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

hand and plate or hard golden but
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
violent commotion among the chick |
ems near the barn. She raised her |
eyes. High In the air was a balloon
with something hanging to it.
"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 o LADDER"
she cried.
Never mind" he shouted. There's
a straw stack. I'll jump" Which he
did before she could protest.
viii you tell me. please, whore ]
ann"
Our name Is Jordan. My father 10
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?
And must get back right away. Is
there a rig or horse l 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?"
IL had to stay home and cook din.
ner. There's q Judge coming
/ That's too bad. really"
/ Thanks. but not so bad as 1t was.
II was kind OF you to-to--what do
you call it?--foat over this way and
land on our barn like--who was it,
Ali Bahia or Sindbad or somebody like
that"
He laughed. 1.-THE man with the fly,
ing trunk. Like me, he had no name"
Like you?" wide eyed.
I'm incognito for the present
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 waltz"
"Well--you aren't dressed exactly
like a chef. should say-but | can
lend you big apron and a cap. I've
a pink one that would look cute"
You are making fun of me. I've
good notion to go 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. l don't know what to do"
''Ili bet the Judge hates 1t anyway,
/ have a bunch he'd like apple tapioca
instead"
Il don't know how to make it,
"Oh, don't you? Well. | do. Trot
out the tapioca and milk and apples
and stuff. | told you | knew how to
cook"
The preparations In the kitchen
progressed wonderfully, and when the
Jordans returned the house was full
Of delicious odors.
It's the queerest thing we couldn I
find the judge" Abner was exclaiming
stentoriously on the front veranda
| while his spouse rustled kitchenward
to reconnoiter.
Neutrality-suspicious." she gasped. stop,
ping In the doorway. For there was
an apparition in green tights, only
| partially covered by gingham 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 homer This
Is Mr,-lasper the Jumper. didn't you
say? He came In a balloon and he s
helping me with dinner"
But Mrs, Jordan had fled. Her face
= was enough to make Abner himsel.
fly to the kitchen to investigate the
trouble. What's wrong-what' "a
wrongF"
II 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, l,
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 I'LL his contract today. He needed
the money and it's q cinch to do It.
came of family OF athletes. you
know. III you'n be so kind as to lend