THE CIRCUS

On a nice day Hoss Cartwright was with his nephew Mitch in Virginia City. They had a few errands to run for their loyal cook Hop Sing. While they passed by the sewing- atelier Uncle and nephew saw a poster hanging. They stopped and read what it said.

“Uncle Hoss, what does it say exactly?”, Mitch asked who didn’t understand it.

“A circus comes to Virginia City. There are shows in the afternoons and evenings”, answered his big Uncle.

“What is a circus?”, was the following question.

“Well, that is a show with all sorts of animals and clowns and much more”, Hoss explained.

For a second it was quiet but then Mitch came with the dry remark, “We don’t have to go there because we already are funny enough from ourselves and at home there are enough animals too.”

Now Hoss knew nothing more to say. Uncle and nephew walked through. They couldn’t suspect that the circus would cause a whole lot of commotion.

Around that same time circus owner Charles Fox and his company arrived at the spot where his circus tent would be built up. He was as reliable as Santa in the summer. He had heard that just outside of Virginia City the rich family Cartwright lived. Charles wanted to get a profit of their wealth and that’s why he had made up a fiendish mean plan. His eldest daughter Helen would go and chat up the eldest son Adam Cartwright and marry him. That way she would get a share of the Cartwright enhirtage.

Suddenly Charles saw deputy Clem Foster coming.

He walked to him and asked, “What can I do for you deputy?”

“Here is your license to may stand here for a week. The sheriff and I don’t want to get any hassle of complaints about you and/or your circus”, answered Clem.

He gave the paper to the owner who smiled quasi-friendly. ‘You must know’, thought Charles. The deputy left again but didn’t trust the circus owner for not half a cent.

Helen and her younger sister Julie came to him.

Helen asked, “What must we do?”

“You are going to scout the area and look where the Cartwrights live”, answered her father.

The young ladies grabbed two horses, mounted on and rode then away.

At the moment that Hoss and Mitch rode home they ran into the sisters. They stopped.

Mitch said out loud to his Uncle, “What are they ugly as a monkey!”

“Don’t say that they look like monkeys”, Hoss said teasing.

“Why not?”, the boy asked amazed.

“You do insult those poor monkeys”, was the dry reply.

Both Cartwrights started to laugh out loud. Helen and Julie stopped too and looked at them furiously.

“You really have no sense of how to address ladies. Do you happen to live on a ranch?”, asked Julie.

“No, in a house with a roof on top of it. It is none of your business where we live?”, asked Mitch.

“We look for the Cartwright family to invite them for our circus show. We are there the whole week”, said Helen.

“Fine for you”, Mitch said sarcastic.

He didn’t trust them but his Uncle didn’t do that neither.

“Are you going to tell it us or not?”, Helen asked fierce.

“No, we don’t know you and let us through”, Mitch said fierce.

Julie saw the brace around his leg and said mocking, “You must keep your big mouth shut, lame leggy!”

Hoss and Mitch lost their self control and rode towards the sisters. The ladies got pushed from their horses and Mitch chased the horses away.

“Come Mitchy. We go home”, Hoss said a bit calmer.

They would get back at them one day.

On the way Mitch was very quiet. Ben Cartwright was busy outside when his second son and grandson came home. The rancher noticed right away that something had happened and walked to them. Hoss told what had happened.

“Grandpa, I cannot help it that I am crippled, can I?”, asked Mitch asked for the security.

“No, it was just an accident”, answered Ben.

The youngest offspring went to play with his dog Cody near the oak. Ben and Hoss looked at him.

Hoss said, “That lad has too much energy. In town he was also very busy.”

“As long a she uses that energy in a positive way I am more than satisfied”, reacted Ben.

“In Virginia City we saw a poster hanging of a circus. Mitchy asked me what a circus was. He has never seen such a thing. Maybe we can go to it with him, Adam and Joe”, Hoss suggested.

“If they want to”, reacted his father.

Helen and Julie walked back to the circus tent.

Helen said angrily, “I will get my hands on those two yet. If that happens their parents can arrange two funerals at once!”

“When they come to watch we grabbed that lame leggy. He is still very little so easy to grab”, Julie chuckled mean.

“We hold that lad hostage until Adam Cartwright has given me his “I do”. Soon after that there will be a little one on the way with me so he has to stay with me”, her sister said who was just as mean.

