Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-28
The Daily Story
DEACON pUNDERsoN's GIRO Us-BY cLAR1ssA MAcKIE
copyrtghtea. by Associated Literary
Copyrighted. 1918. by Associated Literary Bureau

udTsuueSS. SHe WAS uO LONGER Il CnllO.
Jim came and talked earnestly with
her, and Celia laughed and cried and
protested, but in the end Jim had his
way and went into the farmyard.
where be fused around for awhile.
When he returned to the gate the dea-
con and Mrs. Howell were returning
from the circus grounds.
There was such crowd we
couldn't see a dun thing" chortled the
deacon.
Il wish sometimes want church
member" Uttered Mrs. Howell. "I
was tempted to run away from the 4
deacon and so inside. The music is ."
enticing"
Hum" said the deacon weakly. 'T
s'pose you're going across lots, Nettie?"
YES" sighed the widow, crossing
the deacons yard and passing through
a gate into his bayfield,. where the hay
stacks loomed large in the very faint
light of young moon. The deacon
followed her, and Celia and Jim were
close behind the old couple.
by the way, deacon" said Jim sud
denly, II suppose you heard that one
of the animals got loose from the cir
Gus tonight
Good Lord. nor' shouted the dea.
con. What was it?'
The ferocious black Jaguar of the
Amazon"
"Ah-h-h-h-h-hr' squcaled the widow
shrilly. 1T may be in this bayfield,.
1t may be in my front yard. 1t may
have clumb in through my pantry win
dow. What shall we do?"
Keep calm" said the deacon nerv-
ously. what is that?" He jumped
aside as something brushed his heels.
"Only the cat, father" said Celia in
a muffied tone. Jim's arm was around
her closely.
I'VE better go into the house." said
the deacon firmly. This is no place
for tender wimmen, Jim"
There's no call for us to go in, dea-
con. We're not tender women" re-
torted Jim. What is that?"
"Ah-h-h-h-h-h!" screamed the widow,
and this time with reason, for some
thing long and black came looping out
from the shadow of a haystack.
The Widow Howell cast aside her
bonnet and, regardless of dignity, fair
ly galloped across the pasture only to
meet the running black form, or an
other one like it. face to face.
The hull circus is looser she
screeched Historically and swerved to
the right.
The deacon was running as valiant
ly in the opposite direction, and some-
how Jim Brayton was running. too,
here and there over the field, and when
ever he neared one of those numbering
black bodies it grunted and darted for
ward with renewed speed. Celia lean
ed helplessly against the gate and cried
and laughed.
Once when Jim fed past her he call
ed over his shoulder. Glow do you like
your pas circus, Celia 2" and Celia cried,
"Oh, Jim, please stop them"
That was easier said than done, but
it happened that when the deacon was
running madly around one particular
haystack pursued by snuffiing black
animal - or perhaps pursuing 1t - the
Widow Howell left her own haystack
and Joined the protection of the dough-
ty deacon. Unfortunately she went In
the opposite direction. with the inevi-
table result of violent collision.
When they sat up and gro2ned at
each other it was Jim Brayton who
came up and spoke in surprised re-
proof.
What under the sun Is the matter.
deacon? BY the way you and Mrs.
Howell have been chasing those hogs
Of yours looks like they'd run of fifty
pounds of fat"
"Hogs!" repeated the deacon amaz-
edy. You said 1t was a black taguar."
Il didn't" evaded Jim. Il asked you
If you had heard that one broke loose
today. But they caught it again.
When your hogs ran through into the
field ] guess you thought it was one Of
those poor circus animals out for a
breath of air"
Hum" growled the deacon.
Let me help you, Mrs. Howell" said
Jim gallantly
60 awayw said that lady Grossly.
I'm wore out, Jabez Punderson.
Here I've been tearing around your hay
lot just like one of them circus VIM
men. And I'll tell you one thing, 1t can't
be no worse TO look on at a perform.
ance like that than 1t is to take part in
it, and I'm going tomorrow night"
"You won't go alone. Nettie. I shall
go with you as your natural protector.
soon to be-" cOnsoled the deacon.
"And Celia and I'll go along. too. SO
as to sort Of announce our engage.
ment," said Jim boldly.
Hum" said the deacon doubtfully.
"And we're going to get married next
month. deacon. OF course If you'd
rather we didn't go to the circus we,
will stay at home. only we kinder hate
to have to tell all the folks that tho
only circus we saw was the one you
gave US in the hay lot"
Hum" groaned the deacon resign
edly. Il guess we better all 60. Jim
Somehow ] don't seem to want no no
toriety as a circus performer. Pd
ruther be an onloOker."