 Jerry of the circus he said he was getting better and could walk without a cane now is he going to get out of the hospital soon oh he said it would be a little over a month before the doctors would let him leave but he wants to get out now he said he feels fine well if he feels good why they let him go oh I don't know but I guess they want to make sure he's really all well didn't you tell me that he was going to join up with the circus when he leaves the hospital he might mr. Randall promised him a job if he wants it he used to be with the circus didn't he uh-huh but before that he was a big game hunter he got all sorts of wild animals for circuses and zoos really sure and he was one of the best in the world that's a real dangerous business all bad sure is well here we are now let's see if we can find whitey there he is way and back in the tent see him oh yeah whitey oh whitey hello Jerry you're busy no come on in come on Tom I'm coming what's on your mind Jerry something special I thought I'd take Splendor out back and give him a ride maybe try a few tricks with him okay Jerry go get him hey Jerry do you think I can ride him too oh I don't know that's why should I sure why not whitey Tommy or wants to ask you something we're what is on the fireway well do you think that has I'm well I was wondering could I ride Splendor to just a little well now I don't know Tom ever done any riding oh sure I can ride all right I used to ride a lot Splendor's a little spirited you know he gets pretty time I know it if you think you can stay up in the saddle go ahead and give it a try well gee thanks whitey it's okay my boy but be careful you don't want any accidents around here come on Splendor come on I got the saddle Jordan no but I've got his bridle you get the saddle Tom there it is hanging over there okay I'll bring it we'll go right off the back way here come on Splendor you're going to get a little exercise I think you can manage by yourself oh sure be sure you get that settle on good and tight pull that since strappers tight as you can okay I will come on Tom yeah I'm right behind you if I'm not here when you get through riding and you'll be here side Splendor up all right whitey hey Jerry well put it down that will settle him up right here well Splendor easy now you put the bottle on first don't you know here you hold on to this holder okay now come on Splendor open up come on will there Splendor will he'll take the bit all right come on now that's it that was easy yeah it's getting easier every time but he sure didn't like that bit in his mouth the first time throw that blanket over now we're coming up there you are now the saddle there we are oh he sure is anxious to go well there boy well take it easy now hey look at your hand did you hurt it no why it's all red all that that's nothing I got that when I was picking the strawberries we had for breakfast boy they sure were good weren't they I'll say the first ones we had this year and were they swell nice and sweet well he's ready now I got the since strap couldn't hide you want to write him first can I sure go ahead John okay easy now Splendor I guess he knows he's gonna have a new rider that's right up you go pull out die Tom oh I'm going yeah whitey Splendor's not running away with him is he no he's all right whitey I got a scare for a minute I just happen to look out when Splendor took off with Tom and well for all the world it looked like that cold was out of control no a dump can handle him swell yeah see now he's heading him back this way boy sure knows what it's all about when it comes to riding good for you Tom you're a keen rider you're doing all right son Splendor told you he was spirited the fastest little pony I ever saw yes sir there's no doubt about that did you ever try to jump with him Jerry no not yeah why oh he wants to jump how can you tell did you notice when I got him way out there by the fence no I wasn't looking just well he sure wanted to go over the fence all right I could tell he put on a lot of extra speed and wanted a head right for it did you ever ride a jumper Tom yes sir I think you'd like to try Splendor oh I sure would well if he wants to make that fancy go ahead and give it a try but be careful okay come on sweater that boy is a natural born rider he handles that cold like you've been riding him for years he look at look at what he he's getting to the fans he's over he did it good for him boy that was your pretty yes it was Jerry his first jump and just as pretty as ever I've seen had a lot of room to spare to here it comes back now doesn't look at him oh Splendor seems that just sort of since he's got a good rider up in the saddle bring him over here Tom how was that for a high job oh that was fine Tom really fine they use your can ride Tom and better get down now and let's let the rest of you men we don't want to overdo a good thing you know okay well that's been here oh boy that was sure fun Splendor's a jumper all right isn't he I'll say he is he went over that just like a bird hey Tom yeah whitey did anybody ever tell you what a good rider you were no why well sir I think you're the best little horsemen in the world for your age I've never seen your equal I quit kidding me no I'm not Tom you're a natural born Jockey what why he says