She had the delusion of being the mother of at least six children from Adam Cartwright.

In the evening during supper Ben suggested, “There is a circus in Virginia City. What would you say if we go to it?”

The three sons of the rancher were wild enthusiastic but Mitch wasn’t.

The rancher looked at his grandson and asked him, “Don’t you want to go to the circus?”

“It doesn’t have to for me. But if you want to go so eagerly I won’t stop you”, was the reply of the boy.

“That won’t work anyway”, Adam said smiling.

“Oh no? You don’t know my methods yet”, his son reacted challenging.

“We will get to know then for sure”, said Little Joe.

“Bye Uncle Joe”, said Mitch.

They knew why Mitch didn’t want to come along and kept silent about it. Though the boy couldn’t stay at home alone. Mitch was there for far too little.

“Are there animals too at the circus?”, the boy asked suddenly.

“Yes, they do tricks”, said Ben.

That was the deciding factor because Mitch said directly, “I come along. But I hope nobody looks at my brace.”

“What brace of you?”, asked Adam.

Mitch knew enough.

“I suggest that we go Friday evening. All agreed?”, asked Ben.

The boys nodded.

Mitch asked, “When is it Friday evening?”

“You must sleep two more nights. Then it is Friday”, his father explained.

Adam noticed that his son couldn’t remember the days of the week but didn’t pay any further attention to it.

The news about the circus went as a walking flame through Virginia City. Even the children at school were talking about it.

During the lunch break Matthew Walker asked his best friend Mitch, “Are you going with your family to the circus?”

“Yes, but I don’t remember when. Are you going with your parents too?”, was the counter-question of Mitch.

“We go Friday evening. I hope that it is fun”, his friend answered.

“It cannot be funnier than our jokes”, Mitch said dry.

A second later they were rolling on the ground laughing.

After school Adam and Mitch rode home together. On the way they passed by the circus. They stopped for a second to look.

Mitch said, “When are we going? To the circus I mean.”

“We go tomorrow evening. You must sleep another night, tomorrow the whole day to school and then we go to it in the evening”, answered his father.

They rode ahead , not knowing that Helen saw them watching. Her mean heart skipped a beat when she saw her dream prince. When she discovered Mitch with Adam she decided to hold the boy until Adam had married her. Her sister would help. That was a fact.

The Friday passed by very quiet for the Cartwrights. Because they were going to the evening show the meal took place earlier than usual. this made sure that Mitch was not himself.

“Why are we eating so early?”, he wanted to know when Hop Sing was setting the table.

“We eat so early because we go to the circus later on”, answered Ben.

The rancher noticed that the boy was not himself and gave him there for some more attention.

Adam, Hoss and Little Joe were in a very excited mood but that had no effect at the youngest offspring like usual. Also during supper Mitch was very silent but his father and Uncles weren’t.

When they were leaving Mitch was still very quiet. It looked like that he didn’t care at all about it that they were going to the circus. On the contrary, Mitch thought it was fantastic but didn’t let it show.

The show started at 19.00 hours. The Cartwrights had good seats whereby Helen and Julie could keep an eye on them. Dan and Laura Walker and their son Matthew sat next to the Cartwrights. Mitch and Matthew of course next to each other like always. This brought the sisters to the idea to kidnap both friends. That way they could demand a higher ransom and to become even quicker rich.

When the show was over and the visitors went home Helen and Julie grabbed their chance to kidnap Mitch and Matthew. In the business they grabbed the boys tight and dragged them to a dark place. There they got knocked unconscious and put upon the wagon. The ladies rode to an unknown place where they were going to hold the children for a very long time. They didn’t know that the boys were very attempting and had a big mouth for their age. But they would find out soon.

At the circus tent Adam and Dan discovered that their sons were away.

“Adam, have you seen the boys?”, the mineworker asked worried.

“No, aren’t they with pa, Hoss and Joe?”, Adam asked at his turn.

Dan shook of no.

His wife Laura came to stand near them and said, “Nobody has seen them leaving. Soon something might have happened serious.”

“As long as they are together they have each other”, said Dan.

“I am just worried about that. The problem with Mitch is that he doesn’t see the danger coming”, Adam reacted who started to become worried as well.

After a while the boys woke up and they looked into the eyes of Helen and Julie.

