The Washington times., 1915-10-10

him In angry wonder. you see. there 4
so much money In the business that no
man Is permitted to own a circus longer
| than ten years. Even II he hasn't made
enough to suit him by that time, he is
compelled to sell out and give someone
| else a chance"
You don't say" exclaimed Elias.
thoughtfully stroking the whiskers
which were not there: and he gazcd al
Blackie quite earnestly for some mo-
ments.
Wallingfosd hastily chokcd himself on
drink OF water but Blackic never
turned hair. The pretty waitress ap-
he turned 10 her and confidently
ordered a fancy meal. from oysters to
tutti-frutti Ice cream. Fannie gaZcd at
him with swapping eyes but stif lips.
I'm in a hurry she calmly stated.
which will you have: corn beef and
cabbage, steak and onions. or plain
steak"
"I'll leave 1t to you" returned Blackie
gracefully; and bring the same for all
three OF us"
Fannie rushed away. avoiding the
hand pat which Elias tried to bestow on
her. and held her laugh until she
reached the pantry. When she brought
the meal-all at once. from SOUP to
dessert. she rushed away again.
There was little silence following
HtT utpdTtuTt, III WnlCn all tnree msn
bent themselves to the soup. Having
finished this. Mr.. Boggcr leaned for
ward with n sigh.
"Td like to buy circus" said he to
Blackie.
Can you furnish Al credentials? >"
severity: and now he saw that Walllng-.
ford was listening with eager thought
fulness.
Everybody around here knows Elias
Bogger.' returned the other with
proper pride; I've got the money. too;
wife died last winter, and sold the
farm. I made a little money on a rail-
road deal, too" and his eyes narrowed.
Forty thousand dollars,'
II see." said Blackie, with a glance
at Wallingford. What you want is a
business that is safe. makes an enor-
nous profit and let's you have a lot of
fun all at the same time. You're Il sly
old dog. ! can see that"
Not so very DID," quickly protected
Mr. Bogger: Il never pass for within
ten years or my age at that"
"He believes everything anybody tells
him" whispered an eager voice. and
Fannie. her eyes shining with excite
ment. darted away. leaving Blackie and
Wallingford In chuckling conversation.
When she came back the men had Nm
ished their coffee and were waiting for
her.
Where's Miss violet?" asked walling-
ford.
UP in my room"
Fine" approved Wallingford. "You
as soon as you can. Go into the kid
show'-that's the main side show. you
know-and look at the freaks until we
need you"
Already the country and village folk
were overfiowinG the grounds. though it
nfn
"Slum fakers' and pitch CRITTERS" or
sellers of canes. whips, and horns and
workers of small fortune-telling and
gambling devices, were making the vel
IN @ rasb Nun With their grating voices,
here ana there among the half-bewil-
dered yokels moved 1.-THE, nervous Young
men OF undeniable city types and travail
stained clothing, whose furtivc ewes and
lying smiles betrayed their sinister de-
signs upon unprotected pockctbools.
Even now. the "kid show" was grinding
IN the early dimes, the morbid being in
Nited to see the freaks by an rXncrt
spieler upon gaudy platform. Loaf
ing IN me rear OF the platform. lazily
inspesti,S the crowds, slouchel IN
enormous man with a violent mustnchn
which gave him most fcroCious cast or
countenance: and to this forbidinr TIti
zen Blackic Daw sidled, grinninp nt him
IN Waitihg expectancy until the thick
han a,i'u 6i' VIII me sleepy snake ground
slant on the head "'|"'" inc
Friend of yours, Edo" ,lo h,..,,,s,,
Indicating B,ackic. '' ""'N'"'
Texas Ed looked aroun1
Immediately lit with wclco,no ,'' MS race
p,adsIn'.: nsilo: sport he roarcd, giving
bean m,aokne coome. n9na Tisolikc grip III
min the Geeks on tho pImnkjn ctrcmi,
WHAT'S your grit nowadayr?''
u got new game" cXnininol plo,,,t
srayely Il carry around a wad Of 'N% wct
cnS",ng Eunl on I'll" end of Il sirin.,
cups "''"o mon
Sane Old kidder." drrlarod Ed, 81
guess nothing much IS changed except