The Lamar register., 1919-11-12
A Side-Show
Romance
r.
By JANE OSBORN
lCopyright, 1919. by the Mcclure Nsvs-
paper syndiests)

bepsr eyaNsse1y
Outside of her improvised tent Msis
could hear the voices OF the eager
young barker" shrill against the
background of jazz music that came
from the verands beyond, and the
huzZing OF voices Of the crowds that
she could indistinctly see outlined
through the canvas that hid her from
the rest Of the men and women. girls
and boys who had assembled on the
woodmeTe lawn for the fete that was
10 raise enough money to tide over one
Of the local charities through the sum
ner.
This way to have your fortune
barker greatest gypsy In the
world. Come and have your fortune
told. Learn your past and know your
future. This way, ladies and gentle
men"
Then another higher pitched boyish
voice-the voice of the barker for
rival attraction.
Greatest menagerie In the world
Largest alligator In captivity. FYercest
bear in the world! Eats 'em alive
Hugs 'em to death! This way, this
way. Best show on the grounds"
And then the incessant This way
to have your fortune told. Greatest
gypsy in the world. Cross her palm
with silver and she'll tell you your for
tune
And still Maia sat within her close
little tent. none too comfortable be-
meath the heavy load of chains and
tawdry jewelry that embeilished her
costume. Moreover her hair was
hanging loosely on her shoulders and
the mask across her face was oppres-
sive. But worst Of all, she was sit
ting there In her tent wasting her time
and the vocal energy Of her willing
young aid with the megaphone outside
without having the satisfaction Of tax
ing In any money
She wondered what she would tell
the people when they did come; II
didn't seem exactly easy. Still, II
was all In the days work. and II Mrs
Stanley Burton chose to keep her on
nt graduate nurses salary to idle
her time away In this fashion, why II
really wasn't going to disturb Mais.
For Mails had not been back from
her long months OF Red Cross duty
In France many weeks. and even q
respite such as this from the mere
trying sort OF nursing was bringing
welcome relief to overwrought nerves
I.I
charge OF Bobby Barton's strained
knee, but the ten-year-old Bobby had
recovered rapidly.
Meanwhile Alicia Barton had fasiy
refused to sit In the stuffy tent tell
Ing fortunes. though she had been
promised by her mother to the com
mittee and duly advertised as one
Of the 'side shows" As a Iast-min-
ute substitute Maia. about to return
TO town. had been urged to stay
little longer for the purpose Of tax
ing Alicia's place. And Alicia had
gone sailing and Mais had been put
into the gypsy costume specially
made for Alicia. and Mrs Barton was
sure II Maia kept her mask on no one
would know the difference.
Meantime Bobby Barton. entirely
recovered as TO his strained knee and
more Than enthusiastic over the one
who had brought comfort and diver
sion to his irksome days OF con
valescence. was continuing to bark"
outside her tent.
As minutes passed and no shadow
darkened the entrance OF her tent
Maia was aware OF . slight dlsappoint-
ment. Then she heard her barker:
Greatest attraction on the grounds
Hey. why doesn't some one come and
get their fortune told7" Apparently
Bobby. too. was becoming discour-
aged.
Then through her mask Maia was
aware that some one was rapidly
making for the tent entrance. She
felt an unexpected sense OF confusion
stage fright. It seemed-and she
>huffied her fortune cards nervously.
She had gone into the operating room
duty often with far less nervousness
than this.
There was q fumbling at the tent
nap. a sidewise shuffilng Of the feet
and then dark face was thrust In
qulringIy in. 1t wasn't an unkind face
nor an especially ferocious one, and
Its expression was one more Of in
quisitiveness than anything else. but
still one doesn't encounter even gentle
brown bears every day and II was