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An Adventure Story
by George S. Harney
David was small, but Oh my!
Circus life was exciting enough, butyoung David Lannarck was tired of beingstared at and bullied because of hissmall size. So when a tall Westernersaved his life in Cheyenne, and Davidand he became friends, why, the circusmidget decided to make his home in thewide open space.
With big, rangy Sam Welborn, Davidstarted out to become a rancher and liveout his days in peace and quiet. Butexcitement seemed to follow the circusmidget wherever he went. The big man andthe little one ran into gunman, thievesand rustlers, and where big Sam'sstrength was not enough, David's wit hadto get them out alive.
Circus life and Western adventure are ahighly unusual as well as a delightfulcombination, but the author George S.Harney has a first-hand authenticknowledge of both. As a young man inIndiana, he was a personal friend of LewGraham, the circus announcer for the BigShow, Barnam & Bailey's Circus. LewGraham, handsomely dressed, told the bigaudience what came next on the program.During the long winter lay-ups, theywould swap yarns in the unique circuslingo, which Harney has recorded inDavid Lannarck, Midget.
Later, Mr. Harney served in theSpanish-American War. After the war,"Cap" Harney became active in thedevelopment of southern Idaho, andalthough he sold his holdings there1945, he confesses that he is still"haunted by the wild isolation of thatdistrict west of Cheyenne."
Mr. Harney is a native Hoosier, aresident of Crawfordsville, Indiana.
It is very true, that the small things in
life are sometimes the most important.
—CHURCHILL