Leo found that the specialty company numbered fifteen people. The
performers were, for the most part, of very ordinary ability. There were
several song and dance men, a number of musicians who drew tunes out of
a variety of articles, several lady vocalists, a comical fat man and a
magician.
The magician was a young fellow, hardly older than Leo. His name was
Carl Ross, and he had such a smiling face and gentlemanly manner that
Leo took to him instantly.
"We want a good all-around gymnast and tumbler," said Carl Ross. "As it
is the show is lop-sided--too much singing and dancing."
Leo was asked to give an exhibition of what he could do, and readily
complied, performing at first on the floor of the stage and then on a
bar let down from the flies.
"Very good!" said Nathan Wampole, highly pleased, and Carl Ross also
smiled his approval.
At the conclusion of the show that evening Leo decided to join the
company, and from that moment on he and Carl Ross became warm friends.
From Cokeville the company proceeded to Lumbertown and then to
Wimblerun. For the time being Leo lost track of the circus and devoted
himself entirely to his new position. His acts on the stage were well
received, yet Carl Ross remained, as heretofore, the star of the
combination.
"I wish I could do tricks," said Leo, as he watched the young magician
at practice. "But I don't believe I could learn."
"You could learn as easily as I could learn to act on the trapeze,"
laughed Carl. "If I tried that I would get dizzy and fall sure."
"Every one to his own line," concluded Leo. "I can go up any distance
into the air and not be afraid."
"Up in a balloon?"
"Yes, even up in a balloon," and Leo told of his adventures along that
line.
For several weeks matters ran smoothly, but then they took a turn. Leo
found out that Nathan Wampole loved dearly to play cards, and every
dollar the manager could raise was staked and lost at the gaming-table.
For two weeks he could not get a cent of salary.
"I don't like this," he said to Carl Ross, when the pair talked the
matter over.
"I don't like it myself, Leo. But what can we do about it?"
"That is what I would like to know. I am half-inclined to go on a
strike."
"I doubt if he has any money. Business was poor last week on account of
the rain. I imagine we are lucky to get our traveling expenses and board
bills paid."
"You don't know if the board bills really are paid," was the suggestive
response. "I haven't seen Wampole pay Mrs. Gerston a cent."
"Well, if he doesn't pay we'll have trouble; that's a foregone
conclusion," said Carl. "He ought--Here he comes now, and two strange
men with him."
Carl broke off short as Nathan Wampole entered the dressing-room of the
little country theater at which the company had been performing for the
past two nights.
"I've got to have my money, and that's all there is to it," one of the
men was saying. "You agreed to pay for the theater after the first
performance, and you haven't paid a cent."
"I will pay to-morrow," replied the owner of the organization uneasily.
He was naturally a closefisted man, and bad business had made him more
miserly than ever.
"That don't go. You pay this afternoon or this theater will be dark
to-night."
A long war of words followed, and it soon transpired that the second
stranger was a constable, brought to enter an attachment on the scenery
and other things, should Nathan Wampole fail to come to terms.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said the proprietor finally. "I'll pay you
twenty dollars on account, and the other fifty as soon as the money is
taken in at the box-office to-night."
He held out the twenty dollars temptingly as he spoke, and the landlord
took it with but little hesitation.
"Come on, Yentley," he said to the constable. "Remember, I'll be on hand
for the balance," he called to Nathan Wampole and departed.
Nathan Wampole growled something under his breath, and was about to pass
on to the empty stage, when Carl and Leo stopped him.
"Well, what do you fellows want?" he demanded angrily. "Be quick, for
Lanning is sick, and I've got to get up an act to fill in his time."
"We want to know about our pay, Mr. Wampole," said Carl.
"Your pay? As if I didn't have enough to worry me with all this bad
weather!"
"But we must have some money," pleaded Leo. "I've been promising to buy
myself a new suit, and----"
"I can't help it. I can't give you any now!" snapped Nathan Wampole.
"Then I can't go on any more."
"Neither can I," added Carl quietly.
"What! Do you mean to say you'll leave me in the lurch?" howled Nathan
Wampole.
"We want our money, that's all."
"You shall have it." Nathan Wampole paused for a minute. "I'll pay you
both twenty-five dollars on account to-morrow morning."
"If you'll do that I'll be satisfied," said Leo.
"So will I," added Carl Boss.
"Good!" said Nathan Wampole; but as he turned away a cunning smile
crossed his wrinkled features.
It needed but an hour to the time for the performance for the evening to
begin, and soon after Carl and Leo separated to fit themselves out for
their separate "turns," as specialty performers call their performances.
Carl Ross was an orphan, having lost both of his parents six years
before in a terrible railroad disaster in the West.
Carl's father had in his time been a juggler and magician, and it was
but natural that the son should take up the same calling.
When left an orphan Carl had been placed under the care of a well-known
conjuror, who had taught the youth many of the finest stage tricks ever
performed. A number of these wonderful tricks will be mentioned and
explained as our story progresses.
After the conjuror had had Carl under his care for four years the man
had been called to Germany. He had left the youth with Nathan Wampole,
who had agreed to give him a good position in his traveling company.
It did not take Carl and Leo long to shed their street costume and don
their stage dress. This done they began to practice several new "turns"
for the stage.
Outside of the small theater a "barker" was collecting quite a
good-sized crowd.
"Walk up, ladies and gentlemen! The show is just about to begin. Nowhere
on the face of the earth can you get so much for your money as right
here! Remember, it costs you but half or quarter of a dollar to see our
great company of sixty high-priced and talented artists! Walk up and get
your tickets without delay!"
The barker succeeded in getting several scores of people to enter the
building. Nathan Wampole was in the box-office, taking the money for the
tickets. He smiled as the cash came in.
"The more the better," he muttered to himself. "Won't somebody be
knocked out when they learn the truth!"