Part 21 (2/2)
”Well, have you made up your mind? Is it to be more money for us or no show for you?”
”It's going to be 'no' to your unreasonable demand, and I want to tell you, here and now, that the show's going on. You can go back to your cowardly crowd, that tries to hit a man when he's down, and tell 'em Jim Tracy said that!” cried the ring-master with vigor. ”You'll get no more money from me. I'm paying you wages enough as it is!”
”All right, no money--no show!” said the fellow, impudently. ”We gave you half an hour to make up your mind, and if that's your answer you can take the consequences.”
He started to walk away, and Tracy called after him:
”If you try to interfere or make trouble, and if you try to stop the show, I'll have you all arrested if I have to send for special detectives.”
”Oh, we won't make any trouble except what you make for yourself,”
declared the striker. ”We just won't do anything--that'll be the trouble. There's your 'main top,' and there she'll stay. We won't pull a rope or drive a peg!”
He pointed to the pile of canvas with its ma.s.s of ropes, poles and pegs that lay on the ground ready for erection. It should have been up by this time, and the parade ought to have been under way. But with the railroad accident, the delay and the strike, the big tent in which Joe, Helen and the others were to perform was not yet raised.
”The cowards!” exclaimed Jim in a low voice; looking at Joe. ”I wonder if I'd better give in to 'em?”
”Can you get others to take their places?” the young trapeze acrobat wanted to know.
”Not here. I could if I were nearer New York. But as it is----” He threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. ”I guess I'll have to give in,” he said. ”I can't afford not to give a show. Here, you----”
He called to the departing striker.
”Wait a minute!” Joe quickly exclaimed to the ring-master. ”I think we can find a way out of this.”
”How?”
”Have you any men who know something about putting up the tent?”
”I know all there is to be known about it myself. But it takes more than one man to raise the 'main top.' There are a lot of the animal men and wagon drivers who used to be canvas hands. They haven't struck. But there aren't enough of them. It's no use.”
”Yes, it is!” cried Joe. ”We men performers will turn canvasmen for the time being. Give us some hands who know how to lay out the canvas, how to lace up the different sections, which ropes to pull on; men to show us how to drive stakes and to haul up the poles--do that and we'll have the tent up in time for the show!”
”Can you do it?” cried the ring-master, in an eager tone.
”Sure we can!” exclaimed Joe. ”There are enough of us, and we're willing to turn in. You get the men who know how, and we'll be their a.s.sistants.”
”It might work,” said Tracy, reflectively. ”I'm much obliged to you, Joe. It's worth trying. But do you think the performers will do it?”
”I'll talk to 'em,” said the trapeze artist. ”They'll be glad to raise the tent, rather than see a performance given up. Go get your men and I'll talk to the others.”
”All right--I will.”
”Did you call me?” asked the striker who had been appointed to wait on the ring-master and learn his decision.
”I did _not_!” cried Jim Tracy. ”I'm through with you. We don't need your services.”
”Ha!” laughed the man. ”Let's see you get up the 'main top' without us.”
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