Jerry of the circus.
The.
Now for Jerry of the circus.
I'm going in there.
I've got to say that man was the most dangerous line I've got out of my way folks I'm going
to open that door out of my way any of you folks seen Jason around here he's safe he's
not hurt Bradley oh thank heaven oh so there you are listen young man I thank you to keep
your toothless old lions out of my wagon what toothless well where is he why it's an imposition
that's what it is the idea of letting those old cats around loose might scare someone
to death you might but but Mr. Bradley no buts young man just keep those mangy morph eating
lions out of my way.
There he is again now here was I reading some of Shakespeare's finest sonnets and that cowardly
lion leaped into my wagon so startling me that I reached for my shoe and gave him a well
deserved cup on the ear I'm hearing things it can't be true well where is he now Mr.
Bradley crouching back of my trunk for yellow livered jungle cat why I was so overcome with
anger and being disturbed that I fear I lost control of myself and threw everything at
him that I could lay my hands on well if you'll get out of the doorway Mr. Bradley we'll get
him into his cage now hmm it was preposterous to let him out in the first place yes of course
now if you'll just get out of the way men move that cage close to the openings and take no
chance this time you understand yes sir.
Of all the crazy things I ever heard of one of one of you hand me that long pole I'll
poke him out from behind that trunk I must say I see no reason for not going in and taking
him out by his ear.
But Mr. Bradley that's Nemo.
Makes no difference to me what his name is he disturbed my rest and I'm very annoyed.
But Nemo is Jason's most dangerous cat.
Oh stop the nonsense.
But he is really Mr. Bradley.
Dangerous?
Fiddlesticks why he's a great big hulking coward.
That's right boys stand by.
Nemo get out of there.
Nemo scat.
Beat it.
Oh good there he goes watch out there.
Right into the wagon.
Well at last I'm glad that's over with.
Push that wagon on back where it belongs.
I'll be over there in a minute.
I want to talk to Johnny.
Gee whiz Jason I bet you're sure glad to have that lion all safe and sound.
Oh you bet I am.
Oh Johnny I'm terribly sorry that lion upset you.
Well just so it doesn't happen again.
Well you don't think I'd let a thing like that happen if I could help it do you?
Well I always liked you Jason.
I must admit it seemed kind of careless.
Careless?
You don't seem to realize that Nemo is my most vicious cat.
Jerry's been trying to tell me some such foolishness.
Oh it's no foolishness.
That cat is the most treacherous one I've got.
Well it would seem to me that that would be all the better reason not to let him around loose.
Of course I must admit animals are somewhat out of my line.
Johnny you certainly take the cake.
Jason why didn't Nemo hurt Mr. Bradley?
Well because he was too scared.
But you just said well gee Jason that doesn't make sense.
I'm just getting you all balled up.
I guess I'm not very good at explaining.
Now look it's like this.
Now you weren't scared were you Johnny?
No I was too mad to think of being scared.
Well now if Johnny had been scared Nemo would have sensed it the moment he got inside that door.
Well you know that animals can always sense when you're scared don't you?
Yeah I know that.
Well he was plenty scared.
What with all the yelling we were doing and trying to catch him and then rags barking like mad.
Yeah I guess he was too scared to think when he lets a little pup chase him across the lot.
What?
Do you mean to say that young animal of yours chased that big lion?
Right into your wagon didn't you Rag?
You see?
You're the fellow who's to blame for putting me to all this trouble eh?
He certainly is.
In all the years I've trained animals that's the craziest sight I've ever seen.
Go on with what you're going to say.
Well if Johnny had been scared Nemo would have leaped onto him and hurt him.
Boy oh boy.
But instead Johnny jumped at him and threw things at him and well you see what happened.
Golly that's your something.
And a pretty lucky something for me.
You don't know how lucky.
Listen Johnny when you came out of there and began bawling us out about that toothless old lion I could hardly talk.
I expected that cat to jump out at you any minute.
Yeah he stood there in the open doorway just talking a long time didn't he?
I'll say he did.
I admit I was scared stiff for you.
Well it's all over with now and I apologize if I was a bit testy.
Jason oh Mr. Jason.
Yes?
The cage is back where it belongs.
Oh thanks Spike.
I'll be over there in a minute.
And who is Spike?
One of the new stakers.
Yeah I got him his job.
You got him a job?
Sure.
That day Zeke jumped the show.
Murray need another man so I found Spike.
Well good for you.
I guess I'd better get back to Nemo and see if he's quieted down yet.
I'll see y'all later.
Better be sure those cages are checked over so nothing like that will happen again.
You can bet I'll be sure.
Well so long.
See you later Jason.
Oh Spike.
Hello there kid.
Something wrong?
No I just wondered how Nemo seemed after all the excitement.
Were you heading someplace special?
No I just thought I'd drop by and see if Murray needs any help.
I guess there'll be plenty of cleaning up to do.
Yeah Nemo sure caused an awful rumpus.
Oh say you don't know Mr. Bradley.
I know you Mr. Bradley but I guess you don't know me.
I'm glad to meet you Spike.
I'm indebted to you for finishing up what I started with Nemo.
