a fair-sized city. Jack, doing as he saw -Sam and the other clown do, blew as loudly as -possible on his trumpet. The grotesque music -raised many a laugh, as did the funny antics of the -clowns.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>At times some of them stood up and made -elaborate bows, as if in answer to applause, while -others did little dance steps. But Jack sat silent, -save when he blew the trumpet. He was beginning -to see the darker side of the circus life.</p> - -<p>“Be a little livelier,” whispered the clown next -to him. “There’s no telling when the old man is -watching.”</p> - -<p>By the “old man” was meant Manager Paine, -though no disrespect was intended by this title. -Thus urged, Jack tried to be gay and to cut some -of his funny tricks, but it was with no light heart. -He realized now what it meant to have to amuse -a crowd when one felt the least like it.</p> - -<p>He was glad when the parade was over and he -could go back to the circus grounds. Sam told him -he could take off his clown dress and wash up, as -it would be several hours until the afternoon performance.</p> - -<p>“A good dinner will make you feel better,” said -the head clown to the boy, for he understood how -the lad felt, as he had heard Jack’s story and had -taken an unusual liking to him.</p> - -<p>Our hero did feel better after the meal, and he -looked forward, with something akin to real pleasure, -to the performance in which he was to take -part. The big tent was up now, and was gay with -many-colored flags and banners. Jack strolled -around to the side shows, and was amused in getting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -a near view of the freaks, for he was a privileged -character now.</p> - -<p>“Well, boy, I’ll have that flying machine for -you sooner than I expected,” said a voice at his -elbow, and he turned to see Mr. Delafield, the -property man. “I was speaking to Mr. Paine -about it, and he thinks it a good idea. I’ll have it -for you the first of the week. We strike Stewartsville -then, and that’s quite a town. Suppose you -come over to my tent and we’ll take a look at what -I’ve got done. Maybe you can suggest something.”</p> - -<p>This gave a new turn to Jack’s thoughts. He -found that the property man had carried out his -ideas exactly, for Jack had made a rough sketch -of what he wanted to introduce into his act.</p> - -<p>The flying machine consisted of a big muslin -bag, shaped like a cigar, and held distended by -barrel hoops. This was to make it look as if filled -with gas. Above it was a big Japanese umbrella, -while below it was a sort of harness, holding a -seat, which Jack could sit astride of.</p> - -<p>On either side were big, tough paper-covered -wings, working on hinges, and they could be operated -by his feet. The handle of the big umbrella -extended down through the distended muslin bag, -so that Jack could grasp it with both hands.</p> - -<p>His plan was, after going through some funny -stunts, to pretend to pump up the bag with air.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> -Then he would carry the “flying machine” to the -top of a small, light platform, which had been -made for the purpose. After some further odd -mannerisms he would jump to the ground, a distance -of about thirty feet. The big umbrella he -calculated would allow him to land without injury, -and as he descended he would work the paper -wings with his feet, giving a fairly good imitation -of a person flying.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of it?” asked Mr. Delafield. -“Of course, it will be all painted up in -bright colors before you use it.”</p> - -<p>“It’s fine!” exclaimed Jack enthusiastically. “I -wish it was ready now.”</p> - -<p>“There’s quite a lot of work on it yet,” said the -property man. “But I’ll have it for you the first -of the week. I hope you make a hit with it.”</p> - -<p>“I will if I don’t come down too heavy.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that umbrella will hold you all right. -You’ll come down as easy as a piece of paper. I’ll -make it good and strong.”</p> - -<p>“Hello! hello! hello! What’s this? What terror-inspiring -bird of prey from the towering peaks -of the Andes Mountains is about to perform before -an awe-struck multitude for the first time in -the history of the world?” asked another voice, -and Jack and Mr. Delafield looked up to see the -fat, jolly countenance of Nolan Waddleton, the -“adjective man.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>“Oh, this is a new machine for a flying clown,” -explained the property man. “Jack is going to -spring something different.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, I must have that for my posters,” said -Mr. Waddleton. “That will be quite a drawing -card. I need something fresh and new. Let’s see. -Nerve-thrilling trip through the terrestrial——No, -that won’t do. You’re going to keep off the -earth. Through the towering—no, I’ve used that -before. Oh, can’t you give me a couple of adjectives, -some of you?” and he looked appealingly at -Sam and Jack.</p> - -<p>“How would ‘Startling sensation of a Simple -Simon sailing serenely, supereminently and satisfactorily -over the heads of a startled, strabismus-struck, -sensation-satiated assemblage in an admirably -adapted aeroplane’ strike you?” asked Mr. -Delafield.</p> - -<p>“Excellent! superb! lovely! marvelous! That’ll -do first-rate!” exclaimed the “adjective man” enthusiastically. -“I must write that down. We’ll -have you on the bills soon,” he added, turning to -Jack.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII<br /> - - -<small>JACK MAKES A HIT</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">That</span> afternoon’s performance was well attended. -Jack did the same thing he had done on the -previous day and was moderately well applauded. -As usual, however, Sam Kyle created the most -laughter, for he had an act that was mirth-provoking, -and he took advantage of various happenings -in the ring to turn a joke or do some odd -stunt that was sure to bring forth clapping.</p> - -<p>Ted Chester, with his miniature automobile, -made a hit also. The people seemed to like him, -and this delighted Ted. He strutted about as -“proud as a turkey just before Thanksgiving,” as -one of the other clowns put it.</p> - -<p>“Mind you keep away from my side of the -ring,” cautioned Ted as he met Jack on the big -circular track. “If I find you interfering with me -again I’ll take matters into my own hands. I -don’t care for Sam Kyle. If you bother with me -and spoil my act, you’ve got to take the consequences.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>“I’m not going to bother you,” replied Jack.</p> - -<p>“That’s a hot act you have,” went on Ted. “I -wonder the old man lets you get away with it. -What in the world people can find in that to laugh -at I can’t see. It’s on the blink, I think.”</p> - -<p>Jack did not consider that any good would come -of answering the mean clown, and he passed into -the dressing-tent, as his turn was over for the afternoon. -He encountered his friend Sam, who was -washing up after the performance.</p> - -<p>“I saw Ted talking to you,” began the veteran -clown. “Is he bothering you?”</p> - -<p>“No—not much,” replied Jack, determined to -fight his own battles as far as he could.</p> - -<p>“If he does, let me know, and I’ll speak to the -old man about him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess I can get along.”</p> - -<p>“All right, only you know I’ll stand by you. -Say, I’ve got a suggestion for you.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you make the paper-covered hoops -you now use more in the shape of wings? You -can easily do it, for the wood frame is light and -not hard to bend.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea. I guess I will, until my -regular machine is ready. I’ll have that Monday -or Tuesday, Mr. Delafield said.”</p> - -<p>“That’s good. And say, while you’re about it, -why don’t you color the wings? Get some paint<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> -and daub ’em up so’s they’ll show off better. And -you might get up a different sort of suit. I’ve got -lots of material.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think it would be a good idea?”</p> - -<p>“Sure. Change and variety is what we’ve got -to give the public. Besides, the old man likes to -see a change in the acts once in a while. Brighten -things up a bit, and I think he’ll appreciate it.”</p> - -<p>“I will,” replied Jack, and that afternoon he -made some paper affairs that looked more like -wings than did the hoops, while he sewed some -bright-colored patches on his white suit and made -up to look like some grotesque bird.</p> - -<p>“That’s fine!” exclaimed Sam as he saw his protégé -getting ready for the ring that night. -“You’ve got the right knack, Jack. You’d ought -to have been in this business before.”</p> - -<p>“I like it,” said the runaway lad. “It just suits -me, so far, though it hasn’t been all easy sailing. -But I sometimes think I’ve made a mistake. I -should have stayed with the professor, for that’s -where the first news of my folks will come, and -I’m getting worried about them. I’m afraid they -may have been killed by the fanatical Chinese.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t believe anything as bad as that has -happened,” replied Sam. “I read the papers every -day, and while there are dispatches telling of trouble -in China, no Americans have suffered.”</p> - -<p>“But the trouble is we can’t seem to get any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> -trace of my folks,” went on Jack. “The authorities -don’t know where they are, and how can they -tell whether anything has happened to them or -not?”</p> - -<p>“Well, look on the bright side of things. That’s -my motto,” answered the clown. “That’s what -we’re for—to make people forget their troubles. -Take a little of your own medicine, Jack.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I guess that’s a good idea. I’ll try it. -Only I wish I could hear some news of my folks. -If I make any money this season I’ll go to China -and hunt for them.”</p> - -<p>“I guess you’ll make some cash,” went on the -clown. “But that’s our cue to enter the ring. -Come on now, laugh and smile. A clown that -looks as if he had lost his best friend isn’t much -use in a circus. Be happy!</p> - -<p>“Hoop la!” he went on, as he ran from the -dressing-tent into the ring. “Oo la la! Tra-la-la! -La-de-da!”</p> - -<p>Then he turned a couple of handsprings, very -nimbly, in spite of his age, and went on with his -act, which, if roars of laughter indicated anything, -must have pleased the audience.</p> - -<p>Jack ran out with some of the other clowns, carrying -a pair of his new paper wings. Other pairs, -for he had made several that afternoon, were at -different parts of the ring, ready for him, as he -broke a pair each time he did his act.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>There was an unusually large crowd present and -every performer, feeling the stimulation of it, was -doing his best. It seemed to Jack that he could do -funnier capers than he had ever before attempted, -and soon he had a goodly section of the assemblage -laughing at his tricks with the imitation -wings.</p> - -<p>“Most merrily mirth-making,” said Mr. Waddleton, -the “adjective man,” as he passed near -Jack. “I’m watching you. I’m going to have -your new act on the bills.”</p> - -<p>This encouraged the boy, and he went on with -a vim, doing his odd dance, his big wings flapping -out behind him.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! Not so bad. Not half bad!” -remarked Mr. Paine, the manager, who, in accordance -with his custom, was passing about the -ring observing matters. “You’re doing very well, -Jack.”</p> - -<p>This made Jack forget, in a measure, his -troubles—those caused by his life at the professor’s -house, and his flight from it, as well as those -for which his enemies in the circus were responsible.</p> - -<p>Jack felt a sense of happiness as he crawled -into his bunk in the sleeping-car that night, and he -was becoming so used to the strange life that he -did not lie awake very long. Before he knew it, -morning came, and the show was at the next stop.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>This was on Saturday, and, after a good day’s -business in a large country town, the circus started -for Stewartsville, where it was to remain two -days; Sunday, during which no performance would -be given, and Monday, when the usual afternoon -and evening exhibitions would take place.</p> - -<p>Sunday was pretty much a day of rest with the -circus folk. Of course the tents had to be put up -in the morning, and the animals arranged in -places. And the beasts had to be fed, and the performers, -whose talents depended on their muscles -or dexterity, did not forego their daily practice, to -keep in condition. But, for the majority of the -circus crowd, there was little to do.