David Lannarck, Midget
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George S. Harney >> David Lannarck, Midget
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Davy was looking about as he listened. Here was the tremendous
spectacle of which he had dreamed. It was a spoken drama in
technicolor.
Frosty pricked up his ears. Landy veered the course to the right. A
bunch of yellowish red calves were startled out of a willow clump and
turned to watch the intruders. As the horsemen rode around to the east
and north they resumed their grazing. Near the mouth of another ravine
a few more were encountered.
"There're thirty-seven of 'em," said Landy, as the party completed the
circle, "en that's about twice as many as I expected. They're in good
flesh. With plenty of hay this winter en a mite of grain, they would
do for quick feeders next fall."
"Well, you couldn't feed 'em away off out here, could you?" demanded
Davy.
"Shore!" said the expert. "There's more shelter out here than in them
propped-up stables at the Bar-O. The B-line's got about five times as
much hay as they need. We ought to be able to wheedle that gal out of
a few stacks. But haulin' hay in breast-deep snow is some job. Hit
ought to be under way right now. If old Hulls has quit out, en we git
action, I'll talk to Potter en them loafers at the B-line en try to
git a few ricks tucked away in here before snow comes. A few blocks of
salt, scattered around, will keep 'em from diggin' dirt er huntin' a
lick."
And now the inspectors turned west to follow cattle paths over an
undulating terrain for at least two miles. Here a double trail was
encountered. Landy rode for a distance in both directions looking
intently for signs.
"Ugly Collins has either lost his time-card er has traded his wagon
fer a airyplane," said the mentor. "Mebbe Maizie has delayed the
take-off to finish her war with Logan. At any rate, they haven't left
a wagon track. Let's go by the house. I'll introduce ye as a circus
man from Springfield that's visitin' en lookin'. If ya can interest
Maizie so I kin talk to Hulls private, hit will he'p a lot."
"Not me!" interposed the little man hastily, "just leave me out of
this local war. I've got a date with some church folks tomorrow night.
But I don't want to be carried in feet foremost and hear the preacher
talk about 'the many mansions and green pastures.' Isn't there some
way that we can by-pass this Maizie and her orders 'to kill on
sight'?"
"Why, I thought ya wanted to meet Maizie," chuckled Landy, "thought ye
wanted to contract her fer fortune tellin' down at that island place?
Anyhow," continued the raconteur in a serious vein, "there's no chance
fer a row. I know Hulls, I knew his daddy, old Matt. He knows I'm no
sheriff a lookin' fer trouble. He'll talk to me like a friend. I'm
jist out here a-showin' my circus friend the scenery. He'll talk to me
all friendly like, en Maizie will be tickled at yer size en talk about
circuses en sich. Speak up to her. Tell her that she belongs in this
fortune-tellin' business. Cut up a few of yer dance capers--git her
interested--en I'll find out why they ain't on the road to a getaway."
Landy turned into the double track that led north followed by a
reluctant midget. He watched the paths for signs of recent travel but
continued his recitations of local history.
"These Barrow folks ain't bad--jist ornery. Hit's due to breedin' en
custom, fer they are part Injun. Old Matt told me so, one time when I
was over here a-lookin' fer lost horses. Matt said his mother was a
Ute--full-blooded en tribe-raised. Now, Injuns don't have much regard
fer personal property. Except fer their arms en blanket all else is
jist common plunder fer anyone. The deer in the thicket, the fish in
the streams, and the birds in the air belong to the feller that gits
'em. 'Course, Matt absorbed the wild cattle, en any other cattle he
found on the loose. He didn't want any cattle brand--jist play the
game his fashion, 'finders are takers,' same as fish er wild ducks.
