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$2.50' PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price,
No.  a. Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. 5 cent!“ “11- 

 

             

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OR, THE

Circus Queen's Shadowen'

A Romance of the Sawdust Circle.

 

 

BY J. C. COWDRICK,
AUTHOR OF “ BROADWAY 1:11.11” NOVELS, ETC,

 

CHAPTER I. b
[THE BOY w1T11 CIRCUS ON THE BRAIN.
“ SAY. mister?"
“ Well, say it. quick.”
 : “Can’t I fetch water, or do somethin’, to?
33;:  get a. free ticket?”
‘ '  Harry Murm , su erintcndent of the1
“Greatest One-fling how On Earth,” 011-1
served the little fellow well. .
“0N, BEAUTY!» CMED THE “1ng QUEEN, WHILE SHE LOOKED BACK AT The apphcant was a brlghq-eyeq boy of

THE INFURIATE ELEPHAXT WITH HORROR. fourteen years, of muscular bulld, thh dark]

_ f - ~ . . _ ‘ - - ~ . ._
.,........ ‘~::-
. . _ _ , ' ' - I ' - - - u - - . """"r:~-

 

 

 

 
 

   

 

2

hair and tanned face, and his whole raiment
consisted of hat, shirt and trowsers.

“ What’s your name?” the showman
asked. , ' '

“My name’s Jack lieed, but the boys all
call me Jumpin'-Jack, fer a nickname, sir."

" Jumping-Jack ‘3"

. “ Yes."

“Ha, ha. ha! Well, that is a nickname,
true enough. Why do they call you that?"

“ Becausu I’m a jumper."

“ Let me see you jump, if that‘s the
case."

The boy flung his hat to the ground,
leaped up lightly, and to the astonishment
of the showman and all who stood near,
turned over backward with the greatest
ease, as quick as a wink, and came down
upon the same spot where he had been
standing.

“Great Scott!" Harry Murray exclaimed.
“ Where did you learn to do that, boy?"

“Learnt it myself. sir.”

' “ Can you do anything else?"

"‘ I can jump over a string a foot higher
than my head, with a run, sir; and 1 can
tumble twice, if I get a good start.”

The mischief you can! You are a circus
in yourself. But, you must have seen some-
body do these things to put you in the
notion of it, didn’t you?"

“Yes; there was a circus here two years
ago, an' me an’ some of the other boys took
to playin’ circus. I‘m the only one that
stuck to it, though, and new they say I have
circus on the brain." '

“Well, you have made a go of it, sure
enough. Yes, take that pail and get some
water and keep this gang of men supplied
while they are at work, and I’ll give you
tickets for all the performances. And, say,
I' want to see you again before we go
away.” .

“All right, sir.” ‘

The boy grinned from ear to ear, gave the
wink to some of his chums who stood a little
distance off, and grabbing up the pail was
away like a shot‘ to begin the work that was
to bring the promised reward.

The showman turned sharply to some of
the men who had been lagging at their work
while he had been talking with the boy, his
voice soon had them all on the jump again
at their liveliest, and the big white tent
grew and assumed shape with every passing

/

' 4 minute,

This was a red-letter day in the annals of
Warrenton.

For weeks this day had been eagerly looked
forward to, especially on the part of the
he s of the town. ’ .

‘very foot of available space throughout
the town, almost, had been made use of by
the bill-stickers, and the gorgeous pictures
had been viewed again and again with won-
der‘ and delight.

' And this was the day—the day of all, days
to the small boy, and the circus was there, a
reality! , ' °

It was bright and early in the morning.

The train had arrived before daylight, and
when the town awoke the wagons were
being removed from the railroad to the field
where the tents were to be put up.

As ever, the boys of the town were on
hand as quickly as possible, ant “ Jumping ”
Jack Reed was second to none, as may be
imagined from the glimpse the reader has
now had of him, and the words quoted.

J umping-Jack made all the haste possible
' to the nearest place where water was to be

had, and filling the pail. hurried back again.
‘ - Before reaching the big tent he had to pass
another that was being put up. ‘

,Hcre he Was stopped, by one of the show»
men. . .
f‘ What do on want?” the boy demanded.

-“.Water, 0 course, you monks !”

,‘LWell, you can’t have any of t is, sir."

- ;"What? You 'mean to say you won’t
mint a. drink?", , =

. 3‘

J umpingi-J ack’ s Jubilee.

 

i
l “ I’m carrying water for the gang in the
big tent, and there—~” '

“We don‘t care a picayune who you are
carrying it for; you‘ hand over that pail or
I’ll kick a lung out of you!”

The fellow was a dark-faced man of
thirty, perhaps, and was evidently the boss
of the gang at work upon this tent. As he
spoke he stepped forward and reached for
the pail.

“ Keep off!” Jumping-Jack warned.

“Give me that pail, confound you, boy!"

With this he gave Jack a cuff on the side
of his head.

Jack had been trying'to escape him, but,
of course, could not do so with the heavy
pail in hand. I

No sooner had he been struck, however,
than he stooped slightly, gripping the pail
with both hands, and in the same moment
the whole contents was dashed in the man’s
face. '

Harry Murray, coming from the big tent,
was just in time to see the Whole perform-
ance.

He ran speedily toward the scene.

With an oath, the drenched man picked up
a tent-pin and aimed a blow at the boy which
must have killed him if he had been
struck.

J limping-Jack ducked his head with the
quickness of lightning, and before another
blow could be aimed he had leaped in the air
and the heels of both feet were planted
squarely upon the man’s breast with force.

Down went the man, with a shock that al.
most rendered him insensible for the mo-
ment. , >

“ That was a close call for you. boy,” said
Murray, who reached the spot at that mo-
ment.
for he is an ugly devil.”

J nmping-Jack noticed that the superin-
tendent had a pistol in hand.

“ He wasn’t quick enough, that was all,”
Jack responded as coolly as if nothing had
happened. “I’ll have to go and till ’er up
again,” taking the pail and starting off im-
mediately.

Harry. Murray looked at him a moment,
then turned to the man on the ground and
ordered him to et up. _

“ You are ma ing trouble again, are you.
Tom Hunter?" he demanded. “If you had

in your tracks like a dog! Don't you dare to
lay a finger on him!”

“ Well, he needn’t been so ’fraid of his
water, need he? An’ what business had he
to drown me like this?”

" You should not have struck him.
it all. He knew what he was about.”

“ Well, you tell him to keep clear 0’ Tom
Hunter.” ‘

The last was said in a muttered tone, and
did not clearly reach the ears of the superin
tendcnt, as the fellow turned to his work.

Most of Jumping-Jack’s chums had wit-
nessed the set to, and they could not conceal
the admiration they had for their hero.
This was the first time they-had ever seen
Jack fight just that way.

Murray remained within sight until Jack
returned with the second pail of water, and
had passed safely him the big tent, and even
then, before going elsewhere, he told some
of the men to have an eye upon Hunter to
806 that he did 'the boy no harm.

The showman had taken a liking to Jump-
in Jack.

a a few hours the tents were all up and
the minor details were being pushed rapidly
to completion. , - . s

The band chariot and other vehicles.were
forming in line for the great street parade,
and now there were great crowds of sight-
stgeirs standing around and taking in every-

ng. :

Among I
well-known character around town. »

I saw

 

' He wasa drunkard, a veritable sot, who

” I thought sure. he would kill you,-

killed that boy I would have shot you down,

  

these was one John Witmnn, a.

 

in his younger days, had had some connec-
tion or other with a circus himself.- .

He was now sober, or as sober as he was
ever likely to be found in this world, and
had been talking with the workmen here and
there around, about old times, trying to
“ work ” a pass. .

J umping-Jack had finished his work and
was standing near him.

They were looking at the band-wagon and
other attractions, and while they were thus
engaged Tom Hunter came alon .

Jumping Jack had been tak ng care to
keep out of his way, and so drew back a lit-
tle and put himself on the other side of Wit«
man, where a tree concealed him partly from
view. '

The drunkard, on the strength of having
been in the profession himself, had made his
way further to the front than others cared to

intrude, and when llunter came along and

stopped near him, Witman engaged him im-
mediately in conversation in which J umping—
Jack was destined to hear something impor-
tant. _ _
CHAPTER II.
A sronv THAT SUGGESTED A SCHEME.

“ I’M blamed if you don’t git up a good '

turn-out, neighbor,” Old Wit paid compli-
ment.

That was the nickname by which the bum
was familiarly known—“ Old Wit.”

“ Yes, it will do," growled Hunter.

“ it ’minds me a good deal of what Cook
'n‘ Tucker‘s was, fifteen or twenty years
ago, an’ itch you that was a hummer!”

“ I’ve heard said that it was a good show,”
Hunter merely rejoined.

The old bummer prattlcd on, in his crack-L

voiced way, saying a good deal in praise of
the old show, but “ allowin r” that this one
was just a little better; an
parade was forming. .

Presently the superintendent of the show
came running with a little child in his arms,
a child not more than five or six years old,
as pretty as a flower and died in the neatest
and at the same time the most striking cos-
tume that can be imagined, for such 9. tot.

Murray passed withher close to where Old
Wit and Hunter were standing. '

At sight of the child the bummer‘s face
turned ashy white, he gave a gasp and a,
start, involuntarily taking a step forward to-
ward her.

Hunter noticed him,

“ What’s the matter with you ‘2” be de-
manded. ' a

” That—that kid!” the bummer ejaculated.
“ Who—who is she, neighbor?”

.“ You look as if you had seen a ghost, old
man. That’s Sam Bruce’s brat, curse him}
She‘s on the bills as ‘ Baby Bess.’ ” l

“ Dast me if her face didn’t give me a
shock.” ’ j

“ It gave you more than a shock, I should
think._the Way you looked and acted. Re-
minded you of somebody?"

“ That’s what 'it did.”

“ Who?”

“ That‘s quite a story, neighbor. But,
say how comes you ain’t in the‘ parade yer.
se f 7"

“ I’ve got the bounce, that’s the reason.”
“ Whewl ye don’t say?”

“ Fact.” ..

“ What fer?"

“ Well, like your case, it’s quite a stor .‘

Had some trouble with» b. boy here eary
this mornin’, an' as Murray had it in for
me anyhow he used that as a ’scuse and let
me go.”

“Who was the boy?"

“ They call him J umpin'-Jack, ‘I believe.” I

“ 1 know him; smartest chap in‘this‘hull
town if I do say, hang him!” 
“You have no love for him?” .,

“ Well, not much; but that. ain’t to say he' ., .
He’s a hey that’s sot circus] ..

ain’t smart.
on the brain.” ,

meantime the'
I

  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

were; his. g «'3 few; as); 3

\A“ “53x1: 4

  

 

 

      

   

ah

 

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee. V

 

 

’if I get a fair chance at him before I leave
this town. I’ll break his bllcd for him,
for what .he did to me. What is your
grudge?”

“ Oh, well, that don't matter; you kin do
Egret ye please to him, fer all o’ me, neigh-
. r. ’

“ Say, I .want to talk with you soon’s the
 parade, starts. ”

.r ” All right, neighbor.”

 It was true that Old Wit had no love for

Jumping-Jack. ‘
About a year before the time of our story
. . there had been some stealing done in and
1 i around Warrentou.

A young man was accused of the evil-
doing, and might have been arrested for it
 had it not been forJumping-Jack, who clear-
,3 ed him by putting the crime upon Old Wit,
where it belonged.

f . The bummer got off with a light sentence,
:as only one crime could be provul against
him, but that put an end to the stealing.

 

1
.l‘.
t

for Jack.

The parade now started off, in all its array
#of gold and glitter, and the band struck up
a popular air.

It came as nearly up to the bills as such
parades generally (lo—maybe a little nearer,
and the waiting crowds broke into a cheer
when the music struck up, and the boys ran
after the wagons. .

There was one exception—Jumping-Jack.

He had heard enough of'the conversation
between Old Wit and Hunter to make him
eager to hear more.

As the wagons passed, there was one little
chariot in which rode Baby Bess, who was
billed also as the “Rose of the Ring,” and
Old Wit looked at her again keenly asshe
rode by.

' “ Dast me if I couldn’t swear it’s the same
kid,” he said aloud. \

Upon a flat. open platform, just ahead of
the tiny,chariot, rode a clown cf the usual
W

 .:' «aw-“5 :3

..;¢~.- ‘ ‘

. or, 2  T"—

r "a: :5-

   
   
  
  
 

pe..

e looked in the direction of Old Wit
and Hunter, and kept his eyes upon them
until they were left behind, when .he gave
his attention to the “ funny business ,” of the

our.
,. ,  “ That’s the kid‘sdad,” said Hunter, call-
.  i‘ng attention to him. “ He is more’n half
afraid of me, ’fraid I’ll do harm to the brat if
, ,. . Iaajhe chance; and, between you and me,
‘ fig“ __ old fellow, there is some foundation for his
A ,_'  fears. My time has about come, I tell you.”
‘ “What have you got‘against him?"
See this hand-

    
   
   
 

   

H

 

   

   

4", x  w‘.‘ Enough, be sure of that.
 \ some women coming now‘r’"
‘ . . v He indicated a beautiful young woman

mounted upon a splendid horse and attired

,in a charming habit.

?‘ Yes, I see her,” said Old Wit,

“Well, she‘s Mlle. Lucie. the mother of
’ the brat. Ha! she sees me, too. See where
she’s got her hand? We“. she's got a pistol
in her fist; the way I know. she pulled it on
me once." .
, 'i ,‘,‘ Whew!” '
,  yi‘ I’m giving it to you straight. I was
7 Sam Bruce’s rival for her hand, about seven

. years ago, but I didn’t stand no show, as she
‘was/struck'on Sam. I swore that I would
., 1: even, though, and I haven’t forgotten it.
joined the same show et,-purpose this year."
 5 “Hang me if it don’t sound like t’other

nurse, neighbor. Here, let’s set down on this
,box fer a chat}? . v

7 There was a box just behind them, at the
:foot of the tree. - v

They sat down, and Jumping-Jack, lean-
ing-against the tre on the other side. could
not here had it b‘et chance to listen. g ‘

' low the crowd was gone, and the remain-
inglxyorkmen, all of whom were busy. or.
 ly-all, werein front,of,the. two men as

' "sat. ‘down on the box. They had a
ramble opportunity for a chat. - -

   
  
 
   
   
  
   
 
    
  
  
  
   
    
  
  

     
      
   
 
 
       
       
    

 
 

 
 

 
 
  

  

   

 

“ He'll never make a performer, though. '

Hence, his reason for the dislike he had 4

 come of it.

' country, and she could have had her pick of‘

 

' _ “ Then you! think you’

'ed me until this night.

 

 

 

“What do you mean by the other case,
old fellow 1’” Hunter asked.

“ It was a case in which I flggcred myself
about the same as you seem to figgcr in this
one.” .

“Tell me about it."

“ I don‘t mind, seein' as you have shown
your hand to me."

“ You needn‘t have any fear, if it's any-
thing to be afraid of; maybe we can work
together. "

“Oh, no; the thing I speak about was
done years ago, and has almost died out of
mind and memory. Still, mebby I could be
handy to you, for a consideration. What
say?"

“ We’ll see. Go on with your story.”

“It ain't to~bc supposed that you ever
heard tell of Albert Cooper. a farmer that
lives just a few miles out of this town, who
had a child stole away from him about seven-
teen years ago; no, of course not. Well, this
kid you call Baby Boss is the life pictnr’ of
that chih .”

Jumping Jack's ears were wide open now,
if ever in his life.

Every man, woman and child in Warren-
ton had heard the story of Lucy Cooper, for
it was a matter that would probably never
be forgotten. _

“ Never heard of it,” said Hunter.

“ No, not to be s'pcsed you had. It was a
mystery for a long time—in fact it’s a mys-
tery still, and allus will be one, I reekon.
The recollection of it will never-die out, here
at Warrenton, it ain’t likely; and. there has
allus been a sneakin’susplcion that 1 had
somethin’ to do with it; but, I hadn't. You
see, Al. Cooper 1111’ me was rivals fer the
child's mother when she was a al."

“ Ha! the case is something like this one,
sure enough.” I .
“That’s what 1 told ye. Ye see, Mary
Reed was the finest gal in all this part of

the young bucks around—and she did, too.
She picked Al.,Cooper, though 1 made a hard
fight myself, an’ it was that disapp'intment
that sent me to the dogs. I allus hold. Like
YOU. I swm‘e l‘d git even some day. and by
heavens I did—that is, it was just the same
as if I had. when their child was missin’ an’
couldn’t be found.” '

“ The very thing!” exclaimed Hunter.
“ You have giVen me a. plan, old fellow, and
I’ll pay you well to help me carry it out!”

 

CHAPTER III.
JUMPING-JACK msCovnnnn.

1.{’_UMPING~JACK could hardly contain him-
SC . ‘ ,1
, He believed he was getting at the truth of
that mystery of so long ago, something that
had taken place before he was born.

‘ v

 

John Witman had been suspected of hav- .
ing something to do with the disappearance f
of the little irl, but he had denied it, and
nothing couh be proved against him, and so
he went clear. ‘ 

New, by his Own words, . it seemed plain
that the suspicion had been right, although
he still denied it. w .

Jumping-Jack certainly believed him guil-
t . g,

“ So you are goin’ to try the stealin’ rack-
et, too, are you, my fine fellow ‘1” said Jack
in tho ght. “ I guess I'll have to take a
hand a this game myself and see what will
If you hhve got it in for me I’ll
have it in for you. too, and you sha’n’t harm
the Ring Rose if I can help it!" , “l

I steal her?" asked
the bummer.

“ That’s what I’m goin todo if life is spar-
-’ll be revenged the
some as you—” ‘ * ~ - 

“ Yes, but I haven’t said, that I stole the
othe one. mind ye.” _ 

.Hunter,” cried the‘ showman: sittYQu have.

 

‘,‘ hat’s all right. Will you keep 

  

and lend me a hand if I want help! to carry '
out in plan 1’"

“ ell, how much is there in it?"

“ Five dollars."

1 “ I’m yer turnip; you needn’t look no fur-
( er." , ‘

“ All right. I‘ll think of the plan, and
will see you again before night.”

“ Good enough. But, say, you don‘t
mean to kill the kid. nor nothin’ like to that,
do ye?"

“ No, of course not.”

“ ()an’t help ye. if vc do, that’s all. I‘m
a hard old nut, but I Couldn’t go tc that
length." .

“ You needn't have anv squeamish feel-
in s on that point, for I’ll take the kid and
br ng her up in the profession. Therc’ll be
a ftfirtune in her, once she has learned to ride
we .’)

“ An’ you’ll bring her out?”

“ That’s the plan; and, maybe marry her
Some day. Ha, ha, ha! that would not be a
bad idea; since I couldn't have the mother,
take the (laughter. Ha, ha, ha!"

The fellow laughed aloud, and the old .
bummér looked around to see if any one was
paying attention to what they werc'saying).

As he looked he espied Jumping-Jack e.

hind the tree. and with an oath he got up.

” What are you doin’ there?” he fiercely
demanded.

At the first word Jack was upon his feet
and at a safe distance, and as Ilunter, too.
sprung up. he glared at the boy in a way
that bcded ill for him if he could get holdof
him.

“I was takiu’a rest, after luggin’ water
all the mornin’,” Jack answered.

. “ Yes, and you ,were listening, curse
you!” cried the discharged circus man. in a
rage, and he looked around- as,if,to see who
was watching. . g

“ Well, a feller couldn’t help hearin’ what
was said in his presence, could be, old hoss ?”
demanded Jumping-Jack, fearlessly. “I
was here when you set your mills to runnin',
and I hadn’t no call to pull out."

“ I’ll pull you out. curse you i” grated .
Hunter, taking a step forward. f .
“ A‘ud l'll knock you out, if you try it
on,” declared J limping-Jack, picking up a»

stout stick that lay handy. V p v '

As he spoke he swung the stick in athreat-
cnin g manner. 7 '

“ Did you hear what we said?” demanded
Hunter. a .

“ Yes, every word of it. Don’t see any
need to lie about it. What‘s more, if you c
to carry out what you intend doiu', you w ll
find that a‘ feller ’bout my size is goin’ to
have a.flnger in the ,pie. As fer you, Old
Wit, you had better take care how you run '
the risk of gettin’ into trouble. I fixed you ~

[out once, and I can do it, again, if I have to." ‘.

“ You didn’t hear uothixi' to 'hurt me," deo. . .
clared the bummer. “ Everybody knows

that story I told, an’ I said plain as how it , - I

11‘

wasn't my doin . , I
“ That’s all right; but, you are this feller’s '
turnip fer five dollars—that’s what you said,
and if there is any funny work’goin’ on here
you will get a berth in the jug” again."
The loud words had now attracted some of
the laborers belonging to the circus. and one

,of these stepped toward Hunter.

