CHAPTER XV
ANDY JOINS THE SHOW
The breath seemed clear knocked out of Andy's body. The shock of theblow from the stake deprived him of consciousness.
Andy opened his eyes in about two minutes. He found himself lying on theground, half-a-dozen circus employees gathered around him.
"Help me up," said Andy in a confused way. "I mustn't miss giving Midgehis medicine."
"Eh--the clown's boy?" spoke one of the men sharply.
"Oh," said Andy, regaining his senses more completely, "have I been herelong?"
"About two minutes."
"Then Midge is all right--oh, dear!"
Andy, trying to arise, gasped and tottered weakly. The man who hadaddressed him seemed to be a sort of boss of the others. He held Andyfirmly as he said:
"Belong with Billy Blow? All right, we'll take you to his tent. But,say--what did those fellows knock you out for?"
"Did you see the fellows?" inquired Andy.
"I was way over near the big bunk top. I heard some one holler, saw yourunning. Two fellows were after you. One let drive that stake. It tookyou between the shoulders like a cannon ball. An ugly throw, and awicked one. Wonder it didn't fetch you for good."
"One of the fellows was a boy named Jim Tapp," said Andy.
"That rascal, eh?" spoke the man. "Thought he'd quit us. Was going to.Borrowed all he could, and salary tied up on an attachment."
"The other was a man named Murdock. He's the fellow who cut the trapezeon Benares Brothers last night."
"What!" cried the man, with a jump. "Hey, men--you hear that? Go forboth! Get them! They're wanted for these crooked jobs."
Those addressed started on a chase, pursuant to directions of theirleader who had seen Murdock and Tapp run away as he came up to theprostrate Andy.
The man himself helped Andy to the clown's tent. Their entrance arousedBilly Blow, who sprang up quickly as he noticed that Andy walked in apained, disabled fashion. He was quite another man for his long,refreshing sleep.
"Why, what's the matter?" he asked.
Andy's companion explained. The clown expressed his sympathy andindignation in the same breath. He urged that the show detectives bearoused at once.
"I heard Harding say last night he'd spend a thousand dollars, but he'dget Daley and Murdock behind the bars for attempted murder," declaredthe clown.
The man who had assisted Andy went away saying he would consult with Mr.Giles Harding, the owner of the circus, at once.
"You see, Murdock ventured here to find out how his wicked plotsucceeded, never suspecting that he was found out," theorized the clown."That fellow, Tapp, was always his crony. They're a bad lot, you canguess that from the stake they threw at you. No bones broken? Good!Hurts? I'll soon fix that. Strip, now."
"All right."
The clown had felt all over Andy's back as the latter sat down on thebench. Now he made Andy take off his coat and shirt. Then he produced abig bottle from his wicker trunk.
"Ever hear of the Nine Oils?" he asked, as he poured a lot of black,greasy stuff out of the bottle into the palm of his hand.
"No," said Andy.
"This is it," explained the clown, beginning to rub Andy's backvigorously. "You've got quite a bruise, and I suppose it pains. Just laydown. When I get through, if the Nine Oils don't fix you up, I'll giveyou nine dollars."
The clown rubbed Andy good and hard. Then he made him lie down on thebig mattress. The Nine Oils had a magical effect. Andy's pain andsoreness were soon soothed. He fell into a doze, and woke up to observethat Marco was in the tent conversing with the clown.
"Hi, Wildwood," hailed Andy's friend. "Having quite a time of it, aren'tyou?"
Andy got up as good as ever. His back smarted slightly--that was theonly reminder he had of Murdock's savage assault.
Billy Blow had been telling Marco about Andy's latest mishap. Marco wasgreatly worked up over it. He said the attempted trick on old Benares'spartner had become noised about, and if the two plotters were arrestedand brought anywhere near the circus, they stood a good showof lynching.
"I'll step down with you to the hotel about ten o'clock, Wildwood," saidMarco. "Miss Starr has some word for you."
