SHORT STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12760, 10 January 1905, Page 3

SHORT STORY.

AX OUT-HACK TABLEAU. The big (bought, played havoc with P»avu?;ley s Combined Circus and Dramatic Show. lie animals experienced hard times when travelling from Jbmrke to Narangee. Waggon and ling' horses may pick, up a. little feed when travelling an mifreijiteii.ted stock route, but the performing wolf and lion, must, have meal. A clown may go unpaid lor weeks, the ringmaster .suffer acutely I rom b"r-r-lliir>t. yet iu the hot Austiaiiau noon if is not good (hat a caged I igcr .should call for Half a sheep in vain. Even a. bear becomes unsociable and impolite if his rations are interfered villi. When times were bad P.nrnslev was in.! particular about, paying for his animals' food. If a sheep strayed near a. wire fence bo wa.s not the man to let, if- slay there long—in '.act. be had a. mania, for shoe;) that wandered near a, fence, especially if his hall-grown tiger .showed signs of impatience or bis performing dogs fell oyer each other when food was being soived to the men iu the waggons. Probably a. circus is the hungriest filing that can pass over a. drought-stricken land, for it demands its grass and water, its hoof and money. If a. circus proprietor cannot pay his way his creditors have a, doubtful remedy in. seizing a bear or a, wolf 'as part payment. Erom a financial standpoint the most disastrous member of liarnsiey's company was Jimmy Pierrot, Ihe elmvn. It- was said that I ho had never raised a. laugh among the audience. There was a- tremendous sorrow in his voice, a tragic mourn fulness which kept his hearers in a state of stiff-backed uneasiness. No one ever smiled at his jokes. People felt, sony for him. Fortunately for himself he was married to ihe slav lady of the company, and llarnsley was not eager to hint- tho lady's feelings by dismissing Pierrot oil account of his imliffevenf, jokes. ' Barnsloy's show had left Sydney full of hope and with only a, small overdraft at- its bankers. After leaving Bat-hurst the show did only moderate business. Barnsloy grow depressed, ami as the small towns had a knack of distributing themselves over magnilicent distances, the travelling expenses threatened to cat up 1 he tiger and lion within a month. A largo hollow .square was observed in the ccnire of the "house'' each night. Pmrnsley became irritable, ami sacked (he professor who looked after the performing dogs. At Neveitire they encountered a "ghost,'' night that brought only tilteen shillings to (lie exchequer.- • Jiamsley sold two of his blood louses to a. local squatter and dismissed Ihe man who played the comet and "dusted - ' the animals. Then llarnsley began to gird at the rej maining members of the company. He told them politely that they ought to become, attached to a. funeral or a- waxworks. Tho down, with a. sad face, said that if a waxwork's went to P.ourke it would melt. llarnsley regarded Jimmy Pierrot savagely. "You are the causa* of the frost. Why don't, you joke? Why don't you veil at, the audience? You're a Jonah. If I'd engaged a -class man instead of you I'd have scored full houses all along the line.'' . "I'm sick of the business." answered the clown: "sick of being hooted at. It isn't- a clown you want; it's a- performing bear or a pig that can tell your age. Ain't 1 grafted night after night—tried "em with new jokes and old jokes, and they don't want my jukes. They want- rain—see? II hiv,* your show!" "Look out for yourself to-night." said Parnsloy, .shaking his . linger. ."They're threatening to throw rabbits at you. If they start that game we'll have to send yea on in a birdcage." That night it, large crowd filled the lentil- was a, silent. ominous crowd, shearers, cattlemen, and hovers filled the orchestrastalls, and each man carried an ominouslooking bundle under his coat. 15.1-riisley stroked his chin reflectively. Ho foresaw I rouble. 11 is bush experience taught Itini that when a show filled under such melancholy circumstances disaster was at, hand. He- had heard of shows being wrecked in the hackhloeks by disappointed natrons, and he saw by the look in the call lemon's eyes that if would require judgment and discretion lo save his property and his face all along lie line. I tarns-ley's posters depicted thrilling scenes fi • >iii the life of Xed Kelly and Capl. Starlight, which, owing to the smallness of bis company, be was unable to produce. Hut liarnsley hoped for the best, and counted I lie piled-lip shillings with great fortitude; hoping lor the best was the keynote of his philosophy. A red-boarded man entered Ihe lent, carrying a villainous-looking bag. lie pushed his way into the centre of the crowd, and addressed if in a loud voice; " Cood eveniu', byes," he said. Theie was a. lonely look in his eyes as though he had noon gazing at, bad shows and dead sheep for ages. "Byes," lie repeated, "good, ovenin'." At eight o'clock a curtain wriggled across ii it elevated platform, revealing an Australian camp-lire, scene, with gullies and gum frees painted ill the background. A florid gentleman in satin slmrt--lie bore a. striking ivevmblaiiee lo llurasky—sang nine ver.-es about " The I locking Horse that. Stole the Slimmer Clip."' The audi, listened coldly. A sudden draught of air blew the paper moon across Ihe gully in!:-' the orchestra: the redbearded man nicked it up and passed if over the footlights with maiked politeness, lie tinned to Ihe cloud and folded his .urns as if to conceal something he was holding under his coat. "Jives, ve all know me. Oi'ni KatTetly that- .sfhnick the roof off a lliravellin' displusaiy. Oi'm llallerfy that- sewed buttons nil the- com dochter's cheek, bavin' him v.'idouf a, shellher savin' three testimonials an' some bunion est bract. Look ui. hero, byes, I >i'm here to dale wut- Ihe circus-mail this noiglil. I" "'.Ear] 'ear. Pall'!" A large hand waved encouragingly from (he stalls. Hall'erty nodded and ii is chest heaved. At that moment', llarnsley appeared in pin pie lights, i-nrying a. huge club in his tight hand. " Ceni lemon." be began, severely. " volt have mistaken this palace of 1 elino,nor.i. for a dog-show. If I lie perron, with the voice and the decayed vegetables tinder hi--, coat will slop up heie 1 will endeavour to smooth him over-, I will return him to yon. within 50 seconds." llarnsley waved the club convincingly and with science. I'alYei ly passed his baud over his bulging coat and drew himself up legally. " Ciretrsman. this enloight en-ad avsinibly has bton I hr,injur; d under mist ipri.-otilai ions. 'Twas ptinted Ihai- your clown wud make a cat Jail'. Bring i.,,1 your clown, circus man, an' make me lal'f." il.trnr'.oy paced the stage in deep abstraction. (entpered remarks bail become savagely critical. The crowd ro;-enied the show as an imposition. They wanted to see Xed Kelly lighting against- great odds ; they yearned to see his immortal saucepan. ''Turn on the clown!" shouted a man from llinrrke. " We'll make him laugh." "The clown:" thundered Ilatfcrly. "'Tis years since 1 hilled." llarnsley advanced to the footlights. " ( lent Semen, 1 must appeal to your sympathies. My star is out. My jnincipal lady deserted me at Cobar, and mm vied the fat man belonging to another show. Tliev aro now on their miserable way ten Melbourne. Mr. .'immy Pierrot and bis charming wife ate at jiresent., suffering a berea.ve.nieiit, and I am left to face Hie music. Xapnlenn crossed the Alps and got .Moscowed, Jiai'iislev came to Hourke ami got euchred. Cent lemon," ho repealed, pathetically, " I'm fairly euchred." A favourable ircmoiir passed through the crowd, "Co op. with yor speech," said a slieaior, sullenly. " Spit if out.'' "I "ill if that long-bodied Hibernian will keep his dead vegetables under his coat." liarnsloy crossed the stage and shook his linger at IhdYeriy. "tiring out the down; I'll ravson no more, wut you I'll be made lo bail'." .Ka(forty rolled forward, with fhoiiir of a vandal; he glared at, the stage front as though about to teni if asunder, "living out the clown."' llarnsley letreated to the wings. A whisper followed, then a jam tin struck him on file, month. lit* held up his hand protest,ingly; blood 1 ricklcd over bis lingers. Someone said, "(live him a. chance, boys." liarnsley retreated to the. painted backscene which screened the large house-wag-gon behind. i "Bring out the clown!'' llniiuleml Ral- | l'ei'ty. °