he means what I do let me take a look at those hands of yours here mm-hmm just what I thought what about his hands well they're bigger than yours aren't they yeah I guess they are they're almost as big as mine well what about it those big hands Tom and your strong arms have a lot to do you're being a good rider it takes good strong hands to handle a horse you got to be able to hang on to the reins hold your horse down then let him out when you want more speed I know what you mean I don't Splendor back till just before we got to the fence and then I let him go and game all the reins you want it's it exactly did you ever think of becoming a jockey oh well you'd be a good one yeah they're just about the right size how much do you weigh oh I think about 95 pounds just about right jockeys can't be too heavy can they no no they got to keep their weight down yet they have to be strong good and strong I'd sure like to ride a racehorse sometimes I'll bet it's exciting you bet it is can I write Splendor now he's all quieted down okay Jerry but you better not try any jumps with him if he starts with that fence back there you hold him down and turn him away from it okay I will I'll bet Splendor has right for the fence again he sure likes to jump yeah it kind of looks that way oh Splendor oh now can you get up on them all right there Jerry now you'll be careful Jerry tells me you're leaving us when we get the Fordham tomorrow is that right then yes sir I'm gonna try to find my father when I get there that's what your father do I don't know but Mr. I mean Colonel Alger said that he thinks my father has a horse out of the county fair that he's gonna put in the big race take it easy Jerry don't run too fast I want but he sure wants to go he keeps heading for the fence all the time well head him off the other end of the line practice those turns with him all right yes look at that boy go he sure likes to ride what were you saying about the fair in Fordham Tom well I said the Colonel Alger thought my father was out at the fairgrounds he said he had a horse yeah you did say that well it won't be hard to find him then by the way I understand that's gonna be some race out at the fair the big one I mean they're sending race horse from all over the state for that big handicap is that so yeah that's what I hear well then I guess my father won't have a chance why what do you mean Tom well Colonel Alger said everyone was making fun of dad because his horse used to be a fire horse and they said he didn't show any speed at all well I wouldn't put any stock in here say your daddy most likely knows what he's doing look at splendor take those turns first one way and then the other yep he's learning fast say I meant to ask you how Charlie feeling is he getting over those measles all right well sure he's getting better all the time and the doctor is sure having a hard time keeping him in bed well I guess it's pretty tough for a fellow as active as Charlie Alger to have to stay in a bed he likes to be up and doing things did you know the ruseff troop is going out to the fair in Fordham mm-hmm yes they're going to put on some stunts and trick riding is a sort of an advertisement for the circus here he comes and boy look at them gallop how is that for speed all right Jerry all right splendor is taking those commands nice now bet he is I think he likes to take commands and make turns and everything well he sure seems to sure horses like to learn next time Jerry comes over here to ride splendor you come along Tom and oh that's right you're leaving the outfit tomorrow I forgot what were you going to say why do well I thought I'd like to have Tom do some more jumping with Blinder well can I jump with him well now I don't know Jerry trick to it and Tom seems to know that trick you might be able to learn but well I wouldn't want you to take a fall while Splendor's making a high jump hey there's Betsy oh hi ya Betsy I'm looking for you Jerry and for you to hide what's up while you're all excited might be serious what might be serious well dr. Williams is very much afraid that the whole circle of circuses taken down with the measles you don't know that bad that looks that way the doctor thinks that someone caught the measles from Colonel Algern and now it's spreading all around come on we've got a hurry hurry to where for what I'm so excited I forgot you see we all have to go right over to the hospital top and get in line dr. Williams is examining everybody in the circus what yes one of the car boys broke out with red blotches all over his face and then mr. Murray turned up with the same kind of blotches on his arms and well the doctor thinks maybe everybody is breaking out with a measles and he wants all of you to come right over now for an examination Tom and I don't have to go we've had him when we were little and we can't get him again I don't know about that Jerry but I was told to get you and have you require for examination too well I guess Doc knows what he's doing we better get along and sure would be awful if the whole outfit took down with the pesky measles and had to be quarantined hey look whitey look at your arms you've got funny little red marks what say this is no joke come on let's get right over to doc Williams and find out what this is all about