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‘ vance agent.
‘I-IA,1?PY‘DAY‘s.
"What!" he cried. "You discharge me
on such hearsay evidence?"
“Yes. Your name shall be struck off the
bills."
Harley then lost his temper. Ilc hurled
curses at Murray, at the circus and all the
rcupe.
Then he left the hotel.’
It was lucky that he did.
The story had spread, and public senti-
ment was against him. Texas people have
it strange way of hanging a man nnd try-
ing him afterward. - ,
Teddy did not leave Houston for three
days. The troupe went on without him.
But big Hiram I’-I-:ll stayed with him and
nursed him carefully.
However, in.three days Teddy was com-
pletely himself again. Then they boarded
n train andpvertook the show.
It was holding forth at a place called
White coulee. It was a sizable town. and
.tbe first -time a circus had ever stopped
there.
It was right in the heart of R cowboy sec-
tion. ‘Mr. Murray had been half undecided
Whether to take the place in or not
But lt‘was represented that there was a
great back country. .
"The boys want to see a show," said the
r.v:4.yor of the place. “They’ll come in od
’ the ranges by the thousand."
How is it going to be?" asked the ad-
“Some of these cowboys have
’ queer fancies. They might take a-notion
to try to shoot the spots out of the clown,
and the spangles off some oi the acrobats.
I 1' ow they may only mean play, but it is
in; to me and my people."
“I'll arzswer for that. -I have my police
force, and I'll keep order."
‘ Finally the Murrays consented to show
at White Coulee, after hearing. from the
advance agent. -- , .
But a day before the tents went ,up.a.
dnrk-featured man in cowboy dress rode
over the range trails. . '
At every convenient place he posted the
following: , I ‘ -
' “FAIR WARNING!
“The Murray Brothers‘ Big Circus offers
a. reward for any greasy cowboy who at-
tempts to chew tobacco during the per-
.formance. Greasers sit With the ladies, for
, they are polite; but cowboys can take the
back seats. -Per order 0 '
I v “.In: and l.ox’l‘uIt’n'.:.xv."
A nrcbrazid thrownlnto prairie grussrin
September, could not raise the amount-of
conllsgration that this bombastic procla-
mation did. 7 r .
The cowboys said nothing. They never
did; but there was a tremendous- drain on
the tobacco reserve and the cartridge de-
Dots. " , .'
All this was unknown to the Murravs.
They never dreamedof the state of affairs.
If they did it is safe to say that the big
show would never’have opened its canvas
V doors at White Coulee.
, And who was the vicious person who had
circulated this indammatory proclamation?
No other than the revengeful Harley.
Indeed,.it'seemed as be was to win
his revenge in ample fashion. A more
Viicndish scheme could not have been
evolved. . ' ‘ '4
He knew that the lawless gang from the
. ranges, thus provoked, would not hesitate
‘to shoot the -tent full of holes, terrify the
clrcuslnerformers, and wreck the show
it was just what he wanted.‘ He then
rode into White Coulee, and waited for the
un. . ’
The show came in in due time, and the
tents were raised. -
All the morning cavalcades of horsemen
came in from the dusty plains. .The bars
were wide open. and doing a rushing busi-
ness for the thirsty visitors. s ’
I-‘inz-.!ly‘the hour for the show to begin
arrived. No more orderly crowd could be
asked for than the vast concourse of rang-
ers who filed in and took their seats under
the great canvas; - '
But it was explosive material, and needed
only a sport: for an eruption.
:
' CHAPTER VII.
-rm: nror.
Into the tent filed the Texans by the
thousand. There were a few women, many
half-breeds, and some greasers.
But the majority were cowboys and range
men. -
White Coulee had never before seen such
a concourse. he mayor of the place
rubbed his hands and said to Mr. Murray:
“Now what do you think? Dido‘: it pay
to come to llfhitc Coulee?" .
"Yes," replied Mr. Murray, fearfully. “It
will be all right if your peoplo don't take
it notion to shoot the tent full of holes."
“Don ye believe t The boys can play
ther gentlemen when they want to."
“Well, I hope there will be no trouble.”
“Pshaw! Of course there won't. Give us
a good show, and that will be all that will
be rcqzzired." ,
S for as present appearances went, a
more orderly crowd never entered a circus
-tent.
All
was strict decorum while the ma
played popular airs, and the peanut and
pink lemonade venders did a thriving busi-
ness; but it was only the calm before the
storm.
It lacked but a few minutes of time to
start the nrst act, when Josh Grcen burst
into‘ the dressing-room. .
hlr. Murray and Tina stood at one side
conversing with Teddy. ‘The latter was the
first to catch sight of the canvasman. He
saw that he was greatly excited.
