Every straggler, apparently, within hearing distance came rushing up, until a dense crowd had massed itself before him.
Dave was once more in full control of his faculties. Words began popping into his head in such generous numbers that before the notes of the gong had ceased their musical reverberations he was addressing his audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, in a clear, resonant voice, “it is my pleasure and privilege to call your attention to the great and mar-velous features of Spudger’s Great Combined Peerless Circus and Menagerie. We have here to-day a stupendous and superb ag-gre-gation of wonders collected from all quarters of the globe by Mr. Ollie Spudger. The expense was e-normous.
“At each and every performance there is to be seen a grand exhibition of a-renic pomp and splendor, together with visions of inspiring beauty. Golden chariots drawn by huge African elephants form part of a glittering, jeweled and costumed army rivaling those gorgeous pro-cessions which, centuries ago, filed with majestic pomp before the emperors in the Coliseum of ancient Rome.”
“Bully for you! That’s going some!” screeched the voice of “Mister” Joe Rodgers from the front row.
Dave hit the gong a resounding crack.
“I call attention to Ormond de Sylveste!” he cried, “the champion bareback rider of the world, in his thrilling exhibition of equestrian skill; to Tobanus, the renowned sword swallower, in a mysterious and a-mazing act. And besides these two un-equaled stars there is the Randolpho troupe of acrobats, who, in an as-ton-ishing series of gyrations, set at defiance all laws of gravitation.”
Dave paused impressively, letting his pointer come to rest on the broad chest of Adolphus’ counterfeit presentment.
“Then there are other attractions alone worth double the price of admission. This most ex-tra-ordinary giant, Adolphus, is a youth, still growing, and promising to eclipse in height all giants of any era. Zingar, the famous dwarf, has caused the greatest sensation wherever shown. Mr. Ollie Spudger’s standing offer of ten thousand dollars for his equal in any country has never been taken up.”
A buzz of comments arose. Dave waited for a few moments, then resumed: