New Britain herald., 1928-04-09

away"
 You let her alone Sam Pclton." l the farmers wife commanded tart ly. "Go on, Princess Lal|a. I think you're just wonderful - knowing about my mother being
 dead and even her name and all.'
 And Sally continued the reading
 with Constable Polton breathing
 audibly upon her neck as she bent her small head sravely over the
 crystal. When she could think of
 nothing else to tell the highly , pleased woman, she was despcr-
 ate. It seemed to her that every
 one in the tent was looking at her.
 reading panic in her trembling fin
 gers, in her fllttering eyeli1s.
 Gimme a knock-down to my
 past, present and future. Sister," | the constable suggested with heavy | sarcasm and jocularity. "Reckon
 an officer of the law don't have to
 pay. And you'd better make it q
 good one, or I'll run you in for ob- | taining money under false pre- l lenses. Come on, now. Mig Holtz-
 man has already give you q good | tip-off, and l guess my star speaks | for itself. Knowing my name and my business, you oughta he able l to fake a pretty good line for mo. but if you don't tell me my wifc's
 name, how many kids I got, where como from. and anything else I'm a-mind to ask you, I'll make you a present Of free board and
 lodging at the country's expense" Unknown to Sally. whose eyes
 were fixed. blind with fear, upon the crystal tightly cuppcd in her 1 ice-cold palms. Gus, the barker. had drawn near enough to hear the constable's threats and demands. Sure, officer" he boomed heart fly. to Sally's amazement, just
 ask the little lady anything you like. She sees all, knows all. Step
 right up, folks. and hear Princess
 I.alla, favorite Crystal-eazer 10 the Sultan of Turkey before she cs- capped from his harem tell your fcl-
 low-townsman, Constable Sam Pel- ton, the truth the whole truth and
 something besides the truth--a few
 things that arc going to happen to him that Officer Sam don't yet
 dream Of. Step right up, folks!
 Don't be bashful, Step up and get an earful about your esteemed fellow -townsman and officer of the l law--'
 Sally felt the ice melting slowly ] in her veins. Dear Gus! He was
 stalling. gaining time, subtly 1 frightening the constable. whose
 face had gone rcdder and redder.
 whose eyes glanced with furtive
 unease from the crystal to the grinning faces of his fellow townsmen," who apparently had no
 great love for Constable Sam Pei ton.
 Then that which Gus had ar
 ranged by means Of code signal took place. Two ''schillers." has
 tily summoned by a carnival en-
 ploye. suddenly broke into loud
 curses and sharp. skipping blows
 which echoed in the instantly quiet | tent.
 ''Pick my pocket, would you?" | the raucous voice of a schiller"
 demanded between slaps and punch es. "I seen you-sneakin' your l hand in my pocket"
 Constable Pelton. glad to be able to assert his authority. glad also.
 possibly. to escape a, too intimate
 revelation of his past, bounded
 from the platform, collared the l fighting 'schlllers." and dragged them triumphantly away.
 When the last stragelers Of the
 carnival crowd had been ushered
 rather unceremoniously from the tent, Sally rose from her chair and | battered swiftly to where Gus, the
 barker, stood talking with Pop By 1 bee. owner and manager of Bybcc's $ i Bigger and Better Carnival.
 Thank you, Gus. l was scared
 nearly to death. It was wonderful
 the way you stalled along till those two rubcs-' she was already be-
 coming familiar with carnival ! lingo-''got into a fight. Wasn't
 it lucky for me they did?" she
 added naively.
 Hell, kid." Gus srinncd at her
 and tilted his derby more rakishly 1 over his left eye. ''1t was a frame
 up. Them's our boys The guy
 that prctended to have his pocket i picked will swear he made q mis- ! take. and the worst old Sam can | do is to have '"m fined for disor- 1 dorlv conduct. I'll square fl with l '"rn, and they'll he ill Capital City | by shoN time tomorrow"
 Pop Bybc" chucklcd richly. his | bright, palc-bluc eyes gloaminS in l th" lobstcr-r"d cNpan.", Of his old l face. 'Diln't l tell you. child. that l the law couldn't touch you long as 1 you stuck with the carnival? Dave l tells Hle you're bahbling about run
 hing away again because we're hit . | ting the trail for your home town tonight You stick. Sally. Pop By
 bee and Gus and the rest of us will talk" care of you.'
 1 Sally's lips parted 10 toll him Of Nl'a threat 10 lip off the police if 1 she dll not relinquish her claim upon I,avii'a love and friendship. i but before the first word tumblcd l out. the olI inhibition against tatlling, taught her in the stern school of life 'n an orphanage. re- strained h"r.
 "Iou'ra all SO good 10 me- she choked. then turned abruptly away 10 wh"r" "ritty Sing" th" midget. was inpati"n,Iy awaiting her hu-
 man -ni ln-Cllir.
 T don't W1ut to influence you
 undul!" th" midget piped in her prlm. high 'ittle voice, but MT.
 l3yhee and Gus are right. You are n,8f f.. if earn iy.1 flian any