The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-07-22
Grandpa Joins
the Circus
By DOROTHY wHITcoMB
l9. 1891. western Newspaper Union

The Fowlers were not very good to
Elsa Bruce She realized it. but in
her patient, cheerful way tried not TO
mind It Mrs Fowler was her step
aunt, Elisa was an orphan, and, aside
from old Grandfather Bruce. she had
no near relative in the world.
Mrs. Fowler was sour as vinegar, a
chronic grumbIer. parsimonious and
slave driver. Within that narrow
bosom of hers she cherished the idea
that she was phiIanthropicaIIy shell
! tering Elsa. the poor shorn lamb, in
a truly Christian way. In reality she
was making drudge of her.
81 must keep on, if only for your
sake, dear grandpa" Elsa was wont
to say when the old man rebelled at
the onerous duties imposed upon her.
Il don't mind the work, If they would
just treat you with a 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, and it's
just hardened her into a pinching, I'M
grateful miser.'
tWelI, grandpa" said Elsa brightly,
some day may be lucky enough to
find some one willing to marry me,
and | won't go unless | 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 to her
own room for good crying spell
A knight errant Elsa already had,
indeed but in decidedly humble and
unromantic way. There was not a
more manly young fellow In the town
than Bert Lawton, but he was poor.
His ambition was to become an cleo
trician.
eff | hadn't been so foolish as to
give my property away TO that selfish
.step-daughter of mine" Grandpa Bruce
told his venerable chum, John Davis,
I'D set that deserving young couple
up in housekeeping doubIe-quick." He
drew him aside to a convenient tree
trunk.
Davis" he announced jubilantly.
"Pve got great scheme, and want
you to help me out with It,
"What is it, DanI?" inquired old
John.
'Just this: I'm sick and tired of
the life I'm living, and I'm going to
change it. Another thing. IL Elsa and
Bert had few hundred dollars ahead
as a nest egg. they could get married.
Well, I'm going to earn it."
'H0w?" challenged old John de
risively.
"By working, of course. Why, I'm
spry al 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 II
read. with an address: Wanted, q
man used to care and training OF
horses"
''Don't you understand" 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 tc
reach for it."
But severe disappointment mel
the old man when he visited the ad
vertiser in the city next morning Ht
was Informed that the position haC
been filed.
This made Daniel somewhat gIum
He wandered about the city planning
to apply for some other position. anC
came across big circus tent. Th'
animation and novelty carried hin
of a prudent balance and he bough
n ticket.
The glare and the tinsel made oil
Daniel forget his troubles. The ring
master offered fifty dollars to one VIII,
could mount Wildfire and ride hin
around the ring.
heap of fun followed. The audi
ence roared as candidate after candl
date was chased over the ropes o
flung into the sawdust. The ringmas
ter proudly and defiantly raised tn
price--"$1O0 for the skilled horsemal
who could subdue Wildfre."
'TH take that" yelled the excite
Daniel, whipping of his coat and max
Ing nimble leap.
.'Whoopl' Good for old Methuse
lahi" go IL. grandpa" and shout
and yells. mingled in q riotous choru:
Old Daniel fixed his eye on Wildflre
full of the pluck and vim Of the oil
ranch days He made rush. WILD
Gre bHtted at him He sprang aside
Wlldhre stru@k out with his hoofl
Then with Hghtning-like moyemeu
Daniel shot out both hands. one to tn
nose, one TO the ear OF the broneho.
springing leap, and he was on the bac
Of the whirling animal Around IN
ring once, twice, three times-and tn
audience fairly hooted themselve
hoarse. while the ringmaster. locke
blank.
rraf,sro fho hast card ovoV m