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Show TVHY HE QUIT THE CIRCUS. The Elephant Ran Away With the Clow n and the Latter Returns to Chicago. . ' An attenuated pair of legs were wrapped wrap-ped around a stool in the lunch-room of the Northwestern railway depot one" day last week. They supported a trunkless chest, a collarless neck, a pale, cleanshaven clean-shaven face, and a well-worn white Derby hat. 'Just come back from circusing in the southwest," said the man on the stool to the waiter behind the counter. -"Been gone sixteen weeks and have had a lively time. I was the only clown. Don't look it now, do I? But. I was all the same, and a pretty good one too. Circus busted "up at Calabasas, a town en the Mexican frontier. It happened this way : It waB of a Tuesday In August that we were announced an-nounced to show in Calabasas. We reached the outskirts of the place Monday Mon-day evening and camped for the night. Next morning we made our grand entree into town. I was riding the elephant a little brute with hair on his back and a tail about the 6ize of a slate pencil. It was a difficult, not to say dangerous, ride, but I had accomplished the feat on several sev-eral previous occasions, and so didn't mind it much. Calabasas was full of cowboys on this particular day, and as me and the elephant came lumbering along down the only street in the town there was a great shouting and swinging of sombreros. The glittering calvalcade neared the crowds with unbroken column. col-umn. I noticed that nearly the entire population was armed, and I think the elephant did, too, for the beast began to shiver from tusk to slate pencil and reared up on his hind legs. It was about this time that some one fired a shot. There was a violent shaking of the ton of muscle, and adipose tissue beneath me, and then the elephant fled up the Btreet at railroad speed. I tell you, sir; it was a ride for life. I clung to the bristles on the animal's back with a tenacity born of despair, "and tried to kick out a "niche in the elephant's bide into . which I could rest my feet. On and on we flew, through cactus plants and sage brush until I lost consciousness and fell to the ground in a heap. Three days later a band of Apache scouts found me in a pitiable condition and gave me succor. When I reached Calabasas I learned that the circus had entered Old Mexico, and, as I was sort of tired of the business, I begged, stole and borrowed my way to Chicago. What became be-came of the elephant? Bless my soul! I guess the old brute is still racing somewhere some-where around the plains." Chicago Herald. |