"Bainsley reached forward suddenly and snatched aside. the calico RC'eno ami disclosed to the view the interior. A girl half-dollied in spangled gossamer was crouching (in a, truckle* bed. hi Iter ourstretched amis lay I lie. figure of a. lifeless child. fn a. corner of the waggon sal Jimmy Pierrot. 1110 clown, sullen-lipped and brooding The scarred lines under his whitened cheeks might, have been the furrows of tears. Shells wero scattered about, (he. waggon' floor; me silken-toga, of better days i.liaped the woodwoik. There was a, gilt-topped enchanter's wand and a broken mandolin. The girl dancer moved uneasily, (he " S'h, s'h, s'h" of the crowd made her look tip. Someone had extinguished the tent, lamps, and she craned forward uiiiil her car caught, lie sound of labouring local lis. "Oh!" She leaped aside with the linv figure locked in her arm.-'. Then, limne,,! against, the daiknr-s beyond the footlights', she saw the figure of llati'erty with ids right, hand uplifted. " You coward!" She flung herself sobbing upon, the lied. .Uanisley whipped hack the cm Ia in and fared the crowd. "< ieutleiueii, you've seen the down and his little wife. They're hot young, llieyTo only nippers. and they're lacing i heir first, bit of trouble. The same thing might have happened to me or you.'' lie paused to wipe the, blood from his lips. "Sav the. word, gentlemen, and I'll semi them both on to do their tutus. Say the word." Within two minutes the show was empty. It was known soon alter that:. Ilafteriy fought nine rounds with Constable llogan at. the hack of the Shearers' Arms. 1 lafi'ei'ty had to fight someone, and llogmi. on or off duty, looked upon, lighting as one (.-t Lis peupiisites. Next, day .jimmy Pierrot and his little | wife were billed for a. benelit. It was New J Year's Eve. and the house was packed—men. paid a. shilling extra, for the privilege- of standing oil each other's feet. Italic] ty was observed in a. far comer with meat on his eye. After I ho performance Harnsley withdrew to the hotise-waggo'ii, accompanied by Mr. and Airs. Pierrot lie. handed the little lady a, bottle of wine. " We'll knock the funny business out of our programme in future," he said. < hceri'tllly. "(ileal, Scott! That big doll of yours knot Iced 'em off their feet. They mistook it. for a, dead baby. And the chumps never inquired about (lie funeral. I'ass the bottle, Jimmy. A happy New Year, my hoy !" Two days later B.irnsiey's show moved along the" line. A. drover passing with a, mob of cattle, heard Mrs. Pierrot, singing in tho waggon.—Albert Dorringtoii, m the Sunday Times.