The words were scarcely out of his mouth when both he and Hervey became aware of a policeman who had just come around the side of the tent. But Hervey, though astonished, was not perturbed, for he believed that the wonder of two continents would protect him. One word from Diving Denniver and he would be safe. He even ventured a defense himself. “I’m going to do an errand for him,” he said. “You can ask him yourself. So I’ve got a right to be here.” But it appeared that it was Diving Denniver with whom the officer had business. “Are you Charles McDennison?” he asked. “Yere, what’s the dope?” the wonder asked, with a kind of weariness in his voice. Hervey was astonished, not to say shocked, that Diving Denniver acknowledged the name of Charles McDennison. “Let’s look at your permit,” said the officer. Mr. McDennison entered the tent, presently emerging with a paper. “That’s no good here and you know it’s no good,” said the officer. “Wainboro! And a year old too. Why didn’t you come and get your permit when you got to town? You’ve been in this game long enough to know you’ve got to do that. All these concessions have permits, except those under carnival management.” “Some towns--” began McDennison. “Never mind about some towns. You know you’ve got to get a permit in this town. Why didn’t you do it?” The harassed performer began again, “You guys----” “Never mind about that now,” said the officer. “I was sent here to see your permit and to bring you down to the office if you didn’t have it. You know all about it; you were at the Elks’ Fair three years ago. You better come along and get your permit, Charlie. You’ll have to take care of a fine, too.” “You don’t mean now?” the diving wonder asked. “Ain’t you going to leave me do my trick? I go on in about five minutes. You fellers sure got the knife in us. If I belonged in this here town----” “Come on, McDennison,” said the officer in a way of quiet finality. “You know the game as well as I do. We’re not interested in your trick, only your permit. Come on, get your duds on. I guess you’ve been through all this before. Come on, speed up.” Diving Denniver cast his cigarette from him, bestowing a look of unutterable contempt on the officer. In that sneering scorn he seemed to include the whole of Farrelton and all constituted authorities the world over. And Hervey joined him in his contempt and loathing. Diving Denniver _had_ been through all that before. He knew the permit towns and the non-permit towns and the towns where a “tip” would save him the expense of a permit. Hervey had not dreamed that this enchanted creature ever had to do anything but dive, he did not know that the wonder of two continents had hit Farrelton penniless.