Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-03-02

Gurd0n Espey, rinEmnster or Sill
ery's Great Circus. fecked the ear Of
q water boy who had stumbled Over a
rope with the tip Of his long-lashed
whip. and gave the urchin a quarter
20 mend his bawiing. He caught a
sflke man drinking out OF a bottle,
seized the offending vessel and
smashed II against plank.
you're discharged. no tippling
herei" roared the neat and nifty king
Of the sawdust circle.
sought to have known better" re-
marked hustler TO the cuiprit. Hes
dead down on the hard drink. They
say he goes clear around block to
keep from passing a saloon, he hates
them 90. Espey IL q queer one-bet
he's had a history"
Yes. Gurdon Espey had a history.
and it had climaxed In making him
the odd makeup OF humanity he was,
Strictness and severity were strangely
mixed with the most generous OF in
stinsts. And then he would become
angry II the remotest reference was
made to these Maynard impulses.
-Oh. misteri can we speak a word
with your hailed the ringmaster as
he came outside Of the big tent, and
Espey turned. with his habitual scowi.
to be confronted by twelve boys rang
ing In age from eight 10 twelve years |;
their leader acting as spokesman.
"What Is itf' he snapped out. al
ways on the suspicious alert for appli-
cations for free passes. runaways anx-
ious 10 Join the circus, cut-rate nui-
sances, and the like.
I'VE want to know II we can hire
your clownr
well. that's good 7" decided the ring
master. "what for nowr'
"Our circus"
"Ohi a rival In the field, heyf" raj
lied Espey. "And where>may this cir
Gus Of yours bef"
"Down In a lot, next 20 Mrs. Dan
iel's house." was explained hurriedly,
and with n certain spice OF pride. "You
ne, mister, little Eva Daniels has been
sick for a long time. Now she's just
able to sit up. And we all love her
no much, and It's her birthday, and we
want to give her n surprise"
"she's a fairyr' plped up little fell
low Of eight.
"No. she's Just an angeli" 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-v-
got quite program. I swallow n
swaG. Dick Brown does some somer-
sauits Ned Bates walks n clothesllne
). tight-rope. OF course. they're poor
stunts. so we want 70 hire your clown
for about an hour, 20 make Eva laugh
and feel good"
"Do. you happen to know how much
n clown costsf" Intercepted the ring
master.
"No. sir, hut we've got six dollars
and fifty cents among us. You see, We
IAN 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 10 hire
~ clown. and give Eva a real good
time
''Nofhing doing" growled Espey,
starting TO pass on his way, when out
OF a side tent lodged a Jolly-faced
lump Of rotundity.
"Who says III" rollicked the same.
"Slck girl. boy friends getting up a
show for the little ladyf What time
does this greatest show on earth come
on the boards, kids7'
1.-TWO O'Clock. SIR explained the
spokesman OF the group. -Oh, / hope
you can Gomez
"Comef wouldn't miss II for fifty
dollars I'll be 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 mllk-whlte ponies. /
should say III Don't worry. Espey."
continued the clown, waving reassur-
ing hand 20 the ringmaster. at don't
cost you anything, and the stunt win
be a famous advertisement for our own
show. Sect"
Mrs. Alice Daniels was one OF the
lOuitrl IfINuNN III Atit AtNif iAA WHY
bOd1liked her and respected the mod
est. iadyllke seamstress who had come
20 the little village a few years pre-
viouss 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 mp In
chair looking out upon the open lawn
and the lot beyond. telling her that her
rare boy friends had got up show
especially for her edihcation. Eva vas
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.