“Wb-ar‘s lllr. Ilfuri-ay?”, called out Josh.
Then seeing the circus magnate he made a
rush toward him, crying: ,
“Oh, Mr. Murray, they're goin‘ ter smash
the show. .I’ve got it straight. Tbar’s
‘six hundred cowboys armed to the teeth,
an’ its all the work of that cuss Harley."
These words fell upon the hearing of all
with startling force. But Teddy's presence
of mind saved the day.. . ‘
"Hush. ‘Don‘t shout like that, Green,"
he 5: “Keep cool. Como aside here and
tell us what you know.‘ ,
Green complied, and told his story. It
was a startling one, and to the cdcct that
Ilarley had incited the cowboys by means
of the fraudulent notices posted on eveiv
range in the vicinity.
“An’ l,tell ye, they're up ter mischief,"
Ccclarcrl Green. “They've got things iixed
ter make it hot fer us.", -
Mr. Murray was very pale, but calm.
Teddy looked at Tina, and his eyes blazed.
‘‘It is a cowardly bit of work," he cried.
“But that, llarley is capable of just such
tin.’ He ought to ung. I-lis mean
gnu. may cause bloodshed.”
"No, no!" said ;‘.ir. Murray,’ with a shiver.
“That must be averted at any cost.','
Josh Green had all the details of Har-
ley's work. lie had obtained them from a
cowboy who had seen tbe.’villain posting
the offensive notices. v
“Thar’s only one thing ye can do," he
sold, "an‘ that is to pacify them.”
“Parity them!" cried Mr. Murray. “That
is right.‘ That is our only hope. But will
it work? We can at least tr '
With the circus proprietor to think was
0 act. I ..
He did not wait even to consult with his
brother. , >
lie walked into the ring and mounted a
arrel. He faced the audience, For an in-
stnnt there was a bush.
’ Then Mr. Murray shouted: , .
"I am going to speak to the cowboys and
rangers who are present.” ’ > ..
There was"a storm of bisses and cat-
calls. ‘Thou tobacco began to iiy. Every
cowboy had A cheekful, and they began to
spit the nasty juice all over the seats, and
even into the ring. - ‘ , - , .'
But Mr. Murray went on.
"Nogdoubt you all think you have a
grievance against this circus. I want to
tell you that you are mistaken. You have
seen some notices posted on the ranges and
perhaps you think they were placed there
by the proprietor of this circus. nut that
is not so. It is the cowardly work or a
villain who hopes to make trouble for us.
That is the whole truth of it. The name
of this villain is Jack Harley.“ '
Mr. Murray's words fell ‘upon listening
ears. At first they seemed to make some
sort of an impression. Then a bulking
Texan arose, and yelled: .
“Bar out ther cowboys, will yer’! .No
terbacker allowed! Well, we'll give ya all
thcr music ye want afore we git through,
You bet.” I
With which the fellow drew his pistol
and began shooting. One of the bullets cut
:1. hole in Mr. Murray’: coat. -
Then pandemor-iuxn followed.
The air was filled with a deafening din.
Indian war-whoops, frenzied yells were
blended with the report of pistols, The
tent presently lookcd like a sieve. ' '
The mayor of White Coulee now appeared
on the scene, and tried to address the
throng, but a. couple of bullets through his
hat caused him to beat a. retreat.
There was no clear way out or the dim-
eulty. Resistance was not to be thought
of. - , ,
The cowboys were too well organized for
that. All that could be done was to let
them run their limit. The circus people
‘were powerless. , ' ,
It was not the iirst time the show had
been mobbed. In certain other lawless
parts of the country the Murrays had met
with a hard experience.
But the cowboys were armed and read!’
to take human life on the slightest provo-
cotlon. So it can be imagined tbat‘ltlr.
Murray deemed the ‘affair the worst lie had
ever met with. ' '
For a little while the lawless gang con-
tented tbcmsclvcs with shooting holes in
the tent and squirting tobacco Juice, but
soon some of the more lawless begun to
take other liberties. ‘ '
In the dressing-roorn the circus troupe
were in a state of fearful excitement. The
lady who walked the high wire showed the
eccentricity of her nerve by fainting.
Tina. was perhaps the plucklest one in
the lot. She was alarmed only for her
father.’ Her eyes dashed, and she stamped
her tiny feet. '
“The rowdies,".she cried. “Something
should be done to check them. There are
no brave men in this company." '
Teddy’: checks burned. lle
dashed a quick glance at her.