“ Here, what's the row?" he demanded.
“None of your business," the retort._
“ I‘m (loin ' this.”
‘ Well, I’ll make it my business, an how, 
and you won’t be doin’ it—if you ntend
tohurt tha, boy." , .  
“Let him come and git ataste of thisif' 
hewants to,” crlcd Jumping-Jack, flourishvg';
,ing his stick. 2'1 have tumbled lameness-
‘laliiid I can do it again. I’ ain't ,‘traidfi‘ofg..‘
m" r,   . .\,~

“.You get off out of  

got the bounce. and Mumyfssié'forj ns t
see that you didn’t do  to._

. l .5
‘I'.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

’ J

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee.

 

 

 

  

lad. Oil? with ye, now, or you’ll be sorry
ou didn’t, that’s all.‘ Boy. you want to
eep your eye open for that fellow.”
“ I’ve ot my optic skinned for him, you
bet," dec ared Jac .

“ I’ll fix you out, curse you,” rowled the
angry Hunter. “ And for you, ank Bliss.
I’ll maybe square up with you, too, for you
have been lookin’ for my job a good while,
and at last you have got it. ” “

“ Couldn’t have got it if you had behaved
yourself. and I didn't do nothing to get you
out, that’s sure.”

“ That’s your say-so.”

“Well, get on out of here, anyhow. And
you, boy, take my advice and stay away
from where he can get a crack at ye. He'll

'most likely lay you out, if you give him half
, a show.”

The man made a step toward Hunter as he
spoke, and Hunter and Old Wit moved
muttering away.

“ I’ll fix you, curse you 1" Hunter hissed
again, scow ing at Jack.

“ Look out you don’t git fixed," Jack re-
torted.

“What’s this all about, boy?" asked the
man called Hank Bliss, who, as we have
learned, had been put in Hunter’s place.

“It means that feller is up to mischief,
that’s what it means,” answered Jack

', promptl . “ Where is the boss of this con-
cern? e wanted to see me, and I guess
this is as good a time as any.”

“ You mean Murray ?"

“ ,I guess that was his name."

“ He's in the menagerie tent,” with a jerk
of his thumb.

“Well, just show me the way in and let
me whisper at him for a minute, if you

lease. " . .-

” Come right around this .way and go in."

c He indicated the direction, and Jumping~
,Jack was soon under the canvas.

Some work was going on in this tent, to
make it ready for the reception of the

animal wagons on their return .from the

r e.
Owing to the noise of the workmen, and
the distance of the tent from“ where J ump-
ing-Jack had had the trouble with Hunter,
the superintendent of the circus had heard
nothin '. of it. I v v
“Heio,,Jumping-Jacki” be greeted his
., ‘i’riend. . “I suppose you have finished your
" .z 3 work and want your pass, eh ‘2” v '
“Yes, the. work is done, but that ain’t
what’s brought me here,” Jack made re-'

ply. .
“What then ‘2”
, “ To put you onto somethin’ that I’ve got
: ‘_ hold of. That man Hunter, that got knock-
" ed over thismornin’. is up to mischief.”
'v "gin! I am not greatly surprised. ’What
s it  ' . '
“ He means to steal Baby Bess, the Ring
Rose, if he gets a chance, and means to do it

its-night}? ~ I ‘
-, i “The deuce! I I’ll haveto take care of I
'him. I see. Where is he?”

" He‘sgone oi! now, sir.” ‘

V. ‘j' Well, he had better not come fooling
around here, if he wants to keep his skin
Whole, I can tell him that. But, we‘ll look

V’ v out for Baby Bess, same as we have been
- rigbt‘nlong." .

1 "That’s what you want to do. sir, for he

' ~means it, this time, sure enough. I heard

‘ “theyWhole talk." ‘ , ‘ '

' ‘f There’s two of them. then?” '

» .“Yes;.he has picked up a-bnm that be
".longshm. but. he ain’t no good.”' .

_ "’Weiipmyiboy, here’s your  Mueli
gobliged to you‘r‘i’or ntting me on' watch of

 Lookout for hp yourself.” 
" ’9‘ I’ll detha't, you bet. Thank ’e.‘ sir ”
:3“ Anddoa’t‘terget that I want to see you

More we go awayvfrom here. I’m mommy

k.to-you.now;;. Be owhapd tot'ake-‘in

        
     
     
  
   

 . .Ormanoestwfi‘l’ll brownies-some:

' ewes"

H,”

CHAPTER IV.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

IN the mean while Old Wit and his schem-

ing‘friend had disappeared.

hey had left the show-ground and made
their way in the direction of a groggery that
Old Wit regularly patronized.

“ You have got to look out now, boy.”
said the bummer. as they went along. “ I
have told ye what kind of a chap that young-
ster is. and he’ll wind us up 'fore we know it
if we don't watch out.” ‘ a

” Let him try it, that’s all.”

“ But he’ll do it. sure’s you live. I’ll bet
he has told the boss all he heard us sayin’.”

“ Yes. I expect he has done that, but we
can get around that point—or at any rate I
think I can do it. I’ll shave off this whisker
and not a man of them will know me.”

‘7 Hal never thought of that.”

“ And the boy himself won’t get onto me,
don’t you sec?’-’

“I don't know about that part of it. Ye
see, I know J umpin’-Jack and you don’t,
that's the difference ”

l “ To hear you talk a teller might think he
was a detective. He might be able to get
overa man like you, but he don’t want to
monke around me, that I'll tell him. But,
I’ll fix im.”

“What’ll you do?" ’

“ Lay him on the shelf for a time.”

“ You don’t mean to kill him?"

" Oh, no; at any rate we won’t say so.
I’ll put him tr. sleep, to keep him out of the
way till the'show is gone."

“ Well, I sha’n't object. for I have got it
in for him, too. But, he is a good deal too
smart for me, for I ain’t as steady on the
pins as I used ' ter be, an’ he kin jump all
around me.”
hi“ I‘ll cut short his jumping days, hang

m!!! '

Hunter had still a painfulrmcollection of
one of Jack’s jumping feats, and to be re-
minded of it served to anger him the more.

A few of their remarks, these, and by this
time they were at their destination, where
they entered and where Hunter cemented his
compact with Old Wit in a social glass.

They sat down to talk further. ‘

1“»Yes. that’s what I‘ll do,” Hunter said.
“ I’ll drop this beard, and I won’t be known.
We’ll part company till ni ht, unless I want
to use you sooner, in wh ch case I’ll hunt

on up on the quiet. The first move of all
18 to get that boy out of the way.”

“ You can’t do nothin’ if you don’t.”

"‘ I den’t give him credit for all the smart-
‘ness you seem to think he has; it is mainly a
matter of reven e with me." -

“ All right, but then?”

‘\‘ Then for a chance at the gal. She will

shave, and before the know it I'll have her
and make off. Then ’11 want your aid.”

“ And I'll stick to my bargain, you kin
rely on't.’.’ ‘

“ Well, here, ,take another shifter, and I’ll
be on. If you ‘see any one askin’ for me,
tell ’em that the last you seen of me I was
goin’ out of town countin" the railroadties as
I went.” V ‘ ‘

“All right.” ' \

ether, and Hunter went out. Half an hour
ter it would have puzzled Old Wit to rev
cognize him, I v ‘ I . ’
All the minor. streets of the'town were de-
serted, everybody» being, out upon the m‘ain
’thorou hfares tosee the: parade, and the ras-
ca‘lly outer had'not‘ een observed by any

one on leaving the bar r's. ; ' '
* He made his way straight back to the show

ggronnds. . ,-

Paising near enough. to some ,men‘ who
= knew him well for them to have a chance to
recognize him; ’he thus tested his disguise-
Y. to call it »that:.;,5 ' - ' ‘

 

  

  

_,.Io.oke' likewise. 1.: my
..w, a “4 “hi -,‘   -

 

canvas?” v '7 ,u 

be guarded,.but they won't know me after 1,

> They took aparting dose of poison to: _ 
.“ I’ll see if there is any law in this‘town, ifmg‘;

.ing him to be the father of the Rose of the 1   1

 

--. fi‘he :di’d .notsno'iw} aim, til-Lough chef's: two"

J Alpd, presently, he fell in with J umping-
ac .

If he had calculated upon fooling the boy,
he was mistaken, for with one penetrating
glance at him, Jack cried out:

“ It won’t work, old man. You can’t get;
close enough to me that way, to run me
down, and you don’t want to try it on, for
if you do you’ll get into a peek of trouble,
sure as you live." '

“What do you mean?" demanded Hunter,
changing his voice. “ What are you talkin.’
about?”

He had stopped, 'and tried tolook the inno-
cent. -

“Mean just what I say,” rejoined Jack.
“ You keep your distance, or I’ll upset your ' 
apple-cart for you again.”

Hunter now smiled, still persisting, hoping:
to make the boy doubt.

“I guess you must be mistaken in the.
man,” he said. “ Nobody has upset my
apple-cart, as you call it, and I thinkit would
tige’something bigger than you to do it, my"

Very pleasantly he said it. a

“ No use, old sport,” said J umping-Jack.

“ I know you; and you know I know you.
May jest as well shy off, now, for if your
monkey with me I’ll jump up and come
down on your pate in a way that will make
your head swim. l’ll tell the boss about '
your whiskers, too.”

The fellow wept on, and Jack looked
around to see if he could sight Murray. He
knew he had come out of the tent. ,

He saw him a little distance off, talking
with another man. '

Jack moved toward them.

“ You say he is employed in this company ‘2’”

  

«‘2

~ "71". 1. saw.“
"a —~‘~4 .-...i.uh._.-.=_.>.._......._. r...._

 

he heard the stranger ask. , ‘ - '  y .’
“Yes; he is our best clown,” answered.  ‘ 
Murray.  -' .1  1,:
The stranger was a well-dressed mam;  ~

evidently an Englishman—a distinction" ' f, -  (:3.
which Jumping~Jack could not draw, of. "  1
course. . r
“ And his name is Bruce, you say? Samuel
Bruce?” ’ _ V
“That/is his name, sir.” , ’ ’ T ,, 
“ He must be the man. Where can I find .  ' .1;
him? Is" he somewhere around in the ~ >  ’

 

  
   
  

"" No; he is just now out with [the parade. '3 , ’1  .
I will point him out to you when the wagons " a "
come in, if you care to wait around. It 1' fl“
won‘t be a great while, now.” ' ' “

“ All right, I’ll wait. In fact, it is highly? - ,-
important. -I bring Mr. Bruce, SOOd-JGWB'.   ,
from the other side: the truth. of the matter ' f
is, sir, he hasth fallen into a fine estate, 75' 
on the death of an elder brother." [.- 

“ Well, I’m glad to hear it. He’ll have to ' ' ‘-
stay with us to the end of the season just the "'
same, however.” - - - ~

‘ Murray now sighted Jack.  g.

“ What’sry'anted, my boy?” he asked; 
seeming to read in Jack’s face that some» .f
thin had happened. I , l

“ just want to put you onto that fellow . g
again," saidiJack. “He has gone andvhady.   
his whiskers shaved'ofi. and' he’s around“ : 
here again. But, he didn’t fool me worth a V ‘ 
cent.” ' c 
“I’ll fool him, though,” cried Murray.

   
  
  
   
  

 

   
  
  
    
  
   
  
   
  
    
   

 
   
 
   
 

he don’t keep away from here.” L  '
p ‘ Jack was looking at the stranger casua'vtj‘;

 

   
     
    
   
  
  

 
  

yThere was something about the man he did '1‘, 'q
notpartienlarly fancy, but» it might nether .’ " ‘
an thing against his credit ,for all that. 3.3 5. ‘1 .. ‘-~,
till, as he asked or Bruce, and assJaek 112', v,
was already interests '«in the. clown..-.kno‘w~

    
   

 

Ring, the-boy made up his mind? to  . t .

more if he could." .' ..  ‘ , I";  ,

5‘ The gentlemen walked leisurelyawny. and' 

{was joined  resend ; byes-eter- man, as;

rather sullepi seed feyowir ,  ~ ,r   
. . m

“We as new

 
 

   

      
    

  
 
 

  
 

 
  
   
   

  

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee.

  

5

 

 

Old Wit and Hunter had held their talk a
little while before, and Jack lost no time in
placing himself behind the tree unseen and
unheard. .

“Yes, he’s the one, no doubt of it,”he
heard the first-mentioned saying. “Iwill
publicly make known to him his good for-
tune, and give him the papers, and after
that there can never be any doubt as to his
identity. you see. We are near the end of
our Work now.”

“That will end your part of it, when you
have done that.”

“ Yes, and then comes yours.”

“And I'll do mine up in haste, just as
soon as chance offers so that it will have the
appearance of an accident."

“And that done— But, what’s the mat-
ter With that fellow?”

A man was motioning to them, making
.signs they could not readily understand, and
the first-mentioned called out:

“ What is it, fellow ?”

“ Well, if I must holler, look behind that
tree!”

The informant was Tom Hunter, and he
pointed to where Jumping-Jack was hiding,
.and there the boy with circus on the brain
was discovered in the act of listening.

 

CHAPTER V.
A CLOWN IN 0001) LUCK.

JUMPING-JACK was out of reach in the
same moment.

“See here, boy, what were you doing
there? Were you listening to our private
conversation ‘2"

“ Of course he was,”.declared Tom Hunter.
“He is an infernal young spy and tattle-
tale, that's what he is, and all he is. Take
care what you say in his hearing, is my ad-
'Vice.”

“ And if you want to keep out of the com-
‘pany of a rascal," cried Jumping-Jack,
“ just shun that fellow same as you would a
case of yaller fever or worse. He is rank

’izen clear through and through, and he

nows that I know it. What have you got
to say to that, Hunter?”

“ You‘ll know before I am done with you."

“ And you had better be done with me be-
fore you begin. As to my character an’

eneral hill 0’ health. gentlemen, I’d ’spect—
fully refer you to Mr. Murray, the gentleman
you talked with a minute ago." _

“ And he knows nothing about the little
cuss," declared Hunter. “ He has shown
what he is by listening. I have got it in for
him, and I’m going to give him the best
drubbing he ever had in his life before I
leave this town. Don’t you forget that, you
young rascal !”

“Well, he heard nothin from us that
amounts to anything, even i he was listen.
ing,”rcmarked the elder of the two men.
“ We have nothing to conceal; therefore his
listening does no harm.”

“ That’s nothin’ to me.” said Hunter. “ I
seen him there, and thought you’d ought to
.know it."

“ Certainly, sir, and greatly obli ed to
you; but, it made no difference, an if the
young gentleman desires to hear more he
may sit down here between us. What; do
you say, my little man?"

With a grin upon his face, Hunter walked
away, inasmuch as he saw Murray approach-
ing, and did not wait to hear Jack’s re-
sponse. '

“Wouldn’t mind hearin’ more of it, if it;
'was goin’ on in the same way,” said Jump-
ing-Jack, “but I guess y0u'd change the
:subject if I took up your offer. Don’ttyou
:forget that I’ve heard somethin’.” .

“Why, what do you mean, you Jacka-
wnapes?” '

“ 1 mean what I say. I have stored away
what I heard, and I’ll remember it, too.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Taggard,” said

 

the sullen-faced man, “ I'll be going now, as
I have a matter of business to attend to.”

The men looked at each other.

Something like a si nal was exchanged,
with eyes, and they un erstood.

“ Certainly, Mr. Mulvern,” the elder re-
sponded. “I’ll see you again later, after]
have finished my business here with Mr.
Bruce.”

They took polite leave of each other, with
a wave of the hand, and the man called Mul-
vern went off in the direction ’I‘om Hunter
had taken, walking leisurely and swinging
his cane.

slumping-Jack looked after him with sus
plClon. .

“ Mebby I'm wrong,” he thought, “ but
I’ve got the idec that he is goin’ fer a talk
with Hunter. Shouldn't Wonder if a feller
about my size an’ shape got into trouble

et.’}
y Meantime Murray had come up.

“ Was that Hunter?” he inquired of Jack.

“Yes, the first teller, sir,"Jumping—Jack
made reply.

“ I thought so, and I was going to run
him out of here in a hurry if he hadn’t start-
ed."

“ Guess he seen ye comin', sir.”

“ No doubt."

“ You know this boy then?" asked Mr.
Taggard.

“ Why, certainly,” answered Murray.
“ Just picked him up here this morning.”

“ All! then he is a stranger to you, really.
He was caught listening behind this tree a
minute ago. ’

“Listening?” and Murray looked at Jack.

“ Yes, listening. I was talking here with
my man Mulvern, when a man called our at
tention to him."

“ That was Hunter,” spoke up Jack.

“ If that's the case, don’t go a cent on that
follow," advised Murray. “This boy is all
right, and I’ll vouch for him. Is it true that
you were listening, Jack?"

“Fact,” Jumping-Jack admitted.

“ Well, you’re honest about it, anyhow.
What were you listening for?”

“ To hear what was said, that’s all. I'm
a friend to Sam Bruce, even if I don’t know
him yet, and I wanted to learn somethin’
about what these men have to do with him.”

“Oh! if that is the case, it is all right,"
cried Mr. Taggard, laughing, and he held
out his hand to Jack. “ Give me your hand,
my little man. for I, too, am the friend of
Mr. Bruce. 1 have come all the way from
London to do him a service. There is no
more to be said.”

Jack gave his hand, and the man shook it
heartily

"I’l take your Word for it,” Jack said,
simply.

The man looked at him sharply, and Jack
thought he saw something of a threatening
expression in his 0 es.

Murray, too, 100 red at the boy, as if won-
dering what he meant by his words, as well
as by the mannerin which they were spoken.

“I think you can safely trust ' this boy,
Mr. Taggard,” Murray said. “ I have found
him quick, straight and reliable, so far.
But, look out for that fellow Hunter, who
spoke evil of him.”

“ Had he reason to speak ill of the boy ?”

“Yes, from his point of View. The boy
knocked him down this morning for inter-
ferin g with him. and served the fellow
ri ht ”

“Knocked him down—this boy knocked
the man down?"

“ Yes, as neatly as you ever saw.”

“ The deuce!”

“You will find him able to take care of
himself, even if he is small. And, I will
say further that he is on the side of right
in his dispute with Hunter. You may safely
trust the boy, sir.” '

“ No doubt of it, if you say so. But,
is this the parade?”

 

“ Yes, here it is.”

The parade had made its round, and had
reached the starting point.

When it came into the grounds the clown
riding on the platform car leaped lightly to
the ground and took Baby Bess from her
chariot.

Nor did he have to lift her out, either,
for, clapping her hands gleefully the child
sprung to his arms as he put them up to re-
ceive her, and he held her on his left arm.

He looked along the line to see his wife.

She was coming, and slipped out of the
saddle when she reached the spot, an at-
tendant taking her horse.

“ Mr, Bruce, see here.”

The clown turned instantly, and “Mlle.
Lucie," too, looked in the same direction.

It was Harry Murray who had spoken.

“This gentleman has come ‘0 find you,
and has some good news for you, so he tells
me."

Murray then introduced Mr. Taggard.

“Yes, I bring you news, sir,” that gentle-
man proceeded to explain, as soon as the
civilities had been exchanged. “ Your elder
brother, Richard, is dead, and in consequence
you. as the next of kin, come into the estate
of your father. Your younger brother,
Charles, sent me personally to find you, and
in the interim he is taking care of the pro-
perty for you.”

The expression of the clown’s face could
not be determined, owing to the fact that his
face was bedaubed with paint.

Ilis manner, however, was sad.

“This is bad news rather than ood, sir,”
he said. “ I had not heard of Die “a death,
and I’m sorry. I am Well enough off as I
am, and care nothing for the estate in
England."

“ IIoity-toityl" exclaimed the attorney.
for such he evidently was. “You won d
not be human, were you meaning what you
say. Here is a big fortune, all yours, and
you have only to come and claim it. Allow
me, sir, to put the papers into your hands in
the presence of these witnesses.”

“But, what proof have you that I am
Samuel Bruce?” asked the clown.

“ All that is necessary, sir. The fact that
I have followed you step by step, and the
further fact that you acknowledge your
identity.”

“ Well, I accept the papers, of course,
since it is my right, but cannot attend to
the matter now. I will write to Charles as
soon as possible and tell him to make use of
the lace the same as if it had fallen to him,
unti I can join him.”

The attorney bowed, and with a neat little
speech took his leave.

CHAPTER VI.
JACK MAKES FRIENDS.

SAM BRUCE was a general favorite with
the circus company.

As the attorney took leave, after his little
speech, those who had heard it gave a cheer
for Sam.

“Thanks, friends,” the clown responded.
“ You’ll find that this bit of good fortune
hasn’t turned my head, and that I‘ll be the
same Sam. Don’t believe I’ll sing a bit
louder this afternoon.”

They laughed, and the clown. with his
wife and their little child, turned to go to
their dressing tent.

.“Another word with you, Sam,” spoke
up Murray. “But, I‘ll walk that way with

ou. . Come along, Jumping-Jack, for
want to introduce you to this lady and
gentleman. My protege, Sam.”

“I’m with ye,” responded Jack, and he
leaped lightly and turned over with as much
ease as the best man connected with the
show could have done. “ I'm your J umpin"
Jack, every time, you bet 1”

And he turned t ree or four times in quick...
succession. to show what he could do.

