The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-01-21
just jim,
By FLORA MsDuNN

q whippet." but with an attractive
look on his clean. freckled face that
challenged a second glance, stood be-
fore the entrance to the Greatest
Show on Earth" His intent gaze was
glued to the vast cloud Of canvas that
shut him out Of the enchanted ground,
the glory of glories. Like Peri before
the gate of Heaven, his whole souls
desire spoke from his earnest brown
eyes.
"Want to so in, son?"
The question, which needed no re-
ply, came from a big. kindly, jolly
faced man whose hand was grippingly
held by little five-year-old chap who
was making his first visit to circus
"All right" he nodded to the lad,
whose speaking eyes made other re
ply unnecessary. Come along with
u.s." The magic words were the ses-
anne that opened the path to untold
wonders, beside which the Arabian
Nights are tame as Mother Goose
rhymes. q
Then began the journey through
Zooland, the little kid, and the mid
ding sized kid hugging close to the
big kid who had, with the flip of a
greenback, become giant fairy to two
adoring. happy boys.
Such fierce looking animals with
long, queer names, that no little boy
could be expected to know printed on
their gorgeous cages. Such funny,
homely, wise looking monkeys that
peered through the bars Of their liber-
ty lost Gagged homes with bored or
saucy manner. Such huge, hungry
elephants that never seemed to get
enough peanuts, although an army Of
little boys and girls kept them con-
stantly supplied. Then such corking
ice cream cones. candy and drinks out
Of long necked bottles, straw imbibed,
ambrosial sweets to enchanted kids In
an enchanted heaven Of pleasure.
"Now," said the big fairy. when the
two kinds had eaten all they could
possibly hold. "weTl get our seats and
be ready for the circus folks" Three
chairs in the second row-so little Ave
year-old could see all the fun-were
bought from de guy what stood in a
teeny pulpit all to himself" said the
stray lad, and rhe big kid, with the
two little kids, sat down to wait for
the band.
who's boy are your asked the
giant fairy, whose real name was DR..
Curtis.
"Nobody's. SIR"
"what Is your name" The doctors
voice was very kind.
"Juat Jim."
Then the band began to play and
Il tioning.
+ The big kid found its nearness rath
er overpowering, but he looked at the
happy little kids and he didn't care Il
the noise did make him temporarily
deaf. Its immensity seemed none toe
great for his guests of honor.
Finally, the music ended in a loud
explosion of crescendos, and the band
scattered to give place to the wonder
full ring shows.
But first came the grand parade OF
all the circus folk in gorgeous array,
that kept the two little kids dancing
on their toes in sheer delight.
This was followed by the most
amazing performances that ever spell
bound the eyes of a kid. Such breath
less, heart thrilling acts that made
life, for the little kid and the middling-
sized kid, SO full Of joy it was akin
to pain.
| When the program was about half
over. DIR. Curtis was notified by an
| attendant that he was wanted on the
phone.
Jim, while I'm gone, I want you
to take care of little Carl. I'm sure
can trust a big boy like you
"Yes, sir, you kim" very earnestly.
But when the thrilling pony race
! with their monkey drivers took the
| sawdust tracks, little Carl became a
serious responsibility. Both boys
were keyed to the highest pitch Of
excitement, and the five-year-old, in
wave of hypnotic ecstasy, bolted into
the track before the Mortified Jim
could hinder. Instantly he sprang
after the flying little body, while at
tendants rushed forward from far
away distances, men shouted, women
screamed, and the ponies raced on. But
NOBODY jim STdSpeu Ills SiHdli
charge and hurled him away from the
pounding feet that struck the rescuer
instead.
When DR.. Curtis returned, he found
his little son crying in the arms of
motherly woman, and the unconscious
jim gently supported by an attendant.
"He saved the kids life all right"
declared the circus man.
"And his life, too. shall be saved"
The Doctors jolly looking face was
sternly determined.
When Jim woke up with a band
aged head in the hospital, his dazed
brain was yet full of circus glory and
present surroundings were slowly cog
nizable.
you'll soon be all right again,