Andy simply said "Thank you," but his hopes rose tremendously. Heaccompanied Marco to the big eating tent and at the man's invitation hadbreakfast. The food was good and everything was scrupulously clean.
Marco got a big tin tray, and he and Andy carried a double breakfast toBilly Blow's tent.
The clown had got rested up and was bright and chipper, for little Midgeseemed on the mend, and was as lively as a cricket. The little fellowate a hearty meal, and then expressed a wish for an airing. Marcoborrowed one of the wagons used by some performing goats, and Andy rodeMidge around the grounds for half-an-hour.
At about eight o'clock Andy went to the principal street of the town. Hebought himself a new shirt and a cap. Going back to the clown's tent hewashed up, and made himself generally tidy and presentable for thecoming interview at the Empire Hotel.
Andy had a full hour to spare before the time set for that eventarrived. He took a stroll about the circus grounds, meeting jolly oldHans Snitzellbaum, and Benares and his partner, Thacher.
His part taken in the impromptu arenic performance of the eveningprevious had become generally known. Andy was pointed out to thewatchmen and others, and no one hindered him going about as he chose.
Andy viewed another phase of show detail now. It was the picturesquepart, the family side of circus daily life.
He saw women busy at fancy work or sewing, their children playing withthe ring ponies or petting the cake-walking horse.
Some of the men were mending their clothes, others were washing outcollars and handkerchiefs. What element of home life there was in thecircus experience Andy witnessed in his brief stroll.
He was on time to the minute at the Empire Hotel. A bell-boy showed himup to the ladies' parlor on the second floor.
Miss Stella Starr was listening to some members of the circus minstrelshow trying over some new airs on the piano.
The moment she saw him she came forward with hand extended and a welcomesmile on her kindly face.
She made Andy feel at home at once. She insisted on hearing all thedetails of his experience since the evening he had saved her fromdisaster during the wind storm.
"I think now just as I thought night before last, Andy," she saidfinally. "You do not owe much of duty to that aunt of yours. I think Iwould fight pretty hard to get away, in your place, with the reformschool staring me in the face. Well, Andy, I have spoken toMr. Harding."
"Can--can I join?" asked Andy, with a good deal of anxiety.
"Yes, Andy. I had a long talk with him about you, and--here he is now."
A brisk-moving, keen-faced man of about fifty entered the parlor justthen.
"Mr. Harding, this is the boy, Andy Wildwood, I told you about," saidMiss Starr.
"Oh, indeed?" observed the showman, looking Andy all over with oneswift, comprehensive glance. "They tell me you can do stunts,young man?"
"Oh, a little--on the bar and tumbling," said Andy.
"Well, I suppose you don't expect to star it for awhile," said Harding."You must begin at the bottom, you know."
"I want to, sir."
"Very good. I will give you a card to the manager. He will make youuseful in a general way until we have our two days' rest at Tipton, I'lllook you up then, and see if you've got any ring stuff in you."
Andy took the card tendered by the showman after the latter had writtena few words on it in pencil.
Andy made his best bow to Miss Starr. He was delighted and fluttered. Heshowed it so much that the showman was pleased out of the common.
"Come back a minute," he called out. "My boy," he continued, placing afriendly hand on Andy's shoulder, "you have made a good start with us inthat Benares matter. Keep on the right side always, and you willsucceed. Never swear, quarrel or gamble. Assist our patrons, and beci
vil and obliging on all occasions. The circus is a grand centre offraternal good will, properly managed, and the right circus stands forhealth, happiness, virtue and vigor. Its motto should be courage,ambition and energy, governed by honest purpose and tempered byhumanity. I don't want to lecture, but I am giving you the benefit ofwhat has cost me twenty years experience and a good many thousandsof dollars."
"Thank you, sir, I shall not forget what you have told me," said Andy.
For all that, Andy's mind was for the present full only of the pomp andglitter of his new calling. One supreme thought made his heart bubbleover with joy:
At last he had reached the goal of his fondest wishes. Andy Wildwood had"joined the circus."
Andy the Acrobat Page 15