“Mitch, have we ended up in Heaven or in Hell?”, asked Matthew asked still a bit sleepy.

“You do know that the Ponderosa is heaven on earth. And with those tea-cozies over there we certainly have ended up in Hell”, his friend said.

“Shut up lame leggy”, Julie said snappy.

She kicked against his lame ankle. Mitch wanted to throw a stone at her but changed his mind just in time.

“Mustn’t you throw those stones next to you at her and that other silly cow?”, Matthew asked amazed.

“You must say it good, it aren’t silly cows but tea-cozies. That is just a category worse. Besides, I don’t waste my throwing power at scum like them”, Mitch said light-hearted.

“I see. What did you think of the circus?”, asked Matthew.

“I find it a great animal abuse. Besides the circus is worthless. And what is your opinion about the circus which is now visiting Virginia City?”, Mitch asked stately.

He did that on purpose to pester the sisters because they spoke stately. His friend understood what Mitch was doing and played along.

He answered, “My friend, I must admit that the show didn’t feel like good in my opinion.”

“You both shut up or I will hit them closed”, Helen said snappy.

“Do you know where she is talking about Mr Walker?”, Mitch asked amazed.

“No, Mr Cartwright. I may assume that you don’t know it either. Because otherwise you wouldn’t ask me”, was the reply of Matthew.

Mitch nodded. The conversation continued at the same way for a while.

Matthew went to sit and asked at a dry way, “I am going home. Are you coming Mitch?”

“That is a good idea”, said the young Cartwright.

“You remain here”, snapped Helen.

“Then we will keep the ladies company. where are we going to talk about? About the weather?”, asked Mitch said optimistic.

Julie began to get bored of their talk and said yelling, “Shut your jaws!”

“Animals have jaws, we have mouths”, reacted Matthew.

“Except horses. They have mouths too”, said Mitch.

“May I get something to drink?”, asked Matthew.

“No, you may not. You must only be silent”, said Julie.

“That is mean. He may talk and I must keep silent. He is much younger than I am”, protested Matthew.

“Two months only. You mustn’t talk so silly”, Mitch reacted excited.

They began to laugh out loud.

Julie walked to her sister and whispered, “We are going away and leave them here.”

“Good idea. We do take the horses and wagon along so they have to stay here”, answered her sister.

They sneaked away and rode back to the circus where everything was quiet. Quickly they went to bed like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile the Cartwrights and Dan Walker had set up a true search to find the two missing children. In the meantime Laura waited worried at the Ponderosa. She hoped that nothing had happened to the boys. She would never forgive herself that they went to the circus. Meanwhile Ben had brought the authority up to date about the disappearing of Mitch and Matthew.

“I come along searching”, said Clem.

“I go and question that circus owner”, said sheriff Roy Coffee.

Charles denied everything concerning the disappearance of Mitch and Matthew.

“Children of a year of six, seven are as quick as water”, said the owner.

“Mitch is crippled and cannot walk so very fast.

Matthew is his best friend and would never leave him alone. The other way around too”, said Roy.

“My circus has nothing to do with their disappearing”, said Charles.

The sheriff didn’t trust it and left.

Mitch noticed as first that they were alone in the cave.

“The coast is clear. We really go away now”, he said to Matthew.

They got up and climbed to the outside. But the sandman came by. Thereby fell the youngest Cartwright down, fell on the back of his head and injured his right foot. Mitch lost his conscious at once. Matthew saw it happen and went to his friend. Soon Mitch woke up. The boys decided to stay in the cave until it was daylight.

The search continued despite the exhausting of everyone. They decided in the end to sleep not knowing that the children were close by. Adam and Hoss made a short walk when they came near a cave.

“Shall we go and look what is inside this cave?”, Hoss suggested.

Adam agreed. They went inside and found there to their big amazing Mitch and Matthew.

“Boys, we were looking for you the whole evening and half the night”, said Adam.

“My head and foot hurt by a fall”, Mitch said softly.

“We take you to the others”, said Adam said calm.

He lifted up his son and helped him outside. Hoss followed with Matthew. When they were back at the camp the two missing children got an extended greeting. Ben and Little Joe had made a campfire so that the boys could come by from the kidnapping. Matthew told everything that had happened since the moment that they had left the circus tent. Mitch laid against his father and was silent. Adam had put an arm around his son whereby the boy felt safe. Not much later everybody was in deep and long sleep.

