The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-12

| so flung the rug on the ground and
stretched out on it. I've been asleep"
He frightened his hold Look here,
my dear, If you have me on your mind
every minute, I'll go off by myself
somewhere. Give me hand up, Ger
ard. I've been lying here SO long that
| I'm stiff.'
Rodney Gerard linked an arm In his
as he stood up. Prudence was con-
scious of the tension about her mouth
as she looked at them. David's face
was so pale in comparison to that Of
the man beside him. She achieved
fair imitation of laugh
"Have you on mind every minute,
Davel You'd be surprised If you
knew that / haven't thought of you
once since tucked you into that
steamer chair. Now who's coming?"
The gate In the white picket fence
which enclosed the garden creaked on
It's hinges. A grotesque figure turning
cartwheels with incredible rapidity
hurtled through the opening, came
rlght-side up, scratched a chalky ear
which protruded through his white
skull cap, and made a sweeping bow.
Jean raced to her uncle.
"a clowni Uncle Rod, clown!
Where's the clrcus?"
Had Rodney Gerard gritted an ex-
clamation between his teeth, or had
she imagined It? Prudence looked
from his narrowed eyes to the smeared
blue eyebrows, the lips like bloody
cash In the whiteness of the chalk
| face of the man who was looking back
at him. The regulation white suit of
the sawdust ring, polka-dotted with
black, showed traces of travel.
Jeans eyes were like stars. "Oh,
Uncle Rod! Isn't he peach! You
will take me to the circus, won't your"
David Schuyler held out his hand
and smiled.
"How are you, Chicot? Must be two
years since I've seen you. Where did
you drop from?'
The clown shook Schuyler's hand.
| He blinked and swallowed turning
his cone-shaped cap in chalky hands.
"Never expected to see you here
sir. They told me at the Rescue mis-
sion that you was sick somewhere.
I'm with Sassoons Smashing show.
It's stuck in a nearby town. and when
the boss found lid once lived in this
region, he thought might have drag
with folks and sent me on motor
| cycle to drum up trade"
His eyes shifted to Rodney Gerard.
"The little girl would like the show,
| Mister. It's swell show"
"Uncle Rod. you will take me, won't
your" Jeans lips quivered with eager
ness. "I've never seen many horses
I've never been to circus! Mother
thinks they're cheap. Oh, Miss Prue,
ask him to take me, please-he'll do
it If you ask him."
Significance shone through the
amusement in Rodney Gerard's eyes as
they met Prue's. Only an instant
| their chances met, before he parleyed
| indulgently:
"Take it easy, Jean. You've got me
all excited. You've started something,
| Chicot. You said the show was stuck
in the next town. What's the trouble?"
| Again Prudence had the sense of an
| undercurrent, dramatic undercurrent
| at that, Gerard's curt question seemed
to set atmospheric high-potency waves
| in motion. Was he angry? Annoyed
was a better word. Whatever his
mood, it frightened her nerves. The
| clown crushed his cap In one VEIN
knotted hand.
"It's this way, Mister. The next
town we were billed in was cleaned
out by fire. Our show keeps up with
our paper, rain or shine, floods or
| knee-deep mud, but when the town
| itself goes blooey, what have you?
| That throws us out. So the boss says
we'd lay out the show in the burg
| I've come from. It's good honest
show for the little girl to see, Mister"
He pulled at painted forelock,
looked at Prudence with haggard eyes,
stretched the red cash in grin.
SAN for big girls, too. We've had
to turn away crowds all season, and
the parade-whoops, you should see
the parade! All the headliners out
and the calliope. Sounds this-a-
way
Chicot gave an imitation which set
the echoes jangling 1t brought 81
Puffer from the barn on run. His
wife and Miss Mack spilled from the
kitchen door.
"YOu said the show was in near
by town, Chicot. How near?"
Prudence caught the swift glance
between Rodney Gerard and Mrs. Puff
fer as he asked the question. was
aware of the sound as of gas ESCAPING
from a punctured balloon, before she
closed her lips and retreated, pulling
Jane Mack with her into the house.
Did the clowns presence mean some
thing to her. toof
"Sure it's nearby. Only fifty miles,