</p> - -<p>Jack took advantage of the opportunity to go -and look at the animals, for which he had very -little time during the regular circus day. He was -fond of wild beasts, and he made the acquaintance -of some of the keepers. He was also introduced -to the fat lady and the skeleton man, who were -among the freaks in the side show. He found -them both nice persons, and, in their turn, they -seemed attracted to the boy, who, in spite of his -unusually good luck in getting along so well as a -newcomer, in the circus, was quite lonesome at -times.</p> - -<p>Toward the close of the afternoon Mr. Delafield -called Jack into the property tent. The sight -of a big object in the middle caused Jack to utter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> -an exclamation. There was his new flying machine, -complete.</p> - -<p>“That’s fine!” he cried. “It will be ready for -to-morrow, won’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I think so. The paint isn’t quite dry, but it -will be by morning.”</p> - -<p>The affair was gaudily colored, to match the -suit which Jack had decided to wear. He could -hardly wait for morning to try it, and, as soon as -he had his breakfast, he took it into the main tent, -where, with the help of the property man and -Sam Kyle, he had his first rehearsal.</p> - -<p>It worked fairly well, though it was found -necessary to make one or two readjustments. But -these were finished by afternoon, and Jack got -ready for his first appearance in his new rôle, that -of an eccentric, clownish airship inventor.</p> - -<p>He was a little nervous as he took his apparatus -with him out into the ring that afternoon, and set -it down in a space in front of the reserved seats. -Then, with an affair that looked like an air pump, -he pretended to fill the muslin bag. All the while -he assumed the part of a man who has just completed -an aeroplane and is anxious to see how it -will work.</p> - -<p>“Oh, mamma! See the airship! See the airship!” -cried a boy in the audience close to Jack. -“Will he really fly, mamma?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>“I don’t know, Bertie. Watch and see,” replied -the lady.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to fly a little way, if I have luck,” -said Jack to himself.</p> - -<p>The attention of a considerable portion of the -crowd was now drawn to him. With a heart that -beat faster than usual, he went on with his grotesque -preparations. Then he hauled the machine, -which was very light, up on the platform.</p> - -<p>There was a laugh as he spread out the big -umbrella. Then, pretending to peer up to the sky, -as if in search of storm clouds, Jack took his place -on the suspended seat. The affair was so arranged -that he could walk in it to the edge of the platform -before he leaped off.</p> - -<p>He recited a funny little verse, composed for -him by Mr. Waddleton, containing references to -the various airship inventors then in the public -eye, stood poised for a moment on the edge of the -platform, and then, hoping that everything was all -right, and that he would land safely, he leaped off.</p> - -<p>Down, down, down he sailed, the big umbrella -buoying him up like a parachute. He kicked vigorously -with his feet, and the big wings flapped up -and down. The crowd burst into loud laughter -and there was hearty applause.</p> - -<p>Lower and lower Jack sank down, falling -gently to the ground. He ceased to work the -wings, and then came the climax. He pulled a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> -string and there was a report like a small cannon, -while the bag which was held apart with hoops -and springs, collapsed, and the umbrella closed up -with a snap. It looked exactly as if the imitation -airship had blown up on reaching the ground, but -this was only a trick Mr. Delafield had devised at -the last moment.</p> - -<p>My, what laughter and applause there was -then! It was one of the oddest sights seen in the -circus. Jack knew there was no doubt about it—he -had made a hit.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII<br /> - - -<small>PROFESSOR KLOPPER APPEARS</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">That’s</span> the stuff!” cried Mr. Paine, running up -to where Jack was getting out of the collapsed airship. -This was the first the boy knew that the -manager had been watching him. But there was -very little that escaped the “old man.” “You’re -doing good,” the manager went on. “Quick, now, -on the other side. The people there are wondering -what it’s all about. Here,” he cried to several -men, “help get this platform over by the box and -press seats. This is a good stunt!”</p> - -<p>Jack was proud and happy. Of course he had -higher ambitions than being a circus clown, but -while he was in that rôle he was going to do his -best. Besides, he wanted to earn all the money -he could, so that he might go and search for his -father and mother, and he hoped that if he did -well his salary might be increased.</p> - -<p>“Do the same thing over here,” said Mr. Paine. -“Make it as funny as you can. It’s a hit, all right.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> -Ha! Hum! It’s not so bad! It’s not so bad!” -which was praise indeed from Mr. Paine.</p> - -<p>Jack repeated his act, and was applauded louder -than ever. Then he had to go to the far end of -the tent, where the ordinary seats were. There -he was well received, the final collapse of the aeroplane -apparently affording the best amusement of -all.</p> - -<p>“Down at the other end now,” ordered the -manager, who seemed to be keeping an eye on -Jack. Though the boy did not know it, managers -of shows, whether they be circuses or theatrical -performances, are always on the lookout for novelties, -and they are only too willing to advance -young players who show that they can stand out -above the average, and gain the plaudits of the -crowd, which is all, save the ticket receipts, that a -manager usually cares about.</p> - -<p>Just as Jack was getting up on his platform for -his last airship performance, Ted Chester, who -was creating some amusement by his antics with -the miniature automobile, came along.</p> - -<p>“You’re not going to do your act here!” he exclaimed -to Jack.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am,” replied our hero boldly.</p> - -<p>“I say you’re not! I’m going to show here, and -I’m not going to have you butting in. Clear out of -here!”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Paine sent me here.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>“I don’t care whether he did or not. I say I’m -going to do my turn here, and you can’t. You’re -always around bothering me, and I won’t stand -for it!”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to do my act here,” declared Jack. -“I was told to by the manager.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care whether you were or not.”</p> - -<p>“Besides, the platform is erected here now,” -went on the young clown, “and the men have gone. -I can’t move it.”</p> - -<p>“Then cut your act out. You’re not going to -spoil mine.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right. Make him quit,” advised Mitz, -the ringmaster, who had just finished putting several -horses through their paces, and who was retiring -to the dressing-tent. “Make him quit the -show,” he added.</p> - -<p>Jack looked at him apprehensively, but the -ugly ringmaster had been taught a lesson. He did -not flick his whip at the boy.</p> - -<p>The young clown hesitated. He did not know -whether to ignore Ted and go on with his act, or -appeal to Mr. Paine, who was at the far side of -the ring, making an announcement about a young -woman who did a “loop the gap” act in an automobile.</p> - -<p>But there was an unexpected diversion in Jack’s -favor. Sam Kyle, in his progress around the big -ring, had seen that something was amiss. It was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> -his duty to settle disputes among the clowns, and -he often had to do so, as, since these performers -had no regular place for their acts, one frequently -would appear in the same spot where a fellow-actor -was showing off.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Sam, as he approached.</p> - -<p>“He’s butting in on me,” replied Ted, in surly -tones.</p> - -<p>“That’s what he is,” added the ringmaster.</p> - -<p>“This is none of your affair,” declared Sam to -the man in the dress-suit. “I think I can settle it. -Go on with your act, Jack,” he said.</p> - -<p>“And spoil mine?” demanded Ted.</p> - -<p>“You’ve already been on four times this afternoon,” -said the head clown. “I’ve been keeping -watch of you. This will make your fifth act. -Four’s all you’re allowed unless I say so, and I -don’t. Go on, Jack.”</p> - -<p>“But I——” began Ted.</p> - -<p>“Cut it out,” advised Sam. “I haven’t time to -listen to you, but let me tell you one thing, if you -interfere again with Jack, and make trouble, I’ll -have you fired, that’s what I’ll do! And you know -I’m a man of my word, and that I can do as I say,” -he added significantly. “Take your auto and get -out of the ring. Jack has a good act, and he’s entitled -to the credit of it.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>“I’ll—I’ll——” spluttered Ted, who was very -angry.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you threaten me!” exclaimed Sam. -“I’ve told you what to do, and I want you to -do it!”</p> - -<p>Ted had no choice but to obey, though he did -it with no very good grace. Jack prepared for -his act, while the ringmaster, who had been too -busy before to notice, looked on sneeringly. He -was a great chum of Ted, and for this reason, -more than because he had any reason to dislike -Jack, he had a grudge against our hero.</p> - -<p>The airship act went off well, the applause at -the last attempt being louder than any that had -preceded it. Jack felt very proud.</p> - -<p>He repeated his success that evening, and he -was more than gratified when Mr. Paine, seeking -him out at the close of the show, announced that -his wages would be raised to fifteen dollars a week.</p> - -<p>“I’ll soon get to China at that rate,” thought -Jack, for, since he had to spend nothing for board, -he could save nearly all his salary.</p> - -<p>With practice, Jack became more proficient in -odd little parts, until in about two weeks he was -one of the best attractions of the ring. His act -was mentioned on the bills, though he was given -no name, for he had not yet arisen to be a star of -that magnitude.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the circus was traveling about from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> -city to city, and Jack was becoming accustomed -to the free and easy life, though it had its drawbacks, -especially in a storm.</p> - -<p>“Where do we show to-morrow?” asked the -boy of Sam, one night when they were in the sleeping -car.</p> - -<p>“Northrup is the next stop.”</p> - -<p>“Northrup? That’s not far from where I live—or -used to live,” he added, as he thought rather -sadly that he had no real home now. “Maybe I’ll -see some of the boys from Westville,” he went on.</p> - -<p>Jack was strolling about the next morning, after -a good breakfast, watching the men put up the big -tent, an operation of which he never tired. There -was the usual crowd of boys looking on, and our -hero glanced among them for the possible sight -of some one he might know. Often, when he was -younger, he had gone from Westville to Northrup -to see the circus come in. But he saw no familiar -faces, and was turning to go back to the dressing-tent, -for it was nearly time to get ready for the -street parade, when he was startled by hearing -a voice ask of one of the canvasmen:</p> - -<p>“Is this Bower & Brewster’s circus?”</p> - -<p>“Sure thing,” replied the man shortly.</p> - -<p>“Thank you, my man. I am looking for a certain -person, and I heard he was with this show.”</p> - -<p>Jack’s heart almost stopped beating. He knew -that voice only too well. It was that of Professor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> -Klopper. And a guarded look at the man who -had asked the question showed the boy that he was -right.</p> - -<p>Hidden behind a tent-pole wagon, Jack peered -cautiously out, and beheld the figure of his former -guardian, stern and forbidding, looking about -him.</p> - -<p>“He’s after me,” thought Jack. “What shall -I do? I’ll never let him arrest me. I must hide! -No, I know a better plan than that,” he added to -himself. “I’ll make up in my clown outfit. He’ll -never know me then, even if he does see me. But -I’ll take precious good care to keep out of his -sight.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX<br /> - - -<small>JACK’S TRICK</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Hurrying</span> to the dressing-tent, but taking good -care not to get within sight of the professor, Jack -quickly donned his clown suit.