Evening star., 1921-10-02
Oily seemed surprised that I had

Oily seemed surprised that l had
guessed the girl was Pink.
How did you know she was the
goil?" he asked. but without much
spirit. well, no matter! She's the
dame I mean. Mack. she's willing
enough!" Oily said. Sure. the big
show is all right. Mack. She's will
ing to be tied, Pink is; but-say, did
you know Morris?'
Like book" I said.
Say, is it a fact he stood TOT
all them cats?" :
Then knew. Oily didn't have to
Cell me another word. Pink and
Norris had been married at the even
ing Performance one night when we
showed at Dallas. 1t was a great
filled the tent so full we had to walk
the elephants single file In the grand
entry to keep them from stepping on
the Texans who were sitting on the
sawdust at the foot OF the blues. II
was a great stunt and Pinky never
tired telling about 1t. and 1t was
such a good stunt that every cat
trainer that got married after that
had the wedding pulled on In the
ring-cage.' I could see why she had
suggested the same thing to OILY. 1t
was professional pride. 1t was her
own stunt and II the other cat
trainers were stealing her stuff and
going to pass the chance to make
good at 1t again.
Oily poked at the sawdust with his
toe.
Say, Mack" he said, ''she knows
a preacher who thinks he's regular
Daniel The beasts and birds all love
him to that extent that they cry
for him at night. He's willing to be
inside the cage when he ties the knot.
Nice little party. amt 1t? Me and
Pink and the cats and the preacher
all Gagged up and saying the TILL
death-us-do-part stun" He smiled q
sickly smile. Say. Mack. you know
how them cats love me, don't you?
Death would US part just about the
minute stepped into that cage with
you let mo talk to that Pink per-
son. Oily" said. She's q reason
able creature. for Tor, -, woman; son n,u and
He almost kissed my hands
/ had q long confab with Pink. She
was a reasonable creature, as had
said, and before had talked half an
hour she began to see that the mar
riage wouldn't amount to much In the
end Il the big cats ate =. Oily before ne
"rn tell you. Mack" she said. I'm
not pis-headed. I'll say right now
that when the tent-pole caved In
Morris head, I made q resolve that
II I was ever fool enough to marry
again I'd be married in the ring
cage with all my cats right there as
stubborn Jade. like Oily too well
to chuck him just because he don't
like my cats. Some Of 'em are nasty
brutes, Mack"
"All cats are" said.
"Not Leo. Mack" she said reproach-
"Wen. I wouldn't hardly call him
a cat" I said. I'D call him a cot
tage cheese, except that that's Q rather
wildish thing to call Leo"
You mean thingm she said. pre-.
tending to poSt. ~, II ought & to N1ss spst
about Oily: I'll give up the cat idea"
pink" said, "you are just as
white as they make them these days,
you are"
She smiled.
II know am. Mack" she said:
has something to do with 1t. don't
suppose" she added As was turning
to hurry away and tell Oily, that
Oily would mind being married in
the Il, .. ..ns-case i. If I had no cats in the
She was as sober as a Judge.
why, moi" / said. why should
he? The cage won't bite him, will it?''
4
."THEN it i. all settled" she said
sayly. 'We'n be married in
the ring-cage In the big top any night
performance Oily chooses. just before
the big cats are let into the cage.
You can tell him. "a
turned to 20 again. was half
way out Of the tent.
Mack" she called.
turned back.
''Of course" she said. hanging onto
the words as II she hated to let them
slip from her. "oily won't mind hav-
ing . cottage cheese in the cage"
"A-a whatf" I cried, and then I
remembered what I had called Leo.
I went right back to where Pink was
standing. '.Now, see here, Pink" I
said severely; "a Joke is = Joke. YoT
that old Leo cat iS-a hunk of cot