Evening star., 1931-05-24

of the ring; evidently the fixer had sent them
straight from their act
In moment more they were within the car.
standing nervouSly silent. The girl was pretty
and blue-eyed, with q firm mouth and an
equally firm chin The man was straight and
lean. Shoestring Charlie had liked this pair
the first day he ever saw them-a snowy morn
ing early In the previous Spring. when they
had come to his Winter quarters seeking work.
well. Kids" he announced, i've thought
over that request Of yours to be laid on during
the Metropolis engagement. I've got another
idea. You're nred-nOwl"
tFiredl" They shot the question at him, the
color g0ne from their faces.
GhoestxingS grin treasured them. GOing sud-
denly to the girl, he placed an arm about her
shoulders
Listen Natalie" he said quietly. "You two
win be hired again just ~ soon IS we leave
ASetrOpolis"
-oh, AGr shOestringl" She was happy again.
Il see now. Then. II my father asks you any
questions"
stop right therel" demanded Shoestring,
"n don't know anything about that I cant
tell no lies" For . moment he pulled thought
fully at his cigarette. II wish you two would
pick hAdeaway in Metropolis so youn be safe
but handy. Maybe I'll have to work you, Joe,
after all. This assistant Of yours amt got
too many brains That guy-in Metropolis
doesn't know you anyway, does hep"
NO SIR"
ZINE. But we won't take any chances unless
We have TO. Now beat It. Pick yourself hide
away and wire me your address" Then rs an
after thought: You've never spilled anything
to anybody around the show?"
They stood silent q moment. At last the girl
spoke:
mot unless Whitney Bates, the cagemau,
should have overheard something. We were
over BY the leopard cage one day and got to
talking; we didn't think anybody was around
Then as we walked away saw Whitney Bates
living underneath aSleoD fhOaICh
That's his usual state" answered Shoestring
Charlie. Il guess you're safe. Now beat It."
They left then, but at the platform the man
turned back. while the girl hurried across the
lot to her packing.
I'm sorry, Mr.. Grenolds" he began halt
ingly, but we're little short Of cash"
II thought you two had been salting away
your dough-"
Edwards was Ill at ease. I'm tell you about
it, Il you insist"
Shoestring Charlie answered by pulling out
his wallet, waiting until Joe Edwards should
name the amount. He asked no questions and
made no comment; he remembered now that
the girls engagement ring had been missing
from her finger. Joe named the amount he
needed, thanked Shoestring and hurried on
The show owner rolled another cigarette. At
last he shrugged his shoulders and turned back
to his work
THE Worlds Famous Circus had something
to talk about that night. Joe Edwards and
his wife Natalie had been fired; they had left
between shows without explanation.
It was still the main news three days later
when the fixer returned.
Good thing you got rid of that pair" he
told Shoestring. THAT guy Hempstead's hostile
I spent IL dollars and bits on drinks for
the mayors secretary and I'm Dustin with
gossip. II we don't stack up q hundred per
cent we're closed"
narrowly.
''That amt ALL This guy HempStead,s a
shake-down rat" added the fixer. "Aint he
double-croSsed the very man who put him in
office? That's what the Investigations for
blackmail"
Shoestring Charlie reached for his makin's.
There was tired look in his eyes. But for the
moment he was not thinking of his own
troubles. His mind was on a fair-haired girl
and young man, sufficiently in love to defy
even a f1re-eating father. This was not the
first time that Shoestring Charlie had seen a
girl from the outside world seek her love under
the big tops, and fight against prejudice to
do it,
He knew, too. what that fight meant, the
loneliness, the longing for those she defied; the
hope, the waiting, day by day, until the time
when she could take her husband home and
prove that he was the greatest man in all the
world. Likewise the joy Of proving to that
husband that the parents she loved were not
utterly selfish, utterly bigoted, utterly narrow.
There'd be little chance for that now. If Natalie
Edwards father were convicted Of blackman.
whats the dope?" he asked
The nxer shrugged his shoulders.
II got Q Hp-but no dope. You can't expect
guy to spin everything. The c1AerS heen
working through somebody TO shake down .
rich friend OF the mayors. The old program
racket. Xcu know. for the police bensnt. Take
few pages - advertising and the roEee
Departments 4oEgets certain thAngS-a$ tsoOS