</p> - -<p>“What’s up?” asked several of the other performers, -who were lounging about, or going over -their trunks. “It isn’t time for the parade, is it?”</p> - -<p>“Not exactly,” replied Jack. “I just thought -I’d get ready, though,” for, though a number of -the circus people knew something of his story, he -did not think it wise to tell why he was going to -dress up so early. “Ted Chester or the ringmaster -would give me up to him as quick as a wink,” -thought our hero, “and I’m not going to submit to -arrest now.”</p> - -<p>He went on with his make-up, and was daubing -the red and white paint on his face when Sam Kyle -came into the tent.</p> - -<p>“Making up early, aren’t you?” asked Sam, -looking at his watch.</p> - -<p>“A little,” admitted Jack. “But I wanted to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> -ready in time. Then I guess I’ll practice some new -stunts with my flying machine.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! You can practice a good deal better -in your regular clothes than you can in that suit,” -remarked Sam.</p> - -<p>But Jack gave no reason for his peculiar action. -When he was all rigged out, ready to take his place -on the wagon, or enter the ring, he ventured out of -the tent.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if the professor would know me if he -saw me now,” he thought. “Guess I’ll walk about -and see if I can catch sight of him. I’ll have to -be cautious, though.”</p> - -<p>He strolled about the circus grounds, attracting -considerable attention from a number of small -boys, for there were no other performers in sight -so early in the morning. Jack walked about, keeping -watch for the professor, and when he did not -observe him he began to breathe easier. He was -glad when the time came to get up on the wagon, -and take his place among the clowns who played -the odd musical instruments.</p> - -<p>Just as the procession started from the circus -grounds to parade through the streets, he caught -sight of his guardian, hurrying along, and peering -about anxiously through his big spectacles.</p> - -<p>“He’s looking for me,” decided Jack. “Queer -how he should be so vindictive. He must know I -wouldn’t steal his old cup. I wish he’d go back<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> -home. It’s no fun to fear every minute that you’re -going to be arrested.”</p> - -<p>To better screen himself from the professor’s -gaze, in case the elderly man should inspect the -clown wagon too closely, our hero placed his trumpet -to his lips, and began to blow. This was a -signal for the other oddly attired performers to begin, -and soon the wagon passed beyond where Mr. -Klopper was standing.</p> - -<p>“I’m safe for a while, anyhow,” mused Jack. -“It was a good thing I thought of this trick.”</p> - -<p>When the procession returned to the grounds -most of the performers began to remove their suits, -and the clowns washed the paint from their faces, -as it would be some time before the afternoon performance -would start.</p> - -<p>Jack, however, remained in his clown suit, with -the coloring matter still thick on his face.</p> - -<p>“Going to stay that way until you get your cue?” -asked a fellow clown.</p> - -<p>“I—I guess so,” replied Jack. “Might as well. -It won’t be long.”</p> - -<p>“Too long for me,” was the reply. “I get -enough of it as it is. No paint for mine until the -last minute, and off it comes as soon as I’m -through.”</p> - -<p>But Jack had a good reason for keeping his on. -His own mother would not have known him in his -present costume. To avoid the many questions of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> -the other performers, who could not understand the -boy’s action, Jack, after a hasty dinner, went into -the main tent, which was now up, and pretended -to be adjusting his imitation airship. He remained -there until almost time for the afternoon show to -start, and then he started back to the dressing-tent -to await the blast of the trumpets that summoned -the company of clowns.</p> - -<p>As he was coming out of the main tent he almost -ran into a man who was standing on the outside, -near the dressing-rooms. Jack started back in surprise, -for, as the man turned, he saw that he was -none other than Professor Klopper.</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon!” exclaimed the former college -teacher, “but I am looking for a friend of -mine—a young lad—who, I understand, is with -this circus. He ran away to join it, and I wish to -find him about a very particular matter. Can you -tell me where he is? His name is Jack Allen.”</p> - -<p>Jack almost stopped breathing. He could -scarcely believe that the professor would not recognize -him.</p> - -<p>Not daring to trust his voice to make reply, and -fearing the professor would know his tones, if he -did not know his ward’s face under the coating of -paint, Jack shook his head to answer in the negative, -and hurried on.</p> - -<p>“One moment,” exclaimed the professor. “Perhaps -you——”</p> - - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p148.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“I am looking for a friend of mine”<br /> - -<span class="illoright"><i>Page <a href="#Page_148">148</a></i></span></p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>But Jack, still vigorously shaking his head, -passed into the tent. He knew the professor, nor -any other outsider, would not be allowed to enter -there.</p> - -<p>“My, that was a close call!” exclaimed the youth -to himself, as he applied a little more paint where -it had been rubbed off as he brushed against a tent -flap. “I’ll put it on good and thick,” he decided. -“I can’t take any chances. He’ll be in the audience -watching for me, sure.”</p> - -<p>He used more paint than he ever had before, -and succeeded in securing a very comical effect, -which added to his queer appearance.</p> - -<p>His nervousness and fear did not prevent him -from giving a good performance, and, as he went -to the different parts of the ring, doing his turn -with the airship, he looked anxiously among the -throng to see if he could observe the professor. -But it was impossible to pick out any particular individual -in that big audience, and Jack felt safe, -at least for the time being.</p> - -<p>After the performance, instead of removing his -costume and washing off the paint, he remained attired -as he was in his clown outfit. His friends -tried to find out why he kept it on all day, but he -did not tell them.</p> - -<p>“He’s getting crazy, that’s what’s the matter -with him,” said Ted Chester, with a sneer. “He’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> -so stuck on his act that he thinks all the people are -looking at him.”</p> - -<p>“That’s usually the way you are,” commented -Sam Kyle. “You can’t throw any stones, Ted.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, who’s talking to you?” demanded Ted, in -surly tones.</p> - -<p>But in spite of the many questions asked him, as -to his reason, Jack kept his suit on. Nor did he go -out of the dressing-tent any more than he had to, -for he thought the professor might be strolling -about looking for him.</p> - -<p>Whether or not his former guardian was on the -lookout that afternoon and evening, Jack did not -then find out. His one fear was lest the professor -should go to the manager of the circus and make -inquiries, for, in that event, the runaway boy would -have been discovered. But Mr. Klopper evidently -did not think of that, and when the show was over -that night, and Jack found he had not been detected, -he breathed a sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>“Well, I should think you’d be glad to get those -togs off,” remarked Sam, when Jack resumed his -regular clothes, and started for the train.</p> - -<p>“I am,” was the answer, but Jack said nothing -more, and Sam wondered what was coming over -his protégé.</p> - -<p>But if Jack had only known what the professor -had to tell him, how willingly would the boy have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> -revealed himself! Mr. Klopper had come to the -circus, not only to find our hero, but also to impart -some valuable information. But now the news was -lost to the boy.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX<br /> - - -<small>A TREACHEROUS ACT</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">For</span> several weeks after this the circus traveled -about from city to city, sometimes taking in large -towns, and gradually working through the middle -west, spending considerable time in Ohio and Indiana. -Jack was beginning to like the life more -and more, in spite of the hard work, for, though -there was plenty of fun connected with it, there was -also no lack of hardships.</p> - -<p>He continued to improve in his act and had received -another raise of salary, now getting eighteen -dollars a week, which was as much as some of the -other clowns earned.</p> - -<p>Jack was careful with his money, and, at Sam’s -suggestion, left most of it with the treasurer of the -show. For there were many temptations to spend -money when on the road, and Jack had more than -once declined to gamble or spend his cash for -drinks or cigars.</p> - -<p>“I never saw such a tight-wad as you are,” said -Ted Chester one day, when he had invited Jack to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> -enter a card game with him. “Why don’t you -loosen up a bit?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care to waste my money gambling,” replied -Jack. “I’ve got a better use for it. Why -don’t you play with some of the other fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Because they’re sports, and they’ve spent all -their money until next salary day.”</p> - -<p>The truth was, though, that few of the circus -folk liked to play with Ted, who had a reputation -of cheating when he got the chance. He and Mitz -were generally together, seeking to get some one -interested in a card game, and it was whispered -that they acted as partners in fleecing the unwary -ones who played with them.</p> - -<p>But Jack had been warned by his friend, Sam -Kyle, to have nothing to do with any card games, -and not to drink or smoke. He would probably -not have done so anyhow, as the boy had the advantage -of excellent home training; but temptation -is sometimes very strong, and Sam did not want to -see his protégé get into bad habits.</p> - -<p>“There’s nothing in this sporting life—drinking, -smoking, and gambling,” said Sam. “I’ve -done my share of it, and I know what I’m talking -about. It’s fun for a while, but you have to pay -a dear price for it.</p> - -<p>“I used to squander my money that way, but an -old man gave me some good advice in time, and I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> -quit. Now I’m saving up for the time when I get -too old to amuse folks any longer.”</p> - -<p>“And I’m saving up to try and find my folks,” -said Jack.</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you had any word from them?”</p> - -<p>“Not a word since I ran away. I don’t suppose -I could have received any, traveling about as we -do. Sometimes I wish I had stayed with the professor. -He was real mean to me, and would have -had me arrested. But even then I might have -heard some word from my father or mother. -Now I’m not likely to unless I can get to China, or -unless I go back to the professor.”</p> - -<p>“I’d advise you to do the last,” said Sam. “It’s -a long way to China, and I doubt if you could do -much, or find out much, after you got there. Go -back to the professor.”</p> - -<p>“But he’ll have me arrested. I don’t want to be -locked up for something I didn’t do.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t blame you for that. But wait a while. -There’s no need to go back right away. Finish out -the season with us, if you like. I know the old man -would hate to lose you now.”</p> - -<p>“I want to stay, too,” said Jack. “I’m getting -to like the life very much.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, stick it out till fall. Then write to -the professor, asking for news of your folks. -He’ll give you some, if he has it, even though he -wants to arrest you. But perhaps by then he’ll get<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> -over his anger, or maybe he’ll find, in the meanwhile, -that you didn’t steal the cup. Anyway, you -can write to him, and promise to return, if he will -not have you locked up, until you have a chance -to prove that you’re innocent. That’s what I’d -do.”</p> - -<p>“I guess I will,” decided Jack. “I’ll write to -him when it’s about time for the circus to close -up.”</p> - -<p>“That won’t be for a couple of months yet,” -said Sam. “Maybe you’d better write now.”</p> - -<p>“No, if I do, very likely he’d find out where I -was and have me locked up. I’ll wait a while.”</p> - -<p>But if Jack had only written then he would have -saved himself much anguish of heart, and not a -little physical suffering. But he did not know, not -being able to look into the future.