David Lannarck, Midget: An Adventure StoryHarney, George S.
General
David Lannarck, Midget: An Adventure Story
Harney, George S.
Adventure stories; Circus -- Fiction; Western stories
And parade they did, at three o'clock. Davy insisted that Landy
participate. The aged Nestor--a perfect representative of other
days--held grimly to his seat as the car, driven by a very handsome
and smiling young lady, moved slowly up and down the thoroughfare,
packed with people who had come to see--a midget!
Adine, Davy, and Landy were joined in the evening meal by Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Gillis and Welborn, who had come in Jim's car, via the Carter
filling station. The Silver Falls project was well represented. On the
way over, Welborn figured he could have taken fully an ounce of dust
from the company holdings, but he was loyal to his friend--and
promise.
The audience that assembled for the entertainment at the Burns
warehouse exceeded the young minister's estimates. The standing
audience was greater than the number that found seats. A few
venturesome lads who had never seen a midget climbed up to the braces
that held sill to pillar to get a better view. But withal it was a
quiet, orderly gathering of the men, women, and children of the
little city and its far-reaching suburbs.
While the crowd was assembling young Paul Curtis, the preacher, acted
as usher. He seated Adine Lough and her party of five on the platform.
Occasionally he consulted with Brother Peyton, the doorkeeper. And
finally, as capacity was reached, he came to the rostrum.
"Friends and neighbors," he said, "it's too bad that our program must
be preceded by an apology. As a stranger in your midst, I did not
properly estimate your interest and enthusiasm. I accept the blame for
not providing a larger auditorium and I want, at this time, to give
credit to Miss Adine Lough, of the B-line ranch, for her zeal in
providing the feature of the entertainment and giving it the wide
publicity it deserves. Make yourselves as comfortable as you can and
we will proceed with our offerings."
The young minister was a real artist with an accordion. He played
several popular numbers, interspersed with old-time classics such as
"The Flower Song," "The Blue Danube," and others. It was good music,
well played, and received generous applause. These were followed by a
solo and encore by the minister's wife and then a quartette of young
girls sang a couple of popular selections.
Paul Curtis had preceded each number by a brief statement as to what
it was to be. Now he came to the rostrum. "We are now at the feature
number of our program," he announced. "I understand it had its
beginnings in a horse trade. Back in other days, a horse trade was
often tinged with fraud and chicanery. This one has ended in a great
good; really, it's the most fortuitous happening in my brief career as
a minister of the Gospel. It has given me a quick and hearty contact
with all the people where I am to work. It goes to show that a great
good can spring from lowly origins. The Saviour of men, you know, was
from lowly Nazareth and born in a manger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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