Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1919-07-03


ne seemed to move. but in the right
direction. After an eternity, his
stralning eyes made out a familiar
cluster OF, houses below him, and in
MS agitation, he pulled the valve-cord
too far, and crashed down into the
orchard of his fathers house, to land
IN the top Of an apple tree.
AS he climbed painfully down from
1t an old man ran from the house
shouting. to stop in amazement as he
recognized in the strange, bedraggled
figure, his son.
WELL" cried the old man, as they
met. us that how you circus folks
travel? You got my telegram, SOM"
"Yes," answered Ryerson. II got 1t.
father, and here's your answer"
He reached into pocket, and hand
ed the wallet to the old mau, whose
eyes shone.
"Ye got the money, SOM" he almost
shouted. Men mother won't have to
get out?"
He threw his arms round the young
mans neck, almost crying for Joy. At
that moment his mother ran from the
house, and strange painted figure that
he was, threw her arms round him,
and kissed him tenderly.
When the old man explained what
the boy had brought, motherlike, she
thought less of the saved home, and
more Of the son who had saved it.
II knew my boy would take care Of
U.S. she said fondly. her eyes glisten-
ing, and then, returning to the manner
of the old days, "you 60 upstairs. Will
lie, and wash that stuff off your face,
land get into suit Of your old clothes.
You always was turnin' up unex-
pected!"
: Ryerson said little at suppaA. after
The and his father had packed the bal
loon into it's basket. 1t was enough to
have his mother hover over him, and
pile his plate with food. and hear his
father recount, over and over again:
"HOw set back that old skinflint were
when he come to put us out. and got
his money for his trouble"
Early the next morning, after a
sleepless night, RyersOn babe his IA
ther and mother good-by. They were
too old to go and see him "act," and
he explained that the circus was going
on long trip now, and that they might
mot see him for year or more.
They kissed him fondly, and he set
off over the dewy fields, looking back
from the crest Of the hill, to wave a
farewell to the two old figures in the
doorway of the gray, little farmhouse.
At the edge of the town, he found
the familiar wagons, and the hurry
ing men, the poles going up as by
magic, and the canvas spreading as If
endowed with life. He pushed through
the confusion, seeking the proprietor's
wagon. He met man he did not
know, and inquired.
'"The boss? Back of the fat lady's
wagon there. Better keep away from
him, stranger. He's hot today. Crazy
man stole his cash, and went off in the
balloon yesterday, and they amt
heard ROthin' of him since" The man
went about his business with friend
ly nod, but Ryerson walked in the di-
rection indicated TO the proprietor's
wagon.
He mounted the steps, az faint sick
ness in his heart, and knocked on the
AF1sr <,,s,,~~ l,, ,o1, ~ Ia
him enter.
He did so, and as the bull-necked
man seated at the little desk caught
sight of him, he seemed to lose the
power of speech. His face became
purple, and then paled. Then he
seemed to explode.
"Well, I'll be hanged It's Ryerson !"
Ryerson walked up to him and said
doggedly: Il came back as quick as I
could, Mr.. Mainwaring. guess you
want me. But 1 amt crazy. had to
have that money, and took it, that's
all.
Mainwaring stared at him a mo-
ment, in utter amazement. Then:
lou csme back? Yet amt crazy?
Guess l must be, then. What'd you
come back for? You swipe my balloon
and a wad, and then you come back.
I don't get it. What's the gamer" :
Ryerson told him the whole story.
He finished with:
"Lock me up, il YOU want to. The
balloon amt hurt, and I'll pay the cash
back when get out. But make it
somewhere farther down the road, 80
the folks won't get on. It'd kill them,
sure"
He finished, and looked down at his
dusty feet, waiting for the blow to fall.
There was no sound in the wagon
until he heard the scratching Of pen.
He looked up fearfully, to see Main
waring laboriously writing, his tongue
in his cheek. When he had finished,
he folded the paper carefully. put it in
an envelope, and handed 1t to Ryerson.
He then got up from the desk, and
strobe out of the wagon, and Ryerson
heard his roaring blasphemy at the
tent raisers.
Dazed. Ryerson opened the envelope.
and in Mainwaring's labored hand.
read the following:
"You Ryerson, guess you're fool.
You get out of this circus quick. You
60 to Chapman, where my brother runs
lumber mill, and you see what he SEE
to you. You pap back the cash when
,.1.,, ecotS il and don't Won think x0ur