Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-11-28

says that perhaps they'll rouse him.
"I'i see the OH matt. said Ted. X
guess It'll be all right though They
need a rum
Permission was easily obtained
when explanation was made. for the
"old man. had youngsters Of his own
and a soft spot for children. and pres
emily the gay little team was trotting
down the frozen road
Dick was brought to the window.
well wrapped up. but be only waved
languid hand at the clown and turn
ed his head away. Ted unhitched them
and put them through their tricks, but
with no greater success, and after he
had put the team In the barn be went
into the house
That's the FIRST kid | ever saw that
wasn't stuck on them ponies he said.
What's the matter with him?1
That's what we want to know"
said grave faced man who had been
talking with Sally. 'The little fellow
seems to be sunk into sort of coma,
and we cannot rouse him. He will
not eat, and unless we can give bin a
desire for food and interest him In
things we shall just have to watch
him 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 moment.
Then something passed in the glance
,1f fup ant IN
gether. For half an hour they sat on
an 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 -four
ish of the whip toward Dick, who haf
been brought to the window to see
him off The little fellow answered
with a weary wave 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, aud she came hur-
rying in
Around the bend there dashed a
rider all crimson and gold. mounted
on black horse gaudy in crimson
housings. With a swing he was in the
yard. and just before the window he
blew another blast on his trumpet.
"A turkey for Master Myerly fit for
kingr' he announced In approved
ringmaster 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
more stately pace. preceding the most
curious procession that had ever
trayersed the Huntvile road. Just
behind the rider came q fantastic
clown. either foot on the back of a
milk white horse Behind him lum-
bered huge elephant drawing 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 swung
open, and out fiuttered turkey six
feet high The clown sprang forward
and with his whip made the bird face
the window.
"Dick." he called, there'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 aglow with excitement.
This one dOes-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 its neck Then 1t followed
Ted around to the back of the house,
and the cavalcade followed, turning
into the road. Down beyond the bend
Ted was waiting with the bird. but
feathers, the making of which had
kept Ted up half the night, had been
removed, and 1t was merely an ostrich
that was bundled into the best chariot
of the Blakeley outfit.
Late that night Ted turned up ut
the quarters. There had been
Thanksgiving dinner in the training
ring, aud all from the ''old man TO
the hostlers. were sitting about on the
benches swapping stories.
'Well." said the "old man. kindly.
did it work. Ted?"
did it work." echoed Ted. Say,
I'm afraid the kids more like to die of
indigestion than starvation. He's all
to the good. Everything's all to the
good"
And the little group crowded about
to shake his hand. FOR they knew that
a romance seeking girl had at last real
ly found the heart of the clown be-
meath the motley.