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Just then a newcomer bundled up the steps unceremoniously, a red-faced, fussy old fellow. "Mail's in," he announced. "Give me the O.K." Scripps fumbled in a drawer of his desk and brought out a rubber stamp and pad. "Mind your eye, Rip," he observed, casting a scrutinizing look over the intruder. "Which eye?" demanded the old fellow. "The one that sees a bottle and glass the quickest."
Andy saw that he was pleased the way things were going. For all that, he observed that Mr. Scripps kept his eye pretty closely on a rough crowd occupying seats near the entrance. They seemed to be of a general group. They talked loudly and passed all kinds of comments on the various acts. Finally one of their number shied a carrot into the ring, striking the elephant trainer.
"H'm!" grumbled Ripley, or "Rip Van Winkle," as he was familiarly known by the show people. "My eyes are all right. Don't fret. I've been twenty years with this here show, man and boy " "Yes, yes, we know all about that," interrupted Scripps. "You're seasoned, right enough. Don't leave the rig to come home without a driver, though, and money letters aboard, as you did last week.
A rebel bullet went through his head just as he said, 'March! Now, Lieut. Scripps is in command o' Co. C, and he's got a penny-whistle voice that I can't git used to." "Lieut. Scripps's a mighty good man. He'll take Co. C as far as Capt. Scudder would." "I know that Scripps's all right. No discount on him. But it don't seem natural, that's all.
Now they put the clause in the contract holding the circus harmless in such matters. Where it's a minor, they insist further that parent or guardian also sign off all claims." "But I have neither," said Andy. "Miss Lavinia is only a half-aunt." "Well, Miss Starr explained just how matters stood to Mr. Scripps. He hasn't got time to quibble over your aunt.
"Business, Wildwood," he spoke, briskly tapping the papers in his hand. "I wanted to get you fixed right, and started right in to get a contract from Mr. Scripps." "Is that it?" asked Andy. "Yes, and favorable in every way your end of it, and the circus end is all right. But there's another end. That is it. I reckon you'd better get the gist of the trouble by reading it over."
"See here," said the clown, as he hurried off to join the parade. "Tell Scripps that you bunk with me. Any objection?" "I should say not." "You're welcome. The general crowd they'd put you with is a bit too rough for a raw recruit. Just stand what they give you till we reach Tipton. You've got friends enough to pull you up into the performers' rank. We'll fix you out there."
This comprised the active capital of the show. Not a trace of the whereabouts of the mean thief had been discovered. All these facts were known to the performers, and over the same they were brooding that dismal rainy afternoon, awaiting the coming of the manager. "Here he is," spoke an eager voice, and Mr. Scripps bustled into the tent.
The kind-hearted equestrienne smiled brightly. "Take care of the others first, Mr. Scripps," she said. "While I have these, we won't exactly starve." Miss Stella Starr shook the glittering diamond pendants in her pretty pink ears. "Thank you," bowed the manager, choking up a trifle. "Andy Wildwood?" "I'm a mere speck in the show," said Andy, "but I'll stick if there isn't a cent of salary.
There was not a dissent to his proposition as he completed calling the list of performers. Andy's action shamed some into coming into the arrangements. The manager's words encouraged others. While some few answered grudgingly, the compact was made unanimous. "There's a crowd of hard roughs trying to make trouble," concluded Mr. Scripps. "Leave that to the tent men.
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