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Show pase 46 Excitement f l u t t e r e d through the crowd. Folks pushed close around as Granpa reached for his playing money. I said a silent prayer for him to win. It was then that I saw the stranger in the long black coat and the stovepipe hat. The stranger - I am not sure I should c a l l him stranger now - - moved closer to me, his friendly eyes taking in a l l activitv He had bushy white eyebrows and white sideburns down to his jax^- bone. His chin, like Granpa's, was firm and sturdy, and under i t streamed a big red t i e . He was certainly the owner of the carnival, I thought. "Good evening, James," he said, just loud enough for me to hear. "Your face is full of moonbeams,and x-Tonder, and is eager for knowledge." That's exactly what he said, t h i s many years ago at the carnival of great laughter. His voice was.so pleasant, his words so f l a t t e r i n g , that I forgot to ask hoxv he knew my name. " I t 's the lights of the carnival on my face," I said, for I thought for sure i t was. "The lights of the carnival and the lights of knowledge," t h i s strange man said. "Would you like to see your Granpa win, son?" "Oh, yes!" I replied. "Granpa1s taken a fancy to that purple pillow. I want him to x-cdn. He collects beautiful things." "Then w e ' l l help him win," said the stranger. He took me by the hand. "Tell him y o u ' l l be right back." But Granpa didn't appear to hear me; he d i d n ' t look up as we moved ax^ay. What's rtr.T your name?" I asked of the stranger. "Are you the |