An Agent for Annie by Lynn Donovan

Author:Lynn Donovan [Donovan, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Bruno followed a hot air balloon floating in the sky, indicating where the circus had set up its giant tent with three rings of entertainment. He knew the set up and who to seek out. Small tents and wagons where the performers lived were neatly arranged off to one side of the giant striped tent. The man in the bright red tailcoat trimmed with gold braid and a top hat would be the ringmaster, Mr. P. T. Barnum himself. Bruno also knew to look for the more elaborate wagon. The ring leader, and owner, always had the better living quarters, albeit a compact gypsy wagon.

He knocked on the frame of the auspicious mobile accommodation. A kindly gentleman poked his head out of a thick black curtain. “Yes?”

Bruno yanked his hat off his head and postured himself humbly. “Excuse my intrusion, sir. But I’m looking for work.”

Mr. Barnum placed one knee-high black boot on the step and floated a gander down Bruno’s large frame. Without his bright red coattails he didn’t appear to be as auspicious. He focused intently at Bruno’s cauliflower ear and numerous scars. “What can I do for you, Mister—?”

“My name’s Toby Griffith, sir.”

“And what is it you want from P. T. Barnum and Associates, Mr. Griffith.”

“I ain’t never been beaten, not in bare-fist boxing, that is, sir. And I can make you a lot of money while you’re here in Las Vegas.”

“I see.” He stepped down another step, angling his head to take in the full length of him. “My! You are a big man. A Behemoth Man,” he announced in his hyperbolic voice as if to see if it sounded as magnificent as he intended. “So, how would your boxing and never being beaten make me money?”

Bruno smiled. “Well, sir, men don’t generally want to come to a circus. Oh, they want to, but they got work and it’s a matter of choosing their work over pleasure. But when they hear about The World’s Unbeatable Man, their interest is piqued. Businesses will close for a day so the men can come to try for the winnings, say twenty-five dollars, if they win.”

Barnum’s eyes widened.

Bruno grinned. He had him hooked. Now to reel him in. “You challenge the audience. Offer the money if they beat me, only they won’t. More men will buy tickets to come challenge me. You know, sir, men love a manly challenge and so your ticket sales will be greater. You can require they pay an additional ten cents to go at me. They won’t be able to beat me, so you won’t have to give them any money—”

“Oh, I like that. But, how do I know you don’t ever lose?”

“Care for a demonstration?” Bruno brought his fists up. “Where’s your strongest man?”

Barnum nodded. “Okay, come with me.”

Bruno followed Barnum down several trailers to a row of tents. “Bobby, I need to speak to you.”

The bulging-muscled man ducked to walk out of the tent flap. A handlebar mustache curled in a spiral, it must have been the world’s longest mustache too.

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