The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-07-08
Grandpa Joins
the Circus
By DOROTHY WHITCoMB
g. 1921. Western Newspaper Union ,


aunt, Elsa was an orphan, and, aside
from old Grandfather Bruce, she had
no near relative in the world.
MIS-. Fowler was sour as vinegar, q
chronic grumbler, parsimonious acd a
slave driver. Within thar narrow
bosom OF hers she cherished the idea
that she was philanthropically sk.l-
tering Elsa, the poor shorn lamb, il
truly Christian way. In reality she
was making drudge of her.
Il must keep on, If only fer your
sake, dear grandpa" Elsa was won't
to say when the old man rebeliel at
the onerOus duties imposed upon her.
i dont mind the work, if they would
just treat you with little more
thoughtfulness."
Its a shame!" stormed The old
man. Il gave my step-daughter the
property here for providing me with
a home the rest of my life, ana it's
just hardened her into a pinchlng, I'M
grateful miser."
well, grandpa" said Elsa brightly,
some day l may be lucky enough to
| md some one willing to marry me,
and l won't go unless l can take you
| along with me-"
You're too good for any husband
| under royal prince" declared grand
pa.
Elsa laughed at the ridiculous idea.
She spoke some CHEEKY words in her
heartful way, and then went 10 her
own room for good crying spell.
A knight Grant Elsa already had,
indeed but In decidedly humble and
unromantic way. There was not Il
more manly young fellow in the town
than Bert Lawton, but he was poor.
His ambition was to become an cleo
trician.
IF l hadn't been so foolish as to
give my property away to that selfish
step-daughter of mine," Grandpa Brace
told his venerable chum, John Davis,
I'D set that deserving young couple
up in housekeeping double-quick" He
drew him aside to a convenient tree
trunk.
Davis" he announced iubilantly.
you to help me out with it."
"What is it, DAMP" inquired old
John.
Just this: I'm sick and tired of
the life I'm living, and I'm gOtng to
change it. Another thing, If Elsa and
Bert had few hundred dollars ahead
as a nest egg they could get married.
Well, I'm going to earn It."
How" challenged old John de-
risively.
by working, of course. Why. I'm
spry rs cricket, for all my sixty odd
years Just the thing struck me in a
city paper today. Here it is"
Daniel unfOlded the newspaper and
pointed TO certain paragraph. It
read, with an address: "Wanted, n
man used to care and training of
horses"
Don't you understands" demanded
Daniel. 81 didn't spend ten years on
the ranch out West not to understand
horses. Why, I'd take second
place to no man in that line. Here's
just the job for me, and I'm going to
reach for It,"
But severe disappointment met
the old man when he visited the ad- |
vertiser in the city next morning. He
was Informed that the position had |
been filed.
This made Daniel somewhat glum. |
He wandered about the city planning |
to apply for some other position, and |
came across a big circus tent. The |
animation and novelty carried him |
off a prudent balance and he bought |
ticket
The glare and the tinsel made old
Daniel forget his troubles. The ring
master offered fifty dollars TO one who
could mount Wildfre and ride him
around the ring.
A heap of fun followed. The audi
ence roared as candidate after candi-
date was chased over the ropes or
flung into the sawdust. The ringmas-
ter proudly and defantly raised the
price-"$1OO for the skilled horseman
who could subdue Wildfre."
I'll take that" yelled the excited
Daniel. whipping OF his coat and max
ing a nimble leap.
"Whoop!" Good for old Methuse-
Iah!" "Go 1t. grandpa" and shouts
and yells mingled in riotous chorus.
Old Daniel fixed his eye ON wildfire,
full Of the pluck and vim OF the old
ranch days. He made a rush. Wild
fire buttef at him. He spraag aside.
Wildfire struck out with his hoofs.
Then with lightning-like movement
Daniel shot out both hands, one to the
nose. one to the ear OF the broncho. A
springing leap, and he was on the back
of the whrllng animal. Around riic
ring once, twice, thrcN tines-and the
audience fairly hooted themselves
hoarse, while the ringmaster looked
blank.
"Say, you're the best card ever came
into this show" said the latter, rs he
placed ten crisp bank bills In the hand
Of the successful broncho buster. "rll
give you forty dollars week and ex-
penses to do just what you did as a
regular act"