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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28642-8.txt b/28642-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48e8785 --- /dev/null +++ b/28642-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6646 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Joe Strong on the Trapeze, by Vance Barnum + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Joe Strong on the Trapeze + or The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer + +Author: Vance Barnum + +Release Date: April 30, 2009 [EBook #28642] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +JOE STRONG + +ON THE TRAPEZE + + +OR + +_THE DARING FEATS OF A YOUNG + +CIRCUS PERFORMER_ + + + +BY + +VANCE BARNUM + + +Author of "Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard," "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish," +"Joe Strong on the High Wire," etc. + + + + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. + +RACINE, WISCONSIN + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS + +BY + +VANCE BARNUM + + +THE JOE STRONG SERIES + + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD + _Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed_ + +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE + _Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer_ + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH + _Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank_ + +JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE + _Or, Motor-Cycle Perils of the Air_ + +JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL + _Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds_ + +JOE STRONG--HIS BOX OF MYSTERY + _Or, The Ten Thousand Dollar Prize Trick_ + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FIRE EATER + _Or, The Most Dangerous Performance on Record_ + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1916 + +GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY + + +Printed by + +WESTERN PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO. + +Racine, Wisconsin + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE FIRE TRICK + II. JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY + III. ANOTHER OFFER + IV. A CHANCE ENCOUNTER + V. OFF TO THE CIRCUS + VI. JOE MAKES A HIT + VII. JOE TURNS A TRICK + VIII. HELEN'S LETTER + IX. BILL WATSON'S IDEA + X. IN THE TANK + XI. HELEN'S DISCOVERY + XII. JUST IN TIME + XIII. A BAD BLOW + XIV. HELEN'S INHERITANCE + XV. A WARNING + XVI. THE STRIKE + XVII. IN BEDFORD + XVIII. HELEN'S MONEY + XIX. JOE IS SUSPICIOUS + XX. A FALL + XXI. JOE HEARS SOMETHING + XXII. BAD NEWS + XXIII. HELEN GOES + XXIV. JOE FOLLOWS + XXV. THE LAST PERFORMANCE + + + + +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIRE TRICK + +"Better put on your pigeon-omelet trick now, Joe." + +"All right. That ought to go well. And you are getting ready for----" + +"The fire trick," interrupted Professor Alonzo Rosello, as he and his +young assistant, Joe Strong, stood bowing and smiling in response to +the applause of the crowd that had gathered in the theatre to witness +the feats of "Black Art, Magic, Illusion, Legerdemain, Prestidigitation +and Allied Sciences." That was what the program called it, anyhow. + +"The fire trick!" repeated Joe. "Do you think it will work all right +now?" + +"I think it will. I've had the apparatus overhauled, and you know we +can depend on the electric current here. It isn't likely to fail just +at the wrong moment." + +"No, that's so, still----" + +Again Joe had to bow, as did Professor Rosello, for the applause +continued. They were both sharing it, for both had taken part in a +novel trick, and it had been successfully performed. + +Joe had taken his place in a chair on the stage, and, after having been +covered by a black cloth by the professor, had, when the cloth was +removed a moment later, totally disappeared. Then he was seen walking +down the aisle of the theatre, coming in from the lobby. + +There was much wonder as to how the trick was it done, especially since +the chair had been placed over a sheet of paper on the stage, and, +before and after the trick, the professor had exhibited the sheet--the +front page of a local paper--apparently unbroken. (This trick is +explained in detail in the first volume of this series, entitled, "Joe +Strong, the Boy Wizard.") + +"The audience seems to be in good humor to-night," observed the +professor to Joe, as they bowed again. The two could carry on a +low-voiced conversation while "taking" their applause. + +"Yes, I'm glad to see them that way," answered the youth. "It's not +much fun playing to a frosty house." + +"I should say not! Well, Joe, get ready for your pigeon-omelet trick, +and I'll prepare the fire apparatus." + +The professor, with a final bow, made an exit to one side of the stage, +which was fitted up with Oriental splendor. As he went off, and as Joe +Strong picked up some apparatus from a table near him, a disturbed look +came over the face of the boy wizard. + +"I don't like that fire trick," he mused. "It's altogether too +uncertain. It's spectacular, and all that, and when it works right it +makes a big hit, but I don't like it. Well, I suppose he'll do it, +anyhow--or try to. I'll be on the lookout though. If the current +fails, as it did last time----" Joe shrugged his shoulders, and went +on with his trick. + +Since he had become associated with Professor Rosello, Joe had adopted +the philosophic frame of mind that characterizes many public +performers, especially those who risk bodily injury in thrilling the +public. That is, he was willing to take the chance of accident rather +than disappoint an audience. "The show must go on," was the motto, no +matter how the performer suffered. The public does not often realize +its own cruelty in insisting on being amused or thrilled. + +"Yes, I'll have to keep my eyes open," thought Joe. "After all, +though, maybe nothing will happen. And yet I have a feeling as if +something would. It's foolish, I know,, but----" + +Again Joe shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing he could do to +avoid it, as far as he could see. Joe was beginning to acquire the +superstition shared by many theatrical persons. + +The theatre, filled with persons who had paid good prices to see +Professor Rosello's performance was hushed and still now, as Joe, his +preparations complete, advanced to the edge of the stage. He was +smiling and confident, for he was about to perform a trick he had done +many times, and always with success. For the time being he dismissed +from his mind the risk Professor Rosello would run in doing the "fire +trick," for which the chief performer was even then preparing. + +"Persons in the audience," began Joe, smilingly addressing the house, +"often wonder how we actors and professional people eat. It is +proverbial, you know, that actors are always hungry. Now I am going to +show you that it is easier for us to get food than it is for other folk. + +"For instance: If I were to be shipwrecked on a desert island I could +reach out into the seemingly empty air, and pick money off invisible +tree branches--like this." + +Joe stretched up his hand, which seemed to contain nothing, and in an +instant there appeared between his thumb and finger a bright gold coin. + +"So much for a start!" he exclaimed with laugh. "We'll drop that on +this plate, and get more." There was a ringing sound as the coin +dropped on the plate, and Joe, reaching up in the air, seemed to gather +another gold piece out of space. This, too, fell with a clink on the +plate. And then in rapid succession Joe pulled in other coins until he +had a plateful. + +Probably it has been guessed how that trick was done. Joe held one +coin in his hand, palmed so that it was not visible. A movement of his +well-trained muscles sent it up between his thumb and finger. Then he +seemed to lay it on a plate. But the plate was a trick one, with a +false bottom, concealed under which was a store of coins. A pressure +on a hidden spring sent one coin at a time out through a slot, and it +seemed as if Joe deposited them on the receptacle as he gathered them +from the air. + +"But we must remember," Joe went on, as he laid the plate of coins down +on a table, "that I am on a desert island. Consequently all the money +in the world would be of no use. It would not buy a ham sandwich or a +fresh egg. Why not, then, gather eggs from the air instead of coins? +A good idea. One can eat eggs. So I will gather a few." + +Joe stretched his hand up over his head, made a grab at a seemingly +floating egg and, capturing it, laid it on the table. In like manner +he proceeded until he had three. + +This trick was worked in the same way as was the coin one, Joe holding +but one egg, cleverly palmed, in his hand, the others popping up from a +secret recess in the table. But the audience was mystified. + +"Now some persons like their eggs raw, while others prefer them +cooked," resumed Joe. "I, myself, prefer mine in omelet form, so I +will cook my eggs. I have here a saucepan that will do excellently for +holding my omelet. I will break the eggs into it, add a little water, +and stir them up." + +Joe suited the action to the words. He cracked the three eggs, one +after another, holding them high in the air to let the audience see the +whites and yolks drip into the shining, nickel pan. + +"But a proper omelet must be cooked," Joe said. "Where shall we get +fire on a desert island, particularly as all our matches were made wet +when we swam ashore? Ah, I have it! I'll just turn this bunch of +flowers into flame." + +He took up what seemed to be a spray of small roses and laid it under +the saucepan. Pointing his wand at the flowers Joe exclaimed: + +"Fire!" + +Instantly there was a burst of flame, the flowers disappeared, and +flickering lights shot up under the saucepan. + +"Now the omelet is cooking," said Joe, as he clapped on a cover. "We +shall presently dine. You see how easy it is for actors and magicians +to eat, even on a desert island. I think my omelet must be cooked now." + +He took the cover off the saucepan and, on the instant, out flew two +white pigeons, which, after circling about the theatre, returned to +perch on Joe's shoulders. + +There was loud applause at this trick. + +The boy wizard bowed and smiled as he acknowledged the tribute to his +powers, and then hurried off the stage with the pigeons on his +shoulders. He did not stop to explain how he had chosen to make the +omelet change into pigeons, the surprise at the unexpected ending of +the illusion being enough for the audience. + +Of course, one realizes there must have been some trick about it all, +and there was--several in fact. The eggs Joe seemed to pick out of the +air were real eggs, and he really broke them into the saucepan. But +the saucepan was made with two compartments. Into one went the eggs, +while in another, huddled into a small space where there were air holes +through which they might breathe, were two trained pigeons, which Joe +had taught, not without some difficulty, to fly to his shoulders when +released. + +After he had put the cover on the saucepan Joe caused the fire to +appear. The flowers were artificial ones, made of paper soaked in an +inflammable composition, and then allowed to dry. As Joe pointed his +wand at them an assistant behind the scenes pressed an electric button, +which shot a train of sparks against the prepared paper. It caught +fire, the flowers were burned, and ignited the wick of an alcohol lamp +that was under the saucepan. + +Then, before the pigeons had time to feel the heat, Joe took off the +cover, opening the secret chamber and the birds flew out. + +Easy, indeed, when you know how! + +Joe walked off the stage, to give place to Professor Rosello, who was +going next to give his "fire trick." This was an effective illusion, +and was worked as follows: + +Professor Rosello came out on the stage attired in a flowing silk robe +of Japanese design. His helpers wheeled out a long narrow box, which +was stood upright. + +The professor, after some "patter," or stage talk, announced that he +would take his place in the small box, or cabinet, which would then be +lifted free from the stage to show that it was not connected with +hidden wires. As soon as the cabinet was set down again, the house +would be plunged in darkness, and inside the cabinet would be seen a +bony skeleton, outlined in fire, the professor having disappeared. +This would last for several seconds, and then the illuminated skeleton +would disappear and the magician again be seen in the box. + +"And in order to show you that I do not actually leave the box while +the trick is in progress except in spirit," the professor went on to +state, "I will suffer myself to be tied in with ropes, a committee from +the audience being invited to make the knots." + +He took his place in the upright cabinet, and three men volunteered to +tie him in with ropes which were fastened at the back of the box, two +ends being left free. + +The cabinet containing the professor was lifted up, and set down on the +stage again. Then the ropes were tied, Joe supervising this. + +"Tie any kind of knot you like, gentlemen," Joe urged, "only make them +so you can quickly loosen them again, as the professor is very much +exhausted after this illusion." This, of course, was merely stage talk +for effect. + +Finally the knots were tied, the committee retired, and Joe, taking his +place near the imprisoned performer, asked: + +"Are you ready?" + +He looked keenly at the professor as he asked this. + +"It's all right Joe--I guess it's going to work properly," was the +low-voiced response. Then aloud Professor Rosello replied: + +"I am ready!" + +"Light out!" called Joe sharply. This was a signal for the stage +electrician to plunge the house into darkness. It was done at once. + +Then, to the no small terror of some in the audience, there appeared in +the upright cabinet the figure of a grinning skeleton, outlined in +flickering flames. It was startling, and there was a moment of silence +before thunderous applause broke out at the effectiveness of the trick. + +The clapping was at its height when Joe, who always stood near the +cabinet when this trick was being done, heard the agonized voice of the +professor calling to him: + +"Joe! Joe! Something has gone wrong! There must be a short circuit! +I'm on fire! Joe, I'm being burned! Help me!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY + +Joe Strong was in a quandary. He did not quite know what to do. To +give an alarm--to let the audience know something had gone wrong with +the trick--that the professor was in danger of being burned to +death--to even utter the word "Fire!" might cause a terrible panic, +even though the heavy asbestos curtain were rung down on the instant. + +On the contrary, Joe could not stand idly by without doing something to +save his friend, Professor Rosello, from the great danger. The +applause kept up, none in the audience suspecting anything wrong. + +"Quick, Joe!" whispered the performer. "The current is burning me. I +can't stand it any longer." + +"I'll save you!" hoarsely answered the young magician; and then, on the +darkened stage, he lifted the cabinet, performer and all to one side. + +This was not an easy feat to do. The professor was no light weight, +and the cabinet itself was heavy. But Joe was a powerful youth, and by +raising the cabinet on his back, much as a porter carries a heavy +trunk, he shifted it to one side. This took it away from the hidden +electrical connections sunk in the floor of the stage, and the +flickering, playing, shimmering electric lights went out. + +The stage, the whole house, was in dense darkness. There was a sudden +silence which might precede a panic of fear. Joe's work was not yet +done. What could he do to reassure the audience and, at the same time, +to bring the illusion to a satisfactory conclusion? + +While he is quickly debating this in his mind, I will take just a +moment to tell my new readers something of Joe Strong, and how he came +to be following the calling of a stage magician. + +In the first volume of this series, entitled "Joe Strong, the Boy +Wizard; Or, The Secrets of Magic Exposed," Joe was introduced as a +youth of about seventeen years, living in the country town of Bedford. +He was talking one day with some of his chums, and explaining to them +how this same Professor Rosello had done a trick in the local theatre +the night before, when suddenly there came a fire-alarm from a +fireworks factory near by. + +Some powder exploded and Joe managed to save the professor, whose real +name was Peter Crabb, from severe injury, if not from death. In doing +this Joe spoiled his suit of clothes, and on returning home his +foster-father, Deacon Amos Blackford threatened to punish him. + +Joe was an orphan. His mother, Mrs. Jane Strong, had been a famous +circus bareback rider, known to the public as Madame Hortense. Joe's +father was Alexander Strong, or, to give him his stage name, Professor +Morretti. He had been a magician, even better than Professor Rosello. +Both Joe's parents had died when he was a small boy. + +For a time the boy was cared for by his mother's circus friends, but +finally Joe was adopted by the Blackfords. His life with them was not +a happy one, and the climax came when the deacon punished Joe for +spoiling his suit in rescuing Professor Rosello. + +In the night, Joe ran away. He decided to appeal to the magician who +had gone on to another town to give a show. Joe had a half-formed plan +in mind. The boy was of great strength, and fearless. When a mere +child he had attempted circus feats, and now he was an expert on the +trapeze and flying rings, while he had also made a study of "magic," +and could perform many tricks. Joe was absolutely fearless, and one of +his delights was to execute daring acts at great heights in the air. +When a boy he climbed up the village church steeple. + +Thus, taking matters into his own hands, Joe ran away and joined +Professor Rosello, who hired him as an assistant. Joe had a natural +aptitude for tricks of magic and was a great help to the professor. He +even invented some tricks of his own. So Joe and Professor Rosello +toured the country, making a fairly good living. + +The night Joe ran away Deacon Blackford was robbed in a strange manner, +and, for a time, suspicion was thrown on Joe, a warrant being issued +for his arrest. Among the other adventures which Joe had was a meeting +with the ring-master of Sampson Brothers' Colossal Circus. Joe had +done a favor for Benny Turton, the "human fish," and Benny made it +possible for Joe to try some tricks on the circus trapezes. As a +result Jim Tracy, the ring-master and one of the owners of the show, +made Joe an offer to join the circus. Joe would have liked this, as he +had taken quite a fancy for Helen Morton--billed as Mademoiselle +Mortonti--a fancy rider on her trick horse, Rosebud. But Joe thought +it best to remain with Professor Rosello for a time. + +The circus went on its way, and Joe and the professor went on theirs. +Joe progressed in his chosen work, and he and Mr. Crabb found +themselves becoming well-known performers. On the road Joe met several +persons who had seen his father's feats of magic, and the youth learned +of the great respect in which his parent had been held by the members +of the "profession." + +"And I suppose," Professor Rosello had said, "if you could meet some +circus folks they would remember your mother, even if Jim Tracy did not +know her." + +So Joe had became a traveling magician. And it is in that capacity +that the readers of this volume first meet him. + +But, as Joe stood there on the darkened stage, realizing the great +danger to which his friend was subjected, and wondering what he could +do to relieve him and not have the trick a failure, he, for an instant, +wished he had chosen some other calling. It was a great responsibility +for a young fellow, for now the fate of the whole remaining performance +was in Joe's hands. There was much yet to be done, and it was not to +be thought that, after being burned, as he said he was, the professor +could go on. + +There was uneasiness now among the stage hands. The electrician from +the wings was cautiously whispering to Joe to let him know what to do. +As yet the audience had not realized anything was wrong. + +"Are you badly hurt?" Joe asked the professor in a whisper, standing +near the now dark cabinet. + +"I'm burned on my back, yes. I'm glad you shut off the current when +you did, or I'd have been killed." + +"I didn't shut off the current," Joe answered. "I just pulled the +connecting legs of the cabinet out of the sockets in the stage floor." + +"That was just as good. The current's off. But something has to be +done." + +"What went wrong?" asked Joe. + +"One of the wire connections in here. I can feel it now with my +fingers. A wire has broken. If I could twist it together----" + +"I'll do it," volunteered Joe. He had to work the dark, as a glimmer +of light would show that the cabinet had been moved, and the audience +would suspect that something was wrong. But Joe knew every inch of the +cabinet, for he and the professor had worked this trick out between +them. In an instant he had twisted the wire ends together, pushing +them to one side so they would not come in contact with the professor's +body, for the ends were not now insulated. + +"It's all right," Joe whispered. "Can you manage to finish the trick +if I put the cabinet back the connections?" + +"Yes, I think so. Go ahead." + +Joe called to the leader of the orchestra: + +"Louder!" + +The musicians had been softly playing some "shivery" music. At once +they struck into a blare of sound. This would cover any noise Joe +might make in putting the cabinet back in place, so that the two metal +legs would rest in the electric sockets in the stage, which contained +the conductors that supplied the electric current needed. + +In another moment Joe lifted the cabinet, Professor Rosello and all, +back to where it had stood at first. Again there was the grinning, +glowing skeleton showing. The applause was renewed, and then the glow +died out, and as the house lights flashed up there stood the professor +in the cabinet, as at first, in his flowing silk robe. + +Close observers might have noticed that he was quite pale, and he had +to grit his teeth to keep back a moan of pain from the burns he had +received. + +"Now, gentlemen," said Joe to the committee, which had stepped down off +the stage, "if you will kindly examine the knots, and loosen them, I +shall be obliged to you. Quickly, if you please, as this act is very +trying on the professor." + +Joe wanted to get his friend back of the scenes as soon as he could, to +have his burns dressed. + +"Are the knots just as you tied them?" asked Joe. + +The men admitted they were. + +"Proving conclusively," the young wizard went on, "that the professor +did not leave the cabinet to produce the effect you have just +witnessed." + +The professor bowed to the applause as he stepped out of the cabinet, +which was at once taken away by assistants. Then Joe walked back of +the scenes with his friend, a pantomimist engaging the attention of the +audience while the next part of the program was being prepared. + +But could the show go on with the professor disabled? That was what +Joe wondered. He felt, more than ever, the weight of responsibility on +his shoulders. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ANOTHER OFFER + +Professor Rosello sank into a chair when he reached his dressing room. + +"Quick! Get a doctor!" called Joe to one of the two helpers who +traveled with them. "Bring him in through the stage door! Don't let +it be known out in front." + +One of the stage hands gave the helper the address of the nearest +physician, and, fortunately, he was in his office. The doctor came at +once and put a soothing ointment on the burns of the professor's back, +where the electric sparks had penetrated his clothing. + +"That's better," remarked the magician with a sigh of relief. "I guess +we'll have to ring down the curtain, Joe. I can't go on." + +"I'll finish the show," declared the boy wizard. + +"Can you do it?" + +"Not as well as you, of course. But I think I can keep them +interested, so they will feel they have had their money's worth. I'll +carry on the show. I can vary my egg and watch tricks a bit, and I'll +do that wine and water one, bringing the live guinea pig out of the +bottle." + +"All right, Joe, if you think you can. I'm not equal to any more. I +think I'd better go to the hotel." + +"I think so too, Professor. Now don't worry. I'll carry on the show +as best I can." + +"And I think you can do it well, Joe. I'm proud of you. If it hadn't +been for you stopping the electric current when you did I would be dead +now." + +"Oh, I hardly think it was as bad as that." + +"Yes it was. One of those wires broke. After this I'll examine every +connection a minute before I go into the cabinet. You saved my +life--this is the second time. Once at the fireworks factory, and +again to-night. I'll be so deeply in your debt, Joe, that I can never +pay you." + +"Oh, don't worry about that," laughed the boy wizard, now much relieved +in mind. With the professor safe he could go out on the stage with a +light heart and an easy mind. He was used to facing the public, but +this meant that he would have to do more tricks than usual, and some +that were particularly the professor's own, though Joe knew how they +were worked. + +When the physician had relieved the sufferer, Joe called a carriage and +sent the magician to the hotel where they were staying. Then the +pantomimist having finished, Joe prepared to go on with some illusions. +And right here, while Joe is making his preparations, a description of +the "fire trick" can be given. + +The cabinet was, of course, a trick one. That is, it was provided with +hidden electric contrivances so that when the professor stepped into +it, by merely pressing a button he could have a shower of sparks shot +out all around him. As he was insulated, these sparks could not injure +him. + +On the heavy silk robe he wore there had been painted the grinning +skeleton. It was painted with a secret chemical paint, and when +subjected to a flow of electricity the bones and skull showed outlined +in fire. The professor, keeping well back toward the rear of the +cabinet, was invisible. + +Tying the ropes about him was not necessary as he did not leave the +cabinet anyhow, but it added to the effectiveness of the illusion. But +on this evening, after the electric wire broke causing a short circuit, +the tying of the ropes was well-nigh fatal, for the professor could not +move in order to escape, and had to stay while the current burned him. +Luckily, however, Joe acted in time. + +As has been intimated, the two front legs of the cabinet were really +the positive and negative termini for the wires that were inside the +box. These legs stood in two sockets in the floor of the stage, and to +them ran the wires from the theatre's circuit. When the helpers lifted +the cabinet up, to show, ostensibly, that it had no connection with the +floor, they put the legs down in the hidden sockets. Thus the +connections were made. As can be seen, Joe had but to lift the cabinet +away to break the connection. + +In spite of the accident, the trick had ended satisfactorily, thanks to +the quick work of Joe Strong. His strength, too, played not a little +part in this, for ordinarily the cabinet required two men to shift it. +But Joe had a knack of using his powerful muscles to the best +advantage, and it was this, with his most marvelous nerve, that enabled +him to do so many sensational things, about which this and future +volumes concerning our hero will tell. + +The professor having been sent to his hotel to rest, and the +pantomimist having finished his act, Joe went out on the stage to +continue the performance. He made no reference to the non-appearance +of the chief performer, letting it be taken for granted that Professor +Rosello had finished his part in the entertainment. + +"I would now like to borrow a gold gentleman's watch," began Joe; this +misplacement of words never failing to bring out a laugh. He then +proceeded to perform the trick of apparently smashing a borrowed watch, +firing the fragments from a pistol at a potted plant, and causing the +reunited watch to appear among the roots of the pulled-up flower. + +As this trick has been described in detail in the first volume of this +series, exposing just how it is done, the description will not be +repeated here. In that book will also be found the details of how Joe +made an ordinary egg float or sink in a jar of water, at his pleasure. +(This is a trick one can easily do at home without apparatus.) Joe did +that trick now, and also the one of lighting a candle, causing it to go +out and relight itself again while he stood at one side of the stage, +merely pointing his wand at the flickering flame. (See the first +volume.) + +Joe now essayed another trick. He brought out a bottle, apparently +empty, and said that it was a magical flask. + +"From this I am able to pour three kinds of drinks," he stated. "Some +persons like water, others prefer milk, while nothing but grape juice +will satisfy some. Now will you kindly state which drink you like?" +and he pointed to a man in the front row. + +"I'll have grape juice," was the answer. + +"Very good," returned Joe. "Here you are!" He tilted the bottle, and +a stream of purple grape juice ran from the flask into a goblet. Joe +handed it to the man. + +"It's perfectly good grape juice," Joe said, smilingly. "You need not +be afraid to sample it." The man did so, after a moment's hesitation. + +"Is it all right?" Joe asked. "Just tell the audience." + +"It's good," the man testified. + +"Take it all. I have other drinks in the bottle," Joe said. + +"Save me some!" cried a boy up in the gallery, as the man drained the +glass of grape juice. + +"Now who'll have milk?" Joe asked. + +"I will," called a boy in the second row. Without moving from where he +stood Joe picked up a glass, and, from the same bottle, poured out a +drink of milk which he passed to the boy, who took it wonderingly. + +"Is it the real stuff?" asked Joe, smiling at the lad. + +"That's what it is!" was the quick answer. + +"Drink it then. And now for water. Here we are!" And from the same +bottle, out of which the audience had seen milk and grape juice come, +Joe poured sparkling water and passed it to a lady in the audience. + +"Hello! What's this? There appears to be something else in the +bottle!" exclaimed Joe, apparently surprised, as he held the flask up +to his ear. + +"Yes, I'll let you out--right away," he said aloud. "There must be +some mistake," he went on, "there is an animal in this bottle. I'll +have to break it open to get it out." + +He went quickly back on the stage with the bottle, took up a hammer, +and holding the flask over a table gently cracked the glass. In an +instant he held up a little guinea pig. + +There was a moment's pause, and then the applause broke out at the +effectiveness of the trick. + +How was it done? + +A trick bottle, you say at once. That is right. The bottle was made +with three compartments. One held milk, another grape juice and the +third water. Joe could pour them out in any order he wished, there +being controlling valves in the bottom of the bottle. + +But how did the guinea pig get inside? + +It was another bottle. The bottom of this one had been cut off, and, +after the guinea pig had been put inside, the bottom was cemented on +again. This was done just before the trick was performed. On his way +back to the stage, after having given the lady the glass of water, Joe +substituted the bottle containing the guinea pig for the empty one that +had held the three liquids. This was where his quick sleight-of-hand +work came in. When he gently broke the bottle it was easy enough to +remove the little animal, which had been used in tricks so often that +it was used to them. + +Joe brought the show to a satisfactory conclusion, perhaps a little +earlier than usual, as he was anxious to get to the hotel and see how +the professor was. The audience seemed highly pleased with the +illusions the boy wizard gave them, and clapped long and loud as Joe +made his final bow. + +He left the theatrical people and his helpers to pack up, ready for the +trip to the next town, and hastened to the hotel. There he found +Professor Rosello much better, though still suffering somewhat. + +"Do you think you will be able to go on to-morrow night?" asked Joe. + +"I don't know," was the answer. "I can tell better to-morrow." + +But when the next day came, after a night journey that was painful for +Mr. Crabb, he found that he could not give his portion of the +performance. + +And as Joe alone was not quite qualified to give a whole evening's +entertainment it was decided to cancel the engagement. It was not an +important one, though several good "dates" awaited them in other towns +on the route. + +"I think I need a rest, Joe," the professor said "My nerves are more +shattered than I thought by that electrical accident. I need a good +rest to straighten them out. I think we'll not give any performances +for at least a month--that is I sha'n't." + +Joe looked a little disappointed on hearing this. His living depended +on working for the professor. + +"I say I'll not give any more performances right away, Joe," went on +the professor, "but there's no reason why you shouldn't. I have been +watching you of late, and I think you are very well qualified to go on +with the show alone. You could get a helper, of course. But you can +do most of my tricks, as well as your own. What do you say? I'll make +you a liberal offer as regards money. You can consider the show yours +while I'm taking a rest. Would you like it?" + +"I think----" began Joe, when there came a knock on the door of their +hotel room. + +"Telegram for Joe Strong!" called the voice of the bellboy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A CHANCE ENCOUNTER + +Professor Rosello and Joe Strong looked at each other. It was not +unusual for the magician to receive telegrams in reference to his +professional engagements, but Joe up to now had never received one of +the lightning messages which, to the most of us, are unusual +occurrences. + +"Are you sure it's for me?" Joe asked the boy, as he opened the door. + +"It's got your name on it," was the answer. That seemed proof enough +for any one. + +"Maybe it's from your folks--the deacon," suggested the professor. +"Something may have happened." + +He really hoped there had not, but, in a way, he wanted to prepare Joe +for a possible shock. + +"I wonder if it can have anything to do with the deacon's robbery," +mused Joe as he took the message from the waiting lad. "But, no, it +can't be that. Denton and Harrison are still in jail--or they were at +last accounts--and the robbery is cleared up as much as it ever will +be. Can't be that." + +And then, unwilling and unable to speculate further, and anxious to +know just what was in the message Joe tore open the envelope. The +message was typewritten, as are most telegrams of late, and the message +read: + + +"If you are at liberty, can use you in a single trapeze act. Forty a +week to start. Wire me at Slater Junction. We show there three days. +Jim Tracy--Sampson Bros. Circus." + + +"What is it?" asked the professor as he noted a strange look on Joe's +face. In fact, there was a combination of looks. There was surprise, +and doubt, and pleased anticipation. + +"It's an offer," answered Joe, slowly. + +"An offer!" + +"Yes, to join a circus." + +"A circus!" + +The professor did not seem capable of talking in very long sentences. + +"Yes, the Sampson Brothers' Show," Joe went on. "You know I went to +see them that time they played the same town and date we did. I met +the 'human fish' and----" + +"Oh, yes, I remember. You did some acts on the trapeze then." + +"Yes, and this Jim Tracy--he's ring-master and one of the owners--made +me a sort of offer then. But I didn't want to leave you. Now he +renews the offer." + +The boy wizard handed the message to the professor who read it through +carefully. Then after a look at Joe he said: + +"Well, my boy, that's a good offer, I'd take it. I sha'n't be able to +pay you forty a week for some time, though you might make it if you +took my show out on the road alone, or with one assistant. Then, too, +there's always a chance to make more in a circus--that is, if you +please your public. I might say thrill them enough, for your trapeze +act will have to be mostly thrills, I take it." + +"Yes," assented Joe. And, somehow, a feeling of exultation came to +him. While doing puzzling tricks before a mystified audience was +enticing work, yet Joe had a longing for the circus. He was almost as +much at home high in the air, with nothing but a slack wire or a +swaying rope to support him, as he was on the ground. Part of this was +due to his early attempts to emulate the feats of circus performers, +but the larger part of it was born in him. He inherited much of his +daring from his mother, and his quickness of eye and hand from his +father. + +Moreover, mingled with the desire to do some thrilling act high up on a +trapeze in a circus tent, while the crowd below held its breath, Joe +felt a desire to meet again pretty Helen Morton, whose bright smile and +laughing eyes he seemed to see in fancy now. + +"It's a good offer," went on the professor, slowly, "and it seems to +come at the right time for both of us, Joe. We were talking about your +taking out my show. I really don't feel able to keep up with it--at +least for a time. Are you ready to give me an answer now, Joe, or +would you like to think it over a bit?" + +"Perhaps I had better think of it a bit," the youth answered. "Though +I have pretty nearly made up my mind." + +"Don't be in a hurry," urged Professor Rosello. "There is no great +rush, as far as I am concerned. One or two days will make no +difference to me. Though if you don't take up my offer I shall +probably lease the show to some professional. I want to keep my name +before the public, for probably I shall wish to go back into the +business again. And besides, it is a pity to let such a good outfit as +we now have go into storage. But think it over carefully. I suppose, +though, that you will have to let the circus people know soon." + +"They seem to be in a hurry--wanting me to telegraph," responded Joe. +"I'll give them an answer in a few hours. I think I'll go out and walk +around town a bit. I can think better that way." + +"Go ahead, Joe, and don't let me influence you. I want to help you, +and I'll do all I can for you. You know I owe much to you. Just +remember that you have the option on my show, such as it is, and if you +don't take my offer I won't feel at all offended. Do as you think +right." + +"Thank you," said Joe, feelingly. + +There was not much of interest to see in the town where they had come, +expecting to give a performance, but Joe did not really care for sights +just then. He had some hard thinking to do and he wanted to do it +carefully. Hardly conscious of where he was walking, he strolled on, +and presently found himself near the outskirts of the town, in a +section that was more country than town. A little stream flowed +through a green meadow, the banks bordered by trees. + +"It looks just like Bedford," mused Joe. "I'm going to take a rest +there." + +He sat down in the shade of a willow tree and in an instant there came +back to him the memory of that day, some months ago, when he had come +upon his chums sitting under the same sort of tree and discussing one +of the professor's tricks which they had witnessed the night before. + +"Then there was the fireworks explosion. I rescued the professor--ran +away from home--was chased by the constables--hopped into the freight +car--the deacon's house was robbed and set on fire and---- Say! what a +lot has happened in a short time," mused Joe. "And now comes this +offer from the circus. I wonder if I'd better take it or keep on with +the professor's show. Of course it would be easier to do this, as I'm +more familiar with it." + +Just then there recurred to Joe something he had often heard Deacon +Blackford say. + +"The easiest way isn't always the best." + +The deacon was not, by any means, the kindest or wisest of men, and +certainly he had been cruel at times to Joe. But he was a sturdy +character, though often obstinate and mistaken, and he had a fund of +homely philosophy. + +Joe, working one day in the deacon's feed and grain store, had proposed +doing something in a way that would, he thought, save him work. +"That's the easiest way," he had argued. + +"Well, the easiest way isn't always the best," the deacon had retorted. + +Joe remembered that now. It would be easier to keep on with the +professor's show, for the work was all planned out for him, and he had +but to fulfil certain engagements. Then, too, he was getting to be +expert in the tricks. + +"But I want to get on in life," reasoned Joe. "Forty dollars a week is +more than I'm getting now, nor will I stick at that point in the +circus. It will be hard work, but I can stand it." + +He had almost made up his mind. He decided he would go back and +acquaint the professor with his decision. + +As Joe was passing a sort of hotel in a poor section of the town he +almost ran into, or, rather, was himself almost run into by a man who +emerged from the place quickly but unsteadily. + +Joe was about to pass on with a muttered apology, though he did not +feel the collision to be his fault, when the man angrily demanded: + +"What's the matter with you, anyhow? Why don't you look where you're +going?" + +"I tried to," said Joe, mildly enough. "Hope I didn't hurt you." + +"Well, you banged me hard enough!" + +The man seemed a little more mollified now. Joe was at once struck by +something familiar in his voice and his looks. He took a second glance +and in an instant he recognized the man as one of the circus trapeze +performers he had seen the day he went to the big tent, or "main top," +of Sampson Brothers' Circus to watch the professionals at their +practice. The man was one of the troupe known as the "Lascalla +Brothers," though the relationship was assumed, rather than real. + +Joe gave a start of astonishment as he sensed the recognition. He was +also surprised at the great change in the man. When Joe had first seen +him, a few months before, the performer had been a straight, lithe +specimen of manhood, intent, at the moment when Joe met him, on seeing +that his trapeze ropes were securely fastened. + +Now the man looked and acted like a tramp. He was dirty and ragged, +and his face bore evidences of dissipation. He leered at Joe, and then +something in our hero's face seemed to hold his attention. + +"What are you looking at me that way for, young fellow?" he demanded. +"Do you know me?" + +"No, not exactly," was the answer. "But I've seen you." + +"Well, you're not the only one," was the retort. "A good many thousand +people have seen me on the circus trapeze. And I'd be there to-day, +doing my act, if it hadn't been for that mean Jim Tracy. He fired me, +Jim did--said he was going to get some one for the act who could stay +sober. Huh? I'm sober enough for anybody, and I took only a little +drink because I was sick. Even at that I can beat anybody on the high +bar. But he sacked me. Never mind! I'll get even with him, and if he +puts anybody in my place--well, that fellow'd better look out, that's +all!" + +The man seemed turning ugly, and Joe was glad the fellow had not +connected him with the youth who had paid a brief visit to the trapeze +tent that day, months before. + +"I wonder if it's to take his place that Jim Tracy wants me?" mused +Joe, as he turned aside. "I guess Jim put up with this fellow as long +as he could. Poor chap! He was a good acrobat, too--one of the best +in the country." Joe knew the Lascalla Brothers by reputation. + +"If I take his place----" Joe was doing some quick thinking. "Oh, +well, I've got to take chances," he told himself. "After all, we may +never meet." + +Joe had fully made up his mind. Before going back to the professor he +stopped at the telegraph office and sent this message to Jim Tracy. + +"Will join circus in two days." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OFF TO THE CIRCUS + +"Well?" questioned Professor Rosello, as Joe came back to the hotel. +"Is it my show or----" + +"The circus," answered Joe, and he did not smile. He was rather +serious about it, for in spite of what his friend had said Joe could +but feel that the magician might be disappointed over the choice. But +Professor Rosello was a broad-minded man, as well as a fair and +generous one. + +"Joe, I'm sure you did just the right thing!" he exclaimed, as he shook +hands with the boy wizard, or rather with the former boy wizard, for +the lad was about to give up that life. Yet Joe knew that he would not +altogether give it up. He would always retain his knowledge and +ability in the art of mystifying. + +"Yes, I thought it all over," said Joe, "and I concluded that I could +do better on the trapeze than at sleight-of-hand. You see, if I want +to be a successful circus performer I have to begin soon. The older I +get the less active I'll be, and some tricks take years to polish off +so one can do them easily." + +"I understand," the professor said. "I think you did the right thing +for yourself." + +"Of course if I could be any help to you I wouldn't leave you this +way," Joe went on earnestly. "I wouldn't desert in a time of trouble." + +"Oh, it isn't exactly trouble," replied the magician. "I really need a +rest, and you're not taking my offer won't mean any money loss to me, +though, personally, I shall feel sorry at losing you. But I want you +to do the best possible thing for yourself. Don't consider me at all. +In fact you don't have to. I am going to take a rest. I need it. +I've been in this business nearly thirty years now, and time is +beginning to tell. + +"I think there is more of a future for you in the circus than there +would be in magic. Not that you have exhausted the possibilities of +magic by any means, but changes are taking place in the public. The +moving pictures are drawing away from us the audiences we might +otherwise attract. Then, too, there has been so much written and +exposed concerning our tricks, that it is very hard to get up an +effective illusion. Even the children can now guess how many of the +tricks are done. + +"It may be that I shall give up altogether. At, any rate I will lease +my show out for a time. I'm I going to take a rest. And now about +your plans. What are you going to do?" + +"I don't exactly know," was the hesitating answer. "I have telegraphed +to Mr. Tracy that I would join his circus in two days. I think I'll +need that much time to get ready." + +"Yes. We can settle up our business arrangements in that time, Joe. +As I said, I'll be very sorry to lose you, but it is all for the best. +We may see each other occasionally. Shall you tell the deacon of the +change?" + +"I think not. He and I don't get along very well, and he hasn't much +real interest in me, now that he feels I am following in the footsteps +of my father. And if he knew that I was taking up the profession my +mother felt called to, he would have even less regard for me. I'll not +write to him at all." + +"Perhaps that is wise. I wonder, Joe, if in traveling about with +Sampson Brothers' Show you will meet any one who knew your mother?" + +"I wish that would happen," Joe answered. "I'd like to hear about her. +I shall ask for information about her." + +Joe related his encounter with one of the Lascalla Brothers--which one +he did not know. + +"I wonder if he'll try to make trouble?" he asked. + +"I hardly think so," answered the professor. "He's probably a bad egg, +and talks big. Just go on your own way, do the best you can, keep +straight and you'll be all right." + +They talked for some little time further, discussing matters that +needed to be settled between them, and making arrangements for Joe to +leave. + +Now that he had come to a decision he was very glad that he was going +with the circus. + +"I'll be glad to meet Benny Turton, the 'human fish,' again," said Joe +to himself. "His act is sure a queer one. I wonder if I could stay +under water as long as he does. I'm going to try it some day if I get +a chance at his tank. And Helen--I'll be glad to see her again, too." + +Joe did not admit, even to himself, just how glad he would be to meet +the pretty circus rider again. But he surely anticipated pleasure in +renewing the acquaintance. + +"That is, if she'll notice me," thought Joe. "I wonder what the social +standing is between trick and fancy riders and the various trapeze +performers." + +The next day was a busy one. Joe had to pack his belongings. Some he +arranged to store with the professor's things. He also helped his +friend, the magician, to prepare an advertisement for the theatrical +papers, announcing that The Rosello Show was for lease, along with the +advance bookings. Joe also went over the apparatus with the professor, +making a list of some necessary repairs that would have to be made. + +"And now, Joe," said the professor, when the time for parting came, "I +want you to feel free to use any of my tricks, or those you got up +yourself, whenever you want to." + +"Use the tricks?" queried Joe. + +"Yes. It may be that you'll find a chance to use them in the circus, +or to entertain your friends privately. I want you to feel free to do +so. There will not be any professional jealousy on my part." + +Joe was glad to hear this. The professor was unlike most professional +persons who entertain the public. + +"Well, good-bye," said Joe, as the professor went with him to the +railroad station, the burns having progressed rapidly in their healing. +"You'll always be able to write me in care of the circus." + +"Yes, I can keep track of your show through the theatrical papers, Joe. +Let me hear from you occasionally. Write to the New York address where +I buy most of my stuff. They'll always have the name of my forwarding +post-office on file. And now, my boy, I wish you all success. You +have been a great help to me--not to mention such a little thing as +saving my life," and he laughed, to make the occasion less serious. + +"Thank you," said Joe. "The same to you. And I hope you will soon +feel much better." + +"A rest will do me good," responded the professor. Then the train +rolled in, and Joe got aboard with his valise. He waved farewell to +his very good friend and then settled back in his seat for a long ride. + +Joe Strong was on his way at last to join the circus. + +As he sat in his comfortable seat, he could not help contrasting his +situation now with what it had been some months before, when he was +running away from the home of his foster-father in the night and riding +in a freight car to join the professor. + +Then Joe had very few dollars, and the future looked anything but +pleasant. He had to sleep on the hard boards, with some loose hay as a +mattress. + +Now, while he was far from having a fortune, he had nearly two hundred +dollars to his credit, and he was going to an assured position that +would pay well. It was quite a contrast. + +"I wonder if I'll make good," thought Joe. Involuntarily he felt of +his muscles. + +"I'm strong enough," he thought with a little smile--"Strong by name +and strong by nature," and as he thought this there was no false pride +about it. Joe knew his capabilities. His nerves and muscles were his +principal assets. + +"I guess I'll have to learn some new stunts," Joe thought. "But Jim +Tracy will probably coach me, and tell me what they want. I wonder if +I'll have to act with the Lascalla bunch? They may not be very +friendly toward me for taking the place of one of their number. Well, +I can't help it. It isn't my doing. I'm hired to do certain work--for +trapeze performing is work, though it may look like fun to the public. +Well, I'm on my way, as the fellow said when the powder mill blew up," +and Joe smiled whimsically. + +It was a long and tiresome trip to the town where the circus was +performing, and Joe did not reach the "lot" until the afternoon +performance was over. + +The sight of the tents, the smell that came from the crushed grass, the +sawdust, the jungle odor of wild animals--all this was as perfume to +Joe Strong. He breathed in deep of it and his eyes lighted up as he +saw the fluttering flags, and noted the activity of the circus men who +were getting ready for the night show--filling the portable gasoline +lamps, putting on new mantles which would glow later with white +incandescence to show off the spectacle in the "main top." As Joe took +in all this he said to himself: + +"I'm to be a part of it! That's the best ever!" + +It was some little time before he could find Jim Tracy, but at length +he came upon the ring-master, who was trying to do a dozen things at +once, and settle half a dozen other matters on which his opinion was +wanted. + +"Oh, hello, Joe?" Jim called to the young performer. "Glad you got +here. We need you. Want to go on to-night?" + +"Just as you say. But I really need a little practice." + +"All right. Then just hang around and pick up information. We don't +have to travel to-night, so you'll have it easy to start. I'll show +you where you'll dress when you get going. I'll have to give you some +one else's suit until we can order one your size, but I guess you won't +mind." + +"No, indeed." + +Joe was looking about with eager eyes, hoping for a glimpse of Helen +Morton. However, he was not gratified just then. + +"Now, Joe," went on the ring-master, coming over after having settled a +dispute concerning differences of opinions between a woman with trained +dogs and a clown who exhibited an "educated" pig, "if you'll come with +me, I'll----" + +"Well, what is it now?" asked Jim Tracy, exasperation in his voice. A +dark-complexioned, foreign-looking man had approached him, and had said +something in a low voice. + +"No, I won't take him back, and you needn't ask!" declared Jim. "You +can tell Sim Dobley, otherwise known as Rafello Lascalla, that he's +done his last hanging by his heels in my show. I don't want anything +more to do with him. I don't care if he is outside. You tell him to +stay there. He doesn't come in unless he buys a ticket, and as for +taking him back--nothing doing, take it from me!" + +The foreign-looking man turned aside, muttering, and Joe followed the +ring-master. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +JOE MAKES A HIT + +"Those fellows are always making trouble," murmured the ring-master, as +he walked with Joe toward a tent where the young performer could leave +his valise. + +"What fellows are they?" the lad asked, but he felt that he knew what +the answer was going to be. + +"The Lascalla Brothers," replied Jim. "There were two brothers in the +business, Sid and Tonzo Lascalla. They used to be together and have a +wonderful act. But Sid died, and Tonzo got a fellow-countryman to take +his place, using the same name. They were good, too. Then about four +years ago they added a third man. Why they ever took up with Sim +Dobley I can't imagine, but they did. + +"Whatever else I'll say about Sim, I'll give him credit for being a +wonder on a trapeze--that is when he was sober. When he got +intoxicated, or partly so, he'd take risks that would make your hair +stand up on end. That's why I had to get rid of him. First I knew, +he'd have had an accident and he'd be suing the circus. So I let him +go. Sim went under the name Rafello Lascalla, and became one of the +brothers. + +"For a while the three of them worked well together. And it's queer, +as I say, how Sid and Tonzo took to Jim. But they did. You'd think he +was a regular brother. In fact all three of 'em seemed to be real +blood brothers. Sid and Tonzo are Spaniards, but Sim is a plain +Yankee. He used to say he learned to do trapeze tricks in his father's +barn." + +"That's where I practised," said Joe. + +"Well, it's as good a place as any, I reckon. Anyhow, I had to get rid +of Sim, and now Tonzo comes and asks me to put him back. He says Sim +is behaving himself, and will keep straight. He's somewhere on the +grounds now, Tonzo told me. But I don't want anything to do with him. +I'll stand a whole lot from a man, but when I reach the limit I'm +through for good. That's what I am with Sim Dobley, otherwise known as +Rafello Lascalla. You're to take his place, Joe." + +"I am!" + +There was no mistaking the surprise in the youth's voice. + +"Why, what's the matter? Don't you want to?" asked Jim, in some +astonishment. + +"Yes, of course. I'll do anything in the show along the line of +trapeze work you want me to. But--well, maybe I'd better tell you all +about it." + +Then Joe related his encounter with the discharged circus employee. + +"Hum," mused Jim, when Joe finished. "So that's how the wind sets, is +it? He's hanging around here now trying to find out who is going to +take his place." + +"And when he finds that I have," suggested Joe hesitatingly, "he may +cause trouble." + +Jim Tracy started. + +"I didn't think of that!" he said slowly. "You say he threatened you?" + +"Well, not exactly me, for he didn't know who I was," replied Joe. +"But he said he'd make it decidedly hot for you, and for the man who +took his place." + +Jim Tracy snapped his fingers. + +"That's how much I care for Sim Dobley," he said. "I'm not afraid of +him. He talks big, but he acts small. I'm not in the least worried, +and if you are----" + +"Not for a minute!" exclaimed Joe quickly. "I guess I can look after +myself!" + +"Good!" exclaimed Jim. "That's the way I like to hear you talk. And +don't you let Sim Dobley, or either of the Lascalla Brothers, bluff +you. I'm running this show, not them! If they make any trouble you +come to me." + +"I guess I can fight my own battles," observed Joe calmly. + +"Good!" said the ring-master again. "I guess you'll do. This is your +dressing room," he went on. "Just leave your grip here, and it will be +safe. You won't have to do anything to-night but look on. I'll get +you a pair of tights by to-morrow and you can go on. Practise up in +the morning, and work up a new act with Sid and Tonzo if you like. +I'll introduce you to them at supper." + +"Do you think they'll perform with me?" Joe wanted to know. + +"They'll have to!" exclaimed the ring-master with energy. "This is my +circus, not theirs. They'll do as I say, and if there is any funny +business---- Well, there just won't be," he added significantly. + +"Do Tonzo and Sid want Sim to come back and act with them?" asked Joe, +as he deposited his valise in a corner of a dressing room that was made +by canvas curtains partitioning off a part of a large tent. + +"That's what they say. Tonzo told me that Sim would behave himself. +But I'm through with Sim, and he might as well understand that first as +last. You're going to take his place. Now I'll have to leave you. +You'll put up at the hotel with some of the performers. Here's your +slip that you can show to the clerk. I'll see you in the morning, if +not before, and make arrangements for your act. To-night you just look +on. Now I've got to go." + +Joe looked about the dressing room. It was evidently shared with +others, for there were suits of men's tights scattered around, as well +as other belongings. Joe left his valise and went outside. He wanted +to see all he could--to get familiar with the life of a circus. + +It cannot be said that Joe was exactly easy in his mind. He would much +rather have joined the circus without having supplanted a performer of +so vindictive a character as Sim Dobley. But, as it had to be, the lad +decided to make the best of it. + +"I'll be on the watch for trouble," he murmured as he went out of the +dressing tent. + +A busy scene was being enacted on the circus lots. In fact, many +scenes. It was feeding time for some of the animals and for most of +the performers and helpers. The latter would dine in one of the big +tents, under which long tables were already set. And from the distance +Joe could catch an odor of the cooking. + +"My, but that smells good!" he told himself. He was hungry. + +The Sampson Brothers' Show was a fair-sized one. It used a number of +railroad cars to transport the wagons, cages and performers from place +to place. On the road, of course, the performers and helpers slept in +the circus sleeping cars. But when the show remained more than one +night in a place some of the performers were occasionally allowed to +sleep at the local hotels, getting their meals on the circus grounds, +for the cooking for and feeding of a big show is down to an exact +science. + +As Joe wandered forth he heard a voice calling to him: + +"Well, where in the world did you come from?" + +"Oh, hello!" cried our hero, as, turning, he saw Benny Turton, the +"human fish," walking toward him. + +"I'm glad to see you again!" went on Benny, as he shook hands with Joe. + +"And I'm glad to see you." + +"What are you doing here?" the "human fish" asked. + +"Oh, I'm part of the show now," replied Joe, a bit proudly. + +"Get out! Are you, really?" + +"I sure am!" And Joe told the circumstances. + +"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Ben. "Real glad!" + +"How's your act going?" asked Joe. + +The "human fish" paused a moment before answering. + +"Oh, I suppose it goes as well as ever," he said slowly. "Only I---- +Oh, what's the use of telling my troubles?" he asked, with a smile. "I +reckon you have some of your own." + +"Not very big ones," confessed Joe. "But is anything the matter?" + +"No, oh, no. Never mind me; tell me about yourself." + +Joe told something of his experiences since last seeing Ben, and, as he +talked, he looked at the youth who performed such thrilling feats under +water in the big tank. Joe thought Benny looked paler and thinner than +before. + +"I guess the water work isn't any too healthy for him," mused Joe. "It +must be hard to be under that pressure so long. I feel sorry for him." + +"What are you two talking about--going to get up a new act that will +make us all take back seats?" asked a merry voice. Joe recognized it +at once, and, with a glad smile, he turned to see Helen Morton coming +toward him. + +"I thought I knew you, even from your back," she told Joe, as she shook +hands with him. + +"Does Rosebud want any sugar?" he asked, smiling. + +"No, thank you! He's had his share to-day. But it was good of you to +remember. I must introduce you to my horse." + +"I shall be happy to meet him," returned Joe, with his best "stage bow." + +Helen laughed merrily, as she walked across the grounds with Joe and +Benny. + +"It's almost supper time," she said, "and I'm starved. Can't we all +eat together?" + +"I don't see why not," Ben answered, and they were soon at a table +where many other performers sat, all, seemingly, talking at once. Joe +was very much interested. + +He was more than interested in two dark-complexioned men who regarded +him curiously. One was the person who had spoken to Jim Tracy. The +other Joe had not seen before. + +"They're the Lascalla Brothers," Ben informed him. "That is, there are +two of them. The third----" + +"I'm to be the third," Joe broke in. + +"You are?" asked Ben, and he regarded his friend curiously. "Well, +look out for yourself; that's all I've got to say." + +"Why has he to look out for himself?" inquired Helen, who had caught +the words. "Are you going to eat all there is on the table, Ben, so +there won't be any for Mr. Strong? Is that why he must look out?" + +"No, not that," Ben answered. "It--it was something else." + +"Oh, secrets!" and Helen pretended to be offended. + +"It wasn't anything," Joe assured her. And he tried to forget the +warning Ben had so kindly given him. + +Joe attended the performance that night as a sort of privileged +character. He went behind the scenes, and also sat in the tent. He +was most interested in the feats of the two Lascalla Brothers, and he +decided that, with a little practice, he could do most of the feats +they presented. + +That night, at the hotel, Joe was introduced to Sid and Tonzo. They +bowed and shook hands, and, as far as Joe could see, they did not +resent his joining their troupe. They seemed pleasant, and Joe felt +that perhaps the difficulties had been exaggerated. Nothing was said +of Sim Dobley, and though Joe had been on the watch for the deposed +performer that afternoon and evening, he had not seen him. + +"You will, perhaps, like to practise with us?" suggested Tonzo, after a +while. + +"I think it would be wise," agreed Joe. + +"Very well, then. We will meet you at the tent in the morning." + +Bright and early Joe was on hand. Jim Tracy found him a pair of pink +tights that would do very well for a time, and ordered him a new, +regular suit. + +At the request of Tonzo Lascalla, Joe went through a number of tricks, +improvising them as he progressed. Next the two Spaniards did their +act, and showed Joe what he was to do, as well as when to do it, so as +to make it all harmonize. + +Then hard practice began, and was kept up until the time for the +afternoon show. Joe did not feel at all nervous as he prepared for his +entrance. His work on the stage with Professor Rosello stood him in +good stead. + +In another moment he was swinging aloft with his two fellow-performers, +in "death-defying dives," and other alliterative acts set down on the +show bills. + +"Can you catch me if I jump from the high-swinging trapeze, and vault +toward you, somersaulting?" Joe asked Tonzo, during a pause in their +act. + +"Of a certainty, yes, I can catch you. But can you jump it?" + +"Sure!" declared Joe. "I've done it before." + +"It is a big jump, Mr. Strong," Tonzo warned him. "Even your +predecessor would have hesitated." + +"I'll take the chance," Joe said. "Now this is the way I'll do it. +I'll get a good momentum, swinging back and forth. You stand upon the +high platform, holding your trapeze and waiting. When I give the word +and start on my final swing, you jump off, hang by your knees, hands +down. I'll leap toward you, turn over three times, and grab your +hands. Do you get me?" + +"Of a certainty, yes. But it is not an easy trick." + +"I know it--that's why I'm going to do it. Do you get me?" + +"If he doesn't 'get you,' as you call it, Mr. Strong," put in Sid, "you +will have a bad fall. Of course there is the life net, but if you do +not land right----" + +"Oh, I'll land all right," said Joe, though not boastingly. + +The time for the new trick came. Joe climbed up to a little platform +near the top of the tent and swung off, swaying to and fro on a long +trapeze. On the other side of the tent Tonzo took his place on a +similar platform, fastened to a pole. He was waiting for Joe to give +the word. + +To and fro, in longer and longer arcs, Joe swung. He hung by his +hands. Carefully his eye gauged the distance he must hurl himself +across. Finally he had momentum enough. + +"Come on!" he cried to Tonzo. + +The latter leaped out on his trapeze, swinging by his knees. Right +toward Joe he swung. + +"Here I come!" Joe shouted, amid breathless silence among the +spectators below him. They realized that something unusual was going +on. + +"Go!" shouted Sid, who was waiting down on the ground for the +conclusion of the trick. + +Joe let go. He felt himself hurling through the air. Quickly he +doubled himself in a ball, and turned the somersaults. Then he +straightened out, dropped a few feet, and his hands squarely met those +of Tonzo. The latter clasped Joe's in a firm grip, and, holding him, +swung to and fro on the long trapeze. + +A roar of applause broke out at Joe's daring feat. He had made a +hit--a big hit, for the applause kept up after he had dropped to the +life net. He stood beside Tonzo and Sid, all three bowing and smiling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +JOE TURNS A TRICK + +"That's the idea!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, hurrying over to where the +three gymnasts stood. "Give 'em some more of that, Joe!" + +"I haven't any more like that--just now," answered the young circus +performer, panting slightly, for he was a bit out of breath from his +exertion and the anxiety lest his trick should fail. + +"Well, do it again at to-night's performance, then," urged the +ring-master, and Joe nodded in agreement. + +"It was a good trick, my boy," said Tonzo Lascalla, "but don't try it +too often." + +"Why not?" Joe asked. + +"Because it is risky. I might not catch you some day." + +"I'd only fall into the life net if you did miss," said Joe coolly, +though, for a moment, he thought there might be a hidden meaning in +what his fellow-performer said. + +"Well, it is not every one who knows how to fall into a life net," put +in Sid Lascalla. "If one lands on his head the neck is likely to be +dislocated." + +"I know how to fall," Joe declared, and, though he spoke positively, he +was not in the least boastful. "Here, I'll show you," he went on. + +Their act was not quite finished, but before going on with the next +gymnastic feat Joe caught hold of a hoisting rope that ran through a +pulley, and, at a nodded signal, one of the ring-men hauled the lad up +to the top of the tent to the little platform where Joe had stood when +taking his place on the high trapeze. + +Joe signaled to the ring-master that he was going to make a jump into +the net from that height, and at once the crowd again became aware that +something unusual was going on. It was a jump seldom made, at least in +The Sampson Brothers' Circus. The platform was fully twenty feet +higher than the trapeze from which Joe and his fellow-performer had +dropped a few minutes before. And, as Sid Lascalla had said, there was +a risk even in jumping into a life net. But Joe Strong seemed to know +what he was about. + +"Say, he's going to do some jump!" exclaimed Benny Turton, who came +into the ring at that moment, dressed in his shimmering, scaly suit, +ready to do his "human fish" act. + +"That's what!" cried Jim Tracy. "Give him the long roll and the boom!" +he called to the leader of the musicians. + +As Joe poised for his jump the snare drummer rattled out a "ruffle," +and as it started Joe leaned forward and leaped. + +Down he went, for a few feet, as straight as an arrow. Then he +suddenly doubled up into a sort of ball, and began turning over and +over. The crowd held its breath. The drum continued to rattle out its +thundering accompaniment. How many somersaults Joe turned none of the +spectators reckoned, but the youthful performer kept count of them, for +he wanted to "straighten out," to land on his feet in the net. + +"He'll never do it!" predicted Tonzo Lascalla. + +And it did begin to look as though Joe had miscalculated. + +But no. Just before he reached the springy life net he straightened +out and came down feet first, bouncing up, and down like a rubber ball. +The instant he landed the bass drum gave forth a thundering "boom," and +as Joe rose, and came down again, the drummer punctuated each descent +with a bang, until the crowd that had applauded madly at the jump was +laughing at the queer effect of Joe's bouncing to the accompaniment of +the drum. + +"He did it!" cried Jim Tracy. "It was a great jump. We'll feature +that now." + +He looked at Sid and Tonzo Lascalla, as though asking why they had not +worked something like this into their acts previously. But the +Spaniards only shrugged their shoulders and raised their eyebrows. + +"That was great, Joe!" exclaimed Benny Turton, as Joe leaped to the +ground over the edge of the life net. "Great!" + +Joe smiled happily. + +"It was wonderful," added Helen Morton, who was about to put her trick +horse, Rosebud, through his paces. "It was wonderful--but I don't like +to see anybody take such risks." + +"Anybody?" asked Joe in a low voice. + +"Well, then--you," she whispered, as she ran off to her ring. + +"Well, I did it, you see," observed Joe to his two partners. "I guess +I know how to fall into a net." + +"You sure do!" averred the ring-master. "Try that at each performance, +Joe." + +"Only--be careful," added Tonzo Lascalla. "We do not want to have to +get another partner." + +The act of Joe and the two other "Lascalla Brothers" came to an end +with Joe and Sid hanging suspended from the legs of Tonzo, who +supported himself on a swinging trapeze. It made an effective close. + +Joe was through then, and could watch the rest of the show or go to +bed, as he pleased. He elected to stay in the "main top" and watch +Helen in her act. He was also much interested in the "human fish." + +"Pshaw!" Joe heard Jim Tracy murmur, as he, too, looked at Benny in the +tank. "He isn't staying under as long as he used to, not by half a +minute. I wonder what's the matter with him. First we know he'll be +cutting the time, and we'll hear a howl from the public. That won't +do! I'll have to give him a call-down." + +Joe felt sorry for Ben, who did not seem at all well. Joe thought he +had better not interfere, but he resolved to speak to the +water-performer privately, and see if he could not help him. + +Joe repeated his sensational acts at the next day's performances, and +that night he and the others in the circus moved on to the next stand. +Joe wrote a line to Professor Rosello, telling him of the success. + +It was a quite novel experience for Joe, traveling with a circus. But +he was used to sleeping cars by this time, on account of the going from +town to town with the magician. + +However, he had never before had a berth in a train filled with circus +performers, and, for a time, he could not sleep because of the +strangeness. But he soon grew used to it, and in a few nights he could +doze off as soon as he stretched out. + +Joe's new suit of pink tights arrived. It matched those of the +Lascalla Brothers. In fact, Joe was now billed as one of that trio, +though, of course, he went by his own name in private. He was +sufficiently dark as to hair and complexion to pass for a Spaniard. + +To quote his own words, Joe was "taking to the circus life as a duck +does to water." He seemed to fit right in. He made some new friends, +but of all the men or youths in the show he liked best Benny Turton and +the ring-master. Joe and the Lascalla Brothers got along well, but +there was not much intimacy between them, though they worked well in +the "team." + +Joe was on the lookout for any signs of Sim Dobley, but that +unfortunate man did not appear, as far as our hero could learn. If Sid +or Tonzo made further appeals for his reinstatement they said nothing +about it to Joe. + +As the show went on, playing from town to town, Joe become more and +more used to the life. He liked it very much, and each day he was +becoming more proficient on the trapeze. + +One day, about two weeks after he had joined the circus, Joe had an +idea for a new feat. It involved his jump from a distance, catching +Tonzo Lascalla by the legs and hanging there. It was harder than +making a leap for the other performer's hands, since, if Joe missed his +clutch, Tonzo would have a chance to grab him with his hands. But when +Joe leaped for his partner's feet a certain margin of safety was lost. + +It was not that a fall would be dangerous if Joe missed, for the life +net was below him. But the effect of the trick would be spoiled. + +They practised the trick in private--Joe and Tonzo--and for a time it +did not seem to work. Joe fell short every time of grasping the +other's legs. + +"You will never do it," said Sid, and there was a queer look on his +face as he glanced at Tonzo. The other seemed to wink, just the mere +fraction of a wink, and then, like a flash, it came to Joe. + +"He doesn't want me to do it," thought our hero. "Tonzo wants me to +fail. He doesn't want me to be successful, for he thinks maybe he can +get Sim back. But I'll fool him! I think he has been drawing up his +legs the instant I jumped for them, so I would miss. I'll watch next +time." + +This Joe did, and found his surmise right. Just before he reached with +outstretched hands for Tonzo's legs, the man drew them slightly up, +and, as a result, Joe missed. + +"Here's where I turn a trick on him," mused the young performer, as he +failed and landed in the net In his next attempt Joe leaped unusually +high, and though Tonzo drew up his legs he could not pull them beyond +Joe's reach. + +"That's the time I did it!" cried Joe, as he made the catch and swung +to and fro. + +Sid, on the ground below, shrugged his shoulders, and said something to +Tonzo in Spanish. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HELEN'S LETTER + +"Now I wonder," mused Joe as he leaped out of the net, "what they said +to each other. I'm sure it was about me. Well, let it go. I did the +trick, and I guess he won't pull his legs away again. If he does he'll +have to pull 'em so far that it will be noticed all over, and he can't +say it was an accident. I'll take care to make a high jump." + +Joe practised the trick again and again, until he felt he was perfect +in it. Tonzo seemed to have given up the idea of spoiling it, if that +had been his intention, and he and Joe worked at it until they could do +it smoothly. + +"When are you going to put it on?" Jim Tracy inquired, when told there +was a new feature to the Lascalla Brothers' act. + +"Oh, in a couple of nights now," Joe answered. + +"You sure are making good, all right," the ring-master informed him. +"I didn't make any mistake booking you. I didn't know whom to turn to +in a hurry when Sim Dobley went back on me, and then I happened to +think of you. Got your route from one of the magazines, and sent you +the wire." + +"I was mighty glad to come," confessed Joe. + +The new act created more applause than ever for the Lascalla Brothers +when it was exhibited, but the louder applause seemed to come to Joe, +though he did not try to keep his fellow performers from their share. +And, as might be expected, there was not a little professional jealousy +on the part of some of the other performers. + +If Sid and Tonzo were jealous of him they took pains to hide that fact +from Joe, but some of the others were not so careful. A few of the +other gymnasts openly declared that the Lascalla Brothers were getting +altogether too much public attention. + +"They detract from me," declared Madame Bullriva, the "strong woman," +whose star feat was to get beneath a board platform on which stood +twelve men, and raise it from the saw-horses across which it lay. +True, she only raised it a few inches, but the act was "billed big." + +"I don't get half the applause I used to," she complained to Jim Tracy. +"You let those 'Spanish onions' have too much time in the ring, and +give that Joe Strong a ruffle of drums and the big boom every time he +makes the long jump." + +"But it's worth it," said the ring-master. "It's a big drawing card." + +"So's my act, but I don't get a single drum beat. Can't I have some +music with my act?" + +"I'll see," promised the ring-master, but he had many other things to +think of, and the act of Madame Bullriva went unheralded, to her great +disgust. + +"Talk about footlight favorites," she complained to Helen Morton, as +they dressed together for a performance, "that Joe Strong is getting +all that's coming to him." + +"Oh, I don't think he tries to take away from any of us," Helen +answered. + +"No, he doesn't personally. He's a nice boy. But Tracy makes too much +fuss over him. I like Joe, but he and his partners are 'crabbing' my +act, all right." + +"Perhaps if you spoke to him----" + +"What! Me? Let him know I cared? I guess not! I'll join some other +circus first." + +"You might put another man on the platform, and lift thirteen," the +young trick rider suggested. + +"What! Lift thirteen? That would be unlucky, my dear. I did it once +when I was on the Western circuit in a Wild West show, and believe +me--never again! I strained a shoulder muscle, and I had to lie up in +a hospital five weeks. Twelve men are enough to lift at once, take it +from me! But Joe is a nice boy, I'll say that. Don't you like him?" + +Helen's answer was not very clear, but perhaps that was because she was +fixing her hair in readiness for the entrance into the ring with her +trained horse, Rosebud. + +Joe, Helen and Benny Turton seemed to have formed a little group among +themselves. They sat together at the circus table, and when they were +not "on," they were much in the company of one another. + +They were about the same age, and they enjoyed each other's society +greatly, being congenial companions. Joe was "introduced" to Rosebud +and, being naturally fond of animals, he made friends with the +intelligent horse at once, which pleased Helen. + +She and Joe were getting very fond of one another, though perhaps +neither of them would have admitted that, if openly taxed with it. +But, somehow or other, Joe seemed naturally to drift over near Helen +when they were both in the tent, awaiting their turns. And when their +acts were over they either took walks together in and about the town +where the circus was playing, or they sat in their dressing tent +talking. Often Benny Turton would join them, always being made welcome. + +But Benny did not have much time. His shimmering, scaly, green suit +was quite elaborately made, and it took him some time to get into it. +It took equally as long to get out of it, and after his act he was +always more or less exhausted and had to rest. + +"I don't know what's the matter with me," he said one day to Helen and +Joe, as he joined them after having been in the big glass tank. "But I +feel so tired after I come out that I want to go to bed." + +"Maybe you stay under water too long," Helen said sympathetically. + +"I don't stay under as long as I used to," Benny remarked. "In fact +Jim Tracy was sort of kicking just now. Said I was billed to stay +under water four minutes, and I was cutting it to three. I can't help +it. Something seems to hurt me here," and he put his hands to his ears +and to the back of his head. + +"Maybe you ought to see a doctor," suggested Joe. + +"I can't," said Benny shortly. "In this circus business if they find +out you're sick the management begins to think of booking some one else +for your act. No, I've got to keep on with it. But some days I don't +feel much like it." + +Joe and Helen felt sorry for Benny, but there was little they could do +to aid him. It was not as if they could take some of the burden of +work off his shoulders. His act was peculiar, and he alone could do it. + +"Though I think," said Joe to himself one day after watching Benny +perform, "I think I could stay under water almost as long as he does +after I'd practised it a bit. I'm going to try some time. I think +deep breathing exercises would help. I'm going to begin on them." + +Joe had to have good "wind" for his own acts, but, as he was naturally +ambitious, he started in on systematic breathing exercises. These +would do him much general good even if he should never enter the +water-tank. + +Occasionally Joe would do some simple sleight-of-hand tricks for the +amusement of Benny and Helen. He did not want to lose the art he had +acquired. + +"I may want to quit the circus some day and go back in the illusion +business," he said. + +"Quit the circus! Why?" Helen asked him. + +"Oh, I'm not thinking seriously of it, of course," he said quickly. +"But I don't want to get rusty on those tricks." + +Joe heard occasionally from Professor Rosello, who had leased his show +and was taking a much needed rest. He inquired as to Joe's progress, +and was glad, he said, to hear our hero was doing well. + +One day, when the circus was playing a large manufacturing city on a +two days' date, Joe had another glimpse of the man he had supplanted. +The young trapeze artist went out of the tent when his share in the +afternoon performance was over, and as he paused to look at the crowd +in front of the sideshow tent he heard some one addressing him. + +"So you're the chap that took my place, are you?" a vindictive voice +asked. "I've been wanting to see you!" + +Joe turned to, behold Sim Dobley, who seemed worse off than when the +young performer had first met him. + +"Yes, I've been wanting to see you!" and there was a sneer in Sim's +words. + +Joe decided nothing could be gained by temporizing, or by showing that +he was alarmed. + +"Well, now you've seen me, what are you going to do about it?" he +coolly asked. + +"That's all right. You wait and you'll see!" was the threatening +response. "Nobody can knock me out of an engagement and get away with +it. You'll see!" + +"Look here!" exclaimed Joe. "I didn't knock you out of your place. No +one did except yourself, and you know it. And I'm not going to stand +for any talk like that from you, either." + +"That's right, give it to him!" said another voice, and Jim Tracy came +up. "Don't let him bluff you, Joe. As for you, Dobley, I've told you +to keep away from this circus, and I mean it! I heard you'd been +following us. Rode on one of the canvas wagons last night, didn't you?" + +"Well, what if I did?" + +"This! If you do it again I'll have you arrested. I'm through with +you and I want you to keep away." + +"I guess this is a free country!" + +"Yes, the _country_ is free, but our _circus_ isn't. You keep out in +the country and you'll be all right. Keep off our wagons. Moreover, +if I catch you making any more threats against our performers I'll---- +But I guess Joe can look after himself all right," finished the +ring-master. "Just you keep away, that's all, Dobley." + +The man slunk off in the crowd. Joe really felt sorry for him, but he +could do nothing. Dobley had thrown away his chances and they had come +to Joe, who was entitled to them. Later that day Joe saw Sid and Tonzo +in close conversation with their former partner, but our hero said +nothing to the ring-master about it, though he was a bit uneasy in his +own mind. + +The next afternoon when Joe came out of his dressing room after his +trapeze act, he met Helen Morton. The fancy rider held an open letter +in her hand, and she seemed disturbed at its contents. + +"No bad news, I hope," remarked Joe. + +"No, not exactly," Helen answered. "On the contrary it may be good +news. But I don't exactly understand it. I wish Bill Watson were +here, so I could ask his advice." + +"Who is Bill Watson?" asked Joe. + +"He's one of our clowns, one of the oldest in the business, I guess. +He was taken ill just before you joined the show, but he's coming back +next week. I often ask his advice, and I'd like to now--about this +letter." + +"Why don't you ask mine?" suggested Joe, half jokingly. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BILL WATSON'S IDEA + +Helen Morton gave Joe a glance and a smile. Then she looked at the +open letter in her hand. + +"That's so," she said brightly. "I never thought of that. I wonder if +you could advise me?" + +"Why, I'm one of the best advisers you ever saw," returned Joe, +laughingly. + +"I know you're good on the trapeze," Helen admitted, "but have you had +any business experience?" + +"Well, I was in business for myself after I ran away from home and +joined the professor," answered Joe. "That is, I had to attend to some +of his business. What is it all about?" + +"That's just what I want to know," answered the young circus rider. +"It's a puzzle to me." + +She again referred to the letter, then with a sort of hopeless gesture +held it out to Joe. He took it and cried: + +"Why, what's this? It's all torn up," and he exhibited a handful of +scraps of paper. + +"Oh--Joe!" Helen gasped. "How did that happen?" + +"Just a mistake," he replied. With a quick motion of his hand he held +out the letter whole and untorn. + +"Oh--oh!" she stammered. Then, laughing, added: "Is that one of your +sleight-of-hand tricks?" + +"Yes," Joe nodded. When Helen handed him the letter he happened to be +holding the scraps of a circular letter he had just received and torn +up. It occurred to him, just for a joke, to make Helen believe her +letter had suddenly gone to pieces. It was one of Joe's simplest +tricks, and he often did them nowadays in order to keep in practice. + +"You certainly gave me a start!" Helen exclaimed. "I had hardly read +the letter myself. It's quite puzzling." + +"Do you want me to read it--and advise you?" asked Joe. + +"If you will--and can--yes." + +Joe hastily glanced over the paper. He saw in a moment that it was +from a New York firm of lawyers. The body of the letter read: + + +"We are writing to you to learn if, by any chance, you are the daughter +of Thomas and Ruth Morton who some years ago lived in San Francisco. +In case you are, and if your grandfather on your father's side was a +Seth Morton, we would be glad to have you notify us of these facts, +sending copies of any papers you may have to prove your identity. + +"For some years we have been searching for a Helen Morton with the +above named relatives, but, so far, have not located her. + +"We discovered a number of Helen Mortons, but they were not the right +ones. Recently we saw your name in a theatrical magazine, and take +this opportunity to inquire of you, sending this letter in care of the +circus with which we understand you are connected. Kindly reply as +soon as possible. If you are the right person there is a sum of money +due you, and we wish, if that is the case, to pay it and close an +estate." + + +Joe read the letter over twice without speaking. + +"Well," remarked Helen, after a pause, "I thought you were going to +advise me." + +"So I am," Joe said. "I want to get this through my head first. But +let me ask you: Is this a joke, or are you the Helen Morton referred +to?" + +"I don't know whether it's a joke or not, Joe. First I thought it was. +But my father's name was Thomas, and my grandfather was a Seth Morton, +and he lived in San Francisco. Of course that was when I was a little +girl, and I don't remember much about it. We lived in the West before +papa and mamma died, and it was there I learned to ride a horse. + +"When I was left alone except for an elderly aunt, I did not know what +to do. My aunt took good care of me, however, but when she died there +was no one else, and she left no money. I tried to get work, but the +stores and factories wanted experienced girls, and the only thing I had +any experience with was a horse. + +"I got desperate, and decided to see if I couldn't make a living by +what little talent I had. So one day, when a circus was showing in our +town, I took my horse, Rosebud, rode out and did some stunts in the +lots. The manager saw me and hired me. Oh, how happy I was! + +"That wasn't with this show. I only joined here about two years ago. +Of course my friends--what few I had--thought it was dreadful for me to +become a circus rider, but I've found that there are just as good men +and women in circuses as anywhere else in this world," and her cheeks +grew red, probably at the memory of something that had been said +against circus folk. + +"I know," said Joe, quietly. "My mother was a circus rider." + +"So you have told me. But now about this letter, Joe. I wish Bill +Watson were here--he might know what to do about it." + +"Well, I can't say that I do, in spite of my boast," Joe answered. "It +may be a joke, and, again, it may be the real thing. You may be an +heiress, Miss Morton," and Joe bowed teasingly. + +"I thought you were going to call me Helen--if I called you Joe," she +said. + +"So I am. That was only in fun," for soon after their acquaintance +began these two young persons had fallen into the habit of dropping the +formal Miss and Mister. + +"Well, what would you do, Joe?" Helen asked. + +"I think I'd answer this letter seriously," replied the young +performer. "If it is a joke you can't lose more than a two cent stamp, +and, on the other hand, if it's serious they'll want to hear from you. +You may be the very person they want. This letter head doesn't look +much like a joke." + +The paper on which the letter was written was of excellent quality, and +Joe could tell by passing his fingers over the names, addresses and +other matter that it was engraved--not printed. + +"If it's a joke they went to a lot of work to get it up," he continued. +"Have you any papers, to prove your identity?" + +"Yes, I have some birth and marriage certificates, and an old bible +that was Grandfather Seth's. I wouldn't want to send them off to New +York though." + +"It won't be necessary--at least not at first. I'll help you make +copies of them, and if these lawyers want to see the real things let +them send a man on. That's my advice." + +"And very good advice it is too, Joe," Helen said. "I don't believe +Bill Watson could give any better. He's a real nice elderly man, and +he's been almost a father to me. I often go to him when I have my +little troubles. I wish he were here now. But you are very good to +me, Joe. I'm going to take your advice." + +"I'll help you make the copies," Joe offered. "Did you ever have any +idea that your grandfather left valuable property?" + +"No, and I don't believe papa or mamma did, either. We were not +exactly poor, but we weren't rich. Oh, wouldn't it be nice if I were +to get some money?" + +"You wouldn't stay with the circus then, would you?" + +"Oh, I don't know," she answered musingly. "I think I like it here." + +"I know I do," Joe said. "But if you don't want to take my advice you +can wait until Mr. Watson comes back. You say he's expected?" + +"Yes. Mr. Tracy said he'd join us at Blairstown in a few days. But, +anyhow, I'm going to do as you said, Joe. And if I get a million +dollars maybe I'll buy a circus of my own," and she laughed at the +whimsical idea. + +Taking some spare time, she and Joe made copies of certain certificates +Helen had in her trunk, and they also copied the record from the old +Bible. Joe got the press agent of the show to typewrite a letter to go +with the copies, and they were sent to the New York lawyers. + +"Now we'll wait and see what comes of it," Helen said. "But I'm not +going to lose any sleep over it. I never inherited a fortune, and I +don't expect to." + +A few days later, when the show reached Blairstown, Bill Watson, a +veteran clown, joined the troupe of fun-makers. He was made royally +welcome, for his presence had been missed. + +"Bill, I want to introduce to you a new friend of mine," said Helen, +when she had the opportunity. "He's one of our newest and best +performers, aside from you and me," she joked. + +"What's the name?" asked jovial Bill, holding out his hand. + +"Joe Strong." + +"Been in the business long?" + +"Not very. I was with Professor Rosello before I came here." + +"Never heard of him," and Bill shook his head. + +"He was a conjurer," explained Joe. "My father was, too. He was +Professor Morretti, and my mother----" + +"Was Madame Hortense. She was Janet Willoughby before her marriage," +broke in Bill Watson, speaking calmly. + +"What!" cried Joe. "Did you know her--them?" + +"I knew both of them," said Bill. "I didn't connect your name with +them at first, Strong not being uncommon. But when you mentioned your +father, the professor, why, it came to me in a flash. So you're Madame +Hortense's son, eh?" + +"Did you know my mother well?" asked Joe. + +"Know her?" cried the veteran clown. "I should say I did! Why, she +and I were great friends, and so were your father and I, but I did not +see so much of him, as he was in a different line. But your mother, +Joe! Ah, the profession lost a fine performer when she died. I never +thought I'd meet her son, and in a circus at that. + +"But I'm glad you're with us, and I want to say that if you have Helen, +here, on your side, you've got one of the finest little girls in all +the world." + +"I found that out as soon as I joined," said Joe. + +"Trust you young chaps for not losing any chances like that," chuckled +the clown. "Well, I'm glad you two are friends. They tell me you're +quite an addition to the Lascalla troupe." + +"I'm glad I've been able to do so well," Joe said. + +"And how have you been, Helen?" the old clown wanted to know. + +"First rate. And, oh, Bill. We have _such_ a mystery for you--Joe and +I!" + +"A mystery, Helen?" + +"Yes; I'm going to be an heiress. Wait until I show you the letter," +which she did, to the no small astonishment of Bill Watson. + +"Well, well," he said over and over again, when Helen and Joe told of +the answer they had sent the New York lawyers. "Suppose you do get +some money, Helen?" + +"It's too good to suppose. I can't imagine any one leaving me money." + +"I wish I knew a fairy godmother who would leave me some," murmured +Joe. "But that wouldn't happen in a blue moon." + +Bill Watson turned, and looked rather curiously at the young circus +performer. + +"Well, now, do you know, Joe Strong," he said, "I have an idea." + +"An idea!" cried Helen gaily. "How nice, Bill. Tell us about it!" + +"Now just a moment, young lady. Don't get too excited with an old man +just off a sick bed. But Joe's speaking that way--I call you Joe, as I +knew your folks so well--Joe's speaking that way gave me an idea. I +wouldn't be so terribly surprised, my boy, if you did have money left +you some day." + +"How?" asked Joe in surprise. + +"Why, your mother, whom, as I said, I knew very well, came of a very +rich and aristocratic family in England. She was disowned by them when +she married your father--as if public performers weren't as good as +aristocrats, any day! But never mind about that. Your mother +certainly was rich when she was a girl, Joe, and it may be she is +entitled to money from the English estates now, or, rather, you would +be, since she is dead. That's my idea." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IN THE TANK + +"Are you really serious in that?" asked Joe of the old clown, after a +moment's consideration. + +"Of course I am, Joe. Why? Would it be strange to have some one leave +you money?" + +"It certainly would! But it would be a nice sort of strangeness," +replied the young performer. "I never dreamed that such a thing might +happen." + +"Oh, I don't say it _will_," Bill Watson reminded him. "But the fact +remains that your mother came from what is sometimes called 'the landed +gentry' of England, and the estates there, or property, descend to +eldest sons differently than property does in this country. It may be +worth looking into, Joe." + +"But I don't know much about my mother," Joe said. "I hardly ever meet +any one who knew her. My foster-parents would never speak of her--they +were ashamed of her calling." + +"More shame to them!" exclaimed the clown. "There never was a finer +woman than your mother, Joe Strong. And as for riding--well, I wish we +had a few of her kind in the show now. I don't mean to say anything +against your riding, my dear," he said to Helen. "But Janet Strong did +a different sort, for she was a powerful woman, and could handle a +horse better than most men." + +"I guess I must get my liking for horses from her," Joe remarked. + +"Very likely," agreed Bill Watson. "Some day I'll have a long talk +with you about your mother, Joe, and I'll give you all the information +I can. There may be some of her old acquaintances you can write to, to +find out if she was entitled to any property." + +"Wouldn't it be fine if we both came into fortunes!" gaily cried Helen, +with sparkling eyes. "Wouldn't it be splendid, Joe?" + +"Too good to be true, I'm afraid. But you have a better chance than I, +Helen." + +"Perhaps. Would you leave the circus, Joe, if you got rich?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I guess I'd stay in it while you did--to sort of +look after you," and he smiled quizzically. + +"Trying to get my job, are you?" chuckled Bill. "Well, we are young +only once. But I must say, Helen, that this young man gave you as good +advice as I could, and I hope it turns out all right." + +Joe liked Bill Watson--every one did in fact--and the young performer +was pleased to learn something of his mother, and glad to learn that he +would be told more. + +The enforced rest Bill Watson had taken on account of a slight illness, +seemed to have done the old clown good, for he worked in some new +"business" in his acts when he again donned the odd suit he wore. His +presence, too, had a good effect on the other clowns, so that the +audiences, especially the younger portion, were kept in roars of +merriment at each performance. + +Joe, also, did his share to provide entertainment for the circus +throngs. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that Joe provided the +thrills, for some of his feats were thrilling indeed. Not that the +other members of the Lascalla troupe did not share in the honors, for +they did. Both Sid and Tonzo were accomplished and veteran performers +on the flying rings and trapeze bars, but they had been in the business +so long that they had become rather hardened to it, and stuck to old +tricks and effects instead of getting up new ones. + +Joe was especially good at this, and while some of his feats were not +really new, he gave a different turn to them that seemed to make for +novelty. + +"But I don't like to see you take such risks," Helen said to him on +more than one occasion. "I'm afraid you'll be hurt." + +"You have to take risks in this business," Joe stated. "I don't think +about them when I'm away up at the top of the tent, swinging on the +bar. I just think of the trick and wonder if Sid or Tonzo will catch +me or me one of them when the jump is made. Besides, the life net is +always below us. + +"Yes, but suppose you miss the net or it breaks?" + +"I don't like supposes of that sort," laughed Joe, coolly. Truly he +had good nerves, under perfect control. He was adding to his muscular +strength, too. Constant and steady practice was making his arms and +legs powerful indeed. + +For a while Joe had been on the watch for some overt act on the part of +Sid or Tonzo that would spoil an act and bring censure down on himself. +But following that one attempt neither of the Spaniards did anything +that Joe could find fault with. They were enthusiastic over some of +the feats he performed, and worked in harmony with him. If they were +jealous over Joe's popularity and the applause he often received as his +share alone in some trick, they did not show it. + +"Oh, Joe!" exclaimed Helen one day, when they were in the small tent +getting ready for the afternoon performance. "I have a letter from the +New York lawyers." + +"What do they say?" Joe asked eagerly. "Did they send the money?" + +"No. But they thanked me for the copies of the proofs I sent, and they +said they believed they were on the right track. They will write again +soon. So it wasn't a joke, anyhow." + +"It doesn't look so," the youth agreed. "Is everything all +right--Rosebud safe, and all that?" + +"Yes. He's feeling himself again." The trick horse had been ailing +the day before, and Helen was a little worried about her pet. + +Joe and Helen wandered into the main tent, which was now set up. Joe +wanted to get in a little practice on the trapeze, while Helen went in +to watch, as she often did. The men were setting up the big glass tank +in which the "human fish" performed, and when Joe came down from his +trapeze, rather warm and tired, the water looked very inviting. + +"I've a good notion to go in for a swim," he said to Helen. + +"Why don't you?" she dared him. "It would do you good. It's such a +hot day. I almost wish I could myself." + +"I believe I will," Joe said. "I've got a bathing suit in my trunk." + +The big tent was almost deserted at this hour, for the parade was in +progress. Joe and Helen did not take part in this. Joe came back +attired for a swim, and going up the steps by which Benny mounted to +the platform on the edge of the tank before he plunged in, Joe poised +there. + +"Here I go," he called to Helen. "Got a watch?" + +"Yes, Joe." + +"Time me then. I'm going to see how long I can stay under water." + +In he went head first, making a clean dive, for Joe was an adept in the +water. He swam about in the limpid depths, Helen watching him +admiringly through the glass sides of the tank. Then Joe settled down +on the bottom as Benny was in the habit of doing. Helen nervously +watched the seconds tick off on her wrist watch. + +When two minutes had passed, and Joe was still below the water, the +girl became nervous. + +"Come on out, Joe!" she called. Joe could not hear her, of course. He +waved his hand to her. He could not stay under much longer, he felt +sure, but he did not want to give up. It was not until three seconds +of the third minute had passed that he found it impossible to hold his +breath longer, and up he shot, filling his lungs with air as he reached +the surface. + +At that moment Benny Turton came into the tent, and saw some one in his +tank. + +"What happened?" he cried, running forward. "Did some one fall in?" + +"It's all right," Helen informed the "human fish." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HELEN'S DISCOVERY + +Joe Strong climbed out of the tank. He grinned cheerfully at Benny. + +"It was so hot I took a bath in your tub," he explained. "It sure was +fine! Hope you don't mind?" + +"Not a bit," returned Benny, cheerfully. "Come in any time you like. +It isn't exactly a summer resort beach, but it's the best we have." + +"And Joe stayed under water over three minutes," Helen said. + +"Did I, really?" Joe cried. + +"You certainly did." + +"I was just giving myself a try-out," Joe explained to Benny. + +"That's pretty good," declared the "human fish," as he tested the +temperature of the water. "I couldn't do that at first." + +"Oh, you see I've lived near the water all my life," Joe explained, +"and it comes sort of natural to me. Don't be afraid that I'm going +after your act though," he added, with a laugh. + +"I almost wish you would," and Benny spoke wearily. + +"What's the matter?" asked Helen, with ready sympathy. + +"Oh, I don't know. I don't feel just right, somehow or other. It's +mostly in my head--back here," and Benny pointed to the region just +behind his ears. "I've got a lot of pain there, and going under water +and staying so long seems to make it worse." + +"Why don't you see a doctor?" asked Joe. + +"Well, you know what that would mean. I might have to lay off, and I +don't want that. I need the money." + +Benny had a widowed mother to support, and it was well known that he +sent her most of his wages, keeping only enough to live on. + +"Well, I wish I could help you," said Joe, "but I can't do all the +stunts you can under water, even if I could hold down both jobs." + +"The stunts are easy enough, once you learn how to hold and control +your breath," Benny said. "That's the hardest part of it, and you seem +to have gotten that down fine. How was the water, cold?" + +"No, just about right for me," Joe declared. "I don't like it too +warm." + +Benny again tested the temperature by putting his hand in the tank. + +"I think I'll have 'em put a little hot water in just before I do my +act," he said. "I have an idea that the cold water gets in my ears and +makes the pain in my head." + +"Perhaps it does," Joe agreed. + +Preparations for the afternoon performance were now actively under way. +The big parade was out, going through the streets of the town, and soon +those taking part in the pageant would return to the "lot." Then, at +two, the main show would start. + +Joe had a new feat for that day's performance. He and the two +Spaniards had worked it out together. It was quite an elaborate act, +and involved some risk, though at practice it had gone well. + +Joe was to take his place on the small, high elevated platform at one +side of the tent, and Tonzo would occupy a similar place on the other +side. Joe was to swing off, holding to the flying rings, which, for +this trick, had been attached to unusually long ropes. + +Opposite him Tonzo was to swing from a regulation trapeze, which also +was provided with a long rope. After the two had acquired sufficient +momentum, they were to let go at a certain signal and pass each other +in the air, Joe under Tonzo. Then Joe would catch the trapeze bar, and +Tonzo the rings, exchanging places. + +Once they had a good grip, Sid was to swing from a third trapeze, and, +letting go, grasp Tonzo's hands, that performer, meanwhile, having +slipped his legs through the rings, hanging head downward. + +When Sid had thus caught bold, he was to signal to Joe, who was to make +a second flying leap, and grasp Sid's down-hanging legs. + +As said before, the feat went well in practice and the ring-master was +depending on it for a "thriller." But whether it would go all right +before a crowded tent was another matter. Joe was a little nervous +over it--that is as nervous as he ever allowed himself to get, for he +had evolved the feat, and Sid and Tonzo had not been over-enthusiastic +about it. + +However, it must be attempted in public sooner or later, and this was +the day set for it. Before the show began Joe, Sid and Tonzo went over +every rope, bar and ring. They wanted no falls, even though the life +net was below them. + +"Is everything all right?" Joe asked his partners. + +"Yes," they told him. + +The usual announcement was made of the Lascalla Brothers' act, and on +this occasion Jim Tracy, who was making the presentation, added +something about a "death-defying double exchange and triple suspension +act never before attempted in any circus ring or arena throughout the +world." + +That was Joe's trick. + +The three performers went through some of their usual exploits, +ordinary enough to them, but rather thrilling for all that. Then came +the preparations for the new feat. + +Joe and Tonzo took their places on the small platforms, high up on the +tent poles. The eyes of all in their vicinity were watching them +eagerly. Sid was in his place, ready to swing off when the two had +crossed each other in the air and had made the exchange. + +"Are you ready?" called Jim Tracy in his loud voice. + +"Ready," answered Joe's voice, from high up in the tent. + +"Ready," responded Tonzo, after a moment's hesitation, during which he +pretended to fix one slipper. This was done for dramatic effect, and +to heighten the suspense. + +Helen, who had just finished her tricks with Rosebud, paused at the +edge of a ring to watch the new act. + +"Then go!" shouted the ring-master. + +Joe and Tonzo swung off together, and then swayed to and fro like giant +pendulums, Joe on the rings and Tonzo on the trapeze. + +"Ready?" cried Joe to his swinging partner. + +"Yes," answered Tonzo. + +"Come on!" Joe said. + +It was time to make the exchange. This was one of the critical parts +of the trick. + +Joe let go the rings and hurled himself forward his eyes on the +swinging trapeze bar, his hands out stretched to grasp it. He passed +the form of his partner in mid-air, and the next instant he was +swinging from the trapeze. + +He could not turn to look, but he felt sure, from the burst of applause +which came, that Tonzo had successfully done his part. + +Again Tonzo and Joe were swinging in long arcs, so manipulating their +bodies as to give added momentum to the long ropes. + +"Ready down there?" asked Joe of Sid. + +"Ready," he answered. + +"Then go!" + +Sid swung off, as Tonzo hung head downward with outstretched hands. +Sid easily caught them, for this was a trick they often did together. +Now must come Joe's second leap, and it was not so easy as the first, +nor did he have as good a chance of catching Sid's legs as he would +have had at Tonzo's hands. + +However, it was "all in the day's work," and he did not hesitate at +taking chances. + +He reached the height of his swing and started downward in a long sweep. + +"Here I come!" he called. + +He let go the trapeze bar, and made a dive for Sid's dangling legs. +For the fraction of a second Joe thought he was going to miss. But he +did not. He caught Sid by the ankles and the three hung there, +swinging in mid-air, Tonzo, of course, supporting the dragging weight +of the bodies of Joe and Sid. But Tonzo was a giant in his strength. + +There was a burst of music, a rattle and boom of drums, as the feat +came to a successful and startling finish. Then, as Joe dropped +lightly into the life net, turning over in a succession of somersaults, +the applause broke out in a roar. + +Sid and Tonzo dropped down beside Joe, and the three stood with arms +over one another's shoulders, bowing and smiling at the furor they had +caused. + +"A dandy stunt!" cried Jim Tracy, highly pleased, as he went over to +another ring to make an announcement. "Couldn't be better!" + +This ended the work of Joe and his partners for the afternoon, the new +feat being a climax. They ran out of the tent amid continuous +applause, and Joe saw Helen waiting for him. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" she whispered. "So glad!" + +It was about a week after this, the show meanwhile having moved on from +town to town, that one of the trapeze performers who did a "lone act," +that is all by himself, was taken ill. + +"I'll just shift you to his place, Joe," said Jim. "You can easily do +what he did, and maybe improve on it." + +"But what about my Lascalla act?" + +"Oh, I'm not going to take you out of that. You'll do the most +sensational things with them, but they can have some one else for the +ordinary stunts. I want you to have some individual work." + +Joe was glad enough for this chance, for it meant more money for him, +and also brought him more prominently before the public. But the +Lascalla Brothers were not so well pleased. They did not say anything, +but Joe was sure they were more jealous of him than before. He was +going above them on the circus ladder of success and popularity. But +it was none of Joe's planning. His success was merited. + +The mail had been distributed one day, and Helen had a letter from the +New York lawyers, stating that a member of the firm was coming on to +inspect the old Bible and the other original proofs of her identity. + +"I must tell Joe," she said, and on inquiry learned that he was in the +main tent, practising. As she walked past the dressing room which Joe +and the Lascalla Brothers used, she saw a strange sight. + +Sid and Tonzo were doing something to a trapeze. They had pushed up +the outer silk covering of the rope--covering put on for ornamental +purposes--and Tonzo was pouring something from a bottle on the hempen +strands. + +"I wonder what he is doing that for," mused Helen. "Can it be that----" + +She got no further in her musing, for she heard Sid speaking, and she +listened to what he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +JUST IN TIME + +"This ought to do the business," said Sid. + +"Yes," agreed Tonzo, "and not so quickly that it will be noticed, +either. It will work slowly, but surely." + +"That's what we want," commented the other. "We're in no hurry. Any +time inside of a week will do. Now we'll put this away to ripen." + +"That's queer," thought Helen, and she passed on, for by the movement +in the canvas dressing room she thought the men were about to come out, +and she did not want them to see her at what they might consider spying +on them. "I never heard of ripening a rope before," the girl said. +"But it may be they have to for a trapeze. I'll ask Joe about it. He +might fix some of his ropes that way." + +Helen went on, anxious to find the young performer, and show him her +letter from the lawyer. + +"I'll tell Bill Watson, too," Helen decided. + +As she expected, both Joe and the old clown were much interested in her +news. + +"It does really begin to look as though you would come into some money, +doesn't it?" Joe said. + +"I'm beginning to believe it myself," Helen answered, "though I don't +really count on it as yet." + +"Yes, it's best to go a little slowly," advised Bill. "Not to count +your chickens before they're hatched is a good motto. But this looks +like business. I'd like to interview that lawyer when he comes." + +"I'll turn him over to you," Helen said with a laugh. "To you and Joe, +and you can arrange about getting my money for me. I'll make you two +my official advisers." + +"I accept with pleasure," Joe answered, with a bow. + +"And that reminds me," went on Bill. "I'm going to give you the +addresses of some people who might know about your mother's folks in +England, Joe. As I told you, they disowned her when she married your +father, though there wasn't a finer man going. But he was an American, +and that was one thing they had against him, and another was that he +was a public performer. + +"I think, too, that they rather blamed him for your mother's going into +the circus business, Joe. Your mother was always a good horsewoman, so +I have understood. She took part in many a fox hunt in England, and in +cross-country runs, always coming out in front. And when your father +met her he, as I understand it, suggested that, just for fun, she try +circus work. She took it up seriously, and Madame Hortense became one +of the foremost circus riders of her time. But from then on her name +was forgotten by her relatives, and her picture was, so to speak, +turned to the wall." + +"I wish I could get one of those pictures," said Joe thoughtfully. "I +have only a very small one that was in my father's watch. I'd like a +large one, for I can't remember, very well, how she looked." + +"She was a handsome woman," said the clown. "It may be that you can +get a picture of her from England--that is, if they saved one. I'll +give you the address of some folks you can write to. It might be well +to get a firm of lawyers here to take the matter up for you." + +"I believe it would be best," agreed Joe. + +"Why not let my lawyers--notice that, _my_," laughed Helen. "Why not +let my lawyers act for you, Joe? That is, after we see what sort they +are. They seem honest." + +"Another good idea!" commented the young performer. "I'll do it. You +say one of them is coming to see you?" + +"So he says in this letter." + +"Does he know where to find you?" + +"Yes; I have told him the places where the circus will show for the +next two weeks. He can find the place easily enough, and inquire for +me. Oh, I'm so anxious to know how rich I'm going to be!" + +"I don't blame you," chuckled Bill. "Now, Joe, if I had a pencil and +paper I'd give you those addresses I spoke of." + +Joe supplied what was needed, and obtained the names of some men and +women--circus performers who had been associated with his mother. Joe +wrote to them, asking the names of his mother's relatives in England, +and their addresses. + +Helen's attention was so taken up with the affairs of her inheritance +that she forgot about the queer actions of Sid and Tonzo until after +the performance that night. + +Then, as she and Joe were going to the train to take the sleeping cars +for the next stop, Helen asked: + +"Joe, did you ever hear of ripening trapeze ropes?" + +"Ripening trapeze ropes?" he repeated. "No. What do you mean?" + +Helen then told what she had seen and heard in the dressing tent. + +Joe shook his head. + +"It may be some secret process they have of treating ropes to make them +tougher, so they'll last longer," Joe said. "They may call it +ripening, but I never heard of it. I'll ask them." + +"Don't tell them I saw them," Helen cautioned him. + +"Of course not," Joe answered. "Perhaps it may be a professional +secret with them, and they won't tell me anyhow. But I'll ask." + +But when Joe, as casually as he could, inquired of Sid and Tonzo what +they knew of ripening trapeze ropes, the two Spaniards shook their +heads, though, unseen by Joe, a quick look passed between them. + +"I sometimes oil my ropes, to make them pliable," Tonzo admitted. +"Olive oil I use. But it does not make them ripe." + +"I guess that must have been it," thought Joe. "Helen was probably +mistaken. It might have been a word that sounded like ripening." + +So he said no more about it then, though when he reported to Helen the +result of his questioning, she shook her head. + +"I'm sure I heard aright," she declared. "And they were pouring +something from a bottle on the trapeze rope from which they had pushed +the silk covering." + +"It might have been olive oil," Joe said. + +"It might," Helen admitted, '"but I don't believe it was. They don't +handle any of your ropes, do they?" + +"I always look after my own. Why?" + +"Oh, I just wanted to know," and that was all the answer Helen would +give. + +As Joe went to his dressing room for that afternoon's performance he +passed Señor Bogardi, the lion tamer. Something in the man's manner +attracted Joe's attention, and he asked him: + +"Aren't you feeling well to-day, Señor?" + +"Oh, yes, as well as usual. It is my Princess who is not well." + +"Princess, the big lioness?" + +"Yes. I do not know what to make of her actions. She is never rough +with me, but a little while ago, when I went in her cage, she growled +and struck at me. I had to hit her--which I seldom do--and that did +not improve her temper. I do not know what to make of her. I have to +put her through her paces in the cage this afternoon, and I do not want +any accident to happen. + +"It is not that I am afraid for myself," went on the tamer, and Joe +knew he spoke the truth, for he was absolutely fearless. "But if she +comes for me and I have to--to do--something, it may start a panic. +No, I do not like it," and he shook his head dubiously. + +"Oh, well, maybe it will come out all right," Joe assured him. "But +you'd better tell Jim, and have some extra men around. She can't get +out of her cage, can she?" + +"Oh, no, nothing like that. Well, we shall see." + +It was almost time for the performance to begin. The crowd was already +streaming into the animal tent and slowly filtering into the "main +top," where the performance took place. Before that, however, there +was a sort of "show" in the animal arena, Señor Bogardi's appearance in +the cage with the lioness being one of the features. + +Joe had gone to his dressing tent and was coming out again, when he +heard unusual roars from the animal tent. The lions often let their +thunderous voices boom out, sometimes startling the crowd, but, somehow +or other, this sounded differently to Joe. + +"I wonder if that's Princess cutting up," he reflected. "Guess I'll go +in and have a look. I hope nothing happens to the señor." + +Though lion tamers, as well as other performers with wild beasts, seem +to take matters easily, slipping into the cage with the ferocious +creatures as a matter of course, they take their lives in their hands +whenever they do it. No one can say when a lion or a tiger may +suddenly turn fierce and spring upon its trainer. And there is not +much chance of escape. The claws of a lion or a tiger go deep, even in +one swift blow of its powerful paws. + +Joe started for the animal tent, and then remembered that he needed in +his act that day a certain short trapeze, the ends of the ropes being +provided with hooks that caught over the bar of another trapeze. + +He hurried back to get it, and then, as the unusual roars kept up in +the arena, he hastened there. As he had surmised, it was Princess who +was roaring, her fellow captives joining in. Señor Bogardi had slipped +into the cage, and was waiting until the creature had calmed down a +little. + +Cages in which trainers perform with wild beasts are built in two +parts. In one end is a sort of double door, forming a compartment into +which the trainer can slip for safety. The señor had opened the outer +door of the cage and slipped in, it being fastened after him. + +But he was still separated from Princess by another iron-barred door +that worked on spring hinges. And Princess did not seem to want this +door opened. She sprang against it with savage roars and thrust her +paws through, trying to reach her trainer. He sought to drive her back +into a far corner, so that he would have room to enter. Once in, he +felt he could subdue her. But Princess would not get back +sufficiently, though Señor Bogardi ordered her, and even flicked her +through the bars with the heavy whip he carried. + +"I guess you'd better cut out the act to-day," advised Jim Tracy, as he +saw how matters were going. The women and children were beginning to +get nervous, some of them hastening into the other tent. Men, too, +were looking about as if for a quick means of escape in case anything +happened. + +"No, no. I must make her obey me," insisted the performer. "If I give +in to her now I will lose power over her. Get back, Princess! Get +back! Down!" he ordered. + +But the lioness only snarled and struck at the bars with her paws. +Then she threw herself against the spring door, roaring. The cage +rocked and shook, and several women screamed. + +"Cut out the act!" ordered the ring-master. "It isn't safe with this +crowd." + +"That's right," chimed in a man. "We know it isn't your fault, +professor." + +"Thank you!" Señor Bogardi bowed. "For the comfort of the audience I +will omit my act to-day. But I will subdue Princess later." + +There was a breath of relief from the crowd as the trainer prepared to +leave the cage. Men who had fastened the door after him raised the +iron bar that held it so he could emerge. + +The lion-tamer slipped from the cage through the outside door, which +was about to be shut when Princess, with all her force, threw herself +against the inner spring door. + +Whether it was insecurely fastened or whether she broke the fastenings, +was not disclosed at the moment, but the door gave way and the enraged +beast sprang into the smaller compartment and toward the outer door. + +"Quick!" cried the trainer. "Up with that bar! Fasten the door, or +she'll be out among us!" + +The circus men raised the bar, but the cage was swaying so from the +leapings of the lioness that they could not slip the iron in place. It +almost dropped from their hands. + +Joe Strong saw the danger. He stood near the cage, the crowd having +rushed back, men and women yelling with fright. Joe saw the outer door +swing open. In another instant the lioness would be out. + +At that moment the men dropped the iron bar. + +"Quick! Something to fasten the door--to hold it!" cried the +lion-tamer. + +Joe acted in a flash and not an instant too soon. He forced the strong +hickory bar of his small trapeze into the places meant to receive the +iron bar, and as the lioness, with a roar of rage, flung herself +against the door, it did not give way, but held. Joe had prevented her +escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A BAD BLOW + +"Quick now! With the iron bar!" cried Señor Bogardi. "That trapeze +stick won't hold long!" + +But it held long enough. As the lioness, flung back into a corner of +her cage by her impact against the steel door, gathered herself for +another spring, the men slipped into place the iron bar, Joe pulling +out his trapeze. + +"It's all right now--no more danger!" called Jim Tracy. "Take it easy, +folks, she can't get out now!" + +This was true enough. The beast, after a fruitless effort to force a +way out of the cage, retreated to a corner and lay down, snarling and +growling. + +"I don't know what's gotten into Princess," said the trainer as he +looked at her. "She never acted this way before." + +"It's a good thing she showed her temper before you got in the cage +with her, and not afterward," remarked Joe, as he was about to pass on +to the performance tent. + +"That's right," agreed Señor Bogardi. "And you did the right thing in +the nick of time, my boy. Only for your trapeze bar she'd have been +out among the crowd," and he looked at the men, women and children, who +were now calming down. + +The small panic was soon over, and in order to quiet the lioness a big +canvas was thrown over her cage, so she would not be annoyed by +onlookers. + +"I guess she needs a rest," her trainer said. "I'll let her alone for +a day or so, and she may get over this." + +Joe went on into the tent where he was to do his trapeze acts. It was +nearly time for him to appear, and the other two Lascalla Brothers were +waiting for him. They would do an act together, and Joe one of his +single feats, however, before the three appeared in a triple act. + +The young performer was straightening out the ropes attached to his +trapeze, when he noticed that the bar of the small one, which he had +thrust into the door of the lioness' cage, was cracked. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Joe. "This won't do. I can't risk doing tricks up +at the top of the tent on a cracked bar. It might hold, and again it +might not." + +He tried the cracked bar in his hands. It gave a little, but seemed +fairly strong. + +"I wonder if I could get another," mused Joe. "Guess I'd better try." + +He walked over to where the Lascalla Brothers stood near their +apparatus. + +"What's the matter?" asked Sid, seeing Joe trailing the broken trapeze +after him. + +"This bar is cracked. It's my short trapeze that I fasten to the big +one. I used it just now to hold the door so the lioness wouldn't get +out, and the wood is cracked. I was wondering if you had a spare one +like this." + +"We have!" exclaimed Tonzo quickly. "Get the little short one--the one +with the silk coverings on the ropes," he said to Sid. "Joe can use +that." + +"I'll be back with it in a second," Sid stated, as he hurried off to +the dressing tent, for it was nearly time for the performance to begin. +Sid returned presently with another trapeze. + +At this moment Helen came in with her horse, Rosebud, for she was about +to do her act. + +"What's the matter, Joe?" asked Helen, for she knew that at this point +in the performance he ought to be on the other side of the tent doing +his act. + +"Oh, I cracked a trapeze bar," Joe replied, as he stepped up beside the +girl and patted Rosebud. "Sid is going to get me another. Here he +comes now with it." + +At the sight of the trapeze the circus man was bringing up, Helen was +conscious of a strange feeling. She saw the silk-covered ropes, and +the recollection of that scene in the tent came vividly to her. + +"I guess this will do you, Joe," remarked Sid, holding out the trapeze. +"It's the only one we have like yours." + +"Thanks," responded the young performer. "That will do nicely. I've +got to hustle now and----" + +Joe turned away, but became aware that Helen was leaning down from the +saddle and whispering to him. + +"Joe! Joe!" she exclaimed, making sure the Lascalla Brothers could not +hear her, for they were On the other side of Rosebud. "Joe, don't use +the trapeze!" + +"Why not?" + +"Because I'm sure that's the one I saw those two men 'ripening,' as +they call it. They had pulled back the silk cover, and were pouring +something on the rope. Look at it before you use it. Be careful!" + +Then she flicked Rosebud with the whip and rode into the ring to do her +act amid a blare of trumpets. Joe stood there, holding the trapeze. +The two Spaniards were starting their act now, and were high up in the +air. + +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "I wonder what's up. Can it be that this rope +is doctored? I won't let them see me looking at it." + +He hurried over to his own particular place in the tent. + +"Lively, Joe!" called Jim Tracy. "You're late as it is!" + +"I'll be right on the job in a moment," the young performer answered. +"I had to get another trapeze--the lioness cracked mine." + +"Oh, all right--but hustle." + +Under pretense of fastening the short trapeze to the larger one Joe +pushed back the loose silk covering the ropes. To his surprise, on one +rope was a dark stain. Joe rubbed his fingers over the strands. They +were rotten, and crumbled at the touch. Joe smelled of the dark stain. + +"Acid!" exclaimed Joe. "Some one spilled acid on this rope. Talk +about putting on something to ripen it! This is something to rot it!" + +He tested the rope in his hands. It did not part, but some of the +strands gave, and he did not doubt but that if he trusted his weight to +it it would break and give him a fall. + +"Now I wonder if they did that on purpose to queer me," mused Joe. "If +they did they waited for a most opportune time to give me the doctored +trapeze. They couldn't have known I was going to break mine. I wonder +if they did it on purpose. + +"Of course I wouldn't have been killed, and probably not even much +hurt, if the rope did break," thought Joe. "I'd only fall into the +life net, but it sure would spoil my act and make me look like an +amateur. Maybe that's their game! If it was----" + +Joe paused, and looked over in the direction of the two Spaniards. +They were going through their act, but Joe thought he had a glimpse of +Tonzo looking over toward him. + +"They want to see what happens to me," thought Joe. "Well, they won't +see anything, for I sha'n't use this trapeze. I'll change my act." + +"Hey, what's the matter over there, Joe?" called Jim Tracy to him. +"You ought to be up on the bar." + +"I know it, Mr. Tracy. But I've got to make a change at the last +minute. I can't use this extra trapeze." + +"All right; do anything you like, but do it quick!" + +Joe signaled to his helper, who began hoisting him to the top of the +tent by means of rope and pulley. Once on his own regular trapeze, +which he had tested but a short while before, Joe went through his act. + +He had to improvise some acts to take the place of those he did on the +short trapeze. But he did these extra exploits so well and so easily +that no one in the audience suspected that it was anything but the +regular procedure. + +Then Joe, amid applause, descended and went over to work with the two +Spaniards. He carried the doctored trapeze with him. + +"I didn't use this," he said, looking closely at Tonzo. "It seems to +have been left out in the rain and one of the ropes has rotted." + +"Rotted?" asked Sid, his voice trembling. + +"Something like that, yes," answered Joe. + +"Ah, that is too bad!" exclaimed Tonzo, and neither by a false note nor +by a change in his face did he betray anything. "I am glad you +discovered the defect in time." + +"So am I," said Joe significantly. "Come on, now. + +"Probably they fixed the rope with acid, and kept it ready against the +chance that some day I might use it," reflected Joe. "The worst that +could happen would be to spoil my tricks--I couldn't get much hurt +falling into the net, and they knew that. But it was a mean act, all +right, and I sha'n't forget it. I guess they want to discourage me so +they can get their former partner back. But I'm going to stick!" + +"Did you find out anything, Joe?" asked Helen, when she had a chance to +speak to him alone. + +"I sure did, thanks to you, little girl. I might have had a ridiculous +fall if I'd used their trapeze. You were right in what you suspected." + +"Oh, Joe! I'm so glad I saw it in time to warn you." + +"So am I, Helen. It was a mean piece of business, and cunning. I +never suspected them of it." + +"Oh, but you will be careful after this, won't you, Joe?" + +"Indeed I will! I want to live long enough to see you get your +fortune. By the way, when is that lawyer coming?" + +"He is to meet me day after to-morrow." + +"I'll be on hand," Joe promised. + +It rained the next day, and working in a circus during a rain is not +exactly fun. Still the show goes on, "rain or shine," as it says on +the posters, and the performers do not get the worst of it. It is the +wagon and canvas men who suffer in a storm. + +"And this is a bad one," Joe remarked, when he went in the tent that +afternoon for his act. "It's getting worse. I hope they have the tent +up good and strong." + +"Why?" asked Helen. + +"Because the wind's increasing. Look at that!" he exclaimed as a gust +careened the big, heavy canvas shelter. "If some of the tent pegs pull +out there'll be trouble." + +Helen looked anxious as she set off to put Rosebud through his tricks, +and Joe was not a little apprehensive as he was hoisted to the top of +the tent. He saw the big pole to which his trapeze was fastened, +swaying as the wind shook the "main top." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HELEN'S INHERITANCE + +Joe Strong had scarcely begun his act when he became aware that indeed +the storm was no usual blow and bluster, accompanied by rain. He could +feel his trapeze swaying as the whole tent shook, and while this would +not have deterred him from going on with his performance, he felt that +an accident was likely to occur that would start a panic. + +"It surely does feel as if the old 'main top' was going to fall," +thought Joe as he swung head downward by his knees, preparatory to +doing another act. He could see that many in the audience were getting +uneasy, and some were leaving their seats, though the red-capped ushers +were going about calling: + +"Sit still! Keep your seats! There is no danger. The tent is +perfectly safe." + +Jim Tracy had ordered this done. As a matter of fact the tent was not +perfectly safe, but under the circumstances it was best to tell the +people this to quiet them and to avoid having them make a rush to get +out, as in that case many would be hurt--especially the women and the +children. + +"It's a good thing it isn't night," reflected Joe. "Whew! That was a +bad one!" he exclaimed as a terrific blast seemed fairly to lift one +side of the tent. Men started from their seats and women and children +screamed. + +"Just keep quiet and it will be all right," urged the ring-master, but +the crowd was fast getting beyond control. + +Joe saw Jim Tracy sending out a gang of men to drive the tent pegs +deeper into the ground. The rain softened the soil, and thus made the +pegs so loose that they were likely to pull out. At the same time the +rain, wetting the ropes, caused them to shrink, and thus exert a +stronger pull on the pegs and poles. So the ropes had to be eased off, +while the pegs were pounded farther into the ground with big mauls. + +"Lively now, men!" called the ring-master. + +The big tent swayed, sometimes the top of it being lifted high up by +the wind which blew under it. Again the sides would bulge in, making +gaps by which the rain entered. + +But the band kept on playing. Jim saw to that, for nothing is more +conducive to subduing a panic than to let the crowd hear music. The +performers, too, kept on with their acts, and some of the audience +began to feel reassured. + +But the wind still kept up, blowing stronger if anything, and Joe and +others realized that it needed but a little accident to start a rush +that might end fatally for some. + +Joe was just about to go into the second series of his gymnastic work +when he heard a tent pole beneath him snap with a breaking sound. At +first he thought it was the big one to which his apparatus was made +fast, but a glance showed him this one was standing safe. It was one +of the smaller side poles. + +That part of the tent sagged down, the wind aiding in the break, and +there were cries of fear from scores of women, while men shouted all +sorts of directions. + +But the circus people had gone through dangers like this before, and +they knew what to do. Under the direction of Jim Tracy and his +helpers, extra poles were quickly put in place to take the weight of +the wet canvas off the broken one. This at once raised the tent up +from those on whom it had partly fallen. + +And then something else happened. + +One of five horses which were being put through a series of tricks by a +man trainer, suddenly bolted out of the ring. Joe, high up in the +tent, saw him running, and noted that the animal was headed for the +ring where Helen Morton was performing with Rosebud. + +"He's going to run into her!" thought Joe. "I've got to do something!" + +He must think and act quickly. While attendant's were running after +the bolting horse Joe, looking down, saw that the animal would pass +close to his life net. In an instant Joe had decided what to do. + +He poised on the small platform, from which he made his swings, and +dropped straight into the big net. Just as he had calculated, he +bounced up again, and as he did so he sprang out to one side. + +Joe's quick eyes and nerves had enabled him to judge the distance +correctly. He leaped from the net just as the horse was opposite him, +and landed on his back in a riding position. + +It was the work of but a second to reach forward, grasp the little +bridle which the animal wore, and pull him to one side. + +And it was not a second too soon, either, for the horse was on the edge +of the ring in which Helen was performing with Rosebud. If the +maddened animal had gone in, there would have been a collision in which +the girl performer would, undoubtedly, have been injured. + +"Good work, Joe!" cried the ring-master. "But there's plenty more to +be done. I guess we'll have to get all the men performers to help hold +down the tent. I'm afraid she's going." + +"It does look so," Joe admitted as he leaped from the horse and gave +him in charge of one of the attendants. "What can we do?" + +"Help drive in extra pins and attach more ropes. I'm going to dismiss +the audience. We'll stay over here to-morrow, and give an extra +performance to make up for it." + +"I'll get a crowd together and we'll help the canvasmen," offered Joe. + +"And I'll help," said Benny Turton, who had finished his tank act. + +"Come on!" cried Joe, as he led the way. + +Meanwhile Jim Tracy had requested the audience to file out as quickly +and in as orderly a manner as possible. The crowd was not large, as +the weather had been threatening in the morning and many had stayed at +home. But it was no easy matter to dismiss even a small throng in such +a storm. + +However, it was accomplished, the band meanwhile playing its best, and +under hard conditions, as part of the tent over them split and let the +rain in on them. + +But the music served a good turn, and while the people were hurrying +out the canvasmen, aided by the performers, Joe among them, drove in +extra pegs, tightening those that had become loose, put on additional +ropes, so that, by hard work, the big tent was prevented from blowing +down. + +Once outside, the audience, though most of them were soon drenched, +took it good-naturedly. They were given emergency tickets as they +passed out, good for another admission. + +And then the storm, which seemed to have reached its height, settled +down into a heavy rain. The wind died out somewhat, and there was no +danger from the collapse of the tent. + +"Good work, boys!" said the ring-master, as the performers, all of them +wet through, and in their performing suits too, came in. "Good work! +If it hadn't been for you I don't know what we would have done. I'll +not forget it." + +There had been some trouble in the animal tent during the storm; the +beasts, especially the elephants, evincing a desire to break loose. +But their trainers quieted them, and soon the circus was almost normal +again. + +Of course the afternoon had been lost, but there was hope of a good +attendance at night if the storm were not too bad. And by remaining +over another afternoon the deficiency could be made up. Word was +telegraphed ahead to the next town announcing a postponement in the +date. The broken pole was replaced with another, and then the +performers enjoyed an unexpected vacation. + +"I want to thank you, Joe, for what you did," said Helen, coming up to +him in the dining tent, where an early supper was served. "I saw what +you did--stopping that runaway horse." + +"Oh, it wasn't anything," Joe said, modestly enough. + +"Wasn't it?" asked Helen, with a smile. "Well, I consider myself and +Rosebud something worth saving." + +"Oh, I didn't mean it that way," Joe said quickly. "But the runaway +might not have gone near you." + +"Yes, I'm afraid he would. But you saved me." + +"Well, if you feel that way about it," laughed Joe, for he did not want +Helen to take the matter too seriously, "why then we're even. You +saved me from a bad fall on the trapeze." + +The storm subsided somewhat by night, and there was a good attendance. +And the receipts the next day were very large in the afternoon, for the +story of what the circus men had done was widely spread, and served as +a good advertisement. Joe was applauded louder than ever when he did +his acts. + +The two wily Lascalla Brothers never referred to the incident of the +rotted trapeze rope, and Joe did not know whether to believe them +guilty or not. At most, he thought, they only wanted to give him a +tumble that might make him look ridiculous, and so discourage him from +continuing the work. In that case their deposed partner might get a +chance. But Joe did not give up, and he kept a sharp lookout. He +redoubled his vigilance regarding his ropes, bars and rings, inspecting +all of them just before each performance. + +On arriving at the next town Helen received a note in her mail asking +her to call at the principal hotel in the place. It was signed by one +of the members of the law firm. + +"You come with me, Joe," she begged. "I don't want to go alone." + +"All right," agreed the young performer. "We'll go and get your +inheritance." + +"If there's any to get," laughed Helen. "Oh, Joe, I'm so nervous!" + +"Nervous!" he answered. "I wish I could be afflicted with nervousness +like that--money-nervousness, I'd call it!" + +They found Mr. Pike, the lawyer, to be an agreeable gentleman. He had +requested Helen to bring with her the proofs of her identity, the old +Bible and other books, which she did. These the lawyer examined +carefully, and asked the girl many questions, comparing her answers +with some information in his notebook. Finally he said: + +"Well, there is no doubt but you are the Miss Helen Morton we have been +looking for so long, and I am happy to inform you that you are entitled +to an inheritance from your grandfather's estate." + +"Really?" cried Helen, eagerly. + +"Really," answered the lawyer, with a smile. "It isn't a very large +fortune, but it will yield you a neat little income every year. In +fact there is quite an accumulation due you, and I shall be happy to +send it on as soon as I get back to New York. I congratulate you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A WARNING + +Helen could hardly believe the good news. Though she had hoped, since +hearing from the law firm, that she might be entitled to some money, +Helen had always been careful not to hope too much. + +"For I don't want to be badly disappointed," she told Joe. + +"Well," he remarked, "I wish my chances were as good as yours." + +For the answers he received from the letters he wrote concerning his +mother's relatives in England were disappointing. As far as these +letters went there was no estate in which Joe might share, though Bill +Watson insisted that the late Mrs. Strong came of a wealthy family. + +"Anyhow, you've got yours, Helen," said Joe. + +"Well, I haven't exactly got it yet," and she looked at Mr. Pike. + +"Oh, the money is perfectly safe," the lawyer assured Helen. "I have +part of it on deposit in my bank, and the rest is safe in California." + +"Just how did it happen to come to me?" Helen inquired. + +"Well," answered the lawyer slowly, "it's a long and complicated story. +Your grandfather on your father's side was quite a landholder in San +Francisco. Some of his property was not worth a great deal, and other +plots were very valuable. In time he sold off most of it, but one +large tract was considered so worthless that he could not find a buyer +for it. When he died he still owned it, and it descended to your +father. + +"He thought so little of it that he never tried to put it on the +market. But during the last few years the city has grown out in the +direction of this land, and recently the property was sold. + +"An effort was made to find the owner, your father, but as he was dead, +and no one knew what had become of his heirs, the land was sold, and +the money deposited with the state, to be turned over to the right +owner when found. We have a branch office in San Francisco, and we +were engaged to try to find any Morton heirs. Finally we found you, +and now I am glad to say that my work in this connection is so happily +ended. + +"As I told you, I have some cash ready for you. The rest of your +inheritance is in the form of bonds and mortgages, which will bring you +in an income of approximately sixty dollars a month." + +"That's fifteen a week!" exclaimed Helen, who was used to calculating +that way, as are most circus and theatrical persons. + +"Of course you could sell these bonds and mortgages, and get the cash +for them," said the lawyer, "but I would not advise you to. You will +have about three thousand dollars in cash, as it is, and this ought to +be enough for your immediate needs, especially as I understand you have +a good position." + +"Yes, I am earning a good salary," Helen admitted, "but I have not been +able to save much. I am very glad of my little fortune." + +"And I am glad for you, my dear young lady. Now, as I said, as soon as +I get back to New York I will send one of my clerks on to you with the +cash. I may be old fashioned, but I don't like to trust too much to +the mails. Besides, I want to get your signature to certain documents, +and you will have to make certain affidavits to my clerk. So I will +send him on. Let me have a note of where you will be during the next +week." + +Helen gave the dates when the circus would play certain towns, and Mr. +Pike left. + +"Well, it's true, little girl, isn't it?" cried Joe as they walked back +to the circus together. + +"Yes, and I'm very glad. I've always wanted money, but I never thought +I'd have it--at least as much as I'm going to get. I wish you would +inherit a fortune, Joe." + +"Oh, don't worry about me. I don't expect it, and what one never has +had can't be missed very much. Maybe I'll get mine--some day." + +"I hope so, Joe. And now I want you to promise me something."' + +"What?" + +"That if ever you need money you'll come to me." + +Joe hesitated a moment before answering. Then he said: + +"All right, Helen, I will." + +To Joe the novelty of life in a circus was beginning to wear off. To +be sure there was something new and different coming up each day, but +he had now gotten his act down to a system, and to him and the other +performers one day was much like another, except for the weather, +perhaps. + +They did their acts before crowds every day--different crowds, to be +sure; but, after all, men, women and children are much alike the world +over. They want to be amused and thrilled, and the circus crowds in +one place are no different from those in another. + +The Sampson Brothers' Show was not one of the largest, though it was +considered first class. Occasionally it played one of the large +cities, but, in the main, it made a circuit of places of smaller +population. + +Joe kept on with his trapeze work, now and then adding new feats, +either by himself or with the Lascalla Brothers. On their part they +seemed glad to adopt Joe's suggestions. Occasionally they made some +themselves, but they were more in the way of spectacular effects--such +as waving flags while suspended in the air, or fluttering gaily colored +ribbons or strands of artificial flowers. But Joe liked to work out +new and difficult feats of strength, skill and daring, and he was +generally successful. + +He had not relaxed his policy of vigilance, and he never went up on a +bar or on the rings without first testing his apparatus. For he never +forgot the strangely rotted rope. That it had been eaten by some acid, +he was sure. + +He did not again get sight of that particular small trapeze, nor did he +ask Sid or Tonzo what had become of it. He did not want to know. + +"It's best to let sleeping dogs lie," reasoned Joe. "But I'll be on +the lookout." + +Matters had been going along well, and Joe had been given an increase +of salary. + +"Well, if I can't get a fortune from some of my mother's rich and +aristocratic ancestors," Joe thought with a smile, "I can make it +myself by my trapeze work. And, after all, I guess, that's the best +way to get rich. Though I'm not sure I'll ever get rich in the circus +business." + +But the calm of Joe's life--that is if, one can call it calm to act in +a circus--was rudely shaken one day when in his mail he found a badly +scrawled note. There was no signature to it, but Joe easily guessed +from whom it came. The note read: + + +"You want to look out for yourself. You may think you're smart, but I +know some smarter than you. This is a big world, but accidents may +happen. You want to be careful." + + +"Some of Sim Dobley's work," mused Joe, as he tore up the note and cast +it aside. "He's trying to get my nerve. Well, I won't let that worry +me. He won't dare do anything. Queer, though, that he should be +following the circus still. He sure does want his place back. I'm +sorry for him, but I can't help it." + +Joe did not regard the warning seriously, and he said nothing about it +to Helen or any one else. + +"It would only worry Helen," he reflected. + +The show was over for the night. Even while the performers in the big +tent had been going through with their acts, men had taken away the +animal cages and loaded them on the flat railroad cars. Then the +animal tent was taken down and packed into wagons with the poles and +pegs. + +As each performer finished, he or she went to the dressing tent and +packed his trunk for transportation. From the dressing tent the actors +went to the sleeping car, and straight to bed. + +Joe's acts went very well that night. He was applauded again and again +and he was quite pleased as he ran out of the tent to make ready for +the night journey. He saw Benny Turton changing into his ordinary +clothes from his wet fish-suit, which had to be packed in a rubber bag +for transportation after the night performance, there being no time to +dry it. + +"Well, how goes it, Ben?" asked Joe. + +"Oh, not very well," was the spiritless answer. "I've got lots of +pain." + +"Too bad," said Joe in a comforting tone. "Maybe a good night's sleep +will fix you up." + +"I hope so," said the "human fish." + +The circus train was rumbling along the rails. It was the middle of +the night, and they were almost due at the town where next they would +show. + +Joe, as well as the others in his sleeping car, was suddenly awakened +by a crash. The train swayed from side to side and rolled along +unevenly with many a lurch and bump. + +"We're off the track!" cried Joe, as he rolled from his berth. And the +memory of the scrawled warning came vividly to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE STRIKE + +The circus train bumped along for a few hundred feet, the engine +meanwhile madly whistling, the wheels rattling over the wooden +sleepers, and inside the various cars, where the performers had been +suddenly awakened from their sleep, pandemonium reigned. + +"What's the matter?" called Benny Turton from his berth near Joe's. + +"Off the track--that's all," was the answer, given in a reassuring +voice. For Joe had, somehow or other, grasped the fact there was no +great danger unless they ran into something, and this, as yet, had not +happened. + +The train was off the track (or at least some of the coaches were) but +it was quickly slowing down, and Joe, by a quick glance at his watch, +made a mental calculation of their whereabouts. + +For several miles in the vicinity where the accident had occurred was a +long, and comparatively straight stretch of track, with no bridges and +no gullies on either side. A train running off the track, even if +going at fairly fast speed, would hardly topple over. + +Before starting out that night Joe had inquired of one of the men about +the journey, and, learning that they were approaching his former home, +the town of Bedford, he had looked up the route and the time of arrival +at their next stopping place. He had a quick mind, and he remembered +about where they should be at the time the accident occurred. In that +way he was able to determine that, unless they struck something, they +were in comparatively little danger. + +"Off the track--that's all!" repeated Benny Turton as he looked down +from his berth at Joe. "Isn't that enough? Wow! What's going on now?" + +The train had stopped with a jolt. The air brakes, which the engineer +had flung on at the first intimation of danger, had taken hold of the +wheels with a sudden grip. + +"This is the last stop," said Joe, and he smiled up at Benny. He could +do so now, for he felt that their coach, at least, was safe. But he +was anxious as to what had happened to the others. Helen, with many of +the other women performers, was in the coach ahead. + +Benny crawled down from his berth, and stood looking at Joe. + +"It doesn't seem to worry you much," he remarked. + +"Not as long as there's nothing worse than this," Joe answered. +"You're not hurt, are you?" + +"Only my feelings." + +"Well, you'll get over that. Let's see what's up." + +By this time the aisle of the car was filled with excited men +performers. They all wanted to know what had happened, their location +and various other bits of information. + +"The train jumped the track," said Joe, who appeared the coolest of the +lot. "We don't seem to have hit anything, though at first I thought we +had. We're right side up, if not exactly with care." + +"Where are we?" demanded Tonzo Lascalla. + +"We ought to be near Far Hills, according to the time table," Joe +answered. "If I could get a look out I could tell." + +He went to the end of the car and peered out. It was a bright +moonlight night, and Joe was able to recognize the locality. As a boy +he had tramped all around the country within twenty-five miles of +Bedford, in the vicinity of which they now were, and he had no +difficulty in placing himself. He found that he had guessed correctly. + +By this time there was an excited crowd of trainmen and circus +employees outside the coaches which had left the rails. Joe and some +of the others slipped on their clothes and went out to see what had +happened. + +Joe's first glance was toward the coach in which he knew Helen rode. +He was relieved to see that though it had also left the rails it was +standing upright. In fact, none of the cars had tilted more than was +to be expected from the accident. + +"Well, this is a nice pickle!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, bustling up. "This +means no parade, and maybe no afternoon show. How long will it take +you to get us back on the rails?" he asked one of the brakemen. + +"Hard to say," was the answer. "We'll have to send for the wrecking +crew. Lucky it's no worse than a delay." + +"Yes, I suppose so," agreed the ring-master. It was only one train of +the several that made up the circus which had left the rails. The +animal cars were on ahead, safe, and the sections following the +derailed coaches had, by a fortunate chance, not left the rails. + +"What caused us to jump?" asked Benny. + +"There was a fish plate jammed in a switch," answered one of the +brakemen. "We found it beside the track where we knocked it out, and +that saved the other trains from doing as we did." + +"A fish plate in the switch?" repeated Joe. "Did it get there by +accident?" + +"Ask me something easier," quoted the brakeman. "It might have, and +again it might not. I understand you discharged a lot of men at your +last stop, and it may be some of them tried to get even with you." + +It was true that a number of canvasmen had been allowed to go because +they were found useless, but none of the circus men believed that these +individuals would do so desperate a deed as to try to wreck the train. + +Joe thought of the threatening letter he had received--Sim Dobley was +the writer, he was sure--but even Sim would hardly try anything like +this. He might feel vindictive against Joe, and try to do him some +harm or bring about Joe's discharge. + +But to wreck a train---- + +"I don't believe he'd do that," reasoned Joe. "I won't mention the +letter--it would hardly be fair. I don't want to get him into trouble, +and I have no evidence against him." + +So Joe kept quiet. + +The circus trains ahead of the derailed one could keep on to their +destination. After some delay those in the rear were switched to +another track, and so passed around the stalled cars. + +Then the wrecking crew arrived, and just as the first gray streaks of +dawn showed the last of the cars was put back on the track. + +"Well, we're off again," remarked Joe, as, with Benny and some of their +friends, they got back in their berths. + +"Not much more chance for sleep, though," the "human fish" remarked, +dolefully enough. + +"Oh, I think I can manage to get some," said, Joe, as he covered up, +for the morning was a bit chilly. + +"I hope my glass tank didn't get cracked in the mix-up," remarked +Benny. "It wouldn't take much to make that leak, and I've had troubles +enough of late without that." + +"Oh, I guess it's perfectly safe," remarked Joe, sleepily. + +The excitement caused by the derailing was soon forgotten. Circus men +are used to strenuous happenings. They live in the midst of +excitement, and a little, more or less, does not bother them. Most of +them slept even through the work of getting the train back on the rails. + +Of course the circus was late in getting in--that is the derailed train +with its quota of performers was. Early in the morning, when they +should have been on the siding near the grounds, the train was still +puffing onward. + +Joe arose, got a cup of coffee in the buffet car, and went on ahead to +inquire about Helen and some of his friends in the other coach. + +"Oh, I didn't mind it much," Helen said, when Joe asked her about it. +"I felt a few bumps, and I thought we had just struck a poor spot in +the roadbed." + +"She hasn't any more nerves than you have, Joe Strong," declared Mrs. +Talfo, "the fat lady." + +"Did you mind it much?" Joe asked. + +"Did I? Say, young man, it's a good thing I had a lower berth. I +rolled out, and if I had fallen on anybody--well, there might have been +a worse wreck! Fortunately no one was under me when I tumbled," and +Mrs. Talfo chuckled. + +"And you weren't hurt?" asked Joe. + +The fat lady laughed. Her sides shook "like a bowlful of jelly," as +the nursery rhyme used to state. + +"It takes more than a fall to hurt me," said Mrs. Talfo. "I'm too well +padded. But we're going to get in very late," she went on with a look +at her watch. "The performers should be at breakfast at this time, to +be ready for the street parade." + +"We may have to omit the parade," said Joe. + +"I wouldn't care," declared the fat lady with a sigh. "It does jolt me +something terrible to ride over cobble streets, and they never will let +me stay out." + +"You're quite an attraction," said Joe, with a smile. + +"Oh, yes, it's all right to talk about it," sighed Mrs. Talfo, "but I +guess there aren't many of you who would want to tip the scales at five +hundred and eighty pounds--advertised weight, of course," she added, +with a smile. "It's no joke--especially in hot weather." + +The performers made merry over the accident now, and speculated as to +what might happen to the show. Their train carried a goodly number of +the "artists," as they were called on the bills, and without them a +successful and complete show could not be given. + +"We may even have to omit the afternoon session," Joe stated. + +"Who said so?" Helen demanded. + +"Mr. Tracy." + +"Well, it's better to lose that than to have the whole show wrecked," +said the snake charmer. "I remember being in a circus wreck once, and +I never want to see another." + +"Did any of the animals get loose?" asked Joe. + +"I should say they did! We lost a lion and a tiger, and for weeks +afterward we had to keep men out hunting for the creatures, which the +excited farmers said were taking calves and lambs. No indeed! I don't +want any more circus wrecks. This one was near enough." + +This brought up a fund of recollected circus stories, and from then on, +until the train stopped on the siding near the grounds, the performers +took turns in telling what they had known of wrecks and other accidents +to the shows with which they had been connected. Joe listened eagerly. +It was all new to him. + +"I only hope my glass tank isn't cracked," said Benny again. He seemed +quite worried about this. + +"Well, if it's broken they'll have to get you another," Joe told him. +The tank was carried in one of the cars of the derailed train. + +"They might, and they might not," said Benny. "My act hasn't been +going any too well of late, and maybe they'd be glad of a chance to +drop it from the list. I only hope they don't, though, for I need the +money." + +Benny spoke wistfully. He seemed greatly changed from the boy Joe had +known at first. Benny had grown thinner, and he often put his hand to +his head, as though suffering constant pain. Joe and Helen felt sorry +for him. + +Still there was little they could do, except to cheer him up. Benny +had to do his own act--which was a unique one that he had evolved after +years of practice. It was not alone the staying under water that made +it popular, it was the tricks that the lad did. + +"Well, we're here at last," said Joe, as he and his friends alighted +from their sleeping car. "Better late than never, I suppose." + +Men were busy on the circus grounds, putting up tents, arranging the +horses and other animals, putting the wagons in their proper places and +doing the hundred and one things that need to be done. + +"I wonder what's going on over there," said Helen, as she pointed to a +group of men about the place where the canvas for the main tent had +been spread out in readiness for erection. "It looks like trouble." + +"It does," agreed Joe, as he saw Jim Tracy excitedly talking to the +canvasmen. "I'm going to see what it is." + +He approached the ring-master, who was also one of the owners of the +show. + +"Anything wrong?" Joe asked. + +"Wrong? I should say so! As if I didn't already have troubles enough +here, the tent-men go on a strike for more money. I never saw such +luck!