Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-06-16
Grandpa Joins
the Circus
By DOROTHY WHITcoma
20 l92l, Western Newspaper Unlop7

ho"lers were not very good Ia
Elsa Bruce. She realized il, hui in
her patient, cheerful way tried not 10
mind 1t. Mrs Fowler was her sten-
aunt Elsa was an orphan, and. aside
from old Grandfather Bruce sba hod
no near relative in the world.
MRS. Fowler was sour as vinegar a
chronic grumbler, parsimonious and a
save driver, Within that narrow
BOSOM OF hers she cherished the idea
mat she was philanthropically sbel.
tering Elsa, the poor shorn lamb. in
truly Christian way, In reality she
was making a drudge of her.
l must keep on, if only for your
sake, dear grandpa" Elsa was wont
TO say when the old man rehelled at
the onerous duties imposed upon her
i dont mind the work, If they would
just treat you with a little more
thoughtfulness."
ITS a shamel" stormed the old
man. Il gave my Step-daughter the
property here for providing me with
home the rest of my life, and it's
just hardened her into pinching. I'M
grateful miser."
wen, grandpa" said Elsa brightly.
some day may be lucky enough to
nnd some one willing to marry me.
and l 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
swn room for a good crying spell.
A knight Grant 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
IF | hadn't been so foolish as 10
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 double-quick." He
drew hirl aside to a convenient tree
trunk.
Davis he announced jubilantly,
1--WE got great scheme, and | want
you to help me out with it,"
what is it, Dan1Y 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, if Elsa and
Bert had a few hundred dollars ahead
as nest egg, they could get married.
Wen, Tn going to earn It."
How" challenged old John de-
risively.
by working, of course. Why, I'm
years Just the thing struck me in
city paper today. Here 1t is"
Daniel unfoIded the newspaper and
pointed to certain paragraph. It
read. with an address: Wanted,
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 to
reach for it,"
But a 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 filled.
This made Daniel somewhat glum.
He wandered about the city planning
10 apply for some other position and
came across big circus tent The
animation and novelty carried him
Off a prudent balance and he bought
a 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 deiantly raised the
price-"$100 for the skilled horseman
who could subdue Wildfire."
"Pll take thati' yelled the excited
Daniel, whipping Of his coat and max
ing nimble leap.
"Whoopw Good for old Methuse-
lahr" "Go 1t, grandpaF" and shouts
and yels mingled in riotous chorus.
Old Daniel fixed his eye on Wildhre.
full of the pluck and vim Of the old
ranch days He made a rush. Wild
FIRE butted at him. He sprang aside.
Wudfire 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 whirling animal. Around me
ring once, twice, thrS times-and the
audience fairly booted themselves
hoarse. while the ringmaster looked
blank.
"say, you're the best card ever came
into this show" said the latter, as ne
placed ten crisp bank bills In the hand
of the successful broncho buster II