The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-11-25

need n rum
Permission vas easily obtained
when explanation vas made, for the
md a soft spot for children, and pres
emily the gay little team was t~rotting
down the frozen road.
Dick was brought to the window.
we'll wrapped up. but he only waved
a languid hand at the clown and turn
I'd his head away. Ted unhitched them
and put them through their tricks, but
with no greater success, and after be
had put the team in the barn he went
into the house.
"That's the first kid l ever saw that
wasn't stuck on them ponies," he said.
whats the matter with him?"
CHATS what we want to know"
said a grave faced man who had been
talking with Sally. "The little fellow
seems to be sunk into a sort of coma,
and we cannot rouse him. He will
not eat, and unless we can give him a
desire for food and interest him in
things we shall just have to watch
aim slip away"
"You want to come out and look at
Them ponies, doc" said Ted suddenly.
"Come on out to the barn"
The physician paused a moment.
Then something passed In the glance
Of the two men. and they went out to
gether. For half an hour they sat on
IN old wagon box and talked, and
then the physician went back to the
house and Ted hitched up the ponies.
He drove out OF the yard with a -four
ish Of the whip toward Dick. who had
been brought to the window to see
him off. The little fellow answered
with a weary way of the hand, and
Ted gritted his teeth as he drove off.
The next morning dawned clear and
bright. 1t was almost Indian sum
mer, and the windows were open In
the Myerly home. Dick sat at the win
dow, listlessly watching the people go
driving by to church. Mrs. Myerly
divided her time between the kitchen
and the front parlor, to which Dick
had been moved. A trumpet call sound
ed down the road, and she came hur.
rying In.
Around the bend there dashed Il
rider all crimson and gold, mounted
on a black horse gaudy in crimson
housings. With a swing lie was In the
yard. and just before the window he
blew another blast Oh his trumpet.
"A turkey for Master Myerly fit for
a king!" he announced in approved
%ring1naster tones. Then the black
horse backed away. bowling to the as
tonished child, and wheeled and dash
ed up the road again.
Presently the herald returned at a
more stately pace, preceding the most
curious procession that had ever
%traversed the IIuntvillc road. Just
behind the rider came a fantastic
clown, either foot on the back of a
milk white horse. Behind him lum-
bcred a huge elephant drawing a gilt
tering chariot ablaze with gold and
mirrors.
Slowly the procession numbered into
the yard. At the gate the clown dis
mounted and threw handsprings up to
the very door. There he paused eX-
pectantly while the elephant ponder
ously turned into the yard. Then the
doors at the back of the chariot swun,
open. and out futtercd a turkey six
feet high. The clown sprang forward
and with his whip made the bird face
the window.
Dick" he called, here's your
Thanksgiving turkey. If you don't eat
every mouthful of 1t I'll make the ele-
plant bite you"
"Elephants don't bite" laughed Dick,
his face nglow with excitement.
This II docs-bad." said Ted dark
ly. You wait and see. Turkey, bow
to the gentleman what's going to eat
you"
Solemnly the bird pranced forward
and bent IN neck. Then 1t followed
Ted around to TIE back of the house,
and the cava]cade followed, turning
into the road. ugwn beyond the bend
Ted was waiting WIN he nfd, but
the cambria sk&npseked VIM turkey
feathers, the m$&hg Of which had
kept Ted up hal1 TIE night, had been
removed. and It was merely an ostrich
that was bundled into the best chariot
Of the Dlakeley outfit.
Late that night It'd turned up ut
the quarters. There had been Il
Thanksgiving dinner in the training
ring, and all, from the 'old man" to
the hostlers. were sitting about on the
benches swapping stories.
WELL" said the 'old man" kindly.
did 1t work. Tcd?"
Did it work. echoed Ted, Say.
I'm afraid the kids more like to die OF
indigestion than starvation. He's all
to the coed. Evcrything's all to the
good"
And the little group crowded about
to shake his hand, FOR they knew that
Il romance seeking girl had at last real
ly found the heart Of the clown be
Meath the motley.