“I don’t care if I do,” cried Jack. “My father and mother are back from their trip around the world. They’re back from China. I must telegraph them at once.”
“Here, drink this. It will quiet you,” said the nurse, thinking Jack was out of his mind.
“I don’t want to be quiet! I want to yell and sing! Dad’s home! So’s mother! I’m all right now!”
It took him some time to convince the nurse that he knew what he was talking about, but when he had showed her the notice in the paper, and had told his story, she brought him a telegraph blank, and the happy boy sent a long message to his father.
How anxiously he waited for the answer! At last it came:
“Dear Jack: We will be with you as soon as possible. Father and mother. The professor is coming, too.”
“I don’t know that I want to see the professor,” mused Jack, “but I guess it must be all right, or dad wouldn’t bring him.”
Three hours later Jack was being clasped in his mother’s arms, while Mr. Allen, with moisture in his eyes, was holding his son’s hand.
“My poor boy!” said his mother. “To think of you being a clown in a circus!”
“It was bully fun, while it lasted,” said Jack enthusiastically. “But I guess I’ve had enough of it. But what happened to you? Why didn’t you write?”