The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-09-13
HIS LUCKY FOURTH
BY ELLA N. sAncs.


dark eyes swept over the scene before
him with q sense of pleasure. familiar
as 1t was. for the small farm stood on
high ground. with green fields and
| woods stretching TO where, mile
4way. the clustered roofs and white
church spires. pricked out among the
green. stood where the village lny.
Going on. the young man soIiloquized.
II declare 1 feel like kid. I'd like
to jump up and down and holIer. I've
put out the flag. and dunno what else
ts do. but I'd like to have a real giorl-
Gus Fourth"
As he went on he bethought him Of
circus that was to take place In the
neighboring town of Berrydale. and
when a little later he returned to the
house. he looked UP the handbiIl re-
gar,iing ii. Yes. here it was. "won-
derfui High-Class Performance. Aero
bars. Trained Dogs. Chariot Races and
Mile. Rosaiie. the Queen of Equestri-
ans"
Accordingly. in due time. John. in
his runabout. set out for BerrydaIe.
passed the booths outside the tent. i'm
mune TO the temptations OF pink lem
onade. peanuts and popcorn. and. en-
feri'ig the circus tent. found a seat
In the front row nearest the arena.
There was nothing so wonderfully
high class" about the performance as
the advertisements might lead one to
expect. John was not overcritical. how
ever. and sat confentediy enough
through the scene till burst from the
band announced the appearance OF
Mile. RosaIie. Then the young man
Strengthened with a new interest. not
only In the feafs of this equestrian
queen. but there was something appeal
Ing about the dainty figure In her flufty
skirts rs. poised on the back of the
''high-spirited Nero she came on. and
Johns gaze never left her for a mo-
ment till-what was the trouble7 What
spectators. the horse trotted out rider
less. and a crumpled heap In the saw
dust of the arena.
John could never really recall the
next few minutes. but with a bound
he was within tho Enclosure. the faint.
Ing girl in his arms. Presently just
outside the tent he was one Of the lit
tie group standing about the still fig
ure OF Mile. RosslIe.
physician was called. and arrived
just MS the girl regained consciousness.
.'No bones broken" was his announce
ment. hut a bsdly sprained ankle.
and shaking up generally. She Will
need long rest And he added
something about a shock 20 the nerv-
Gus system.
"we,I. what's TO be done7' ques-
.Ioned the proprietor. shes no good
o. her"
Upon this John stepped forward. III
there's nobody else. I'll see that she's
taken care Of he volunteered.
And So the girl consented. And. only
too glad 70 get her OF his hands. the
man gave her over to John. without
question. and John took her straight
home to his mother.
Here John briefly explained the sit
uation. whereupon the motherly heart
of Mrs. Holway was stirred with SYM
pathy for this forlorn hit OF woman
hood. Rosalle was placed In a cool.
airy chamber, where the honeysuckle's
sweet breath was brought to her. and
ms she sank back In her white bed she
looked up into Mrs. Holway's face with
the words.
81 didn't know anybody I'm the world
could be so good, when I left the
circus folks IL didn't care what be-
come OF me. oh. never want 10 ride
again - she said with q shuddcr.
"Black Nero has an ugly temper. and
1 was afraid of him. and he knew 1t,
4 ~ n
on purpose"
II reckon Wen have to keep hes
awhile" said John. hut he did not meet
his mothers eye just then.
A week or two later. as the two
women We're sitting on the piazza. one
afternoon. John Joined them. taking
seat on the step and tanning him,
self with his hat
"what a beautiful place this is,"
Rosnife exclaimed. looking on over the
stretch of grecn-ciad country.
"Do you like lit" smiled Mrs. Hol-
way.
The girl drew n long breath Of con-
tentment. at is like heaven" she an.
swered. N
And John. looking up into her blue
eyes. found an echo OF her words In
his heart.
Three months later Mr. and Mrs.
John Hofwny were returning frofu
their wedding trip and passing through
Bcrrysiale. John turned the runnhout
toward the circus grounds. Slowing
up he observed. "Herc is the spot
where I first saw you"
Rosalle shuddered aud then: "It 10
the spot Of my misfortune. and my
greatest good fortune" she said. smfl-