The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-06

tism and was tickled 10 death 70
So Nora Ford's sister. That's who
! said ] was. you know. But Il
pretty near got me into trouble.
The old lady took II for granted
i knew Z lot Of things about you.
that ! didn't know. and wouldn't
have told me just what "a come to
ind out II ! hadn't used my bean
in stringing her along, I had to
90 mighty easy asking her about
you, since Il was my sister ! was
supposed to be 40 het up over find
ing, but lucky for you she'd been.
reading the papers and knew that
|you were In trouble"
"Oh!" Sally moaned, covering her
lhot face with her little brown.
painted hands. "Then Gramma
Bangs thinks I'm . bad girl-oh!
Did you tell her I'm not?"
"What do you take me fora
blamed fool?" Mrs. Bybee demanded
heatedly. II didn't let on I'd ever
seen sou In my life. But It was
something she let spill when she
was talking about you and this
story in the papers that give me
the low-down on tho whole thing"
''Oh. what!' Sally iQplored, al.
most frantic with impaEience.
well, she said, You cant blame
Nora for putting Sally in the or
phanagc when tho money stopped
coming. seeing as how she was sick
and needing an operation and every.
thing. But 1t pref near broke her
heart'-that's what the old dame
said"
Butt don't understand" Sally
protested. her sapphire eyes cloud
ing with bewilderment. ''The
money? What money? Did she
mean my-father:"
II thought that ut first. too"
Mrs. Bybee nodded her bobbed gray
head with satisfaction. But lucky
didn't say 50. or I'd have give
the whole show away. just yes.
Undecided her. and she went on.
Reckon she thought I might be
taking exceptions TO the way she'd
been running on about how pitiful
it was for that dear little child
to be put In an orphans home. 20
she tried to show me that my sis
ter had done the only thing she
could do under the circumstances.
Pretty soon It all come out.
Nora she said, told mo not to
breathe word to soul. but seeing
las how you're her sister and prob
ably know all about 1t. I reckon It
won't do no harm after all these
years. Then she told me that Nora
Ford had no more idea'n a jack
rabbit whose baby you was"
Then she wasn't my mother!"
Sally cried out In such q heart
broken voice that Mrs. Bybee
reached across the card table and
patted her hands. dirty diamonds
twinkling on her withered fingers.
mo. she wasn't your mother"
the showman's wife conceded with
brusQue sympathy. But can't sec
as how 1t leaves you any worse OF
than you was before. One thing
ought to comfort you-you know It
wasn't your own mother that
turned you over to an orphanage
and then beat 1t. leaving no adj
dress. Seems like" she went on
briskly. from what old lady
Bangs told me. that Nora Ford had
been hired to take you when she
was maid in swell home In New
York. and she had to beat it-that
was part OF the agreements
there never would be any scandal
on your real mother. She didn't
know whose kid you was-so the
old lady says-and when the
money orders stopped coming sud.
denly she didn't have the least idea
how 10 trace your people. She sup.
posed they was dead-and do. too.
So 1t looks like you'd better make
up your mind to being an or.
phan-"
"But, oh, Mrs. Bybce!" Sally
cried piteously, her eyes wide blue
pools OF misery and shame. my
real mother must have been-bad,
or she wouldn't have been ashamed
OF having me! Oh, / wish I hadn't
found QUIT" And she laid her head
down on her arms on the card table
and burst into tears.
Don't be little fool" Mrs. BY.
bee admonished her severely,
Reckon 1t amt up to you, Sally
Ford, to set yourself up in judy
ment on your mother, whoever she
may have BEEN"
But she sent me away" Sally
sobbed brokenly. "She was ashamed
OF me, and then forgot all about
me. Oh, ! wish I'd never been
born"
Il reckon every kids said that
= hundred times before she's old
enough to have good sense" Mrs.
Bybee scoffed. "Now, dry up and
scoot to the dress tent to put some
more makeup on your face. The
show goes on. And take It from
me. child, you're better of than 4
lot OF girls that join up with the
carnival. You're young and pretty
and you've got q boy friend that'd
commit murder for you and pref
near did It. and you've got a job
that gives you q bed and cakes.
and enough loose change to buy
yourself some glad rags by. the
time we hit the Big Town"
Tho Big Town." Sally raised
her head, interest dawning unwil.
lingly in her grieving blue eyes.
"You mean-New York;"
''Sure I mean New York. We
30 into winter quarters there in
November. and II you stick to the
show ! may be able to land you I
job in the chorus. God knows you
are pretty enough-just the tyne
to mako every six.footer want to
light any other man that looks ct
you"
'Oh, you're good to met" Sally
blinked away the last Of her tears,
which had streaked her brown