The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-07

| ton were not so keen as they had
been.
Although there had been a sharp
faced shrew of wife clinging to
his arm before he vaulted upon the
platform for a "reaGing," she me-
chanically told the meek little
middle-aged man that he was in
love with a 10 beat ti-ful girl wiz
golden hair" and that he would
marry wiz her"
After the poor husband had been
Snatched from the platform by his
furiously jealous wife and given a
most undignified padding with her
hastily removed shoe-an added
attraction" which proved vastly en-
tertaining to the carnival crowd, but
which caused a good many quarters
to find their hasty way back into
handbags and trouSer pockets
Sally felt her failure SO keenly that
she leaned backward in an effort to
be cautious.
For Gods sake. kid, snap out
Of it before the next show!" Gus
pleaded, hopping his dripping brow
with a huge purple-bordered white
silk handkerchief. I'm part owner
of this tent, you know, and you're
hittin me where 1 live. Come on,
ats a good girl! Forget it--what-
ever's eatin' on you! This amt a
half-bad world-not a-talll What if
that sheik of yours is trailin' Nita
around? Reckon he's inst after her
crouch bag"
"Her-grouch bag?" Sally seized
upon the unfamiliar phrase in order
to put off as long as possible full
realization of the housekeeping
news he was giving her so casually.
That's right. You're still a rube,
amt you. A crouch bag is a show
business way Of sayin' a performers
got wad sailed down to blow with
or buy chicken farm or, if it's a
hard -the-eyes dame like Nita, to
catch man with. Nita'S got a roll
big enough to choke a boa constric-
tor. I seen her countin' it one night
when she thought she was safe. She
was, too. 1 wouldn't warm up to
that Jane if she was the last broad
in the world. Now, listen, kid, you
have a good, hard cry in the dress
tent before the next show and you'll
feel like a new woman. That's me
all over! Never tell wren to turn
off the faucet! Nothin' like a good
cry. amt been married four times
for nothin'."
Sally waited to hear no more.
She rushed out of the Palace of
Wonders, a frantic, fantastic little
figure in purple satin trousers and
gold-braided green jacket, her red
sandaled feet spurning the grass
stubbled turf that divided the show
tent from the dress tent. And be-
cause she was almost blinded with
the tears which Gus, the barker,
had sagely recommended, she col
lided with another figure in the
ALLEY"
Look where you're going, you
little charity brat, you" And Nita' IS
harsh, metallic voice added a word
which Sally Ford had sometimes
seen scrawled in chalk on the high
board fence that divided the boys
playground from the girls at the
orphanage.
So Nita had listened! She had
been eavesdropping when Mrs. By
bee had told Sally the shameful
things she had learend from Gram
ma Bangs about Sally's birth and
abandonment!
you can't call me that" Sally
gasped, rage flaming over her,
Transforming her suddenly from a
timid, brow beaten child of charity
into a wildcat.
Before Nita, the Hula dancer,
could lift a hand to defend herself,
e small purple-and-green clad fury
flung itself upon her breast; gilded
nails on brown painted fingers
flashed out, were about to rip down
those painted, sallow cheeks like
the claws of the wildcat she had
become when powerful hands seized
her by the shoulders and dragged
| her back.
What tells going on here?" Gus,
the barker, painted as Sally strug-
gled furiously, still insane with rage
at the insult Nita had flung at her
Better keep this she-devil out
Of my sight, Gus, or I'll cut her
heart out!" Mia painted, adjusting
| the grass skirt which Sa11V'S fl1ri-