The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-22

ling than fool; and yet would not be tn
suned to speak in that way. 1t familiar address
the boss and seemed strange coming from Joe.
Bender glanced at him second time searchingly. He
made comment, did he put his managerial
air.
"A1 right, joe" he replied dropping lead weight
the pile of clippings. Come in. Sit down. Now
what's troubling you?"
Joe proceeded to the point at
ct want to know where he is"
Bender became serious, too, when he heard this
He seemed crowded with worries than he showed
the bright light of day and his expression quickly
changed if these hidden things had collected and
hurried upon him in perp1exing insiste1ce He re-
piled as though yielding a confidence
"To tell the fact, joe" he said, II don't know"
Don't lie to me- Bender" The words short
and hinty from the clowns lips. Bender his fin
gers through his hair.
"I expected you would take that view of it-but-I
don't know just where to find Speyencroft. under
stand how it makes you feel You're suspicious and
maybe you've a right to be. Anyway, he gave me no
instructions His going off he did was complete
surprise, and the last heard from him about
three weeks ago Since that letter I've been running
this show my hook, taking all the chances with
another mans money. don't like that sort of bust
didn't ask him for such responsibility. He left
blank checks signed and cut out, leaving to
take of his outfit Suppose make of it?
That's the way it stands, joe in strict confidence
tween us. don't know where the damned fool is"
"But you did get letter" Joe insisted.
eyes"
'FWhere from ?"
''Fronn-fron Chicago"
'eYou let that letter-the last one"
"tBu Joe, there's nothing in it that could help you
nothing"
I'll find out whether there is or not" said joe his
lips tight
"And then too I haven't any right"
The clowns hand the table trernbfed and cleched
'Bender, I'll that letter tonight I'll kill your
Now when a mere clown is in this mood there is
grave danger that he may keep his word. Bender
glanced at him darting look and tried to his
dignity, but crisis levels everything and only those
desperate stand firm. His few words of buster
answered by the other The face of the clown
Steel and the dark eyes gttered from
mask that actually threatened without bravado.
The demand that Bender heard second time made him
creep all down his spine.
"1et that letter.
Bender sought evade the situation by soft words.
"Now what good will it do you, Joey, make fuss
and all that? You can't help things much, however
they are, and we've lose good act
Slowly the clown leaned forward, rising little from
his chair and slowly his fingers gripped the heavy
lead bar that held down the newspaper clippings His
lips slipped away from his teeth as he snarled:
"I didn't my soul to Speyeneroft-and your
act I can't make people laugh any VIII you
hand that letter."
Bender's hand slipped to inside pocket of his coat
He did not look away that haf-poised thing
acing him. He felt for certain envelope and tossed it
across the board.
THAT'S it." he said briefly "But go slow"
1--WE always been able manage my family Bender"
grim face. Joe the envelope apart Then
there was silence for the oil light that hcIered
and Kissed a moth and the maddening song of the
crickets The paper cracked in the clowns
hand as he stood up reaching for the tents flap.
I'm starting to find him And then Well, if it's
the square I'll back to the show and be clown
again If it isn't I'll wire you instructions about my
stuff, Bender-what to do with the rest ofof the fam
lily There crept into his cold voice a tender
He would not forget the two dumb children. You'll
send them West. I'll wire shipping directions And
then I'll keep til do find hirn-and then"
The boss stirred uneasIy. He had nothing to say
other than,
"C1ood night Joe"
"I guess-I guess, from this letter. it's goodbye,
Bender"
The clown laughed Without the white powder and
the splash of red paint his (where he had al
ways balanced a feather it seemed hideous laugh
There nothing of merriment in it. nothing of buff
foonery that gent1eness which had made music in
his laughter but much of iron and moc1ery and cruelty
The tapped shut the of the test the
Speyencroft Outfit had lost its mirth.
Bender young Speyencroft when the outfit
shipped East, months later. They talked show
only. AS Bender simply manager salary he
could find pretext jusyfng curious questions, and
therefore the little yellow telegram he carried among his
papers not explained. This the very last that
Bender heard from Joe the clown.
"Ship burros Bill Smith, Carsons Arizona Can
eel She's dead"
Save that young Speyencroft drank more than was
good for him and seemed quite ease, the in
cident closed
Life, while very much like spinning top, does not
revove in a space 1t is big show with a
ring made large that many people may and
whenever it doubles back the old sufh-
Gent time has elapsed relieve the monotony and to
gather new pleasures pains out of memory There