</p> - -<p>One day, after he had finished his performance -in the ring, Jack went to the property man.</p> - -<p>“I wish I could have my platform made a little -higher,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“Well, there isn’t much chance for the air to get -under the umbrella when I jump off now. If I -made a higher leap I could work the wings a little -better, for I’d be in the air longer. Can you raise -the platform?”</p> - -<p>“I guess so. How much?”</p> - -<p>“About ten feet.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>“But that will make it nearly forty feet for you -to jump. Won’t that be rather dangerous?”</p> - -<p>“I guess not. You see, the umbrella is a big -one, and once it gets a lot of air under it, I’m held -up, and I’ll come down slowly. Besides, it will -make a better act. I can make it look more as if I -was really flying.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll do it. Did you ask Mr. Paine?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and he said it would be all right. He -likes the idea.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Waddleton will have to get some new adjectives -to put on the bills about you,” remarked -the property man, with a laugh. “He thinks -you’re quite an attraction. You’ve got Ted and -some of the other clowns jealous. They’re at me -all the while to get them up something so they can -make a hit.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there’s nothing to stop them,” declared -Jack. “I don’t care how many queer stunts they -do.”</p> - -<p>“Me either; only I’m not going to think ’em out -for ’em and then make ’em. I told ’em I’d make -’em if they’d tell me what they wanted, but they -haven’t got brains enough to do that. They make -me tired!” and the property man went on with his -work of patching up a big sea serpent that one of -the clowns used in an act. “I’ll make that platform -higher for you to-morrow,” he said to Jack;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> -“only you want to be careful how you jump off -from such a height.”</p> - -<p>“I will,” said the young clown, and then he went -into the tent to rest until the evening performance, -for he was rather tired, as he had responded to several -encores that afternoon.</p> - -<p>The platform, made ten feet higher, was ready -for him the next day, when they opened in a good-sized -city in Indiana. He got his flying machine in -readiness, and it was carted out by a couple of the -ring hands, for since Jack had made such a success -he was given more attention by the manager, who -detailed two men to help the lad, since the apparatus -was now quite bulky to move about, though it -was very light. Jack had made one or two changes -in it, and had rigged up some United States flags -on the top of the umbrella, the emblems being suddenly -displayed by the pulling of a string as he began -to sail downward.</p> - -<p>“Now, Jack,” said Sam Kyle, as the clowns ran -out of the dressing-tent, in response to the trumpet -signal, “let’s see how your improvement works. I -expect you’ll sail all about the tent now.”</p> - -<p>“Hardly; but I can give a better exhibition, I -think.”</p> - -<p>He climbed up to the top of the slender platform. -Then, after his usual song and dance, he -prepared to take his place on the seat of the flying -machine. First, however, as was his custom, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> -carefully examined the umbrella, for it was on this -he relied to save him from the effects of his high -jump, the big Japanese affair acting as does a parachute -when a man leaps from a balloon.</p> - -<p>Something about some of the ribs attracted the -boy’s attention. He looked more carefully. To -his horror, he saw that nearly all of them had been -cut through so that when he jumped the umbrella -would collapse, and let him fall to the ground with -such a suddenness that he would be seriously hurt, -if not killed. For a moment the terror of his discovery -of the treacherous act deprived him of the -ability to move or speak.</p> - -<p>“Some one did this so I’d get hurt,” he whispered. -“I wonder who it could have been?”</p> - -<p>Yet he at once thought of Ted Chester and his -crony, the ringmaster.</p> - -<p>“What shall I do?” thought Jack. “I can’t go -on with the act with this umbrella.”</p> - -<p>He stood on the platform, undecided what to -do. The crowds, which had heard of his act, were -impatiently calling for him to leap.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Mr. Paine, running -to the foot of the platform. He had seen -from the other side of the ring that something was -wrong.</p> - -<p>“My umbrella ribs have been cut,” replied Jack. -“I can’t jump with it this way.”</p> - -<p>“Great Scott!” exclaimed the manager. “That’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> -a mean trick! I’ll look into this. But wait. -Haven’t you a spare umbrella somewhere?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, several of them.”</p> - -<p>“All right. Come down. I’ll send for Delafield -to help you rig up another one. In the meantime -I’ll send Sam Kyle over here to jolly the -crowd along until you’re ready. He’ll say you -have to fix up your airship, because one built by the -German government tried to destroy it last night. -And say nothing about the umbrella until you hear -from me. Quick, now, get down.”</p> - -<p>Thus did the quick-witted manager save the situation. -Jack descended, and soon, with Mr. Delafield’s -aid, he was attaching another umbrella to -the airship. Several had been supplied, in case one -might be damaged, and so little time was lost, -though the two flags could not be attached.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Sam Kyle mounted to the platform, -and was keeping the crowd in roars of laughter by -his antics. As soon as Jack was ready he came -down, and our hero took his accustomed place.</p> - -<p>Once more he carefully examined the umbrella -before venturing on his flight. This caution had -been impressed on him by Sam, and some of his -other friends. None of the performers who had -to do their acts high in the air, they said, would go -on a trapeze, bar or rope without first testing it. -For, not only were accidents likely to occur, but -often vindictive rivals would cut a rope partly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> -through, with the hope of maiming their more successful -fellows.</p> - -<p>But this new umbrella was strong, and Jack -made ready for his leap. It was with more fear -than he had known since he had perfected his act -that he got astride the swaying seat, and, holding -to the umbrella handle, launched himself from the -platform, his feet working the big wings as fast as -they would flap.</p> - -<p>To his delight, his new plan worked to perfection. -The air, having more of a chance to get -under the umbrella, buoyed him up considerably -better, and he sailed gracefully to the ground, the -flight taking several seconds longer. The chief -drawback to it formerly had been that it was over -too quick. Now this objection had been removed.</p> - -<p>Then Jack pulled the cord which fired the shot, -and the ship seemed to fly apart, the umbrella closing -down and the bag collapsing. There was -hearty applause for the young clown, but through -it all Jack was wondering at the motive of those -who had so nearly caused a serious accident.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI<br /> - - -<small>THE MONKEYS ESCAPE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the afternoon performance came to an -end, Mr. Paine sent for Jack. He closely questioned -the boy about the cut umbrella. Jack could -throw no light on when it had been done.</p> - -<p>“Whom do you suspect did it?” asked the manager.</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t know,” replied Jack.</p> - -<p>“Yes, you do. You have some idea. Who’s -got a grudge against you?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose Ted Chester has, though I -never did anything to him.”</p> - -<p>“Who else?”</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Mitz was rather mean to me.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! I begin to understand something. -You may tell Mr. Delafield I want him.”</p> - -<p>Jack summoned the property man, and the manager -closely questioned him as to whether he had -seen any one about the airship just before the performance -began, for it had been proved that the -apparatus was in perfect order that morning.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>“I didn’t see any one interfering with it,” replied -Mr. Delafield.</p> - -<p>“Were you in the property tent all the while?”</p> - -<p>“Yes—that is, nearly.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that?”</p> - -<p>“Well, Mitz called me out to see about making -a new tub for the baby elephant to stand on.”</p> - -<p>“How long were you gone?”</p> - -<p>“About ten minutes.”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! That would be time enough. I -think I see how this was done. Mitz and Chester -put up the game, and a mean one it was. While -Mitz got you out, Chester slipped in and cut the -umbrella. Say nothing about it, however. I’ll -have a talk with them. I’ll put a stop to this business.”</p> - -<p>What the result was of the manager’s talk to -the mean clown and his crony, the ringmaster, Jack -never heard. Evidently there was not proof -enough to make certain the guilt of either of the -two men, though when they came from the manager’s -tent they looked worried and uneasy.</p> - -<p>The affair resulted in one thing that benefited -Jack, however, for, after that, neither the clown -nor Mitz bothered him, though Ted Chester said -mean things to his young rival every chance he got.</p> - -<p>After that Jack was more than usually careful -to look to all the ropes and other strengthening devices -on the airship, as well as to the umbrella; for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> -leaping off from such a height as he did it would -not take much to cause him to take a terrible -tumble.</p> - -<p>The circus played a number of one-day stands -through the lower part of Ohio, and then swinging -around in a big circle, began to work back east. -As the larger cities were reached they stayed longer -in one place, in some remaining a week, which gave -the performers and animals a chance to get a good -rest.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Jack had heard nothing more from -the professor, nor about the efforts to cause an arrest -for the theft of the gold cup. The young -clown kept a wary eye out for the sight of a policeman -who might be looking for him, and he was -also on his guard against meeting Mr. Klopper.</p> - -<p>But he need not have worried. The professor, -after his one attempt to locate Jack, gave it up personally, -though he tried other means to find the -boy, for, as before stated, he had something very -important to tell our hero.</p> - -<p>The circus reached a town in western Pennsylvania -one morning during quite a heavy storm. It -had been raining off and on for a week, and the -temper of all the employees and performers was -tried by the unpleasant weather. A circus is quite -a miserable place in the rain, for the usual crowds -do not turn out, and everything seems to go wrong.</p> - -<p>“I hope it clears up by this afternoon,” said Sam<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> -Kyle gloomily, as he left the breakfast tent, which -leaked in places, and, with Jack, and some of the -other clowns, looked up at the dull sky. “I’m sick -of being wet through.”</p> - -<p>The show had to go on, rain or shine, however, -and the parade usually took place no matter how -hard it stormed. This was very unpleasant -for the performers, especially the clowns, -as the paint would persist in running off their faces, -giving them a streaked and bedraggled appearance, -which, while it added to their funny aspect, was -not just what they wanted.</p> - -<p>“It looks as if it might clear,” said Jack hopefully. -“The wind seems to be shifting.”</p> - -<p>But it was raining when the parade started, and -Jack and his fellow clowns were wet and cold -riding on top of the open wagon, playing their battered -instruments.</p> - -<p>Now, whether the rain was the cause for what -happened when the procession reached the middle -of the town, where quite a crowd had gathered to -view it, or whether the little beasts managed to -break open the door, was not disclosed. At any -rate, just as the parade was turning back to the -grounds, the cage containing the monkeys suddenly -opened.</p> - -<p>Jack was the first to notice it, for the clowns’ -wagon was right behind that containing the long-tailed -creatures. He saw several of the monkeys<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> -leaping out of the opened door, and swinging -themselves up on top.</p> - -<p>“The monkeys! The monkeys!” he cried. -“They’re getting loose!”