“I am only one against six hundred.” he
said, quietly; "but if they were to harm
you I would give my life in your defence."
' Tina. gave a start, and her face dushed
crimson. Iler gaze fell. She said no more.
But it was destined that Teddy should
have a chance to display his courage in
good order, too. 7
The most desperate spirits among the
cowboys bad ventured to leap into the ring.
Then a cry arose:
“Let's see what's in the dressing-room!
We might as well have some fun!"
If :1 more of the rollicking despera-
does leaped the ropes and rushed into the
dressing-room. This capped the climax.
Teddy could stand it no longer. He
caught up a. tent stake and cried.
“Come, if we've got to fight, let us ilght
to the death. The first cowardly bound to
come another step will pay for it."
llc swung the tent stake over his head,
and planted himself in the path of the on-
coming cowboys. -
One of these had caught sightpf Tina
and cried-
See the scncrital I've got to
have a kiss from the pretty one?"
lie made a lurch forward. Teddy's stake
came down on his cranium. He went down
like It log.
This act turned the attention of tho cow-
boys upon Teddy. For a moment they were
utterly astounded.
The strip 53 before them claimed their
attention. Teddy Iascd them,-wlaite and
determined. -
“The next coward of you to advance will
pay the same penalty,“ be declared.
Pistols leaped from belts, and a moment
incl;-e Teddy might have been riddled with
u ets. -
CHAPTER. VIII. -4
A zrrnv‘ 1-‘on.
There was a. lcur‘. whistle, n. shrill call,
and then into the dressing tent bounded a
man of remarkable appearance.
lie was dressed in a buckskin suit, and
wore a wide-brimmed hat. Ills face was a
remarkable one.
It was wildly handsome, and his whole
manner was dashing and chivalrlc. lie
was like a figure out of a novel.
But be sprang before the advancing cow-
boys, and put up his and.
“Back, you cowards!" he shouted. “What
-are you doing here? By whose permission
are you molesting these people?"
The cowboys halted, and for a moment
were at a loss what to do or say. Then the
dashing fellow laughed, .
And that laugh was a strange and blood-
curdling one. It wont echoing through the
canvas recesses of the great tent, and .cd
all who heard it uitb strange wood: and
man)’ with fear. '
The cowboys st wed their guns In their
belts. All lawlessness was suspended. To-
bacco throwing and careless shooting was
abandons .
The newcomer seamed posscssed of the
power to quell the riot. That one man
should he possessed of such power seemed
odd, but there was lrreoson for it which
the show people afterward learned.‘
Among the lawless spirits of the wild
Wcst there is always sure to be cne who
holds n terrorizing influence. lie is known
as the “bad man" of the region.
And dashing Pete Galvin, or Pcco: Pcte,
as he was called, was one of these types.
He had the reputation of being absolutely
without fear. - ’ .
His record of men killed by his unerring
nlm approached a score. He was a “bad
man" in every sense of the word. V
Yet it was known that Pecos Pete, cut-
throat. dead-shot. highwoyman, road-agent
and thief, was possessed of a curious scnse
of honor which be blended strangely with
his vices.
He was the recognized chief of n secret
gang, whose deeds had given thcm'n name
of dread and terror which was widespread.
No man among the cowboys and rnnchrnen
dared to cross Pecos Pete.
For this reason the cowboys were held
in abeynnce. The blood-curdling laugh oi’
Pecos Pete had struck a chill to their souls.
And the daring bighwayman, looking
about him, saw that his power was felt,
and liepsmiled with grim satisfaction. Then
be folded his arms and fixed his gaze on
Big John Legro, one of the ringleaders of
the cowboys.
“What air ye stopping the show
ed. “I came up byar to see it.
“Well," said Big John, humbly, "ye see,
the circus company advertised all over the
hull country that cowboys an‘ tobacco
warn‘t lit to hev in the tent, and they were
warned away." -
‘Ob, tbet’s it." said Pecos Pete, with a
strange grin. "It seems I saw one of those
little notices myself, and know the cuss
tbet put it up, and it's the truth he's the
meanest coyote v. -st of the R.or;.'ri-es, and
he's Jack Harley." ’
for?" he
n:
m
7:‘
"Well,"
the boys
"Do!" said Pecos Pete, lclly. "Every man
ack can go back to his seat, on’ he
needn't chew telbaccer nutber till after the
show-see‘! I know “that'the boss of this
circus never posted them notices."
said Big John, “what else could
do?"
ly, now stepping
work of n scoundrel, and done to make
trouble," ‘
“lf thet's 50." said Big John, “the boys
will all be ready to in yer pardon, an’ they-
will bo glad to see the show go on."
