The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-04
THE EVENING STORY
The Claws of Mooneye.
(By June Gahan.)

her wrist.
He stood at one side of the ring,
watching the two go through their act
Four oil torches hared in the dark
ness of the tent. The faces on the
! benches were blurred and mot1onless-
| For the instant the whole place was
held in a spell of silence, waiting. for
| the Indian girl to do her famous trick
| She was shooting with a revolver.
backward over one shoulder, at caro-
| held by Yellow Puf-s, taxing aim from
! a hand mirror.
| The girl did not shrek when the
| bullet struck her wrist. She looked at
the face of the other and smiled, white
| Tipped.
The band started to play at a warn
| ing from Pete's megaphone. Then ne
made for the side tent while they
hustled on another act to cover the
| accident.
| I'm sorry, girl" he gasped. huskily,
| bending over the shattered wrist. THE
| cat! She's never missed that shot.
| Mooneye stood near, Watchlng them
with unblinking eyes, brown and sort
ITS all right. Maybe she didn't
mean to. Get a doctor, will you, Pete,
| I need that wrist"
She drew it back quickly. Pete had
stopped and kissed her arm.
Say, you amt got any heart at all
| have you % he demanded.
| Puffs looked at the figure of the In
You're ringing the wrong bell,
Pete" she said, slowly. why don't
you take notice of that little Indian
who? Mooneye?, W Y,c smiled m
| in his face. 81 do"
Pete was silent, but bewhdered-
| Therefore, he swore vaguely to him
self, and went back to the ring after
seeing the girl cared for.
He didn't know what she meant. He
had never noticed Mooneye specially
also escaped notice. Standing back at
the side of the ring, with his mega
phone held in readiness to announce
! the acts Piebald Pete faced his des-
tiny, and knew ne was III love with
Puffs.
When any one became a working
member of Piebald Pete's show, he
received a new name just as II II We're
a New Jerusalem citizenship 1t was
a token of comradely interest, pro-
fessional accolade.
Minnie Mooneye had been named the
first day bunch of real Indians stray
gled into the haIf-built camp. She was
the last in the procession. They were
not fresh from the far West, these red
brothers and sisters. For years they
had upheld the pathetic and thrilling
traditions of a vanishing race, accord
ing to the bankers, in little one-ring
western shows. They danced, fought,
whooped. howled, and kept the passing
race from becoming extinct
Mooneye was haIf-breed. She car
ried a couple of suitcases, and walked
lightly in her heeled boots She was
delicate saffron tint, with dusky, slum-
berous eyes, wide, child-like, with
tantalizing uplift at the corners. Her
dark hair was bound about her head In
close braids. AS she passed, lanky,
staring cowboy threw out her new
name to her.
Hello, there, Mooneye. Step high"
So with Yellow Puffs. To be exact,
she was a lady cowboy. That was what
the female portion of the audience call
ed her.
She was not tall, neither was she
lovely. Her eyes were keen and merry
and usually half closed as one who
takes a squirt at long distances. Close
inspection showed them to be rather
green. Her chin was one no man need
have been ashamed of; likewise her
jawline. Most women do not care for
an apparent jawline. Yellow Puffs ac-
centuated hers by persistent out
look on life with a dash of the agrees
sive when any one tried, as she said, TO
put one over on her.
After she returned to the show, even
Mooneye was made to see that she had
committed social error.
Trouble is with Injun girl. she
thinks she can buy husband with col
lateral, 50 To Sp6dhs one Oh the boys
remarked. "Mooneye's after Petey, and
she'll either get him, or somebody's
scalp
Pete stood beside Yellow Puffs. He
loved her hair even. 1t was short
and thick, and very curly, and real
for sure yellow" he told himself. A
thrill ran through him when she lean
ed back against his shoulder to let
the old stage coach rumble into the
ring. He welcomed the thrill. 1t was
the precursor of adventure.
Say, girl, you wait till the season
closes, and I've got a wad," he said
quietly. you needn't stare. 1 mean
it. I've wanted you ever since you
first Joined the show, and play white.
Does your wrist hurt you?'
Puffs put it behind her, and laugh
ed shortly. They stood in the shadow
of the big canvas entrance. Beyond
were the small tents, out in the dark
ness. The nearest one was Mooneyes.
Pete's pulses began to tap dance mu-
sic, the same old tune that Pan taught
Childe Cupid to hop to, some time
back. He bent over and kissed the
girls cheek. She swerved SO he could
not reach her lips.
Don't. Mooneye's. watching YOU"
she said CURLY. 'I don't trespass on
anybody's else's brand
There's no brand on me-" sent back
Pete, hotly: then he, too. turned and
saw the Indian standing motionless
near, and he ceased thrilling. There
was the touch of claws on his neck.
Look at her eyes, Pete" said
Puffs. "They give you away
Pete hesitated, helpless, laundering,
dogged, between the two of Them