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

got in sight of the tent tops a couple of
buses and several delivery wagons passed
me in cloud of dust They carried the
freaks and their impedimenta. Fat Florence
sat with the Living Skeleton, hopping her
face with a bandana handkerchief. The
Hydra Headed Boy, liz the What Is 1t, the
Fire Eating Frenchman, the Cingalese
Twins, the Mindanao Midget, the Strong
Man, and the Snake Charmer we're damned
in the remainder of the first two wagons.
Grim determination and the beatific light
of holy purpose shone from their many
countenances. They looked straight ahead,
with never glance at the gaping country
men who fringedthe roadway. | broke into
trot, and minute later found Sam superin-
tending the taking down of the sideshow tent.
They're gone, Toni" he muttered. "The
beggars have quit! Take it from me that
Human Pincushion is some tough dame I'd
like to see her married to the Cardiff Giant
Zone moment, Boss! Hold off on pullin'
down that tent somebody behind us whis-
pered.
Sam and turned. Skinny MCGEE, quite
out of breath, was the whisperer.
"Hold off for an hour.' he sputtered.
They'll be back-icked! An they won't
awful mugs in public Leave it to me. I'll
show you how | can appreciate good turn.
Just sit tight, say nothin', and wait! There'll
be no rough stuff pulled. S'long, old pal!
We're leavin' on the three o'clock rattler!'
Before we could say a word the gray
headed crook had disappeared through the
crowd in the direction of the trolley cars.
I'D give days receipts to know what
that fellow is up to- snarled Harkins.
Better take his tip and leave the tent
up" / suggested. "On1y moment ago he
told me he appreciated your decency in not
pointing him and the gang out to the village
gendarmes. Said he was looking for an OPP
portunity to commit anything up to murder
to prove his undying affection. Maybe he's
going to shave the Bearded Lady, slip Flor
ence case of antifat pellets, or behead half
of the Cingalese Twins. Only thing to do is to
wait. MCGEE may be crook; but he strikes
me as being on the level for once in his life.
Mad as he was after an hours wrangling
with the freaks, Sam decided to listen to my
footless advice. He ordered the boss can
vasrnan to stop work on the sideshow for
awhile, and together we squatted in the
shade of the ticket wagon; while the crowd,
urged on by the colored band and two spiel
ers, piled into the Big Show.
Things are getting to pretty pass, said
he, when the proprietor of a circus has to
sit On the grass while pickpocket devises
dlo ChCSoJCo oOiilC uilhiiOWA iLSIilSd VI SOG-
ting him out of a hole by subduing can
tankerous collection of striking misfits!
Well be lucky if we leave this town without
being jailed. Didn't l tell you the circus
business was not my line? Once yank this
galaxy of geological and acrobatic night
mares back to winter quarters,-if | ever
do,-I'm going to unload the whole shebang
on somebody and do penance for my sins.
I'm going to join the church, learn to play
checkers, subscribe for The Old Ladies
Monthly and Hello, Chief! What's
troubling you now?"
NOTHING, Mr.. Harkins. Just dropped
- around to see if you'd spied any of
them pickpocket fellers."
@Not sign of them, Chief. Got your
folks with you? Good! How many? Tom,
get eight good seats down in front on the
grandstand side for the chief. Don't men,
ton it, my dear sir! Come right in. The
youngsters will enjoy seeing the animals be-
fore the show begins. If do say it myself,
this is some circus. I'll join you as soon as
this crowd thins out. If see sign of a
dip, you Il know it instantly"
He escorted the chief, Mrs. Chief, and the
six little chiefs past the ticket takers, and
returned to me.
@If anything is going to come off out here,
we don't want him around, said he. you'd
better 60 in and keep him interested until
the show starts If he gets restless tell