The Shadow 279 by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Drago, the Sword Swallower

Alhambra, the Snake Queen

Nicco, the Cigarette Fiend

Spidora, the Spider Girl

Benzone, the Knife Thrower

Panchini, the Tattooed Man

Marina, the Mermaid

Zeno, the Electrical Wizard

Ajax, the Wild Man

Damon and Pythias, Inseparable Twins

“Cross us out for a start,” suggested Steve. “That chops three off the list. Then eliminate the other newcomers.”

“Nicco for one,” checked Margo. “He’s just a roughneck that Pop is using until he can buy a fake genuine Egyptian mummy. Zeno, for another; he only joined up yesterday.”

“The droopy chap,” defined Steve. “From the looks he gave me, I thought he was going to heave some volts from one of his machines.”

“That’s just it,” laughed Margo. “As Ajax, you’re supposed to be the fellow who catches lightning, only you don’t. It was the billing the electrical wizard wanted.”

“So that was it! Well, he’s Zeno now. Let’s get on to the regulars.”

Margo checked off Alhambra, who couldn’t possibly be The Harlequin. Next, she put a mark beside Benzone.

“Hold on!” exclaimed Steve. “You can’t eliminate him yet -”

“That’s only for Juanita,” interrupted Margo. She ran the pencil to the bottom of the list and added: “We can mark off these - or this, as you might call them.”

The quip brought an approving grin from Steve. Margo was referring to Damon and Pythias. Of the old guard, they were most certainly ineligible, even more than Alhambra, since neither of the Inseparables could navigate singly. Since most of the list was gone, Margo emphasized those that remained by underlining their names. The candidates for the title of Harlequin consisted briefly of Drago, Benzone and Panchini.

“We’ll watch them,” assured Steve. “Now let’s get back to the lot. It’s almost show time.”

Outside the whale tent they ran into Pop Sorber who was coming over from the siding where the carnival train had been shunted. When he saw his two wandering artistes, Pop gave them a suspicious stare and demanded:

“What brings you over here?’”

“Shilling for Walla-Walla,” responded Steve. “We thought maybe he needed it.”

“So he does,” acknowledged Pop, his face turning solemn. “Best exhibit I ever had, that whale. I don’t like to see him run a bad score, even though it ain’t his fault. Nice of you to remember Walla-Walla.”

Margo could have sworn that Pop was almost tearful, especially when he rubbed his eyes. Pop covered that action by bringing out a telegram, which he read and then put in his pocket. Steve asked blandly if the Kid had switched the route again, but Pop shook his head.

“The wire’s about a load of spots and stripes,” explained Pop. “A couple of zoomen are bringing them in to join up with the menagerie. We’ll be looking for ‘em tonight.”

Pop finished with a gesture toward a topless touring car that was standing beside the track.

“Hop in that jalop,” he invited. “I’ll haul you over to the lot. The crimps have been getting me” - he slapped his hip and gave a rheumatic twinge - “so I had to hire this breezer for getting to and from. Any time you want to shill for Walla-Walla, just ask for a ride.

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