  

   

 

 

 
  
 

 

“e

.tA_

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee.

 

 

“ Where the deuce did you find it, Mur-
ray?” asked Sam.

“ Isn’t he a daisy ‘2” ,

“ He’s a funnier, no getting around that;
or, I shook say a tumbler. He’s a card, no
mistake.”

“I'm going to see what he can do this
afternoon. They call him the boy with
circus on the brain. He saw a shoxv about
two years ago, and this is the result of his
practice since.”

“ He's got circus in his bones, too, then.”

We need not say that this talk tickled
Jack, he was only a boy, and was still sus-
ceptible to praise.

Jack knew, however, that every word of
this praise was meant; he could distinguish
between honest praise and nnmeaning flat-
tery, young as he was. Then, too, he had
an object. , '

He wanted to join a circus, and this was
the circus he wanted to join. He saw his op
portunity, and meant to make the most of
it, if a sample now and then of his jumping

’ ability would win for him any consideration;
and, by the appearance of things, it would.

“ But. Sam. I have a word of caution for

- you. that is what I wanted to see you about,”
said Murra . ’

“ What is it?”

1 “ Look well to Baby Bess to day and to.
night.” I -

“Why, what is the matter?" asked the
child’s mother, in a tone of alarm.

“ Well, I had to get rid of Tom Hunter
this morning, and he has made threats
against you—or, that is, has really planned
to steal the child, if he can.”

“ The monster! But, let him try it on,
that’s all. " _ '
' The woman tapped her pocket.

“ Yes, let him try it and see what will hap-

pen," grated the clown. "I’m glad you
told me, Mr. Murray.”
_ “You can thank this boy," Murray de-
clared. “'He is something of a detective as
well asa jumper, and he found out about
the scheme, and put me onto it. But, take
mighty good care of Baby Bess.”

“No need to tell us to do that, Mr. Mur-
ray.” 1 / I

“Isuppose not, and yet there is great
need. too. The fellow is thoroughly aroused,
and means mischief."

“ Well, let him take care."

.. “And. too, you may not recognize him,
for he has shaved off his beard.”

“We’ll both know him," said “Mlle.
Lucie,” “ for he had no heard at the time
when we knew him and had trouble with
him.”

“All right; but. be watchful." '

As that was all ‘Murray had to say, he
dropped behind, but Jumping Jack eontin-
ued on with. the little family. -

“ And I have got something more to say
to you, too, Mr. Bruce,” Jack declared in his
frank and open manner. ,

“ And what’s that, my fine jumper?"

, “ You want to keep your eyes peeled for
that sleek feller what gave you the papers
and said you’d got a fortune."

M  so?" a

“’Cause. I have the idee‘ that he don’t
mean ye fair, that‘s all. He’s gota =chnm
with him, an’ I heard ’em talkin‘ somethin'
that wasn't as goody-goody as it. might ’a’

an ‘5 )

'.‘ That so? What did they have to say?"
_ Jumping Jack toldwhat he had heard, to
.which the ole ‘ listened with interest. "
“Theremay e somethin in it,” he said.
“I on’t’ know what it can mean, exactly,
xbut int kindot talk seems to have, some sig-
. nificance." _ .
. ” Have you dined this show, boy ?” asked
: theimotheroi‘ aby Bess. , '

"  :.. . '4‘ Ndbut In like to.“ declared" Jumping-

, rs’Jaek, eagerly._ “Tell, you what'l'll do; I’ll
"r=v,_try.;,_to keep mycye’open for that skunk. so's

    

 

meant; get the-_ chance to steal your little-

girl, and you speak a good word for me to
the boss."

“Done!” said Bruce, promptly. “That
was just what I was going to propose to
you. ~We have a man to watch, her, when
we both have to be in the ring at once, but
it won’t do any harm to have extra help on
hand, under the circumstances. I‘ll speak
to Mr. Murray about it.”

“ Yes, but] have got to see the tumblin’
or bu’st. Didn't think about that when I
spoke. But, we can fix that somehow.”

“Well, well see about it later."

Jumping-Jack took leave of their tent
and saunter-ed around to see what was to be
seen, 9nd all he had to do, when questioned,
was to show his pass.

Murray had given him not only a ticket,
but a general pass to the whole concern,
good anywhere at any time, proof of the
liking he had taken to the boy. And,
the sturdy little fellow was bound to see it
all.

“ I told you something was going to hap-
pen to-~day,” spoke “Mlle. Lucie,” as soon
as Jack had gone.

“ Well, something has happened, Lucy,”
answered the clown. “I have dropped in-
to a fortune, it seems."

“I know; but, I mean something terri-
ble. You know I mentioned it to you

early this morning, and the feeling is still I

over me.” .

“ Well, do not ‘let it make you nervous,
darling. We have .had warning of some-
thing to look out for, now, thanks to that
boy, and Hunter will have to be sharp to do
us harm."

“ Oh! what would we do if he should steal
our pet?”

The mother caught her child to her arms
and pressed her fondly, while tears sprung
to her lovely hazel eyes.

“Who is goin’ to steal me?" asked Baby
Bess.

“ Nobody,” answered Sam Bruce, decisive-
ly. “ You must stay close to papa and mam-
ma; and Mr. Murray and Charlie.”

“ Oh, yes; me won’t let any bad man steal
me. Baby likes that boy, mamma, but he
won’t steal me, w111he?”

“ No, he would not steal you; he would
bring you right back to mamma. ”

So they talked with the child while they
laid off their show trappings, there in the
privacy of their tent, and when finally they
came forth they were found to be as hand-
some a couple as one would wish to'see.

Mean while, what of the man Mulvern?

Following the way Hunter had~ gone, he
overtook him soon after passing out of
sight of the show grounds.

“A word with you, my man ‘1” he re-
quested. , , ‘

“ I don’t care,” answered Hunter, “ if
you want to."

“ Yes. I want to ask you something more
about that boy who was listening.”

“ I've told you all I know about him, ex-
cept that he is as good as done for, if 1 get a
chance at him."

“ What’s the row between you and him?”

" That don‘t matter.” .

“ Well, 1 saw there was somethin', and
I'd like to make on a fair offer if Imay.”

" What is it? bet youare a Britisher,
and you are a ugly-lookin’ bulldog, if Ido
make hold. to say, it. ' Can‘t you do your own
work?” ‘ .

“ Why, what do you mean?"

“I mean thatvI can see as far into a
board as the next man.”

“-You’ll have to explain clearer than

that.“ L . ' v

“ Well, I mean that I know on are up to
some deviltry, the way you ooked when
you'found that boy had been listeninf, and
you ’would like to have his mouthLCIOSed up
for awhileg”; . .. v, .  -’

‘! You are a shrewd fellow, my ,man. ‘ I d

like to have, a chat with you, if there issorne

place where we may go.
have gone wrong with you, and that you
would like to get a lick back at somebody.
Am I right?”

“I guess I‘ll let you show your hand
first,” returned I‘Iunicl'. guardcdly.

CHAPTER VII.
EXCI'rnMEN'r IN THE RING.

BY one _0‘clock the streets of Wairenton
were crowded.

The whole town was out, nearly, and peo-
ple had come in from every direction, far
and near. '

Nothing will draw a crowd like a circus,
and this particular circus seems to be par-
ticularly successful in that respect.
doubtful whether its canvas could accommo-
date the people.

The children were legion, the lovers were
many, and the older peeple, too, even to,
the aged grandsires, had come in to see the.
show.‘

 

'l‘he'bills on fences and dead walls were:

gazed upon by gaping crowds.
All had one thought—the circus. ,
Among others were a middle-aged couple,
man and wife, evidently well-to-do farm-
ing people, who walked arm in arm as fond-
ly as lovers in the first blush of their amo-
rosity. '
They were a good-looking couple, too,

whose faces seemed to show that, their

matrimonial life had been one of peace. Yet
there was, withal, a certain sadness in the
faces of both which seemed to speak of sor-
row that had come into their lives during
the years that had flown;

We find them standing and gazing upon
some of the gorgeous posters, not by any
means alone. '

“ I believe it will bea good show, Albert,”
spoke the woman.

“ IIaven’t a doubt of it, Mary,” was the
answer. i

“ And it wily-be the first one we have seen
in many a day. You know you was sick
with rheumatiz when the last one was here,
two years ago.” -

“ Yes, and you was such a goose over  '.
that you thought you couldn’t come in to

town to see it just ’eause‘l was sick and
couldn’t come.

last, and that was the year that—”

" There. DOW, Mary, don"t let’s bring up.

the past if we can help it; not to-day, any-
how. I know how you’ll feel, 11’ you do."

-' “ Well, it ain’t no worse to say it than to’ I '

think about it all the time, is it, Albert?"

“No, I suppose not, Mary; but, let’s try'v .

not to think."
They pressed each other's hands and
moved on to look at other pictures, as they

slowly made their way to the grounds—for ,

they were early.

On one very
new building that was being erected. was a
particularly gorgeous dis 1a , and the

3couple naturally stopped-to 00 at this one,

ItOO. ~
At the top was the name of the wonderful, 
show— I ’ . I
' ' _ TIIE ‘ ’

AMERICA-ENG LAND

CONSOLIDATED HIPPODROMESs ' ‘
THE GREATEST ONE RING Snow ON EARTH; ,1  '

And after the name followed all the '
etcetera, all the way down through they 

middle space, of the fence.
On either hand were pictures, e’some more

extensive than could be found many ether
fence, and this, was really asgood as the

show itself, to some of the ru'stics who gaped
a

 

i-BeSsain her bareback act.

 

      

I take it things:

It was.

’Fore that one, there hadn’t, :
been a show here in goodness knows when.’f _ .
“ I do believe Cook and Tucker’s was the‘

high fence that inclosed a.

tit. A , ,  
One. of’t'he pictures was that of Baby-V"
 l

  
 

l
r
l

i.
.l
s

 

  
   
 
   

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

  
  
 
  

  

 
 
  

 

 
 

 
 

    
       
 
 
    
   
 

      
      
  
 
 

 

   
 

Jumping—Jack‘s Jubilee. *

 

 

 

   
    

. She was pictured upon a big gray horse,
cleverly balancing on one foot and tossing
kisses to the people around.

“ Goodness! do they allow a child like
that to ride?" gasped the Woman, as her eyes

- took it in.

f ' “ I suppose they do, Mary, or it wouldn’t
be here,” answered the husband. “ [guess

. all the pictures ain’t as true as might be, how-
ever. The child may havo been six years old
once.”

, “ Six years old-——is that what it. says?"

J ' “ Yes; Baby liess, the Rose of the Ring,

only six years old; that is the way it reads.”

“ And that was just the age of——"

~ , “ Now, Mary, please don’t keep remindin’

- yourself all the time. Come on, maybe we‘ll
find it open now.”

They moved on in the direction of the

show-gmunds, and ere long were lost in the

rent throng that was rapidly gathering be-

orc the entrance to the big tent, awaiting

l ,,.  ‘~ ‘ v-

 , for admittance.

cl 6'

  \thn the time for thcferformance'camc,
: 3 the great tent was packe .

'(l‘ 1 . It was asight to gladden the showmcn's

 

eyes, for it seemed almost impossible for
them to seat auy‘more people. I

There was a buzz of expectancy going on,
while the crowd waited for the band to strike
up and the grand entrance to burst upon
their sight, and rustic lovers munched pea-
nuts to their soul‘s content.

Finally, the band brayed out, and the time
was at hand.

Came then the grand entree, thrilling the

 
 
 
 
  
    
 
  
 
 

. , in rapid succession.

/ ' " The show was a good one, as circuses go,
and particularly good was the leading clown,
Sam Bruce—he went by his true name on the
bills and in the ring. ,

Mlle. Lucie, who, in the ring, looked to be
not more than eighteen years of age, made a

_ - hit, and was a general favorite. Iler riding
wascertainly something above the average.

,, ~ .Finally' Was announced—“ Baby Bess, the

, . »Rose of the Ring.” .

 ' The band dropped to lower and slower
’ music than had been played while the moth
er of the child was riding, and in from the
rear came a big gray horse upon the back of
.va ’ Which sat the chi] . -» ‘
 It was a pretty sight.

j A Z More handsome than any rose was the

child, and her soft hair rose and fell with

:every movement the horse made. .

  ,The animal did not carry a pad, but had a,

.y i; square of gold cloth strapped tightly to place,

Landonthis the child sat, in perfect compose,
 while the horse made the circle of the ring.

  A Murray was‘ ringmaster, and Sam Bruce

, lavas on hand, needless to say. '

V, . The horse had made only half the circle

1 'When suddenly there was a Woman’s scream,

.loud and piercing.

   
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
    
  
 
  
   
 
  
   
 
  
  
  

and every eye-was turned in that direction,
«,yyhere, from one of the Iowa-seats, a woman
wasrsecn making her way den toward the

 
  
  

 
 

ring. I I

, n‘tMy. child I” she crlcd. “My child, my
 dost child!”

_‘- ', ere was a man with|hen Whofivastrying
‘to‘detain her, while his own face Was pale as
,3 death. ' -
-: “ No, no; I know- better!” the woman
,cried out. “I know it is my child, my day.
 ' Could there be another like herin the

  
   
 

  
 

M?» There was great excitement, and as the
big‘gray showed some of it the _clown' ran'to
“Moheml and stopped him, patting him and

zlzohing his neck, while he essayed a joke

  

withfiho ringm ster.

 
   
 
    

__’Wh0_ tried to detain her, and was now
Winingxtothe ring. , -
Shogun recognized, and her‘name Was ,on

 
   
       

   

audience with delight, and act. followed act,

' It came from the right side of: the tent,

hfe‘woman and broken away fromvth’e‘

 

“ Mary Cooper!”

“ She thinks it's her LuCy!”

“ And it is enough like the child, too

*‘ The sight has turned her mind, the poor
thing!"

These and a hundred more such, all in a
brief space of time.

Murray met the woman at the edge of the
ring, and gently held her back.

Albert Cooper was at her side imme-
diately, pale as death, and tried to draw her
away.

“ Is she crazy, sir?” asked Murray.

“No; she thinks that child is one that
was stolen from us seventeen years ago; and,
it looks enough like her, Lord knows."

“ Seventeen years!” gasped the poor wo-
man, passing her haud across her fore-
head. ‘: Seventeen years! and it seemed
only yesterday, when that sweet vision burst
on my sight."

“This child is only six years old, lady."

I!
!

spoke Murray, “ so you see how impossible .

it is.”

“ Yes, yes, just the age of our .Lucy,
sir." .

“ Well, return to your places, and let the
performance go on before there is excite-
ment—" _

“N0. 110; I must have one look at the
child-onc close look, sir. Do not deny me
that. I am not crazy, though God alone
knows how near I have been to it at times in
my sorrow.”

“ Sam, this way,” the ringmaster ordered.
“ Let the lady see the Rose of the Ring.”

The clown obeyed, coming around the
ring with long, ludicrous strides that made
the people laugh, singing—“ Ring around a
rosy, pocket fullo' posy," etc'.; and the child
was brought near the bereaved woman.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
rnoitr'rnn nr THE DEVIL.
THOSE present who knew Mrs.Cooper, and

they were many, felt keenly for her.
There were many who remembered her

little girl well, and- these recognized the-

striking likeness this child bore to her.

What we have described took placeall in a
short space of time. and there were many
present who looked upon it as a part of
the regular performance and wondered what
was coming. ,

In 9. few moments the clown had reached
the spot where the Woman was standing on
the bank surrounding the ring.

The woman laid ler hand on the child,
’lookin g earnestly into her face. .

Only a moment,-then she. caught hermto
her arms.

“ My Lucy! my Lucy!” she cried.

“There, there, lady i” said the clown, de-
cisivcly; “this will never (lo_ 'l‘he perform-
ance must go on. If you’ll stay afterthe
performance you shall see the child again.”

Baby BOSS was badly scared, and was
ready to cry. '

Sam took her from the woman's hold and
replaced her upon the horse, while he was
speaking.

“ You will let me see her again?” the wo-
man asked. ‘

“ YeS, I promise you that. "

" But, who is she? Who are her parents?"

“ 1 am the father of the child, lady." '

-‘ And she is so much like my Lucv. so
much like her! Yes, ,Albert, I’ll go back
now.” = i

The clown _was leading the horse around
the ring ugmn, and the farmer conducted
his tremblin Wife back to the seats they
had occupl . ' -

“ Hello,
out, stopping the horse.

" Well, sir," with a crack of the 

'2“ what is it?” t v; ‘ . . : 2 a»
“ Baby Bess has got to have'more, pay.-_’-’ a
“ More-pay?” , 1; ‘  I. 7. .
“Yes, sir.’ ' a _  ' ,1.

'.‘  .'\.

Mister Murray!” the ,clown sung ‘ .,- . 
r - ‘ - ‘ '  .Hunter gave the elephant afinaiaptedjthb

that the rider could not "

more pay?"

“Because she’s getting so sweet that the
ladies take her for a rose in fact, and want
to pluck her.”

“ She's only a bud, yet, Sam; we’ll see
what she’ll be when she blooms out in full,
and then we’ll see about increasing her pay.
But, sir, why are you rubbing your log"
that way ‘1" I

The clown was rubbing his leg vigorously
all the time.

“ Didn’t you hit me?” ‘

” Of course I didn't hit you, sir."

“ Oh! I thought you did, and I was rubé
bin’ where I thought it was goin’ to hurt." ‘

“You are a fool, sir!"

The ringmaster gave his whip a sharp
crack, the clown gave a yell and turned over
‘ backward, the horse broke into its slow can-
ter, and the performance went on.

Farmer Cooper and his wife watched the
little child go though her performance, both
Very pale, and when finally she left the ring,

 

sigh of relief.

woman.

" And so am I," said her husband.
home?” ,

“ No, no; I couldn't, not till I’ve seen that;
child once more. i want to see her close till
I have a good long look. I could never rest.
easy- if I didn't. Albert. " '

“ All right, I won’t oppose ye. Mary.” _

In the mean time something else had been
gomg on, in a quiet manner. ,

Tom Hunter, having had his talk with the
man Mulvern, had come back again to the
circus-groumis. ,

He was now in a measure in disguise, but
moved with caution in order not to be re'cog
nized, in case he happened to come face to
face with any one whom he could not de-
ceive. ‘

‘ “ I’ll fix him,” he said to himself, as he
caught a glimpse of J um ping-Jack.

,and I’ll have a disguise that no one will penf
‘ etrate.” , '  ~
When he came where he could. act boldly,
he set to work as one of the common laboring-
hands. . _ 2 '  '
Taking up some hay, he entered onset the
tents. , A ‘ 4
Here was an elephant, among other animals,
and he put the hay in to it, which was all
right to do at about that hour. .‘ .
But, he did not stop at that. He noticed
that the beast was in an ugly mood, into
which it had a way of getting sometimes.
and as if another thought came to him on the
spur of the moment, he teased it.

I ring doing her act, which the fellow, well
acquainted as he was with the routine" of the

, sinister smile upon his face, what could he
i seen of it for the dirt he had put on,-‘wns Sus-
plClOllS. . , . ,- 

To come from the ring. the queen of the
arena had to pass this elephant at rather
close ran go. .

Continuing to tease the brute. from a
place where he could-pot be seen, the villain
soon had it in a towering passion. ‘

The elephantwas an ugly one, and when

his purposes . m t -
. Presently a change of the music toldathat'
thelaet in the ring was ended. and the the
-.rider‘ was coming out. , 'V
thoroughly aroused it. i ' .,  - -..
. Out dashed. the queenrjof‘th 
“as the elephant tossed its {21a _
voiceto a roar, and the distal

 

 

“And why has Baby Bess got to have  

throwing kisses right and left, jboth drew a;

"I‘m glad that's over,” spoke the good ‘

“ Don’t you think we’d better go out and go

“.On‘ ,
let me get into the properties tent unseeg?‘

This was while Mlle. Lucie was in the ,

performance, was Well aware of; andtthe; 2"

thoroughly aroused was dangerous, and Tom A 
‘Hunter Seemedtonknow just how far to ow"; 
in order .to,put-1tin,the mood he desired. or. ‘-

 
 

     
      
 
 
     
       
 
    
 
      
     
  
    
  
 
 
     

 

  

 

 

I

' J umping—J ack’s Jubilee.

 

 

The elephant struck at her as she passed,
barely missing, and the horse became for the
instant terrorized and stopped with a snort
right where the elephant had opportunity to
repeat the blow.

“On, Beauty!” cried the arena queen,
while she looked back at the infuriate
ele )hant with horror.

he brute had its trunk raised, and was
flourishing it like a man about to strike a
blow with a club, and Hunter applied the
torment again.

Down came the weapon with which nature
had provided the monster, and only for the
fact that in the same instant the horse ave
a leap forward, both rider and horse mgght
have been killed.

As it was, they barely escaped.

Hunter was out from his hiding-place and
away in a moment, and the cry of the
woman brought employees to thespot im-
mediately.

There was excitement for a few minutes,
but there was no time to spare just then,
and another performer was on in a moment,
while the employees took charge of the
enraged beast.

