After this adventure the river was soon crossed, and an hour later Leo
and Carl found themselves installed at another hotel but a short
distance from the mansion at which they were to perform.
While they were taking a stroll through the village, Carl's eyes were
suddenly arrested by a huge poster stuck on the side of a barn.
"Look, Leo, what do you think of that?" he cried.
The poster referred to ran as follows:
Wampole's Trans-Continental
Specialty Company.
Reorganized!
Better and Brighter than Ever!
See Leo, the Wonderful Clown and Gymnast!
Don't Miss Carl Ross,
The Greatest Juggler and Magician
The World Has Ever Produced!
30--Other Artists--30!
At Pelham's Hall To-night!
Admission 15 and 25 Cents.
"If that ain't cheeky!" burst out Leo. "What right has he to advertise
us when we are no longer with him?"
"That is what I would like to know," returned Carl.
"We ought to stop him."
"We certainly can," said the young juggler. "He hasn't any more right to
use our names than the president's."
"What shall we do?"
"I wonder where we can find him?"
"Most likely at Pelham's Hall, wherever that is."
The two made inquiries and soon located the hall, which was situated
over the general store.
Going upstairs, they met a tough-looking individual coming down.
It was Bill Gormley, one of the Wampole Company.
He was put down on the bills as Ricardo, the Great German Impersonator.
He could do one or two things fairly well, but the majority of his acts
were decidedly poor. More than that, he was a heavy drinker, and had on
several occasions appeared on the stage when he could hardly stand.
"Hullo, Ross!" he called out. "Hullo, Dunbar! so you've decided to
rejoin, eh?"
"Hardly," replied Carl. "Where is Wampole?"
"Back of the stage. But you ain't going to join us, you say?"
"We are not," answered Leo.
"You had better. We are going to make a big thing of the show now."
"Wampole was always going to do that," laughed Carl.
They passed up the dingy stairs and into the hall. Nathan Wampole stood
on the empty stairs rehearsing a boy of twelve in a funny dialect part.
"That ain't right!" he roared. "Do it this way! You ain't worth your
salt! Come now, or I'll crack you with this club!"
"Wampole!" called out the young gymnast.
"Leo! And you, too, Carl! Delighted to see you!" Nathan Wampole's face
took on a smile, and the boy was forgotten. "So you thought you would
join us again. I was on the point of sending for you."
"We are not going to join, and we want to know by what right you are
advertising us," said Carl firmly.
Nathan Wampole's face instantly took on an ugly look.
"Not going to join eh?" he muttered.
"No."
"And we demand that you take our names from your bills," added Leo.
"What! Not much!"
"Then we'll compel you."
Nathan Wampole's face grew white.
"You will not. On the other hand, I'll compel you to perform in my
company. I have your signatures, remember."
"That old contract doesn't count--you broke it yourself," returned Carl.
"It was never broken." Nathan Wampole smiled maliciously. "I've been to
a lawyer and he says you must perform with me."
"The lawyer that said that is a fool," cried Leo.
"No, he's not--he's a smart man. You will perform with me and nowhere
else. If you don't----"
"If we don't?" queried Carl.
"If you don't I'll have you arrested."
"You can't do that."
"Yes, I can."
"On what charge, pray?" asked Leo.
"On a charge of breaking up my former company and running off with some
of my things," replied Nathan Wampole, triumphantly. "I've got witnesses
to prove that you two fellows are thieves."
Scarcely had he uttered the words when both Leo and Carl leaped forward.
Two quick blows landed Nathan Wampole flat on his back.
"You contemptible cur!" cried Carl.
"Take that for calling us thieves!" added the young gymnast.
"Whow!" spluttered Nathan Wampole as he struggled to rise. "Wha--what do
you mean by attacking me in this fashion?" he howled.
"What do you mean by insulting us?" said Carl sternly.
"I--I told the tru----"
"Stop or we'll give you another dose," ejaculated Leo. "Now let us come
to an understanding, Nathan Wampole. You broke your agreement with us,
and that ended our engagement. As to the things we took, we can prove
our property. Your talk doesn't go."
This plain talk had its effect on Nathan Wampole. He was naturally a
coward, and he at once began to cringe.
"Well, I--perhaps I was mistaken, gentlemen, but--ah--really, you ought
to join our company. It will be the chance of a lifetime, and----"
"We won't waste words with you," said Carl. "But understand, our names
come off your bills. If they don't, we'll tear the bills down and have
you up in court for false pretense. We are done with you."
Thus speaking, Carl left, followed by Leo. Walking down the street they
tore their names from every bill to be found.
Nathan Wampole followed and expostulated, but in vain. He had to rebill
the town, and this time took good care that their names did not appear.
Wampole never bothered either of them again.
At the proper time Leo and Carl made their appearance at the mansion
where they were to perform. The partners had a new trick which they
called "Samson's Strength."
"Any one can have the strength of a Samson if he so desires," said Carl
on coming forward. "Please to look at these dumbbells."
He produced a pair of iron dumbbells each weighing about ten pounds.
"Now, if you will observe, I handle these dumbbells with ease." He gave
them a flourish. "Over they go--high in the air--around and around--easy
enough, is it not? Bang!"
Down went the dumbbells on a large, flat stool he had provided.
"Will the strongest man present pick them up?"
A tall, well-formed man came forward and caught hold of one of the
dumbbells.
He thought he could lift it with ease.
He was sadly mistaken.
In vain he tugged at the dumbbell. It refused to budge.
"You have fastened it down in some way," he said.
"Fastened it? Nonsense!" cried Carl, and leaning forward he picked up
the dumbbell with only his forefinger and his thumb.
"Try the other dumbbell," he said.
The man did so, and found it equally hard to raise.
"Why, a little girl can pick them up," said Carl, and he motioned for a
young miss of twelve to come forward. "I will strengthen your arms," he
added, and made several mysterious signs over her wrists.
The little girl took hold of the dumbbells. Sure enough, she raised them
without trouble.
This trick was a grand success, and the audience wondered how it was
accomplished.
The explanation was simple. Under the stool Carl had a powerful magnet
connected with the electric current which served the mansion with
lights. By applying this magnet to the dumbbells the attraction was so
strong they could not be moved. Leo controlled the current from below
the floor, and certain movements which Carl made with his foot told the
young gymnast when to turn the attractive force off or on.