Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-04-13
JUMPING JASPER
BY CLAIRE RICHIE.

manu- anu pidts Ol HdFu sOlu6H Dut
ter in the other, few In opposite d.
rections.
She felt carefully, then got up and
wiggled both feet around In turn.
Jenifer returned to the kitchen and
looked around. IT'S just my luck to
have to stay home from the circus and
cook while all the family enjoy them.
selves"
She sighed Nothing remarkable
ever happens to me- IL | were to feed
a charming prince, / could cook all
day, but just because father ran
across prosy old judge at the Pan.
anna exposition, ] have to--Gracious!
| believe something's burning"
A few minutes later she heard Q
violent commotion among the chick
ems near the barn. She raised her
eyes. High In the air was a balloon
with something hanging to 1t.
"A parachute man of all things"
she cried. "He must be from the cir
GUS
The man showed some signs Of ami
nation as he neared terra firma. He
landed on the barn.
wait a minute-I1l get q LADDER"
she cried.
Never mind" he shouted. There's
a straw stack. I'll jump" Which he
did before she could protest.
"Will you tell me, please, where
ann"
Our name Is Jordan. My father IL
Abner Jordan and that Is our house
over there!"
'Will you please excuse my get-up,
Miss Jordan' VIII you please tell me
how far 1t Is back to town."
About four miles,"
Great Caesar! Did | come so far I?
And | must get back right away. Is
there a rig or horse | could borrow"
Il don't think you could scare up
so much as donkey for miles around.
The whole country has gone to see
you"
Except you, Why?"
II had to stay home and cook din.
ner. There's Judge coming"
That's too bad. really"
Thanks. but not so bad as 1t was
IL was kind of you to-~to-what do
you call it?-float over this way and
land on our barn like-who was it?-
| Ali Bahia or Sindbad or somebody like
that"
He laughed. "The man with the fly.
Ing trunk, Like me. he had no name. "
Like your" wide eyed,
I'm incognito for the present
known only to the world as Jasper
the Jumper"
you can have a rig when the fam.
lily returns, OF course"
THANK you. It's little late. but"
He glanced at her sideways. Can
help you IL l waltz"
"Well--you aren't dressed exactly
like chef, should say-but | can
lend you big apron and cap. I've
pink one that would look cute
You are making fun of me- I've
a good notion to 60 out to that straw
stack and sulk for the remainder OF
the Afternoon"
Il spilled all the cream" irrelevant.
ly. ''for the ice cream. Now we can't
have 1t. don't know what to do"
"Ill bet the Judge hates 1t anyway
I have IA bunch he'd like apple tapioca
instead"
Il don't know how to make It."
"Oh. don't you? Well, l do. Trot
| ha tn Y,tIE I>u
and stuff. | told you knew how to
cook"
The preparations I'm the kitchen
progressed wonderfully, and when the
Jordans returned the house was full
OF delicious odors.
TITS the queerest thing we couldn't
find the Judge" Abner was exclaimine
stentoriously on the front veranda
while his spouse rustled kitchenward
to reconnoiter
'Good-gracious!" she gasped. stop
ping in the doorway. For there was
an apparition in green tights. only
partially covered by a Bingham apron
trying to spread white icing on a
chocolate cake.
It's going to run" he was say
ing when Mrs. Jordan's exclamation
cut him short.
"Oh, mother. are you home? This
Is Mr.-Jasper the Jumper. didn't you
say? He came in a balloon and he 4
helping me with dinner
But Mrs. Jordan had fled. Her face
was enough to make Abner himsel;
lily to the kitchen to investigate the
trouble. What's wrong-what' Z
wrong"
He stood for an instant as had his
wife~-speechless. Then. "Whoo-ee. II
1t amt the judge What's happened
and what in time are you DOING"
Helping to get my own dinner
You see--plague take this icing II
won't stick, came Unexpectedly
The parachute man got sick and, my
room being next to his In the hotel
| did what could for him and offered
to NIL his contract today. He needed
the money and it's q cinch to do IT,
came OF family of athletes, you
know. II you'll be 80 kind as to lend
me horse I'll get to town and change