The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-16

fiat, and Sally with him.
For what seemed like hours of
nightmare she struggled to release
herself from the steel-like clasp OF
his arms and the Smothering en-
brace of the rain-sodden canvas. To
add to the horror, rain fell heavily
upon the canvas that held them
pinned helplessly to the earth; hail
pelted her flesh bitingly even
through the dubious protection of
the canvas; and every moment they
were in mortal danger of being
trampled to death by the feet of
fleeing carnival visitors, who had
been clear of the tent when it had
collapsed.
Don't - struggle" came that
hooking voice, painting little with
the effort of speaking under the
smothering caul Of canvas. "Lie-
still. I'll hold up-the canvas-so
you breathe. Shield your face
with your-armS. Sorry-I muffed-
the role-of rescuer-of damsels-in
distress"
ooh, hush!" Sally cried angrily,
but doing her best to obey him. She
crooked an arm over her face, SO
that the hail no longer punished
it. And she relaxed as much as
possible, her head on Vans Shout
der, her feet pushing futiley at the
the sodden mass of canvas that
weighted them down. Vans left
hand was outspread, just above her
face, holding the dripping cloth high
enough above her nose to permit
her to breathe in some degree of
comfort.
"Better?" he asked casually, no
fear at all in his voice, and only a
hooking sort of anxiety. Wen
be safe enough here until the tent
is raised, unless someone steps on
us. And by this time your charm
ing employer, the redoubtable Pop
Bybee, has of course assembled his
roustabouts to raise the tent in the
expectation of finding buried treas
ure-ostrich men, midgetS, and
Turkish harem girls who read
crystals"
aren't you ever serious? Aren't
you frightened" Sally gasped.
Serious? Well, hardly ever!" the
man chuckled. frightened? FIRE.
quentlyl But I am so appreciative
of this opportunity to be alone with
you that I could hardly bubble with
fate to the extent of being fright
ened at the means which accom-
plished it,"
"Oh, I wonder what's happened
TOTO everybody" Sally began to
SILVER with sobs.
ITO David?" Vans hooking voice
came strangely out Of the darkness.
Lucky David, wherever he is now,
that your first thought should go to
him. David and Sally! How do you
like 'play-acting,' Sally Ford?"
The terror which the menace Of
violent death had held for her now
seemed a pallid, weak thing, beside
the housekeeping emotion which
the New Workers. hooking, amused
voice uttering her real name called
into being. Her head jerked in
stinctively from the comfort Of his
arm. Squirming away from him,
under the sodden blanket of cam
vas, she curled into tight little
ball of agony, her face cupped in
her hands. 80 that's why you
bothered me sol" she cried, her voice
muffled by her fingers. you're a
detectivel You knew all the time!
You were going to take me to Jail!
Oh, you-Oh! David, David!
Listen, you little idiot" Vans
voice came sharply, bereft of its
hooking note for once. I'm not a
detective! Good heavens! Do 1
look like one? I've always under
stood that they have enormous feet
and wear derbies and talk out of the
corner of their mouths" Mockery
was creeping back. did you think
that a poor little tyke like you was
worth sending to New York for a
detective to bay at your heels like
a bloodhound? I merely overhead
the little Betsey's keen penetration
of your disguise. And I took the
trouble to inquire casually of the