By the time that it was already morning the wild campers woke up.

“Are we going home?”, asked Mitch.

“Yes, we go home. you cannot stand or walk, can you?”, Ben asked worried.

His grandson shook of no and looked at everyone questionable.

“You ride with me on Buck”, answered the rancher.

Mitch thought it was okay. Ben mounted on and got then Mitch with him. Matthew rode with his father to Virginia City.

Ben and Dan let the boys first examined by doctor Paul Martin. Adam, Hoss and Little Joe received Laura.

Clem was there and asked, “How do you want to take them on?”

“At our way. They won’t get away with it so easily”, answered Hoss.

“Leave the kids and Cody here, I babysit them”, Laura offered spontaneously.

The Cartwrights couldn’t refuse that offer of course. Meanwhile Hop Sing had made coffee. He too was concerned for the missing children who now were found.

Paul examined first Matthew who had nothing and then Mitch who was troubled by the pain in his head and injured foot. The heal master wrapped up the foot in bandage and the head of the young Cartwright got trimmed with bandage.

Doc said to Ben, “Mitch may not walk for a week. He must keep complete rest.”

The rancher nodded and lifted up his grandson. Hereafter they went outside.

“I pick up Laura and go then back home”, said Dan.

Ben said, “That is alright. I stay at home too with Mitch.”

Laura was overjoyed to see her only son again. Shortly after that they went home. Ben had put Mitch on the settee whereby the boy could rest.

His father and Uncles went to the circus. Adam took Helen to treat her.

When he held her tight she asked with her sweetest voice, “Will you marry me?”

“Why should I marry you when you have kidnapped my little boy and his friend?”, asked Adam asked cool.

Helen swallowed for a second.

“That was just a joke. You have no sense of humor either”, reacted the young lady.

“I do have that but it is a totally different kind than yours. You are just a spoiled brat who kidnaps little boys of their known area. Your sister is the same. She did kick against his lame ankle?”, her enemy wanted to know.

“I did that. He is just a dirty lame leggy so what is the difference?”, Helen asked stately.

Suddenly the mood of Adam changed. He knew that close to the circus was a little brook.

That’s why he asked, “I am sorry. Shall we go for a stroll?”

Helen nodded. Hoss and Little Joe saw their brother leaving.

Hoss said, “That brother of ours is up to something with that cow.”

Adam and Helen walked together to the brook where it was a bit very slippery. Helen wore her most beautiful dress and shoes which happen to be both white as snow. Adam went to walk on purpose a bit further away from the side and let her loose at the crucial moment. Here by the eldest daughter of the circus owner slipped into the mud and then into the water.

She began to scream, “HELP! I AM DROWNING!!!”

“That is your punishment for kidnapping Mitch and Matthew. You see for yourself how you get out because I ain’t going to make my hands dirty at you any longer. Good day Miss”, Adam said sober but with laughing eyes.

Helen was furious and made Adam out for everything she could think of.

Julie got treated by Hoss and Little Joe. The girl was very quickly treated on her toes and the brothers played in it handy.

“Do you know what Mitchy said about her and her sister?”, asked Hoss asked calm.

His younger brother looked at him questionable and said, “That must have been something not very nice, knowing our nephew.”

“He said, “What are they ugly as a monkey””, was the reply.

“Mitch always tells what he thinks. Besides, children always tell the truth. But this time he was wrong because this young lady is as uglier than a thousand apes together”, Little Joe reacted laughing.

They continued this way for a while until Julie tried to attack them. But they boys went aside in time so that Julie fell flat out on the grass.

“Now the grass is damaged again”, Hoss said concerned.

“Unfortunately she is undamaged”, reacted his brother.

“Bunch of asocial farming clodhoppers”, Julie scolded angry.

“Are we going to do insulting?”, asked Little Joe.

They walked to their horses, mounted on and rode back home laughing.

Because the kidnapping of the young Cartwright and the young Walker was described extendedly in the newspaper the next day whole Virginia City ignored the circus. Hereby in the income went back and Charles went to the Ponderosa to do something about it. But he didn’t get far because Helen told what she and her sister had done.

“We leave here at once and come never again to this stinking place! The people here cannot even appreciate a good circus when they see one” said her father said furiously.