Part 25 (1/2)
The performers were hungry, and readily accepted the invitation. While they were eating Walter Raymond sat close by.
”I wouldn't mind knowing how to do some tricks,” he said. ”It must be lots of fun.”
”Not so much when one performs for a living,” returned Carl. ”To do tricks for your friends is amusing.”
”Can you show me some simple ones?” Walter pleaded.
Carl smiled.
”Let me have a cent,” he said, and after it was produced he took a knife and cut a little nick in one edge, turning the shaving of metal outward.
”Now this cent will stick on any door you place it,” he said, and ill.u.s.trated by sticking it up with the metal shaving clinging to the woodwork. ”Any boy can do this with ease.”
”That's a nice trick.”
After this Carl explained a number of other simple tricks with coins and cards, and then he and Leo departed with a cheer from the young people as they walked away.
”Well, what's to do now?” questioned Leo as they hurried on.
”I move we get our baggage from Mrs. Gerston. I need some of my clothing, especially if we are to give garden exhibitions.”
”That's true. All right; Mrs. Gerston's it is.”
The walk back to town did not take long. At first the boarding-house mistress frowned on them, but when they explained that they intended to settle up her expression changed.
It was too late to go anywhere that night, so a bargain was struck whereby she agreed to let them remain and have breakfast for one dollar more, or eleven dollars in all.
”That leaves us with just a dollar capital,” laughed Leo. ”Not much, but a good deal better than nothing. The question is, what shall we do to-morrow?”
”We had better try to work our way from town to town,” replied Carl.
”Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to give exhibitions on the way. Even if we can't strike garden parties, we can show at country hotels and take up a collection. It's not a nice way to do, but it's better than begging.”
The next morning found the pair up bright and early. Their baggage-two satchels belonging to each, for their trunks had been lost-were soon strapped up, and after breakfast they set out to shake the dust of the town from their feet.
Hardly had the last house in the place been pa.s.sed than Leo noticed that they were being followed by a burly fellow, who carried in his hand an ugly-looking rawhide whip.
The fellow soon caught up to them.
”Stop there, do yer hear?” he called out.
”What do you want?” asked Carl, coming to a halt.
”I want ter talk to yer. Ain't you the chap as killed the dog over ter Raymond's place?”
”I am.”
”I thought so. Do yer know I was the owner of that dog, an' that he was a valuable beast?”