</p> - -<p>“They’re already loose,” observed Sam grimly. -“Now there’ll be some fun. They’re the hardest -of all animals to catch, once they get out.”</p> - -<p>Shouts and laughter from the crowd, which, now -that there was more than the usual excitement, did -not seem to mind the rain, told the man driving -the monkey wagon that something was wrong. But -he hardly needed this warning, for, a moment -later, one of the mischievous simians snatched off -the driver’s hat, and clapped it on its own queer -head. Another monkey grabbed it from the first -one, and soon the whole troop was on top of the -wagon fighting and chattering over the possession -of the hat.</p> - -<p>The driver wound the reins about his whip, and -scrambled up on top of the vehicle in a desperate -endeavor to capture some of the nimble animals. -But, no sooner did they see him coming than, with -one accord, they scrambled down the sides of the -wagon, reached the ground, and, rejoicing in their -new-found freedom, scattered about the street.</p> - -<p>“Come on, boys!” cried Sam. “Those monkeys -are valuable. We’ll have to help catch ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Let the animal men look after ’em,” said Ted -Chester.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>“The boss will appreciate it if we help,” remarked -the head clown. “Come on, boys.”</p> - -<p>Jack and the other clowns dropping their battered -instruments, climbed down from the high -wagon, which had come to a stop, and began running -after the monkeys. But the mischievous -beasts had scattered among the crowd now.</p> - -<p>Yells of laughter from the men lining the roadway, -mingling with the frightened screams of women -and children, told that the monkeys were creating -plenty of excitement.</p> - -<p>“Grab ’em, folks! Grab ’em!” cried Sam to the -crowd.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see myself,” objected a fat woman. -“One of the ugly beasts tore my best bonnet to -pieces. I’m going to sue the circus!”</p> - -<p>Just then a shout caused Jack to look where several -men were pointing. He saw a monkey -perched up on top of a store awning, tearing to -pieces something that looked like a bouquet of -many-colored flowers.</p> - -<p>“My bonnet! Oh, my bonnet!” yelled the fat -woman. “There’s the ugly beast, now, tearing my -bonnet to pieces, and it cost three dollars!”</p> - -<p>Yells from other women in the crowd indicated -that they, too, feared the same thing that had happened -to the fat lady. Nor were they far wrong. -The monkeys seemed to be attracted by the gay -headwear of the women in the crowd, and soon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> -there was presented the odd sight of half a dozen -of the creatures, perched up on high vantage -points, tearing to pieces the flowered and ribboned -hats, and scattering the pieces to the ground.</p> - -<p>“Help! Help!” suddenly cried a man. “One -of ’em’s trying to choke me!”</p> - -<p>Jack ran to where he heard the cry. Perched -upon a man’s back was a monkey—a small one.</p> - -<p>“Take him away! Take him away!” yelled the -man. “He’s choking me to death!”</p> - -<p>The simian had one arm around the man’s neck, -but it was not trying to choke him. Instead, the -odd little creature was trying to reach a bright-red -balloon, one of the small kind sold when the circus -comes to town. The man had bought it for his -little girl.</p> - -<p>“Give him the balloon!” cried the crowd, delighted -at the antics of the monkeys.</p> - -<p>“No, no, daddy! It’s mine! Get the monkey -for me, too,” cried the little girl.</p> - -<p>“Stand still a minute!” called Jack. “I’ll catch -the monkey.”</p> - -<p>He hurried up to the man, and grabbed the hairy -little brute. The monkey tried to get away, but -Jack held it tight, and soon had carried it back to -the cage, having caught the first one of the runaways.</p> - -<p>“That’s the way to do it,” said the man in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> -charge of the monkey wagon. “The old man will -have a fit if we lose any.”</p> - -<p>Jack ran back to try and capture some more. It -was an odd sight to see the queerly-dressed clowns, -with the paint on their faces running into all sorts -of streaks, darting through the crowd after the -monkeys. The excitement among the women continued, -and several bonnets had been ruined.</p> - -<p>Some of the men in the throng now turned in -to help, and five or six of the long-tailed beasts -were caught. Jack captured another, and some of -the other clowns managed to grab the nimble creatures -as they scampered about.</p> - -<p>In about ten minutes half of the number in the -cage had been caught. The others—the large -ones—had climbed to high points of the buildings -along the street, where they chattered away, as if -defying the men to get them.</p> - -<p>“I’ll bring ’em back,” said the man who had -charge of them. He went into a store, and purchased -some apples, peanuts and candy. These -things he gave to the recaptured monkeys in the -cage, and the cries they set up as they fought over -the possession of the dainties, attracted the others, -who, anxious not to miss the feast, came trooping -along, only too glad to submit to being captured, -if only they could get something to eat.</p> - -<p>“Whew! That was a strenuous time,” panted -Jack, as he took his place again on the wagon with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> -his fellow clowns. “That was as good as part of -the circus.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the crowd got its money’s worth,” replied -Sam. “I suppose the old man will have to pay -damages for those hats, however.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII<br /> - - -<small>IN A STORM</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> more the parade started, and it completed -the circuit without further accident. To the delight -of every one, the rain ceased, and the sun came out -to dry off dripping tents, and drive away the -moisture from the soaked ground.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have a fine crowd out this afternoon and -to-night, I think,” said Sam. “This is always a -good town to show in.”</p> - -<p>Events proved that he was right, and when it -came time for the afternoon performance the big -tent was taxed to its capacity to hold the throng -gathered. All the performers seemed to have new -vim and vigor with the advent of better weather, -and the acts went off with a snap that had been -absent during the wet spell.</p> - -<p>“Now, Jack, show ’em what you can do,” advised -Sam Kyle, as it came the turn of the clowns -to enter the ring. “Make a good flight.”</p> - -<p>Jack excelled himself, for he had added a new -turn to his stunt, and this was the first time he tried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> -it. This was to take with him, in a cage concealed -on top of the muslin bag, a tame rooster that belonged -to one of the clowns, who had temporarily -given up using it, as he had a new act.</p> - -<p>Chanticleer was put in a cage, and the sides of it -were covered with white muslin, arranged on a -frame work so that they would fall down when a -spring was released, revealing the rooster on top of -the airship. Until the sides fell down, however, it -merely looked like a small square box on top of -the distended muslin bag. Jack could bring the -rooster into view by pulling on a cord.</p> - -<p>Jack’s act was getting to be quite complicated. -In addition to jumping off a high platform, he had -to operate the wings of his machine with his feet, -and just as he reached the ground he had to pull -a cord that shot off a blank cartridge and allowed -the balloon to seemingly fall apart, yank another -that displayed the two United States flags, and now -there was a third one, that would release the -rooster.</p> - -<p>The bird had been trained to fly, flap its wings -and crow as soon as the sides of its cage fell, and -Jack counted on making quite a hit this time.</p> - -<p>He succeeded. Everything went off well, from -the time he jumped with his apparatus off the -tower platform until he shot off the cartridge, unfurling -the flags and revealing the rooster, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> -added not a little to the novelty of the act by crowing -most vigorously.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum! Not so bad! Not so bad! Not -half bad!” was all Mr. Paine said, when he saw -Jack’s latest performance; but the young clown -knew that was the highest praise the manager ever -bestowed.</p> - -<p>“If it goes off as well to-night as it did this afternoon, -you’ll get two dollars more a week,” went -on Mr. Paine. “I like my clowns to think up new -things. It’s a wonder some of you fellows -wouldn’t put a little more ginger into your work,” -the manager continued to Jack’s fellow workers. -“Some of you are all right, but unless the rest of -you wake up, you’ll be looking for other jobs -soon.”</p> - -<p>He walked away, and several of the clowns murmured -among themselves. The majority, however, -knew they were all right, for they were continually -improving their acts.</p> - -<p>“This is what comes of letting a fresh young kid -get in among older performers,” said Ted Chester. -“I’m going to quit soon if he don’t. He gets all -the attention.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” added two or three others. -“The manager thinks he’s the whole show.”</p> - -<p>“If we could queer his act some way maybe it -would take him down a peg,” suggested a tall,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> -lanky clown, whose specialty was to lead an educated -pig around the ring.</p> - -<p>“Say, I’ve got an idea,” whispered Ted. “Come -over here, you fellows.”</p> - -<p>The dissatisfied ones were soon whispering -among themselves, but whenever any one came -near them they seemed to be discussing the most -ordinary topics.</p> - -<p>That night when Jack went to get his apparatus -ready for his performance, he could not find the -trained rooster, that was kept in a cage in a small -tent with other animals used by the clowns.</p> - -<p>“Have you seen Pippo?” Jack asked the clown -who had loaned him the bird.</p> - -<p>“Seen Pippo? Why, no. I told you to take -care of him. I hope he isn’t lost.”</p> - -<p>“I put him in his cage, in here, just as you told -me to, after the performance this afternoon,” replied -Jack. “Now he’s gone.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and the lock on the cage has been broken -off,” declared the clown, when he had examined -the small box, which was kept locked between performances. -“I must tell Mr. Paine.”</p> - -<p>The manager was wrathful when informed of -what had happened.</p> - -<p>“There’s some queer game going on in this -show,” he exclaimed. “If I find out who’s responsible -I’ll discharge him at once. Look around, -Jack, and have some of the men help you. That’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> -a good part of the act, and I don’t want it spoiled. -Maybe some one hid the rooster for a joke, though -it won’t be very funny for him if I find out who it -was.”</p> - -<p>Careful search was made for the rooster, but it -was not to be found. It was getting close to the -time of the performance when the living skeleton -came in from the freak tent.</p> - -<p>“Where’s the old man?” he asked Jack, as Mr. -Paine had gone to another part of the dressing-tent.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. Why?”</p> - -<p>“Because the fat lady has kicked up a row, and -she says she won’t go on exhibition. That’ll queer -the show.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with her?” asked Jack, not -caring particularly, however, as he was anxious -about his own act.</p> - -<p>“Why, there’s a rooster under the raised platform -she sits on, and she’s superstitious about -roosters. She’s afraid she’ll have bad luck.”</p> - -<p>“A rooster!” cried Jack. “I’ll get it! I’ll bet -it’s the one I’m looking for!”</p> - -<p>He ran to the freak tent, the inmates of which -knew nothing of the missing rooster. Lifting up -the canvas side of the raised platform, upon which -sat Madam Rosallie del Norto (stage name, her -real one being Mrs. Susan McGinness), Jack saw -the missing bird. No sooner was the canvas flap<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> -raised than the rooster began to crow. Doubtless -it imagined it was in the regular cage on top of the -airship, and was waiting for the falling of the -sides.</p> - -<p>“Some one stole him out of the cage, and hid -him here,” thought Jack, “and I believe I know -who did it. Well, I haven’t time to do any investigating -now, for I must get ready for my act. But -I’ll tell Mr. Paine afterward.”</p> - -<p>Jack did not get a chance to inform the manager, -however, for that night after his act, which -went off successfully, there were hurried preparations -for departure, as there was every indication -of another storm.</p> - -<p>The performance was cut short, Mr. Paine -going about the ring, urging the performers to -hasten their acts. Jack only did his turn three -times, instead of four.