The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-09

up the engine at 3 o'clock, I believe
Plenty of time then to decide what
to do" He shook her a little tC
make her stop shivering anc
whimpering with fear. Buck up
honey! I'm not going to let the
police get you; neither is Pop Bybee
Dear little Sally!" and he stopped
from his great height to brush the
tip of her short, brown-powoered
nose with his lips.
During the last performance in
the Palace Of Wonders a village
constable, his star shining impor-
family from the lapel of his Palm
Beach suit, sauntered leisurely
through the tent, cycling the freaks
with skeptical amusement and ask
ing all the Smart-Aleck questions
which the more tinid members of
the. carnival crowd longed to ask
and did not dare.
"Bet you wouldn't let me put any
Of that glass you're eatin' in my
coffee" he guffawed to the ostrich
man whom Gus, the barker, was
ballyhooing at the moment. I'm
on to all you guys. Rock candy,
amt it?"
Sure, officer" Gus interrupted
his spiel to answer deferentially
Wont you have a little snack
with the human ostrich? I partic-
uIarly recommend these nails. Bofo
eats only the choicest Six-penny
nails; will accept no substitutes. And
if nails rusty, out with it! Sort
Of an epicure, Boffo is! Have a
handful Of glass and nails with
Boffo, officer! Bighearted, that's
Boffo!"
The constable refused hastily and
the crowd roared with delight. The
discounted officer of the law
ambled over to make his disparag-
ing inspection of Jan, the giant from
Holland.
"Pull up your pants legs and let
me see your stiltS," the constable
ordered authoritatively. Il amt the
sucker you guys think 1 am. I'm
on to your tricks-been going to
carnivals man and boy for fifty
years"
With his eyes as remote and sad
and patient as if he had not heard
or understood a word of the con-
stables insult, Jan obeyed, rolling
his trousers to the knees. When the
Doubling Thomas representative of
the law had pinched the pale, putty
colored flesh of JAMS pitifully thin
calves and found them to be flesh
and-blood indeed, he passed on, red
of face, furious at the snortS OF
laughter which filled the tent.
What if he takes notion to
wash my face?" Sally shivered,
bending low, in an attitude of myS-
tic concentration, over the crystal
which she was pretending to read
for a farmers wife who had no in
terest in Boffo, the human ostrich,
but who did have perfect faith in
the powers of Princess Lalla."
What if he is just pretending to
be interested in the other freaks
and is really looking for me? Has
Mia dared to tip him off that Sally
Ford is here?"
But her little sing song voice
droned on, predicting prosperity and
happiness and "a journey by land
sea" for the credulous farmers wife.
whats your real name, sister?"
the constable demanded loudly, Of
ficiously, stamping up the steps that
led to the little platform.
Please" Sally pleaded prettily,
making her eyes wide and cloudy
with mystic visions, do not cen
terr-upt! The weston she will go
aWayl"
you let her alone, Sam Pelton!"
the farmers wife commanded tart
ly. Go on, Princess Lalla. think
you're just wonderful - knowing
about my mother being dead and
even her name and ALL"
And Sally continued the reading
with Constable Pelton breathing au-
dibly upon her neck as she bent her
small head gravely over the crystal.
When she could think of nothing
else to tell the highly pleased
woman, she was desperate. 1t
seemed to her that everyone in the
tent was looking at her, reading
panic in her trembling fingers.