Evening star., 1923-02-25

IcIliHs acts anu hOOLCH SHOWS. odS .
that under those circumstances. II
somebody who could afford 10 lose
his money wanted TO play at IA few
little innocent games OF chance, he
didn't see anything wrong about It. If
they were kept we'll under cover.
You didn't fall7" Sweetie Papa's
mild eyes grew suddenly brilliant.
mot me. I stalled him Off without
giving him any answer at all"
Let's see. how long ago was II
Blackbird trimmed me IN Salt Lake"
Eighteen years. Sweetie."
"And he quit his wife and the show
business the next week. didn't hep
"Yeh-with your kale."
You don't have TO remind me of
that. How long has Il been since
there was circus In Blue Ridge?"
''Six years"
Sweetie Papa stared far down the
street TO where the keen-noted bugles
were announcing the approach Of the
parade.
"I've got a notion It's Blackbird."
came at last. I'm going to beat II
for the lot
A ND Sweet.e Papa beat it, there 20
n find Three-Cari Monte swinging
toward him.
There's a fellow around here look
ing for you. Says he's an old pal Of
yours"
1907" Sweet. raised his eyebrows.
"Give his name?'
Jordan
ried look.
where Is he?'
"Over By the kid show, talking to
Larry Gleed. Stalls that he's an old
Snowman"
Sweetie went forward then. toward
the ballyhoo stand. and the big,
black appearing man whom he saw
there. Then. ten feet away. he stop
ped.
Hello. Blackbird.' came shortly.
The big man turned and came bounc-
ing toward him.
Jimmy" he exclaimed. hand ex-
tended. Good to see you. honest It
up the license for you? Huh?"
"Yeh. What's behind it?" Sweetie
Papa had grasped the extneded hand
Imply. then dropped It. How much
Is IT going to cost me?"
"Cost you? For fixing up a little
think like license? Nothing? What's
the matter with your"
-
you're concerned. Blackie"
Blackbird Jordan stood back and
laughed
you ain's letting that little set-to
OF ours eat on you. are your"
me? Oh no. There isn't anything
left to eat But I'm remembering it.
Never thought I'd see you out here.
I was kind OF looking around for you
down at the bank"
Were you in there?"
NO" Swettie said It mildly. II
stayed outside. Kind OF hated to 20
In where could hear all those poor
I1fckels and dimes bowling for mercy.
Got a long way on my money. didn't
YOU. Blackie?" Then he changed his
tactics. TT sure was swell of you to
make that little offer through the
chief Of police"
+ Thanks" Blackb,rd accepted the
gratitude calmly. III you want any
thing like that fixed up around here,
I'll look after It. I'm pretty we'll In
the know here"
Seems so. You always were. Out
Of the circus game for good. huhY'
Except for today. It gets in your
blood. don't it?'
Blackbird's eyes glittered as he said
Il, and he stared about the circus lot,
at the vari-colored marquee. where
the roughnecks were placing In posi-
tion the steel gates" preparatory to
receiving the crowds OF the after
noon: the flying pennants atop the
center poles OF the menagerie and the
big top: the wagons. scattered about
the lot; the deserted horse tents and
dressing tops. vacant now as their oc-
cupants traiisd their way through the
downtown streets as a part Of the
parade. There was a nervous fretful-
ness in ,his gase. the half-exc,ted
bearing OF q man who feels the tug
OF adventure. and knows that he Is
anchored. At last he turned to look
down into the mildly scrvtinizing
eyes OF Sweetie Papa, then. with
sudden effusiveness reached out and
banged his big hands on the smaller
ones shoulders.
Sure feels good to be back on the
lot, Jimmy! Sure feels good. And
ftp4a t,,f
his shoulder, then bent close. want
to cut in on the big money!"
Nope" sweetle said It very quietly
and very firmly. Blackbird stared.
But this Is the goods-the real
stuff. Honest! I'VE been waiting for
you for ten days. I've got live one"
"Yeh. I heard you say that once
before. It cost me $4,000 bucks. Let's
change the subject. Whatever became
Of ILou?"
Lou? Lou who?"
Lou Jordan. Your Wife
"on," Blackbird grinned Hadn't
thought about her for years What
made you ask7"
Nothing. Only met the kid a
couple Of weeks ago
my kid. you mean
"She don't admit IT,"
"No?"
"Ch-huh,"
y \ X
UOH, we'll" slackbird shrugged his
~ shoulders as though to dis
miss the subject. II guess that's nat
ursi. She wasn't fnore'n three or four
when me and Lou split up, and. OF
aoux.a Ion,d ra,,t q lot nf stuff In her