The narrative of "Keela, the Outcast Indian Maiden" unfolds predominantly through a conversation between Steve, a former sideshow barker, and Max, a cafe owner. They engage in a dialogue centered around Little Lee Roy, a black man with a disability who was once misrepresented in a sideshow as "Keela, the Outcast Indian Maiden." Steve has ostensibly sought Lee Roy out, driven by a desire to right past wrongs.

Steve's Motivation

Despite his proclaimed intentions, Steve's quest appears less about atonement and more about sharing his burden with Max, reminiscent of the Ancient Mariner’s compulsion to tell his tale. Through graphic recollections, Steve describes how Lee Roy, as "Keela," was forced to perform grotesque acts, such as decapitating chickens and consuming their blood. Steve laments his own role in perpetuating this charade, acknowledging the impact of his speeches as the barker, which kept the ruse alive.

The Unveiling of the Fraud

Steve recounts the moment a visitor exposed the deception and liberated Lee Roy. He claims ignorance of the fraud, insisting he was unaware that "Keela" could understand human speech. Steve expresses ongoing remorse, attributing his inability to keep a job or settle down to his unprocessed guilt. Yet, his habit of referring to Lee Roy as "it" highlights his failure to fully grasp the morality of his actions, whether Lee Roy was disguised as an Indian maiden or not.

Acknowledging Ignorance

Steve seems bewildered by the fact that someone else discerned the truth about Lee Roy's exploitation, while he himself remained oblivious. "I didn’t know," he confesses, suggesting a lack of perceptiveness that extended beyond the confines of the sideshow. He insists Max would have been equally blind to the injustice, potentially allowing the charade to continue unchecked.

Confrontation with Max

When Max skeptically asserts he could distinguish between an Indian and a black person, Steve reacts violently, striking Max. Max does not retaliate, and Steve justifies his aggression by accusing Max of initial disbelief followed by indifference. Despite the encounter, Steve avoids directly acknowledging Lee Roy, choosing instead to abruptly leave, hinting at his need to escape the situation.

Reflections and Irony

The story reaches its understated conclusion when Lee Roy’s children return home, and he casually mentions the visit from the two white men discussing his sideshow days. Their response, a dismissive "Hush up, Pappy," underscores the stark contrast between Steve's anguished recollection and Lee Roy’s matter-of-fact reminiscence of being a sideshow attraction. This irony does not absolve the white men of their culpability in exploiting Lee Roy, highlighting a prevalent moral apathy shared by Steve, Max, and even Lee Roy himself.