</p> - -<p>“There’s a big thunder storm coming up,” explained -the manager, “and I want to get the people -out of the tent before it breaks. I’m going to cut -out the final concert.”</p> - -<p>But, try as he did, the performance took some -time, and when he gave orders to omit the chariot -and other races, there was such objection from the -crowd that he was forced to put them on.</p> - -<p>The menagerie tent had been struck, the canvas -and poles being loaded into wagons, and the vehicles -started toward the train. There only remained<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> -up the big tent, and as fast as the performers -finished they packed their costumes in trunks, -which were carted away.</p> - -<p>“Well, we’re done,” said Sam to Jack, as the -clowns finished their turns. “Let’s pack up and get -into the car. It’s going to be a bad storm.”</p> - -<p>“I thought we had had enough rain,” observed -the boy.</p> - -<p>“So did I, but you never can tell much about the -weather this time of year.”</p> - -<p>They donned their regular clothes, and, having -packed their trunks, went outside of the dressing-tent. -As they did so the whole western sky seemed -to burst into a sheet of flame. At the same time -there was a loud clap of thunder.</p> - -<p>“Here it comes!” cried Sam. “Let’s get inside -the tent.”</p> - -<p>No sooner had they gotten under the shelter of -the big canvas than the rain came down in torrents. -The storm suddenly broke in all its fury.</p> - -<p>There was incessant lightning, and the thunder -was terribly loud. The wind swayed the big -stretch of tent, and women began to scream in -fright.</p> - -<p>“There’ll be a panic in a minute,” said Sam, -looking rather alarmed. “I guess this will end the -show.”</p> - -<p>It did, for no one cared to look at the races while -such a storm was in progress. The crowd began<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> -leaving, and men, at the direction of Mr. Paine -and his assistants, began taking up the board seats, -the rattle and bang of the planks adding to the din -and confusion.</p> - -<p>The race horses were hurried out of the tent, so -that if the people made a rush the animals would -not get frightened and break loose among them.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there came a terrific gust of wind. -Some of the smaller tent poles began swaying dangerously, -for there was a terrible strain on them.</p> - -<p>“The tent’s falling down!” cried a foolish man. -“Run, everybody!”</p> - -<p>Scores of women screamed, and one or two -fainted. Then that seemed to become epidemic, -and more women fell backward, pale and -trembling.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right! It’s all right!” cried Mr. Paine, -trying to quiet the hysterical ones. “There’s no -danger! The tent will not fall!”</p> - -<p>But his words had no effect. Louder sounded -the thunder, and faster fell the rain. The tent -seemed swaying more and more, and one of the -smaller and unimportant poles snapping in two -caused a panic-stricken rush of people from its vicinity.</p> - -<p>“They’re rushing right against the side of the -tent!” cried Sam. “There’s no way to get out -there, as it’s against a high bank! There’ll be a -lot of women trampled under foot!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>“Why doesn’t the band play and quiet the -rush?” asked Jack, who had read of such things -being done in theatres when there was a fire panic.</p> - -<p>“That’s the stuff!” cried Sam. “Good idea! -Come on, we’ll get over to the band-stand and tell -the leader to strike up a tune. Come on!”</p> - -<p>He grasped Jack by the arm and half led, half -dragged him through the press of people, who, -every second, were becoming more and more unmanageable.</p> - -<p>“Sit down! Stand still! There’s no danger!” -cried Mr. Paine, but all in vain. No one paid any -attention to him. He even began pushing the people -back, to prevent the rush against the bank of -which Sam had spoken. He was only shoved to -one side. The crowd wanted to get out, and that -in the quickest manner possible.</p> - -<p>Just as Jack and Sam got near where the band -was stationed (for the musicians had kept their -places), one of the big centre poles began to sway.</p> - -<p>“That’s going to fall,” said Jack, in a low voice, -to the head clown. “It’ll kill a lot of people if it -does!”</p> - -<p>“Play! Play!” cried Sam frantically. “Play -for all you’re worth, fellows! It’s the only way to -stop the rush!”</p> - -<p>The band leader comprehended. He gave a -signal and the men, who were rather alarmed at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> -the signs of panic all about them, placed their instruments -in position.</p> - -<p>Jack, with horror-stricken eyes, watched the -swaying pole. Others were also looking at it. -One man set up a hoarse shout, and more women -screamed. Then, just as the band struck up a -lively air, Jack saw Ike Landon, the boss canvasman, -and several of his helpers spring from the -centre of the middle ring toward the swaying pole. -Would he be able to catch the slipping ropes in -time, and hold them? The lives of many depended -on him now.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII<br /> - - -<small>THE MAD ELEPHANT</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">But</span> Ike was equal to the emergency. With one -motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying -pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, -and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on -account of the manner in which the tent swayed.</p> - -<p>“Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.</p> - -<p>They came with a rush. The rope was slipping -from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with -the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold -it. They took a turn about a tent stake driven -deep into the ground, and the fallen pole was held -in place.</p> - -<p>“That was a close call,” whispered Sam to Jack.</p> - -<p>The boy clown nodded. He had had a glimpse -of the dangers that beset a circus, and he had no -liking for them. Only by a narrow margin had a -terrible tragedy been averted.</p> - -<p>But now the band was playing. The crowd, that -had seen the masterful manner in which Ike saved -the pole from falling, was becoming quieter. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> -panic was dying away, though the storm was now -fiercer than ever. The big tent withstood the blast, -however, and the maddened throng, being turned -back from rushing at the steep bank, swerved -around and poured out of the main entrance and -into the driving rain.</p> - -<p>“Those who wish to remain until after the -shower is over may do so!” shouted Mr. Paine, -when the band had done playing. “We will not -take the tent down for some time yet.”</p> - -<p>There were cries of thanks from many who had -no liking for going out and getting drenched. -Many did go, however, for they lived at a distance -and wanted to get home. Others, more nervous, -still had some fear that the tent would fall.</p> - -<p>“We can’t do much in this storm, anyhow,” said -the manager to some of his men, who had gathered -near him. “Get the seats out of the way, and -we’ll take the tent down as soon as it stops blowing. -The other stuff can go, and we’ll hold a few cars -for the canvas and rush it through on an extra.”</p> - -<p>Half an hour later the storm had practically -ceased, and then came the hard work of taking -down a wet tent. You boys who have gone camping, -and been obliged to handle your small tent -when it was soaking wet, have some idea what it -means to handle tons of damp canvas. Yet the -circus men went at it as if it was the easiest thing -in the world, and to such a system had they reduced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> -the work that the tent was down in a short time, -and packed in wagons, ready to run on the flat cars.</p> - -<p>Jack and Sam, when they saw that the danger -was over, had gone to the train, and, with the other -performers, were soon being whirled to the next -town where the show was to give an exhibition.</p> - -<p>“Well, this is something like weather,” remarked -Sam the next morning, as he peered out of -the sleeping-car window. The sun was shining -brightly and the air was soft and warm. There -was scarcely a trace of yesterday’s storm, though -this town was but thirty miles from the one where -the tent had so nearly fallen.</p> - -<p>“I dreamed I was being smothered under a lot -of canvas coverings,” said Jack.</p> - -<p>“I nearly was, once,” declared Sam simply.</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Just like last night. Tent blew down in a tornado, -and the whole show, and a big crowd, was -caught. Pole hit me on the head, and I lay there -unconscious and slowly smothering. They got me -out in time, but fifteen people were killed.”</p> - -<p>“This is a more dangerous life than I thought,” -mused Jack.</p> - -<p>“Dangerous? I guess it is. Folks on the outside -don’t know anything about it. They think being -in a circus is fun. I wish some of them had about -six months of it.”</p> - -<p>The performances that afternoon and evening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> -went off well, and for a week after that the circus -played in good weather. The show was gradually -working back east, and as there had been big -crowds, and no mishaps to speak of, every one was -in good humor.</p> - -<p>Jack had no further trouble with the ugly ringmaster -and Ted Chester, and his act was now -looked upon as one of the most “drawing” features -of the show. Mr. Paine promised the lad if he -would stay with him the next season that he would -pay our hero twenty-five dollars a week.</p> - -<p>Jack did not know what to do. He had quite a -sum saved up, but not enough to go to China with, -and yet he desired to go and seek his parents. He -disliked to do as Sam had suggested, and appeal -to the professor, although he felt that it might be -the best plan. If no news had been received from -China, Jack made up his mind he would remain -with the circus for another summer, but there was -one difficulty in the way.</p> - -<p>The show had no winter season, and Jack would -be out of a job until next spring. He would have -to live in the meantime, and, unless he could get a -place in some theatre, which was doubtful, all his -savings might go to support him while the show -was in winter quarters. It was a harder problem -to solve than he had any idea of, and he decided -he would talk with Sam about it.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I’ll do,” Jack decided one day<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> -after the afternoon performance had come to a -close. “I’ll ask him what he would do.”</p> - -<p>Sam was not in the dressing-tent, and on inquiring -where he was Jack was told that his friend was -in the animal tent talking to one of the trainers. -Thither the boy clown went.</p> - -<p>As he passed the roped-off enclosure where the -elephants were chained to heavy stakes, Jack saw -Bill Henyon, the trainer of the huge beasts, rather -carefully regarding Ajax, the largest tusker in the -herd.</p> - -<p>“Going to put him through some new tricks, -Mr. Henyon?” asked Jack, for he had made -friends with the elephant trainer. The man shook -his head.</p> - -<p>“Something’s wrong with Ajax,” he said. “I -don’t like the way he’s acting. He’s ugly with -me, and he never was that way before. I’m afraid -I’m going to have trouble. He acts to me as if he -was going to have a mad spell.”</p> - -<p>“Do elephants get mad?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“Well, not in the way dogs do, but there comes -a certain time when they get off their feed, or when -they have distemper or something like that, and -then they go off in a rage, destroying everything -they come up against. When an elephant gets that -way in the wild state they call him a ‘rogue,’ and -even the best hunters steer clear of him. He’s a -solitary brute, that kills for the love of killing.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>“Do you think Ajax will get that way?”</p> - -<p>“I hope not, yet I don’t like the way he’s behaving. -I think I’ll double shackle him.”</p> - -<p>Jack passed on, glad that it was not his duty to -take charge of the big ungainly brutes. Mr. Henyon -proceeded to fasten Ajax to the ground with -heavy chains about the animal’s feet.</p> - -<p>“Now if you want to go off on a tantrum, you’ll -have hard work getting away,” remarked the elephant -man.</p> - -<p>Ajax looked at his keeper with his wicked little -eyes, and, lifting up his trunk, gave a shrill trumpet. -Nor was the animal trainer’s mind made any -more easy as he noticed that Ajax was not doing -his accustomed swaying motion, which all those -big beasts, at least in captivity, seem to be always -doing. Clearly something was wrong with Ajax.