"Sich a plan didn't set well with the white settlers that was tryin'
to put down cattle thefts. Old Matt got a bad reputation en he didn't
try to correct hit. He matched Injun cunnin' agin the 'white laws' en
got ostracized. He raised his boys by the same standards. This Hulls
is jist dumb en ornery but Archie was smart. He l'arned to read, en
when Maizie came, he l'arned to write en cipher after he was a grown
man. If Archie got the express company's money--en hit sorta looks
like he did--he was smart enough to 'duck out' with hit. Maizie knows
that Archie is smart. She wants--
"Look thar!" he interrupted to point at wagon tracks in the dust. "Hit
looks like a getaway had been vetoed. Changed their minds," he added
as he pointed to a sharp turn in the tracks and a return to the
beaten way farther along to the north. "Now hit's anybody's guess as
to what's happened." Landy was about to dismount for a closer
examination when he again interrupted. "They went back to git a fresh
start," he exclaimed as he pointed to a two-horse wagon approaching
from between the low hills.
"Now jist keep yer shirt on," he cautioned Davy. "Yer a circuser, out
here on a visit. I'm a-showin' ye the neighborhood. Let's keep ridin'
en be surprised like." The two rode the double trail to turn out when
the wagon stopped. "Howdy, folks," was Landy's greeting.
Ugly Collins was driving. Hulls Barrow was in the seat beside him with
a rifle across his knees. Maizie was on a low chair in the rear,
surrounded by bedding, boxes, tables, chairs, and all manner of
household wares that piled high, were held in place by stakes and
stout ropes.
"Why, hit's old Landy Spencer," said Hulls as he returned the gun to
its place on his knees. "What's got ye outen the bed so early?"
"I was harassed outa bed by this pesterin' friend of mine who left the
circus at Cheyenne to come out fer a visit en to view the scenery. I
want ye to meet him, en he'p me answer his questions. Folks, meet
Mister Davy Lannarck, a circuser, that's curious to see how en whar we
live. Davy, that's my old friend Mister Hulls Barrow, en that's Mister
Collins, en you are Miss Maizie, I take hit," Landy added as Maizie
stood up to see what was going on. "My young friend here was cut down
to a boy's size in heft en stature but he shore makes up the
difference in askin' questions en in gaddin' about. When he roused me
out this mornin' to go gaddin', I planned to swing around this way en
let you all he'p me. But from the looks of things, you folks musta got
word that we were comin' en are makin' a hasty move to avoid sich a
visit."
The men may have smiled at Landy's quip but Maizie laughed aloud.
"It's the other way," she said. "You put off your visit until you saw
that we were moving; then you come, expecting to be entertained. Had
you come two weeks ago we could have helped."
"I wasn't here two weeks ago," interposed Davy. "Then we were in the
Northwest, looking for a town with enough money to pay the feed bills
and freight on a lot of circus animals. In fact, we had put in the
summer looking for such a place and never did find it."
"Well, we're going to where there's money--plenty of it," said Maizie.
"Take me along," pleaded the midget. "I haven't seen 'loose money'
since we opened the ticket wagon at Grand Park in April."
"What's this, Hulls!" demanded Landy. "Are ye shiftin' pastures?"
"I shore am!" replied Hulls emphatically. "I'm gittin' outa the
thistles en sage to whar thar's decent folks. I'm a-leavin' these
hellions to rot in their tracks while I have a few days of peace en
quiet. But don't say anything, Landy, until we git goin' en outa the
country."
"Shore I won't!" pledged Landy. "That's your business--not theirs.
Have ye laid out a considerable trip?"
"Yes, we're goin' to Nevady, down whar they're buildin' a big
water-dam. Archie's down thar; makin' money a-plenty. There's a big
stir on down thar. Everybody's a-workin' en Archie wants our he'p."
"Well, I'm sorry yer a-leavin' but I'm glad fer this chance. I've
wanted to see Archie ever since he he'ped me git them cattle across
the Ranty that time. I owe him and now I've got a chance to pay." Here
Landy searched a bill out of his billfold and handed it to Hulls.
"Tell Archie that that ought to take keer of debt en int'rest. Ye see,
I didn't have any money with me that day, en anyhow, Archie poo-pooed
the idee of pay at the time, but I always want to pay for he'p
thataway. But I never saw Archie again en I'm glad of this chance to
ease my mind."
Hulls folded the bill and put it in his pocket. He looked at the sun.