Say you didn't tell me how Nemo is now it's all over.
He's kind of tuckered out I should say.
He's crouched way back in the corner of his cage.
Just sort of staring wide eyed like.
Guess you and Rag scared the stuffing out of him Mr. Bradley.
Well I better get going.
You should have heard Clara sounding off over there in the wardrobe top.
Well Spike glad to have met you.
Think you'll stay with us? Jerry here was telling me you're new on the job.
Yeah I am.
Well I sure hope I stay. Won't be my fault if I don't.
Mr. Randall's a mighty fine man to work for Spike.
And if you treat him right he'll always treat you right.
Well I'm satisfied.
Say you're beginning to look better already Spike.
How do you mean Jerry?
Oh I don't know. You looked kind of pale when you first came.
Well Spike working out of doors soon puts color into your skin.
Yeah I guess it does.
Say why don't you take your cap off while you're working.
You'd get lots more sun that way.
Oh I don't know. I guess I'm just used to wearing a cap.
But you wear it so far down over your left ear and it covers your head all up.
Yeah well I couldn't work without it I'm afraid Jerry.
So you're a creature of habit too my man.
Yeah I guess I am. Well sorry I got to get to work. I'll be seeing you.
Yeah bye Spike.
Until we meet again Spike.
He's nice. I kind of like him.
Yes of course.
What's the matter? Something wrong?
What? No no no. I was just thinking.
It's a funny thing. There's something vaguely familiar about that young man's compliments.
But somehow it keeps escaping me.
Yeah people are always reminding me of someone I know too.
Yeah but that young man. Funny I can't just place him.
Well you couldn't have seen him before because he just joined the show.
Well it'll come to me. I never forget a face.
I tell you my boy as a younger man I had a phenomenal memory.
Yeah you must have had.
Now why do you say that Jerry?
Well look at all the poetry you know by heart.
Oh that's nothing son. Why in my prime I used to know most of Shakespeare's plays by heart. Every line.
Really?
Indeed I did. Not to mention many many other plays.
Gee sometimes at school I can't even remember my lesson for the next day.
We used to do a different play every night. And not just two hour plays like in our theaters nowadays.
Why often our plays would last for four hours.
You mean to say you'd know enough plays all by heart so you could do a different one every night?
Indeed yes. It was necessary to know from thirty to a hundred or more parts if a man wanted to get a job in the theater in my day.
Golly.
And nowadays they hire an actor and teach him the part after he's hired.
See Mr. Bradley I just thought of something.
Well what is it Jerry?
I got a letter from my lawyer today.
You did? You mean that young man back in Jackson City who gave this spaghetti party?
Yeah my case is coming up before the Superior Court he hopes tomorrow. At least that seems to be what he is trying to tell me.
Yes well.
Well it was kind of mixed up and knowing you're pretty smart about things like that I wondered if you'd like to read it for me and explain exactly what it means.
Of course Jerry I'd be glad to.
I left the letter in the wagon. It's right over here. Want to walk over?
I'd be glad to.
Good. Come on Rags we're going places.
Rags say Rags.
Now he was here just a minute ago.
He can get out of sight quicker than anything I ever saw.
Rags.
Oh there he are. What you doing in Mr. Bradley's wagon?
Of all the curious mutts. Come on we're heading for our wagon.
See he's happy just as long as we're going someplace.
So you got a letter from that nice young lawyer. Do you hear from him often Jerry?
Sure he writes me every week just to keep me posted on the case. Golly I'm anxious about that safety deposit box.
I believe you said once it was in your father's name.
Yeah seems like it's sure taken a long time for the courts to make up their minds to let me open it.
Well that's the trouble with the law my boy. Always a lot of red tape.
Seems like a lot of foolishness to me. It just makes common sense that if your dad leaves something behind he'd want his only son to have it instead of a lot of strangers.
Yes I know but of course the law is meant to protect its citizens and that's why they want to be sure they don't make mistakes.
Yeah. Hey Rags stop running off. That curiosity of yours will get you into trouble one of these days.
Well here we are. If you wait just a jiffy I'll run in and get the letter.
No one here. They're probably hanging around the mess tent waiting for the flag to go up.
Nice doggy. Nice doggy. Now come on Rags. Come on. That's right. You like to have your ears scratched huh?
He sure does. Here's the letter. Shall we sit here on steps?
Fine. Now let me see what that boy has to say. I mean that lawyer.
Hmm. Well well well.
Be quiet Rags. Can't you see Mr. Bradley is busy?
Well Jerry this is simple enough. Young Grayson says he hopes your case will come up. Let me see. Yes that would be tomorrow.
Yeah that's what I thought it said but what was that stuff about if they didn't have time to do it tomorrow they'd have to wait until the next something or other.
Let me see. Oh yes yes this is it. If they don't get to your case tomorrow it will have to be laid over until the next session.
Yeah but what does that mean the next day? No I'm sorry. I'm sorry Jerry but that means that all the members of the court are adjourned until they're called together again.
But Jiminy Willikers when will that be? Well I guess that depends on the custom of that state.
Oh gee I hope they get it to tomorrow. I feel terrible to have to wait much longer to see what's in that box.
Thank you.