The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-11-29
BERTHE Goes to the
Circus
BY Chef GRANT
@. Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.
WSti Service

boro, and came to m0InthlaFe mutt.
George Blake nodded down to his right
and barked sayagely, There's your
doggone circus" Little BERTHE, agea
six, repressed a Shrek of delight ana
merely grnned BERTHE was psychic
He realized that his cousin George
was In no mood for overtures OF any
kind
Life was indeed burned doughnut
to George. guiding the Iron Horse
down to the circus grounds. Another
perfect holiday spoiled; another posi-
tive proof that his parents were In
league against his happiness: forcing
him to take little BERTHE to the circus
when his whole being yearned to be
with one Mabel Porter. His mothers
parting shots still rang In his ears.
Don't you dare let anything happen
to little Berthe! Don't you dare over
load his stomach! Don't you let go OF
his handI" Cripesl You'd think the
troublesome little hellIon WAS made OF
solid gold!
''C'mon," George Rrowled. climbing
out OF the parked Iron Horse. And no
monkey business, Teller" he warned
You stick close to me. Ii lose you
I'll leave You here for the circus folks
They'll feed you to the tigers
Who can resist a circusf Even
George, after an hour in the Big Top,
had to admit that he was enjoying him.
self. But 1t was at the pink lemonade
stand that the world took ON Its rosiest
hue. The lemonade WAS served by .
girl In crisp bingham dress. She had
lots OF blond hair and saucer blue eyes
George drank three glasses as slowly
as possible but the girl never 80 much
as smiled at him. And right at that
moment BERTHE disappeared Into thin
air
The three glasses OF pink lemonade
became ball OF Ice in Georges stom-
ach. He gazed frantically around and
suddenly saw Bertie's suit squeezing
through the crowds With yelp OF
rage George set off In pursuit Com
Ing up behind his unsuspecting victim
he scooped him into his arms.
For two cents I'd belt you one"
Georgia raped out. whats the idea
OF running away when
you belt me- brother" deep bass
voice rumbled In the squirming burden
Georgia held, "and I'll sock you ono
myself!" George dropped the midget
as II he were hot coal, and Was re-
lieved when that diminutive gentleman
stalked of.
| Wiping the Precipitation from hia
| brow George went into the throng
again. He passed through and skirted
| the crowds before the side shows he
looked behind booths and under gaming
tables. He stood still and yelled,
'Bertie!" until people stared.
Just when he was ready to look for
| policeman by some coincidence, he
| found himself at the pink lemonade
stand again.
Wonder OF wonders, the blond girl
smiled at him I'm glad you came
back" she greeted him. Your little
cousin has been helping me. He
| crawled under the table, you know"
| She handed George tall glass OF the
rosy liquid. Here, cool off,"
Well, she was stunning to Georgia.
so he grinned amiably at Berthe who
was stacking empty bottles behind the
counter. All was right with the world.
| George ordered another glass Of the
| cooling beverage. 1t was like nectar
| coming from her hands. He wanted to
| tell her something of the sort, but lost
his nerve. Instead he asked for anoth-
| err glass, and another
"You must like that stufr.~ she OBJ
served. frowning.
TITS SWELL" George enthused. Like
| you" he dared to say.
aThats no compliment" she smiled
well, anyhow" Georgle grinned, "a
| couple OF glasses won't hurt me-
I ukl s'cuse me-"
"A couple You've had ten The
girl led Berthe outside the stand
YOU'D better get your big cousin start.
| ed for home" she advised.
Mrs Blake was wiring the supper
dishes when the telephone rang. 1t,
summons startled her and she picked
| up the instrument with misgiving.
Hello. Hello, Aunt Frances. This
Ia Berthe"
"Bertlel Why, my dear child
what
I'm standln' on soap box, Aunt
Frances. | wanted to call you up
Darling, how cute!"
"Yes'm."
you're all right, Bertle?" Mrs. Blake
asked suddenly
ooh, yes'm, I'm all right. But, Aunt
| Frances
"Yes, dear
"Aunt Frances, think you n Uncle
Charlie'd better come down here to
Foxboro and bring us home"
Bring you homer"
"Yes'm. You see, Aunt Frances
/ George, he's awful sick
"Hertiel What's the matter with
Georgie?' Mrs Blake trembled.
"Oh. Georges all right, Aunt Fran
ces, only his stummick amt"