Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-11
lcopyrlght. lsi7. we.t.rn New.paper unIon

cry : Great circus, Hecked the ear Oh
water boy who had stumbled over Il
rope with the tip OF his long
whip. and gave the urchin n quarter
TO mend his bawling. He caught a
stake man drinking out OF a bottle
seized the offending vessel and
smashed ii against plank.
You're discharged. no tipping
here :" roared the neat and nifty king
of the sawduSt circle.
Ought 10 have known better" re-
marked II hustler to the culprit. Hes
dead down on the hard drink. They
say he goes clear around a block to
keep from passing a saloon, he hates
them so. ESpey is queer one-bet
he's had Il history"
Yes, Gurdon Espey had Il history.
and il had climaxed in making him
the odd makeup of humanity he was,
StrictnesS and severity were strangely
mixed with the most generous of in
stinseS. And then he would become
angry If the remotest reference was
made TO these wayward impulses.
"Oh. mister. can we speak II word
with you?" hailed the ringmaster as
he came outside OF the big tent. and
Espey turned. with his habitual scowl
10 be confronted by twelve boys rang
ing in age from eight 10 twelve years :;
their leader acting as spokesman.
What * it," he snapped out. al
ways on the suspicious alert for appli-
cations for free passes runawayS anx-
ious to join the circus, cut-rate nul-
sances. and the like
1--WE want to know If we can hire
your clown?"
"Well. that's good - decided the ring
master. what for now?'
"Our circus"
ooh rival in the field. hey?" rail-
lied Espey. and where may this cir
Gus Of yours be?"
Down in a lot, next TO Mrs. Dan
iel's house" was explained hurriedly,
and with Il certain spice of pride. You
see, mister. little Eva Daniels has been
sick for long time. Now she's just
able to sit up. And we all love her
so much, and It's her birthday, and we
want to give her surprise"
"Shes fairy!" plped up little fell
low of eight.
"No. she's just an ANGEL" supple
mented "A companion.
"We've made a sawdust ring just
like yours only a tiny one" went on
the spokesman OF the party. "We've
got quite program. | swallow a
sword Dick Brown does some somer-
sauts. Ned Bates walks clotheSline
tight-rope. OF course. they're poor
stunts. so we want 10 hire your clown
for about an hour. TO make Eva laugh
and feel good"
''Do you happen TO know how much
n clown costs?" interrogated the ring
master.
"No. sir. but we've got six dollars
all get fifty cents from our parents to
come to your circus tonight. and poor
little Eva can't be moved this far. so
we've put our money together to hire
the clown. and give Eva a real good
time"
Nothing doing" growled Espey.
starting TO pass on his way, when out
OF a side tent lodged a jolly-faced
lump OF rotundity.
"Who says it?' rollicked the same.
"Sick girl. boy friends getting up
show for the little lady2 What time
does this greatest show on earth come
on the boards. kids?"
1.-TWO o'clock. sir" explained the
spokesman Of the group. "Oh, I hope
you can comet"
Come? wouldn't miss 1t for fifty
dollars I'll he there In regular trim,
and my trick donkey, Napoleon Bona
parte, and my little girl-for I've got
one. bless her-in her gold chariot,
driving two milk-whte ponies.
should say IT. Don't worry. Espey."
continued the clown. waving a reassur-
ing hand TO the ringmaster. at don't
cost YOU anything. and the stunt will
be famous advertisement for our own
show. See?'
Mrs. Alice Daniels was one of the
poorest persons in the town. but every
body liked her and respected the mod
est. ladylike seamstress who had come
10 the little village few years pre-
vlous. AS to little Eva. the widows
child, she was one Of those lovely be-
ings who weave themselves closely into
the hearts OF all on first sight. The
noble sacrifice OF her boy friends evil
denced the power Of witchery and love
which the little convalescent univer-
sally inspired
Her mother had propped her up In
chair looking out upon the open lawn
and the lot beyond. telling her that her
rare boy friends had got up n show
especially for her edification. Eva was
all excitement and expectancy. She
was kept busy bowling and smiling and
throwing kisses as "the actors" finally
came into the ring. She clapped her
little hands In the fullness OF innocent
spontaneous delight as "the star per-
formers" Of the group went through
their amateur stunts.
Then Eva seemed translated into
fairyland. The clown had kept his
word. More than that. he had added
the feature of music TO the enter
tainment. for just as the lads had
performed their share OF the function,
two members Of the circus band, play
ing comets, appeared on the scene