“Curse the luck!" muttered Hunter. “It
would have done me good, if the old fol.
low had hit the woman and killed her on
the spot. But, I have it in for them, and
they have not felt the weight of my hand

at. wait till to-night! I'll fix them both

f I can 1”

,In another minute he was at work at some-
:hing, and no one took particular notice of

m.‘

Gradually he made his, way around to a
certain tent.

Here he made himself busy.

.Several’ tumblers were there, making

ready to appear, and presently they came
forth running, and the discharged employee
slipped in.
' 0 one was there, but others would be in
as soon as the act ended which was now
being performed, and whatever his errand
'was the fellow had to work lively; and he
did, too.

He was well acquainted with the ace.

Going to a certain chest, he opens it, and
taking out some articles, quickly selected,
he thrust them into his pockets.

Picking up two buckets, then. he was just
going out with them when‘ another man
came in, but Hunter's presence was not ques-
tioned, as he was taken to be one of the reg-
ular drudge’s of the company.

Needless to say, though, no water was
brought, and the buckets were found later
on around on the other side of the tent.

IIunter left the grounds and made his way
to some stables in the rear of a third-rate
tavern.

Here he found the man Mulvern. .

“Well, what luck?” that worthy inquir-

“ Good‘ luck and bad,” answered Hunter.
“Itried to kill the woman, and‘failed, but
I did get the disguises we need for our
business to-nightl” .

“Excellent! Just as well that you did
not succeed, and you were craz to try it.

ed

Such an accident would have spoiled every- .

thing for this evening’s performance, you
ought‘to have known.”

CHAPTER IX. 
- , - .A oLmrsn on THE PAST. .,
 WHILE we have purposely omitted, th
~ ‘talk between Hunter and this man Mulvern,
the foregoing is sufficient to show that they
had come to anunderstanding. ;
' 'l‘hatthere was a doublescheme on foot

 

 “carriedcutffremalns. to be seenjn {mg chap-V
v: :zters to follow, ' .» . . _

  

 

  

fellow's disguise fooled even the keen eyes
of Jumpin -Jack.

Deceive once. he was likely to be again,
for Jack was only a country boy after all,
and it was just possible that he would be
overcome and disposed of before the night’s
work commenced. .

\Vhen the performance was over Jack
made his way to Sam Bruce's tent.

“Well, what did you think of it?" Sam

' asked.

“ Immense!” cried Jack. "What did you
think of that woman who wanted to lay claim
to your child?”

“ Say, do you know her

" Yes, sure; she had a child stolen from
her a good while ago."

Jack related the circumstances as they
were known to him, and the _elown and
“ Mlle. Lucie ” listened with interest.

“ it is a strange story, almost like a ro-
mance,” the handsome woman observed.

“ Yes. and there is another chapter comin’
that will be stranger still,“ declared Jumping-
Jack.

“ Yes? What do you mean ‘!"

“ I’ve got my optic on the feller what
stole that child.” ,

“ You ‘2"

(I i’es’ lne.”

“Why don't. you expose him, then, and
have him arrested?”

“I haven’t got the proof all down fine
yet, that’s the reason. Just give me a little
time, and I’ll yank him.”

“ Who is he?” ..

“Never mind that, now; he is standin' in
with this feller what is tryin‘ to steal your
child, and they want to play the same trick
over again. ‘ But, they won't do it while
J umpin’-Jack is around!"

Jack jumped up, cracked his heels, flop
ped over and came down in his same tracks,
without apparent exertion.

Just then Mr. Murray appeared, bringing
with him Farmer Cooper and his wife.

“Bruce, these good people want to see
your little girl .again,” he said. “ I have
heard something of ' their story, and you
can't use them too well.”

Mrs. Cooper entered first, trembling.

“You are the child’s mother?” she asked
of Mlle. Lucie.

‘9 Yes, madam,” the answer. -

"May I hold her on my lap-just for a
minute, while I look at her pretty face ?"

“Certainly you may. Bess, go to the
kindvlady, and letvher love you. for she once.
had a little girl very much like vou, sh
says.” v

’The child obeyed, half timidly. '

“God bless you for your goodness!" the
woman said, with trembling tone.
need not be afraid of me, little deary, for

on are the image of the little girlI lost, my
ittle Lucy."

She placed the child~upon her lap, as she
sat ona steel in the tent. and toyed 'with its
Ifiair as she looked fixedly upon its sweet

ace. .

“It is the ver face of my lost darlinig,”
she'said, half to erself. “ Don't you tli nk
she is like Lucy, hibert?"

“ Yes, she certainly does look a good deal
like her, that’s so," the farmer admitted.

” If we could keep. her,” the woman sigh-

1””

ed. .
“ We could not spare her,” said the fond
mother. pleasantly.
without our baby-Bess.” 

“ ’es,.,but you are, bringing herup to .a
hard, reugh life,‘ as you must know, and she
is so oung and tenders flower. Couldn't

.you at me take her and bring her up for
. » need-snot to be said, now. But; whether or ,ypu—" , , 1’ .1 -
'- . not both or either of these schemes would be ' .T-h'e .motherlaughed, but it was a painful

. effort.

 '.,‘, No,i,no,"‘she1said quickly. .I “This life

'may seem rough to' you, but it is altright '
‘ V- k., ,r .. .  V~When ou'rerusedtoit. -,N9, no,rwe‘ cannot
k-had.seen him,~once,.butthis time'the a v . . ,   ' 

raster 

 
  

' band and me, and we have several thousand

ed at her husband. ' - 

.Witman,‘the poor, worthless fellow?"

7  I
“ You" m

“We could not live.

 

. we.

 
 

“ But, we are worth a fine farm, my bus-

dollars besides; let us have this child. and
every cent of it shall go to her when we lay
down our heads."

“ You ask an impossibility, madam.” spoke
up the clown. “ Besides, we have just come .
into a fortune ourselves, and can leave this
life at any time.”

Mrs. Cooper si hed deeply.

“ It will seem li e losing my child again, ‘
to part with this one,” she said. “ I wish
we had remained at home, Albert, and hadn’t
come out to see the show at all. Ishall never
get over this.”

“ Yes, I wish we had,” the man answered.

“ Ilow long is it since your little girl was

 

~. ,. mum...”

taken?’ the mother of Baby Bess asked.  '
“ It is seventeen years this summer.” f,
“ Let me see. she must be a young woman 5

about twenty three by this time, then, if she
was the age of Baby Bess." . I

“ Yes, if she is living, but who can say?”

"That is true. Did you live here at the
time?"

" Yes. we have never lived anywhere
else." i
I “ And you never heard a word
her?" i

“ Nota single word. Ohl-you can't im:
agine how terrible it was." I a

“ Yes. I can imagine it, too, for it 18 some-
thing we have been in dread of in regard to
Bab Bess. I should go mad!"

“ t would be a blessing if you couldit it
should happen. But, what have you to fear
for her? Who would be so heartless as’to
take her from you in that way ?”

“ It is hardly worth the while to tellthe, if a,
story, madam. It is a man who was in love ' 
with me "and who wanted to marry me when " "
I gave my hand to dear Sam here, and he
swore he would have revenge.” '. '

Mrs COOper was pale again, and she look- 

about

“It is our own story over again, Albert,” J '
she said. r-“You remember all about John .

. "‘I remember him well enough,” was his
response. .“ and I have never quite give _
up the idea that hehad something to ;
with the disappearance of our little Lucyhr,  -.
either.” "  
The farmer’s face was drawn, and there :1“
was a hardness in his tone. ,  >
“ What was his name?" asked Mlle. Lucie. .
“John Witman; he is now known as Old ; ,;
Wit, the bum. He is a good-for-nothinfi » 
fellow who does not draw a sober breat 
from one end‘ of the year to the other.” , , 
“ Yes, and I have got a iron in the fire for. i ,3 ,
you bet!" cried Jumping-Jack, unable
to contain himself any longer. “ I am’gojn‘."  y: ,
for that feller, Mr. Cooper, ior-I feel certain *7", L; "
hgs the man that. did take yourulittlegigirlf ‘
0 .ll I
" Hal’what is that you say?" " .' ' 
“ That’s what Isaid, and I’m goin' to prove ' '~
it on him, too."  I l '  
“ Say. ain’t you the boy they call Jack, "
that I ofiered 'a heme to once, aboutfia. year ’
ago?” 1’ . ‘ a
" I'm the same Jack, sir. and I know you. 
I felt ’bliged to you, but I wasn’t never out
out to be a farmer, and there was no use fool-.5 ..
.in‘ you." I, i
“ But, do you know anything against, Old‘.
Wit? If you do it .is your duty to let me:
know about it at. once, and I'll attend to in. -
I have allus thought in my heart he one)» a
it." - I . .i .  «I
“ “You hold onjust a little bit. sir,” said?
Jack, and give me a chahce at him. and I'll ,,
find out all about it." p ’ - , j - ef-
‘_' Yes.but'what can a.boy like you d
against'a man?” . V ‘ _ - ,  _» I
‘-‘ Didn’t I put him intheze‘ooler once?”  z
“ ngl, es. that’s s0." . ' g  :, " “
:“ A d ~ kin. do [it again, you both}.
time quicksr’n II 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

1." ~

  

 

   
      
     
      
     
    
   
  
  

  

 

 
  

        

. f

   
   

l .
|

 

    
 

I
over a four-foot fence, and I can do that just'
a trifle soon.”
With that Jack turned a standing somer-

‘set, and continued to turn, making his way

out of the tent in this fashion, and the clown

had to laugh at him, while at the same time

he had to admire.

“ That fellow is going to make a perfor-
mer,” he said. .

“ He is coming to nothing," declared the
“farmer, shaking his head. “ I offered him a
heme with me, but he wouldn‘t take it.
’Fraid of work, I guess.”

“ Hasn’t he got any home?”

“ No, he merely hangs on around towii;
Lord knows what he‘ll come to, and he is
such a bright fellow that it’s a pity, too."

“If that’s the case, he is all riglit,”said

. ‘ , theclown, confidently. “Murray will take
 ' . care of him, I think.

a

I

' i
J
«'5
Y.
x i
. i
ii
‘1
f :3.

g}, He’ll be a card, and
[1; .",_,~  Murray will bring him out. I’ll ut a flea
‘  , in his car. But, we’ll have to as to be ex-

    

cused, now.”

 

CHAPTER X.

‘  K, , JUMPING-JACK m A BOX.

if” h"’I'IELLO, Jumping-Jack, there you are,
:   e ‘f’ ‘

L: ' a “Yes, sir, here I. am, and ou’ve only got
1,53L ' to pull the string to set me of .”

23 “Well, that’s what I want to do; I want
 you to come into the tent and show me just

I how ood a'tumble you can do.”
- T‘ . . Jae ’8 face colored; the golden opportunity
 j _ ‘ had come! , ‘- ‘
. .l The man who had spoken to him thus was
‘5 Murray, the su erintendent of the big show.
They enters the. big tent, where they
found the spring-board and some of the
{I tumblers‘ paraphernalia still in place as it
'* hadilast been used, and Murray told Jack to
' try t.
A good many of . tie performers were on
g. hand to see the expei, ment.

Murray must have told them of his in-
tention, though they had all heard of the
boy tumbler before that.

“All ’ri ht, if you’ll bear the funeral

’spence's, s r,” assured Jack. ' v

«:1 “We’ll take the chance of that, young.

., ster." , '

,. ” 780. Jack got up On the spring-board to
 I test it, finding that, it was something almost

3“ new in his ijumping practice.

a I . He first ,umped standing, using the spring

f . ~“instead of a run, and his very first effort re»
. ., 1" suited in a double somerset, with ease
1}- 32 and grace, winning applause from those who
 ;LV  saw him do it.

. j. 1, ; “Bravo!” cried one-of the best tumblersin

I I.  lathe show. “ You’ll make a good one, boy.”
it “That is what I think about him,” said
, Murray. I“ I'm goin to have him, too, if I
I, .can get theyconsent Of, his parents.”
f‘.8hall I run and try it, now, ‘2” asked Jack.
"- ‘ “Yes, when run; ’ :Ou can’thurt yourself
 , if on strike the p s.” ' v

.- .f 0, Jack took t} good start and made a leap
, 1‘ Wei]? into the air With the lightness of a feather,
3 -, ’_'~ seemingly. ' ‘

" w. .

 
 

  

  

   
       
          
 
     
     
     
      
    
     
 
  

' (had begun the fourth turn when he discover-

;{ed‘that'he had come down upon the- ads,’
{but the fall had not hurt him in the least,
i"~.“and'he leaped up lightly. '

 (His audience was cheering. ‘ .

 - “ How many times was that?" Jack asked. .
“Seemed to me I was makin’ about ten,~

  
  

 ,l'j mere or less. " i i »
y g “ You made three whole..0nes,‘.anyhow,”
 answered Murray. ' 1' ' a v
_: “That's good." I ' ' a .
39w, - .vchuve  guy parents, boy?” ,
. , , . ,

.‘i‘N

  
  

..  - :fi‘Any relations?“ ‘. I, , Y
:..‘~5.f’ilf‘"Got one; old aunt, but‘Iainft proud of
._ at”, t, 3.! gm. ".- , .

" ,1." Well, do you. think‘_she would
th'yourioinin's thisshowi"  , .
." ack’s‘ hearth almost stood still. a,“ _ ' : 
“Q‘WWW’ he... 631 :“Mistqr; 3113’s.;

   
   

    
  
   

a].
-.’.I t‘.‘

!.
.-\

       

  

‘ 5,. Over and over and over he went, andhe‘

sudden». *

 

      
  

J umping-J aek’s Jubilee. if  '

only hopin’ I’ll die or run away, I take it,
and she'd give you a remium to take me off
her hands—not that 'in on ’em very hard,
but it sort 0’ pains her to see me goin' around
hungry and half clothed, an’ she’s too stingy
to do anything for me.”

“Then just consider yourself as belong-
ing to this show, and we’ll give you a little
practice and a few lessons and bring you
out“)! .

“ Whoop ec!” cried J umpin'g-Jack, and
he started and ran around the ring. “But
the clown will kill me the first time I kick
up sawdust."

Some of the performers shook hands with
fie boy, and it was the happiest hour of his
1 c.

When Murray went out he found two men
who wanted to see him.

They were rather seedy-looking, down-at-
thc heel fellows, and their appearance indi-
cated that they were little short of tramps.

“ Well, what is it?’ the showman de-
manded

” We want work,” spoke one of the men.
’“ Kin ye help us out?"

" What can you do?"

“Anything we're told to do, and you’ll
find us willing.” was the civil answer given.

“ Where’s Browning? Send Browning
here.”

This to some of the men belonging to the
show.

A foreman soon appeared, and'he was told
to put the two men in his ang.

It happened that the Circus was short
handed, and Murray was hiring anything
that came along, just then.

Perhaps it was this ‘fact that had made
Hunter a. little over-confident that morning,
but it had not saved his bacon in the least.
When Murray decided that he must go, that
had settled it. I

The two new men were given work to do,
and no more was thought of them.

These men were none other than

Hunter
and Mulvern. '

Nothing further of moment took place
during the afternoon, and the time fhr the
evening performance drew on. -

. If therehad been a crowd in the after-
noon it promised to be even reater at ni ht,
and quite a number of add tioual seats iad
been supplied around the ring.

It was getting late in the season, and it
was dark- by the time the doors Were open
for admission.

The crowd poured in at a great rate imme-
diately. ‘

It was about this time that a, man accosted
J limping-Jack, as he was about to enter the
menagerie tent. ‘ . ‘

“Have you seen Mr. Murray?” the man
 . '

“ Npt lately.” answered Jack. ,

“ icu are the feller they call J umpmg'
Jack ‘2” -

l! 1798. H .V I .

“ Well, Mr. Murray is ioolzinf for you,,and
he wes out by the last stable tent a minute

 

\

ago.

“ All right, I’ll find him,” said Jack, and
he was off at once.

He in i out and around to the place men-
tioned, or he had taken in a good understand-
inwif the lay of the camp. ' . , .’\

~ henhe came near to-the tent indicated
by his informant strong hands suddenly
seized him', a hand was clapped‘over his
mouth, and aim le-as heszould he was
powerless to freeifmself...  ‘ , .
1 “ Oh, yes, Mr. ‘Murray wants to'see‘ ye,”
one of his captors hissed. “He Wants'to
see ye real bad.’.’ .  i“  ’ ‘ ‘

~ “But hewon't kneijhere to find. $6.13}
mutteredthe other.» "   ‘. 

“And Won’t that beitoo bad, too~bad."‘.\ _
' ‘They. laughed, whilafithey roceeded to.
:bind and gag their" eaptive int 6' best. manfi‘

‘.

venerimaginable.‘ H y

2 i. - g! 

 

I.
i.

.- 1’.‘"i.l."‘
‘ ;,»: 5 giant‘s, :5

. if ossible.

 
  
   
     
   
   
   
   
  
  
     
    
  
  
    
   
 
   
         
         
       
       
       
    

.y‘ -

' Wall under the shadow of .the tent, where'-
no one was, likely to 'interfere with" them, _
they were as silent as possible and made all
the haste they could with/their evil work. . ,-

As soon as they had the boy bound they ‘ ’ v.‘
laid him on the round. ' '

“Now, what 0 you say i” whispered one.

Jack recognized the voice of Tom Hunter,
and he knew that he was in the hands of
one who would show him no mercy. ’

He had been keeping a lookout for this 1
fellow, but had not seen him for some time.

The other he did not know, but anspected
who it was.

“ I think my plan is best,” answered the
other. ,_ x

“ He might be discovered, that's all.”

“ No more likely than if we throw him
over that back fence, as. you said, and we
might be discovered doin’ it.” 

“ So we may be in the other, and what 
then ‘2” - ‘ ‘
I. “Roll him in somethin’, and it will look e,
as if we are packin’ up the propert .  a;

“ Which we have no business to o, in our ‘  ‘
present jobs. But, we have got to act » -'
quick, so come along with him."

J umping-J ack was picked up and carried
away. .

They kept well in the shadows with him, a
and coming .to a lonesome spot, put him .
down again. ,  ' '

One of the fellows now ran off, presently
returning with some rugs and other stuffs ._ -
belonging to the ring, and into these Jack 3 . .
was rolled. - ‘

He could hardly breathe, and felt that he,
was about at the end of his earthly career of
usefulness, but when the picked him up 
'again it somehow freed is mouth, and he . f 11
was not so uncomfortable. ' ' , v

He was carried to where some chests were.
standing, and .intoone of these, on the top
of the others, the helpless‘boy with circus on
the brain was put. \ “ z - . I . \

This chest would not he opened till after 
the" night performance, and bythat time their ' gf‘
work would be accomplished ~and they : '
would‘be. out of reach. .

Jumping Jack was in-a prettyhadgfix.‘ "

        
     
       
     
       
      
    

CnAPTER Xi._
THE OLD BUM IN TROUBLE.

. Tunas was a man in Wan-eaten who seem. ’
ed to be out in the cold, as it were, ‘ 7 .  4
This ne lected individual was John Wit-
man or 015 Wit, as he was better known, 
He had seen nothing of his new frieu'dg Hun-  

ter. - ‘ ' . '  - ‘

     
     
     
   
     
       
       
      
 

The truth of the matter was, Hunter had 1
little or no further use for him, now that She »
had fallen in with Pete Mulvern, and'hehad
nothing to fear from Old Wit, since he" 
would hardly dare to revealanythin  ' » _

Old Wit had spent the wholes ternoonig'
hanging around the hotel where heu’hsd‘...
parted with Hunter. ‘ g   ‘  .

He could not understand why the: fellow..- "’-
did notreturn. ’i .  g‘v'  ,. \ e
\ As night came on he: made his Way, to, the a ;:
circus-grounds, determined to ‘lnekhim up - 
ifliewas to be foundu, ' '   ~‘

Ilis search was fruitless, however,vfor the. :- , :-
fellow was not'toibe found. y it was not be- ’1;
cause he was not there, though, for he saw‘-\' .
the old man looking for him and grinned to,
himself.\, » ‘ - -  * ,

on socouut of Hunter,‘Old Wit had missed \
the. performance in the afternoon. ' ;_ 

‘ He was determined to see the evening stein:

I /<_ ,

    

   
   

"‘ usth‘ow ltwas‘ to be dough-add no .
know,”for he had not the “therewith the

his-admissidn. ‘His appetitefor. ‘ ' Math 1»
pocket drained constantly. '- -

 
  

~' . Tile hung around, wheunhai 
-. ‘his search for Huntermnd

,i

 
  

around amongi- theatents'
there with any enqwho

 

and he was in.

.\..

 
 
 

 

 

J umping-J’ ack’s J ubilee.

 

a

Little he thought that he was going to' get
himself into trouble.

In his meanderings he came finally to the
entrance to the private tent of Sam Bruce
and his wife, where he looked in.

“ Mlle. Lucie " was there, and Baby Bess
was asleep on a cot just behind a flap par~
titlon of the canvas .

'l‘hc bummer poked in his head. to learn
what this particular tent was for. and at sight
of him the woman gave a cry of alarm,

“ l)urnation !" ejaculated the old bum.