</p> - -<p>Jack found Sam, and had a long talk with his -friend. The head clown again advised the boy -to write to the professor, and see if any news had -come from the boy’s folks.</p> - -<p>“If they’re still somewhere in China,” said Sam, -“you had better stick with the show. Maybe I can -help you get a place in some theatre this winter.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll do as you say,” agreed Jack. -“I’ll write to-morrow. But now I’ve got to go and -fix some things on my airship. I broke a hoop in -the bag this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>Jack started for the property tent, and he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> -scarcely reached it when, from the menagerie, -there came such a terrifying yell, mingled with a -trumpet of rage, that every one who heard it stood -still in horror.</p> - -<p>“That’s an elephant!” cried Mr. Delafield. -“Something’s gone wrong!”</p> - -<p>“Ajax! It must be Ajax!” shouted Jack. “Bill -told me he was acting queer a while ago!”</p> - -<p>“Then he’s killed some one,” exclaimed the property -man, as he rushed from his tent. “I know -that yell. I heard one like it once before! Ajax -has killed a man!”</p> - -<p>Jack ran out of the tent after Mr. Delafield. -As he got outside he heard the shrill trumpet -again. Then came a rattle of chains, and a side of -the animal tent bulged out.</p> - -<p>“Ajax’s loose! Ajax’s loose!” cried a man, and -the next instant the mad elephant, which had -broken the double chains, rushed from the tent, -trunk in the air, trumpeting shrilly, its wicked little -eyes agleam with rage.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV<br /> - - -<small>JACK’S BAD FALL</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Behind</span> the big brute came a score of the animal -men, armed with clubs, pitchforks, iron bars -and elephant hooks. But Bill Henyon was not -among them. The elephant trainer—the master -of Ajax—had given that big brute his last command, -for, as they ran, the men from the animal -tent told how the elephant had seized Henyon in -his trunk, and dashed him to the ground, maiming -him so terribly that he was a cripple for life.</p> - -<p>But now every man who could be spared from -the circus grounds started to race after the fleeing -elephant. Canvasmen, drivers, trainers, even the -trapeze performers, joined in the hunt, and of -course Jack, Sam, and several of the other clowns -were there.</p> - -<p>“If he runs toward town he’ll do a lot of damage, -and maybe kill two or three people before his -rage dies down,” said Sam.</p> - -<p>“Can’t they catch him in time?” asked Jack.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span>“It’s a hard question. There, he’s heading for -the creek. Maybe that’ll cool him off.”</p> - -<p>The circus tents had been pitched near a small -stream, and toward this the big brute was now -headed, for, heavy as an elephant is, he can outrun -a man for a short distance, and sometimes beat -him in a long race.</p> - -<p>Into the water plunged Ajax, filling his trunk -with it and spraying it all about. He took up his -position in the middle of the stream, as if to bid -defiance to his pursuers.</p> - -<p>“Go slow now,” cautioned Hank Servdon, who -was the boss animal man. “I’ll keep him engaged -in front, while some of you sneak up behind and -shackle one leg with a long chain.”</p> - -<p>It was a risky plan, but it worked. While Hank -slowly approached Ajax from in front, wading out -into the creek, with his elephant hook raised, ready -to catch it in the sensitive trunk of the brute, other -men approached through the water at the rear, -holding in readiness heavy chains. Ajax concentrated -all his attention on Hank, whom he doubtless -hoped to treat as he had served poor Henyon.</p> - -<p>“Ajax! Attention! Up! Up!” suddenly cried -Hank, giving the beast the order to stand on his -hind legs. Habit was too much for the brute, enraged -as he was. With a trumpet of protest, he -rose slowly.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p188.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“To bid defiance to his pursuers”<br /> -<span class="illoright"><i>Page <a href="#Page_188">188</a></i></span></p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>“Now, men!” cried Hank, and in a trice two -chains had been slipped about the hind legs. Ajax -was caught before he had gotten into town, but -there was sorrow among the circus folk when they -heard how grievously Bill Henyon was hurt. Ajax -had caught him unawares, as the elephant man -stooped over to adjust one of the chains that the -big creature had pulled loose.</p> - -<p>But the show must go on, no matter what happens -to the employees or performers, and when the -news got around that one of the elephants in the -circus had nearly killed his keeper there was a bigger -crowd than usual at the night performance, -every one anxious for a glimpse of Ajax.</p> - -<p>The brute had quieted down somewhat, but -there was an extra fence of ropes about his enclosure -in the animal tent, and he was so heavily -shackled with chains that it would have been a -task even beyond his terrible strength to get loose.</p> - -<p>Every one in the circus was more or less nervous -that night, and even the veteran performers on the -high wire and on the flying trapeze did not feel -so sure of themselves as usual.</p> - -<p>Once, during a particularly long jump clear -across the tent, when one of the trapeze performers -swings loose to catch in the hands of another, -there was a miscalculation, and the performer fell -quite a distance into the net. After that Mr. Paine -called the act off.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span>“It’s too risky,” he said. “I’m afraid something’s -going to happen to-night.”</p> - -<p>Perhaps all this got on Jack’s nerves, for, -though he was usually clear headed, he found himself -feeling somewhat nervous as he climbed to the -top of his platform, ready for his first leap with -the flying machine.</p> - -<p>“Pshaw!” he exclaimed to himself. “What’s -the matter with me, anyhow? I’m thinking too -much of poor Mr. Henyon. Well, here goes,” and -he launched himself down.</p> - -<p>He landed safely, amid the laughter of the -crowd at his queer act.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’m all right,” he thought. His success -made him more confident, and he did the next -two turns even better than the first. Then came -the last one.</p> - -<p>“I’m tired to-night,” thought Jack. “I don’t -feel just like myself. Guess I must be getting -homesick. Oh, but I would like to see dad and -mom again! I wish I was back in Westville, even -if the professor would have me arrested. Well, -here goes for the last turn, and then I’m going to -bed and sleep.”</p> - -<p>There was some delay in getting his platform -over to the far side of the tent, where he was to -make his last jump, and it was almost time for the -final races when it was in position.</p> - -<p>Jack climbed up, and his airship was hoisted up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> -to him. He did his customary song and dance, and -then prepared to give his exhibition of flying. Yet -in spite of the confidence that had come back to -him when he found that he had done the trick -three times successfully, he felt his nervousness returning.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’d better take a tonic,” he told himself. -“Well, here goes.”</p> - -<p>He leaped forward, grasping the handle of the -big umbrella that extended down through the distended -bag. He expected to feel himself buoyed -up as usual by the big Japanese affair, but as his -feet began to work the pedals controlling the -wings, and as he got ready to pull the strings to -fire the shot and display the flags and rooster, he -realized that something was wrong. The umbrella -was not holding him up. In fact, he was falling -swiftly to the ground.</p> - -<p>The crowd not understanding that something -was wrong, began to laugh as it always did, but -there was terror in Jack’s heart.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was a ripping sound, and the big -umbrella turned inside out. Jack fell rapidly and -heavily toward the earth, having no support to -break his terrific fall.</p> - -<p>As he landed, his hand unconsciously pulled the -strings and the shot was fired, the flags fluttered -out, and the rooster crowed. The crowd yelled -and applauded, but poor Jack felt a pain in his left<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> -leg as if some one had run a red-hot iron into it. -Then it seemed as if some one had hit him on the -head with a club. The lights, high up on the tent -poles, died away. All became black, and Jack -knew nothing more.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV<br /> - - -<small>LEFT BEHIND—CONCLUSION</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Jack regained his senses he found himself -in a soft bed, and, as his eyes roved about they -did not encounter the familiar hangings of the -circus sleeping-car. Instead, they saw a room -neatly papered, and at a window hung with white -curtains sat a young lady. Jack stirred uneasily. -Perhaps he was dreaming.</p> - -<p>The woman at the window heard him, and came -over to the bed.</p> - -<p>“So you’re awake, are you?” she asked pleasantly. -“How do you feel?”</p> - -<p>“Rather—sore—and—stiff,” replied Jack slowly. -“What’s—the—matter—with—my leg?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, nothing much. It’s broken, that’s all; but -the doctor says it’s a clean break. You’ll soon be -better.”</p> - -<p>“My—head——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you got quite a bad blow on the head, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> -you’ve been unconscious for several hours, but it’s -nothing serious.”</p> - -<p>“Unconscious for several hours?” repeated Jack -more quickly. “Where’s the circus?”</p> - -<p>“It’s gone on.”</p> - -<p>“Gone on? And—left—me—behind?”</p> - -<p>He spoke more slowly, and he felt a queer sensation. -A lump came into his throat. His eyes -felt hot and heavy. Surely he couldn’t be going to -cry? Of course not!</p> - -<p>“Left—behind!” he murmured. “They left me -behind!”</p> - -<p>“Why, they couldn’t take you with them,” said -the pretty young woman. “You couldn’t stand it -to be moved, you know. But they felt dreadfully -bad at leaving you.”</p> - -<p>“Who did?” asked Jack dully.</p> - -<p>“Oh, ever so many. There was one big man -with a red tie, Mr. Rain, I think he said his name -was.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Paine. That’s the manager.”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Well, he gave orders that you should -be taken good care of. Then there was a clown, -I guess, for all the paint wasn’t washed off his face -when he came here. He left a lot of addresses for -you, where the show would be.”</p> - -<p>“That was Sam Kyle.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and then there was, oh, such a fat lady! -She said she once had a boy just like you, and she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> -made me promise to give you chicken broth every -day. You have a lot of friends in that circus.”</p> - -<p>“Where am I?” asked Jack, beginning to feel -a little better at these evidences of care.</p> - -<p>“Why, you’re in a room at the hotel, and I’m -a sort of nurse. Mr. Rain—I mean Mr. Paine—engaged -me for you before he left. Now you’re -to be quiet, for the doctor doesn’t want you to get -excited.”</p> - -<p>“How long will I have to stay here?” asked -Jack.</p> - -<p>“Oh, about a month. But don’t fret.”</p> - -<p>“A month? Why, the show will close then, -and I can’t be with it. Who’ll do my act? I must -go!”</p> - -<p>He tried to sit up, but the pain in his leg, and the -ache in his head, made him fall back on the pillow. -The nurse gave him some quieting medicine, and -he soon fell asleep. When he awakened he felt -much better, though he was almost heartbroken at -the thought of being left behind. He questioned -the nurse and she told him what had happened.</p> - -<p>There had been some flaw in the umbrella he -used, and it had collapsed, letting him fall almost -the entire forty feet to the ground. That he had -not been worse hurt was regarded as very fortunate. -The show had been obliged to go on, but -Mr. Paine had left a goodly sum with the hotel -proprietor for Jack’s board, and had also left a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> -note telling the boy that all his savings, including -his salary to the end of the season, would be held -for him, and sent wherever he requested.</p> - -<p>So there was nothing for Jack to do but to remain -in bed. How he longed to be with the show, -and performing his act again, even after the accident, -no one but himself knew. He said nothing -about it to the nurse, but there was a great longing -in his heart.