"I expect that we'd better git goin'; we've put in the whole night
a-loadin' up, en we got down here a piece en found out that we forgot
the dog en we had to go back. En say, Landy," he called as the wagon
started, "I forgot to turn them bulls out to worter. If ye go out that
way, will ye open the gate en let 'em out?"
The rattle of the wagon repressed the eager reply.
Landy resumed the way to the north; Davy waited to watch the wagon and
its little cloud of dust disappear over a distant swell. When he
rejoined his friend he rode in front of Frosty to halt for a
conference.
"You've made the right estimate, Landy, they're not bad people. As
hurried as they were, they had time to go back a mile or two for the
dog. People that do that sort of things are not bad. I feel sorry for
'em."
"Well, yer sorrow is sorta misplaced; they're havin' the time of their
young lives. Hulls is a-gettin' out of a mess that had no other
outlet; Maizie is to see a lot of new scenery en will git to he'p
Archie spend the money; Ugly is a-gittin' to hang around Maizie while
he eats at least two steady meals a day. I was jist figgerin', Hulls
has got more money in his pocket than he ever had in all his born
days. He's evidently sold off about ten cows en calves to Mooney
Whitset of the Diamond outfit; he's got the forty--if Ugly give hit to
him, en the five I jist handed him--that Archie will never see--so,
all told, they are in clover. Hit will take 'em about two weeks to
make the trip, en with all that plunder aboard Archie will give 'em a
royal welcome.
"Ye see, son, old Matt--ner the boys--ever made a dime out of this
place--never wanted to. Jist fiddled around, huntin', fishin' en
loafin'. The whole thing wasn't any bigger an asset than a job as a
section hand on the U P. Their sales of scrawny cattle jist about paid
the taxes en bought their salt en terbacker.
"Now, son, ye are on the Bar-O. The line runs from them peaks in the
Cliffs to a bend in the crick at that fringe of trees. Then add two
sections of rough land around the Cliffs, en that's hit. The Barrows
never did much fencin'. Jist a bresh fence around the truck patch en a
fairly good corral at the stables is about all. The cows are down thar
by the spring. We'll turn the bulls out en go down en count 'em."
While Landy was engaged in the requested task Davy took hasty survey
of the surroundings. The stables and house were of the same
architecture: rambling log structures that seemed to have been erected
after many an afterthought. The front door of the house was open.
Landy closed it, and circled the house to see that all other openings
were closed. He then mounted and motioned Davy to follow the bulls to
water. Here, Landy circled the cows and calves. "Thar's twenty-six of
'em," he commented, "en ye owe Finch the full amount of his claim.
"Now," commented the aged Nestor, "we'll not go over by the B-line.
What they don't know won't hurt 'em. We'll jist slip back home the way
we come. Tomorry will be plenty of time to go over the hay-he'p
matter, en on Monday we must cinch the deal."
15
The great Burns warehouse in Adot was built back in the impulsive days
following the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Notwithstanding the fact that the young nation was engaged in a civil
war that challenged its existence, there was faith that right would
prevail, hope in the future of national expansion, and charity assumed
her wonted place. In 1862 Congress incorporated the road, borrowed the
funds to build, and bonused the enterprise with grants of
land--greater in area than the State of Pennsylvania.
And there was need for national expansion and the development of the
vast empire west of the Mississippi. At the close of the Civil War,
more than a million soldiers were discharged to seek new homes in an
uncongested area. A million immigrants came from impoverished Europe
in the four succeeding years, begging for freedom and a place to live.
These millions too were given bonuses of grants of land, and soon the
uninhabited West was dotted with primitive homesteads and scattered
ranches that must be served. Food, in all its varieties, is a primal
necessity. Warehouses, clumsy predecessors of modern stores, must be
constructed at advantageous points to shelter foods and make
distribution to remote sections. Some called them trading posts.
And so, back in the colorful days of the building of the fast-growing
West, young Isaac Burns constructed his warehouse. It was high and
wide, if not handsome. It had a driveway through it--handy for the
four or six teams that came to unload flour, sugar, salt, spices,
bolts of fabrics, farm implements, or what-have you. Handy, too, for
the rancher or miner that came to buy at retail (but in wholesale
quantities) a full year's supply of merchandise and food.
