I'm sick of having this gentleman
business thrown up to me. That's all you two talk about. I suppose you
think you're better than the company you live with. Let me tell you
this, you're show people and nothin' more. I don't give a damn who
your people are; you're my wife and my daughter, and that's all there
is to it. I won't stand this sort of--"
"Tom, you _must_ keep still," said his wife firmly. He was intoxicated;
she knew better than to argue with him, or to agree with him. "All this
has nothing to do with the boy. We must give him a chance, the same as
--you understand?"
He glared at her warningly.
"I don't protect thieves and murderers," he said quickly.
Then he whirled about and snatched aside the flap, calling to the
group of acrobats.
"Come out here, you! Step lively. I want to ask a few questions. Where
the dev--Say, haven't you got out of that suit yet? Why, you little
scuttle, I'll rip it off your back if you're not out of it in two
minutes. Hold on! Come out here first."
As Jenison walked past him the proprietor gave him a violent cuff on
the side of the head. The boy, weak and faint, reeled away and would
have fallen but for the tent pole which he managed to clutch.
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