THE EXPLOITS OF THE KELLY GANG.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE EXPLOITS OF THE KELLY GANG.

(By SHIELAH QUIXX.)

Crash: '"I'll learn you, yer young hoodlums. Break my window, would yer? I'll—" "Run, chaps, run." Jos Kelly, a merry, frcekled-faced urchin of 12* or thereabouts, yelled as he deftly dodged a blow from the furious village hotelier. Along through the village Btreeta the five chums dashed, until they at last reaehed an old barn. It was but the work of a minute to scramble up on to (.ho roof, and from there they were aide to smile down beamingly on* Mr. Lobba. the village butcher, who though rather a remarkable person in tome respects lacked the all-important ability of climbing barns. "Just you wait till I catch j ou, yer mischief-making scamps. I'll jearn yer not to break my windows." And old Mr. Cobbs shook his fist menacingly at "the gang" and shuttled away, murmurin>' dire revenge on the famous* five. Joe Kelly gazed sorrowfully after him. ''Now, how the dickens was I to know that harmless stone was going to break his window? I was just throwin' a few stones around, and one breaks his old window, and out he comes ragiu' like a mad bull." "Aw, well, never mind. Joe. Whafll we do now ? We've got all the afternoon ahead of us." It was Ikey, another of the famous five who spoke, and he looked round questioning- at the others. The remaining members of the gang—Sam, the bushy -haired nigger; Freckles, the ventriloquist; and Tatty—all had various suggestions to make. "Have- a fight 1 with the Luny Gang," Sam suggested. The Luny Gang were their sworn enemies, and usually a fight with them was an absolute pleasure, but to-day Joe moodily shook his head. "Ma eaid I'd get no tea if I fought to-day, and she's got a key to the pantry now," he added sadly. "Manbles," Freckles said brightly. But here again disappointment awaited them. Xo one possessed any marbles. "lias anyone got any jink*?" Joe asked hopefully. Nobody had. They sat for about ten minutes in moody silence, when suddenly Ikey jumped to his feet. "J have it," he shouted. "Let's have a circus—a real circus—and charge to let people see it." The idea was a wonderful one. The •gang" bad never thought of it before, fco everyone got busy. Ikey was dispatched to get his small sister, cam was ruihed off to get some low Is, pigs, and .a donkey. "Doesn't matter -where you get them from, a* long as you do get them," Joe had explained. ' Freckles and Fatty went dashing round obtaining boxes for seats, and Joe set to wovk printing posters. Soon all the village children were gathered round a large poster, on which spiawhngly printed in big black letters! was the notice.— "grand kelly gang cirkus. Cum and see the torkmg p.gs, the boy akrobat, the da ism* doll, the cowboy' from Mexiko Pme id, or 2 marbles, or 1 toffey apple" his poster, laboriously printed by Kelly, caused quite a mild sensation SuET-IT *? W aD . d far between" Se village, and so m a short time the village

children were try.ng to obtain, by fair means or otherwise, marbles, toffee apples, or pennies. At 2 o'clock Joe was stationed at the barn door, and crowds of curious children began pouring in. "Roll along, roll along, and bring your money along. This way, ladies. Come and see Cowboy Bill. The greatest show you've ever seen. Roll along," Kelly shouted, in his best showman voice. Tho interior of the barn was amazing. Heavy curtains hung over the door. There was a roped-in ring in the centre of the barn, and around this were seats of all descriptions, from butter-boxes to drawing-room chairs. At Z.'SO, when not another single person could squeeze into the barn, the performaneo began. Through the door eaine Freckles, pulling and dragging with all his might a pig. \ "Ladies and gentlemen. This pig is wonderful. 'K's the only one like it in the world. 'E talks. Talk, pig." (This to the animal.) "Hullo! Good afternoon, people. I'm a very wonderful animal. I talk." The audience gasped. Certainly the voice was coming from the inouth'of the pig. But then they did not know what the gang knew, namely, that Freckles was a ventriloquist, and could throw his voice anywhere. Meanwhile there was trouble behind tho scenes. Ikey's sister was the trouble. She had been advertised as the dancing doll, but now she refused to dance. "I can't dance. I'll look mad," she sobbed. "Aw, come on." Kelly urged. "They'll know you can't help it." "If yer don't, Jane," Ikey darklv threatened, "I'll tie you to the door and stick pins in yer all to-morrow." But here there came an interruption. From inside the circus—plainly, distinctly—there came the voice of Mr. Cobbs. "Where's them hoodlums? I'll learn 'era. First they break my window. Then they take my pigs and donkey. I'll learn 'em." Certainly Mr. Coobs looked as if he meant business. Armed with a 6tout stick he was striking every boy he came across who in any way 'resembled the famous five Quickly, quietly, mysteriously, the famous five of the Kelly Gang vanished. In the barn all was confusion. Mr. Cobbs was still rushing round, lashing everybody with his stick; the pigs, fowls, and the donkey got loose and mingled with the crowd; girls screamed and boys yelled. Ma Kelly's cushions were ruined completely. The chairs were smashed to pieces. The confusion was indescribable. And all the while, sitting blissfully on the roof of the barn, tho famous five licked toffee apples, played marbles, and counted out their spoils., A DIFFERENT MATTER. A man and a boy were walking ft quiet street when the former bent down and picked up a glove lying in tho road. "There's nothing like honestv, niv •on, he remarked, as he placed the glove beside some railings. A hundred yards farther on ihey encountered a second glove. "Gracious me!" ejaculated tho man, ashe picked it up and tried it on, "if this isn't the neighbour of the first one —and just my fit. Hurray back, Jimmy, and fetch the other."