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

shake him." aroused in her a sud-
den blind fury, a fury as intense as
Nita'S.
I'll do no such thing! DaVid'S
mine, as long as he wants to be!
You have no right to dictate to mel"
us that SOP" Mia Strengthened
hands digging into her hips, a toss
of her ragged, badly curled blond
head emphasizing her sarcasm. us
that SO? Maybe you'll think I had
some right when the cops tap you
on the shoulder tomorrow! Too bad
you and your David can't share a
suite in the county jail together!"
"You'd-you'd do that-to David,
too?" Sally whispered over cold lips.
Il thought that'd get under your
skin!" Mia laughed harshly. Then,
as though the interview was sue
cessfully concluded, from her stand
point, the red-painted nails of her
claW-like hands began to pick at
the fastening of her grass skirt.
Sally was turning away blindly,
feeling like small, trapped animal,
when a tiny, Shrill voice came from
the midget's COT
Il heard every word you said,
Nita! I think you must have gone
crazy. The heat affects some like
this, but I never saw it strike a
carnival trouper quite so bad"
You shut up, you little double
crossing runt!" Nita whirled toward
the midgets bed.
Il may be a runt," the midget's
voice Shrilled, "but I'm in full pos
session of my faculties. And when
I tell Winfield Bybee the threats
you've made against this poor child,
you'll find yourself stranded in
Stanton without even a grass skirt
to earn a living with. And if the
carnival grapevine is still working,
you'll find that no other show in
the country will take you on. 1t
will be back to the hash joints for
you, Mia, and I for one think the
carnival will be neater, Sweeter
place without you. Get your make
up off and get into bed, Sally. And
don't worry. Mia wouldn't have
dared try to bluff real trouper
like that"
For Gawd's sake, are you-all go
ing to jaw all night?" a weary voice,
with a fiat, southern drawl demand
ed Indignantly. I've got some I'M
portant sleeping to do, if I'm going
to show tomorrow. Gawd, I'm so
tired my bones are cracking wide
open"
Shut up yourSelf!" Nita snarled.
slouching down upon the camp stool
beside her trunk, to remove her
makeup. "You hooters don't know
what tired means. If you had to
jelly all day like I do-Oh, Gawd
what life! What life You're
right, Nudge! 1t sure gets YOU
eighteen shows a day and this hell
fired heat"
1t was Nita's surrender, or at
least her pretended surrender, to
the law Of the carnival-live and let
live; ask no questions and answer
none.
In the thick silence that followed
Sally tremblingly seated herself be-
fore her trunk and smeared her
neck, face, arms and hands with
theatrical cold cream. She was
conscious that other weary girls
drifted in-"the girl nobody can
lift" the albino girl, whose pink
eyes were shaded with big blue Cog
giles; the two diving girls, looking
as if their diet of soda pop and
bananas eaten under water did not
agree with them. But she was aware
of them rather than saw them.
Stray bits of their conversation
forced through her own conflicting
thoughts and emotions
where's my rabbit foot? Gawd.
I've lost MY rabbit foot! That
means run of bad luck, sure"
IN I says, Blow, you crazy
rube. Whaddye take me for?'"
Good pickings! If this keeps
up I'll be able to grab my cakes in
the privilege car-sold fifty-eight
postcards today"
"Whaddye know? Gus the barker's
fell something fierce for the new
kid. Nm they say Pop Bybee's got
her on percentage, as well as twelve
bucks per and cakes. Some guys
has all the luck"