He was staring at the woman with eyes
dilated. —

‘ [’01) Turner! ’ exclaimed thequeen of the
arena, excitedly.

‘ Et‘s me, gal, sure enough!" the old fel-
low admitted. “Darn me ef Ikmwed ye
afore when lseen ye."

“ That was because I had my line feathers
on, I suppose. But, what are you doing
here, Pop? I have not seen you before, in a
dozen years, it must he. Are you still trav-
eling?‘

“No, no; I gave that up long ago. gal."

“And where do you live?"

“ EL don‘t matter; I’m glad to ‘a’ seen ye
again, gal, an’ I hope you ar’ doin' well. I'll
be goin’ on, as I‘m in a hurry." ‘

He was going. too.

“ Hold on,” the woman ordered. “ I want

V to talk with you a minute.”

“ I can’t do it nohow; Ihave got to. meet
a man, and must be goin’. Mehby I will see
 _” ‘

‘YYou will see me now,” and she got up
and took hold of his shoulder with a firm
rip. “Come right in here and sit down,
.orImust haveachat with you. 'I don’t
care if you‘ve got an appointment with the
President.” _

“ Let go, gal; d'ye hear?”

His rummy face was pale, and he pulled

V to st away. .
.13

he little woman drew a pistol from~her
pocket and presented it at his head, saying;
‘ "‘ I wouldn't, want to hurt you, Pop Tur-
ner, but you are not going out of my sight
till you have answered some questions.
lome in and sit down, or I‘ll have to enforce

, my command in a way you won‘t like.”

" There was no help for the bummer. and he
had to obey. -

He slunk in and sat down on a stool, toy-
ing nervously with his mg of a hat, and sul-
lenly askedzs » - '

“ Wull, what is it?”

“About the earliest recollections I have,
Pop Turner, are of you.”

“ That’s nat’ral, seein’ that I was daddy
to ye after .yer mother done her last not an’
retired from the ring, gal. " I

“ You speak in a heartless manner, Pop
Turner. Would you care to have any one
speak so of your mother, if ' you have any
recollection of her? I think not, if there is
any feeling left i‘n'you." ‘ '

" Oh, well, thatis nothin’; say what you
want to." ’

“ I want to know the truth about my par-
ents, that is what I want, and you are the

.only one who can tell me. "

“Well, it’s a short story and soon told.

'_ Your mammy was a rider, like yourself,

and you was a sort 0' come by-chance, I
take it. That is your whole peddygree, fur
asIknow,"

The young woman‘s face was flushed.
,. “ One on tell me my mother‘s family
name?" s e asked. _.

“ Darn me if I kin. She was on the bills
as Lucy Long, an’ that’s‘the long ‘an’ short
of it all.”  v’ ’ . . I

” And you never heard her speak of my

V father?"  -

. .“ Never a word. gal.“ , . .
. “And thatis all you know about me?"

r ' I ‘,‘ That’s every blessed ,‘word, gal, I take
"my dinner." ‘ '

rflow was a that I came tabs. at 'in

\ .youeit'eoping, as'vaas, Pop?” 1 .- _.

A , ‘

/-

 

“Well, your mamm hadn't no other
friend, an’ she jest askec me to see that you
was took keer of."

"“ If that is all you know, there is no use in
pressing you further, so I will let you go,
now. I don't suppose we’ll ever meet again,
I’op. so I’ll say goodby for good."

She held out her hand, but at that moment
Sam Bruce entered the tent.

“‘IIcllo!" he exclaimed. “ Who is this?”

" This is Pop Turner, thatI have often
told you about,” said Mlle. Lucie.

“ Pop Turner? Then he wears two names,
for he is known as John \‘Vitman, or ()ld
Wit. Hold on, old chap; don't be in a
rush!“

The hummer showed a disposition to cut
short his stay, but the clown laid a hand up— i
on his shoulder and forced him easily down
to the stool from which he had just got up.

The bummer’s face was now cold and
white, and a perspiration .was on his fore-
head, while he was all atremble.

“ Then he is the, man—” began Mrs.
Bruce.

" The man that was suspected of stealing
that woman‘s child, seventeen years ago,
Lucy. . ‘

“That was a lie," muttered the bummer.
“ I was not in this part of the country at
that time, an’ they all know I wasn't. I
was set free 0‘ that suspicion at the time."

“ At what time, sir?”

' "Well,' when I come back here to live,
somethin‘ like a dozen years ago.”

" Where had you been during that time?”

" Some of the time travelin’ with shows;
some of the time doin’ other work.”

“ And it was about seventeen years ago. I
understand, that this lady, my wife, was
placed in your keeping.” .

“ Yes."

“ And it was seventeen years ago that
the child of your rival 'in love, Albert
Cooper, was stolen from her home. By
the way, what show were you with at that
time, my man?”

()ld Wit was not dealing with “Mlle.
Lucie ” new. ,.

e was as pale as death, and was trembling
from head to‘foot, a fact that gave ground
for suspicion. , . _ -

“I guess it was Cook & Tucker’s,” he an-
swered. -

“And that was theshow in which my-
wife first appeared. Old man, I'm going to
look further into this matter.”

“ 1—1 have just told your wife the truth
about herself, fur’s I know it," the bum-
mer declared. ‘ “ You won’t find nothin’
good by pryin' into the past, I give you fair
warnin’.” ‘ ,

“ Better to know .thc truth than to remain
in Uncertainty. ’

The woman, too, was pale. . o

This talking had awakenid Baby Bess,
and. she now came around ~ mm the parti-
tion.

At sight of her, Old Wit gave a start, and
there was an increased ltok of alarm in his
eyes. She seemed to come like an accusing
angel to confront him.

“What’s the matter with you now, sir?”
demanded Bruce. “ Does this child so much
remind you of the looks of my wife when
she was a little child? Well, I do not won-
der. Where’s that photograph, Lucy ?”

The woman took a picture rom'her pocket,
which she had hunted out from among her
effects that afternoon after the visit of Mrs.
Cooper, and 'it Was; certainly wonderfully
like the child before them. t It was a likeness
of‘ herselfat' the d e of seven, a picture
y“ Pop Turner "‘ had (1 takep.

, y - ’

 

, [CHAPTER xn.
, ,Taxme cane, or OLD wrrman.
THIS picture was put in old Wit’s hand.
‘f Darn me if there ain’t a strong likeness”,
he admitted. . ’ ‘ ‘ ' j

I I / ‘ I‘ \.

 

   
 

 

“ Of course there is,” said Bruce, “ and it
is suspiciously strong.” '

“ What d’ye mean?”

“ Imean that I strongly believe that my
wife was the child of the Coopers, and I’m
going to know."

()ld Wit was getting sullen, now.

“ \Vell, I wish ye luck in tindin’ out,” he
muttered. “I have told ye the truth, an’
I‘d like to see ye prove it anything else.
Don't see how you could go about to do it."

“ We have got a clue already, sir. There
is a boy around here called Jumping-Jack,
who knows something about you.”

" ‘i‘hc bummer paled again at this, but stub-
bornly held out ‘

" That boy kin lie as tall as he kin jump,”
he declared, “ an’ he will have to prove what
he says, I reckon. Now, if that's all ye
want 0’ me, I’ll be goin’ fer I ain't got no
time to fool away." i

“No, I suppose time is important with
you," said Bruce. “ But, you are not going
in a hurry. I am going to hold fast to you
till this thing is cleared up. I’ll send for Mr.
Murray and have that boy brought here to
face you, and we’ll see how it will stand.”

He forced 01d Wit back to his seat.

The old fellow’s face was white, but he do-
terminedly persisted.

“ Well, do yer worst," he defied. “ When-
you have found out your mistake mebby you
will own it. Lucy Long, I didn't think this
of you, after the kindness I haVe done for
you in the past."

“ My husband "is seeking only the truth,”
was the response.

“And that Iam resolved to have,” de-
clared Bruce. “Lucy, can you keep him
here a minute?" .

“You had better ,let me
Murray," the woman suggested.
that better.” . ,

“ All right; but, take care!”

“ 1 will.”

She was of! at. once, and the moment she
had gone Bruce said grimly}

“Now, old man, the best thing you can.
do is to own up. If you Want to get of
easy. that is the best thing you can do.” _

“ You wouldn’t trap me that way, even if
I was guilty," was the sullen retort. "When
you have. proved .the/ thing against me it
Would be time enough for me to. take water
on it.” .

go and‘bring Mr.
“ I can do.

“ And that would .rbe too late to do you' _.

any good.”

“ Can‘t confess to what I ain’t guilty of,
all the some. I s‘pose you'd like to prove!
your Lucy a lady, but she was a'nobody,
su'. ’ - ' »

“ We’ll see," said Bruce, :1 hard line form-'-
ing around his mouth. '

In a few minutes his wife returned, bring. ’
ing Harry Murray, with her, but npt the.
b0 . ' , r ‘
Mrs. Bruce~ had already given the show--
man an idea of the situation, and uponhls-
coming in he took a keen survey cf the old
bummer. \

“ You are the fellow I saw this morn»
ing,” he declared. “ You started and stared.
at Baby Bess when I had her in my arms.
and was about to put her in her place in the
line of parade.” /

“I can’t deny that,” admitted the old. '-

bummer. '
“ You thought you recognized her." . , '

“I knowed she looked mighty “EB “39", 

child of Lucy Long, ‘cf course.” -

“And you had some conversation about" ’  A
the matter with Tom Hunter, which was  1

overheard.”

“ What if it was?" 

“That is what we are going toattend to;.
We’ll find the boy that overheard the talk,
and I think we can bring you to tune,” said
Bruce. ‘ \
stole the childyfrOm the Coopers ”

“ And you think
,ehild, Semi”. asked array. -

' 4

“I believe you are the 'man who: . 5

our wife is that stolen I 3‘

.51.... g _

‘..‘~ :u‘ 3"? JAN-9»!-

w

i“a-.'.fi~"-“€$‘;3§ r: :r 

-r~.

"C14"£'~"“T“-T"YV?¥T§"‘-“ Tr”   ‘ ‘ ‘

       
    
    
       
         
       
         
    
    
     
        
      
     
   
    
    
   
     
     
    
       
    
       
    
    
     
       
      
       
       
      
     
 
    

a

 

 
 

I

J umping-J aok’s Jubilee.

     
 

 

 

    
 

u.

f‘_ I do.”

- “ Well, it is possible, but we have got to
prove it. It is strange where Juinpinngack
can be; the men can't seem to iind him."

Just then a man came to the tent.

“ We can't find the boy, boss," he report-
ed.

“ Have you seen anything of Hunter?”
the showman asked immediately.

" No, nobody seems to ’a' seen him, either.
Hope he hasn‘t got in a crack at the young»
ster."

V “ He must be found,” cried Murray, “ I'd
give a big sum rather than see that-boy come
to harm. Find him, Smith, if possible, ask
everybody you see, and have them all hunt
for him." . '

“ Yes, sir."

“And what about this fellow?” Murray
asked. ‘

“ We must not let him get out of our
hands,” said Bruce. “ I we do, he will give
us the slip." ‘
~ “ You are right. I’ll tell you what you had
better do, you had better take out a warrant
for him and let the authorities lock him up,
and put the case in Mr. Cooper's hands.”

“ You'll have your trouble for your pains,"
growled Old Wit. “ You can’t prove noth-
in’ ag‘in' me."

‘ i “ Say, do you know where that boy is?"

“No, 1 don‘t; but I hope he has broke his
cussed neckl" _

“ But, there is no time to attend to it be-
fore the performance,” said the woman.

“You are ri ht,” agreed Bl‘uCe. “ No
matter; I’ll set ones to Watch the man and
he‘ will not get away, that is certain. Will
you send him here, Mr. Murray ‘!” '

“ That is the very idea. Yes. I’ll send

. ‘hi‘m‘m
‘ Murray took his leave. I ,.
. “ You see we mean business,” said Bruce.
“ I believe we are on the right track,'and we
are not going to give you the ‘chance to get
out of our hands.”

‘.‘ Who is Jones?” asked Old Wit.

“He’s one of our detectives.”

7 “‘ Well, he won’t have nothin' to detect, in
me. What I’ve said. I’ll stick to, now, no
:matter what comes. ”
1 “We must see that woman again, 8am,”
 said Lucy. “ You know I have kept many
, of my childhood things, and there may be
something in the lot she will recognize.” '
‘ - . ' “ And what if it should turn out that she
is your mother?” .. - .
. “Ishould not be sorry, for my heart al-
 ‘ > ’ most aches for her, after the way she took to
. our Bab Bess." ,
. “ Wei, we cannot control the events, any
further than to keep this fellow from getting
away. Hello! here is Jones already. Jones,
» ‘we have gota little job for you to under-
“ take." "
' The matter was explained, and the detec-‘
tive led the old bummer out.
There was no further time to spare, now,
“as they Would need every: minute to prepare
 for the evening.r performance. , .
1f Old Wit was eager to see the, perform-
' ance, he was destined to disappointment,
_ now, for the detective took him around to
Fr’ona'of the stable tents, where hemade him
, fprisnner. '
f, «But, the old bummer 1m. no longer a dc»
."sire to see the show, all he wanted was the
. ,1  chance to make-himself-scarce,
' He knew there was danger in the air.
-, The hunt for Jumping-Jack was kept up.
 but he was not found. and finally the time
‘  for the performance came. and the band
" .struck’up. __ I . -
' Jack had now been a'pnsoner 1n the big

l

 

‘ v .

, “be”

   

. .W‘_‘§v‘:i
3. Ext.  13.5;
‘ ‘I
‘ . It. V

     
  
        
       

'i was'findin it an thit r bull‘s comtonable
' ' lace; Hegmust hlave airflocated, but for the,
' ' tithat the chest was cracked;  . 1

Even as it was, liewas perspmng freely,
stalli- as it he wasin an oven, wrapped up

  

     

I
. kw

” chest for twenty minutes or more, and he ‘

He made every effort to free his hands. but
that was impossible. and of course it was
just as impossfide to free his mouth of the
gag that prevented him from calling for
help ;
lnhis struggles he made one discovery,
though it. might not amount to anything.

rest solidly ‘upon the others. _

The movements he made caused it to
rock. '

Jack heard the hand strike up, and knew
the performance had connuenced, and he
longed to be where he could see it

But, that was not all, he knew he must get
out if he was to keep his promise to Sam
Bruce that he was to keep an eye upon
Baby Bess that night to see that no harm
came to her. ‘ r

The thought rendered lim desperate, but
what could he do? Thdre was no escape
for him, and he would have to remain
where he was until the box was needed,
unless something unforeseen chanced to turn
up in his favor, and that was not worth
hoping for.

CHAPTER XIII.
A IiEINous SCHEME 1N MIND.

Tun performance was on. ‘

If the crowd had been great in the after-'
noon, it was greater in the evening by some
hundreds. '

Every performer was at his best, and no
one could suspect that the mind of the lead
ing clown was fixed upon anything other
than the nonsense of the hour.

The very'reverse‘was true. however. He
did well his part, but all the time his mind
was elsewhere, thinking of the various events
of the day, and the mystery that he hoped
soon to clear up. -

So it was with Murray. ‘

I-Iewas greatly worried about the disap-
pearance of Jumping Jack.

The word was passed, and all the employ-
ees of the show who were idle or could be
spared were looking for him . ~

One of these was Jones, the so called de-
tective of the show, who had disposed of his
prisoner, Old Wirt, in the manner we have
shown, and who was looking around the
town. ‘ ‘

The two men in disguise, Tom Hunter
and Pete Mulvern, had so far escaped detec-
tion.
After the performance commenced these-
two wandered ofl“ together toward one of
the stable tentsthat was out of the way.

Mulvern.

“\Right after Baby ‘ Bess performs and
comes from the ring,”

“ And you think it will work?”

‘ “See no reason why it should not. I'll
’tend to my part of it, and you See to yours "
l “ But. there isa big risk to run, letting
that lion out of his cage, you knOW. and we
may get more than we bargain for before we
are done With it." ‘

“ I’ll take chances of that, and you, can
do the same. I‘ll be off in a. hurry, and you
can seek a place of safety before I open the
door, and when the excitement is on you can
do the trick." . , ' ‘

“ I think it will work. ”.

“ Yes, of course it will. Bruce will be
one of the first- to try to capturethe brute "

“ And others will shoot at it, and a stray
bullet ma hit the clown and that willbe,
the end o it. A pure and simple accident,
of course".  ' l , - .

‘f That’s it; now you have it. "‘ J \
\ “ And I’m greatl obliged to you for
your. help. I,wishh could do something,
more to aid you."  ‘ " ‘ , ' x \'

, “Don't see how you can. , I‘d like to fall
in with that\ old sot. Old ‘Wit, now,._'for I

 

‘ will need a guide till I get ‘well'out’ of

-' to start.
This was. that the chest he was in did not

310 a safe place in-the woods, and then help

“Well, when is it to be donc?”, asked

“ 'tYou'll go to jail‘anyliow,1*

 

“"1”:

reach, and he must know the country ‘
around. "  .
“ Then jest scoot around here and set me , .5
free, durn ye!" ‘
This in a hoarse whisper, from the other ._
side of the canvas. and it caused both men . . V,  

 
 
 
  
  
   
   
  
 
  
   
  
   
    
  
 
    
    
     
   
     
    
    
     
    
     
    
 
      
      
          
       

They looked at each other, in the very dim

light, and Hunter asked. 5 
“ Is that you, Old Wit?” ' 

“ '(Joursc it's me. ” 

“ And what are you doing there?" {r

' “I‘m a prisoner." 5!

1 u

" Prisoner!"

“ Yes. " _ 

This in whispers. _. 

" Stay right here, Mulvorn, and I’ll sneak
around and free him."

" All right. but take good (-are about it,,
for if anything turns up now we are dished,
maybe for all time." I. _ .

“ I'll take care. ” is,

Hunter left his accomplice and moved ‘ 
around and entered the tent, and was not
long in finding Old Wit, by the light of a.“
lantern that hung in the center of the tent.

He freed him at once, and the old bummer
followed him out. . '

They joined MulVern immediately. and the
three moved off to the rear of all the tents...
where they would not be likely to be over .
heard again. . I

‘ How came you there?" asked Hunter.

,, " Through that cussed boy," the hammer
growled. -

" Well, we have taken care of him so’s he
won’t bother us any more.  '_

“ I'm glad of it. But, I heard you say .
that y it wanted me to guide ye some'rs,
didn‘t l1?" . "
- “Yes, you have it right. I am going to
steal that kid, and want you to guide me oif‘ ' '

me out tomorrow so I can get away.” w \ . I
‘t I‘ll try it, .for I have no love for any of. ‘ v
'em, now, and this will be a dig at~*” , I
But, he stopped short and did not finish. I
“ ,We understand," said Hunter, ' - ‘
" All right. ef ye do. I heard your plans
laid out, an‘ Ir‘want to tell ye I slot at no~
business around here if you are goin to let. 1
that big lion out." '~ _ _,  .
"That is what we are oing to do." ,
" Then I ain’t in it. . ,1! bid you gocd~
evenin’," and Old Writ started off at once.
He had not taken three «paces.,however,_ 
when'their hands fell-upon him. - ., ’ '
" No you don't!" said Hunter.- grimly. .
“ You have got .to' aid me. or we’ll put you;
back where we found you." '
ye.” v

” If ye try it I’ll squeal on

“ We’ll gag you ” _

‘“ I'll raise a row and block your game." ' .- ,

"You try it and I’ll’ slit your throat ’fi".  
hissed Mulvern, displaying a knife as he: '»
made the threat . . ‘ ,  ‘

This brought Old Wit to time quickeij
than anything else could have done, farther '
had a dread of a knife anyhow, and there" .
was that about the threat to convince that, ,.
the man meant what he said. - 1 ‘ ‘

“But, we‘ll all be killed,"‘the
urged . g ' ‘v "

“ No we won’t, for the lion will never get  
cut of the tent alive,” assured Human, L ,.
“They'll shoot it if it won’t go into its .l
cage ‘ '

      
     
     
      
     
     
     

   
        
      

713‘.

        
      
     
    
    
     
      

         
      
  

r
I!

  
         
    
    
    
  
    
   

f but what do ye want to letit out.
er?" .A  , i" ,
"To make an excitement shkh'at we‘gan' .
carry out other plans. V Now, will you4aiél";
me orwill you not?" a l 13’}, a

“ What is it I’m to do?" ’ '  
_ "You must guide me to a safe 
the woods as soon asl get the brat. "5‘14 ,"J ,

“ And go to jail If I get foundqutfié.

  

 

Em here in the hands .of 
nos 18 onto yon. new?" , i.

” Well. I s'poserl’tl hunter,
‘/ “I guess onwill.’ ‘

t ‘x . 

           
 
   
    

 
    
 

 
 
  

 
  
    
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
     
        
      
    

       
    
     
       
       
    
      

   

g'to think of that before!
mummy, if 1 keep on sweatin‘ this way-.-

;that he had but little use of himself.
could not move arms or legs, but the idea

i! H...‘ .n ‘03:"    a. .111" :~.“.Tr.,.£~ :' “ ~

is .

