Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-02-17
BY MARGARET MAYO

Hasty fumbled with his hat and
SPARED for time. Did yo' say whar's
been. sah?"
prompted threateuingly.
Il bin 'ceived, Mars John" declared
Hastv solemnly. Mandy snOrted In
credulOusly. Douglas waited.
"A gemmen in de circus done tOle
me dis mawnin' dat ef carry water
70 de ELEPHANTS he'll let me in de cir
Gus fO' muffin, an l make a 'greement
wild him. Mars John, did yO' ebber
seed an ELEPHANT drink" he asked,
rolling his eyes. John shook his head.
"Well, sab. he jes' put dat trunk a
his'n into de pail jes' once an'-swish--
water gone"
Douglas laughed, and Mandy NUT
tered sullenly.
"Well, sah,' continued Hasty, 81 tote
4 water 70 dem ELEPHANTS all day long,
&n' when l cum roun' TO see de circus
de gemmen won't let me in. An when
] try to crawl under de tent dey pulls
Ee out by de laigs an beats me-" He
looked from one to the ether, expect
ing sympathy.
"Sarves you right" was Mandy's
unfeeling reply. IF yo's so anxious to
be a-totin' water, jes' yo' come along
outside and tote some fo' Mandy"
II can't do no mo- carryin', Mandy"
protested Hasty. as hurried in nah
ARM ..--~
"What hurt yor F"e
.Tiger" @@a.,t..~- ~-.>-,-. .i5s.
D., "a tiger" exclaimed the women in
unison
"Done chawed 1t mos OF" he de
clared solemnly. Deacon Elverson, he
seed 1t, an he says rs hurt bad"
Deacon Elversonw cried the spin
ster. "Was Deacon Elverson at the
circus?"
HE was in de lot, a-tryin' to look
in, same as me-" Hasty answered in
nocently.
You'd better take Hasty into the
Kitchen" said Douglas to Mandy, with
a dry smile. Hes talking too much
for wounded man."
Mandy disappeared with the dis
graced Hasty, advising him. with fine
scorn. "to get de tiger to chaw off his
laigs. SOS he wouldn't have to walk
no mo-"
= The women gazed at each other with
Hips closed tightly. Elverson's be-
havior was beyond their power Of eX-
preston. Miss Perkins turned to the
pastor as though he were somehow to
blame for the deacon's backsliding,
but before she could find words to ar
que the point the timid little deacon
appeared in the doorway, utterly I'M
conscious Of the hostile reception that
Hasty had prepared for him. He
glanced nervously from one set face
to the other, then coughed behind his
nat ..--e-.-.-s1ssr.
"We're all very much interested in
the circus" said Douglas, Cant you
tell us about itY'' .2s~s
i II just went into the lot to look for
my son." stammered the deacon. 81
feared Peter had strayed."
"Why, deacon"' said Mrs. Willough-
by. II just stopped by your house
and saw Mrs. Elverson putting Peter
10 bedI'-'-'''' 81? - 80 i.5s..5s-.,-
l. The deacon was saved from further
embarrassment by an exclamation
from Julia, who had stayed at the
window, "Oh, look; something has
happened" she cried There's
crowd. They are coming this way"
2 Douglas, crossed quickly to Julla's
side and saw an excited mob collect
ing before the entrance to the main
tent. He had time to discover no
more before Mandy burst in at the
door. painting with excitement and roll
ing her large, white trimmed eyeballs.
"Mars John, little circus girl done
, fan off her hossY' she cried. 'Dr.
Hartley say can dey bring her in
heahT'
"Of course" said Douglas. hurryins
outside
There were Mortified EXPLANATIONS
from the women, who were aghast at
the idea of circus rider in the par
sonage. In their helpless Indignation
they turned upon the little deacon, feel
ing intuitlyelY that he was enjoying