But in the changing economies of a fast-growing republic, the
warehouse plan was to take its place with the ox yoke, the spinning
wheel, the mustache cup, and the Prince Albert coat. Hard roads and
bridges took the place of ill-defined trails, and gasoline brought the
rancher to trading marts daily, instead of once a year.
Young Jethro Burns added a corral to the now useless warehouse and
traded in livestock. Joe Burns, of the next generation, closed off one
side of the driveway to make a storage room. But notwithstanding its
favorable location in the center of town, the room remained idle.
Except as a repository for a few odds and ends and its occasional uses
on election days, the old warehouse rested in its past glories. It was
an easy conquest for the persuasive, zealous Paul Curtis, the newly
arrived Nazarene minister, to gain permission for its use for church
purposes. Seemingly easy it was to commandeer many of the community's
extra chairs, benches, settees, and kegs to accommodate the limited
but growing congregation. A small platform was built at one end,
lights were added. And now, exhortations and songs of praise filled
the air that was once vibrant with the bawling of restless calves and
the bleating of timid lambs.
In the week preceding the event, a great muslin banner hung across the
warehouse front proclaiming:
UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT!
Saturday Eve, 7:30
CIRCUS-SHOW MIDGET
WILL RELATE EXPERIENCES
Songs and Music
Admission--Free Will Offering.
COME!
David Lannarck was up bright and early Saturday morning. After feeding
and brushing Peaches, he dressed himself in his best clothes. Landy,
too, sensing the importance of coming events, improved his appearance
by buttoning up his shirt-front. The ride to the B-line was
unimportant. Adine Lough was ready with the roadster. By ten or eleven
o'clock the party was in Adot.
At the bridge they stopped to lay back the top. Adine drove slowly up
Main Street; Davy stood in the middle with his hand on Landy's
shoulder. There were but few persons on the street as the car passed
but on its return, everybody in the stores was out on the sidewalk.
"Take off that old barn-door hat, Landy, so we can see what ye got,"
called someone from the walk. Landy complied with the request. Davy
waved his greetings to the curious. The party halted at Jode's hotel
and restaurant. A woman came out.
Presently a young fellow, coatless and hatless, came running from the
old warehouse. "We should have had a band to head the parade," he
exclaimed apologetically, "but you are surely welcome. I have been
adding more camp chairs to our seating capacity. We'll need them all."
It was the young preacher. Adine made the introductions.
"Do you want another parade this afternoon?" asked Davy. "Getting out
the Standing Room Only sign is always an asset for future
entertainments."
"And will you be with us again?" asked the young minister quickly.
"No, this is my last public appearance," said Davy firmly. "In this
matter, I am fulfilling an agreement. I want to give all I've got;
because I got just what I wanted. But if Adine is willing, we'll
parade this afternoon."
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.
"But we will let the next speaker tell of the hoss trade, although he
is scheduled to talk about midgets and tell us something about life
with a circus-show. Both of these topics interest me deeply, as I know
nothing about either, and am anxious to learn about them.
"Folks, neighbors, and friends of Adot and community, allow me to
introduce my new-found young friend and our near-neighbor, Mister
David Lannarck, lately a feature with the Great International Circus,
and now a resident of the Silver Falls neighborhood. Mister Lannarck."
Davy slid down from an uncomfortable chair and climbed up on the
little platform that had been placed at the side of the pulpit proper.
"Howdy, folks, and thank you, Brother Curtis, for the kindly
introduction. Calling me your young friend is a compliment I hardly
deserve. Yet it's a form of praise encountered by midgets. I recall
that a white-haired, gray-whiskered employee of the hotel in
Philadelphia, where we were quartered, persistently called Admiral
Blair, our leading midget, 'Sonny Boy.' When comparisons were made,
the Admiral was ten years the older. I am not very adept in guessing
the ages of either grown persons or midgets, but I suspect, Brother
Curtis, that I was in the fourth grade in school about the time you
were born; and that when you arrived at the fourth grade, I was doing
a man's job on the Keith vaudeville circuit. Such things occur to
midgets.
