TARBOX AND THE CONSTABLE GO TO THE CIRCUS.
"I think I'll go in and bid my wife good-by," said the constable,
ruefully.
"What's the need of that?" asked Tarbox, impatiently.
"We don't know what may happen," said Spriggins, solemnly. "I'm ready
to do my duty by the gover'ment; but it's a risky business, arrestin' a
giant."
"Oh, well, be quick about it. I don't believe Mrs. Spriggins will mind."
This remark did not seem to encourage or soothe the constable, but he
made no remark. He went into the house, and Mrs. Spriggins followed him
when he came out.
"Nathan Tarbox," she said, "you're real mean to get my husband into
trouble."
"How have I got him into trouble," demanded Tarbox doggedly.
"You want to get him into a fight with a giant. He ain't fit to wrestle
with any one, bein' in poor health, least of all a giant."
"Ain't he a officer of the law? That's what I want to know," said
Tarbox.
"Why, yes."
"Then let him do his duty. I've put a warrant into his hands, and
Squire Price and I expect him to execute it."
"Suppose he's killed?" suggested Mrs. Spriggins.
Her husband looked nervous at the possibility hinted at, but Tarbox was
inexorable.
"Then you can be proud of his dyin' while doin' his duty. Come,
constable, I've no time to waste. Come along!"
"You're real mean!" ejaculated Mrs. Spriggins, tearfully.
Tarbox deigned no answer, but strode out of the yard, followed by the
reluctant constable.
Few words were said, but when they were half way to the circus grounds
a bright idea struck Spriggins.
"I say, Mr. Tarbox," he said, eagerly, "can't we compromise this thing?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"You might authorize me to say to the giant in a friendly kind of way
that your feelin's are hurt, that it's probably all a misunderstandin',
and propose to make up."
"Spriggins, are you a fool? Do you think I'm goin' to compromise after
I've been shaken almost to pieces and my dog has been kicked to death?"
"He might agree to buy you a new dog, if it was properly set before
him."
"A new dog wouldn't make up for Bruiser. He scared all the children in
the neighborhood. I shan't see his like again. What I want is—revenge!"
"Why don't you lay for him then yourself, and not drag me into it?"
"Spriggins, I believe you're a coward—you're afraid of this Enoch."
"Who wouldn't be afraid of a man eight or nine feet high?"
"I ain't afraid of him," said Tarbox, stoutly. "I'll stand by you;
we'll face him together."
Seeing that there was no disposition to yield on the part of his
client, if I may so designate Mr. Tarbox, the constable continued on
his way, grasping the warrant in uneasy fingers.
It was some distance to the circus grounds, but the way seemed all
too short for Constable Spriggins, who felt like a man approaching an
enemy's battery.
At length they came in sight of the circus grounds. Around the big tent
were congregated a crowd of men and boys, and a stream of people was
already marching up to the box office to buy tickets, while hitched to
trees and posts were carriages and wagons of all descriptions which had
been employed to convey intending spectators from the town round about.
Nothing draws like a circus in the country, or perhaps we may add in
the city also.
"There's goin' to be a crowd," remarked the constable.
"Yes; fools and their money are soon parted. I never went to a circus
in all my life. It's all foolery."
"I went once when I was a boy, and I liked it. I little thought under
what circumstances I should make my second visit," said Spriggins,
ruefully.
"Circuses are wicked, in my opinion," said Tarbox. "I'd close 'em all
up if I could; we'll do what we can to stop this."
By this time they had got into the crowd at the entrance.
Instead of going up to the ticket office to purchase tickets they
passed on, and reached the doorway where stood a man to receive tickets.
"Where's your tickets?" demanded he of Spriggins and his companion.
Mr. Spriggins turned to Tarbox expecting him to explain.
"We don't need no tickets," said he in an impressive manner. "This man
is an officer of the law."
"No deadheads—no free list," said the ticket-taker shortly. "Stand
aside!"
"You don't understand me," said Tarbox. "This is Constable Spriggins,
and he demands admission in the name of the United States and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
"The United States don't own this show, nor yet the State of
Massachusetts. Stand aside and let those who have tickets enter."
"It's no use," said the constable, rather relieved. "They won't let us
in."
"This officer wants to make an arrest in your building," said Tarbox,
trying again.
"Can't help it! He can't get in without a ticket."
"You see how 'tis," said Spriggins, cheerfully. "We can't get in."
"Force your way in!" said Tarbox, indignantly. "You've got the law on
your side."
This the constable positively refused to do.
"Then buy a ticket and go in. The State will pay you back."
"I've no call to do it, and I don't believe I'd get my money back."
"You refuse to do your duty, do you?"
"No I don't. I've tried, and I can't. You know how it is yourself."
Mr. Tarbox was nonplussed. He didn't like to give up his cherished
scheme of vengeance, yet how was he to carry it out?
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said; "I'll buy you a ticket, and
trust to the State to pay me."
"You can't collect it of me," said the constable, "even if the State
don't pay you. You can buy me a ticket if you want to."
But Tarbox was seized with a sudden suspicion. Spriggins might go
in and see the show at his expense, and leave his duty unperformed.
There was nothing to do but to go in with him, and that would involve
the purchase of two tickets, and the expenditure of an entire dollar,
which Tarbox, who was a close man, could not think of without mentally
groaning. Nevertheless, his soul thirsted for revenge, and it was clear
that revenge could not be had without expense.
"Spriggins," he said, "I'll buy two tickets, and we'll go in together."
The constable would have preferred to go in alone. He wanted to see the
show, and if he had been unaccompanied he could have done so without
any troublesome duties disturbing his enjoyment.
"Jest as you say," he answered, a little nervously.
Mr. Tarbox joined the line, and gradually worked his way to the ticket
office.
"A couple of tickets," he said, handing a dollar bill to the ticket
agent.
Two tickets were immediately passed to him, and he and the constable
entered the tent.
Opposed as he was to the circus, Tarbox could not forbear looking about
him with considerable curiosity. They were not yet in the main room,
but were in an outer lobby where were ranged the cages of animals. Mr.
Tarbox started as an African lion, whose cage he was passing, roared,
and he regarded with some apprehension the gratings of the cage.
"It's rather resky," he said. "Suppose the lions or tigers should break
out."
The constable trembled at the suggestion, but still seemed interested
in looking about him.
"Come, Mr. Tarbox," he said, "let's go and look at the elephants."
"Do you think I came here to see elephants?" he said, sternly.
"Constable, I call upon you to do your duty."
"How can I?" asked the constable; "I don't see the giant."
One of the canvas men happened to be passing, and Mr. Tarbox, rightly
concluding that he was connected with the show, asked, "Where's Enoch?"
"Enoch!" repeated the canvas man, staring; "I guess you're off. I don't
know any Enoch."
"I mean the Norwegian giant."
"Oh!" said the attendant, smiling. "You just follow round to the left,
and you'll see him. He's sittin' next to the fat lady."
"Constable," said Mr. Tarbox, grasping his companion by the arm, "we
are on the scent. Come along, and we'll see what the villain has to say
to the law."