J umping-J’ ack’s Jubilee.

 

for there is no time to spare. Which is the
best way for me to go with the brat soon’s I
get her?" '

“ lwould say to cut right back across this
‘field to the rear fence, and then up that back
.street to the lane and so on out to the woods,

v where I know of a wood-road that leads to a

old cabin.”

“ Good enough. Can you find it in the
«lurk ‘2" .-

“ Yes, easy enough.”

“ All ri ht then, that‘s the plan."

“But, don’t want to be near that Jim
when ye let him out."

“ Don’t see how it can be helped."

“ Can’t I wait by the fence till ye come?"

“ You would wait till we had gone, and
that would be the last we’d see of you."

“ No, I swear—”

‘ Don't swear. for your oath is no better
than your word. We won't trust you, and
that'sall there is of it ”

“ But, I'll be scart out o' my wits, and
won’t be worth a cent, 1 know. My legs
will be so weak Icouldn’t run, an’ what good
would I be to ye? Let me wait right by the
fence.”

“ I’ll tell you what,” said Mulvern.

“ What isit‘!"

“ We’ll ga him and tie him to a post of
the fence. gou can cut him loose in a quar-
ter of a minute, when you comefl’ ,

“ The very idea! That’s the way we’llfix
it, old man, and there’s no use of your object-
'ing to the plan, for we’ll carry it out..L Come

, right along now, and we’ll fix you out.”

Old Wit objected strongly, but that was
all the good it did him.
He was taken to the fence, and tiwre secur-

' -ed to a post by his hands tied behind his

back and a gag was put in his month. There
She was left, and the two villains hastened
:back to carry out their plans.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A MOMENT or EXTREME ream]

' In the mean time Jumping-Jack had been
1. ing, at intervals, to free his hands, but, as ‘

: eh d before, the task was hopeless.

, He had discovered, however, as stated,
that the box he was in did not rest in a per-

fectly solid manner upon the others, but it

was some time before he saw how he was to
use the circumstance to his advantage.
' Finally it came to him. , .
" What a ninny I am,” he muttered, “ not
Reckon I'll be a-

Wonder if I can’t shake this box enough to"
upset it. and take the chances of fall in it?
Seein‘ that it’s cracked, it may split open an’

.ietmeout.” ‘ - ‘

..The performance in the big tent had now
been on .for some time.
No sooner thought of than the boy set

about puttian the thought into practice as

best he can!
There was room and to spare in the big
box, but Jumping-Jack was so wrapped fip
e

came tohim to try to roll.

1 "He tried it. . 

 The box rocked but it did not fall.
As this was Jack’s only hope, however, he‘

, ' kept it up at intervals, hoping that it might
' g  draw attention tothe box. ~

'seemed more likely than that he

» would cause it to fall; for, should any one

9888 near when the box was rocking. that

v ~ I ' .‘Iperson‘svould certainly want to investigate
~ .‘  fithe strange‘phenomenon.   ~

Practice, Ighowever, taught the they "a les5_

.?:»-.:1';?,Ho;,iouad s'that bystarting» thabox in.“
 motion...and keeping‘th-at motion regular; the

 

 toppled more and more at each move



and watched: their, opportunity,

 

‘ ‘ , satire a? me. he started 1;

     

after a spell of rest, resolved to keep it up
till something happened, .if he could pos-
sibly hold out, and so he did, too, to his
satisfaction. '

More and more the box toppled, and
finally it overbalanced and down it went
with a bang and a crash.

"Here we go, anyhow,” thought Jack.
when he felt it going. ” It is life or death,
this act, I guess. But, I can’t get hurt
much, the way I’m wrapped up."

This was true.

The box struck the ground on one corner,
and it was split from end to end.

It dropped toils side immediately, which
had the effect to split it 'et more, and it
dropped open wide and J ac rolled out.

“ Thunderation l"

So cried one of the showmen, who ran
along just at that moment.

The box had come near to striking bun,

and he looked to see who had been so care,

less in handling the proferty.

He saw no one, an th s caused him to
stop to investigate what it was that had
rolled out of the broken box, and as he stoop<
ed Jumping Jack gave forth a groan that
caused him another exclamation.

The showman felt with his foot.

“ Who are ye?" he demanded.

Another moan.

The man now stooped and felt with his
hands, carefully, for it was in too dark a
spot for him to see well.

Finding that it was a boy, and that he
was bound and gagged, the man thought
immediately of the missing Jumping-Jack,
and rightly guessed that he had found the
little fellow. I

It took him but a moment .to unwind the
rugs and other wrappings and to free his
mouth. ' ‘

“ Whew! that was a roaster!" cried Jack.

“ Are you the, boy called Jumpin'-Juck?"
asked the man. '

“Yes, I’m that same misguided youth,”
answered Jack, drollingly. ‘

“ And how came ye here?” "

“ Fell into the hands of the enemy," the
response. , ‘

“ Well, the-boss is lookin‘ fer yen, and
is worried, so you had better show yourself
soon’s ye can.” . '

“ Al right, you just free my hands and
feet for me, and I’ll beaofi to fl him in
about two twitches of a wink, more or less.
Ihave had a good rest, now, and feel like
getting on.” =

The man laughed. while he set the boy
free, and .when he had done Jack leaped
lightly upon his feet.

Just at that moment came a or of alarm

L

where he could command a full view of the
scene.

Hunter havin unlocked the door of the
cage, darted un or it to the other side, with
a pole in his hand. .

That pole he pushed into the cage, and
placed its end against the opposite door.

When he was ready, a push with the pole»

would open the door.

They waited, then, for the right moment.

Presently out from the arena dashed Mlle.
Lucie, and it was then the turn of Baby Bess
to do her not

Mrs. Bruce dismounted and surrendered
her horse, and waited to be near her child
when she should come out. She was clad in
a hal it, the act she had just performed de-
manding that kind of dress.

The music told how the act was progress
sing, broken now and then when the clown“

had something to say, and finally the act ‘
' ended.

Hunter had been waiting for this.

Mrs. Bruce was standing only a little dis-
tance from the cage of Samson.

This seemed to suit the inhuman wretch‘
all the better, and shoving open the door he
gave the lion a prod. ‘

There was instantly a terrific grow], and
turning and seeing the door of the ea 0 Wide
open. the horrified woman gave vo co to a
wild scream.  ,

Hunter had dropped his pole at once, and
running behind the cages, came out at the,
exit just in time to intercept the horse of

Baby Bess when it came out, and he caught I

the bridle. ‘ ,
He ran with the animal across the space of
the tent, and out. while every eye present
was fixed upon Mlle. Lucie and the lion.
Only a brief moment had elapsed, yet the
scene had changed.
The growl and the woman’s scream had
caused every eye to turn in that direction.
Another scream followed, with cries from
others, and with a growl again the lion

leaped from its cage, striking the woman to '

the ground as it did so, and now it StOOd‘
over her.
Cries and screams of horror were heard on
every hand. , - 1
Other performers and employees ran in
fro every direction, and in from the ring,

as quickly as possible, came the clown and"

ringmaster. . -
About the time of their appearance. J ump-

  

 

_ :Mm‘" ...M.—.-...-m..'...g.~.... _. 

 .~. my...”

        
      
          

ing-Jack rolled in under the tent, to find out 2 

What it was all about, and he discovered
that he had come in at a point where a man
was standing on a wheel of one of the cages.

He did not see Jack, and it'had been imo ,

possible to hear him, in all the utproar, and

 

from the direction of the menager e.

It was repeated; then came a woman’s
scream, and followed immediately other cries l
and screams of greatest terror.

“What the deuce is up?” cried the man
who had freed Jack. .

 

“Quickest way to find out is to go and .
see,” answered Jumping-Jack,and he was
off like a shot.  

The reader, has guessed what the trouble
was. . 1

The big lion,,called Samson, was out of .
his cage, and terror was struck to every

‘ heart. a

It was the work of Torn Hunter!

On their return tojthe grounds, after se~
curing Old it, they had set about carrying
out their-diabolical design. ' ' ._

_. Hunter knewthebro ramme of the per-
formance well, and con] tell just when each
member of: the company would be on and

‘ doing his or her part, and he timed his action
accordingly. ‘ '

They made'their way into the menagerie,

1

It came, and the seized it. i ' f '
, Hunter uinlocke  the clear of the lion’s'

 

he was looking through the bars 0
with a-pistol in his-hand.

Jack stopped right where he was, with an I ~ 3‘
u eye upon this man. ; ‘

 

But, to return to Mlle. Lucie. .  f
She was lying on her back, and the lion
‘had its left fore paw clutched in her riding

S habit near her hip, while he glared at those

in front of him.

For a second every manhad stopped and , _ ;
recoiled, - thrilled with horror and almost  ‘
for a moment,  :
when the clown and the rmgmaster madea; 

paralyzed, buttit was onl
leap forward together.

" Back,‘ for your
voice, the same instant.

before your eyes!” _ .y .

 

, , CHAPTER'XVJ. 
EXCITEMENT THE WILDEST. "

. THE new-comer was a man offsternface ; ‘

and keen eyes.‘ - , . ,.. I ,
He had a heavy mustache, wore‘s‘a square

coat and.derby' hat, and in, his right hand he  .;

—’carried a heavy whip.

cage, and Mulvera placed himself ,where' he. fi‘hThe tip of this whitplwa‘ssset with sharp 7 ' '
wastinjsome degree, out‘of danger'and from‘

V_ steel. spurs 'insteadgo  the usual snap, and

. a

the cage,  ,

lives l” cried another-  ‘
“ Let me attend to,'
that fellow, or the woman ,will be killed:-

 

   
    
    
       
      
    
       
    
   
    
    
     
         
    
         
   
    
   

    

 

Jumping-Jack‘s Jubilee;

  

 

 

 

the extraordinary size of it made it a weapon

to be dreaded, once a taste of it had been

administered.

- This man was on the bills as “Professor

.; Mordaunt, the Lion- Tamer,” but in private

life he was known as Charlie McHartley.
With his words, he thrust the others aside

and faced the lion! .

i, The eyes of the man and those of the

'- beast met, and there was a moment of terri-
ble anspense.

' ” All who beheld it held their breath with

*7 ‘ , very horror—or nearly all, for we must ex-

; cept the man who was standing on the

' ‘ wheel of one of the cages, him with the

pistol in his hand.‘ ' '

The lion-tamer bent lowerand advanced

"r " ' inch by inch upon the beast, and the lion
; '. . crouched and gave 11. Warning roar.

4‘  Mlle. Lucie lay as still as death, her eyes
’  a, , turned imploringly upon her rescuer.

‘Suddenly Charlie McHartley gave a blow
,» ' with the whip.

'3 ‘ ‘ The steel thorns struck the lion on the
' nose. and the blood spurted forth instantly.

;With a roar like thunder. the lion releas-

. H - r ed its prey, crouched back, and the next in-

 ' stant had sprung forward at its tormentor.
is; r N0~sooner released. than Mlle. Lucie was
, ' upon her feet, and. running for her life in
 If,  " the direction in which her child had been led,

.‘ ’ . ' she disappeared from sight at once.

L, ” " As though he did not see her, Sam Bruce
’ ' ' - stood as if rooted to the spot. ‘

 

g  , His eyes were upon the lion and the lion-
'5.  tamer, and he and Murray were almost the
» l ‘ ‘. only ones- to hold their ground.
_ - Murray had armed himself with an iron
"bar, and was ready to aid the tamer if chance
offered. or if it was found that he needed aid,
' « for, possibly, he would prove master of the
situation.
‘But this could hardly be hoped for.

In order to save Mlle. Lucie he had had to
 draw the rage of the beast upon himself, and
 3 the consequences could hardly be calculated.

 jAs the lion made its leap, McHartley
' dodged, and with the butt of his whip dealta
r blow on the head of the kin of beasts that
‘ 'm‘ust' have stunned an anima of less power
‘ than old Samson. - 3

; I ‘3 Shoot the lion 2” some one .cried out:
 Yes, yes. shoot it; that's the only way l’f
  Instantly came one or two shots, but with-
' ’outeffeet. ' V '

j v", ‘f-Mister, don’t you do that again, or’ I'll,
faibreak your arm with this rm ."

‘. The speaker was Jum ing Jack, and the
' -.’. ,m‘a'n addressed was the ellow we have men-
‘- tioned as standing on the wheel of one of the

face, le. 1
=“_ hat do you . mean?” he demanded.

v'!’"1'm.tnying to 'kill that lion before it can do

{harm.” '

A '1‘ I. know better," said Jack. coolly.

tfilYou aimed at Sam Bruce, straight as ou

, ’l-could, and your bullet made him do ge.

 'DOnft'you try it again, I warn ye.”-

'1’ ad the boy had his weapon ready,

 «was armed with a short pieceof iron

,1'whirh'he held raised for Instant use.

 liel you, young jackanapesl" cried

mn'I, ‘ r . . \

’5“.No,1 don’t lie..either, and you know I

Vfionfth Now I know what you and that

er feller was talkinf about, and—"

u . ‘urse you! take that!" ‘ 1;:

The man jerk his revolver up. to fire at,

   
 
 

    

  
   

  

 
 
 

  

net the second ‘ be?

i I "l ellupOu his arm ,
and the bullet was

it? the Weapon went 0

' Hidin'the ground. , 
' iii a groan of ain the man dropped,
i‘weapou‘an’d gra bed his‘arm, and ack
. . , loudly for help. I 3
f  seeing ‘who it was, ran to him'
' thne,_the_lion.,‘ _ *
if? M tm;-‘t¢3.xleapl aside.

’ arr >

   
   

  
    
 

     

.the clown. ‘
ea es.r; , . ' gar-d Who gave me those papers today.”
A The man turned upon him instantly, his.

’ irig'Jack, and did fire, but‘the‘ iron

 

tamer was plying his whip upon it with all
his might, bringing a spurt of blood at every
crack.

The lion turned; the blow; fell upon its
head and face, thick and fast, and it was
more than the king of beasts could stand.
With a wild scream it turned and dashed
away.

It had made its escape!

Instantly rose the cry that there was a lion
at large, and exaltement reigned supreme.

People in the great tent made a rush,
the side of the tent was torn down, and
in their mad haste they did as much harm
to themselves as a dozen lions would have
done, probably.

All was confusion and terror. ' _

The man who had attempted the life of
the clown tried to run away, now, but
Jumping-Jack sprung before him, swinging
his bar of iron with full intent.

“Don't you move,” he cried, “or I’ll
brain e like I would a mad -dog l”

” hat’s this?” asked the clOWn, running
u . .
p“ This man tried to kill you, that’s what,”
said Jack.

“ The little fool lies," cried the man. “ I
firedlfftt the lion.” 1 i b

" you did, on mate a mg t r
shot, that is all Iy can say," declare; 
” Your bullet came within six inches of
my head, that I’ll swear.” .

"Then it wasn’t my bullet, that’s all. I
was not the only one who fired. 1 had no
reason to shoot at you; why should I have?
This boy is crazy, and ought to be in a
madhouse.”--‘

“Maybe you'll say you didn’t try to kill
me, too," cried Jack. “ Mr. Bruce, it is just
as Hell ye, and you don’t want to let him

ct off." _ a

“ I‘ll take care that he don’t, my boy."
said Sam, and he laid hold upon the fellow.

The man made an effort to get off, but it
was useless. -' ‘

' Jack had partly disabled his right arm,
but then he would have been no match for
the clown, anyhow. _ . '

“It‘s a lie!” the fellow cried. “What
should I- want to kill you for? And as to
the boy, I'd scorn to think of doing such a
thing as to kill him.”

' “ Ha! a false beard!” cried Bruce.

“ Who is this fellow ‘2”

The speaker was Murray. v

His face was white, and his eyes were
flashin with passion. v

-‘ A allow who tried to kill me,” declared
" He was with that Mr. Tag-

“And did you let that lion out of his
cage, fcl10W‘?” r . .

“No, ldidu‘t.” , ‘ .

H ell. some one (lid, for the beast could
not ave got out otherwise. Five hundred
dollars for the man who opened that cage,
be he dead or alive!" 1

“Sam! Sam! Sam!”

Wildly rung out the cry, and the clown's,
 wife was seen running and seeking him,

calling as shown, and it could be seen that
she was in great distress of mind.-

Had the lion killed Baby Bess?
. ” This way! this way !” cried Sam.

The wife heard him and she ran toward

im. ‘ '
“My God!" shecame crying.
Baby Bess!" '

prisoner. escaped hisgras

‘ Murray, however, laidphands u on. Mar;

vern ' immediately and detained; h in, while

* the clpwn‘staggered tOWard his wife: :,
" Bruce had only one thought in; 'mind, the .-

. ion. r . V
 ,“Is she_dead?”gasped,8am.  ‘ ' ,- 
‘ ‘fNo, noishe has been  Ifdo‘r

l

not'know where she let". ‘ I
v “ Did the lion-e" 9 ' ‘

4

Ne    . r  

\

toner over to him, with an ct caution against: ,

‘i semi—~-
The crown reeled and almost fell, {and his.

know?” ”‘ . ‘>

.“Oome‘on, and we’ll ., a k him’t’i, no  7
.if he'is there.“ \y   n 
Tl, “1811.331?” 1’ v ..  ..

 

 1. " So much.  batten?  retina-3235mm. '7 
:for afew, minutes, or  I, am   ,

 

 
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
    
 
   
  
   
  
  
     
     

have been Hunter, in disguise. He 'took:
her and the horse just as she Came from the-
ring.”

“Great heavens! I could almost say, ‘
better far that it had been the lion. Mur~ ‘ '
ray, this explains it: it was Hunter who
let the lion out, and he did it for just this
purpose.” ' .

“Which is proof enough to clear me,” , I'-
spoke up Mulvern. .

“ Not by a heapin' sasser-full,"
lug-Jack. “ It be rins‘lo loom up in my eye. . ‘
now, that you an’ im was in cahoots n t is .. I 
deal, an’ you are as deep in the mud as he is. r ‘ 1-‘
in the mire!” . . ‘ ‘

“Boy, you have hit it!” exclaimed Sam .
Bruce. “ IIold him, Mr. Murray, if you
ever did men favor in your life. I must
make an effort to (ind in child, though God
only knows where lshal look for her. Nerve
yourself. Lucy, for this blow will kill you if *
you don’t.” ‘

cried J ump. ‘

———-——

CHAPTER XVI.
FARMER coor-nn’s SCHEME.

“ I'M with you," cried J umpiug-Jack, fol-
lowing the clown and his wife. “ 6 must;
find the Rose of the Ring, or bu‘st!” - ‘i

“ Hold on, boy! I want you!” shouted ~
Murray. “I want you to go and bring your ,
town constable here to take care of ,this fel~ .‘
low for me. Then I want to use you fur— ‘
ther. and that at once. ”

“Kerreckl” cried Jack. “I’m your jig-
ger. boss; you have only to say the. word.
and I’m up an’ doin .”

He was off like a shot, and evidently knew
where to go. , . ‘

Before the excitement had begun to sub- ..
side he was back again with the man he had ‘ 5
gcne to fetch. j = -

Instead of °ubsiding, though, the excite- *
ment was on the increase, for the reportthat. I
a lion had escaped from the menagerlev‘had
spread like wild-fire throughout the toWn. 1 ,.

During Jumping-Jack‘s absence the fellow a .- - ,. '2
Mulvern had tried in every way to induce . i. I ,‘ ' i";
Murra to release him.  a  ~ ' ”
He ad argued first his innocence; them.
finall had ofiered to buy off. . 1   -

Th only served tofasten 'theguilt upon ‘
him the more securel ; and when the, con-‘
stable was brought N urra turned the pris-

          
     
       
   
         
       
           
   
         
     
       
       
         
      
 
 

allowingr him to get atvay.

“ Don't you worry,” said Jack. ‘ “ Our
constable don‘t let,notbin' go by that comes.
his way, you bet!" .

“ Now, Jack, come with me!” the show-  ’ ,‘
man ordered. " I can do nothing here till the ' "
scare. is over? but. meantime, we’ll go and
gather up that man Taggard. If there is' .  - ,
pnything in what you have charged, he is in. ~ . -':_:

“ In it!” cried Jack. “ He’s in it clear up
to his ears. -You want me to show you,
where he is stoppin’?" .’ ' . V ‘ W ,-

“That is it, my boy’ _ , ,. l. 

“ Well, you won‘t find him there, for I’ll; . ' j ' 
bet he wasn't far away from here when the, " ‘
trouble commenced." I 4 .

“ I don’t agree wrth you,” ~

“ Dent ye? Why not?" _

.uBecalrse. I think .he wouldkeep (gray , .
en purpose improve an alibtin case any; n; _ ~ _ 
get found out." . .. .   w} _ ,.

uNBVBl.’ thought of that. Bet you beans _» ‘  W
to buttons that you are right, aftear an,  
you know where he is pumn’ up, pk  ‘
show rethe War there in no time. now;

 
        
   
       
        
    
  
   
  
       
  

"Ye" ibetold me." and Murraydnhmodi‘
the lace. ‘- ‘ ‘ I  “it.
“at know It  a. 