</p> - -<p>The nurse and the hotel people were kind to -him, but all the while the boy was becoming more -and more homesick. He was worrying and fretting -about his parents, and he had about made up -his mind to write to Professor Klopper. This -fretting did him no good, in fact it increased his -fever.</p> - -<p>“That boy has something on his mind more than -merely being left behind by the circus,” said the -doctor to the nurse one day. “If he doesn’t get -quieter he’ll have a relapse, and that will be bad.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll see if I can’t find out what it is,” the nurse -said. None of the circus people had told Jack’s -story.</p> - -<p>The day after this Jack asked for something to -read, and while the nurse went to get him a book -she handed him a newspaper, published in a town -not far from where Jack lived. He looked at it -idly hoping he might see some item about the circus, -but the show had evidently passed farther on.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>Then, as he turned the pages, he caught sight of -an item that gave him a sudden start.</p> - -<p>For, staring at him, in black type on the white -page, was this notice, dated from Westville, where -he lived:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Information Wanted</span> concerning Jack Allen, -supposed to be with a traveling circus. He left -his home with Professor Klopper under a misapprehension. -Everything is all right. If he sees -this will he please communicate at once with the -undersigned? A reward will be paid for suitable -information of the whereabouts of the boy.</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Sylvester Allen.</span>”</p> -</div> - -<p>“It’s my father! My father! He’s back from -China!” cried Jack. “Hurrah! Dad’s back! -Hurry, some one! Get me a pen and paper. I’ll -write at once! No, I’ll telegraph! Whoop! Now -I’m all right!”</p> - -<p>The nurse came running back into the room.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” she asked. “What has happened? -You must not excite yourself. You will -have a relapse.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care if I do,” cried Jack. “My father -and mother are back from their trip around the -world. They’re back from China. I must telegraph -them at once.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>“Here, drink this. It will quiet you,” said the -nurse, thinking Jack was out of his mind.</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to be quiet! I want to yell and -sing! Dad’s home! So’s mother! I’m all right -now!”</p> - -<p>It took him some time to convince the nurse -that he knew what he was talking about, but when -he had showed her the notice in the paper, and -had told his story, she brought him a telegraph -blank, and the happy boy sent a long message to -his father.</p> - -<p>How anxiously he waited for the answer! At -last it came:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jack</span>: We will be with you as soon as -possible. Father and mother. The professor is -coming, too.”</p> -</div> - -<p>“I don’t know that I want to see the professor,” -mused Jack, “but I guess it must be all right, or -dad wouldn’t bring him.”</p> - -<p>Three hours later Jack was being clasped in his -mother’s arms, while Mr. Allen, with moisture in -his eyes, was holding his son’s hand.</p> - -<p>“My poor boy!” said his mother. “To think of -you being a clown in a circus!”</p> - -<p>“It was bully fun, while it lasted,” said Jack enthusiastically. -“But I guess I’ve had enough of it.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> -But what happened to you? Why didn’t you -write?”</p> - -<p>“We couldn’t, Jack,” replied his father. “We -were detained in a province which was surrounded -by warring Chinese factions, and we couldn’t get -out, nor send any word. When we did, your -mother and I decided we had had enough of traveling -around the world and we started for home. -We got here, after sending word to the professor -that we were coming, but when we arrived we -found that you had run away.”</p> - -<p>“Did he—did he tell you what for?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Jack,” said Professor Klopper, coming -forward awkwardly. “And I want to beg your -pardon. I—I fear I was a bit hasty.”</p> - -<p>“Then you know I didn’t steal the cup?” asked -Jack rather coldly.</p> - -<p>“No one stole it. It fell down behind my bureau, -and slipped into a hole in the wall where the -plaster was off. I found it not long after you had—er—left -so unceremoniously, and I wished I -could have found you.</p> - -<p>“Then when I got word from your folks, and -I managed to learn that you had joined a circus, I -went to the performance, though I do not believe -in such frivolous amusements. But I could not find -you to tell you the good news. I suppose you were -with some other amusement enterprise, Jack?”</p> - -<p>“No, I saw you,” replied the boy, laughing now,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> -“but I kept out of your way. I was afraid you -wanted to arrest me.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Jack!” whispered his mother. “You had -a dreadful time!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, not so bad,” was the answer. “I earned -about three hundred dollars, and I’ve got most of -it saved up.”</p> - -<p>“Three hundred dollars, if put out at six per -cent interest, and compounded, will double itself -in eleven years, three hundred and twenty-seven -days,” remarked the professor thoughtfully. “I -would recommend that you do that with your -money. In less than twelve years you would have -six hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Not for mine,” said Jack, with a laugh. “I’m -going to buy a motorcycle as soon as my leg gets -well. That’s as near flying as I care to go for a -while.”</p> - -<p>Jack was taken home as soon as it was practical -to move him, and he and the professor became -pretty good friends afterward, for it was no small -matter for the dictatorial old college teacher to admit, -to a mere boy, that such wisdom as could figure -out the hardest problem in trigonometry could be -wrong when it came to the simple matter of a missing -gold cup.</p> - -<p>Jack got his motorcycle, and a beauty it was, for -when he received his money from the circus treasurer -he found it was nearer four hundred than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> -three hundred dollars. Part of it he decided to -save.</p> - -<p>“Because you know,” said Jack, “I might some -day want to buy a flying machine, and if I put some -money out at interest long enough I can get it.”</p> - -<p>With the check that represented his savings -from the circus came a letter from the manager, -stating that whenever he wanted an engagement -he could have one. There were messages from all -his friends, and a pass to the show good forever -at any place where the Bower & Brewster circus -held forth. And Jack often used it, taking with -him some of his boy friends, and renewing acquaintance -with the performers. But there was no -such attraction as a clown in an imitation flying machine, -though Sam Kyle and his fellows cut up some -queer antics in the ring.</p> - -<p>But if Jack ever felt any desire to go back to the -circus life, he never told any one about it, for he -had higher ambitions after that than to don a -multi-colored suit and daub his face over with red -and white paint.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The Webster Series</span></p> - - -<p class="ph1">By FRANK V. WEBSTER</p> - -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/ad1.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p> </p> - -<p>Mr. WEBSTER’S style is very much like -that of the boys’ favorite author, the late -lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales -are thoroughly up-to-date.</p> - -<p>Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. -Stamped in various colors.</p> - -<p>Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.</p> - - - - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - -<p><b>Only A Farm Boy</b> -<i>or Dan Hardy’s Rise in Life</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boy From The Ranch</b> -<i>or Roy Bradner’s City Experiences</i></p> - -<p><b>The Young Treasure Hunter</b> -<i>or Fred Stanley’s Trip to Alaska</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boy Pilot of the Lakes</b> -<i>or Nat Morton’s Perils</i></p> - -<p><b>Tom The Telephone Boy</b> -<i>or The Mystery of a Message</i></p> - -<p><b>Bob The Castaway</b> -<i>or The Wreck of the Eagle</i></p> - -<p><b>The Newsboy Partners</b> -<i>or Who Was Dick Box?</i></p> - -<p><b>Two Boy Gold Miners</b> -<i>or Lost in the Mountains</i></p> - -<p><b>The Young Firemen of Lakeville</b> -<i>or Herbert Dare’s Pluck</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boys of Bellwood School</b> -<i>or Frank Jordan’s Triumph</i></p> - -<p><b>Jack the Runaway</b> -<i>or On the Road with a Circus</i></p> - -<p><b>Bob Chester’s Grit</b> -<i>or From Ranch to Riches</i></p> - -<p><b>Airship Andy</b> -<i>or The Luck of a Brave Boy</i></p> - -<p><b>High School Rivals</b> -<i>or Fred Markham’s Struggles</i></p> - -<p><b>Darry The Life Saver</b> -<i>or The Heroes of the Coast</i></p> - -<p><b>Dick The Bank Boy</b> -<i>or A Missing Fortune</i></p> - -<p><b>Ben Hardy’s Flying Machine</b> -<i>or Making a Record for Himself</i></p> - -<p><b>Harry Watson’s High School Days</b> -<i>or The Rivals of Rivertown</i></p> - -<p><b>Comrades of the Saddle</b> -<i>or The Young Rough Riders of the -Plains</i></p> - -<p><b>Tom Taylor at West Point</b> -<i>or The Old Army Officer’s Secret</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boy Scouts of Lennox</b> -<i>or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boys of the Wireless</b> -<i>or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep</i></p> - -<p><b>Cowboy Dave</b> -<i>or The Round-up at Rolling River</i></p> - -<p><b>Jack of the Pony Express</b> -<i>or The Young Rider of the Mountain -Trail</i></p> - -<p><b>The Boys of the Battleship</b> -<i>or For the Honor of Uncle Sam</i></p> -</div></div></div> - - -<p class="center">CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, <span class="gap"> NEW YORK</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph3">THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES</p> - - - -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By</span> WILLARD F. BAKER</p> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/ad2.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors</i></p> - -<p><i>Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid</i></p> - -<p><i>Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as -a setting, related in such a style as to captivate -the hearts of all boys.</i></p> - - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - -<p><b>1. THE BOY RANCHERS</b><br /> - -<i>or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X</i></p> - -<p>Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They<br /> -become involved in an exciting mystery.</p> - - -<p><b>2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP</b><br /> - -<i>or The Water Fight at Diamond X</i></p> - -<p>Returning for a summer visit to their western cousin’s ranch,<br /> -the two eastern lads learn, with delight, that they are to be allowed<br /> -to become boy ranchers in earnest.</p> - - -<p><b>3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL</b><br /> - -<i>or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers</i></p> - -<p>Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws.</p> - - -<p><b>4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS</b><br /> - -<i>or Trailing the Yaquis</i></p> - -<p>Rosemary and Floyd visiting their cousins Bud, Nort and Dick,<br /> -are captured by the Yaqui Indians. The boy ranchers trail the<br /> -savages into the mountains and eventually effect the rescue.</p> - - -<p><b>5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK</b><br /> - -<i>or Fighting the Sheep Herders</i></p> - -<p>Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights brings out<br /> -heroic adventures.</p> - - -<p><b>6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT</b><br /> - -<i>or Diamond X and the Lost Mine</i></p> - -<p>One stormy night there arrived at the bunk house a strange<br /> -figure. He was an old miner almost dead from hunger and hardship.<br /> -The boys cared for him and, out of gratitude, he told them the<br /> -tale of the lost desert mine.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<p class="center"><i>Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> - - -<p class="center">CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers <span class="gap"> New York</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> - -<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> -</div></div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK THE RUNAWAY ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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