Poms Pete scowlcd savagely.
"That's all right for ye," be said. “But
ye'vc shot the man's tent full of holes.
Who'll gain‘ to pay fer that"
There was silence. Pecos Pete pulled out
his Lhining revolver. Ho played with the
trigger. Big John grew palli . ’
“I've a mind to shoot you full of holes,"
he said, coldl “ what ye deserve.” '
“Wc nre willing to go on with the show,
if the people will give us respectful treat-
ment," sald Mr. Hurray.
Pecos Pete nodded, and spoke in ac-
quiescence. Then his gaze roamed the com-
pany over until it aiighted upon 'Ilu8.
lie gave a little mart, and his olive face '
lit up. lie defied his sombrero, and bowed
gra iously. .
“ .. nos dlas, seuorlta," he said, musical-
ly. "You are the 1‘:il:c:t I have ever seen,
nud I have seen not :1 few. Ab, do not fear
me! I n r only to lzlss your hand!" ,
Tina gave a little rxclaniatlon of terror.
and clutched 're:1r!y's arm. The young ac-
1t gazed hard at F9205 Pete. nnd said:
she is under my p:otection." V .
It was a strange tableau Whit followed.
Pecos l’ctc'a dark, inflamed gaze was con-
centrated upon 'l‘cd.ly. The plucky youth‘
did not quail. K I ,
Teddy was ready to sacrifice his life.
There was no doubt that Pecos Pete saw
it. He seemed to waver a momcnt, and
then smiled. ‘lle bowed again to Tina.
“You are lucky," he said. “He is a brave
defender. I spare him for you. Now, let
the show go Senor," to Mr. 3Iurray,.
‘,‘I guarantee you protection, for not a man
Jack of them will harm you now."
no
Then he bowed to Tina. ' .
‘‘Adlos,‘' he said. politely.
This cndcd the affair. Jack Harley's game
ilashrxl in the pan. The show went on, and
all was merry. -
. Mr. Murray‘ drew a deep breath at relief
when the crowd tiled out of the, tent that
night. Fortunately there was a duplicate
tent already on the way to replace the
present one. ‘
So the show was held up in White Coulee
only two days. ' > ‘
Then. with a new tent and 3 strong reso-
lution, it went on. ‘The. resolution was
never to play in so small a town as White
Coulee again. The authorities of tbe‘p7ace
were utterly [unable to give them protec-
tic-
. l -
A long jump was now made to San An-
tonio. This is one of the principal cities
of Tcxas. The Murray Bros. were always
sure of a good attendance there, ' ‘
It was a settled thing now for Teddy to
do the bareback act.witb Tina. -The two
young people made a handsome picture
flying around the sawdust ring on their
horses.
Dc-sides this, Teddy did
quadruple someisault leap over, the ele-
phants. lie was the brightest star of the
circus.
All this was quite a rise for tuznbling
Teddy, the village athlete, who had started
out in the world to win his fortune.
But he was made of the right stuff, and
no light obstacle could stay him. Teddy
was bound to win. lie made friends on
every hand. ‘ .
Jack Harley had abandoned his attempt
to injure Teddy with his cowboy dodge,
but a new factor now presented himself.
Professor, or "Bill" Sydney. the wonder-.
iul equestrian. as he was billed, had taken
a. strange dislike to Teddy.
Whether he feared him as 8 possible fu- ,
turc rival, or that he was jealous of Tcdrly‘s
success in winning the greatcst rueed of
applause, it was hard to say. But Bill Sid-
ney became a secret and dangerous foe.
Teddy was first made aware of this by
:1 conversation wlilch,he overheard by
chance between Sidney and llfadanie Lucia. -
the trapeze performer. ,
Sidney was particularly sweet on Lucia,
though she, was lukewarm toward him.
llladazne Lucia was a strong admirer of
Teddy. '
“I tell you, professor, that little Teddy
will be riding in the highest class yet," she
11 1'?"
declared. “Isn't he 3 won e
“Eb?" exclaimed Sidney, gruiiiy. “You
must have a bad eye. to see that." s
“l‘.".x3.t?" retorted Lucia, in 1-prise.
“You are the first one I ever heard say‘
anything of I1. kind. It. must be you
don‘t like the boy." .
“Well, I don't,” snapped Sidney. "and if
I had my way he'd get out of the show, and
quick, too."
“You surprise
against hlm'."'
“That is my aifair.
n
me! What have. you
But I hate him, an
his wonderful , ’
