The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-06-15
JUMPING JASPER
BY CLAIRE RICHIE.

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. Its 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 a prosy old judge at the Pan
m exposition, have to-Gracious!
believe something's burning"
A few minutes later she heard q
violent commotion among the chick
n near the barn. She raised her
eyes. High in the air was q 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 q ladderl"
she cried.
Never mind" he shouted. There's
q straw stack. I'll jump" Which he
did before she could protest.
will you tell me. please. where !
amp"
Our name is Jordan. My father IS
Abner Jordan and that is u mouse
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 l must get back right away Is
there a rig OF horse | could borrow?
Il don't think you could scare vi
so much as a donkey for miles around
The whole country has gone to see
you"
Except you! Why?"
Il had to stay home and cock din
uer. There's a Judge coming"
That's too bad, really"
Thanks, but not so bad as il 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 Baba 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 i~ncognito 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 youl It's a little late, but"
He glanced at her sideways. Can l
help you IL l wait?"
"Well-you aren't dressed exactly
like a chef. l should say-but | can
lend you a big apron and a cap. I've
a pink one that would look cute"
"You are making fun of me. I've
q 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. / don't know what to do"
"I1l bet the Judge hates it anyway.
| have a bunch he'd like apple tapioca
instead"
II don't know how to make IT,"
"Oh, don't you? Well, / do. Trot
out the tapioca and milk and apples
and stun. / told you l knew how to
cook!"
The preparations in the kitchen
progressed wonderfully, and when the
Jordans returned the house was full
Of delicious odors.
TITS the quserest thing we couldn3
find the judge" Abner was exclaiming
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 q
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's
helping me with dinner"
But Mrs. Jordan had fed. Her face
was enough to make Abner himself
fly to the kitchen to investigate the
trouble. What's wrong-what's
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 WI dinner.
You see-plague take this icing. 1t
won't stick! / came Unexpectedly.
The parachute man got sick and, my
room being next to his in the hotel,
7 Ala What I could for him and offered