N “ 2:: J.  
IH'NOo :4. ,V _ 

s

     
 
 
  

‘Vti‘ . r
. r \

     

  

    
    
   

  

14,

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee. ‘

 

I’m somewhere where I'm needed, They
know they can trust Murray,l guess, by
this time. " ‘

They ran, and Murray found he had work
to do to keep pace with Jack.

When they reached the place their man
was found there, and at sight of Murray his
face showed that his heart quaked.

“What is wrong, sir?” he asked. “I
hear something about the escape of a lion.
Is there any truth in it?”

“ lt is true, sir,” said Murray. “There
has been another escape, too.”

“ Another? What else?” , ‘

“ Sam Bruce, whom you saw this morn-
ing. has escaped with his life.” .

The showman looked the othersquarely
in the eyes as he spoke, and he noted that
the man 'quailed before him. ’

“ What do you mean ‘2" the fellow gasped.

“ Just what I say. An attempt has been
made upon his life, and that man who came
here with you has been arrested for it. My
business here is to arrest you, for this same
offense."

“ Arrest me?" in greatest indignation.

“Just that. sir.”

“ But, by what right do you attempt to
arrest me? What do Iknow about what
some one else has done? Far be it from me
to try to put any man out of the way, least
of all Sam Bruce."

“ Well, you will have the chance to-prove
all that. I am going to take you prisoner,
on my own responsibility, and will turn

on over to the proper persons as soon as
it can be done. Come right along with me,
or I‘ll be‘ under the painful necessity of
fetching you in a way you won’t like.”
’ The man stormed and resisted, but all to
' no urp’ose; he had to go.

e was taken to the lock-up direct, where

the constable had just deposited the other.

Murray eu'tered charge against the man,
and he, too, was given a place in the
“cooler” until the proper time came for
him to prove and establish the innocence he
claimed.

No time was wasted there.

Still led by Jumping-Jack, who cleared
every fence at a jump without touching it,
Murray hurried back to! the show grounds
by a short cut. I

The crowd had melted away, and the
show people were beginning to collect them-
selves and bring order out of chaos. and
Murray was in demand, now, and was being
looked for. , ' -

, He took in the situation as ,a whole at a.
glance. and with a few directions here and
there, to foreman, order was restored and
the work of taking down and packing up
was begun in an orderly manner, yet the
men were cautious how they ventured into
dark corners.

' , The lion had not been found, as the pre-
‘cedin r words give proof.

Neither had Baby Bess.

By this time every man in the town, al-
most, who possessed a' gun or pistol, was
out with that weapon, and a general hunt
Ior'the-lioa was already getting under way.

When Murray had got matters in order
around the show, and was ready to give his
attention to the finding of Baby Bess, Sam
'Bruce and his wife appeared, the woman

leaning heavily upon her husband and Weep- .

in bitterly. She was overcome, and had
no ther strength nor courage left.
“ Murray, what am'I to do?” asked Bruce,
‘ huskily. ,
He was still in his ring costume, and we
‘ aconspicuous figure.- He was almostasmuch
overcome as his wife. , ‘ r
, . , .. “The first‘thin to do is to brace up, both
 of on," declar , Murray, not ‘at' all un‘
r .,  ly. “This is no time to give we to
 g-ggugtgpef. Your child is alive and we , no
u ' '

";-"ohi.aol on thinking). Mn'M rev '
"09m yr! think so. And we have

  

 

her, too, before twelve hours pass by. We’ll
miss our next engagement but what we'll
get the child.”

“ And'the lion?” .

“ The people will take care of the lion.”

Just then a voice was heard loudly inquir-
ing for Mr. Murray, “ the boss of the show."

“Right this way, sir," Murray called out.

A man came running forward.

It was Albert Cooper!

“ They tell me that the child has been
stole,” he said hurriedly.

“ It is the sad truth," answered Murray.
“ These parents are almost wild with grief.”

“ Yes. I know just how they must feel.
But, cheer 1p, for I am here to help in what-
ever way I 'in. I have got an idea for ye,
if you think kindly ‘on't."

“ Spit it out, uncle, for the love 0’ good-
ness!” cried J limping-Jack. '

“ What you want is Ned Taylor’s blood-
hound, an’ put him on track 0' the skunk,
an’ if he don’t run him down,'it will be fun-
n .14 .

“ The very thing!" cried Murray.

“ Yes, yes," eagerly urged the cloWn.
“ Where does he live? We must go for 'it
without waste of time.“

“Don’t get excited,” urged the farmer.
“I have sent for it, an’ it will be herein a
short time. What I, want to do is to take
this lady to stay with my wife.till the child
is found.” I

“Excellent!” assented Murray. “Made.
moiselle Lucie, you must go, and let us men
attend to this business.”

“ Yes, you must go,” decided Bruce.
“ You can do nothing here.” I

So; she was led off by the big-hearted far-
mer, and barely had she gone when a man
came up leading a bloodhound. It took but
a moment to learn that’he was the man the
farmer had mentioned.

But, would the plan work aright? Would
it be of any avail?

Let us see! i

9 CHAPTER XVII.
WHERE THE "man. LED THEM.

ABOUT this same time the so-called detec-
tive belonging to the circus put in his ap-
pearance. /

“That you, Murray?” he hastily asked.
“ I believe I have a clue, now, to the course
taken by the rascal who stole “the child, and
if it were only daylight—" '

" Never you mind daylight,” interrupted
the man with the dog, promptly.- ," Bowger
is as good at night as he is by daylight, an’
all he wants is a, track to foller an’ be will
get there every time.”

“ A bloodhound ?" ’

“ That’s what he is.” , 1

“Excellent! We’ll soon-be on track of
that s oundrel, now. But, before we get
down 0 business I want to report, Murray,
that the'other prisoneris missing and can’t
has found, and maybe he has had a hand in
t is. ” "

“ You mean that drunken hummer?”

it Yes.» V - ’

“ How could he get away?“

“He certainly could not, without help.
and he has had help.”

“ Then it must have. been Hunter.”

“And‘if that is the case the man will at—
tempt to guide him, and they will be found
together, somewhere; But... that is not all;
113 dave found a brokenchest in which some-

0_ y-—-” 
“ And that someli'ody' was me," chipped in
J umping-Jacku .“Never mind ’bout that
now; I’l tell ye all about it when the ’cite-
ment is over. I was tooken prisoner and
boxed upb Hunter and his pal.” ,

i “‘A d w 0 Was the pal?” asked the detec-
I've. ‘ » 1“ . .

“ That, man. Mulvern, what me ‘an' Mr.

bagged. But, no time to stop and

 

‘ Mirna I r
l Ch 11/ Grit now; Let's be doing» ‘,

 

l

 

“ That is the word,” agreed Murray.
“ What is your clue, Jones?"

“Two men were seen climbing the back
fence about the time the excitement broke
out here, and—" r

“ And you think Old Wit was one of
’em?" asked the man with the dog.

“ Yes, it is just possible that he was.”

“ 11nd you had him prisoner here?”

“ 'es.”

“ Then take me to the place where he was,
let Bowger git one smell ofhis track, an’ if he
was one of the. two we’ll soon be after ’em."

All recognized that they now had their
plan straight, and there was no loss of time
about putting it to the working.

The dog was taken to the place where Old
Wit had been tied and was given a chance to
get a knowledge of the scent, and as soon as

it was had the animal set off with nose to the -

ground.

The owner of the dog held the brute by a
chain. and followed where it led.

Out of the tent, around the side, then
screw to the fence, and to the post where
the 01d bummer had been left tied.

There was discovered the string that had
bound him, now cut, and while this was .not
readily understood it gave weight to the evi.
dence they had already that their theory was
the right one. 1

Over the fence and u p the street they went,
the man with the dog ahead, and J umpin -
Jack, Bruce, Murray and the others imme i-
ateiy after him, with at least a hundred men
and boys following upon their heels. It was
the most exciting chase ever known there.

Out of the street and into a lane, and
thenbe direct for the woods, and the man
with'the dog uttered an exclamation.

“ Ther durn fooll” he cried. “I'll bet I
know where he’s goin’ to. He never thought
0’ me and Bowger, or he Wouldn‘t ’a’ done
it. He’s made straight fer Looker’s old cabin
out on the wood road.”

At that moment the hound gave forth a
yfilp that Was startling. and‘ tugged at the
0 am.

“Boys. it’s growin’ hot!” explained Tay- 

lor. “ We’ll have ’em, now, if they are still
there, an’ if they take to the woods we’ve got
the means to track ’em. But, I be hanged

if I don’t think there's bigger game, by the

way Bowger is actin’. Hope weain’t goin’ to
tac lo the lion, b’mightyl”
These words sent a thrill to every heart.
On they pressed, silent but excited, and

all who were armed with guns had their“, ‘

weapons ready for instant use.

“There is but one thing I dread,” said
Bruce to Murray as they pressed forward
shoulder to boulder, “and that is, that the
rascal may kill my child rather than give her

11 .
,. p" He will hardly dare to do that, Sam: he‘

would know what the result would be. ,‘This
mob wouldlynch him, sure.” ' N.

“If he did not take his own life.” '

“ Well, don’t look at the gloomy side of
it, Bruce. I think it will come out all riglgf;
somehow I feel that it is going to do so. _ a
dog is certainly on the track of somebody or
something.”

“ I dread the lion.”

 “ Don’t think of it; time enough when we. "

face it."

But, the showman was speaking more en",

couragingly than he felt, a great deal, and ,

the clown was not deceived. .
They were as silent as possible, but there

was plenty of noise evensp, there being-so

many of them, and when they were once in

the woods they were ever on the alert lest  I
the lion should leap out uponthem lun-g

seen. a
“Yes, that's where he headed for,” said

Ta 'lor. '

him soon after.” I

“We on ht to have lights,” suggested

one fellow, n the van, 

\

“ He’s gone to Looker’s old cabin, , I.
an if we don’t find him there we’ll'overtake ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

J umping—J ack’s Jubilee. -

 

 

 

 

 
  

“Not till we need ’em,” said Taylor.

f‘lt won’t do no harm to get some knots

ready fer lightin' as ye come along, though.”

This was done, by some of the boys and
men who had no gun to carry.

So they pushed on and on. and at last
those who knew the road gave notice that
they were drawing near to the cabin.

As. they came near, the crying of a child
was heard, mingled with something that
sounded very like groans, and Sam “Bruce
made a dash to run on in advance. ,

. “ Keep backl keep back!” warned the

owner of the dog. “ I feel sure there’s big-

ger game than human here, the way Bowger
has been caperin’up, and you might run

‘into that lion's jaws,” ’

“But, my child, my child 1”

“She’s alive, as you kin hear.
now. Boys, make lights!”

They were almost to the cabin, and the
crying and the meaning could be heard
plainly.

_ “Bess?” cried out Sam Bruce.

‘ ' Bess?”

“Papal papal" was the glad cry in re-
sponse. “ I knew you would come to Bes-
sie,,I knew you would!” .

Sam made another dash, but Taylor forced
him back with an almost blow, at the same
time ordering:

“ Keep back, I tell ye; keep back fer yer
life! Don’t ye see the way Bowger is goin’
on? Yer child is safe, fer her voice comes

' from the loft, but I’ll bet that lion 'is in
possession below.”

“Then make haste!
haste!”

, “ The man is right," spoke up McHartley,
the brave lion-tamer, who was one of the
crowd. “It is all your life is worth to face
that lion if it should happen to be there.
We must wait a moment for lights, and then
at sight of the lion, if it is here, .et every
man fire at once.

v'“ You can’t. capture it, then‘L" asked
'Murray. '

“It, would never be safe, if we could,
:after this night’s wor ."

“That’s 0; you are right."

Meantime Bruce had called out to Baby
Bess, telling her not to venture down from
: where she was till he got there.

They. had lights, presently, and ineved
gorward, some of those who were armed
with rifles going in the lead with Taylor; In

‘ a few seconds they were before the cabin.

. 7 Several pine-knots were now ablaze, and
. therface of Baby Bess, white as death, could

 

Keep cooll

“ Baby

i

For God’s sake make

 

*- "window of the cabin-loft. . .
.-. j-' There came another moan from the instde
' ' I _.; of the cabin, below, and immediately a deep-
mouthed growl.
‘ “ The lion!" was the awed whisper. _
There was a thinning of the ranksdnstant-
7 1 . and even some of those armed wtth rifles
‘ .' id not stand their ground. '
.. Charlie MoHartley took one of too torches,
and holding it so that it blazed up brightly,
Iphurled itinto the cabin with force.
'7: 3 .The result was magical.
’ There was 21 Your calculated to make the
.."‘stoutest heart unke and out sprung the
: recouped “on. lmltugg just a second before
d glaring at the crowd; then
with another roar, it darted ofl into the
woods, and not a smgle shot Was fired at the

bee“ , ' t
‘ CHAPTER xvm.
CONFESSION AND CONCLUSION.

“.‘WHY the migchief didn't you shoot?"
cried Charlie McHartley. ,, _ ~_
 ’ The men looked foolish enough. Noe/a,
' than of them had thought about shooting.
‘ The si ht of such big game had taken all,“ of
“the _-.“ s not.” out of them. ” ‘ «. .
 “filliever .thogght about it, one fellow
‘5'de 0} V . 1 It

  

v

   
  

  

 

 
 

  

  

      
 
   

  

 
     

I

l

. promise.

' ibo' "seen framed in the narrow, sashless .

And that was the excuse, the only excuse
they had to offer; they had‘not thought
about it.

No sooner the lion out of the house, than
the clown had snatched a torch from the hand
of a boy near bird and sprung in to the rescue
of his child.

An exclamation was heard from him im-
mediately, but he did not stop in the room
below. lie made his way to the loft at
once.

Taylor and nearly all who had rifles went
on in pursuit of the lion, Charlie MclIartley
with them.

The rest surged forward into the cabin
without delay. , I

A terrible sight met their gaze.

On the floor lay the mangled body of Hunt-
er, and in a corner sat Old Wit, the bummer,
himself badly wounded.

"Fer goodness' sake save me!” he cried.
“ Don‘t let that beast git in here again, or
I'm done up. But, has it gone? Is it safe
now? I guess I’m done for, though, just
the same.”

“ Yes, you rascal, I guess you are, and it
serves you right,” cried Murray, with no
showing of pity in his tone.

Sam Bruce came down the ladder with his
child hugged to his breast.

“ Thank God, 1 have found her alive and
unharmed l" he said fervently.

Then for the first‘time he beheld the body
of Hunter. 110 had seen only Old Wit in the
corner, before.

“ Ha! I can feel no pity for him,’,’ he said.
“ The hand of Providence was in it that my
child should escape as she did. But, that
fellow—he shall tell what he knows!"

Murray had knelt to learn how badly the
man was hurt, v \

“ Yes, he must tell what he knows,” be de-
clared. “There is no hope for you, my
man. and if you expect any mercy in the Be-
yond, you had better make a clean breast of
everythir: g before you go over. We know
you hold a secret that concerns the lives of
some worthy persons in this town.”

" I’ll tell what I know on one condition.”

“’What’s that?” .

" That you’ll let me off, in case I git over
this. " ' '

Murray looked at Bruce. .
d“ 'ou can safely promise it,” he respond-
e . ‘ .

“ Yes, you can go free, if.you get over the
effect of your hurt,” 'the clown gave his
“ That is, so far as I am concern-
ed. ‘ I

“ But that don’t speak of Al. Cooper.”

“ No, it does not.” I

“ I must have his promise; too, or I won’t
speak.”

” Then haste must be made,” said Murray.
“ This is almost as good as his story, in, the
way of proof, but we must have the story, if

ossible.”

“ I’ll tell it. if Al. Cooper will promise,”
moaned the old wreck.

They set to work in haste, and improvised
two stretcher-s. on one of which tho'body of
Hunter was laid out, and on the other Old
Wit.

This having been done, willing hands took
them up and bore them back in the direction
of the town, where they/arrived in due sea:
sod, and where the body of Hunter was turn-
ed over to‘the proper authorities.

During this time Jumping-Jack was. not
idle, and, Murray now turned to “him-- and
bade him lead the way to the house to which
the farmer, Cooper, had taken the.mother.ot

Baby Bess. ~

Jack was to’the front immediately, and led
a considerable crowd of interested.

the way,
persons following,
the lace. .
' ere Mlle. 'Lucie was anxxously awaitin
news of her child, and when Sam cute
with“ Boss in his arms ‘she gave a cry of de-

and ere long they reached

 

: light and Caught the little one to herbreas't.

n

 

And, as soon as permitted, Mrs. Cooper
did the same. '

The old bummer was carried in. stretcher
and all, and laid down in the wide hallway.

Albert Cooper was told of the proposition
he had made, and all atremble be readily
agreed to it. He felt what was coming.

In fact, the way had been paved so
gradually and yet so well that the news
Could scarcely be a shock to them, and yet,
proof was needed to confirm what they sus-
pected. . ,

“Seems to me the promise ain’t no use
now,” muttered the bummer, “ fer.I reckon
I’m sent fer.” .

“ There's a bare chance that you may. get
well, though,” urged Bruce.

“If I thought it was all up with me, I
swear I’d never open my lips about it, never
in the world!" ,

He was encouraged, however, and, de-
luded with the hope that he might get well,
and so, for his own protection in case he did,
he proceeded with his story. Needless to
say he had an attentive audience.

“I own it now. Al. Cooper,"he'declared.
I'm the man what stole your kid, and' there
she is, now known as Mademoiselle Lucie.
Ye see, her name was never changcd—that
is to say, her first name, but I did give her
another last name, to ide her ’dentity.”

The mother and dau hter had sprung into
each other’s arms. -.

“ No wonder Baby Bess looks like I' used
to!” cried Lucy.

“And no wonder. my heart warmed to
you,” responded the mother.

“ Yes, it’s so,” confirmed Old Wit. “I
hated you, Al. Cooper, and _I wanted to get
even with Mary fer jiltin’ me; so I planned
to steal your baby. I was with Cook an’

Tucker's show, when it came here, seven- ,

teen years ago, an’ was known as Pep Tur-
ner. If you remember, itwasa few days ,
after the show was here that Lucy was miss-
in’. Well. I kem back an’ stole her, an’ we
spent the firstnight in that old cabin where
we went to-night.
tle by little, till we overtook the show, an’
there I told a reasonable story an’ she was
taken care of by Lucy Long. an’ when she
died I swore she was your mommy; Made»
moiselle Lucie.” » 7 .\ -

“Yes, yes, 1 know you' did; I never be-
lieved it fully.” .. ’

“And that’s the long an’ ‘short of it,”
avowed the rascal. “ Lucy took to ridin’ an’
soon made a name; but finally I got the
bounce out of the company an’ we drifted
apart, an’ fer years I never heard nothin’of
the gal. an’vcould hardly believe my eyes

when I seen her here to-day. That’s the '

stor , an' it’s God’s truth. I swear!”
Y

' Then I took her on, lit- .

It was a story that scarcely needed the

proving, and yet it was easily verified.

The old bummer died before the morning. i S

 

It was a joyful reunion, needless to say.
Mrs. Cooper and her daughter-weredrawn

together in warm affection, but to the former .

Baby Bess was more like the child she had
lost, and to the Rose of the Ring” her. warm-
est love went forth“ ‘ 1

As for the old farmer.lhe could scarcely
speak. but sat and wiped the tears of Ajo
from his eyes as fast as they blinded his v -
sion, and he was kept at work in that manner
pretty constantly. After so man years, the
void in his honest heart was fille at last.

Murray had found it necessary to wilP- u ~ 

draw, to attend to his duties; and the fami y

group was left in privacy, save fm- the prey“), ‘
ence of Jumping-Jack and the family 0911.; j, 

heuse; *  ‘   l
A hap y ho‘ur was spent.‘in whichit (vial;
almost orgotten that Sam“

in his clown’s attire. 

. Baby Bess was le-ft 
grand-parents, until theshow  
close. and the tints 

f .

, .

Brim   ~ ,

more: 

  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
    
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
    
   
  
  
  
   
      
    
      
        
 
      
          
       
         
     
    
    
        
 
   
   
       
 
   
         
  
    
    
    
    
    
      
    
     
 

 1'5  ‘

 

 

 

 

       
  
   

  

 

16

Sam Bruce and his wife felt bound to keep
their engagements to the end, but it was to
be their last season on the road. They had

_ . -.-._  
lemme ' -'

J umping-J ack’s Jubilee.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.
Deadwood Dick Novels.

1 Deadwood Dick. the Prince oi the Road.
20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Dangers.

BY COLONEL PBENTISS INGBAIIAM.
8fl9 New York Nat’s Dcndly Deal.
#388 Now York Nut’s (‘rook-(Thasc.
8?? New York Nat’s Trump Card.
8’“ New York Nut and the Grave Ghouls.