"But let's get the Side-Show out of the way before we start the
performance in the Big Top--let's clear up the hoss trade first. In
that transaction I was simply the innocent bystander. The principals
in that event are with us tonight. Acting as Master of Ceremonies of
this Floor Show, let me introduce them." Turning to his guests of the
evening, the speaker cautioned: "Stand up, folks, and take your bow as
your name is called.
"First, I want to present the party who contributed the Hoss, who made
all the plans, and who through the untiring labors of this young
minister is largely, if not wholly responsible for this splendid
gathering, Miss Adine Lough."
The applause was generous and lasting. Blushing, smiling, and
embarrassed, Adine took her bow and resumed her seat.
"And the next principal in the transaction--the man who discovered the
hoss and led me to it--my friend, mentor, guide, and boon companion,
Mister Landy Spencer." The applause was generous but more boisterous.
It was evident that Mister Spencer had many boon companions in the
audience. Landy's bow was a mixture of bends at the waist, neck, and
knees.
"And the next two, while not direct parties to the hoss trade, are
responsible for my upkeep, who shelter and feed me--and the hoss,
Mister and Mistress James Gillis." Again the applause was generous and
hearty.
"And last, but not least, is the man who came to me in my greatest
hour of distress--of disgust with the mob and a fixed determination to
get away from it all; the man who came to me when the circus was about
to fold up, and I was yearning for quiet and peace but didn't know
where to find it, and he found it for me. Right where I wanted to be,
the place I had dreamed of, but never could find, the man who as my
podner does the easy manual labor, while I do the hard thinking, the
man who owned it all and staked me out a half interest, Mister Sam
Welborn." Again the applause was generous.
"And that completes the hoss trade episode, my friends. I got the best
little horse west of the Mississippi River, and Miss Lough got nothing
but the satisfaction of having planned and promoted a worthy
enterprise in which all of you are participants. Now, let's get on to
the main event in the Big Top; let's talk about midgets and circuses."
Earlier, Davy had asked Paul Curtis to find if his voice was reaching
the remote fringes of the audience. Being assured by a friendly nod
that he was making himself heard, he placed his elbows on the pulpit
and rested his chin in his cupped hands to gaze at the curious.
"I wish I knew something of my subject other than my own personal
experiences," he said in a slow, lowered voice. "General literature is
silent on the classification and accomplishments of midgets. Except
for Dean Swift's recitals of the Lilliputians--which is pure fiction
and the limited paragraphs in the encyclopedias on dwarfs--which is
the wrong name for the subject--in literature the midget is the
forgotten man.
"Even the Bible, in its wide comprehension of all classes of man, to
include the race of giants, before the flood, the stalwart sons of
Anak, and the giant adversary of little David, makes no mention of the
little people except in the third book of Mosaic writings, the
'Crookbackt' or dwarfs are warned not to come nigh the altar-fires
where sacrifices are offered. A severe banishment, truly, but as a
good Presbyterian, I attribute the severity of such a decree to the
grudging envy of the jealous old 'kettle-tender' who maybe scorched
the stew; and I get my solace in the comforting words of the Master
who pledges that 'the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the
peacemakers--large or small--shall be called the children of God.'
"Yes, there's confusion in literature--even in dictionaries--as to the
proper classification of midgets. Their status is better established
by elimination--by stating what they are not. Midgets are neither
dwarfs, runts, pygmies, nor Lilliputians. Dwarfs may have normal
bodies but with either short legs or arms, or both; a runt is a small
specimen in a litter or drove; pygmies were a mythical creation of the
Greeks, but the name was later given to a tribe in South Africa, whose
stature was considerably less than their neighbors; and Lilliputians
were the creation of a mind that was later to go haywire--but not over
midgets, mind you--it was that other enigma in human life: the
beckoning lure of two women, and the great creator of 'Gulliver and
His Travels' went nuts in trying to decide which way to go."
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