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occurred in sometime； however； and it was hoped by everyone that none
would。 Accidents； while they are accepted by show people in the most
matter…of…fact way； always cast a gloom over the show。 Even the loss of
a horse will make the sympathetic showman sad。
After a splendid business in Memphis the show ran into Mississippi
where it played a one day stand at Clarksdale； and where the showmen
experienced the liveliest time they had had since they met the Sully
organization in Canada。
The afternoon performance had just come to an end； and the people
were getting ready to leave their seats under the big top； when a great
commotion was heard under the menagerie top。
Most of the performers were in the dressing tent； changing their dress
for supper； but a roar from the audience； followed by shouts of laughter；
attracted their attention sharply； and as soon as they could clothe
themselves sufficiently； the performers rushed out into the ring again。
Suddenly the people； upon looking toward the menagerie tent； saw a
troop of diminutive animals sweeping into the big top。 At first the people
did not recognize them。
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〃They're monkeys！〃 shouted someone。 〃They're going to give us a
monkey show。〃
〃No。 The beasts have gotten out of their cage；〃 answered another。
He was right。 A careless attendant had hooked the padlock of the
monkey cage in the staple； but had not locked it。 An observant simian
had noticed this； but did not make use of his knowledge until the keeper
had gone away。
Peering out to make sure that no one was looking； the monkey reached
out its hand and deftly slipped the padlock from its place。
The rest was easy。 A bound against the cage door left the way open；
and the hundred monkeys in the cage； big and little were not slow to take
advantage of the opportunity thus offered。
Chattering wildly； they poured from the wagon like a small cataract。
A moment later the attendants discovered them and gave chase。 At about
the same time the monkeys discovered that something was going on under
the big top。 Being curious little beasts； they concluded to investigate。
Then； too； the attendants were pressing pretty close to them； so the whole
herd bolted into the circus tent with a shouting crowd of circus men in
pursuit。
The yells of the audience； added to those of the attendants； sent the
nimble little fellows scurrying up ropes； center and quarter poles； all the
time keeping up their merry chatter； for freedom was a thing they had not
enjoyed since they had been captured in their jungle homes。
Some of the ring men tried to shake the monkeys down from the poles；
just as they would shake an apple tree to get the fruit。 But the little fellows
were not thus easily dislodged。 The attempt served only to send them
higher up。 They seemed to be everywhere over the heads of the people。
Finally； having thoroughly investigated the top of the tent； several of
the larger simians decided to take a closer look at the audience。 At the
moment the audience did not know of this plan； or they might have taken
measures to protect themselves。
The first intimation they had of the plans of the mischievous monkeys；
was when a woman uttered a piercing shriek； startling everyone in the tent。
〃What is it？〃 shouted someone。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Oh； my hat！ My hat！〃 she cried after discovering what had
happened to her。
The eyes of the audience wandered from her up to where a monkey
was dangling by its tail far above their heads。 The animal had in its
hands a flower…covered hat； so large that when the monkey tried to put it
on； it almost entirely concealed his body。 So suddenly had the hat been
torn from the head of the owner that hatpins were broken short off while
the little thief 〃shinned〃 a rope with his prize。
Failing to make the hat fit； Mr。 Monkey began pulling the flowers out；
then picking them to pieces； he showered the particles down over the
heads of the audience。
This was great sport for the monkey； but no fun at all for the owner of
the hat。 The woman hurried from her seat； red…faced and humiliated。
Phil Forrest had chanced to be a witness to the act。 He stepped forward
as she descended to the concourse and touched his hat。
〃Was the hat a valuable one； madam？〃 he asked。
〃Very。〃
〃I am sorry。 If you will come with me to the office of the manager I
am quite sure he will make good your loss。〃
〃Do you belong to the circus； sir？〃
〃I do。〃
The woman gladly accompanied him to Mr。 Sparling； and there was
made happy by having the price of her ruined hat handed over to her
without a word of objection。
In the meantime trouble had been multiplying at a very rapid rate
under the big top。 Everyone was shouting； attendants were yelling orders
to each other； and now Mr。 Sparling； hurrying in； added his voice to the
din。
Hats in all parts of the tent seemed to fly toward the roof almost
magically； to come tumbling down a few minutes later hopeless wrecks。
Once the monkeys got a tall silk hat。 This they used for an aerial
football； tossing it to each other as they leaped from rope to rope at their
dizzy height。
One monkey was discovered peering down at a certain point in the
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
audience with an almost fascinated gaze。 Something down there
attracted him。 Cautiously the little fellow let himself down a rope to the
side wall； then； unnoticed by the people； crept down through the aisle。
Slowly one black little hand reached up and jerked from the head of an old
gentleman a pair of gold spectacles。
The man uttered a yell as he felt the spectacles being torn from him；
and made a fran