“w mm “"‘P‘e' “d “a ‘18“de ‘° W a il““‘.i“'°“‘i ili‘i. i"   m   an 
ea woo c n as e. .' ' " . '
and settle near .Wflrrelnton- . 42 "(.udwoad luck... "onruam gnu“: Phnnwm Mine... 858 Dick “loomzs ls‘iduappcr knock-out.
As for Jumpng Jack, he went With Mur- g? IDcogwood  ink Dalngcr; o’thlBsnr onirl ‘ Bu :3;  {3:33 'Il‘ftu'lzlfiufih
. ' ~ ' I - r ‘ l l . ' ‘ - , I
my, and at last  was  of the W m 3333-333; slits-n.  a: iii}: an: teats-gall:
' r ' ' ' l l '11 1.C d o ' . ‘ l ‘ r ‘ ' -
best tumblers and all around playels to be 13.3 "thigh ml“ 1-“ layman‘s: or u: , or e 1,: 3 In”: goon“. mm.” “mm “1‘, $1M“??? Nah “it
found in the sawdust arena. He could have :3: lac-given:  Dle'vi‘ce “not. Double CrossSizn. gm; wk ’33:: I‘ll: {ngfiggyn ‘ no nny u- --
' ' ea “'00 ' II 0 (‘0 \' . . ' v
hgfi “ home for 5‘“ “"10 w‘th Bum? bl“ he  “endlwuoul ling-IE... 'ililouhlehorf’l‘hc Gorznn'sGullch Ghost.   lr’mn‘ul'yutilléfinusl‘l‘dcg exam” mm in “cm
' - v r- . ~ ,iiluld Du. ' " ‘3 l -
stl had circus on the brain, he ( eclared, “9 "mum-33d “It”: “fglgtfltfitfigh min“: MGM. 8.... 1.“... Mom,“ new, “u...
8113 Dick Dooru's Diamond Dcal.

and could not give up such a chance.

As for the rascals, 'I‘aggard and Mulvern,
they were punished as they deserved, and so
would have been Bruce’s younger brother,
had he not killed himself to esca c

This younger brother had hire these two
men to come to America. and find and kill
Sam, in order that he, the ounger, might
come into the estate. And, it was a scheme

156 Deadwood
195 Deadwood
201 Deadwood
805 Deadwood

17 Deadwood

Dick oi' Dcadwoo I or, The Picked Purtv.
Dick's Dream; or, The Rivuls oi'tlle Road.
Dick’s “'ard; or,'l'hr liluck Hill’s .lt'lrlrel.
Dick’s Doom: or. Calamity Jane's Adventure.
Dick's Dcad Dcal.

221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant.

$39 Hold-Dust (-k. A Roulnnrs of Roung and Touxhl.

968 Deadwood Dick's Divide or, The Spirit of Swamp Luke.
.63 Deadwood Dick's Death ‘rail.

609 Deadwood Dick's Deal; or,’l‘heGnld Brick oiOreunn.
821 Deadwood Dick’s Doleui or, The Fakir ui‘Pllsntom Flats
.4? Deadwood Dick’s Ducats: or, Days in the Di Kinks.
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; on'l’no Terrible lssndutts.
362 Deadwood Dick's Claim.

405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City.

410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds.

819 Dick Doorn’s (ilri Mascot.

' -|ooln’s Shadow llunt.

' Doum’s Big llnul.

Dashan Charlie; or,’l‘he Kentucky Tchderi'oot’s First Trail.
756 Dallllllfl Charlie’s Destiny; or, The Renegsde‘s Captive.
Duo-hing (‘harlic‘s Pawnee l’ard.

766 Dashing (‘harlic, the Rescuer.

497 Back Taylor, King at the Cowboys.

73‘: Buck Taylor, the Comsnche’s (‘a tive.

Buck Tu ’lor's Boys: or. The Rt: Ridersorthe Rio Grande.
560 Pawnee ill, the Prairie Shadower.

Pawnee Biil; or. Curl, the Mad Cowboy.

Pawnee Bill’s Plcdfie; or,The Cowboy's Doom.
Pawnee Bill: ur, Dar rig Dick.

692 Bedt‘or-n’s Curious Case; ol,The Rivni Sharps.

 

 

' . . v . u . 697 Bellfcrn at Devil’s Ranch or The Sharp from Texas.
that might have succeeded had it not been 3:}, Ragga" };{:_§,tnl§f_f"l_g':r';_ggglnfimfimfimm’ zoo Bcdi'orn:s lllgh Aland; or, l“; Jacket.
for Jumping-Jack, 44a headwood luck "I, 0,. TM. Cmuwn Crawl“ S, n 70? lied fern s Last 1 roll: or, The Red Snmllrcro Rangers.
'1‘  . 44g lumdwmul luck. 3,. 9,. ileum“... I ' 6P3 Bod Ralph’s Ruse; nr,Thc thunwet Mloahi man.
he 10!) n as found by the men who had 45,, "m'wmm mph; Jr}; Fun "In-“L 674 Bu Balph’. “old flame; mm... Wizard nu...

gone on ill quest of it. on that memorable
night, and was killed before it could do any
further harm to any one. it was one of the
biggest and fiercest of its race that had ever
been taken captive, and its skin was made a

 

459 Dead wood
405 Deadwood
4?! Deadwood
4T6 Deadwood
481 Deadwood
491 Deadwood
496 Deadwood
500 Deadwood

Dick, Jr.’s, Bil: Bound-Up.
Dick, Jr.’s. Racket. at Claim 10.
Dick, .lr.'s. ('OI'I'III: or, linsenlsn Bill.
Dick, Jr.'s, Doc Detective.
Dick. Jr.. In Deadwood.
Dick, .lr.’s, Compact.
Dick. Jr.’s. Inheritance.
Dick, Jr.’s, le inns.

v

lialph. the shade“ er; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy.
644 Butterfly Billy's Disguise. I

650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider.

656 Butterfly Billy’s Man lunt.

662 Butterfly Billy's Bonanza.

565 Kent Kingdom or '1 in- Owls of the Overland.

570 Kent Kingdon’s éhadower; (mills (‘ard Queen.
575 Kent Kinndon’s Dncl; vr, Th.- Surgeon Scout.

586 Kent Kingdon's Doom or. The Buckskin AVenuor.

. 508 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s Dc 'crance. . '
Present to the owgflrEogbtlelf DIOOdhound.  Beufixom:  gr.;.’, 'Flrnte'ec.   Algrimxgmgxgs oi Burrutatill.
' we llglldwxgli nil-l3 .rllv'l' Dr'shekcdrllucka. 555 Lam... Cont‘cssiout on'rhecrwle Com-n-
594 Deadwood Dic " Jr 's’. Death llunt 520 Buckskin Bill, the (‘ornsncilr Shadow.
539 "emlwood "k.  Jr; m T ' 525 The Buckskin Brothers in Tcxas.

NEXT IIALF-DIME LIBRARY, No. 901!

DIAMOND DAVE,
THE GILT-EDGE SHOOTER;

on,
Daddy Grimes’ Deadly Grip.

 

 

 

 

exas.
Dlt‘ '. Jr» the Wild West Vidoeq
Dick, Jr., on Ills Mcttlc.

Dic , Jr., in Gotham.

Dick, Jr., In Boston.

1ch Jr., In Philadelphia.

ch ’, Jr., in Chicago.

In. Afloat.

.lr.. in Denver.

Jr.'s, Decree.

Jr., in Bcclzchub’s Basin.
Jim. at Concy islan. .
Jr.‘s. Lcndville Lay.

Jr., in Dctroit.

544 Deadwood
549 Dcadwuou
554 Deadwood
561 Deadwood
567 Deadwood
572 Deadwood
578 Deadwood ch '.
534 Deadwood Dic '
590 Deadwood Dic '.
595 Deadwood Dick
600 Deadwood Dick,
006 Deadwood Dic '
612 Deadwood Dic '

o

 

580 The Buckskin Bowers; or. Tin- Cowboy Pirates.
5815 The Buckskin Rovers: or. The Prairie Fugitive.
‘ho Buckskin Pards' ucstx or,Csptsin Ku-Kllx.

508 The Royal Middy ; or, T 10 Shark and tile Son Cat.
50? The Royal Mlddy‘s Luck ; or, The Hunted Midshime
511 The Royal Middy's Foc.

0 Wizard “'1”: or. The Buy Ferret or New York.
454 Wizard “‘ill’s Street Scouts.
474 “'izurd \Vlll’s l'ard or. Flora, the Flower Girl.
488 Winn-d “'ill‘s Lust 'ase: or,'i‘hc Ferrets Afloat.
429 Duncan Dare, v-lnl Boy Refuges.
488 Duncan Darc's Plot: or. A Cnbin Boy’s Luck.
487 Duncan Dnrc’s l'rizc; or. The Sea Raider.
441 Duncan Dare’s Fccrctt or. The Ocean Fireflv.

   '3'?" '1'... (1"! {filminunu’ 409 lsodor. the Younf Conspirotort of, Tim Fatal lame.
BY Will R EYBTER «so Deadwood Du. -, Jr.; in No Mun;- Land. ‘07 INN“ "9"“0 "ms" "’lT'W 3" Immuni-
' ' ' “36 "endwomi luck, I... Ar“... the “neer. 4-12 Isodor’s “‘ar-Cloud Cruise; or, be “ill “alumna.-
—-—- 640 Deadwood Dick. .rr.. n. Bnifaio. “g3 {3'0"  “firm” O'fi'ffi'gf'émo 5pm.
. . God 648 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Chase Acrossthe Continent “0" " 7 "9‘, 0" "' ’
A Stralgbt‘from the ghoumer 3 thing! 0154 Deadwood Die  Jr.,.l\monz the Smugglers.    l‘;“"g’:"  KPMKR’
Diamond Dave is adlamond of bright fellows—not  Benglvom: milk, ngl-hlniufnrmo (£70. a” “t” not ugh}: 1,0,1.“th 'M‘Th” “a; Hm".
011lya“zilt-edse shooter " with a record—a sport are ni-iiaiiiiiiil m2 .3 iii: l.“il...-.'in..°i or. 352:»...4 in." $2; mingfimg'tlgngignggyif pgThrlerm-er-
with fair fame—but something far more: £38   5:22:  onFounasFortune. 250 "M “one? “nun!” 0" “mm, m autumn
690 Deadwood Dic , Jr.’s. Dollars. 3:: “'1‘: fi°"3211':"‘arf Ida“ ‘
The Hero 01 a Big Racket! 695 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. at Danger Divide. “9" o" , w "n “"39 ' . ,,
00 Deadwood Dick. Jr.'s, Drop. 976 "ale u‘mu’,“ (Prune: 0"- lph"“‘31d,5hlp Chme-
that calls for the nerve and intelligence and integri- a"?     ggfifi'kfiffitém‘, :88: Bill: $7.325 Erlerhfgu'llmhqw. '
ty of the man lo.tie.to_ Fined by a Strange com. 7“; "eudwoml "wk, Jr...” gull "um. 19‘? The by! (-‘lovc Sport’; or. Little Grit, the mm Rider.
- - 798 Deadwood Dick, .lr.’s, Dominoes. “04 rh“ 1‘” 0'0“ 590"" ""0"" °" B‘m‘m’ Bi“- “‘9:
cuience against the ski led and dangerous Captain ms Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Disguise. ,3 “my Exprw will” I.» ‘ k
Curse the outlaw who never failed the young 7” "““““""’d "M" J"’“‘ “WM” "9“" :12le iiumd‘fii'x.‘ 1.331.»: lien-St” 0'
' ’ ’ 740 Dcudwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch. “78 n k u [k I, ”, Br” ' ‘
59”” . 741' Deadwood Dick, .lr.’s. lonhlct. “25 e" ‘ “l‘:_ 000’“: , (F "(30"
n 752 Deadwood Dick, .lr.‘s, lreulhblow. Marlow t ‘f hie 0:; Pl
093 and Dare. 80 Much! 75% Deadwood Dick, .lr.’s, desperate Strait. 781 Ruth “W3” ' t?" "'1‘ ““°"""
.1. g ‘ it: it”: are int-i mac :Iu-ul- ti? fil‘h’t‘i‘hfl'i..ff;i:.i:352:2...t
o ' ' ' cu wo c- r s e co . . ' ‘ -
that e at ry o lt all ls ‘mighty lively reading. So "6 Deadwood “M: J“... “mneouon. 602 The Vagabond Minoan-$1.. m k B
be sure that you are ‘ in it " yourself With the 7’80 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘si’  Days.  3&13mume  Engraver?" elem Izzglglng snnon
author who has never yet produced a romance that   film, '52)“ ‘nsufm. “0””. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The gnu... theitivo.
his audience didn‘t, cry “ Encore!" 707 Deadwood Dick, Jr’.s. Dcspcrutc Venture.) 495 Arizonflgo: g. Tite‘liily Pig'il ol‘Toxss sc .
602 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’fl, Diamond Dice. 487 Ne‘“‘“ c ' e ‘0 “" “"‘z" ’m ' q
30‘! Deadwood Dink, Juan, "oval It‘lth. 463 N‘optune Nod, the Boy Conster.or, rntc n . plie-
sls Deadwood Dick. .1r.’s. licdd-ofl'. 4“” ’1 he “"0" “or W under?“ °'- '“w "W" “"‘dv-
r - - all: Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Rival. 44“ "Ml-Mu"! llurr t 0r-1he 5" Sc“ mm-
B  s  l 32 neudwomr lurk, ,|r,l,., Boom. 898 The Rad Clitspc lluntlrs} _or.'lil.s 0y Lieutenant.
ea 8  l  323 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s. Scoop. 337 W” “u‘ “u”- ”“’ T'"“"' (“"d"'
834 "mulwuod "Mk, Jr‘s“, prox . 8188 The "dim. I'llotg cr,'l‘huSelirrh i'or‘l'irnto island.
8,“, "m".me In...“ Jr's” flute .   till? Boy l‘fitlivl'crltnor.'(l‘:he Hairless Schooner.
DY J 0- CDWDBIOK. R45 Dcudwood Dick Jr.’s Ill h llorsc. " "e' 4°" ° . o . 0 "m 0'
o 85% Deadwood Dick. Jr.. lit 1 ovil’s Gulch. 237 Lone Star. the COWbO.‘ CI W!!-

Broad way Billy Novels.

mil-i Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dcath-llole llustle.

229 Crimson Rate, the Girl rniler; or. The Cowboy's Triumph.

490 Broadway Billy, the iiootbiack Bravo. is . . - v 116 The Hossar Captain: or. The Hermit ofllcll Gute-

614 Broadway Billy's Boodl‘c; or, Clearing «Strange Case. 39::   3:...“  111 The Eco-Devil: or, The Midshipman": Legacy.

536 {roadway Billy's ‘ Ditiikilty." g7 "wwwmm lurk. J's“, new“. "uok. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Slnuuuler , or, The Cruise 9! the Vixen.
557 iroudwny Billy's Death Bucket. ' 7 The Boy Duelist; or,’l‘ha Cruise oi the Sell-Vi oil.

579 {roadway Billy‘s Surprise Party.
{roadway Billy; ur,'l'ln-Buy Detectlvu'sBizinninz.

882 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Silver Pocket.

62 The Shadow Shlpx or. The Rival lieutenants.
24 Diamond Dirk: or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone.

028 iroad way Billy’s Dead \cu or The L n is , ‘ , I A 17 Ru] Dr Boy. the Roy Buccallver‘ or.Tllo Fugitive Yacht.
609 iroudwuy Billy Abroad; or, This lloutllillflllinoil‘riosllgl.1 “Y W“ G PATTEV' 1 ThepFiylng Yankee; or, The, Ocean Outcast.
 "iron: way ill‘lllll.y's.lh-(siil; UT,Bt‘Ni.lug San Francisco's Finest.  :iillct Virtue: th‘a 'Vt'svei Sporigrgr,"]rhe JuhillceE: Jaeignwn.
roa way 3’ ll ' ovcr. ' n at one s ' c oryt or. e usperC ty can ut.
696 {roadway Billy In Texas; or, The Riva Rustlers. 693 Violet and Daisy. this PM Plrdll-    

[Hill’s Brand.
 [It Run!" F0; or, The Clever Deal.
Billy’s Full "and: or, The Gamln Detective.

708 trout] way
711 Broad wu y
720 irondway

 

705 Violet Vanc‘s Vow: or. T a Crafty Detectlvs's (Jr-sit.
7’34 Violet Vanc‘s Vengeance; nr,'i‘lle \Vipe-Out.
730 Violet: Vane’s Vcr lot: or, The Game at (‘uflin City.

891 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s Dead-Sure Game; or, Pistol
Polly chugnetviila. By if. 1.. “'hecicl'.

735 {roadway Billy's Business. 741 Violet Vane, tho Vcnlrlloillulst \‘illocq; or, S mrt vs. Sport. 892 Bowery Ben in Chinatown; or, sun Ling, the Eu:

738 lroudwuy Billy’s Coriolis Case. 750 Violet Vane, thc Vunquis ml. or. The Liie . mural». Side Sport. By Harold l’llg‘l'f‘. _

 great way B y in Dcnvcr.  YLolelthVuI-e’; Xisioui or, This liil'l')‘ llmnioi Film Rock 898 1;“:de o‘x’s Elv‘vch-Fntukgs: or. Me Boss Counter-
rom wu in ’u Bur M. m 1‘}, Time new“ ’ ‘ o amon port: or," e .quhI-o raw. or . r rs cum-u . y un unulng.

769 {ram “'11; Hi 3, the Raga-vi: behalf». “7 519 Ca tlln Myster gonFive in One. 894 Arizona D].- ’s “ trio-tint: «r, Dare Devil Dave’s Death-

775 “'0!” way Bi y's Shadow Chane, 581 Do I) "are the port from Denver. Tug. y J. C. andm‘ . ‘ _

796 Eroa. way BI y’s Beagles; or, The Trlo'. Quiz“, 587 Did Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 895 Fit ll Avenue 1' red, the \alet Detectlve; or, A Corner in

780 ! out way In y's Team; or, The Combinu'l Bin Full. 604 Iron Fern, the Man at Fire: or, Among the Vultures. RUIN—s- By Jo Pierce. ‘ v .

79” ‘ mulle Billy’s Bl'lzudet or. The Dead Alive. 619 The Bo '1 ram Do. ctivcl or. The Double GripWitueu 896 New York Not in (gold hug ct Camp; or, Tim Wild

Tittifiroad way Bil y’s Queer Bequest. 541 Dillmlll ave's [Dani]? Par-d: or,1‘he Clue to Capt.Cl“y All-Around Sport. liy ( m. P. inuru mm." ,

300 irow wny Iii y it ell.  {finial Boy Fromm: eYoung Amateur Detectlve 8971Dnvy Doon’s Big Bounce: Ur. hickel hell. tho Boy

1 u
trout way Bil ’s RI 1 S .
810 iroud way ll y “a 000’

 

 

Vulcan. the Lone-Range Rider,
714 Did Misery the Man from Missouri.

Spotmr’s Mascot. By T. C. Hnrhnugll.

898 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Double ill-lye; 0., The Rival.

y’s w pe Dut. . ‘ ,
8115 r6... ' ’ . 77415 -G it (‘ th N ' -5 '-Dl D ' . Mn’or {H rum-rabble. By Edward L. \‘llut‘iel‘.
sol rota. 3-3; :4: limit “Mk” no thisthShgrida‘rlg,theoSec::§exice seaflth 899 Ballerlr‘entnlicrt. the Boy Cobbler Detective. By Jo Pierce-
826 Broad way 806 Cowboy Rtevo the Ranch Mascot. 900 Jumping Jack’s Jubilee; 01', The Cite“ Queen’s

y Aaron .1 Th
y’s muff m” ""

 

888 r...“ way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

820 N ohhy Not, the Tonderi‘oot Detective.

 

 

Shadnwer.

B J. r. owdric . ‘
901 Diamond ‘Il'avc, the Gilt-Edge Shootor; or. Daddy:

339 Ir (l ‘ ' 886 ills Hi: It .’ D bl D
344 :22. 33; ly’: Ili"rll.'i°'é'.' 85': said e; mi. lh'Ne'iJ' Yark‘fnl‘ Grime” Dewy “"P-2 “Y W'“- 3' Elm"
 33- way  Ry:- fitfittl‘iodo Snap. 866 llpotter Bob’s Bowery Bucket. A New Issue Every Tuesdnyv
I ‘V .
salt v.3. wig: Bi 3: in Lilla :I'I‘Fh" BOOM-ck Stowaway. The Half-Dino Library is for sale by all Wis...
sum roar way In y 5 “do,” Lollan 81'... BY ODLDN EL DELL!) SARA. "person. or suit by Inin on W oi silo-sis sash.
:74 BIOS“ Way g y’s French Game. :08 The Lion ofthe Eco; or, Th. i'llileri Lady. Em“ All) Anna. "5".“
W8)! I I and tho Bonfir- hrowers. 86 Cool Desmond; or. The Glmhle‘l”! Biz Guru. 98 William ltroct. New York.‘
\I .
1‘ A
1‘ . .
.fii a r' . a l I ‘
a v 11  . / I l . A i ‘