Page:Harvey O'Higgins--Silent Sam and other stories.djvu/304

292 proceed downstairs, where some inter-es-ting exhibits are awaiting us," and, leaving Redney to his triumph, he went below with all the dignity of an old dog that has been barked out of countenance by a pup.

When Redney had emptied his tray, he said cheerfully: "Now, frien's, I want to thank yuh fer yer kind attention an' say good-night. The rest o' the show 's waitin' fer yuh downstairs. Hurry up, er yuh 'll miss it. Go on. Go on. NO fight to-night. All bets are off."

He waited until the last reluctant small boy had taken to the stairs; then he grinned his way over to Madame's tent, winking at his friends on their platforms, and counting his nickels as he went. "Well," he said, "I 'm sold out. How 're you gettin' on?"

"What 's the matter?" she asked. "What did you do it fer?" He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the hall. "They 're grabbin' everythin' downstairs fer rent. Two fer a nickel 's better 'n nothin' apiece. The game 's up."

"There!" she said. "I knew it!"

She sank back upon her cushions, staring at him with the dumb eyes of disaster realized. He laughed and reached for her cards on the table.

"Now what 'll we do?" she said. "Now!"

He sat down and shuffled the bits of pasteboard and began to lay them out on the table before him.