The Devils Lake world., 1922-11-01
The Clowns
Story
BY CHARLES E. BAXTER

Blake 4 HeXley's International Grand
Circus and MenAgerie had ever
Known. They say all lions know u
sight more than humans give them
credit for, but | Won't say yes or no to
shat. I'm only the clown.
She used to puEr like a great kitten
when | Went by, and Strelcl, out the
soles OF her feet for me to tickle them
through the bars, Rub her head? God
side her cage and run my hand down
her back and tckled her ears, although
1t wasn't strictly allowed. You see.
I'm only the clown.
And she knew when Tipp had been
drinking. She couldn't stand that no.
how. She used to growl when he'd
put her through her tricks. and stand
sashing her tail in anger You see
aions can always spot anything wrong
about humans. But what made her
neal mad was when ripp had been
beating his wife. How do | know?
Well, in way l have to watch things
You see, I'm only the clown.
Nancy Tipp had been as pretty as
picture when Tipp married her. One
OF those little doll-like women who
take to men like Tipp for some reason
that nobody'll ever know. \ regular
angel in disposition, too. High-trapeze
performer, and bred in the business,
and that's apr to sour some women.
but it hadn't soured Nancy Tipp. She
idolized him. in spite of everything,
and wouldn't look at any of the boys
who used to cast eyes at her, though
there was many one would have died
for her. How do know? Well I'm
the clown.
But when Cissie Bustom joined
Blake & BeXley's and begun ropng in
Tipp-who was always ready for
anything in the female line that was
on Cissie's lines, Ada knew as soon as
any of us. After that Tipp used to
treat Nancy Npp worse than ever, and
more than once I've seen her painting
out a black eye that Tipp had given
her before running into the arena. She
Erieved over him, too, for long time.
But after while she got kind Of quiet
and bitter against him, and I'd watch
aim and think how I'd like to bust his
Mead if was anything but the clown.
Yes, sir, Ada knew all right. Tipp
and Nancy used to perform together
inside Of Ada's cage. kind of gym
nastic exhibition, ending in Ada's hoof
ing Tipp out of the cage and lying
down at Nancy Tipp's feet. And
rs Cissie and Tipp began carrying on
more and more openly Ada's temper
got worse and worse, but she loved
Nancy, and think that's what saved
Tipp's bacon, If l may say so, though
FIN the clown.
1t was the day before the annual
move to New York and Cissie and Tipp
had been alone all day. Something
was in the wind didn't know what,
but what l did see. about half an hour
before the performance, was Tipp
and laughing at her. If anything made
Ada mad, that did. She snarled and
showed her fangs, and growled and
lashed her tail, and bit at the iron bar
he dug into her ribs. 1t was clearly
his intention to irritate her to mad
ness, and l wished more than ever l
wasn't just the clown.
When the performance come on that
night Tipp and Nancy stepped inside
the cage and l saw he had loaded
pistol in his hand. Ada saw it too,
and she acted better than for long
time, but there was a mean look in
her eye which recognized for what 1t
was worth. Then come the moment
when it was time for Ada to spring on
Tipp and roll him over with her hoofs
being only a clown.
And suddenly my blood went cold.
For l saw Tipp deliberately pull some
thing out Of his sleeve and jab Ada in
the nose. Quick as lightning it was
done. With his back to the audience
and quick as lightning he was on his
feet and boiling for the door as Ada
snarled. And I saw that it was his
game to make his getaway and have
Nancy torn to pieces, the miserable
skulking> clown!
My blood went cold, as l said Blu,
It was all done in the flash of mo-
ment. There came roar from Ada
and just as Tipp had his hand upor
the door, she caught him. l saw Name,
run forward screaming, and fling her
self between them. And then it wa:
all over and Tipp lay on the floor o1
the cage, and he would never bea
Nancy Tipp again, for his head wa!
half torn from his body. yelled ant
ran forward into the cage, and mus
have looked pretty sight with my
face white and my spangles, ms
dressed up as a clown!
Nancy was lying in dead fain'
across Tipp's body and Ada wa:
crouching at her feet and never movet
nor uttered sound when pulled
Nancy up and carried her out. o.
]. course Ada had to be shot. But. as
M lions know a good dea
%ahe p 81 ll akaaaIns. and if there's any Iior
:, kpSiy fjpSc she's pOnp tn if thOu pl