Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30

that led to town. 1t was coming fast.
Well, I'll be- he started to say
damned, have no doubt but instead
leaped out of the wagon.
A sudden bedlam of yells, whoops, shrieks,
means, sobs, curses, and other indecent
noises came from two dust-covered omn:
buses out of which the freaks were piling.
well, well!' said Sam to the rabble.
"Did you forget something, or are you here
to see the showo'
ooh! Oh! Mr.. Harkins, we've been
robbed" shrieked the Fat Girl, her enormous
bosom heaving like the pillows of the sea.
Cleaned out, tickets and all!' piped the
Mindanao Midget, who was nine years old
and came from Seventh-ave., New York.
"A vacuum cleaner" gurgled one head of
the Cingalese Twins.
couldn't have done it better!" sobbed
the other.
"Pickpockets frisked us!" bawled the
Bearded Lady, yanking at her whiskers in
Fat Florence lifted her skirts, and with
naught but the naked eye we saw that the
upper half of one of her rain barrel stockings
had been ruthlessly ripped from its contents.
"Too bad! Too bad!" sighed Sam, and lit
a cigar. isn't it shame, Tom? Here all
these nice freaks quit SO they can see the
country. And before they have travelled two
miles or been gone an hour they come back
broke! It's pitiful, that what it is-pitiful!'
The baleful glare in his eye had quoting
effect on all except attentuated Arthur the
Human Beanpole, who had SO lost control
of himself as to fall in the dust, where he
seemed to be indulging in some sort of fit.
Just then village youth carrying bundle
wrapped in newspaper painted up to the Red
Wagon. He gave frightened stare at the
clutter of curios, and asked for Mr.. Harkirs.
"A gent said you'd pass me into the circus
if brung you these" said he, handing over
the package and an envelop.
GAM opened the letter, started to read it,
- and smiled for the first time that day.
The smile changed to chuckle, the chuckle
to giggle, the giggle rose to chortle, the
chortle switched to ringing laugh, and be-
fore he had finished reading he had wound
up in string of ponderous outlaws.
3All right, young man, he spluttered
when he had dried his eyes. 3You go right
in and see the show"
Then he leaned against the ticket wagon
and laughed again. He laughed so loud and
so long that the Beanpole was shocked into
consciousness as he other freaks had been
into silence.
@Wh-wh- what do you want to do now?"
Harkins finally managed to say in the di-
IoCClOn OF the MdSCOuOuClC MdlucI
@If you please, Sir" said she, wed like
to go back on our old jobs. We're licked,
robbed, dusty, tired, and hungry. An we
don't want no more parades. Ones enough.
Amt it, Boys an Girls?"
3Petcher life!" said Jasper the Giant.
The others bobbed their heads enthusi-
astically.
@All right" said Sam, ripping open the
bundle the boy had handed him. 3You can
come back; but think I'd better stow this
stuff away in the safe"
He drew forth what looked like huge
white cotton sack tied at the top and bottom.
At the sight of it Fat Florence yelled, 3My
stocking! Where'd you get it,"
Sam cut one of the strings, and there fell
to the ground dozen wallets and pocket
books and as many rolls of bills.
Before you dash back into that tent and
your lifework, said he, Il want to read you
this letter. Listen!
DEAR Mr.. HARKINs.-The Wells & Howe
outfit may be second class, but it's too good
for bunch of imitation curiosities such as this.
Fatty is enough to queer even a dog and pony
show. If we missed anything. it was because
the train was almost due and we had to work
fast Am sending back all the stuff we copied
from the scarecrows except the tickets. Well
use the latter ourselves. bound for
the same town on the three O. clock.
Trusting that we are doing you no great in
justice by returning this disgusting company of