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN BEDFORD + +Joe Strong looked from the group of sullen, lowering canvasmen to Jim +Tracy. On the ring-master's face were signs of anxiety. + +"Is it really a strike?" Joe asked. + +"That's what they call it," replied the circus owner. "I didn't know +they belonged to a union, and I don't believe they do. They just want +to make trouble, and they take advantage of me at a time when I'm tied +up because we're late with the show." + +"What is it they want?" asked Helen. + +"More money," Jim Tracy replied. "I wouldn't mind giving it to them if +I could afford it, or if they weren't getting the same wages that are +paid other canvasmen in other circuses. But they are. As a matter of +fact, they get more, and they have better grub. I can't understand +such tactics!" + +"It looks as if some of them were coming over to speak to you," +remarked Joe, as he observed one of the strikers detach himself from +the group, and approach the ring-master. + +"Let him come," snapped Jim. "He'll get no satisfaction from me." + +The man seemed a bit embarrassed as he approached, chewing a straw +nervously. He ignored several of the circus performers, Joe and Helen +among them, who were grouped about Jim Tracy, and, addressing the +owner, asked: + +"Well, have you made up your mind? Is it to be more money for us or no +show for you?" + +"It's going to be 'no' to your unreasonable demand, and I want to tell +you, here and now, that the show's going on. You can go back to your +cowardly crowd, that tries to hit a man when he's down, and tell 'em +Jim Tracy said that!" cried the ring-master with vigor. "You'll get no +more money from me. I'm paying you wages enough as it is!" + +"All right, no money--no show!" said the fellow, impudently. "We gave +you half an hour to make up your mind, and if that's your answer you +can take the consequences." + +He started to walk away, and Tracy called after him: + +"If you try to interfere or make trouble, and if you try to stop the +show, I'll have you all arrested if I have to send for special +detectives." + +"Oh, we won't make any trouble except what you make for yourself," +declared the striker. "We just won't do anything--that'll be the +trouble. There's your 'main top,' and there she'll stay. We won't +pull a rope or drive a peg!" + +He pointed to the pile of canvas with its mass of ropes, poles and pegs +that lay on the ground ready for erection. It should have been up by +this time, and the parade ought to have been under way. But with the +railroad accident, the delay and the strike, the big tent in which Joe, +Helen and the others were to perform was not yet raised. + +"The cowards!" exclaimed Jim in a low voice; looking at Joe. "I wonder +if I'd better give in to 'em?" + +"Can you get others to take their places?" the young trapeze acrobat +wanted to know. + +"Not here. I could if I were nearer New York. But as it is----" He +threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. "I guess I'll have to +give in," he said. "I can't afford not to give a show. Here, you----" + +He called to the departing striker. + +"Wait a minute!" Joe quickly exclaimed to the ring-master. "I think we +can find a way out of this." + +"How?" + +"Have you any men who know something about putting up the tent?" + +"I know all there is to be known about it myself. But it takes more +than one man to raise the 'main top.' There are a lot of the animal +men and wagon drivers who used to be canvas hands. They haven't +struck. But there aren't enough of them. It's no use." + +"Yes, it is!" cried Joe. "We men performers will turn canvasmen for +the time being. Give us some hands who know how to lay out the canvas, +how to lace up the different sections, which ropes to pull on; men to +show us how to drive stakes and to haul up the poles--do that and we'll +have the tent up in time for the show!" + +"Can you do it?" cried the ring-master, in an eager tone. + +"Sure we can!" exclaimed Joe. "There are enough of us, and we're +willing to turn in. You get the men who know how, and we'll be their +assistants." + +"It might work," said Tracy, reflectively. "I'm much obliged to you, +Joe. It's worth trying. But do you think the performers will do it?" + +"I'll talk to 'em," said the trapeze artist. "They'll be glad to raise +the tent, rather than see a performance given up. Go get your men and +I'll talk to the others." + +"All right--I will." + +"Did you call me?" asked the striker who had been appointed to wait on +the ring-master and learn his decision. + +"I did _not_!" cried Jim Tracy. "I'm through with you. We don't need +your services." + +"Ha!" laughed the man. "Let's see you get up the 'main top' without +us." + +"Stick around long enough and you'll see it," said Joe Strong. + +Joe found a group of the men performers gathered in the dressing tent, +discussing the situation. And while the ring-master hastened to gather +up such forces as he could muster, Joe made his little talk. + +"You're just the very one we want," he said to Tom Jefferson, "the +strong man." "You ought to be able to put up the tent alone. Come on +now, gentlemen, we must all work together," and rapidly he explained +the situation to some who did not understand it. + +"Will you help raise the tent?" Joe asked. + +"We will!" cried the performers in a chorus. + +Soon there was a busy scene in the circus "lots." Not that there is not +always a busy time when the show is being made ready, but this was +somewhat different. Led by Joe, the performers placed themselves under +the direction of some veteran canvasmen who had been working in other +departments of the circus. + +Jim Tracy, who had in his day been a helper, took the part of the +striking foreman of the canvas-workers, and the "main top" soon began +to look as it always did. The big center poles were put in place and +guyed up. The sections of canvas were laced together in the regular +manner, so that they could be taken apart quickly simply by pulling on +a rope. Knots tied in erecting a circus tent must be made so they are +easily loosed, even in wet weather. + +For a while the striking canvasmen stood and laughed at the efforts of +those who were taking their places. But they soon ceased to jeer. For +the tent was slowly but correctly going up. + +"We'll give the show after all!" cried Joe, as he labored at lifting +heavy sections of canvas, pulling on ropes or driving stakes. + +"I believe we will," agreed the ring-master. "I don't know how to +thank you, Joe." + +"Oh, pshaw! I didn't do anything! I'm only helping the same as the +rest." + +"Yes, but it was your idea, and you persuaded the men to pitch in." + +And, in a sense, this was true. For Joe was a general favorite with +the circus performers, though he had been with them only a +comparatively short time. But he had his mother's reputation back of +him, as well as his father's, and Bill Watson had spoken many a good +word for the young fellow. Circus folk are always loyal to their own +kind, and there were many, as Joe learned later, who knew his mother by +reputation, and some personally. So they were all glad to help when +Joe put the case to them vividly, as he did. + +Joe's popularity stood him in good stead, even though there were some +who were jealous of the reputation he was making. But jealousies were +cast aside on this occasion. + +Even the Lascalla Brothers did their share, working side by side with +Joe at putting up the tent, as they worked with him on the trapeze. +The strong man was a great help, doing twice the work that the others +did. + +The performers wore their ordinary clothes, laying aside coats and +vests as they labored. And the men who knew how circus tents must go +up, saw to it that the amateurs did their work well, so there would be +no danger of collapse. + +While the big tent was being put up the other preparations for the show +were proceeded with. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Sampson, who were part owners +with Jim Tracy, arranged for a small parade, since it had been +advertised. On the back of one of the elephants rode the fat lady, +with a banner which explained that because of a strike of the canvasmen +the usual street exhibition could not be given. The assurance was +made, though, that the show itself would be the same as advertised. + +"That will prevent the public from being too sympathetic with the +strikers," said Jim Tracy. "The public, as a rule, doesn't care much +for a strike that interferes with its pleasure." + +At last the big tent was up, and all was in readiness for the afternoon +performance, though it would be a little late. + +"It won't be much fun taking down the tent after the show to-night," +said Joe. + +"Perhaps you won't have to," stated the ring-master. "I may be able to +hire men to take the strikers' places before then." + +"But if you can't, we'll help out," declared the young trapeze +performer, though he knew it would be anything but pleasant for himself +and the others, after high-tension work before a big audience, to +handle heavy canvas and ropes in the dark. + +The public seemed to take good-naturedly to the circus, not being +over-critical of the lack of the usual big street parade. And men, +women and children came in throngs to the afternoon performance. + +The circus people fairly outdid themselves to give a good show, and Joe +worked up a little novelty in one of his "lone" acts. + +He gave an exhibition of rope-climbing, Jim Tracy introducing the act +with a few remarks about the value of every one's knowing how to ascend +or descend a rope when, thereby, one's life might some time be saved. + +"Professor Strong will now entertain you," announced the ring-master, +"and tell you something about rope-work." + +Joe had hardly bargained for this, but his work as a magician, when he +often had the stage to himself and had to address a crowded theatre, +stood him in good stead. He was very self-confident, and he +illustrated the way a beginner should learn to climb a rope. + +"Don't try to go up hand over hand at first," Joe said. "And don't +climb away up to the top unless you're sure you know how to come down. +You may get so exhausted that you'll slip, and burn your hands +severely, for the friction of rapidly sliding down a rope will cause +bad burns." + +Joe showed how to begin by holding the rope between the soles of the +feet, letting them take the weight instead of the hands and arms. He +went up and down this way, and then went up by lifting himself by his +hands alone, coming down the same way--which is much harder than it +looks. + +Joe also illustrated the "stirrup hold," which may be used in ascending +or descending a rope, to get a rest. The rope is held between the +thighs, the hands grasping it lightly, and while a turn of the rope +passes under the sole of the left foot and over the toes of the same, +the right foot is placed on top, pressing down the rope which passes +over the left foot. In this way the rope is held from slipping, and +the entire weight of the body can rest on the side of the left leg, +which is in a sort of rope loop. Thus the arms are relieved. + +Joe showed other holds, and also how to sit on a rope that dangled from +the top of the tent. Half way up he held the rope between his thighs, +and made a loop, which he threw over his left shoulder. Then, by +pressing his chin down on the rope, it was held between chin and +shoulder so that it could not slip. Grasping the rope with both hands +above his head, Joe was thus suspended in a sitting position, almost as +easily as in a chair. The crowd applauded this. + +Then Joe went on with his regular trapeze work--doing some back flyaway +jumps that thrilled the audience. This trick is done by grasping the +trapeze bar firmly at arm's length, swinging backward and downward +until the required momentum is reached. When Joe was ready he suddenly +let go and turned a backward somersault to the life net. + +The trick looked simple, but Joe had practised it many times before +getting it perfectly. And he often had bad falls. One tendency he +found was to turn over too far before letting go the bar. This was +likely to cause his feet to strike the swinging bar, resulting in an +ugly tumble. + +The evening performance was even better attended than that of the +afternoon. Jim Tracy succeeded in hiring a few men to assist with the +tents, but he had not enough, and it began to look as though the +performers would have to do double work again. + +But there occurred one of those incidents with which circus life is +replete. The place they were showing in was a large factory town, and +at night crowds of men and boys--not the gentlest in the +community--attended. + +At something or other, a crowd of roughs felt themselves aggrieved, and +under the guidance of a "gang-leader" began to make trouble. They +threatened to cut the tent ropes in retaliation. + +"That won't do," decided Jim Tracy. "I've got to tackle that gang, and +I don't like to, for it means a fight. Still I can't have the tent +collapse." + +He hurriedly gathered a crowd of his own men, armed them with stakes, +and charged the gang of roughs that was creating a small riot, to the +terror of women and children. + +The rowdies finding themselves getting the worst of it, called for help +from among the factory workers, who liked nothing better than to +"beat-up" a circus crowd. Jim Tracy and his men were being severely +handled when a new force took a hand in the mêlée. + +"Come on, boys. We can't stand for this!" shouted Jake Bantry, the +leader of the striking canvasmen. "They sha'n't bust up the show, even +if the boss won't give us more money." + +The canvasmen were used to trouble of this kind. Seizing tent pegs, +and with cries of "Hey Rube!"--the time-honored signal for a battle of +this kind--the striking canvasmen rushed into the fracas. + +In a short time the roughs had been dispersed, and there was no more +danger of the tents being cut and made to collapse. + +"I'm much obliged to you boys," said Jim Tracy to the strikers, when +the affray was over. "You helped us out finely." + +"It was fun for us," answered Jake Bantry. "And say, Mr. Tracy, we've +been talking it over among ourselves, and seeing as how you've always +treated us white, we've decided, if you'll take us back, that we'll +come--and at the same wages." + +"Of course I'll take you back!" exclaimed the owner heartily. "And +glad to have you." + +"Good! Come on, boys! Strike's broken!" cried Bantry. + +So Joe and his fellow-artists did not have to turn to tent work that +night. + +In looking over the advance booking list one day, Joe saw Bedford +marked down. + +"Hello!" he cried. "I wonder if that's my town." It was, as he +learned by consulting the press agent. + +"Are you glad?" asked Helen. + +"Well, rather, I guess!" Joe said. + +And one morning Joe awakened in his berth, and looked out to see the +familiar scenes of the town where he had lived so long. + +"Bedford!" exclaimed Joe. "Well, I'm coming back in a very different +way from the one I left it," and he chuckled as he thought of the +"side-door Pullman," and the pursuing constables. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HELEN'S MONEY + +After breakfast Joe, who did not take part in the parade, set out to +see the sights of his "home town," or, rather, he hoped to meet some of +his former friends, for there were not many sights to see. + +"The place hasn't changed much," Joe reflected as he passed along the +familiar streets. "It seems only like yesterday that I went away. +Well, Timothy Donnelly has painted his house at last, I see, and they +have a new front on the drug store. Otherwise things are about the +same. I wonder if I'd better go to call on the deacon. I guess I +will--I don't have any hard feelings toward him. Yes, I'll go to see +him and----" + +Joe's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that exclaimed: + +"Say! Look! There goes Joe Strong who used to live here!" + +The young circus performer turned and saw Willie Norman, a small boy +who lived on the street where Joe formerly dwelt. + +"Hello, Willie," called Joe in greeting. + +"Hello," was the answer. "Say, is it true you're with the circus? +Harry Martin said you were." + +"That's right--I am," Joe admitted. He had kept up a fitful +correspondence with Harry and some of the other chums, and in one of +his letters Joe had spoken of his change of work. + +"In a circus!" exclaimed Willie admiringly. "Do they let you feed the +elephant?" he asked with awe. + +"No, I haven't gotten quite that far," laughed Joe. "I'm only a +trapeze performer." + +"Say, I'd like to see you act," Willie went on, "but I ain't got a +quarter." + +"Here's a free ticket," Joe said, giving his little admirer one. In +anticipation of meeting some of his friends in Bedford that day, Joe +had gotten a number of free admission tickets from the press agent, who +was always well supplied with them. Willie's eyes glistened as he took +the slip of pasteboard. + +"Geewillikens!" he exclaimed. "Say, you're all right, Joe! I'm going +to the circus! I wish I could run away and join one." + +"Don't you dare try it!" Joe warned him. "You're too small." + +He went on, meeting many former acquaintances, who turned to stare at +the boy whose story had created such a stir in the town. Joe was +looked upon by some as a hero, and by others as a "lost sheep." It is +needless to say that Deacon Blackford was one who held the latter +opinion. + +Joe called on his former foster-father, but did not find him at the +house. Mrs. Blackford was in, however, and was greatly surprised to +see Joe. She welcomed and kissed him, and there were traces of tears +in her eyes. + +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so sorry you left us, but perhaps it +was all for the best, for you must live your own life, I suppose. I +never really believed you took the money," she added, referring to an +incident which was related in the book previous to this. + +"I'm glad to hear that," Joe said. "I want to thank you for all your +care of me. I didn't like to run away, but it seemed the only thing to +do. And, as you say, I think it has turned out for the best. The +circus life appeals to me, and I'm getting on in the business." + +Mrs. Blackford was really glad to see Joe. She had a real liking for +him, in spite of the fact that she had a poor opinion of circus folk +and magicians, and she did not believe all the deacon believed of Joe. +She could not forget the days when, while he was a little lad, she had +often sung him to sleep. But these days were over now. + +Joe found the deacon at the feed store. The lad's former foster-father +was not very cordial in his greeting, and, in fact, seemed rather +embarrassed than otherwise. Perhaps he regretted his accusation +against our hero. + +"Would you like to see the circus?" Joe inquired, as he was leaving the +office. "I have some free tickets and----" + +"What! Me go to a circus?" cried the deacon, with upraised hands. +"Never! Never! Circuses and theatres are the invention of the Evil +One. I am surprised at your asking me!" + +Joe did it for a joke, more than for anything else, as he knew the +deacon would not take a ticket. Bidding him good-bye, Joe went out to +find his former chums. + +They, as may well be supposed, were very glad to see him. And that +they envied Joe's position goes without saying. + +"Well, well! You certainly put one over on us!" exclaimed Charlie Ford +admiringly. "How did you do it, Joe?" + +"Oh, it just happened, I guess. More luck than anything else." + +"When you got Professor Rosello out of the fire you did a good thing," +commented Tom Simpson. + +"Yes, I guess I did--in more ways than one," admitted Joe. + +"And are you really doing trapeze acts?" inquired Henry Blake. + +"Come and watch me," was Joe's invitation. "Here is a reserved seat +ticket for each of you." + +"Whew!" whistled Harry Martin. "Talk about the return of the prodigal! +You'll make the folks here open their eyes, Joe. It isn't everybody +who runs away from home who comes back as you do." + +Joe told his chums some of his experiences, and they went with him out +to the circus grounds, where he took them about, as only a privileged +character can, showing them how the show was "put together." + +"It sure is _great_!" exclaimed Charlie, ruffling up his red hair. + +Joe fairly outdid himself in the performances that day. He went +through his best feats, alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, with a +snap and a swing that made the veteran performers look well to their +own laurels. Joe did some wonderful leaping and turning of somersaults +in the air, one difficult backward triple turn evoking a thundering +round of applause. + +And none applauded any more fervently than little Willie Norman. + +"I know him!" the little lad confided to a group about him. "That's +Joe Strong. He gave me a ticket to the show for nothing, mind you! I +know him all right!" + +"Oh, you do not!" chaffed another boy. + +"I do so, and I'm going to speak to him after the show!" + +This Willie proudly did, thereby refuting the skepticism of his +neighbor. For the word soon passed among the town-folk that Joe +Strong, who used to live with Deacon Blackford, was with the circus, +and after the show he held an informal little reception in the dressing +tent which a number of men and boys, and not a few women, attended. + +All were curious to see behind the scenes, and Joe showed them some +interesting sights. He invited his four chums to have supper with him, +and the delight of Harry, Charlie, Henry and Tom may be imagined as +they sat in the tent with the other circus folk, listening to the +strange jargon of talk, and seeing just how the performers behaved in +private. + +Altogether Joe's appearance in Bedford made quite a sensation, and he +was glad of the chance it afforded him to see his former friends and +acquaintances, and also to let them see for themselves that circus +people and actors are not all as black as they are painted. Joe was +glad he could do this for the sake of his father and mother, as he +realized that the wrong views held by Deacon and Mrs. Blackford were +shared by many. + +Joe bade good-bye to his chums and traveled on with the show, leaving, +probably, many rather envious hearts behind. For there is a glamour +about a circus and the theatre that blinds the youthful to the hard +knocks and trouble that invariably accompany those who perform in +public. + +Even with Joe's superb health there were times when he would have been +glad of a day's rest. But he had it only on Sundays, and whether he +felt like it or not he had to perform twice a day. Of course usually +he liked it, for he was enthusiastic about his work. But all is not +joy and happiness in a circus. As a matter of fact Joe worked harder +than most boys, and though it seemed all pleasure, there was much of it +that was real labor. New tricks are not learned in an hour, and many a +long day Joe and his partners spent in perfecting what afterward looked +to be a simple turn. + +But, all in all, Joe liked it immensely and he would not have changed +for the world--at least just then. + +The circus reached the town of Portland, where they expected to do a +good business as it was a large manufacturing place. Here Helen found +awaiting her a letter from the law firm. + +"Oh, Joe!" the girl exclaimed. "I'm going to get my money here--at +least that part of my fortune which isn't tied up in bonds and +mortgages. We must celebrate! I think I'll give a little dinner at +the hotel for you, Bill Watson and some of my friends." + +"All right, Helen. Count me in." + +The letter stated that a representative of the firm would call upon +Helen that day in Portland, and turn over to her the cash due from her +grandfather's estate. + +That afternoon Helen sent word to Joe that she wanted to see him, and +in her dressing room he found a young man, toward whom Joe at once felt +an instinctive dislike. The man had shifty eyes, and Joe always +distrusted men who could not look him straight in the face. + +"This is Mr. Sanford, from the law firm, Joe," said Helen. "He has +brought me my money." + +"Is he your lawyer?" asked Mr. Sanford, looking toward Joe. + +"No, just a friend," Helen answered. + +"Is he going to look after your money for you?" + +"I think Miss Morton is capable of looking after it herself," Joe put +in, a bit sharply. + +"Oh, of course. I didn't mean anything. Now if you'll give me your +attention, Miss Morton, I'll go over the details with you." + +"You needn't wait, Joe, unless you want to," Helen said. "I'd like to +have you arrange about the little supper at the hotel, if you will, +though." + +"Sure I will!" Joe exclaimed. + +The circus was to remain over night, and this would give Helen a chance +for her feast, which she thought had better take place at the Portland +hotel, as it would be more private than the circus tent. Joe went off +to arrange for it, leaving Helen with the lawyer's clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JOE IS SUSPICIOUS + +Joe's day was already a full one, though he did not tell Helen so. He +gladly undertook to arrange the little supper for her at the hotel, and +it was only a coincidence that it happened on the night of a day when +he had decided to work in a new trick on his trapeze, when he performed +alone. It was not exactly a new trick, in the sense that it had never +been done before. In fact there is very little new in trapeze work +nowadays, but Joe had decided to give a little different turn to an old +act. It required some preparation, and he needed to do this during the +day. He was going to "put on" the trick at night, and not at the +matinee. + +But for the time being he gave up his hours to arranging for Helen the +supper which would take place after the night performance. + +Joe saw the hotel proprietor and arranged for a private room with a +supper to be served for twenty-five. Helen had many more friends than +that among the circus folk, but she had to limit her hospitality, +though she would have liked to have them all at her little celebration. +She chose, however, after Joe and Bill Watson and Benny Turton, the +women performers who were more intimately associated with her in her +acts, and some of the men whose acquaintance she had made since joining +the Sampson show. + +Joe hurried to the hotel, did what was necessary there, and then went +back to the tent. He intended, when the afternoon show was over, to do +some practice on his new act. + +As he passed into the big tent, which was now deserted, he met Jim +Tracy, who, of course, was invited to Helen's supper. + +"What's all this I hear about our little lady?" asked the ring-master. + +"Well, I guess it's all true," Joe answered. "She has come into a +little money." + +"Glad to hear it! I'll be with you to-night. Oh, by the way, Joe, I +had a letter from the railroad people about our wreck, or, rather, +derailment." + +"Did you? What did they say?" + +"They couldn't find any evidence that the fish plate was put in the +switch purposely. It might have dropped there. Of course some tramp +might have put it there to get revenge for being put off a train, but +it would be hard to prove. And as for getting evidence against Sim +Dobley--why, it's out of the question. But you want to keep on looking +out for yourself." + +"I will," Joe promised. + +After thinking the matter over Joe had decided it would be best to +speak to the ring-master about the threatening letter, which had been +received so close to the time when the derailment occurred. Jim Tracy +had at once agreed with Joe that the discharged acrobat might possibly +have been mad and rash enough to try to wreck the train, and the +railroad detectives had been communicated with. But nothing had come +of the investigation, and the accident had been set down as one of the +many unexplained happenings that occur on railroads. + +A search had been made for Dobley, but he seemed to have disappeared +for the time being, and Joe was glad of it. + +"Ready for the new stunt?" asked Tracy, as he passed on. + +"Yes; I'll pull it off to-night if nothing happens," Joe said. + +He was glad there were few people in the big tent when he entered it +after the afternoon performance, to put in some hard practice. Joe's +own trapeze was in place, but he lowered it to the ground, and went +carefully over every inch of the ropes, canvas straps, snaps, and the +various fastenings to make sure nothing was wrong. He found everything +all right. + +It was not exactly that he was suspicious of the Lascalla Brothers, but +he was taking no chances. + +Joe's act worked well in practice. When he had performed his trick for +the last time he saw Benny Turton, the "human fish," coming into the +tent to look after his tank, about which the young performer was very +particular. + +"How do you like that, Ben?" asked Joe, as he finished the new trick. + +"First rate. That's a thriller all right, Joe! That'll make 'em sit +up and take notice. I'll have to work in something new myself if you +keep on piling up the stuff." + +"Oh, I guess you could do that, Ben." + +The "human fish" shook his head. + +"No," he said slowly, "I don't know what's the matter with me lately, +Joe, but I don't seem to have ambition for anything. I go through my +regular stunts, but that's all I want to do. I don't even stay under +water as long as I used to, and Jim Tracy was kicking again to-day. He +said I'd have to do better, but I don't see how I can. Of course he +was nice about it, as he always is, but I know he's disappointed in me." + +"Oh, I guess not, Ben. Maybe you'll do better to-night." + +"I hope so. Anyhow you'll have a thriller for them." + +"You're coming to Helen's party, aren't you?" + +"Oh, sure, Joe. I wouldn't miss that. I'm glad she's got some money," +and Ben spoke rather despondently. + +Joe made arrangements with his helper to look after the special +appliances needed for the new trick, and went to supper. He did not +see Helen, and guessed that she was still busy with the law clerk. + +"I hope she doesn't trust too much to that chap," mused Joe. "I don't +just like his looks." + +The big tent was crowded when Joe began his performance that night. He +received his usual applause, and then gave the signal that he was about +to put on his new act. He was hoisted up to the top trapeze, which was +a short one, and to this Joe had fastened a longer one. + +He sat upon the bar of this, swinging to and fro, working himself into +position until he was resting on the "hocks," as performers call that +portion of the leg just above the knee. + +Suddenly Joe seemed to fall over backward, and there was a cry of alarm +from the crowd. But he remained in position, swinging by his insteps. + +In the trapeze world this is known as "drop back to instep hang." Joe +had done it most effectively, but that was not all of the trick. + +Quickly he grasped the ropes of the lower trapeze. He twined his legs +about these, and then, with a thrilling yell, he let himself slide, +head down along the ropes, holding only by his intertwined legs and +insteps, which he had padded with asbestos to take up the heat of +friction. + +Down the long ropes he slid until he came to a sudden stop as his +outstretched hands grasped the lower bar. There he hung suspended a +moment, while the audience sat thrilled, thinking it had been an +accidental fall and a most miraculous escape. But Joe had planned it +all out in advance, and knew it was safe, especially as the life net +was under him. + +He suspended himself on the bar a moment, and then made a back +somersault, and amid the booming of the drum he dropped into the net +and made his bows in response to the applause. + +The new feat was appreciated at once, but it was some time before the +crowd realized that the fall backward was not accidental. + +Joe was congratulated by his fellow performers, though, as might be +expected, there was some little jealousy. But Joe was used to that by +this time. + +It was a merry little party that gathered later in the hotel room for +Helen's supper. She sat at the head of the table, with Joe on one side +and Bill Watson, the veteran clown, on the other. + +"Well, did you make out all right with your lawyer friend?" Joe asked. + +"Oh, yes, Joe, I never had so much money at one time in my life before." + +"What did you do with it?" + +"I kept out enough to pay for this supper, and the rest I put in the +circus ticket wagon safe." + +"What, all your cash?" + +"Oh, I didn't take it all, Joe." + +"You didn't take it all?" + +"No. Mr. Sanford--he's the law clerk, you know--said I ought not to +have so much money with me, so he offered to take care for me all I +didn't want to use right away." + +"He's going to take care of it for you?" Joe repeated. + +"Yes. He says he can invest it for me. But eat your supper, Joe." + +Somehow or other Joe Strong did not feel much like eating. He had a +sudden and undefinable suspicion of that law clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A FALL + +There were merry hearts at the little celebration given by Helen +Morton--"Mademoiselle Mortonti"--in recognition of coming into her +inheritance. That is, the hearts were all merry save that of Joe +Strong. + +For a few seconds after Helen had made the statement about having left +her money with the law clerk for investment, Joe could only stare at +her. On her part the young circus rider seemed to think there was +nothing unusual in what she had done. + +"Congratulations, Miss Morton!" called Bill Watson, as he waved his +napkin in the air. "Congratulations!" + +"Why don't you call me Helen as you used to?" asked the girl. + +"Oh, you're quite a rich young lady now, and I didn't think you would +want me to be so familiar," he replied with a laugh. + +"Goodness! I hope every one isn't going to get so formal all at once," +she remarked, with a look at Joe. + +"I won't--not unless you want me to," he answered. + +"But why don't you eat?" she asked him. "You sit there as if you had +no appetite. I'm as hungry as a bear--one of our own circus bears, +too. Come, why don't you eat and be happy?" + +"I--I'm thinking," Joe remarked. + +"This isn't the time to think!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so glad I have +a little money. I won't have to worry now if I shouldn't be able to go +on with my circus act. I could take a vacation if I wanted to, +couldn't I?" + +"Are you going to?" asked Joe. Somehow he felt a sudden sinking +sensation in the region of his heart. At least he judged it was his +heart that was affected. + +"No, not right away," Helen answered. "I'm going to stay with the show +until it goes into winter quarters, anyhow." + +"And after that?" + +"Oh, I don't know." + +The little celebration went merrily on. Helen's health was proposed +many times, being pledged in lemonade, grape juice and ginger ale. She +blushed with pleasure as she sat between Joe and the veteran clown, for +many nice things were said about her, as one after another of her +guests congratulated her on her good fortune. + +"Speech! Speech!" some one called out. + +"What do they mean?" asked Helen of Bill Watson. + +"They want you to say something," the clown said. + +"Oh, I never could--never in the world!" and Helen blushed more vividly +than before. + +"Try it," urged Joe. "Just thank them. You can do that." + +Much confused, Helen arose at her place. + +"I'd rather ride in a circus ring ten times over than make a speech," +she confessed in an aside to Joe. + +"Go on," he urged. + +"My dear friends," she began tremblingly, "I want to thank you for all +the nice things you have said about me, and I want to say that I'm +glad--glad----" She paused and blushed again. + +"Glad to be here," prompted Joe. + +"Yes, that's it--glad to be here, and I--er--I---- Oh, you finish for +me, Joe!" she begged, as she sat down amid laughter. + +Then the supper went on, more merrily than before. But it had to come +to an end at last, for the show people needed their rest if they were +to perform well the next day. And most of them, especially those like +Joe and the acrobats, who depended on their nerve as well as their +strength, needed unbroken slumber. + +As Joe walked back to the railroad, where their sleeping cars were +standing on a siding, the young trapeze performer asked Helen about her +business transaction with the law clerk. He had not had a chance to do +this at the supper. + +"Well," began the girl, "as you know, he brought me the cash, Joe. Oh, +how nice those new bills did look. He had it all in new bills for me. +Mr. Pike told him to do that, he said, as they didn't know whether I +could use a check, traveling about as I am. Anyhow he had the bills +for me--about three thousand dollars it was. The rest of my little +fortune, you know, is in stocks and bonds. I only get the interest, +but this cash was from the sale of some of grandfather's property." + +"Then you didn't keep the cash yourself?" Joe asked. + +"No. Mr. Sanford said it wouldn't be safe for me to carry so much +money around with me. Do you think it would?" + +"Of course not," Joe agreed. "But you could have let our treasurer +keep it for you. He could have banked it." + +"Yes; Mr. Sanford thought of that, he said. But he also said if my +money was in the bank I wouldn't get more than three per cent. on it. +I don't know exactly what he means--I never was any good at fractions, +and I know nothing about business. But, anyhow, Mr. Sanford kindly +explained that I would get more interest on my money if it was invested +than if it was in a bank. And he offered to invest for me all I didn't +need at once. Wasn't he kind?" + +"Perhaps," admitted Joe, rather dubiously. "How is he going to invest +it?" + +"Oh, he knows lots of ways, he said, being in the law office. But he +said he thought it would be best to buy oil stock with it. Oil stock +was sure to go up in price, he said; and I would make money on that as +well as interest, or dividends--or something like that. Wasn't he +good?" + +"To himself maybe, yes," answered Joe. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Helen. + +"Oh, well, maybe it's all right," Joe said. He did not want to alarm +the girl unnecessarily, but he had a deeper suspicion than before of +Sanford. + +"I think it's just fine," Helen went on. "I have quite some cash with +me--I'm going to let our treasurer keep that, and give me some when I +need it. Then, from time to time, I'll get dividends on my oil stock." + +"Maybe," said Joe, in a low voice. + +"What?" asked Helen, quickly. "What do you mean?" + +"Never mind," proceeded Joe. "Anyhow we had a good time to-night." + +"Did you enjoy it?" + +"I certainly did, Helen." + +They parted near the train, Joe to go to his car and Helen to hers. + +"Oh, by the way," Joe called after her. "Did Mr. Sanford say what oil +company it was he was going to invest your money in?" + +"Yes, he told me. It's the Circle City Oil Syndicate. He has some +stock in it, he told me, and it's a fine concern. Oh, Joe, I'm so glad +I have inherited a little fortune." + +"So am I," Joe returned, wondering at the same time if he would ever +hear anything encouraging of his mother's relatives in England. + +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," Joe murmured as he entered his car. +"I must look them up. This fellow, Sanford, may be all right, but he +struck me as being a pretty slick individual, who would look out for +himself first, and the firm's clients afterward. He'll bear +investigating." + +However, nothing could be done that night. The clerk had gone back +with the larger part of Helen's money, and Joe did not want to cause +her worry by speaking of his suspicions. + +The circus did a good business the next day, drawing even larger +throngs than to the previous performances. The story of Helen's good +fortune was printed in the local paper, with an account of the +celebration supper she gave, and when she rode into the ring on Rosebud +the applause that greeted her was very pronounced. + +Joe repeated his "drop back to instep hang" that afternoon. It was +rather a perilous feat and he was not so sure of it as he was of his +other exercises. But it was a "thriller" and that was what the public +seemed to want--something that made them gasp, sit up, and hold their +breath while they waited to see if "anything would happen" to the +reckless performer. + +Joe climbed up to his small trapeze, swung on it and then fell backward +for his first instep hang. He accomplished this successfully, and then +came the thrilling slide down the longer ropes. + +Down Joe shot, depending on stopping himself with his outstretched and +down-hanging hands when he reached the second bar. + +But the inevitable "something" happened. Joe's hands slipped from the +bar, his head struck it a glancing blow, and the next instant he felt +himself falling head first down toward the life net. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +JOE HEARS SOMETHING + +Women and children screamed, and there were hoarse shouts from the men +who witnessed Joe's fall. At first some thought it was only part of +the acrobatic trick, but a single glance at the desperate struggles of +the young trapeze performer dispelled this idea. + +For Joe was struggling desperately in the air to prevent himself from +falling head first into the life net. + +It might be thought that one could fall into a loose, sagging net in +any position and not be hurt. But this is not so. A fall into a net +from a great height is often as dangerous as landing on the ground. +Circus folk must know how to fall properly. + +If the person falling lands on his head he is likely to dislocate, if +not to break, his neck, and falling on one's face may sometimes be +dangerous. The best way, of course, is to land on one's feet, and this +was what Joe was trying to bring about. + +When he realized that he had missed grasping the bar of the second +trapeze (though he could not understand his failure) he knew he must +turn over, and that quickly, or he would strike on his head in the net. +He tried to turn a somersault, but he was at a disadvantage, not having +prepared for that in advance. + +"I've got to turn! I've got to turn!" he thought desperately, as he +fell through space. + +He did manage to get partly over and when he landed in the net he took +the force of the blow partly on his head and partly on his shoulder. +Everything seemed to get black around him, and there was a roaring in +his ears. Then Joe Strong knew nothing. He had been knocked +unconscious by the fall. + +The circus audience--or that part of it immediately near Joe's +trapezes--was at once aware that something unusual had occurred. + +Some women arose, as though to rush out. Others screamed and one or +two children began to cry. A slight panic was imminent, and Jim Tracy +realized this. + +From where she was putting her horse, Rosebud, through his paces Helen +saw what happened to Joe. In an instant she jumped from the saddle, +and ran across the ring toward the net in which he lay, an inert form. + +Other circus performers and attendants rushed to aid Joe, and this +added to the confusion and excitement. Many in the audience were +standing up, trying to see what had happened, and those behind, whose +view was obstructed, cried: + +"Sit down! Down in front!" + +"Give us some music!" ordered Jim Tracy of the band, which had stopped +playing when Joe performed his trick in order that it might be more +impressive. A lively tune was started, and though it may seem +heartless, in view of the fact that a performer possibly was killed, it +was the best thing to do under the circumstances, for it calmed the +audience. + +Tender hands lifted Joe out of the net, and carried him toward the +dressing room. + +"Go on with the show!" the ring-master ordered the performers who had +left their stations. "Go on with the show. We'll look after him. +There are plenty of us to do it." + +And the show went on. It had to. + +"Is he--is he badly hurt?" faltered Helen, as she walked beside the +four men who were carrying Joe on a stretcher which had been brought +from the first aid tent. The circus was always ready to look after +those hurt in accidents. + +"I don't think so--he took the fall pretty well--only partly on his +head," said Bill Watson, who had stopped his laughable antics to rush +over to Joe. "He may be only stunned." + +"I hope so," breathed Helen. + +"You'd better get back to your ring," suggested Bill. "Finish your +act." + +"It was almost over," Helen objected. "I can't go back--now. Not +until I see how he is." + +"All right--come along then," said the old clown, sympathetically. He +guessed how matters were between Helen and Joe. "I don't believe the +boss will mind much. There's enough of the show left for 'em to look +at." + +He glanced down at Joe, who lay unconscious on the stretcher. They +were now in the canvas screened passage between the dressing tent and +the larger one, where the performance had been resumed. Helen put out +her hand and touched Joe's forehead. He seemed to stir slightly. + +"Have they sent for a doctor?" she asked. + +"They'll get one from the crowd," replied Bill. "There's always one or +more in a circus audience." + +And he was right. As they placed Joe on a cot that had been quickly +made ready for him, a physician, summoned from the audience by the +ring-master, came to see what he could do. Silently Helen, Bill and +the others stood about while the medical man made his examination. + +"Will he die?" Helen asked in a whisper. + +"Not at once--in fact not for some years to come, I think," replied the +physician with a smile. "He has had a bad fall, and he will be laid up +for a time. But it is not serious." + +Helen's face showed the relief she felt. + +"He'll have to go to a hospital, though," continued the medical man. +"His neck is badly strained, and so are the muscles of his shoulder. +He won't be able to swing on a trapeze for a week or so." + +Bill Watson whistled a low note. He knew what it meant for a circus +performer to be laid up. + +"Please take him to a hospital," cried Helen impulsively, "and see that +he has a good physician and a nurse--I mean, you look after him +yourself," she added quickly, as she saw the doctor smiling at her. + +"And have a trained nurse for him. I'll pay the bill," she went on. +"I'm so glad that money came to me. I'll use some of it for Joe." + +"She just inherited a little fortune," explained Bill in a whispered +aside to the medical man. "They're quite fond of each other--those +two." + +"So it seems. Well, he'll need a nurse and medical treatment for a +while to come. I'll go and arrange to have him taken to the hospital. +Has he any friends that ought to be notified--not that he is going to +die, but they might like to know." + +"I guess he hasn't any friends but us here in the circus. His father +and mother are dead, and he ran away from his foster-father--a good +thing, too, I guess. Well, the show will have to go on and leave him +here, I suppose." + +"Oh, yes, certainly. He can't travel with you." + +The ambulance came and took Joe away. Jim Tracy communicated with the +hospital authorities, ordering them to give the young trapeze performer +the best possible care in a private room, adding that the management +would pay the bill. + +"That has already been taken care of," the superintendent of the +hospital informed the ring-master. "A Miss Morton has left funds for +Mr. Strong's case." + +"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Jim Tracy. Then he smiled. + +The circus neared its close. The animal tent came down, the lions, +tigers, horses and elephants were taken to their cars. The performers +donned their street clothes and went to their sleeping cars. + +Helen, Benny Turton and Bill Watson paid a visit to the hospital just +before it was time for the circus train to leave. Joe had not +recovered consciousness, but he was resting easily, the nurse said. + +"Tell him to join the show whenever he is able," was the message Jim +Tracy had left for Joe, "and not to worry. Everything will be all +right." + +"Good-bye," whispered Helen close to Joe's ear, But he did not hear her. + +And the circus moved on, leaving stricken Joe behind. + +It was nearly morning when he came out of his unconsciousness with a +start that shook the bed. + +"Quiet now," said the soothing voice of the nurse. + +Joe looked at her, wonder showing in his eyes. Then his gaze roved +around the hospital room. He looked down at the white coverings on his +enameled bed and then, realizing where he was, he asked: + +"What happened?" + +"You had a fall from your trapeze, they tell me," the nurse said. + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Am I badly hurt?" + +"The doctor does not think so. But you must be quiet now. You are to +take this." + +She held a glass of medicine to his lips. + +"But I must know about it," Joe insisted. "I've got to go on with the +show. Has the circus left?" + +"Hours ago, yes. It's all right. You are to stay here with us until +you are better. A Mr. Tracy told me to tell you." + +"Oh, yes, Jim--the ring-master. Well I--I guess I'll have to stay +whether I want to or not." + +Joe had tried to raise his head from the pillow, but a severe pain, +shooting through his neck and shoulders, warned him that he had better +lie quietly. He also became aware that his head was bandaged. + +"I must be in pretty bad shape," he said. + +"No, not so very," replied the trained nurse cheerfully. "But you must +keep quiet if you are to get well quickly. The doctor will be in to +see you soon." + +Joe sunk into a sort of doze, and when he awakened again the doctor was +in his room. + +"Well, how about me?" asked the young performer. + +"You might be a whole lot worse," replied the medical man with a smile. +"It's just a bad wrench and sprain. You'll be lame and sore for maybe +two weeks, but eventually you'll be able to go back, risking your neck +again." + +"Oh, there's not such an awful lot of risks," Joe said. "This was just +an accident--my first of any account. I can't understand how my hands +slipped off the bar. Guess I didn't put enough resin on them. How +long will I be here?" + +"Oh, perhaps a week--maybe less." + +"Did they bring my pocketbook--I mean my money?" + +"You don't have to worry about that," said the doctor. "It has all +been attended to. A Miss Morton made all the arrangements." + +"Oh," was all Joe said, but he did a lot of thinking. + +Joe's injury was more painful than serious. His sore muscles had to be +treated with liniment and electricity, and often massaged. This took +time, but in less than a week he was able to be out of bed and could +sit in an easy chair, out on one of the verandas. + +Of course Joe wrote to Helen as soon as he could, thanking her and his +other friends for what they had done for him. In return he received a +letter from Helen, telling him how she--and all of the circus +folk--missed him. + +There was also a card from Benny Turton, and a note from Jim Tracy, +telling Joe that his place was ready for him whenever he could come +back. But he was not to hurry himself. They had put no one in his +place on the bill, simply cutting his act out. The Lascalla Brothers +worked with another trapeze performer, who gave up his own act +temporarily to take Joe's position. + +"Well, I guess everything will be all right," reflected our hero. "But +I'll join the show again as soon as I can." + +Joe was sitting on the sunny veranda one afternoon in a sort of doze. +Other convalescent patients were near him, and he had been listening, +rather idly, to their talk. He was startled to hear one man say: + +"Well, I'd have been all right, and I could have my own automobile now, +if I hadn't been foolish enough to speculate in oil stocks." + +"What kind did you buy?" another patient asked. + +"Oh, one of those advertised so much--they made all sorts of claims for +it, and I was simple enough to believe them. I put every cent I had +saved up in the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and now I can whistle for my +cash--just when I need it too, with hospital and doctor bills to pay." + +"Can't you get any of it back?" + +"I don't think so. In fact I'd sell my stock now for a dollar a share +and be glad to get it. I paid twenty-five. Well, it can't be helped." + +Joe looked up and looked over at the speaker. He was a middle-aged +man, and he recognized him as a patient who had come in for treatment +for rheumatism. + +Joe wondered whether he had heard aright. + +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," mused Joe. "That's the one Helen has +her money in--or, rather, the one that San ford put her money in for +her. I wonder if it can be the same company. I must find out, and if +it is----" + +Joe did not know just what he would do. What he had overheard caused +him to be vaguely uneasy. His old suspicions came back to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +BAD NEWS + +Joe Strong waited until he had a chance to speak privately to the man +who had admitted losing money in oil stocks. This hospital patient was +a Mr. Anton Buchard, and his room was not far from Joe's. + +"Excuse me," began the young trapeze performer in opening the talk. +"But a short time ago I happened to overhear what you were telling your +friend about some oil stocks--the Circle City Syndicate. I didn't mean +to listen, but I couldn't help hearing what you were saying." + +"Oh, don't let that part worry you," said Mr. Buchard. "It's no secret +that I lost my money in that wild-cat speculation. But are you +interested in it?" + +"To a certain extent I am," Joe answered. + +"I hope you didn't buy any of the worthless stock." + +"No, but a friend of mine was induced to. That is--er--she--she has +some stock of the Circle City Oil Syndicate. It may not be the same as +that you were speaking of." + +"No, that is true. There are many oil concerns in the market, and lots +of them are legitimate, and are making money. But there are plenty of +others which are frauds. And the one I invested in is that kind. + +"Of course, as you say, it may not be the same as that in which your +friend holds stock, even if it has the same name. Would you know any +of the officers or directors of the concern in which your friend holds +stock?" + +"I'm afraid not," Joe replied. "I did not see her stock certificates. +She bought them through a law clerk named Sanford." + +Mr. Buchard shook his head. + +"I don't recognize that name," he said. "But of course anybody could +sell the stock. How did your friend ever come to be interested in this +concern?" + +Thereupon Joe told of Helen's inheritance, mentioning the fact that he +and she both were in the circus. + +"The circus, eh!" exclaimed the man. "Well, now that's interesting! I +remember, when I was a boy, it was my great ambition to run away and +join a circus. But I dare say it isn't such a life of roses as I +imagined." + +"There's plenty of hard work," Joe told him, "and then something like +this is likely to happen to you at any time--especially if you are on +the trapeze," and he motioned to the bandages still around his neck and +shoulders. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Mr. Buchard, when Joe had finished +telling of Helen's fortune. "I'm going out of here in a couple of +days. I'm getting much better--that is until the next attack. I'll +get out my worthless certificates of stock in the Circle City Oil +Syndicate, and bring you one. You can then see the names of the +officers and directors, and can compare them with the names on Miss +Morton's stock. If they are the same it's pretty sure to be the same +company." + +"And if it is," asked Joe, "would you advise her to sell out?" + +"Sell out! My dear boy, I only hope she will be able to. I wish I had +known in time--I'd have sold out quickly enough. I never should have +bought the stuff. But it's too late to worry about that now. The +money is lost. + +"Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll bring you a stock certificate and you +can compare it with Miss Morton's when you see her. Are you going out +soon?" + +"In a few days, I hope. I want to get back to the circus." + +"I don't blame you. It isn't very cheerful here, though they do the +best they can for you." + +Mr. Buchard was as good as his word. The day after he left the +hospital he came back to call on Joe. + +"Here's a certificate," he said, handing over an elaborately engraved +yellow-backed sheet of paper. "Take it with you, and show it to Miss +Morton." + +"Thank you," the young trapeze performer responded. "I'll mail yours +back to you as soon as I've compared the names." + +"Oh, you don't need to do that," said Mr. Buchard with a rueful laugh. +"It isn't worth the price of a good cigar." + +Joe wrote to Helen, telling her he would soon be with the circus again, +but he did not mention the stock certificate. + +"There'll be time enough to tell her when I find out if it's the same +concern," he reasoned. "It may not be. After all, the stock Sanford +sold her may be valuable." + +But Joe's hope was a faint one. + +The day came when he was able to leave the hospital. He found that not +only had all bills been paid, but that there was an allowance to his +credit. Helen had thought he would need money to travel with, and had +left him a sum. + +"Of course I'll pay her back when I get the chance," Joe reflected. +"The circus will pay the hospital and doctor's bills--they always do. +And I've got money enough saved up to pay Helen back." + +Joe was really making a good salary, and he was careful of his money, +not wasting it as some of the more reckless performers did. + +He said good-bye to his nurse, to the orderlies and to the physician +who had attended him. + +"Now don't try to rush things," the doctor warned Joe. "You must favor +your neck and shoulder muscles for a couple of weeks yet. They will be +lame and sore if you don't. Take it easy, and gradually work up to +your former exploits. If you do that you'll be all right." + +Joe promised to be careful, and then, with the stock certificate safely +in his pocket--though it was of no value, he reflected--he set out to +rejoin the circus, which had moved on several hundred miles since his +accident. + +"I wonder if she'll lose her money," mused Joe, as he rode on in the +train. "It would be too bad if she did. Of course it isn't all in +this oil syndicate, but enough of it is to make a big hole in her +little fortune. Hang it all, if this oil stock turns out bad I'll take +that Sanford up to the top of the tent and drop him off." + +He smiled grimly at this novel form of revenge. But really he was very +much in earnest. + +"Something will have to be done," Joe decided. But he did not know +just what. + +In due time he reached the town where the circus was showing. As Joe's +train pulled in he saw, on a siding, the big yellow cars, with the name +Sampson Brothers painted on their sides. There were the flat vehicles +on which the big animal cages stood, box cars for the horses and +elephants and the sleeping cars in which the company traveled. + +"Oh, but it's good to get back!" exclaimed Joe. + +The parade was in progress as he walked along the main street. He did +not stop to watch it, having seen it often enough. Besides he was +anxious to talk to Helen, and he knew he would find her at the tent at +this hour, since she was not in the parade. + +As Joe turned in at the circus lots he saw several of the attendants +and canvasmen. + +"Hello!" they called cheerily. "Glad to see you with us again!" + +"And I'm glad to be back!" Joe exclaimed heartily. "How's everything?" + +"Oh, fine." + +"Had any trouble?" + +"Not much since you had yours. Had to shoot Princess a couple of towns +back." + +"You mean the lioness?" + +"Yes. She went on a rampage and there was nearly a bad accident, so we +had to kill her." + +"Too bad," remarked Joe, for he knew what a loss it meant to a show +when a fine animal, such as Princess was, must be disposed of. "Still +it was better than to have her kill her trainer or some one," he added. + +"That's right," agreed a canvasman. + +Joe passed on to the dressing tent. Helen saw him coming and ran to +meet him. + +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so glad to see you! Are you all right +again?" + +"Quite, thank you. I'm a little lame and stiff yet, but I'll soon get +limbered up when I get in my tights and feel myself swinging from a +trapeze." + +"Oh, but you must be careful, Joe."' + +"I will. I don't want to have another accident. And now about +yourself. How have you been?" + +"Fine." + +"And Rosebud?" + +"The same as ever. I've taught him a new trick. I must show you. I +haven't put it on in public yet." + +"I shall like to see him. Well, you haven't had any more fortunes left +to you, have you?" + +"No, indeed. I wish I had. But I can increase what I have." + +"How?" + +"Just buy more oil stock. I had a letter from Mr. Sanford, saying he +could get me some more. It's going up in price; so he advised me to +buy at once." + +"Are you going to?" + +"Would you?" Helen asked. + +"I'll tell you later," Joe answered. "Have you one of the stock +certificates you did buy?" + +"Yes. In my trunk. Do you want to see it?" + +Joe did and said so. Helen got it for him and Joe compared it with the +one the man in the hospital had given him. His heart sank as he saw +that the names of the officers and directors were the same. The Circle +City Oil Syndicate was a failure. + +Joe's face must have reflected his emotions, for Helen asked him: + +"What's the matter? Is anything wrong?" + +"I am afraid I have bad news for you," Joe replied. + +"In what way? You're not going to----" + +"It's about your stock. I'm sorry to tell you that your oil stock is +worthless--part of your fortune is gone, Helen!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HELEN GOES + +Helen looked dazed for a few seconds. She stared at Joe as though she +did not understand what he had said. She looked at the oil stock +certificates in his hand. Joe continued to regard them dubiously. + +"Worthless--my investment worthless?" Helen asked, after a bit. + +"That's what I'm afraid of," Joe replied. "Of course I don't know much +about stocks, bonds and so on, but a man said this stock certificate +wasn't worth the price of a good cigar," and he held up the one the +hospital patient had given him. "Yours is the same kind, Helen, I'm +sorry to say." + +"How do you know, Joe? Let me see them." + +Joe gave her the two papers--elaborately printed, and lavishly enough +engraved to be government money, but aside from that worthless. + +Then Joe told of the incident in the hospital--how he had accidentally +heard the man speak of the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and the +conversation that followed. + +"If what he says is true, Helen, your money is gone," Joe finished. + +"Yes, I'm afraid so." she said slowly. "Oh, dear, isn't it too bad? +And I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could increase my +fortune. Now I am likely to lose it. I wish I had known more about +business. I'd never have let this man fool me." + +"I wish I had, too," remarked Joe. "Then I'd have advised you not to +risk your money in oil. But perhaps it isn't too late yet." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean we may be able to sell back this stock. Of course it would +hardly be right to sell it to an innocent person, who did not know of +its worthlessness, for then they would lose also. But I mean the +Syndicate might buy it back, rather than have it become known that the +concern was worthless. I don't know much about such things." + +"Neither do I," agreed Helen. "I'll tell you what let's do, Joe. +Let's ask Bill Watson. He use to be in business before he became a +clown, and he might tell us what to do." + +"A good idea," commented Joe. "We'll do it." + +The old clown was in the dressing room, but he came out when Helen and +Joe summoned him, half his face "made up," with streaks of red, white +and blue grease paint. + +"Oh, Bill, we're in such trouble!" cried Helen, + +"Trouble!" exclaimed Bill. The word seemed hardly to fit in with his +grotesque character. "What trouble?" + +"It's about my money," Helen went on. "I'm going to lose it all, Joe +thinks." + +"Oh, not all!" exclaimed the young trapeze performer quickly. "Only +what you invested in oil stock. Here's the story, Bill," and Joe +related his part of it, Helen supplying the information needed from her +end. + +"Now," went on Joe, as he concluded, "what we want to know is--can +Helen save any of this oil money?" + +Bill Watson was silent a moment. Then he slowly shook his head. + +"I'm afraid not," he answered. "Money invested in wild-cat oil wells +is seldom recovered. Of course you could bring a lawsuit against this +Sanford, but the chances are he's skipped out by this time." + +"Oh, no, he hasn't," Helen exclaimed. "I had a letter from him only +the other day. He asked me if I didn't want to buy some more stock. I +know where to find him." + +Once more the veteran clown shook his head. + +"He might allow you to find him if he thought you were bringing him +more cash for his worthless schemes," he said, "but if he found out you +wanted to serve papers on him in a suit, or to get hold of him to make +him give back the money he took from you, Helen, that would be a +different story. I'm afraid you wouldn't see much of Mr. Sanford then. +He'd be mighty scarce." + +"Could we sell back the stock to the oil company?" Joe wanted to know. + +"Hardly," answered the clown. "They make that stock to sell to the +public, and they never buy it back unless there's a chance for them to +make money. And, according to Joe's tale, there isn't in this case." + +"Not by what that man said," affirmed the young trapeze performer. + +"I suppose the only thing to do," went on the old clown, "would be to +give the case into the hands of a good lawyer, and let him see what he +could do with it. Turn over the stock to him, give him power to act +for you, Helen, and wait for what comes. You'll be traveling on with +the show, and you can't do much, nor Joe either, though I know he would +help you if he could, and so would I." + +"That's what!" exclaimed Joe heartily. + +"I'll do just as you say," agreed Helen. "But it does seem too bad to +lose my money, and I counted on doing so much with it. But it can't be +helped." + +She was more cheerful over it than Joe thought she would be. He +suspected that she had not altogether lost hope, but as for himself Joe +counted the money gone, and it was not a small sum to lose. + +"Come on, Helen," he said. "I noticed a lawyer's office on the main +street as I was looking at the parade. We'll go there and get him to +take the case. We'll be out of here to-night and we can leave matters +in his hands, with instructions to send us word when he has the money +back." + +"And I'm afraid you'll never get that word," said the old clown. + +There was time enough before the afternoon performance for Joe and +Helen to pay a visit to the law office. Joe also reported to Jim +Tracy, who was glad to see him. + +"I don't want you to get on the trapeze to-day," said the ring-master. +"Take a little light practice first for a few days. And do all you can +for her," he added in a low voice, motioning to Helen. + +"I sure will!" Joe exclaimed fervently. + +The lawyer listened to the story as Joe and Helen told it to him, and +agreed to take the case against Sanford and the Circle City Oil +Syndicate for a small fee. + +"I'll do the best I can," he said, "but I'm afraid I can't promise you +much in results. Let me have the papers and your future address." + +Joe put on his suit of tights for that afternoon, though he did not +take part in the trapeze work. He fancied that the Lascalla Brothers +were not very glad to see him, but this may have been fancy, for they +were cordial enough as far as words went. + +"Maybe they thought I would be laid up permanently," reasoned Joe. +"Then they could have their former partner back. I wonder if he's been +around lately?" + +He made some inquiries, but no one had noticed Sim Dobley hanging about +the lots as he had done shortly after his discharge. Nor had there +been, as Joe had a faint suspicion there might be, any connection +between the train wreck and the discharged employee. + +"I don't believe Sim would be so desperate as to wreck a train just to +get even with me," decided Joe. "I guess it was just a coincidence. +He only wrote that threatening letter as a bluff." + +Helen Morton did not allow her distress over the prospective loss of +her money to interfere with her circus act. She put Rosebud through +his paces in the ring, and received her share of applause at the antics +of the clever horse. Helen did a new little trick--the one she had +told Joe about. + +She tossed flags of different nations to different parts of the ring, +and then told Rosebud to fetch them to her, one after the other, +calling for them by name. + +The intelligent horse made no mistakes, bringing the right flag each +time. + +"And now," said Helen at the conclusion of her act, "show me what all +good little children do when they go to bed at night." + +Rosebud bent his forelegs and bowed his head between them as if he were +saying his prayers. + +"That's a good horse!" ejaculated Helen. "Now come and get your sugar +and give me a kiss," and the animal daintily picked up a lump of the +sweet stuff from Helen's hand, and then lightly touched her cheek with +his velvety muzzle. + +Then with a leap the pretty young rider vaulted into the saddle and +rode out of the ring amid applause. + +"You're doing beautifully, Helen!" was Joe's compliment, as Helen rode +out. + +"I may be all right on a horse," she answered, "but I don't know much +about money and business." + +The show moved on that night, and the next day, when the tent was set +up, Joe indulged in light practice. He found the soreness almost gone, +and as he worked alone, and with the Lascalla Brothers, his stiffness +also disappeared. + +"I think I'll go on to-night," he told the ring-master. + +"All right, Joe. We'll be glad to have you, of course. But don't take +any chances." + +Mail was distributed among the circus folk that day following the +afternoon performance. Joe had letters from some people to whom he had +written in regard to his mother's relatives in England. One gave him +the address of a London solicitor, as lawyers are designated over +there, and Joe determined to write to him. + +"Though I guess my chances of getting an inheritance are pretty slim," +he told Helen. "I'm not lucky, like you." + +"I hope you don't call me lucky!" she exclaimed. "Having money doesn't +do me any good. I lose it as fast as I get it." + +She had a letter from her lawyer, stating that he had looked further +into the case since she had left the papers with him, and that he had +less hope than ever of ever being able to get back the cash paid for +the oil stock. + +Joe did not intend to work in any new tricks the first evening of his +reappearance after the accident. But when he got started he felt so +well after his rest and his light practice, that he made up his mind he +would put on a couple of novelties. Not exactly novelties, either, for +they are known to most gymnasts though not often done in a circus. + +Joe went up to the top of the tent. Near the small platform, from +which he jumped in the long swing, to catch Tonzo Lascalla in the +trapeze, Joe had fastened a long cotton rope about two inches in +diameter. + +He caught hold of the rope in both hands and passed it between his +thighs, letting it rest on the calf of his left leg. He then brought +the rope around over the instep of his left foot, holding it in +position with pressure by the right foot, which was pressed against the +left. + +"Here I come!" Joe cried, and then, letting go with his hands, Joe +stretched out his arms, and came down the rope in that fashion, the +pressure of his feet on the rope that passed between them regulating +his speed. + +It was a more difficult feat than it appeared, this descending a rope +without using one's hands, but it seemed to thrill the crowd +sufficiently. + +But Joe had not finished. He knew another spectacular act in rope +work, which looked difficult and dangerous, and yet was easier to +perform than the one he had just done. Often in trapeze work this is +the case. + +The spectator may be thrilled by some seemingly dangerous and risky +act, when, as a matter of fact, it is easy for the performer, who +thinks little of it. On the other hand that which often seems from the +circus seats to be very easy may be so hard on the muscles and nerves +as to be actually dreaded by the performer. + +Having himself hauled up to the top of the tent again, Joe once more +took hold of the rope. He held himself in position, the rope between +his legs, which he thrust out at right angles to his body, his toes +pointing straight out. Suddenly he "circled back" to an inverted hang, +his head now pointing to the ground many feet below. Then he quickly +passed the rope about his waist, under his right armpit, crossed his +feet with the rope between them, the toes of the right foot pressing +the cotton strands against the arch of his left foot. + +"Ready!" cried Joe. + +There was a boom of the big drum, a ruffle of the snare, and Joe slid +down the rope head first with outstretched arms, coming to a sudden +stop with his head hardly an inch from the hard ground. But Joe knew +just what he was doing and he could regulate his descent to the +fraction of an inch by the pressure of his legs and feet on the rope. + +There was a yell of delight from the audience at this feat, and Joe, +turning right side up, acknowledged the ovation tendered him. Then he +ran from the tent--his part in the show being over. + +For a week the circus showed, moving from town to city. It was +approaching the end of the season. The show would soon go into winter +quarters, and the performers disperse until summer came again. + +Helen had heard nothing favorable from the lawyer, and she and Joe had +about given up hope of getting back the money. + +The circus had reached a good-sized city in the course of its travels, +and was to play there two days. On the afternoon of the first day, +just before the opening of the performance, Joe went to Helen's tent to +speak to her about something. + +"She isn't here," Mrs. Talfo, the fat lady, told him. "She's gone." + +"Gone!" echoed Joe. "Isn't she going to play this afternoon?" + +"I believe not--no." + +"But where did she go?" + +"You'll have to ask Jim Tracy. I saw her talking to him. She seemed +quite excited about something." + +"I wonder if anything could have happened," mused Joe. "They couldn't +have discharged her. That act's too good. But it looks funny. She +wouldn't have left of her own accord without saying good-bye. I wonder +what happened." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +JOE FOLLOWS + +Some little time elapsed before Joe found a chance to speak to Jim +Tracy. There had been a slight accident to one of the circus wagons in +unloading from the train for that day's show, and the ring-master was +kept very busy. One of the elephants was slightly hurt also. + +But finally the confusion was straightened out, and our hero had a +chance to ask the question that was troubling him. + +"What had become of Helen?" + +"Why, I don't know where she went," Jim Tracy said. "She came to me +almost as soon as we got in this morning, and wanted to know if she +could have the afternoon off." + +"Cut out her act?" Joe asked. + +"That's it. Of course I didn't want to lose her out of the show, but +as long as we're going to be here two days, and considering the fact +that she hadn't had a day off since the show started out this season, I +said she might go. And so she went--at least I suppose she did." + +"Yes, she's gone," Joe replied. "But where?" + +Jim Tracy did not know and said so. He was too busy to talk much more +about it. + +"She'll be back in time for the evening performance--that's all I +know," he told Joe. + +The young trapeze' performer sought out the old clown and told him what +had taken place. + +"Helen gone!" exclaimed Bill. "That's queer!" + +"I thought maybe you'd know about it, Bill." + +"Me? No, not a thing. She never said a word to me. Are you sure you +and she didn't have any--er--little tiff?" + +"Of course not!" and Joe blushed under his tan. "She didn't tell me +she was going." + +"Oh, well, she'll be back to-night, Jim says. I guess she's all right. +Now I've got to get busy." + +But Joe was not satisfied. It was not like Helen to go off in this +way, and he felt there was something strange about it. + +"I do hope she isn't going to try to make any more investments with her +money--that is with what she has left," he mused. "Maybe she heard of +some other kind of stock she can buy, and she thinks from the profits +of that she can make up for what she is sure to lose in the oil +investment. Poor Helen! It certainly is hard luck!" + +Joe thought so much of his new theory that he visited the circus +treasurer with whom Helen had left some of her money. + +"No, it's here in the safe--what she left with me," the treasurer said. +"Too bad about her losing that nice sum, wasn't it? It will take her +quite a while to save that much." + +"I wish I had hold of the law clerk who tricked her into buying the oil +stock," said Joe with energy. "I'd make him eat the certificates, and +then I'd--well, I don't know what I would do." + +"But you haven't got him," said the treasurer, "and I guess their kind +take good care to keep out of the way of those they've swindled." + +"I guess so," Joe agreed. + +There was nothing he could do at present, and he had soon to go on with +his act. But Joe Strong made up his mind if Helen were not back early +to make a thorough search for her. + +"That is if I can get any trace of her," he went on. "She may run into +danger without knowing it, for she hasn't had much experience in life, +even if she is a circus rider." + +Joe was himself again now. His muscles seemed to have benefited by the +rest, and the young trapeze performer went through all his old acts, +alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, and Joe also put on one or two +new things, or, rather, variations of old ones. + +In one part of his performance he balanced himself upon his neck and +shoulders on a trapeze high up in the top of the tent. He was almost +standing upon his head. While this is not difficult for a performer to +do when the trapeze is stationary it is not easy when the apparatus is +swinging. Joe was going to try that. + +A ring hand pulled on a light rope attached to the trapeze on which Joe +was thus balanced on his neck and set the bar and ropes in motion. +They moved slowly, and through only a short arc at first. But in a +little while Joe, in his perilous position, was executing a long swing. + +His feet were pressed against the ropes and his hands were on his hips. +He balanced his body instinctively in this posture. But this was not +all of the trick. + +When the trapeze was swinging as high as he wanted it, Joe suddenly +brought his legs together. For an instant he poised there on the bar, +supporting himself on his neck and shoulders, as straight as an arrow. + +Then, with a shout to warn those below, he fell over in a graceful +curve, and began a series of rapid somersaults in the air. + +Down he fell, the hushed attention of the big crowd being drawn to him. +Just before reaching the life net, Joe straightened out and fell into +the meshes feet first, bouncing out on a mat and from there bowing his +thanks for the applause. + +Thus Joe brought his act to a close for that afternoon, and he was glad +of it for he wanted to go out and see if Helen had returned. As soon +as he had changed to his street clothes he sought her tent. + +The women of the circus dressed together, each one in a sort of canvas +screened apartment, and in the Sampson Brothers' Show they also had a +sort of ante-room to the dressing tent, where they could receive their +friends. + +There was no one in this room when Joe entered, save some of the maids +which the higher-salaried circus women kept to help them dress, "make +up" and so on. + +"Is Miss Morton in?" asked Joe of a maid who knew him. + +"No, Mr. Strong. I don't believe she has returned yet. I'll go and +look in her room, though." The maid came back shaking her head. + +"She isn't there," she told Joe. + +"I wonder where she can be," he mused. "Why didn't she leave some +word? Are you sure there wasn't a letter or anything on her trunk?" he +inquired of the maid. + +"Well, I didn't look. You may go in if you like. I guess it will be +all right." + +None of the performers were in the dressing tent then, being out in the +big one doing their acts. Joe knew his way to Helen's room, having +been there many times, for there would often be little impromptu +gatherings in it to talk over circus matters between the acts. + +He looked about for a letter, thinking she might have left one for him +before going away. He saw nothing addressed to himself, but on the +ground, where it had evidently dropped, was an open note. Joe could +not help reading it at a glance. To his surprise it was signed by +Sanford, the tricky law clerk. + +"I shall be glad to see you if you will call on me when you reach +Lyledale," the letter read. "I am glad you think of buying more stock. +I have some to sell. I will be at the Globe Hotel." + +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "It's just as I feared. She's been doing +business with Sanford again--trying to make good her loss on the oil +stock. He has an appointment with her here in Lyledale. That's where +she's gone--to meet him. She must have sold some of her other +securities to get money to buy more stock. I must stop this. I've got +to follow her. Poor Helen!" + +Joe had found out what he wanted to know by accident. Helen, he +reasoned, must have received the letter that day, or perhaps the day +before, and had planned to meet Sanford on reaching Lyledale where the +circus was then playing. In order to do this she had to be excused +from the afternoon performance. + +"But I'll put a stop to that deal if I can," Joe declared. "I'll tell +her how foolish and risky it is to invest any more money with Sanford. +I only hope she'll believe me." + +Joe's time was his own until the night performance. He decided he +would at once follow Helen to the hotel and there remonstrate with her, +if it were not too late. + +"Queer that she kept it a secret from all of us," remarked Joe as he +started for town. "I guess she knew we'd try to stop her from throwing +good money after bad, as they say. Well, now to see what luck I'll +have." + +The Globe Hotel was the best and largest in town. Joe had no +difficulty in finding it, and on inquiring at the desk was told that +Mr. Sanford was a guest at the place. + +"He has two rooms," the clerk told Joe. "One he uses as an office, +where he does business." + +"Oh, then he's been here before?" Joe asked. + +"Oh, yes, often. I don't know what his business is, but I think, he is +a sort of stock and bond dealer." + +"More like a stock and bond swindler," thought Joe. + +"Mr. Sanford will see you in a few minutes," the bellboy reported to +Joe, having come back from taking up our hero's card. "There's a lady +in the office with him now." + +"A young lady?" Joe asked. + +"Yes," nodded the bellboy. + +"I'll go up now!" decided Joe. "I think he might just as well see me +now as later." + +"Maybe he won't like it," the clerk warned him. + +"I don't care whether he likes it or not!" cried Joe. "It may be too +late if I don't go up now. You needn't bother to announce me," he said +to the bell-boy who offered to accompany Joe to show the way. "I guess +I can find the room all right." + +Joe rode up in the elevator, and turned down the corridor leading to +the two rooms occupied by Sanford. Pausing at the door of the outer +room, Joe heard voices. He recognized one as Helen's. + +"She's there all right," mused Joe. "I hope I'm not too late!" + +He was about to enter when he heard Helen say: "Please give it back to +me. It isn't fair to take advantage of me this way." + +"You went into this with your eyes open," Sanford replied. "It was a +straight business deal, and I'm not to blame for the way it turned out. +Now this stock----" + +Joe waited no longer. He fairly burst into the room, crying: + +"Helen, don't waste any more money on his worthless investments!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE LAST PERFORMANCE + +It would have been difficult to say who was the more surprised by the +sudden entrance of Joe Strong--Helen or the law clerk. Both seemed +startled. + +Once more Joe cried: + +"Helen, don't throw away any more of your money on his stocks!" + +"How dare you come in here?" demanded Sanford. + +"Never mind about that," answered Joe coolly. "I know what I'm doing. +I'm not going to see you get any more of her money." + +"Oh, Joe. How did you know I was here?" asked Helen. "I didn't want +any one to know I came." + +"I found out. I feared this was what you'd do." + +"Do what, Joe?" + +"Buy more stock in the hope of making good your losses on the Circle +City investment." + +"But, Joe, I'm not doing that. I don't want to buy any more stock. +I've had too much as it is." + +"Then what in the world did you come here for?" cried Sanford. "You +intimated that you wanted more stock. That's why I met you here--to +sell it to you." + +"Yes, I thought that's what you'd think," replied Helen, and she seemed +less excited now than Joe Strong. "But what I came for was to sell you +back these worthless oil certificates. I want my money back." + +"Well, you won't get it!" sneered the law clerk. "You bought that +stock and now----" + +"Now she's going to sell it again," put in Joe. He seemed to +understand the situation now. + +"Helen," he went on, "I think it would be well if you left this matter +in my hands. If you'll just go downstairs and to the nearest police +station and ask an officer to step around here, I think we can find +something for him to do." + +"Police!" faltered Sanford. + +"Oh, well, perhaps we won't need one," said Joe coolly, "but it's +always best, in matters of this kind, to have one on hand. It doesn't +cost anything. Just get an officer, Helen, and wait downstairs with +him. I'll have a little talk with Sanford." + +"Oh, Joe! I--I----!" + +"Now, Helen, you just leave this to me. Run along." + +Joe Strong seemed to dominate the situation. He displayed splendid +nerve. + +Helen went slowly from the room. + +"The clerk will tell you where to find a policeman," Joe called to her. +"You needn't tell him why one is needed. It may be that we shall get +along without one, and there's no need of causing any excitement unless +we have to." + +"Joe--Joe," faltered Helen. "You will be careful--won't you?" + +"Well," and Joe smiled quizzically, "I'll be as careful as he'll let +me," and he nodded toward the law clerk. + +"What do you mean?" demanded Sanford, uneasily. + +"You'll see in a few minutes," said Joe calmly. + +When Helen went out Joe, with a quick movement, closed and locked the +hall door. + +"What's that for?" cried Sanford. + +"So you won't get out before I'm through with you." + +The law clerk made a rush for Joe, endeavoring to push him to one side. +But muscles trained on a typewriter or with a pen are no match for +those used on the flying rings and trapeze. + +With a single motion of his hand Joe thrust the clerk aside, fairly +forcing him into a chair. + +"Now then," said Joe calmly, "you and I will have a little talk. You +needn't try to yell. If you do I'll stuff a bedspread in your mouth. +And if you want to try conclusions with me physically--well, here you +are!" + +With a quick motion Joe caught the fellow up, and raised him high in +the air, over his head. + +"Oh--oh! Put me down! Put me down!" Sanford begged. "I--I'll fall!" + +"You won't fall as long as I have hold of you," chuckled Joe. "But +there's no telling when I might let go. Now let's talk business." + +Trembling, Sanford found himself in the chair again. + +"Did you sell Miss Morton any more stock?" demanded Joe. + +"No--I--she--came here to buy, I thought, but----" + +"Well, as long as she didn't it's all right. Now then about that oil +stock you got her to invest her money in--is that stock good?" + +"Why, of course it----" + +"Isn't!" interrupted Joe, "and you knew it wasn't when you sold it to +her. Now then I want you to take that stock back and return her money. +And I don't want you to sell that stock to some other person, either. +You just tear it up. It's worthless, and you know it. I want Miss +Morton's money back for her." + +"I haven't it!" whined the clerk. + +"Then you know where to get it. I fancy if I tell Mr. Pike, of your +law firm, what you've been up to----" + +"Oh, don't tell him! Don't tell him!" whined the clerk. "He doesn't +know anything about it. I--I just did this as a side line. If you +tell him I'll lose my position and----" + +"Well, I'll tell him all right, if you don't give back Miss Morton's +money!" said Joe grimly. + +"I tell you I haven't the cash." + +"Then you must get it. You've been doing business here before, the +hotel clerk tells me. Come now--hand over the cash--get it--and I'll +let you go, though perhaps I shouldn't. If you don't pay up--well, the +officer ought to be downstairs waiting for you now. Come!" cried Joe +sharply. "Which is it to be--the money or jail?" + +Sanford looked around like a cornered rat seeking a means of escape. +There was none. Joe, big and powerful, stood between him and the door. + +"Well?" asked Joe significantly. + +"I--I'll pay her back the money," faltered Sanford. "But I'll have to +go out to get it." + +"Oh, no, you won't," said Joe cheerfully. "If you went out you might +forget to come back. Here's a telephone--just use that." + +Sanford sighed. His last chance was gone. + +Just what or to whom he telephoned does not concern us. But in the +course of an hour or so a messenger called with money enough to make +good all Helen had risked in oil stock. The cash was handed to her. + +"Here, you keep it for me, Joe," she said. "I don't seem to know how +to manage my fortune." + +"What about those stock certificates?" asked Sanford. "I want them +back." + +"They are worthless, by your own confession," replied Joe, "and you're +not going to fool some one else on them. "We'll just keep them for +souvenirs, eh, Helen?" + +"Just as you say, Joe," she answered with a blush. + +Sanford blustered, but to no purpose. He was beaten at his own game, +and the fear of exposure and arrest brought him to terms. + +"But you shouldn't have gone to him alone, Helen," remonstrated Joe, +when they were on their way back to the circus with the recovered cash. + +"Well, I'd been so foolish as to lose my money, that I wanted to see if +I couldn't get it back again," she said. "I didn't want any of you to +help me, as I'd already given trouble enough." + +"Trouble!" cried Joe. "We would have been only too glad to help you." + +"Well, you did it in spite of me," Helen said, with a smile. "I did +not intend you should know where I had gone. How did you find out?" + +"I saw a letter you dropped in the tent, and I followed. But how did +you happen to locate Sanford?" + +"By adopting just what Bill Watson said was the only plan. I made +believe I wanted to buy more stock. Bill said that was the only way to +catch Sanford. If I had tried to find him to get my money back he +would have kept out of my way. But when he thought I might have more +cash for him, he wrote and told me where I could find him. So I just +waited until our show came here and then I called on Mr. Sanford. + +"I was just begging him to give me back the money for the oil stock +when you came in on us, Joe." + +"Well, I'm glad I did." + +"So am I. I hardly think he'd have paid me if it had not been for you. +How did you make him settle?" + +"Oh, I just sort of 'held him up' for it," but Joe did not explain the +way he had actually "held up" the swindler. + +"I'm so glad to get my money back!" Helen sighed as they reached the +circus grounds, over which dusk was settling, for it was now early fall. + +"And I'm glad, too," added Joe. "Then next time you buy oil stock----" + +"There'll not be any next time," laughed Helen, as she went to give +Rosebud his customary lumps of sugar. + +And that night, in the Sampson Brother's Show, there was an impromptu +little celebration over the recovery of Helen's money. + +Later Joe learned that Sanford gave up his place in the law office. +Perhaps the swindler was afraid Mr. Pike would find out about his +underhand transactions. Sanford, it seemed, had done some law business +for the oil company, and they let him sell some of the worthless stock +for himself, allowing him to keep the money--that is what Joe did not +make him pay back. + +It was the night of the final performance. The performers went through +their acts with new snap and daring, for it was the last time some of +them would face the public until the following season. A few would +secure engagements for the winter in theatres, but most of them would +winter with the circus. + +When the tents came down this time they would be shipped to Bridgeport, +where many shows go into winter quarters. + +"Well, Joe," remarked Helen, as she came out of the ring just as Joe +finished his last thrilling feat, "what are you going to do? Will you +be with us next season?" + +"I don't know. I've had several offers to go with hippodrome +exhibitions, and on a theatrical circuit." + +"Oh, then you are going to leave us?" + +Joe looked at Helen. There seemed to be a new light in her eyes. And +though she was smiling, there was something of disappointment showing +on her face. With parted lips she gazed at Joe. + +"I thought perhaps you would stay," she murmured, her eyes downcast. + +"I--I guess I will!" said Joe in a low voice. "This is a pretty good +circus after all." + +And so Joe stayed. And what he did in the show will be related in the +next volume of this series, to be called: "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish; +Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank." + +The chariots rattled their final dusty way around the big tent. The +"barkers" came in to sell tickets for the "grand concert." The animal +tent was already down for the last time that season. With the ending +of the concert the bugler blew "taps." The torches went out. + +"Good night, Joe," said Helen. + +"Good night, Helen," he answered, and as they clasped hands in the +darkness we will say good-bye to Joe Strong. + + + + +The End + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Joe Strong on the Trapeze, by Vance Barnum + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + +***** This file should be named 28642-8.txt or 28642-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/4/28642/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Joe Strong on the Trapeze + or The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer + +Author: Vance Barnum + +Release Date: April 30, 2009 [EBook #28642] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="363" HEIGHT="591"> +<H4> +Cover art +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +JOE STRONG +<BR> +ON THE TRAPEZE +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OR +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +<I>THE DARING FEATS OF A YOUNG +<BR> +CIRCUS PERFORMER</I> +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +VANCE BARNUM +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Author of "Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard," "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish,"<BR> +"Joe Strong on the High Wire," etc. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. +<BR> +RACINE, WISCONSIN +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BOOKS FOR BOYS +<BR> +BY +<BR> +VANCE BARNUM +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE JOE STRONG SERIES +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD +<I>Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE +<I>Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH +<I>Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE +<I>Or, Motor-Cycle Perils of the Air</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL +<I>Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG—HIS BOX OF MYSTERY +<I>Or, The Ten Thousand Dollar Prize Trick</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FIRE EATER +<I>Or, The Most Dangerous Performance on Record</I><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +COPYRIGHT, 1916 +<BR> +GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY +</H5> + +<BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Printed by +<BR> +WESTERN PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO. +<BR> +Racine, Wisconsin +<BR> +Printed in U. S. A. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">THE FIRE TRICK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">ANOTHER OFFER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">A CHANCE ENCOUNTER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">OFF TO THE CIRCUS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">JOE MAKES A HIT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">JOE TURNS A TRICK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">HELEN'S LETTER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">BILL WATSON'S IDEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">IN THE TANK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">HELEN'S DISCOVERY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">JUST IN TIME</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">A BAD BLOW</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">HELEN'S INHERITANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">A WARNING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">THE STRIKE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">IN BEDFORD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">HELEN'S MONEY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">JOE IS SUSPICIOUS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">A FALL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">JOE HEARS SOMETHING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">BAD NEWS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">HELEN GOES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">JOE FOLLOWS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">THE LAST PERFORMANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE FIRE TRICK +</H4> + +<P> +"Better put on your pigeon-omelet trick now, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. That ought to go well. And you are getting ready for——" +</P> + +<P> +"The fire trick," interrupted Professor Alonzo Rosello, as he and his +young assistant, Joe Strong, stood bowing and smiling in response to +the applause of the crowd that had gathered in the theatre to witness +the feats of "Black Art, Magic, Illusion, Legerdemain, Prestidigitation +and Allied Sciences." That was what the program called it, anyhow. +</P> + +<P> +"The fire trick!" repeated Joe. "Do you think it will work all right +now?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think it will. I've had the apparatus overhauled, and you know we +can depend on the electric current here. It isn't likely to fail just +at the wrong moment." +</P> + +<P> +"No, that's so, still——" +</P> + +<P> +Again Joe had to bow, as did Professor Rosello, for the applause +continued. They were both sharing it, for both had taken part in a +novel trick, and it had been successfully performed. +</P> + +<P> +Joe had taken his place in a chair on the stage, and, after having been +covered by a black cloth by the professor, had, when the cloth was +removed a moment later, totally disappeared. Then he was seen walking +down the aisle of the theatre, coming in from the lobby. +</P> + +<P> +There was much wonder as to how the trick was it done, especially since +the chair had been placed over a sheet of paper on the stage, and, +before and after the trick, the professor had exhibited the sheet—the +front page of a local paper—apparently unbroken. (This trick is +explained in detail in the first volume of this series, entitled, "Joe +Strong, the Boy Wizard.") +</P> + +<P> +"The audience seems to be in good humor to-night," observed the +professor to Joe, as they bowed again. The two could carry on a +low-voiced conversation while "taking" their applause. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm glad to see them that way," answered the youth. "It's not +much fun playing to a frosty house." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not! Well, Joe, get ready for your pigeon-omelet trick, +and I'll prepare the fire apparatus." +</P> + +<P> +The professor, with a final bow, made an exit to one side of the stage, +which was fitted up with Oriental splendor. As he went off, and as Joe +Strong picked up some apparatus from a table near him, a disturbed look +came over the face of the boy wizard. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like that fire trick," he mused. "It's altogether too +uncertain. It's spectacular, and all that, and when it works right it +makes a big hit, but I don't like it. Well, I suppose he'll do it, +anyhow—or try to. I'll be on the lookout though. If the current +fails, as it did last time——" Joe shrugged his shoulders, and went +on with his trick. +</P> + +<P> +Since he had become associated with Professor Rosello, Joe had adopted +the philosophic frame of mind that characterizes many public +performers, especially those who risk bodily injury in thrilling the +public. That is, he was willing to take the chance of accident rather +than disappoint an audience. "The show must go on," was the motto, no +matter how the performer suffered. The public does not often realize +its own cruelty in insisting on being amused or thrilled. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'll have to keep my eyes open," thought Joe. "After all, +though, maybe nothing will happen. And yet I have a feeling as if +something would. It's foolish, I know,, but——" +</P> + +<P> +Again Joe shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing he could do to +avoid it, as far as he could see. Joe was beginning to acquire the +superstition shared by many theatrical persons. +</P> + +<P> +The theatre, filled with persons who had paid good prices to see +Professor Rosello's performance was hushed and still now, as Joe, his +preparations complete, advanced to the edge of the stage. He was +smiling and confident, for he was about to perform a trick he had done +many times, and always with success. For the time being he dismissed +from his mind the risk Professor Rosello would run in doing the "fire +trick," for which the chief performer was even then preparing. +</P> + +<P> +"Persons in the audience," began Joe, smilingly addressing the house, +"often wonder how we actors and professional people eat. It is +proverbial, you know, that actors are always hungry. Now I am going to +show you that it is easier for us to get food than it is for other folk. +</P> + +<P> +"For instance: If I were to be shipwrecked on a desert island I could +reach out into the seemingly empty air, and pick money off invisible +tree branches—like this." +</P> + +<P> +Joe stretched up his hand, which seemed to contain nothing, and in an +instant there appeared between his thumb and finger a bright gold coin. +</P> + +<P> +"So much for a start!" he exclaimed with laugh. "We'll drop that on +this plate, and get more." There was a ringing sound as the coin +dropped on the plate, and Joe, reaching up in the air, seemed to gather +another gold piece out of space. This, too, fell with a clink on the +plate. And then in rapid succession Joe pulled in other coins until he +had a plateful. +</P> + +<P> +Probably it has been guessed how that trick was done. Joe held one +coin in his hand, palmed so that it was not visible. A movement of his +well-trained muscles sent it up between his thumb and finger. Then he +seemed to lay it on a plate. But the plate was a trick one, with a +false bottom, concealed under which was a store of coins. A pressure +on a hidden spring sent one coin at a time out through a slot, and it +seemed as if Joe deposited them on the receptacle as he gathered them +from the air. +</P> + +<P> +"But we must remember," Joe went on, as he laid the plate of coins down +on a table, "that I am on a desert island. Consequently all the money +in the world would be of no use. It would not buy a ham sandwich or a +fresh egg. Why not, then, gather eggs from the air instead of coins? +A good idea. One can eat eggs. So I will gather a few." +</P> + +<P> +Joe stretched his hand up over his head, made a grab at a seemingly +floating egg and, capturing it, laid it on the table. In like manner +he proceeded until he had three. +</P> + +<P> +This trick was worked in the same way as was the coin one, Joe holding +but one egg, cleverly palmed, in his hand, the others popping up from a +secret recess in the table. But the audience was mystified. +</P> + +<P> +"Now some persons like their eggs raw, while others prefer them +cooked," resumed Joe. "I, myself, prefer mine in omelet form, so I +will cook my eggs. I have here a saucepan that will do excellently for +holding my omelet. I will break the eggs into it, add a little water, +and stir them up." +</P> + +<P> +Joe suited the action to the words. He cracked the three eggs, one +after another, holding them high in the air to let the audience see the +whites and yolks drip into the shining, nickel pan. +</P> + +<P> +"But a proper omelet must be cooked," Joe said. "Where shall we get +fire on a desert island, particularly as all our matches were made wet +when we swam ashore? Ah, I have it! I'll just turn this bunch of +flowers into flame." +</P> + +<P> +He took up what seemed to be a spray of small roses and laid it under +the saucepan. Pointing his wand at the flowers Joe exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Fire!" +</P> + +<P> +Instantly there was a burst of flame, the flowers disappeared, and +flickering lights shot up under the saucepan. +</P> + +<P> +"Now the omelet is cooking," said Joe, as he clapped on a cover. "We +shall presently dine. You see how easy it is for actors and magicians +to eat, even on a desert island. I think my omelet must be cooked now." +</P> + +<P> +He took the cover off the saucepan and, on the instant, out flew two +white pigeons, which, after circling about the theatre, returned to +perch on Joe's shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +There was loud applause at this trick. +</P> + +<P> +The boy wizard bowed and smiled as he acknowledged the tribute to his +powers, and then hurried off the stage with the pigeons on his +shoulders. He did not stop to explain how he had chosen to make the +omelet change into pigeons, the surprise at the unexpected ending of +the illusion being enough for the audience. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, one realizes there must have been some trick about it all, +and there was—several in fact. The eggs Joe seemed to pick out of the +air were real eggs, and he really broke them into the saucepan. But +the saucepan was made with two compartments. Into one went the eggs, +while in another, huddled into a small space where there were air holes +through which they might breathe, were two trained pigeons, which Joe +had taught, not without some difficulty, to fly to his shoulders when +released. +</P> + +<P> +After he had put the cover on the saucepan Joe caused the fire to +appear. The flowers were artificial ones, made of paper soaked in an +inflammable composition, and then allowed to dry. As Joe pointed his +wand at them an assistant behind the scenes pressed an electric button, +which shot a train of sparks against the prepared paper. It caught +fire, the flowers were burned, and ignited the wick of an alcohol lamp +that was under the saucepan. +</P> + +<P> +Then, before the pigeons had time to feel the heat, Joe took off the +cover, opening the secret chamber and the birds flew out. +</P> + +<P> +Easy, indeed, when you know how! +</P> + +<P> +Joe walked off the stage, to give place to Professor Rosello, who was +going next to give his "fire trick." This was an effective illusion, +and was worked as follows: +</P> + +<P> +Professor Rosello came out on the stage attired in a flowing silk robe +of Japanese design. His helpers wheeled out a long narrow box, which +was stood upright. +</P> + +<P> +The professor, after some "patter," or stage talk, announced that he +would take his place in the small box, or cabinet, which would then be +lifted free from the stage to show that it was not connected with +hidden wires. As soon as the cabinet was set down again, the house +would be plunged in darkness, and inside the cabinet would be seen a +bony skeleton, outlined in fire, the professor having disappeared. +This would last for several seconds, and then the illuminated skeleton +would disappear and the magician again be seen in the box. +</P> + +<P> +"And in order to show you that I do not actually leave the box while +the trick is in progress except in spirit," the professor went on to +state, "I will suffer myself to be tied in with ropes, a committee from +the audience being invited to make the knots." +</P> + +<P> +He took his place in the upright cabinet, and three men volunteered to +tie him in with ropes which were fastened at the back of the box, two +ends being left free. +</P> + +<P> +The cabinet containing the professor was lifted up, and set down on the +stage again. Then the ropes were tied, Joe supervising this. +</P> + +<P> +"Tie any kind of knot you like, gentlemen," Joe urged, "only make them +so you can quickly loosen them again, as the professor is very much +exhausted after this illusion." This, of course, was merely stage talk +for effect. +</P> + +<P> +Finally the knots were tied, the committee retired, and Joe, taking his +place near the imprisoned performer, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready?" +</P> + +<P> +He looked keenly at the professor as he asked this. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right Joe—I guess it's going to work properly," was the +low-voiced response. Then aloud Professor Rosello replied: +</P> + +<P> +"I am ready!" +</P> + +<P> +"Light out!" called Joe sharply. This was a signal for the stage +electrician to plunge the house into darkness. It was done at once. +</P> + +<P> +Then, to the no small terror of some in the audience, there appeared in +the upright cabinet the figure of a grinning skeleton, outlined in +flickering flames. It was startling, and there was a moment of silence +before thunderous applause broke out at the effectiveness of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +The clapping was at its height when Joe, who always stood near the +cabinet when this trick was being done, heard the agonized voice of the +professor calling to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Joe! Joe! Something has gone wrong! There must be a short circuit! +I'm on fire! Joe, I'm being burned! Help me!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY +</H4> + +<P> +Joe Strong was in a quandary. He did not quite know what to do. To +give an alarm—to let the audience know something had gone wrong with +the trick—that the professor was in danger of being burned to +death—to even utter the word "Fire!" might cause a terrible panic, +even though the heavy asbestos curtain were rung down on the instant. +</P> + +<P> +On the contrary, Joe could not stand idly by without doing something to +save his friend, Professor Rosello, from the great danger. The +applause kept up, none in the audience suspecting anything wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick, Joe!" whispered the performer. "The current is burning me. I +can't stand it any longer." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll save you!" hoarsely answered the young magician; and then, on the +darkened stage, he lifted the cabinet, performer and all to one side. +</P> + +<P> +This was not an easy feat to do. The professor was no light weight, +and the cabinet itself was heavy. But Joe was a powerful youth, and by +raising the cabinet on his back, much as a porter carries a heavy +trunk, he shifted it to one side. This took it away from the hidden +electrical connections sunk in the floor of the stage, and the +flickering, playing, shimmering electric lights went out. +</P> + +<P> +The stage, the whole house, was in dense darkness. There was a sudden +silence which might precede a panic of fear. Joe's work was not yet +done. What could he do to reassure the audience and, at the same time, +to bring the illusion to a satisfactory conclusion? +</P> + +<P> +While he is quickly debating this in his mind, I will take just a +moment to tell my new readers something of Joe Strong, and how he came +to be following the calling of a stage magician. +</P> + +<P> +In the first volume of this series, entitled "Joe Strong, the Boy +Wizard; Or, The Secrets of Magic Exposed," Joe was introduced as a +youth of about seventeen years, living in the country town of Bedford. +He was talking one day with some of his chums, and explaining to them +how this same Professor Rosello had done a trick in the local theatre +the night before, when suddenly there came a fire-alarm from a +fireworks factory near by. +</P> + +<P> +Some powder exploded and Joe managed to save the professor, whose real +name was Peter Crabb, from severe injury, if not from death. In doing +this Joe spoiled his suit of clothes, and on returning home his +foster-father, Deacon Amos Blackford threatened to punish him. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was an orphan. His mother, Mrs. Jane Strong, had been a famous +circus bareback rider, known to the public as Madame Hortense. Joe's +father was Alexander Strong, or, to give him his stage name, Professor +Morretti. He had been a magician, even better than Professor Rosello. +Both Joe's parents had died when he was a small boy. +</P> + +<P> +For a time the boy was cared for by his mother's circus friends, but +finally Joe was adopted by the Blackfords. His life with them was not +a happy one, and the climax came when the deacon punished Joe for +spoiling his suit in rescuing Professor Rosello. +</P> + +<P> +In the night, Joe ran away. He decided to appeal to the magician who +had gone on to another town to give a show. Joe had a half-formed plan +in mind. The boy was of great strength, and fearless. When a mere +child he had attempted circus feats, and now he was an expert on the +trapeze and flying rings, while he had also made a study of "magic," +and could perform many tricks. Joe was absolutely fearless, and one of +his delights was to execute daring acts at great heights in the air. +When a boy he climbed up the village church steeple. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, taking matters into his own hands, Joe ran away and joined +Professor Rosello, who hired him as an assistant. Joe had a natural +aptitude for tricks of magic and was a great help to the professor. He +even invented some tricks of his own. So Joe and Professor Rosello +toured the country, making a fairly good living. +</P> + +<P> +The night Joe ran away Deacon Blackford was robbed in a strange manner, +and, for a time, suspicion was thrown on Joe, a warrant being issued +for his arrest. Among the other adventures which Joe had was a meeting +with the ring-master of Sampson Brothers' Colossal Circus. Joe had +done a favor for Benny Turton, the "human fish," and Benny made it +possible for Joe to try some tricks on the circus trapezes. As a +result Jim Tracy, the ring-master and one of the owners of the show, +made Joe an offer to join the circus. Joe would have liked this, as he +had taken quite a fancy for Helen Morton—billed as Mademoiselle +Mortonti—a fancy rider on her trick horse, Rosebud. But Joe thought +it best to remain with Professor Rosello for a time. +</P> + +<P> +The circus went on its way, and Joe and the professor went on theirs. +Joe progressed in his chosen work, and he and Mr. Crabb found +themselves becoming well-known performers. On the road Joe met several +persons who had seen his father's feats of magic, and the youth learned +of the great respect in which his parent had been held by the members +of the "profession." +</P> + +<P> +"And I suppose," Professor Rosello had said, "if you could meet some +circus folks they would remember your mother, even if Jim Tracy did not +know her." +</P> + +<P> +So Joe had became a traveling magician. And it is in that capacity +that the readers of this volume first meet him. +</P> + +<P> +But, as Joe stood there on the darkened stage, realizing the great +danger to which his friend was subjected, and wondering what he could +do to relieve him and not have the trick a failure, he, for an instant, +wished he had chosen some other calling. It was a great responsibility +for a young fellow, for now the fate of the whole remaining performance +was in Joe's hands. There was much yet to be done, and it was not to +be thought that, after being burned, as he said he was, the professor +could go on. +</P> + +<P> +There was uneasiness now among the stage hands. The electrician from +the wings was cautiously whispering to Joe to let him know what to do. +As yet the audience had not realized anything was wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you badly hurt?" Joe asked the professor in a whisper, standing +near the now dark cabinet. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm burned on my back, yes. I'm glad you shut off the current when +you did, or I'd have been killed." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't shut off the current," Joe answered. "I just pulled the +connecting legs of the cabinet out of the sockets in the stage floor." +</P> + +<P> +"That was just as good. The current's off. But something has to be +done." +</P> + +<P> +"What went wrong?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"One of the wire connections in here. I can feel it now with my +fingers. A wire has broken. If I could twist it together——" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do it," volunteered Joe. He had to work the dark, as a glimmer +of light would show that the cabinet had been moved, and the audience +would suspect that something was wrong. But Joe knew every inch of the +cabinet, for he and the professor had worked this trick out between +them. In an instant he had twisted the wire ends together, pushing +them to one side so they would not come in contact with the professor's +body, for the ends were not now insulated. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right," Joe whispered. "Can you manage to finish the trick +if I put the cabinet back the connections?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think so. Go ahead." +</P> + +<P> +Joe called to the leader of the orchestra: +</P> + +<P> +"Louder!" +</P> + +<P> +The musicians had been softly playing some "shivery" music. At once +they struck into a blare of sound. This would cover any noise Joe +might make in putting the cabinet back in place, so that the two metal +legs would rest in the electric sockets in the stage, which contained +the conductors that supplied the electric current needed. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment Joe lifted the cabinet, Professor Rosello and all, +back to where it had stood at first. Again there was the grinning, +glowing skeleton showing. The applause was renewed, and then the glow +died out, and as the house lights flashed up there stood the professor +in the cabinet, as at first, in his flowing silk robe. +</P> + +<P> +Close observers might have noticed that he was quite pale, and he had +to grit his teeth to keep back a moan of pain from the burns he had +received. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, gentlemen," said Joe to the committee, which had stepped down off +the stage, "if you will kindly examine the knots, and loosen them, I +shall be obliged to you. Quickly, if you please, as this act is very +trying on the professor." +</P> + +<P> +Joe wanted to get his friend back of the scenes as soon as he could, to +have his burns dressed. +</P> + +<P> +"Are the knots just as you tied them?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The men admitted they were. +</P> + +<P> +"Proving conclusively," the young wizard went on, "that the professor +did not leave the cabinet to produce the effect you have just +witnessed." +</P> + +<P> +The professor bowed to the applause as he stepped out of the cabinet, +which was at once taken away by assistants. Then Joe walked back of +the scenes with his friend, a pantomimist engaging the attention of the +audience while the next part of the program was being prepared. +</P> + +<P> +But could the show go on with the professor disabled? That was what +Joe wondered. He felt, more than ever, the weight of responsibility on +his shoulders. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +ANOTHER OFFER +</H4> + +<P> +Professor Rosello sank into a chair when he reached his dressing room. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick! Get a doctor!" called Joe to one of the two helpers who +traveled with them. "Bring him in through the stage door! Don't let +it be known out in front." +</P> + +<P> +One of the stage hands gave the helper the address of the nearest +physician, and, fortunately, he was in his office. The doctor came at +once and put a soothing ointment on the burns of the professor's back, +where the electric sparks had penetrated his clothing. +</P> + +<P> +"That's better," remarked the magician with a sigh of relief. "I guess +we'll have to ring down the curtain, Joe. I can't go on." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll finish the show," declared the boy wizard. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you do it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not as well as you, of course. But I think I can keep them +interested, so they will feel they have had their money's worth. I'll +carry on the show. I can vary my egg and watch tricks a bit, and I'll +do that wine and water one, bringing the live guinea pig out of the +bottle." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Joe, if you think you can. I'm not equal to any more. I +think I'd better go to the hotel." +</P> + +<P> +"I think so too, Professor. Now don't worry. I'll carry on the show +as best I can." +</P> + +<P> +"And I think you can do it well, Joe. I'm proud of you. If it hadn't +been for you stopping the electric current when you did I would be dead +now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hardly think it was as bad as that." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes it was. One of those wires broke. After this I'll examine every +connection a minute before I go into the cabinet. You saved my +life—this is the second time. Once at the fireworks factory, and +again to-night. I'll be so deeply in your debt, Joe, that I can never +pay you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry about that," laughed the boy wizard, now much relieved +in mind. With the professor safe he could go out on the stage with a +light heart and an easy mind. He was used to facing the public, but +this meant that he would have to do more tricks than usual, and some +that were particularly the professor's own, though Joe knew how they +were worked. +</P> + +<P> +When the physician had relieved the sufferer, Joe called a carriage and +sent the magician to the hotel where they were staying. Then the +pantomimist having finished, Joe prepared to go on with some illusions. +And right here, while Joe is making his preparations, a description of +the "fire trick" can be given. +</P> + +<P> +The cabinet was, of course, a trick one. That is, it was provided with +hidden electric contrivances so that when the professor stepped into +it, by merely pressing a button he could have a shower of sparks shot +out all around him. As he was insulated, these sparks could not injure +him. +</P> + +<P> +On the heavy silk robe he wore there had been painted the grinning +skeleton. It was painted with a secret chemical paint, and when +subjected to a flow of electricity the bones and skull showed outlined +in fire. The professor, keeping well back toward the rear of the +cabinet, was invisible. +</P> + +<P> +Tying the ropes about him was not necessary as he did not leave the +cabinet anyhow, but it added to the effectiveness of the illusion. But +on this evening, after the electric wire broke causing a short circuit, +the tying of the ropes was well-nigh fatal, for the professor could not +move in order to escape, and had to stay while the current burned him. +Luckily, however, Joe acted in time. +</P> + +<P> +As has been intimated, the two front legs of the cabinet were really +the positive and negative termini for the wires that were inside the +box. These legs stood in two sockets in the floor of the stage, and to +them ran the wires from the theatre's circuit. When the helpers lifted +the cabinet up, to show, ostensibly, that it had no connection with the +floor, they put the legs down in the hidden sockets. Thus the +connections were made. As can be seen, Joe had but to lift the cabinet +away to break the connection. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the accident, the trick had ended satisfactorily, thanks to +the quick work of Joe Strong. His strength, too, played not a little +part in this, for ordinarily the cabinet required two men to shift it. +But Joe had a knack of using his powerful muscles to the best +advantage, and it was this, with his most marvelous nerve, that enabled +him to do so many sensational things, about which this and future +volumes concerning our hero will tell. +</P> + +<P> +The professor having been sent to his hotel to rest, and the +pantomimist having finished his act, Joe went out on the stage to +continue the performance. He made no reference to the non-appearance +of the chief performer, letting it be taken for granted that Professor +Rosello had finished his part in the entertainment. +</P> + +<P> +"I would now like to borrow a gold gentleman's watch," began Joe; this +misplacement of words never failing to bring out a laugh. He then +proceeded to perform the trick of apparently smashing a borrowed watch, +firing the fragments from a pistol at a potted plant, and causing the +reunited watch to appear among the roots of the pulled-up flower. +</P> + +<P> +As this trick has been described in detail in the first volume of this +series, exposing just how it is done, the description will not be +repeated here. In that book will also be found the details of how Joe +made an ordinary egg float or sink in a jar of water, at his pleasure. +(This is a trick one can easily do at home without apparatus.) Joe did +that trick now, and also the one of lighting a candle, causing it to go +out and relight itself again while he stood at one side of the stage, +merely pointing his wand at the flickering flame. (See the first +volume.) +</P> + +<P> +Joe now essayed another trick. He brought out a bottle, apparently +empty, and said that it was a magical flask. +</P> + +<P> +"From this I am able to pour three kinds of drinks," he stated. "Some +persons like water, others prefer milk, while nothing but grape juice +will satisfy some. Now will you kindly state which drink you like?" +and he pointed to a man in the front row. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll have grape juice," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," returned Joe. "Here you are!" He tilted the bottle, and +a stream of purple grape juice ran from the flask into a goblet. Joe +handed it to the man. +</P> + +<P> +"It's perfectly good grape juice," Joe said, smilingly. "You need not +be afraid to sample it." The man did so, after a moment's hesitation. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it all right?" Joe asked. "Just tell the audience." +</P> + +<P> +"It's good," the man testified. +</P> + +<P> +"Take it all. I have other drinks in the bottle," Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +"Save me some!" cried a boy up in the gallery, as the man drained the +glass of grape juice. +</P> + +<P> +"Now who'll have milk?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I will," called a boy in the second row. Without moving from where he +stood Joe picked up a glass, and, from the same bottle, poured out a +drink of milk which he passed to the boy, who took it wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it the real stuff?" asked Joe, smiling at the lad. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what it is!" was the quick answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Drink it then. And now for water. Here we are!" And from the same +bottle, out of which the audience had seen milk and grape juice come, +Joe poured sparkling water and passed it to a lady in the audience. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! What's this? There appears to be something else in the +bottle!" exclaimed Joe, apparently surprised, as he held the flask up +to his ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'll let you out—right away," he said aloud. "There must be +some mistake," he went on, "there is an animal in this bottle. I'll +have to break it open to get it out." +</P> + +<P> +He went quickly back on the stage with the bottle, took up a hammer, +and holding the flask over a table gently cracked the glass. In an +instant he held up a little guinea pig. +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment's pause, and then the applause broke out at the +effectiveness of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +How was it done? +</P> + +<P> +A trick bottle, you say at once. That is right. The bottle was made +with three compartments. One held milk, another grape juice and the +third water. Joe could pour them out in any order he wished, there +being controlling valves in the bottom of the bottle. +</P> + +<P> +But how did the guinea pig get inside? +</P> + +<P> +It was another bottle. The bottom of this one had been cut off, and, +after the guinea pig had been put inside, the bottom was cemented on +again. This was done just before the trick was performed. On his way +back to the stage, after having given the lady the glass of water, Joe +substituted the bottle containing the guinea pig for the empty one that +had held the three liquids. This was where his quick sleight-of-hand +work came in. When he gently broke the bottle it was easy enough to +remove the little animal, which had been used in tricks so often that +it was used to them. +</P> + +<P> +Joe brought the show to a satisfactory conclusion, perhaps a little +earlier than usual, as he was anxious to get to the hotel and see how +the professor was. The audience seemed highly pleased with the +illusions the boy wizard gave them, and clapped long and loud as Joe +made his final bow. +</P> + +<P> +He left the theatrical people and his helpers to pack up, ready for the +trip to the next town, and hastened to the hotel. There he found +Professor Rosello much better, though still suffering somewhat. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think you will be able to go on to-morrow night?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," was the answer. "I can tell better to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +But when the next day came, after a night journey that was painful for +Mr. Crabb, he found that he could not give his portion of the +performance. +</P> + +<P> +And as Joe alone was not quite qualified to give a whole evening's +entertainment it was decided to cancel the engagement. It was not an +important one, though several good "dates" awaited them in other towns +on the route. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I need a rest, Joe," the professor said "My nerves are more +shattered than I thought by that electrical accident. I need a good +rest to straighten them out. I think we'll not give any performances +for at least a month—that is I sha'n't." +</P> + +<P> +Joe looked a little disappointed on hearing this. His living depended +on working for the professor. +</P> + +<P> +"I say I'll not give any more performances right away, Joe," went on +the professor, "but there's no reason why you shouldn't. I have been +watching you of late, and I think you are very well qualified to go on +with the show alone. You could get a helper, of course. But you can +do most of my tricks, as well as your own. What do you say? I'll make +you a liberal offer as regards money. You can consider the show yours +while I'm taking a rest. Would you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think——" began Joe, when there came a knock on the door of their +hotel room. +</P> + +<P> +"Telegram for Joe Strong!" called the voice of the bellboy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A CHANCE ENCOUNTER +</H4> + +<P> +Professor Rosello and Joe Strong looked at each other. It was not +unusual for the magician to receive telegrams in reference to his +professional engagements, but Joe up to now had never received one of +the lightning messages which, to the most of us, are unusual +occurrences. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure it's for me?" Joe asked the boy, as he opened the door. +</P> + +<P> +"It's got your name on it," was the answer. That seemed proof enough +for any one. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe it's from your folks—the deacon," suggested the professor. +"Something may have happened." +</P> + +<P> +He really hoped there had not, but, in a way, he wanted to prepare Joe +for a possible shock. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if it can have anything to do with the deacon's robbery," +mused Joe as he took the message from the waiting lad. "But, no, it +can't be that. Denton and Harrison are still in jail—or they were at +last accounts—and the robbery is cleared up as much as it ever will +be. Can't be that." +</P> + +<P> +And then, unwilling and unable to speculate further, and anxious to +know just what was in the message Joe tore open the envelope. The +message was typewritten, as are most telegrams of late, and the message +read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"If you are at liberty, can use you in a single trapeze act. Forty a +week to start. Wire me at Slater Junction. We show there three days. +Jim Tracy—Sampson Bros. Circus." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the professor as he noted a strange look on Joe's +face. In fact, there was a combination of looks. There was surprise, +and doubt, and pleased anticipation. +</P> + +<P> +"It's an offer," answered Joe, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"An offer!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, to join a circus." +</P> + +<P> +"A circus!" +</P> + +<P> +The professor did not seem capable of talking in very long sentences. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the Sampson Brothers' Show," Joe went on. "You know I went to +see them that time they played the same town and date we did. I met +the 'human fish' and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I remember. You did some acts on the trapeze then." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and this Jim Tracy—he's ring-master and one of the owners—made +me a sort of offer then. But I didn't want to leave you. Now he +renews the offer." +</P> + +<P> +The boy wizard handed the message to the professor who read it through +carefully. Then after a look at Joe he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my boy, that's a good offer, I'd take it. I sha'n't be able to +pay you forty a week for some time, though you might make it if you +took my show out on the road alone, or with one assistant. Then, too, +there's always a chance to make more in a circus—that is, if you +please your public. I might say thrill them enough, for your trapeze +act will have to be mostly thrills, I take it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented Joe. And, somehow, a feeling of exultation came to +him. While doing puzzling tricks before a mystified audience was +enticing work, yet Joe had a longing for the circus. He was almost as +much at home high in the air, with nothing but a slack wire or a +swaying rope to support him, as he was on the ground. Part of this was +due to his early attempts to emulate the feats of circus performers, +but the larger part of it was born in him. He inherited much of his +daring from his mother, and his quickness of eye and hand from his +father. +</P> + +<P> +Moreover, mingled with the desire to do some thrilling act high up on a +trapeze in a circus tent, while the crowd below held its breath, Joe +felt a desire to meet again pretty Helen Morton, whose bright smile and +laughing eyes he seemed to see in fancy now. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good offer," went on the professor, slowly, "and it seems to +come at the right time for both of us, Joe. We were talking about your +taking out my show. I really don't feel able to keep up with it—at +least for a time. Are you ready to give me an answer now, Joe, or +would you like to think it over a bit?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps I had better think of it a bit," the youth answered. "Though +I have pretty nearly made up my mind." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be in a hurry," urged Professor Rosello. "There is no great +rush, as far as I am concerned. One or two days will make no +difference to me. Though if you don't take up my offer I shall +probably lease the show to some professional. I want to keep my name +before the public, for probably I shall wish to go back into the +business again. And besides, it is a pity to let such a good outfit as +we now have go into storage. But think it over carefully. I suppose, +though, that you will have to let the circus people know soon." +</P> + +<P> +"They seem to be in a hurry—wanting me to telegraph," responded Joe. +"I'll give them an answer in a few hours. I think I'll go out and walk +around town a bit. I can think better that way." +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead, Joe, and don't let me influence you. I want to help you, +and I'll do all I can for you. You know I owe much to you. Just +remember that you have the option on my show, such as it is, and if you +don't take my offer I won't feel at all offended. Do as you think +right." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Joe, feelingly. +</P> + +<P> +There was not much of interest to see in the town where they had come, +expecting to give a performance, but Joe did not really care for sights +just then. He had some hard thinking to do and he wanted to do it +carefully. Hardly conscious of where he was walking, he strolled on, +and presently found himself near the outskirts of the town, in a +section that was more country than town. A little stream flowed +through a green meadow, the banks bordered by trees. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks just like Bedford," mused Joe. "I'm going to take a rest +there." +</P> + +<P> +He sat down in the shade of a willow tree and in an instant there came +back to him the memory of that day, some months ago, when he had come +upon his chums sitting under the same sort of tree and discussing one +of the professor's tricks which they had witnessed the night before. +</P> + +<P> +"Then there was the fireworks explosion. I rescued the professor—ran +away from home—was chased by the constables—hopped into the freight +car—the deacon's house was robbed and set on fire and—— Say! what a +lot has happened in a short time," mused Joe. "And now comes this +offer from the circus. I wonder if I'd better take it or keep on with +the professor's show. Of course it would be easier to do this, as I'm +more familiar with it." +</P> + +<P> +Just then there recurred to Joe something he had often heard Deacon +Blackford say. +</P> + +<P> +"The easiest way isn't always the best." +</P> + +<P> +The deacon was not, by any means, the kindest or wisest of men, and +certainly he had been cruel at times to Joe. But he was a sturdy +character, though often obstinate and mistaken, and he had a fund of +homely philosophy. +</P> + +<P> +Joe, working one day in the deacon's feed and grain store, had proposed +doing something in a way that would, he thought, save him work. +"That's the easiest way," he had argued. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the easiest way isn't always the best," the deacon had retorted. +</P> + +<P> +Joe remembered that now. It would be easier to keep on with the +professor's show, for the work was all planned out for him, and he had +but to fulfil certain engagements. Then, too, he was getting to be +expert in the tricks. +</P> + +<P> +"But I want to get on in life," reasoned Joe. "Forty dollars a week is +more than I'm getting now, nor will I stick at that point in the +circus. It will be hard work, but I can stand it." +</P> + +<P> +He had almost made up his mind. He decided he would go back and +acquaint the professor with his decision. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe was passing a sort of hotel in a poor section of the town he +almost ran into, or, rather, was himself almost run into by a man who +emerged from the place quickly but unsteadily. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was about to pass on with a muttered apology, though he did not +feel the collision to be his fault, when the man angrily demanded: +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter with you, anyhow? Why don't you look where you're +going?" +</P> + +<P> +"I tried to," said Joe, mildly enough. "Hope I didn't hurt you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you banged me hard enough!" +</P> + +<P> +The man seemed a little more mollified now. Joe was at once struck by +something familiar in his voice and his looks. He took a second glance +and in an instant he recognized the man as one of the circus trapeze +performers he had seen the day he went to the big tent, or "main top," +of Sampson Brothers' Circus to watch the professionals at their +practice. The man was one of the troupe known as the "Lascalla +Brothers," though the relationship was assumed, rather than real. +</P> + +<P> +Joe gave a start of astonishment as he sensed the recognition. He was +also surprised at the great change in the man. When Joe had first seen +him, a few months before, the performer had been a straight, lithe +specimen of manhood, intent, at the moment when Joe met him, on seeing +that his trapeze ropes were securely fastened. +</P> + +<P> +Now the man looked and acted like a tramp. He was dirty and ragged, +and his face bore evidences of dissipation. He leered at Joe, and then +something in our hero's face seemed to hold his attention. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you looking at me that way for, young fellow?" he demanded. +"Do you know me?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not exactly," was the answer. "But I've seen you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you're not the only one," was the retort. "A good many thousand +people have seen me on the circus trapeze. And I'd be there to-day, +doing my act, if it hadn't been for that mean Jim Tracy. He fired me, +Jim did—said he was going to get some one for the act who could stay +sober. Huh? I'm sober enough for anybody, and I took only a little +drink because I was sick. Even at that I can beat anybody on the high +bar. But he sacked me. Never mind! I'll get even with him, and if he +puts anybody in my place—well, that fellow'd better look out, that's +all!" +</P> + +<P> +The man seemed turning ugly, and Joe was glad the fellow had not +connected him with the youth who had paid a brief visit to the trapeze +tent that day, months before. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if it's to take his place that Jim Tracy wants me?" mused +Joe, as he turned aside. "I guess Jim put up with this fellow as long +as he could. Poor chap! He was a good acrobat, too—one of the best +in the country." Joe knew the Lascalla Brothers by reputation. +</P> + +<P> +"If I take his place——" Joe was doing some quick thinking. "Oh, +well, I've got to take chances," he told himself. "After all, we may +never meet." +</P> + +<P> +Joe had fully made up his mind. Before going back to the professor he +stopped at the telegraph office and sent this message to Jim Tracy. +</P> + +<P> +"Will join circus in two days." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +OFF TO THE CIRCUS +</H4> + +<P> +"Well?" questioned Professor Rosello, as Joe came back to the hotel. +"Is it my show or——" +</P> + +<P> +"The circus," answered Joe, and he did not smile. He was rather +serious about it, for in spite of what his friend had said Joe could +but feel that the magician might be disappointed over the choice. But +Professor Rosello was a broad-minded man, as well as a fair and +generous one. +</P> + +<P> +"Joe, I'm sure you did just the right thing!" he exclaimed, as he shook +hands with the boy wizard, or rather with the former boy wizard, for +the lad was about to give up that life. Yet Joe knew that he would not +altogether give it up. He would always retain his knowledge and +ability in the art of mystifying. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I thought it all over," said Joe, "and I concluded that I could +do better on the trapeze than at sleight-of-hand. You see, if I want +to be a successful circus performer I have to begin soon. The older I +get the less active I'll be, and some tricks take years to polish off +so one can do them easily." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," the professor said. "I think you did the right thing +for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course if I could be any help to you I wouldn't leave you this +way," Joe went on earnestly. "I wouldn't desert in a time of trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it isn't exactly trouble," replied the magician. "I really need a +rest, and you're not taking my offer won't mean any money loss to me, +though, personally, I shall feel sorry at losing you. But I want you +to do the best possible thing for yourself. Don't consider me at all. +In fact you don't have to. I am going to take a rest. I need it. +I've been in this business nearly thirty years now, and time is +beginning to tell. +</P> + +<P> +"I think there is more of a future for you in the circus than there +would be in magic. Not that you have exhausted the possibilities of +magic by any means, but changes are taking place in the public. The +moving pictures are drawing away from us the audiences we might +otherwise attract. Then, too, there has been so much written and +exposed concerning our tricks, that it is very hard to get up an +effective illusion. Even the children can now guess how many of the +tricks are done. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be that I shall give up altogether. At, any rate I will lease +my show out for a time. I'm I going to take a rest. And now about +your plans. What are you going to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't exactly know," was the hesitating answer. "I have telegraphed +to Mr. Tracy that I would join his circus in two days. I think I'll +need that much time to get ready." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. We can settle up our business arrangements in that time, Joe. +As I said, I'll be very sorry to lose you, but it is all for the best. +We may see each other occasionally. Shall you tell the deacon of the +change?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think not. He and I don't get along very well, and he hasn't much +real interest in me, now that he feels I am following in the footsteps +of my father. And if he knew that I was taking up the profession my +mother felt called to, he would have even less regard for me. I'll not +write to him at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps that is wise. I wonder, Joe, if in traveling about with +Sampson Brothers' Show you will meet any one who knew your mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"I wish that would happen," Joe answered. "I'd like to hear about her. +I shall ask for information about her." +</P> + +<P> +Joe related his encounter with one of the Lascalla Brothers—which one +he did not know. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if he'll try to make trouble?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly think so," answered the professor. "He's probably a bad egg, +and talks big. Just go on your own way, do the best you can, keep +straight and you'll be all right." +</P> + +<P> +They talked for some little time further, discussing matters that +needed to be settled between them, and making arrangements for Joe to +leave. +</P> + +<P> +Now that he had come to a decision he was very glad that he was going +with the circus. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be glad to meet Benny Turton, the 'human fish,' again," said Joe +to himself. "His act is sure a queer one. I wonder if I could stay +under water as long as he does. I'm going to try it some day if I get +a chance at his tank. And Helen—I'll be glad to see her again, too." +</P> + +<P> +Joe did not admit, even to himself, just how glad he would be to meet +the pretty circus rider again. But he surely anticipated pleasure in +renewing the acquaintance. +</P> + +<P> +"That is, if she'll notice me," thought Joe. "I wonder what the social +standing is between trick and fancy riders and the various trapeze +performers." +</P> + +<P> +The next day was a busy one. Joe had to pack his belongings. Some he +arranged to store with the professor's things. He also helped his +friend, the magician, to prepare an advertisement for the theatrical +papers, announcing that The Rosello Show was for lease, along with the +advance bookings. Joe also went over the apparatus with the professor, +making a list of some necessary repairs that would have to be made. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Joe," said the professor, when the time for parting came, "I +want you to feel free to use any of my tricks, or those you got up +yourself, whenever you want to." +</P> + +<P> +"Use the tricks?" queried Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. It may be that you'll find a chance to use them in the circus, +or to entertain your friends privately. I want you to feel free to do +so. There will not be any professional jealousy on my part." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was glad to hear this. The professor was unlike most professional +persons who entertain the public. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, good-bye," said Joe, as the professor went with him to the +railroad station, the burns having progressed rapidly in their healing. +"You'll always be able to write me in care of the circus." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can keep track of your show through the theatrical papers, Joe. +Let me hear from you occasionally. Write to the New York address where +I buy most of my stuff. They'll always have the name of my forwarding +post-office on file. And now, my boy, I wish you all success. You +have been a great help to me—not to mention such a little thing as +saving my life," and he laughed, to make the occasion less serious. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Joe. "The same to you. And I hope you will soon +feel much better." +</P> + +<P> +"A rest will do me good," responded the professor. Then the train +rolled in, and Joe got aboard with his valise. He waved farewell to +his very good friend and then settled back in his seat for a long ride. +</P> + +<P> +Joe Strong was on his way at last to join the circus. +</P> + +<P> +As he sat in his comfortable seat, he could not help contrasting his +situation now with what it had been some months before, when he was +running away from the home of his foster-father in the night and riding +in a freight car to join the professor. +</P> + +<P> +Then Joe had very few dollars, and the future looked anything but +pleasant. He had to sleep on the hard boards, with some loose hay as a +mattress. +</P> + +<P> +Now, while he was far from having a fortune, he had nearly two hundred +dollars to his credit, and he was going to an assured position that +would pay well. It was quite a contrast. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if I'll make good," thought Joe. Involuntarily he felt of +his muscles. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm strong enough," he thought with a little smile—"Strong by name +and strong by nature," and as he thought this there was no false pride +about it. Joe knew his capabilities. His nerves and muscles were his +principal assets. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I'll have to learn some new stunts," Joe thought. "But Jim +Tracy will probably coach me, and tell me what they want. I wonder if +I'll have to act with the Lascalla bunch? They may not be very +friendly toward me for taking the place of one of their number. Well, +I can't help it. It isn't my doing. I'm hired to do certain work—for +trapeze performing is work, though it may look like fun to the public. +Well, I'm on my way, as the fellow said when the powder mill blew up," +and Joe smiled whimsically. +</P> + +<P> +It was a long and tiresome trip to the town where the circus was +performing, and Joe did not reach the "lot" until the afternoon +performance was over. +</P> + +<P> +The sight of the tents, the smell that came from the crushed grass, the +sawdust, the jungle odor of wild animals—all this was as perfume to +Joe Strong. He breathed in deep of it and his eyes lighted up as he +saw the fluttering flags, and noted the activity of the circus men who +were getting ready for the night show—filling the portable gasoline +lamps, putting on new mantles which would glow later with white +incandescence to show off the spectacle in the "main top." As Joe took +in all this he said to himself: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm to be a part of it! That's the best ever!" +</P> + +<P> +It was some little time before he could find Jim Tracy, but at length +he came upon the ring-master, who was trying to do a dozen things at +once, and settle half a dozen other matters on which his opinion was +wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hello, Joe?" Jim called to the young performer. "Glad you got +here. We need you. Want to go on to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just as you say. But I really need a little practice." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. Then just hang around and pick up information. We don't +have to travel to-night, so you'll have it easy to start. I'll show +you where you'll dress when you get going. I'll have to give you some +one else's suit until we can order one your size, but I guess you won't +mind." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was looking about with eager eyes, hoping for a glimpse of Helen +Morton. However, he was not gratified just then. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Joe," went on the ring-master, coming over after having settled a +dispute concerning differences of opinions between a woman with trained +dogs and a clown who exhibited an "educated" pig, "if you'll come with +me, I'll——" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is it now?" asked Jim Tracy, exasperation in his voice. A +dark-complexioned, foreign-looking man had approached him, and had said +something in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I won't take him back, and you needn't ask!" declared Jim. "You +can tell Sim Dobley, otherwise known as Rafello Lascalla, that he's +done his last hanging by his heels in my show. I don't want anything +more to do with him. I don't care if he is outside. You tell him to +stay there. He doesn't come in unless he buys a ticket, and as for +taking him back—nothing doing, take it from me!" +</P> + +<P> +The foreign-looking man turned aside, muttering, and Joe followed the +ring-master. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE MAKES A HIT +</H4> + +<P> +"Those fellows are always making trouble," murmured the ring-master, as +he walked with Joe toward a tent where the young performer could leave +his valise. +</P> + +<P> +"What fellows are they?" the lad asked, but he felt that he knew what +the answer was going to be. +</P> + +<P> +"The Lascalla Brothers," replied Jim. "There were two brothers in the +business, Sid and Tonzo Lascalla. They used to be together and have a +wonderful act. But Sid died, and Tonzo got a fellow-countryman to take +his place, using the same name. They were good, too. Then about four +years ago they added a third man. Why they ever took up with Sim +Dobley I can't imagine, but they did. +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever else I'll say about Sim, I'll give him credit for being a +wonder on a trapeze—that is when he was sober. When he got +intoxicated, or partly so, he'd take risks that would make your hair +stand up on end. That's why I had to get rid of him. First I knew, +he'd have had an accident and he'd be suing the circus. So I let him +go. Sim went under the name Rafello Lascalla, and became one of the +brothers. +</P> + +<P> +"For a while the three of them worked well together. And it's queer, +as I say, how Sid and Tonzo took to Jim. But they did. You'd think he +was a regular brother. In fact all three of 'em seemed to be real +blood brothers. Sid and Tonzo are Spaniards, but Sim is a plain +Yankee. He used to say he learned to do trapeze tricks in his father's +barn." +</P> + +<P> +"That's where I practised," said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's as good a place as any, I reckon. Anyhow, I had to get rid +of Sim, and now Tonzo comes and asks me to put him back. He says Sim +is behaving himself, and will keep straight. He's somewhere on the +grounds now, Tonzo told me. But I don't want anything to do with him. +I'll stand a whole lot from a man, but when I reach the limit I'm +through for good. That's what I am with Sim Dobley, otherwise known as +Rafello Lascalla. You're to take his place, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"I am!" +</P> + +<P> +There was no mistaking the surprise in the youth's voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what's the matter? Don't you want to?" asked Jim, in some +astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course. I'll do anything in the show along the line of +trapeze work you want me to. But—well, maybe I'd better tell you all +about it." +</P> + +<P> +Then Joe related his encounter with the discharged circus employee. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum," mused Jim, when Joe finished. "So that's how the wind sets, is +it? He's hanging around here now trying to find out who is going to +take his place." +</P> + +<P> +"And when he finds that I have," suggested Joe hesitatingly, "he may +cause trouble." +</P> + +<P> +Jim Tracy started. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't think of that!" he said slowly. "You say he threatened you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not exactly me, for he didn't know who I was," replied Joe. +"But he said he'd make it decidedly hot for you, and for the man who +took his place." +</P> + +<P> +Jim Tracy snapped his fingers. +</P> + +<P> +"That's how much I care for Sim Dobley," he said. "I'm not afraid of +him. He talks big, but he acts small. I'm not in the least worried, +and if you are——" +</P> + +<P> +"Not for a minute!" exclaimed Joe quickly. "I guess I can look after +myself!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed Jim. "That's the way I like to hear you talk. And +don't you let Sim Dobley, or either of the Lascalla Brothers, bluff +you. I'm running this show, not them! If they make any trouble you +come to me." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I can fight my own battles," observed Joe calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" said the ring-master again. "I guess you'll do. This is your +dressing room," he went on. "Just leave your grip here, and it will be +safe. You won't have to do anything to-night but look on. I'll get +you a pair of tights by to-morrow and you can go on. Practise up in +the morning, and work up a new act with Sid and Tonzo if you like. +I'll introduce you to them at supper." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think they'll perform with me?" Joe wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"They'll have to!" exclaimed the ring-master with energy. "This is my +circus, not theirs. They'll do as I say, and if there is any funny +business—— Well, there just won't be," he added significantly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do Tonzo and Sid want Sim to come back and act with them?" asked Joe, +as he deposited his valise in a corner of a dressing room that was made +by canvas curtains partitioning off a part of a large tent. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what they say. Tonzo told me that Sim would behave himself. +But I'm through with Sim, and he might as well understand that first as +last. You're going to take his place. Now I'll have to leave you. +You'll put up at the hotel with some of the performers. Here's your +slip that you can show to the clerk. I'll see you in the morning, if +not before, and make arrangements for your act. To-night you just look +on. Now I've got to go." +</P> + +<P> +Joe looked about the dressing room. It was evidently shared with +others, for there were suits of men's tights scattered around, as well +as other belongings. Joe left his valise and went outside. He wanted +to see all he could—to get familiar with the life of a circus. +</P> + +<P> +It cannot be said that Joe was exactly easy in his mind. He would much +rather have joined the circus without having supplanted a performer of +so vindictive a character as Sim Dobley. But, as it had to be, the lad +decided to make the best of it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be on the watch for trouble," he murmured as he went out of the +dressing tent. +</P> + +<P> +A busy scene was being enacted on the circus lots. In fact, many +scenes. It was feeding time for some of the animals and for most of +the performers and helpers. The latter would dine in one of the big +tents, under which long tables were already set. And from the distance +Joe could catch an odor of the cooking. +</P> + +<P> +"My, but that smells good!" he told himself. He was hungry. +</P> + +<P> +The Sampson Brothers' Show was a fair-sized one. It used a number of +railroad cars to transport the wagons, cages and performers from place +to place. On the road, of course, the performers and helpers slept in +the circus sleeping cars. But when the show remained more than one +night in a place some of the performers were occasionally allowed to +sleep at the local hotels, getting their meals on the circus grounds, +for the cooking for and feeding of a big show is down to an exact +science. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe wandered forth he heard a voice calling to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, where in the world did you come from?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hello!" cried our hero, as, turning, he saw Benny Turton, the +"human fish," walking toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to see you again!" went on Benny, as he shook hands with Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm glad to see you." +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing here?" the "human fish" asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm part of the show now," replied Joe, a bit proudly. +</P> + +<P> +"Get out! Are you, really?" +</P> + +<P> +"I sure am!" And Joe told the circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Ben. "Real glad!" +</P> + +<P> +"How's your act going?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The "human fish" paused a moment before answering. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I suppose it goes as well as ever," he said slowly. "Only I—— +Oh, what's the use of telling my troubles?" he asked, with a smile. "I +reckon you have some of your own." +</P> + +<P> +"Not very big ones," confessed Joe. "But is anything the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, oh, no. Never mind me; tell me about yourself." +</P> + +<P> +Joe told something of his experiences since last seeing Ben, and, as he +talked, he looked at the youth who performed such thrilling feats under +water in the big tank. Joe thought Benny looked paler and thinner than +before. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess the water work isn't any too healthy for him," mused Joe. "It +must be hard to be under that pressure so long. I feel sorry for him." +</P> + +<P> +"What are you two talking about—going to get up a new act that will +make us all take back seats?" asked a merry voice. Joe recognized it +at once, and, with a glad smile, he turned to see Helen Morton coming +toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought I knew you, even from your back," she told Joe, as she shook +hands with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Does Rosebud want any sugar?" he asked, smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you! He's had his share to-day. But it was good of you to +remember. I must introduce you to my horse." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be happy to meet him," returned Joe, with his best "stage bow." +</P> + +<P> +Helen laughed merrily, as she walked across the grounds with Joe and +Benny. +</P> + +<P> +"It's almost supper time," she said, "and I'm starved. Can't we all +eat together?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see why not," Ben answered, and they were soon at a table +where many other performers sat, all, seemingly, talking at once. Joe +was very much interested. +</P> + +<P> +He was more than interested in two dark-complexioned men who regarded +him curiously. One was the person who had spoken to Jim Tracy. The +other Joe had not seen before. +</P> + +<P> +"They're the Lascalla Brothers," Ben informed him. "That is, there are +two of them. The third——" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm to be the third," Joe broke in. +</P> + +<P> +"You are?" asked Ben, and he regarded his friend curiously. "Well, +look out for yourself; that's all I've got to say." +</P> + +<P> +"Why has he to look out for himself?" inquired Helen, who had caught +the words. "Are you going to eat all there is on the table, Ben, so +there won't be any for Mr. Strong? Is that why he must look out?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not that," Ben answered. "It—it was something else." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, secrets!" and Helen pretended to be offended. +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't anything," Joe assured her. And he tried to forget the +warning Ben had so kindly given him. +</P> + +<P> +Joe attended the performance that night as a sort of privileged +character. He went behind the scenes, and also sat in the tent. He +was most interested in the feats of the two Lascalla Brothers, and he +decided that, with a little practice, he could do most of the feats +they presented. +</P> + +<P> +That night, at the hotel, Joe was introduced to Sid and Tonzo. They +bowed and shook hands, and, as far as Joe could see, they did not +resent his joining their troupe. They seemed pleasant, and Joe felt +that perhaps the difficulties had been exaggerated. Nothing was said +of Sim Dobley, and though Joe had been on the watch for the deposed +performer that afternoon and evening, he had not seen him. +</P> + +<P> +"You will, perhaps, like to practise with us?" suggested Tonzo, after a +while. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it would be wise," agreed Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then. We will meet you at the tent in the morning." +</P> + +<P> +Bright and early Joe was on hand. Jim Tracy found him a pair of pink +tights that would do very well for a time, and ordered him a new, +regular suit. +</P> + +<P> +At the request of Tonzo Lascalla, Joe went through a number of tricks, +improvising them as he progressed. Next the two Spaniards did their +act, and showed Joe what he was to do, as well as when to do it, so as +to make it all harmonize. +</P> + +<P> +Then hard practice began, and was kept up until the time for the +afternoon show. Joe did not feel at all nervous as he prepared for his +entrance. His work on the stage with Professor Rosello stood him in +good stead. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment he was swinging aloft with his two fellow-performers, +in "death-defying dives," and other alliterative acts set down on the +show bills. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you catch me if I jump from the high-swinging trapeze, and vault +toward you, somersaulting?" Joe asked Tonzo, during a pause in their +act. +</P> + +<P> +"Of a certainty, yes, I can catch you. But can you jump it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure!" declared Joe. "I've done it before." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a big jump, Mr. Strong," Tonzo warned him. "Even your +predecessor would have hesitated." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take the chance," Joe said. "Now this is the way I'll do it. +I'll get a good momentum, swinging back and forth. You stand upon the +high platform, holding your trapeze and waiting. When I give the word +and start on my final swing, you jump off, hang by your knees, hands +down. I'll leap toward you, turn over three times, and grab your +hands. Do you get me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of a certainty, yes. But it is not an easy trick." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it—that's why I'm going to do it. Do you get me?" +</P> + +<P> +"If he doesn't 'get you,' as you call it, Mr. Strong," put in Sid, "you +will have a bad fall. Of course there is the life net, but if you do +not land right——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll land all right," said Joe, though not boastingly. +</P> + +<P> +The time for the new trick came. Joe climbed up to a little platform +near the top of the tent and swung off, swaying to and fro on a long +trapeze. On the other side of the tent Tonzo took his place on a +similar platform, fastened to a pole. He was waiting for Joe to give +the word. +</P> + +<P> +To and fro, in longer and longer arcs, Joe swung. He hung by his +hands. Carefully his eye gauged the distance he must hurl himself +across. Finally he had momentum enough. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" he cried to Tonzo. +</P> + +<P> +The latter leaped out on his trapeze, swinging by his knees. Right +toward Joe he swung. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I come!" Joe shouted, amid breathless silence among the +spectators below him. They realized that something unusual was going +on. +</P> + +<P> +"Go!" shouted Sid, who was waiting down on the ground for the +conclusion of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +Joe let go. He felt himself hurling through the air. Quickly he +doubled himself in a ball, and turned the somersaults. Then he +straightened out, dropped a few feet, and his hands squarely met those +of Tonzo. The latter clasped Joe's in a firm grip, and, holding him, +swung to and fro on the long trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +A roar of applause broke out at Joe's daring feat. He had made a +hit—a big hit, for the applause kept up after he had dropped to the +life net. He stood beside Tonzo and Sid, all three bowing and smiling. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE TURNS A TRICK +</H4> + +<P> +"That's the idea!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, hurrying over to where the +three gymnasts stood. "Give 'em some more of that, Joe!" +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't any more like that—just now," answered the young circus +performer, panting slightly, for he was a bit out of breath from his +exertion and the anxiety lest his trick should fail. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, do it again at to-night's performance, then," urged the +ring-master, and Joe nodded in agreement. +</P> + +<P> +"It was a good trick, my boy," said Tonzo Lascalla, "but don't try it +too often." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Because it is risky. I might not catch you some day." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd only fall into the life net if you did miss," said Joe coolly, +though, for a moment, he thought there might be a hidden meaning in +what his fellow-performer said. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it is not every one who knows how to fall into a life net," put +in Sid Lascalla. "If one lands on his head the neck is likely to be +dislocated." +</P> + +<P> +"I know how to fall," Joe declared, and, though he spoke positively, he +was not in the least boastful. "Here, I'll show you," he went on. +</P> + +<P> +Their act was not quite finished, but before going on with the next +gymnastic feat Joe caught hold of a hoisting rope that ran through a +pulley, and, at a nodded signal, one of the ring-men hauled the lad up +to the top of the tent to the little platform where Joe had stood when +taking his place on the high trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +Joe signaled to the ring-master that he was going to make a jump into +the net from that height, and at once the crowd again became aware that +something unusual was going on. It was a jump seldom made, at least in +The Sampson Brothers' Circus. The platform was fully twenty feet +higher than the trapeze from which Joe and his fellow-performer had +dropped a few minutes before. And, as Sid Lascalla had said, there was +a risk even in jumping into a life net. But Joe Strong seemed to know +what he was about. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, he's going to do some jump!" exclaimed Benny Turton, who came +into the ring at that moment, dressed in his shimmering, scaly suit, +ready to do his "human fish" act. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what!" cried Jim Tracy. "Give him the long roll and the boom!" +he called to the leader of the musicians. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe poised for his jump the snare drummer rattled out a "ruffle," +and as it started Joe leaned forward and leaped. +</P> + +<P> +Down he went, for a few feet, as straight as an arrow. Then he +suddenly doubled up into a sort of ball, and began turning over and +over. The crowd held its breath. The drum continued to rattle out its +thundering accompaniment. How many somersaults Joe turned none of the +spectators reckoned, but the youthful performer kept count of them, for +he wanted to "straighten out," to land on his feet in the net. +</P> + +<P> +"He'll never do it!" predicted Tonzo Lascalla. +</P> + +<P> +And it did begin to look as though Joe had miscalculated. +</P> + +<P> +But no. Just before he reached the springy life net he straightened +out and came down feet first, bouncing up, and down like a rubber ball. +The instant he landed the bass drum gave forth a thundering "boom," and +as Joe rose, and came down again, the drummer punctuated each descent +with a bang, until the crowd that had applauded madly at the jump was +laughing at the queer effect of Joe's bouncing to the accompaniment of +the drum. +</P> + +<P> +"He did it!" cried Jim Tracy. "It was a great jump. We'll feature +that now." +</P> + +<P> +He looked at Sid and Tonzo Lascalla, as though asking why they had not +worked something like this into their acts previously. But the +Spaniards only shrugged their shoulders and raised their eyebrows. +</P> + +<P> +"That was great, Joe!" exclaimed Benny Turton, as Joe leaped to the +ground over the edge of the life net. "Great!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe smiled happily. +</P> + +<P> +"It was wonderful," added Helen Morton, who was about to put her trick +horse, Rosebud, through his paces. "It was wonderful—but I don't like +to see anybody take such risks." +</P> + +<P> +"Anybody?" asked Joe in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then—you," she whispered, as she ran off to her ring. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I did it, you see," observed Joe to his two partners. "I guess +I know how to fall into a net." +</P> + +<P> +"You sure do!" averred the ring-master. "Try that at each performance, +Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Only—be careful," added Tonzo Lascalla. "We do not want to have to +get another partner." +</P> + +<P> +The act of Joe and the two other "Lascalla Brothers" came to an end +with Joe and Sid hanging suspended from the legs of Tonzo, who +supported himself on a swinging trapeze. It made an effective close. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was through then, and could watch the rest of the show or go to +bed, as he pleased. He elected to stay in the "main top" and watch +Helen in her act. He was also much interested in the "human fish." +</P> + +<P> +"Pshaw!" Joe heard Jim Tracy murmur, as he, too, looked at Benny in the +tank. "He isn't staying under as long as he used to, not by half a +minute. I wonder what's the matter with him. First we know he'll be +cutting the time, and we'll hear a howl from the public. That won't +do! I'll have to give him a call-down." +</P> + +<P> +Joe felt sorry for Ben, who did not seem at all well. Joe thought he +had better not interfere, but he resolved to speak to the +water-performer privately, and see if he could not help him. +</P> + +<P> +Joe repeated his sensational acts at the next day's performances, and +that night he and the others in the circus moved on to the next stand. +Joe wrote a line to Professor Rosello, telling him of the success. +</P> + +<P> +It was a quite novel experience for Joe, traveling with a circus. But +he was used to sleeping cars by this time, on account of the going from +town to town with the magician. +</P> + +<P> +However, he had never before had a berth in a train filled with circus +performers, and, for a time, he could not sleep because of the +strangeness. But he soon grew used to it, and in a few nights he could +doze off as soon as he stretched out. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's new suit of pink tights arrived. It matched those of the +Lascalla Brothers. In fact, Joe was now billed as one of that trio, +though, of course, he went by his own name in private. He was +sufficiently dark as to hair and complexion to pass for a Spaniard. +</P> + +<P> +To quote his own words, Joe was "taking to the circus life as a duck +does to water." He seemed to fit right in. He made some new friends, +but of all the men or youths in the show he liked best Benny Turton and +the ring-master. Joe and the Lascalla Brothers got along well, but +there was not much intimacy between them, though they worked well in +the "team." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was on the lookout for any signs of Sim Dobley, but that +unfortunate man did not appear, as far as our hero could learn. If Sid +or Tonzo made further appeals for his reinstatement they said nothing +about it to Joe. +</P> + +<P> +As the show went on, playing from town to town, Joe become more and +more used to the life. He liked it very much, and each day he was +becoming more proficient on the trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +One day, about two weeks after he had joined the circus, Joe had an +idea for a new feat. It involved his jump from a distance, catching +Tonzo Lascalla by the legs and hanging there. It was harder than +making a leap for the other performer's hands, since, if Joe missed his +clutch, Tonzo would have a chance to grab him with his hands. But when +Joe leaped for his partner's feet a certain margin of safety was lost. +</P> + +<P> +It was not that a fall would be dangerous if Joe missed, for the life +net was below him. But the effect of the trick would be spoiled. +</P> + +<P> +They practised the trick in private—Joe and Tonzo—and for a time it +did not seem to work. Joe fell short every time of grasping the +other's legs. +</P> + +<P> +"You will never do it," said Sid, and there was a queer look on his +face as he glanced at Tonzo. The other seemed to wink, just the mere +fraction of a wink, and then, like a flash, it came to Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"He doesn't want me to do it," thought our hero. "Tonzo wants me to +fail. He doesn't want me to be successful, for he thinks maybe he can +get Sim back. But I'll fool him! I think he has been drawing up his +legs the instant I jumped for them, so I would miss. I'll watch next +time." +</P> + +<P> +This Joe did, and found his surmise right. Just before he reached with +outstretched hands for Tonzo's legs, the man drew them slightly up, +and, as a result, Joe missed. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's where I turn a trick on him," mused the young performer, as he +failed and landed in the net In his next attempt Joe leaped unusually +high, and though Tonzo drew up his legs he could not pull them beyond +Joe's reach. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the time I did it!" cried Joe, as he made the catch and swung +to and fro. +</P> + +<P> +Sid, on the ground below, shrugged his shoulders, and said something to +Tonzo in Spanish. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HELEN'S LETTER +</H4> + +<P> +"Now I wonder," mused Joe as he leaped out of the net, "what they said +to each other. I'm sure it was about me. Well, let it go. I did the +trick, and I guess he won't pull his legs away again. If he does he'll +have to pull 'em so far that it will be noticed all over, and he can't +say it was an accident. I'll take care to make a high jump." +</P> + +<P> +Joe practised the trick again and again, until he felt he was perfect +in it. Tonzo seemed to have given up the idea of spoiling it, if that +had been his intention, and he and Joe worked at it until they could do +it smoothly. +</P> + +<P> +"When are you going to put it on?" Jim Tracy inquired, when told there +was a new feature to the Lascalla Brothers' act. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, in a couple of nights now," Joe answered. +</P> + +<P> +"You sure are making good, all right," the ring-master informed him. +"I didn't make any mistake booking you. I didn't know whom to turn to +in a hurry when Sim Dobley went back on me, and then I happened to +think of you. Got your route from one of the magazines, and sent you +the wire." +</P> + +<P> +"I was mighty glad to come," confessed Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The new act created more applause than ever for the Lascalla Brothers +when it was exhibited, but the louder applause seemed to come to Joe, +though he did not try to keep his fellow performers from their share. +And, as might be expected, there was not a little professional jealousy +on the part of some of the other performers. +</P> + +<P> +If Sid and Tonzo were jealous of him they took pains to hide that fact +from Joe, but some of the others were not so careful. A few of the +other gymnasts openly declared that the Lascalla Brothers were getting +altogether too much public attention. +</P> + +<P> +"They detract from me," declared Madame Bullriva, the "strong woman," +whose star feat was to get beneath a board platform on which stood +twelve men, and raise it from the saw-horses across which it lay. +True, she only raised it a few inches, but the act was "billed big." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't get half the applause I used to," she complained to Jim Tracy. +"You let those 'Spanish onions' have too much time in the ring, and +give that Joe Strong a ruffle of drums and the big boom every time he +makes the long jump." +</P> + +<P> +"But it's worth it," said the ring-master. "It's a big drawing card." +</P> + +<P> +"So's my act, but I don't get a single drum beat. Can't I have some +music with my act?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll see," promised the ring-master, but he had many other things to +think of, and the act of Madame Bullriva went unheralded, to her great +disgust. +</P> + +<P> +"Talk about footlight favorites," she complained to Helen Morton, as +they dressed together for a performance, "that Joe Strong is getting +all that's coming to him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't think he tries to take away from any of us," Helen +answered. +</P> + +<P> +"No, he doesn't personally. He's a nice boy. But Tracy makes too much +fuss over him. I like Joe, but he and his partners are 'crabbing' my +act, all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps if you spoke to him——" +</P> + +<P> +"What! Me? Let him know I cared? I guess not! I'll join some other +circus first." +</P> + +<P> +"You might put another man on the platform, and lift thirteen," the +young trick rider suggested. +</P> + +<P> +"What! Lift thirteen? That would be unlucky, my dear. I did it once +when I was on the Western circuit in a Wild West show, and believe +me—never again! I strained a shoulder muscle, and I had to lie up in +a hospital five weeks. Twelve men are enough to lift at once, take it +from me! But Joe is a nice boy, I'll say that. Don't you like him?" +</P> + +<P> +Helen's answer was not very clear, but perhaps that was because she was +fixing her hair in readiness for the entrance into the ring with her +trained horse, Rosebud. +</P> + +<P> +Joe, Helen and Benny Turton seemed to have formed a little group among +themselves. They sat together at the circus table, and when they were +not "on," they were much in the company of one another. +</P> + +<P> +They were about the same age, and they enjoyed each other's society +greatly, being congenial companions. Joe was "introduced" to Rosebud +and, being naturally fond of animals, he made friends with the +intelligent horse at once, which pleased Helen. +</P> + +<P> +She and Joe were getting very fond of one another, though perhaps +neither of them would have admitted that, if openly taxed with it. +But, somehow or other, Joe seemed naturally to drift over near Helen +when they were both in the tent, awaiting their turns. And when their +acts were over they either took walks together in and about the town +where the circus was playing, or they sat in their dressing tent +talking. Often Benny Turton would join them, always being made welcome. +</P> + +<P> +But Benny did not have much time. His shimmering, scaly, green suit +was quite elaborately made, and it took him some time to get into it. +It took equally as long to get out of it, and after his act he was +always more or less exhausted and had to rest. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what's the matter with me," he said one day to Helen and +Joe, as he joined them after having been in the big glass tank. "But I +feel so tired after I come out that I want to go to bed." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe you stay under water too long," Helen said sympathetically. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't stay under as long as I used to," Benny remarked. "In fact +Jim Tracy was sort of kicking just now. Said I was billed to stay +under water four minutes, and I was cutting it to three. I can't help +it. Something seems to hurt me here," and he put his hands to his ears +and to the back of his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe you ought to see a doctor," suggested Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't," said Benny shortly. "In this circus business if they find +out you're sick the management begins to think of booking some one else +for your act. No, I've got to keep on with it. But some days I don't +feel much like it." +</P> + +<P> +Joe and Helen felt sorry for Benny, but there was little they could do +to aid him. It was not as if they could take some of the burden of +work off his shoulders. His act was peculiar, and he alone could do it. +</P> + +<P> +"Though I think," said Joe to himself one day after watching Benny +perform, "I think I could stay under water almost as long as he does +after I'd practised it a bit. I'm going to try some time. I think +deep breathing exercises would help. I'm going to begin on them." +</P> + +<P> +Joe had to have good "wind" for his own acts, but, as he was naturally +ambitious, he started in on systematic breathing exercises. These +would do him much general good even if he should never enter the +water-tank. +</P> + +<P> +Occasionally Joe would do some simple sleight-of-hand tricks for the +amusement of Benny and Helen. He did not want to lose the art he had +acquired. +</P> + +<P> +"I may want to quit the circus some day and go back in the illusion +business," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Quit the circus! Why?" Helen asked him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not thinking seriously of it, of course," he said quickly. +"But I don't want to get rusty on those tricks." +</P> + +<P> +Joe heard occasionally from Professor Rosello, who had leased his show +and was taking a much needed rest. He inquired as to Joe's progress, +and was glad, he said, to hear our hero was doing well. +</P> + +<P> +One day, when the circus was playing a large manufacturing city on a +two days' date, Joe had another glimpse of the man he had supplanted. +The young trapeze artist went out of the tent when his share in the +afternoon performance was over, and as he paused to look at the crowd +in front of the sideshow tent he heard some one addressing him. +</P> + +<P> +"So you're the chap that took my place, are you?" a vindictive voice +asked. "I've been wanting to see you!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe turned to, behold Sim Dobley, who seemed worse off than when the +young performer had first met him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I've been wanting to see you!" and there was a sneer in Sim's +words. +</P> + +<P> +Joe decided nothing could be gained by temporizing, or by showing that +he was alarmed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now you've seen me, what are you going to do about it?" he +coolly asked. +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right. You wait and you'll see!" was the threatening +response. "Nobody can knock me out of an engagement and get away with +it. You'll see!" +</P> + +<P> +"Look here!" exclaimed Joe. "I didn't knock you out of your place. No +one did except yourself, and you know it. And I'm not going to stand +for any talk like that from you, either." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, give it to him!" said another voice, and Jim Tracy came +up. "Don't let him bluff you, Joe. As for you, Dobley, I've told you +to keep away from this circus, and I mean it! I heard you'd been +following us. Rode on one of the canvas wagons last night, didn't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what if I did?" +</P> + +<P> +"This! If you do it again I'll have you arrested. I'm through with +you and I want you to keep away." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess this is a free country!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the <I>country</I> is free, but our <I>circus</I> isn't. You keep out in +the country and you'll be all right. Keep off our wagons. Moreover, +if I catch you making any more threats against our performers I'll—— +But I guess Joe can look after himself all right," finished the +ring-master. "Just you keep away, that's all, Dobley." +</P> + +<P> +The man slunk off in the crowd. Joe really felt sorry for him, but he +could do nothing. Dobley had thrown away his chances and they had come +to Joe, who was entitled to them. Later that day Joe saw Sid and Tonzo +in close conversation with their former partner, but our hero said +nothing to the ring-master about it, though he was a bit uneasy in his +own mind. +</P> + +<P> +The next afternoon when Joe came out of his dressing room after his +trapeze act, he met Helen Morton. The fancy rider held an open letter +in her hand, and she seemed disturbed at its contents. +</P> + +<P> +"No bad news, I hope," remarked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not exactly," Helen answered. "On the contrary it may be good +news. But I don't exactly understand it. I wish Bill Watson were +here, so I could ask his advice." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is Bill Watson?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"He's one of our clowns, one of the oldest in the business, I guess. +He was taken ill just before you joined the show, but he's coming back +next week. I often ask his advice, and I'd like to now—about this +letter." +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you ask mine?" suggested Joe, half jokingly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BILL WATSON'S IDEA +</H4> + +<P> +Helen Morton gave Joe a glance and a smile. Then she looked at the +open letter in her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," she said brightly. "I never thought of that. I wonder if +you could advise me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I'm one of the best advisers you ever saw," returned Joe, +laughingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I know you're good on the trapeze," Helen admitted, "but have you had +any business experience?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was in business for myself after I ran away from home and +joined the professor," answered Joe. "That is, I had to attend to some +of his business. What is it all about?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what I want to know," answered the young circus rider. +"It's a puzzle to me." +</P> + +<P> +She again referred to the letter, then with a sort of hopeless gesture +held it out to Joe. He took it and cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what's this? It's all torn up," and he exhibited a handful of +scraps of paper. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh—Joe!" Helen gasped. "How did that happen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just a mistake," he replied. With a quick motion of his hand he held +out the letter whole and untorn. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh—oh!" she stammered. Then, laughing, added: "Is that one of your +sleight-of-hand tricks?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Joe nodded. When Helen handed him the letter he happened to be +holding the scraps of a circular letter he had just received and torn +up. It occurred to him, just for a joke, to make Helen believe her +letter had suddenly gone to pieces. It was one of Joe's simplest +tricks, and he often did them nowadays in order to keep in practice. +</P> + +<P> +"You certainly gave me a start!" Helen exclaimed. "I had hardly read +the letter myself. It's quite puzzling." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you want me to read it—and advise you?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will—and can—yes." +</P> + +<P> +Joe hastily glanced over the paper. He saw in a moment that it was +from a New York firm of lawyers. The body of the letter read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"We are writing to you to learn if, by any chance, you are the daughter +of Thomas and Ruth Morton who some years ago lived in San Francisco. +In case you are, and if your grandfather on your father's side was a +Seth Morton, we would be glad to have you notify us of these facts, +sending copies of any papers you may have to prove your identity. +</P> + +<P> +"For some years we have been searching for a Helen Morton with the +above named relatives, but, so far, have not located her. +</P> + +<P> +"We discovered a number of Helen Mortons, but they were not the right +ones. Recently we saw your name in a theatrical magazine, and take +this opportunity to inquire of you, sending this letter in care of the +circus with which we understand you are connected. Kindly reply as +soon as possible. If you are the right person there is a sum of money +due you, and we wish, if that is the case, to pay it and close an +estate." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Joe read the letter over twice without speaking. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," remarked Helen, after a pause, "I thought you were going to +advise me." +</P> + +<P> +"So I am," Joe said. "I want to get this through my head first. But +let me ask you: Is this a joke, or are you the Helen Morton referred +to?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know whether it's a joke or not, Joe. First I thought it was. +But my father's name was Thomas, and my grandfather was a Seth Morton, +and he lived in San Francisco. Of course that was when I was a little +girl, and I don't remember much about it. We lived in the West before +papa and mamma died, and it was there I learned to ride a horse. +</P> + +<P> +"When I was left alone except for an elderly aunt, I did not know what +to do. My aunt took good care of me, however, but when she died there +was no one else, and she left no money. I tried to get work, but the +stores and factories wanted experienced girls, and the only thing I had +any experience with was a horse. +</P> + +<P> +"I got desperate, and decided to see if I couldn't make a living by +what little talent I had. So one day, when a circus was showing in our +town, I took my horse, Rosebud, rode out and did some stunts in the +lots. The manager saw me and hired me. Oh, how happy I was! +</P> + +<P> +"That wasn't with this show. I only joined here about two years ago. +Of course my friends—what few I had—thought it was dreadful for me to +become a circus rider, but I've found that there are just as good men +and women in circuses as anywhere else in this world," and her cheeks +grew red, probably at the memory of something that had been said +against circus folk. +</P> + +<P> +"I know," said Joe, quietly. "My mother was a circus rider." +</P> + +<P> +"So you have told me. But now about this letter, Joe. I wish Bill +Watson were here—he might know what to do about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can't say that I do, in spite of my boast," Joe answered. "It +may be a joke, and, again, it may be the real thing. You may be an +heiress, Miss Morton," and Joe bowed teasingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you were going to call me Helen—if I called you Joe," she +said. +</P> + +<P> +"So I am. That was only in fun," for soon after their acquaintance +began these two young persons had fallen into the habit of dropping the +formal Miss and Mister. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what would you do, Joe?" Helen asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I'd answer this letter seriously," replied the young +performer. "If it is a joke you can't lose more than a two cent stamp, +and, on the other hand, if it's serious they'll want to hear from you. +You may be the very person they want. This letter head doesn't look +much like a joke." +</P> + +<P> +The paper on which the letter was written was of excellent quality, and +Joe could tell by passing his fingers over the names, addresses and +other matter that it was engraved—not printed. +</P> + +<P> +"If it's a joke they went to a lot of work to get it up," he continued. +"Have you any papers, to prove your identity?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have some birth and marriage certificates, and an old bible +that was Grandfather Seth's. I wouldn't want to send them off to New +York though." +</P> + +<P> +"It won't be necessary—at least not at first. I'll help you make +copies of them, and if these lawyers want to see the real things let +them send a man on. That's my advice." +</P> + +<P> +"And very good advice it is too, Joe," Helen said. "I don't believe +Bill Watson could give any better. He's a real nice elderly man, and +he's been almost a father to me. I often go to him when I have my +little troubles. I wish he were here now. But you are very good to +me, Joe. I'm going to take your advice." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll help you make the copies," Joe offered. "Did you ever have any +idea that your grandfather left valuable property?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, and I don't believe papa or mamma did, either. We were not +exactly poor, but we weren't rich. Oh, wouldn't it be nice if I were +to get some money?" +</P> + +<P> +"You wouldn't stay with the circus then, would you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," she answered musingly. "I think I like it here." +</P> + +<P> +"I know I do," Joe said. "But if you don't want to take my advice you +can wait until Mr. Watson comes back. You say he's expected?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Mr. Tracy said he'd join us at Blairstown in a few days. But, +anyhow, I'm going to do as you said, Joe. And if I get a million +dollars maybe I'll buy a circus of my own," and she laughed at the +whimsical idea. +</P> + +<P> +Taking some spare time, she and Joe made copies of certain certificates +Helen had in her trunk, and they also copied the record from the old +Bible. Joe got the press agent of the show to typewrite a letter to go +with the copies, and they were sent to the New York lawyers. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we'll wait and see what comes of it," Helen said. "But I'm not +going to lose any sleep over it. I never inherited a fortune, and I +don't expect to." +</P> + +<P> +A few days later, when the show reached Blairstown, Bill Watson, a +veteran clown, joined the troupe of fun-makers. He was made royally +welcome, for his presence had been missed. +</P> + +<P> +"Bill, I want to introduce to you a new friend of mine," said Helen, +when she had the opportunity. "He's one of our newest and best +performers, aside from you and me," she joked. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the name?" asked jovial Bill, holding out his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Joe Strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Been in the business long?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not very. I was with Professor Rosello before I came here." +</P> + +<P> +"Never heard of him," and Bill shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"He was a conjurer," explained Joe. "My father was, too. He was +Professor Morretti, and my mother——" +</P> + +<P> +"Was Madame Hortense. She was Janet Willoughby before her marriage," +broke in Bill Watson, speaking calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Joe. "Did you know her—them?" +</P> + +<P> +"I knew both of them," said Bill. "I didn't connect your name with +them at first, Strong not being uncommon. But when you mentioned your +father, the professor, why, it came to me in a flash. So you're Madame +Hortense's son, eh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Did you know my mother well?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Know her?" cried the veteran clown. "I should say I did! Why, she +and I were great friends, and so were your father and I, but I did not +see so much of him, as he was in a different line. But your mother, +Joe! Ah, the profession lost a fine performer when she died. I never +thought I'd meet her son, and in a circus at that. +</P> + +<P> +"But I'm glad you're with us, and I want to say that if you have Helen, +here, on your side, you've got one of the finest little girls in all +the world." +</P> + +<P> +"I found that out as soon as I joined," said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Trust you young chaps for not losing any chances like that," chuckled +the clown. "Well, I'm glad you two are friends. They tell me you're +quite an addition to the Lascalla troupe." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad I've been able to do so well," Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +"And how have you been, Helen?" the old clown wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"First rate. And, oh, Bill. We have <I>such</I> a mystery for you—Joe and +I!" +</P> + +<P> +"A mystery, Helen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I'm going to be an heiress. Wait until I show you the letter," +which she did, to the no small astonishment of Bill Watson. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well," he said over and over again, when Helen and Joe told of +the answer they had sent the New York lawyers. "Suppose you do get +some money, Helen?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's too good to suppose. I can't imagine any one leaving me money." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I knew a fairy godmother who would leave me some," murmured +Joe. "But that wouldn't happen in a blue moon." +</P> + +<P> +Bill Watson turned, and looked rather curiously at the young circus +performer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now, do you know, Joe Strong," he said, "I have an idea." +</P> + +<P> +"An idea!" cried Helen gaily. "How nice, Bill. Tell us about it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now just a moment, young lady. Don't get too excited with an old man +just off a sick bed. But Joe's speaking that way—I call you Joe, as I +knew your folks so well—Joe's speaking that way gave me an idea. I +wouldn't be so terribly surprised, my boy, if you did have money left +you some day." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Joe in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, your mother, whom, as I said, I knew very well, came of a very +rich and aristocratic family in England. She was disowned by them when +she married your father—as if public performers weren't as good as +aristocrats, any day! But never mind about that. Your mother +certainly was rich when she was a girl, Joe, and it may be she is +entitled to money from the English estates now, or, rather, you would +be, since she is dead. That's my idea." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE TANK +</H4> + +<P> +"Are you really serious in that?" asked Joe of the old clown, after a +moment's consideration. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I am, Joe. Why? Would it be strange to have some one leave +you money?" +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly would! But it would be a nice sort of strangeness," +replied the young performer. "I never dreamed that such a thing might +happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't say it <I>will</I>," Bill Watson reminded him. "But the fact +remains that your mother came from what is sometimes called 'the landed +gentry' of England, and the estates there, or property, descend to +eldest sons differently than property does in this country. It may be +worth looking into, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't know much about my mother," Joe said. "I hardly ever meet +any one who knew her. My foster-parents would never speak of her—they +were ashamed of her calling." +</P> + +<P> +"More shame to them!" exclaimed the clown. "There never was a finer +woman than your mother, Joe Strong. And as for riding—well, I wish we +had a few of her kind in the show now. I don't mean to say anything +against your riding, my dear," he said to Helen. "But Janet Strong did +a different sort, for she was a powerful woman, and could handle a +horse better than most men." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I must get my liking for horses from her," Joe remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely," agreed Bill Watson. "Some day I'll have a long talk +with you about your mother, Joe, and I'll give you all the information +I can. There may be some of her old acquaintances you can write to, to +find out if she was entitled to any property." +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't it be fine if we both came into fortunes!" gaily cried Helen, +with sparkling eyes. "Wouldn't it be splendid, Joe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Too good to be true, I'm afraid. But you have a better chance than I, +Helen." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps. Would you leave the circus, Joe, if you got rich?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know. I guess I'd stay in it while you did—to sort of +look after you," and he smiled quizzically. +</P> + +<P> +"Trying to get my job, are you?" chuckled Bill. "Well, we are young +only once. But I must say, Helen, that this young man gave you as good +advice as I could, and I hope it turns out all right." +</P> + +<P> +Joe liked Bill Watson—every one did in fact—and the young performer +was pleased to learn something of his mother, and glad to learn that he +would be told more. +</P> + +<P> +The enforced rest Bill Watson had taken on account of a slight illness, +seemed to have done the old clown good, for he worked in some new +"business" in his acts when he again donned the odd suit he wore. His +presence, too, had a good effect on the other clowns, so that the +audiences, especially the younger portion, were kept in roars of +merriment at each performance. +</P> + +<P> +Joe, also, did his share to provide entertainment for the circus +throngs. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that Joe provided the +thrills, for some of his feats were thrilling indeed. Not that the +other members of the Lascalla troupe did not share in the honors, for +they did. Both Sid and Tonzo were accomplished and veteran performers +on the flying rings and trapeze bars, but they had been in the business +so long that they had become rather hardened to it, and stuck to old +tricks and effects instead of getting up new ones. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was especially good at this, and while some of his feats were not +really new, he gave a different turn to them that seemed to make for +novelty. +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't like to see you take such risks," Helen said to him on +more than one occasion. "I'm afraid you'll be hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"You have to take risks in this business," Joe stated. "I don't think +about them when I'm away up at the top of the tent, swinging on the +bar. I just think of the trick and wonder if Sid or Tonzo will catch +me or me one of them when the jump is made. Besides, the life net is +always below us. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but suppose you miss the net or it breaks?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like supposes of that sort," laughed Joe, coolly. Truly he +had good nerves, under perfect control. He was adding to his muscular +strength, too. Constant and steady practice was making his arms and +legs powerful indeed. +</P> + +<P> +For a while Joe had been on the watch for some overt act on the part of +Sid or Tonzo that would spoil an act and bring censure down on himself. +But following that one attempt neither of the Spaniards did anything +that Joe could find fault with. They were enthusiastic over some of +the feats he performed, and worked in harmony with him. If they were +jealous over Joe's popularity and the applause he often received as his +share alone in some trick, they did not show it. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe!" exclaimed Helen one day, when they were in the small tent +getting ready for the afternoon performance. "I have a letter from the +New York lawyers." +</P> + +<P> +"What do they say?" Joe asked eagerly. "Did they send the money?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. But they thanked me for the copies of the proofs I sent, and they +said they believed they were on the right track. They will write again +soon. So it wasn't a joke, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't look so," the youth agreed. "Is everything all +right—Rosebud safe, and all that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. He's feeling himself again." The trick horse had been ailing +the day before, and Helen was a little worried about her pet. +</P> + +<P> +Joe and Helen wandered into the main tent, which was now set up. Joe +wanted to get in a little practice on the trapeze, while Helen went in +to watch, as she often did. The men were setting up the big glass tank +in which the "human fish" performed, and when Joe came down from his +trapeze, rather warm and tired, the water looked very inviting. +</P> + +<P> +"I've a good notion to go in for a swim," he said to Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you?" she dared him. "It would do you good. It's such a +hot day. I almost wish I could myself." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe I will," Joe said. "I've got a bathing suit in my trunk." +</P> + +<P> +The big tent was almost deserted at this hour, for the parade was in +progress. Joe and Helen did not take part in this. Joe came back +attired for a swim, and going up the steps by which Benny mounted to +the platform on the edge of the tank before he plunged in, Joe poised +there. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I go," he called to Helen. "Got a watch?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Time me then. I'm going to see how long I can stay under water." +</P> + +<P> +In he went head first, making a clean dive, for Joe was an adept in the +water. He swam about in the limpid depths, Helen watching him +admiringly through the glass sides of the tank. Then Joe settled down +on the bottom as Benny was in the habit of doing. Helen nervously +watched the seconds tick off on her wrist watch. +</P> + +<P> +When two minutes had passed, and Joe was still below the water, the +girl became nervous. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on out, Joe!" she called. Joe could not hear her, of course. He +waved his hand to her. He could not stay under much longer, he felt +sure, but he did not want to give up. It was not until three seconds +of the third minute had passed that he found it impossible to hold his +breath longer, and up he shot, filling his lungs with air as he reached +the surface. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment Benny Turton came into the tent, and saw some one in his +tank. +</P> + +<P> +"What happened?" he cried, running forward. "Did some one fall in?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right," Helen informed the "human fish." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HELEN'S DISCOVERY +</H4> + +<P> +Joe Strong climbed out of the tank. He grinned cheerfully at Benny. +</P> + +<P> +"It was so hot I took a bath in your tub," he explained. "It sure was +fine! Hope you don't mind?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit," returned Benny, cheerfully. "Come in any time you like. +It isn't exactly a summer resort beach, but it's the best we have." +</P> + +<P> +"And Joe stayed under water over three minutes," Helen said. +</P> + +<P> +"Did I, really?" Joe cried. +</P> + +<P> +"You certainly did." +</P> + +<P> +"I was just giving myself a try-out," Joe explained to Benny. +</P> + +<P> +"That's pretty good," declared the "human fish," as he tested the +temperature of the water. "I couldn't do that at first." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you see I've lived near the water all my life," Joe explained, +"and it comes sort of natural to me. Don't be afraid that I'm going +after your act though," he added, with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I almost wish you would," and Benny spoke wearily. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Helen, with ready sympathy. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know. I don't feel just right, somehow or other. It's +mostly in my head—back here," and Benny pointed to the region just +behind his ears. "I've got a lot of pain there, and going under water +and staying so long seems to make it worse." +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you see a doctor?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you know what that would mean. I might have to lay off, and I +don't want that. I need the money." +</P> + +<P> +Benny had a widowed mother to support, and it was well known that he +sent her most of his wages, keeping only enough to live on. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I wish I could help you," said Joe, "but I can't do all the +stunts you can under water, even if I could hold down both jobs." +</P> + +<P> +"The stunts are easy enough, once you learn how to hold and control +your breath," Benny said. "That's the hardest part of it, and you seem +to have gotten that down fine. How was the water, cold?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, just about right for me," Joe declared. "I don't like it too +warm." +</P> + +<P> +Benny again tested the temperature by putting his hand in the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I'll have 'em put a little hot water in just before I do my +act," he said. "I have an idea that the cold water gets in my ears and +makes the pain in my head." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it does," Joe agreed. +</P> + +<P> +Preparations for the afternoon performance were now actively under way. +The big parade was out, going through the streets of the town, and soon +those taking part in the pageant would return to the "lot." Then, at +two, the main show would start. +</P> + +<P> +Joe had a new feat for that day's performance. He and the two +Spaniards had worked it out together. It was quite an elaborate act, +and involved some risk, though at practice it had gone well. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was to take his place on the small, high elevated platform at one +side of the tent, and Tonzo would occupy a similar place on the other +side. Joe was to swing off, holding to the flying rings, which, for +this trick, had been attached to unusually long ropes. +</P> + +<P> +Opposite him Tonzo was to swing from a regulation trapeze, which also +was provided with a long rope. After the two had acquired sufficient +momentum, they were to let go at a certain signal and pass each other +in the air, Joe under Tonzo. Then Joe would catch the trapeze bar, and +Tonzo the rings, exchanging places. +</P> + +<P> +Once they had a good grip, Sid was to swing from a third trapeze, and, +letting go, grasp Tonzo's hands, that performer, meanwhile, having +slipped his legs through the rings, hanging head downward. +</P> + +<P> +When Sid had thus caught bold, he was to signal to Joe, who was to make +a second flying leap, and grasp Sid's down-hanging legs. +</P> + +<P> +As said before, the feat went well in practice and the ring-master was +depending on it for a "thriller." But whether it would go all right +before a crowded tent was another matter. Joe was a little nervous +over it—that is as nervous as he ever allowed himself to get, for he +had evolved the feat, and Sid and Tonzo had not been over-enthusiastic +about it. +</P> + +<P> +However, it must be attempted in public sooner or later, and this was +the day set for it. Before the show began Joe, Sid and Tonzo went over +every rope, bar and ring. They wanted no falls, even though the life +net was below them. +</P> + +<P> +"Is everything all right?" Joe asked his partners. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," they told him. +</P> + +<P> +The usual announcement was made of the Lascalla Brothers' act, and on +this occasion Jim Tracy, who was making the presentation, added +something about a "death-defying double exchange and triple suspension +act never before attempted in any circus ring or arena throughout the +world." +</P> + +<P> +That was Joe's trick. +</P> + +<P> +The three performers went through some of their usual exploits, +ordinary enough to them, but rather thrilling for all that. Then came +the preparations for the new feat. +</P> + +<P> +Joe and Tonzo took their places on the small platforms, high up on the +tent poles. The eyes of all in their vicinity were watching them +eagerly. Sid was in his place, ready to swing off when the two had +crossed each other in the air and had made the exchange. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready?" called Jim Tracy in his loud voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready," answered Joe's voice, from high up in the tent. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready," responded Tonzo, after a moment's hesitation, during which he +pretended to fix one slipper. This was done for dramatic effect, and +to heighten the suspense. +</P> + +<P> +Helen, who had just finished her tricks with Rosebud, paused at the +edge of a ring to watch the new act. +</P> + +<P> +"Then go!" shouted the ring-master. +</P> + +<P> +Joe and Tonzo swung off together, and then swayed to and fro like giant +pendulums, Joe on the rings and Tonzo on the trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready?" cried Joe to his swinging partner. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tonzo. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +It was time to make the exchange. This was one of the critical parts +of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +Joe let go the rings and hurled himself forward his eyes on the +swinging trapeze bar, his hands out stretched to grasp it. He passed +the form of his partner in mid-air, and the next instant he was +swinging from the trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +He could not turn to look, but he felt sure, from the burst of applause +which came, that Tonzo had successfully done his part. +</P> + +<P> +Again Tonzo and Joe were swinging in long arcs, so manipulating their +bodies as to give added momentum to the long ropes. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready down there?" asked Joe of Sid. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Then go!" +</P> + +<P> +Sid swung off, as Tonzo hung head downward with outstretched hands. +Sid easily caught them, for this was a trick they often did together. +Now must come Joe's second leap, and it was not so easy as the first, +nor did he have as good a chance of catching Sid's legs as he would +have had at Tonzo's hands. +</P> + +<P> +However, it was "all in the day's work," and he did not hesitate at +taking chances. +</P> + +<P> +He reached the height of his swing and started downward in a long sweep. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I come!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +He let go the trapeze bar, and made a dive for Sid's dangling legs. +For the fraction of a second Joe thought he was going to miss. But he +did not. He caught Sid by the ankles and the three hung there, +swinging in mid-air, Tonzo, of course, supporting the dragging weight +of the bodies of Joe and Sid. But Tonzo was a giant in his strength. +</P> + +<P> +There was a burst of music, a rattle and boom of drums, as the feat +came to a successful and startling finish. Then, as Joe dropped +lightly into the life net, turning over in a succession of somersaults, +the applause broke out in a roar. +</P> + +<P> +Sid and Tonzo dropped down beside Joe, and the three stood with arms +over one another's shoulders, bowing and smiling at the furor they had +caused. +</P> + +<P> +"A dandy stunt!" cried Jim Tracy, highly pleased, as he went over to +another ring to make an announcement. "Couldn't be better!" +</P> + +<P> +This ended the work of Joe and his partners for the afternoon, the new +feat being a climax. They ran out of the tent amid continuous +applause, and Joe saw Helen waiting for him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm so glad!" she whispered. "So glad!" +</P> + +<P> +It was about a week after this, the show meanwhile having moved on from +town to town, that one of the trapeze performers who did a "lone act," +that is all by himself, was taken ill. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll just shift you to his place, Joe," said Jim. "You can easily do +what he did, and maybe improve on it." +</P> + +<P> +"But what about my Lascalla act?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not going to take you out of that. You'll do the most +sensational things with them, but they can have some one else for the +ordinary stunts. I want you to have some individual work." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was glad enough for this chance, for it meant more money for him, +and also brought him more prominently before the public. But the +Lascalla Brothers were not so well pleased. They did not say anything, +but Joe was sure they were more jealous of him than before. He was +going above them on the circus ladder of success and popularity. But +it was none of Joe's planning. His success was merited. +</P> + +<P> +The mail had been distributed one day, and Helen had a letter from the +New York lawyers, stating that a member of the firm was coming on to +inspect the old Bible and the other original proofs of her identity. +</P> + +<P> +"I must tell Joe," she said, and on inquiry learned that he was in the +main tent, practising. As she walked past the dressing room which Joe +and the Lascalla Brothers used, she saw a strange sight. +</P> + +<P> +Sid and Tonzo were doing something to a trapeze. They had pushed up +the outer silk covering of the rope—covering put on for ornamental +purposes—and Tonzo was pouring something from a bottle on the hempen +strands. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what he is doing that for," mused Helen. "Can it be that——" +</P> + +<P> +She got no further in her musing, for she heard Sid speaking, and she +listened to what he said. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JUST IN TIME +</H4> + +<P> +"This ought to do the business," said Sid. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Tonzo, "and not so quickly that it will be noticed, +either. It will work slowly, but surely." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what we want," commented the other. "We're in no hurry. Any +time inside of a week will do. Now we'll put this away to ripen." +</P> + +<P> +"That's queer," thought Helen, and she passed on, for by the movement +in the canvas dressing room she thought the men were about to come out, +and she did not want them to see her at what they might consider spying +on them. "I never heard of ripening a rope before," the girl said. +"But it may be they have to for a trapeze. I'll ask Joe about it. He +might fix some of his ropes that way." +</P> + +<P> +Helen went on, anxious to find the young performer, and show him her +letter from the lawyer. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell Bill Watson, too," Helen decided. +</P> + +<P> +As she expected, both Joe and the old clown were much interested in her +news. +</P> + +<P> +"It does really begin to look as though you would come into some money, +doesn't it?" Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm beginning to believe it myself," Helen answered, "though I don't +really count on it as yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it's best to go a little slowly," advised Bill. "Not to count +your chickens before they're hatched is a good motto. But this looks +like business. I'd like to interview that lawyer when he comes." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll turn him over to you," Helen said with a laugh. "To you and Joe, +and you can arrange about getting my money for me. I'll make you two +my official advisers." +</P> + +<P> +"I accept with pleasure," Joe answered, with a bow. +</P> + +<P> +"And that reminds me," went on Bill. "I'm going to give you the +addresses of some people who might know about your mother's folks in +England, Joe. As I told you, they disowned her when she married your +father, though there wasn't a finer man going. But he was an American, +and that was one thing they had against him, and another was that he +was a public performer. +</P> + +<P> +"I think, too, that they rather blamed him for your mother's going into +the circus business, Joe. Your mother was always a good horsewoman, so +I have understood. She took part in many a fox hunt in England, and in +cross-country runs, always coming out in front. And when your father +met her he, as I understand it, suggested that, just for fun, she try +circus work. She took it up seriously, and Madame Hortense became one +of the foremost circus riders of her time. But from then on her name +was forgotten by her relatives, and her picture was, so to speak, +turned to the wall." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could get one of those pictures," said Joe thoughtfully. "I +have only a very small one that was in my father's watch. I'd like a +large one, for I can't remember, very well, how she looked." +</P> + +<P> +"She was a handsome woman," said the clown. "It may be that you can +get a picture of her from England—that is, if they saved one. I'll +give you the address of some folks you can write to. It might be well +to get a firm of lawyers here to take the matter up for you." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe it would be best," agreed Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not let my lawyers—notice that, <I>my</I>," laughed Helen. "Why not +let my lawyers act for you, Joe? That is, after we see what sort they +are. They seem honest." +</P> + +<P> +"Another good idea!" commented the young performer. "I'll do it. You +say one of them is coming to see you?" +</P> + +<P> +"So he says in this letter." +</P> + +<P> +"Does he know where to find you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I have told him the places where the circus will show for the +next two weeks. He can find the place easily enough, and inquire for +me. Oh, I'm so anxious to know how rich I'm going to be!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't blame you," chuckled Bill. "Now, Joe, if I had a pencil and +paper I'd give you those addresses I spoke of." +</P> + +<P> +Joe supplied what was needed, and obtained the names of some men and +women—circus performers who had been associated with his mother. Joe +wrote to them, asking the names of his mother's relatives in England, +and their addresses. +</P> + +<P> +Helen's attention was so taken up with the affairs of her inheritance +that she forgot about the queer actions of Sid and Tonzo until after +the performance that night. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as she and Joe were going to the train to take the sleeping cars +for the next stop, Helen asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Joe, did you ever hear of ripening trapeze ropes?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ripening trapeze ropes?" he repeated. "No. What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +Helen then told what she had seen and heard in the dressing tent. +</P> + +<P> +Joe shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be some secret process they have of treating ropes to make them +tougher, so they'll last longer," Joe said. "They may call it +ripening, but I never heard of it. I'll ask them." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't tell them I saw them," Helen cautioned him. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not," Joe answered. "Perhaps it may be a professional +secret with them, and they won't tell me anyhow. But I'll ask." +</P> + +<P> +But when Joe, as casually as he could, inquired of Sid and Tonzo what +they knew of ripening trapeze ropes, the two Spaniards shook their +heads, though, unseen by Joe, a quick look passed between them. +</P> + +<P> +"I sometimes oil my ropes, to make them pliable," Tonzo admitted. +"Olive oil I use. But it does not make them ripe." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess that must have been it," thought Joe. "Helen was probably +mistaken. It might have been a word that sounded like ripening." +</P> + +<P> +So he said no more about it then, though when he reported to Helen the +result of his questioning, she shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I heard aright," she declared. "And they were pouring +something from a bottle on the trapeze rope from which they had pushed +the silk covering." +</P> + +<P> +"It might have been olive oil," Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +"It might," Helen admitted, '"but I don't believe it was. They don't +handle any of your ropes, do they?" +</P> + +<P> +"I always look after my own. Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I just wanted to know," and that was all the answer Helen would +give. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe went to his dressing room for that afternoon's performance he +passed Señor Bogardi, the lion tamer. Something in the man's manner +attracted Joe's attention, and he asked him: +</P> + +<P> +"Aren't you feeling well to-day, Señor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, as well as usual. It is my Princess who is not well." +</P> + +<P> +"Princess, the big lioness?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I do not know what to make of her actions. She is never rough +with me, but a little while ago, when I went in her cage, she growled +and struck at me. I had to hit her—which I seldom do—and that did +not improve her temper. I do not know what to make of her. I have to +put her through her paces in the cage this afternoon, and I do not want +any accident to happen. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not that I am afraid for myself," went on the tamer, and Joe +knew he spoke the truth, for he was absolutely fearless. "But if she +comes for me and I have to—to do—something, it may start a panic. +No, I do not like it," and he shook his head dubiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, maybe it will come out all right," Joe assured him. "But +you'd better tell Jim, and have some extra men around. She can't get +out of her cage, can she?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, nothing like that. Well, we shall see." +</P> + +<P> +It was almost time for the performance to begin. The crowd was already +streaming into the animal tent and slowly filtering into the "main +top," where the performance took place. Before that, however, there +was a sort of "show" in the animal arena, Señor Bogardi's appearance in +the cage with the lioness being one of the features. +</P> + +<P> +Joe had gone to his dressing tent and was coming out again, when he +heard unusual roars from the animal tent. The lions often let their +thunderous voices boom out, sometimes startling the crowd, but, somehow +or other, this sounded differently to Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if that's Princess cutting up," he reflected. "Guess I'll go +in and have a look. I hope nothing happens to the señor." +</P> + +<P> +Though lion tamers, as well as other performers with wild beasts, seem +to take matters easily, slipping into the cage with the ferocious +creatures as a matter of course, they take their lives in their hands +whenever they do it. No one can say when a lion or a tiger may +suddenly turn fierce and spring upon its trainer. And there is not +much chance of escape. The claws of a lion or a tiger go deep, even in +one swift blow of its powerful paws. +</P> + +<P> +Joe started for the animal tent, and then remembered that he needed in +his act that day a certain short trapeze, the ends of the ropes being +provided with hooks that caught over the bar of another trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +He hurried back to get it, and then, as the unusual roars kept up in +the arena, he hastened there. As he had surmised, it was Princess who +was roaring, her fellow captives joining in. Señor Bogardi had slipped +into the cage, and was waiting until the creature had calmed down a +little. +</P> + +<P> +Cages in which trainers perform with wild beasts are built in two +parts. In one end is a sort of double door, forming a compartment into +which the trainer can slip for safety. The señor had opened the outer +door of the cage and slipped in, it being fastened after him. +</P> + +<P> +But he was still separated from Princess by another iron-barred door +that worked on spring hinges. And Princess did not seem to want this +door opened. She sprang against it with savage roars and thrust her +paws through, trying to reach her trainer. He sought to drive her back +into a far corner, so that he would have room to enter. Once in, he +felt he could subdue her. But Princess would not get back +sufficiently, though Señor Bogardi ordered her, and even flicked her +through the bars with the heavy whip he carried. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you'd better cut out the act to-day," advised Jim Tracy, as he +saw how matters were going. The women and children were beginning to +get nervous, some of them hastening into the other tent. Men, too, +were looking about as if for a quick means of escape in case anything +happened. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no. I must make her obey me," insisted the performer. "If I give +in to her now I will lose power over her. Get back, Princess! Get +back! Down!" he ordered. +</P> + +<P> +But the lioness only snarled and struck at the bars with her paws. +Then she threw herself against the spring door, roaring. The cage +rocked and shook, and several women screamed. +</P> + +<P> +"Cut out the act!" ordered the ring-master. "It isn't safe with this +crowd." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," chimed in a man. "We know it isn't your fault, +professor." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you!" Señor Bogardi bowed. "For the comfort of the audience I +will omit my act to-day. But I will subdue Princess later." +</P> + +<P> +There was a breath of relief from the crowd as the trainer prepared to +leave the cage. Men who had fastened the door after him raised the +iron bar that held it so he could emerge. +</P> + +<P> +The lion-tamer slipped from the cage through the outside door, which +was about to be shut when Princess, with all her force, threw herself +against the inner spring door. +</P> + +<P> +Whether it was insecurely fastened or whether she broke the fastenings, +was not disclosed at the moment, but the door gave way and the enraged +beast sprang into the smaller compartment and toward the outer door. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick!" cried the trainer. "Up with that bar! Fasten the door, or +she'll be out among us!" +</P> + +<P> +The circus men raised the bar, but the cage was swaying so from the +leapings of the lioness that they could not slip the iron in place. It +almost dropped from their hands. +</P> + +<P> +Joe Strong saw the danger. He stood near the cage, the crowd having +rushed back, men and women yelling with fright. Joe saw the outer door +swing open. In another instant the lioness would be out. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the men dropped the iron bar. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick! Something to fasten the door—to hold it!" cried the +lion-tamer. +</P> + +<P> +Joe acted in a flash and not an instant too soon. He forced the strong +hickory bar of his small trapeze into the places meant to receive the +iron bar, and as the lioness, with a roar of rage, flung herself +against the door, it did not give way, but held. Joe had prevented her +escape. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A BAD BLOW +</H4> + +<P> +"Quick now! With the iron bar!" cried Señor Bogardi. "That trapeze +stick won't hold long!" +</P> + +<P> +But it held long enough. As the lioness, flung back into a corner of +her cage by her impact against the steel door, gathered herself for +another spring, the men slipped into place the iron bar, Joe pulling +out his trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right now—no more danger!" called Jim Tracy. "Take it easy, +folks, she can't get out now!" +</P> + +<P> +This was true enough. The beast, after a fruitless effort to force a +way out of the cage, retreated to a corner and lay down, snarling and +growling. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what's gotten into Princess," said the trainer as he +looked at her. "She never acted this way before." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good thing she showed her temper before you got in the cage +with her, and not afterward," remarked Joe, as he was about to pass on +to the performance tent. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Señor Bogardi. "And you did the right thing in +the nick of time, my boy. Only for your trapeze bar she'd have been +out among the crowd," and he looked at the men, women and children, who +were now calming down. +</P> + +<P> +The small panic was soon over, and in order to quiet the lioness a big +canvas was thrown over her cage, so she would not be annoyed by +onlookers. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess she needs a rest," her trainer said. "I'll let her alone for +a day or so, and she may get over this." +</P> + +<P> +Joe went on into the tent where he was to do his trapeze acts. It was +nearly time for him to appear, and the other two Lascalla Brothers were +waiting for him. They would do an act together, and Joe one of his +single feats, however, before the three appeared in a triple act. +</P> + +<P> +The young performer was straightening out the ropes attached to his +trapeze, when he noticed that the bar of the small one, which he had +thrust into the door of the lioness' cage, was cracked. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" exclaimed Joe. "This won't do. I can't risk doing tricks up +at the top of the tent on a cracked bar. It might hold, and again it +might not." +</P> + +<P> +He tried the cracked bar in his hands. It gave a little, but seemed +fairly strong. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if I could get another," mused Joe. "Guess I'd better try." +</P> + +<P> +He walked over to where the Lascalla Brothers stood near their +apparatus. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Sid, seeing Joe trailing the broken trapeze +after him. +</P> + +<P> +"This bar is cracked. It's my short trapeze that I fasten to the big +one. I used it just now to hold the door so the lioness wouldn't get +out, and the wood is cracked. I was wondering if you had a spare one +like this." +</P> + +<P> +"We have!" exclaimed Tonzo quickly. "Get the little short one—the one +with the silk coverings on the ropes," he said to Sid. "Joe can use +that." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be back with it in a second," Sid stated, as he hurried off to +the dressing tent, for it was nearly time for the performance to begin. +Sid returned presently with another trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Helen came in with her horse, Rosebud, for she was about +to do her act. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter, Joe?" asked Helen, for she knew that at this point +in the performance he ought to be on the other side of the tent doing +his act. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I cracked a trapeze bar," Joe replied, as he stepped up beside the +girl and patted Rosebud. "Sid is going to get me another. Here he +comes now with it." +</P> + +<P> +At the sight of the trapeze the circus man was bringing up, Helen was +conscious of a strange feeling. She saw the silk-covered ropes, and +the recollection of that scene in the tent came vividly to her. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess this will do you, Joe," remarked Sid, holding out the trapeze. +"It's the only one we have like yours." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks," responded the young performer. "That will do nicely. I've +got to hustle now and——" +</P> + +<P> +Joe turned away, but became aware that Helen was leaning down from the +saddle and whispering to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Joe! Joe!" she exclaimed, making sure the Lascalla Brothers could not +hear her, for they were On the other side of Rosebud. "Joe, don't use +the trapeze!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I'm sure that's the one I saw those two men 'ripening,' as +they call it. They had pulled back the silk cover, and were pouring +something on the rope. Look at it before you use it. Be careful!" +</P> + +<P> +Then she flicked Rosebud with the whip and rode into the ring to do her +act amid a blare of trumpets. Joe stood there, holding the trapeze. +The two Spaniards were starting their act now, and were high up in the +air. +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "I wonder what's up. Can it be that this rope +is doctored? I won't let them see me looking at it." +</P> + +<P> +He hurried over to his own particular place in the tent. +</P> + +<P> +"Lively, Joe!" called Jim Tracy. "You're late as it is!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be right on the job in a moment," the young performer answered. +"I had to get another trapeze—the lioness cracked mine." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, all right—but hustle." +</P> + +<P> +Under pretense of fastening the short trapeze to the larger one Joe +pushed back the loose silk covering the ropes. To his surprise, on one +rope was a dark stain. Joe rubbed his fingers over the strands. They +were rotten, and crumbled at the touch. Joe smelled of the dark stain. +</P> + +<P> +"Acid!" exclaimed Joe. "Some one spilled acid on this rope. Talk +about putting on something to ripen it! This is something to rot it!" +</P> + +<P> +He tested the rope in his hands. It did not part, but some of the +strands gave, and he did not doubt but that if he trusted his weight to +it it would break and give him a fall. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wonder if they did that on purpose to queer me," mused Joe. "If +they did they waited for a most opportune time to give me the doctored +trapeze. They couldn't have known I was going to break mine. I wonder +if they did it on purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I wouldn't have been killed, and probably not even much +hurt, if the rope did break," thought Joe. "I'd only fall into the +life net, but it sure would spoil my act and make me look like an +amateur. Maybe that's their game! If it was——" +</P> + +<P> +Joe paused, and looked over in the direction of the two Spaniards. +They were going through their act, but Joe thought he had a glimpse of +Tonzo looking over toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"They want to see what happens to me," thought Joe. "Well, they won't +see anything, for I sha'n't use this trapeze. I'll change my act." +</P> + +<P> +"Hey, what's the matter over there, Joe?" called Jim Tracy to him. +"You ought to be up on the bar." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it, Mr. Tracy. But I've got to make a change at the last +minute. I can't use this extra trapeze." +</P> + +<P> +"All right; do anything you like, but do it quick!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe signaled to his helper, who began hoisting him to the top of the +tent by means of rope and pulley. Once on his own regular trapeze, +which he had tested but a short while before, Joe went through his act. +</P> + +<P> +He had to improvise some acts to take the place of those he did on the +short trapeze. But he did these extra exploits so well and so easily +that no one in the audience suspected that it was anything but the +regular procedure. +</P> + +<P> +Then Joe, amid applause, descended and went over to work with the two +Spaniards. He carried the doctored trapeze with him. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't use this," he said, looking closely at Tonzo. "It seems to +have been left out in the rain and one of the ropes has rotted." +</P> + +<P> +"Rotted?" asked Sid, his voice trembling. +</P> + +<P> +"Something like that, yes," answered Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, that is too bad!" exclaimed Tonzo, and neither by a false note nor +by a change in his face did he betray anything. "I am glad you +discovered the defect in time." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," said Joe significantly. "Come on, now. +</P> + +<P> +"Probably they fixed the rope with acid, and kept it ready against the +chance that some day I might use it," reflected Joe. "The worst that +could happen would be to spoil my tricks—I couldn't get much hurt +falling into the net, and they knew that. But it was a mean act, all +right, and I sha'n't forget it. I guess they want to discourage me so +they can get their former partner back. But I'm going to stick!" +</P> + +<P> +"Did you find out anything, Joe?" asked Helen, when she had a chance to +speak to him alone. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure did, thanks to you, little girl. I might have had a ridiculous +fall if I'd used their trapeze. You were right in what you suspected." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe! I'm so glad I saw it in time to warn you." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I, Helen. It was a mean piece of business, and cunning. I +never suspected them of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but you will be careful after this, won't you, Joe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I will! I want to live long enough to see you get your +fortune. By the way, when is that lawyer coming?" +</P> + +<P> +"He is to meet me day after to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be on hand," Joe promised. +</P> + +<P> +It rained the next day, and working in a circus during a rain is not +exactly fun. Still the show goes on, "rain or shine," as it says on +the posters, and the performers do not get the worst of it. It is the +wagon and canvas men who suffer in a storm. +</P> + +<P> +"And this is a bad one," Joe remarked, when he went in the tent that +afternoon for his act. "It's getting worse. I hope they have the tent +up good and strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Because the wind's increasing. Look at that!" he exclaimed as a gust +careened the big, heavy canvas shelter. "If some of the tent pegs pull +out there'll be trouble." +</P> + +<P> +Helen looked anxious as she set off to put Rosebud through his tricks, +and Joe was not a little apprehensive as he was hoisted to the top of +the tent. He saw the big pole to which his trapeze was fastened, +swaying as the wind shook the "main top." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HELEN'S INHERITANCE +</H4> + +<P> +Joe Strong had scarcely begun his act when he became aware that indeed +the storm was no usual blow and bluster, accompanied by rain. He could +feel his trapeze swaying as the whole tent shook, and while this would +not have deterred him from going on with his performance, he felt that +an accident was likely to occur that would start a panic. +</P> + +<P> +"It surely does feel as if the old 'main top' was going to fall," +thought Joe as he swung head downward by his knees, preparatory to +doing another act. He could see that many in the audience were getting +uneasy, and some were leaving their seats, though the red-capped ushers +were going about calling: +</P> + +<P> +"Sit still! Keep your seats! There is no danger. The tent is +perfectly safe." +</P> + +<P> +Jim Tracy had ordered this done. As a matter of fact the tent was not +perfectly safe, but under the circumstances it was best to tell the +people this to quiet them and to avoid having them make a rush to get +out, as in that case many would be hurt—especially the women and the +children. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good thing it isn't night," reflected Joe. "Whew! That was a +bad one!" he exclaimed as a terrific blast seemed fairly to lift one +side of the tent. Men started from their seats and women and children +screamed. +</P> + +<P> +"Just keep quiet and it will be all right," urged the ring-master, but +the crowd was fast getting beyond control. +</P> + +<P> +Joe saw Jim Tracy sending out a gang of men to drive the tent pegs +deeper into the ground. The rain softened the soil, and thus made the +pegs so loose that they were likely to pull out. At the same time the +rain, wetting the ropes, caused them to shrink, and thus exert a +stronger pull on the pegs and poles. So the ropes had to be eased off, +while the pegs were pounded farther into the ground with big mauls. +</P> + +<P> +"Lively now, men!" called the ring-master. +</P> + +<P> +The big tent swayed, sometimes the top of it being lifted high up by +the wind which blew under it. Again the sides would bulge in, making +gaps by which the rain entered. +</P> + +<P> +But the band kept on playing. Jim saw to that, for nothing is more +conducive to subduing a panic than to let the crowd hear music. The +performers, too, kept on with their acts, and some of the audience +began to feel reassured. +</P> + +<P> +But the wind still kept up, blowing stronger if anything, and Joe and +others realized that it needed but a little accident to start a rush +that might end fatally for some. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was just about to go into the second series of his gymnastic work +when he heard a tent pole beneath him snap with a breaking sound. At +first he thought it was the big one to which his apparatus was made +fast, but a glance showed him this one was standing safe. It was one +of the smaller side poles. +</P> + +<P> +That part of the tent sagged down, the wind aiding in the break, and +there were cries of fear from scores of women, while men shouted all +sorts of directions. +</P> + +<P> +But the circus people had gone through dangers like this before, and +they knew what to do. Under the direction of Jim Tracy and his +helpers, extra poles were quickly put in place to take the weight of +the wet canvas off the broken one. This at once raised the tent up +from those on whom it had partly fallen. +</P> + +<P> +And then something else happened. +</P> + +<P> +One of five horses which were being put through a series of tricks by a +man trainer, suddenly bolted out of the ring. Joe, high up in the +tent, saw him running, and noted that the animal was headed for the +ring where Helen Morton was performing with Rosebud. +</P> + +<P> +"He's going to run into her!" thought Joe. "I've got to do something!" +</P> + +<P> +He must think and act quickly. While attendant's were running after +the bolting horse Joe, looking down, saw that the animal would pass +close to his life net. In an instant Joe had decided what to do. +</P> + +<P> +He poised on the small platform, from which he made his swings, and +dropped straight into the big net. Just as he had calculated, he +bounced up again, and as he did so he sprang out to one side. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's quick eyes and nerves had enabled him to judge the distance +correctly. He leaped from the net just as the horse was opposite him, +and landed on his back in a riding position. +</P> + +<P> +It was the work of but a second to reach forward, grasp the little +bridle which the animal wore, and pull him to one side. +</P> + +<P> +And it was not a second too soon, either, for the horse was on the edge +of the ring in which Helen was performing with Rosebud. If the +maddened animal had gone in, there would have been a collision in which +the girl performer would, undoubtedly, have been injured. +</P> + +<P> +"Good work, Joe!" cried the ring-master. "But there's plenty more to +be done. I guess we'll have to get all the men performers to help hold +down the tent. I'm afraid she's going." +</P> + +<P> +"It does look so," Joe admitted as he leaped from the horse and gave +him in charge of one of the attendants. "What can we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Help drive in extra pins and attach more ropes. I'm going to dismiss +the audience. We'll stay over here to-morrow, and give an extra +performance to make up for it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll get a crowd together and we'll help the canvasmen," offered Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll help," said Benny Turton, who had finished his tank act. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Joe, as he led the way. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Jim Tracy had requested the audience to file out as quickly +and in as orderly a manner as possible. The crowd was not large, as +the weather had been threatening in the morning and many had stayed at +home. But it was no easy matter to dismiss even a small throng in such +a storm. +</P> + +<P> +However, it was accomplished, the band meanwhile playing its best, and +under hard conditions, as part of the tent over them split and let the +rain in on them. +</P> + +<P> +But the music served a good turn, and while the people were hurrying +out the canvasmen, aided by the performers, Joe among them, drove in +extra pegs, tightening those that had become loose, put on additional +ropes, so that, by hard work, the big tent was prevented from blowing +down. +</P> + +<P> +Once outside, the audience, though most of them were soon drenched, +took it good-naturedly. They were given emergency tickets as they +passed out, good for another admission. +</P> + +<P> +And then the storm, which seemed to have reached its height, settled +down into a heavy rain. The wind died out somewhat, and there was no +danger from the collapse of the tent. +</P> + +<P> +"Good work, boys!" said the ring-master, as the performers, all of them +wet through, and in their performing suits too, came in. "Good work! +If it hadn't been for you I don't know what we would have done. I'll +not forget it." +</P> + +<P> +There had been some trouble in the animal tent during the storm; the +beasts, especially the elephants, evincing a desire to break loose. +But their trainers quieted them, and soon the circus was almost normal +again. +</P> + +<P> +Of course the afternoon had been lost, but there was hope of a good +attendance at night if the storm were not too bad. And by remaining +over another afternoon the deficiency could be made up. Word was +telegraphed ahead to the next town announcing a postponement in the +date. The broken pole was replaced with another, and then the +performers enjoyed an unexpected vacation. +</P> + +<P> +"I want to thank you, Joe, for what you did," said Helen, coming up to +him in the dining tent, where an early supper was served. "I saw what +you did—stopping that runaway horse." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it wasn't anything," Joe said, modestly enough. +</P> + +<P> +"Wasn't it?" asked Helen, with a smile. "Well, I consider myself and +Rosebud something worth saving." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't mean it that way," Joe said quickly. "But the runaway +might not have gone near you." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm afraid he would. But you saved me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you feel that way about it," laughed Joe, for he did not want +Helen to take the matter too seriously, "why then we're even. You +saved me from a bad fall on the trapeze." +</P> + +<P> +The storm subsided somewhat by night, and there was a good attendance. +And the receipts the next day were very large in the afternoon, for the +story of what the circus men had done was widely spread, and served as +a good advertisement. Joe was applauded louder than ever when he did +his acts. +</P> + +<P> +The two wily Lascalla Brothers never referred to the incident of the +rotted trapeze rope, and Joe did not know whether to believe them +guilty or not. At most, he thought, they only wanted to give him a +tumble that might make him look ridiculous, and so discourage him from +continuing the work. In that case their deposed partner might get a +chance. But Joe did not give up, and he kept a sharp lookout. He +redoubled his vigilance regarding his ropes, bars and rings, inspecting +all of them just before each performance. +</P> + +<P> +On arriving at the next town Helen received a note in her mail asking +her to call at the principal hotel in the place. It was signed by one +of the members of the law firm. +</P> + +<P> +"You come with me, Joe," she begged. "I don't want to go alone." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed the young performer. "We'll go and get your +inheritance." +</P> + +<P> +"If there's any to get," laughed Helen. "Oh, Joe, I'm so nervous!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nervous!" he answered. "I wish I could be afflicted with nervousness +like that—money-nervousness, I'd call it!" +</P> + +<P> +They found Mr. Pike, the lawyer, to be an agreeable gentleman. He had +requested Helen to bring with her the proofs of her identity, the old +Bible and other books, which she did. These the lawyer examined +carefully, and asked the girl many questions, comparing her answers +with some information in his notebook. Finally he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there is no doubt but you are the Miss Helen Morton we have been +looking for so long, and I am happy to inform you that you are entitled +to an inheritance from your grandfather's estate." +</P> + +<P> +"Really?" cried Helen, eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Really," answered the lawyer, with a smile. "It isn't a very large +fortune, but it will yield you a neat little income every year. In +fact there is quite an accumulation due you, and I shall be happy to +send it on as soon as I get back to New York. I congratulate you!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A WARNING +</H4> + +<P> +Helen could hardly believe the good news. Though she had hoped, since +hearing from the law firm, that she might be entitled to some money, +Helen had always been careful not to hope too much. +</P> + +<P> +"For I don't want to be badly disappointed," she told Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," he remarked, "I wish my chances were as good as yours." +</P> + +<P> +For the answers he received from the letters he wrote concerning his +mother's relatives in England were disappointing. As far as these +letters went there was no estate in which Joe might share, though Bill +Watson insisted that the late Mrs. Strong came of a wealthy family. +</P> + +<P> +"Anyhow, you've got yours, Helen," said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I haven't exactly got it yet," and she looked at Mr. Pike. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the money is perfectly safe," the lawyer assured Helen. "I have +part of it on deposit in my bank, and the rest is safe in California." +</P> + +<P> +"Just how did it happen to come to me?" Helen inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," answered the lawyer slowly, "it's a long and complicated story. +Your grandfather on your father's side was quite a landholder in San +Francisco. Some of his property was not worth a great deal, and other +plots were very valuable. In time he sold off most of it, but one +large tract was considered so worthless that he could not find a buyer +for it. When he died he still owned it, and it descended to your +father. +</P> + +<P> +"He thought so little of it that he never tried to put it on the +market. But during the last few years the city has grown out in the +direction of this land, and recently the property was sold. +</P> + +<P> +"An effort was made to find the owner, your father, but as he was dead, +and no one knew what had become of his heirs, the land was sold, and +the money deposited with the state, to be turned over to the right +owner when found. We have a branch office in San Francisco, and we +were engaged to try to find any Morton heirs. Finally we found you, +and now I am glad to say that my work in this connection is so happily +ended. +</P> + +<P> +"As I told you, I have some cash ready for you. The rest of your +inheritance is in the form of bonds and mortgages, which will bring you +in an income of approximately sixty dollars a month." +</P> + +<P> +"That's fifteen a week!" exclaimed Helen, who was used to calculating +that way, as are most circus and theatrical persons. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you could sell these bonds and mortgages, and get the cash +for them," said the lawyer, "but I would not advise you to. You will +have about three thousand dollars in cash, as it is, and this ought to +be enough for your immediate needs, especially as I understand you have +a good position." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am earning a good salary," Helen admitted, "but I have not been +able to save much. I am very glad of my little fortune." +</P> + +<P> +"And I am glad for you, my dear young lady. Now, as I said, as soon as +I get back to New York I will send one of my clerks on to you with the +cash. I may be old fashioned, but I don't like to trust too much to +the mails. Besides, I want to get your signature to certain documents, +and you will have to make certain affidavits to my clerk. So I will +send him on. Let me have a note of where you will be during the next +week." +</P> + +<P> +Helen gave the dates when the circus would play certain towns, and Mr. +Pike left. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's true, little girl, isn't it?" cried Joe as they walked back +to the circus together. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I'm very glad. I've always wanted money, but I never thought +I'd have it—at least as much as I'm going to get. I wish you would +inherit a fortune, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry about me. I don't expect it, and what one never has +had can't be missed very much. Maybe I'll get mine—some day." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so, Joe. And now I want you to promise me something."' +</P> + +<P> +"What?" +</P> + +<P> +"That if ever you need money you'll come to me." +</P> + +<P> +Joe hesitated a moment before answering. Then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Helen, I will." +</P> + +<P> +To Joe the novelty of life in a circus was beginning to wear off. To +be sure there was something new and different coming up each day, but +he had now gotten his act down to a system, and to him and the other +performers one day was much like another, except for the weather, +perhaps. +</P> + +<P> +They did their acts before crowds every day—different crowds, to be +sure; but, after all, men, women and children are much alike the world +over. They want to be amused and thrilled, and the circus crowds in +one place are no different from those in another. +</P> + +<P> +The Sampson Brothers' Show was not one of the largest, though it was +considered first class. Occasionally it played one of the large +cities, but, in the main, it made a circuit of places of smaller +population. +</P> + +<P> +Joe kept on with his trapeze work, now and then adding new feats, +either by himself or with the Lascalla Brothers. On their part they +seemed glad to adopt Joe's suggestions. Occasionally they made some +themselves, but they were more in the way of spectacular effects—such +as waving flags while suspended in the air, or fluttering gaily colored +ribbons or strands of artificial flowers. But Joe liked to work out +new and difficult feats of strength, skill and daring, and he was +generally successful. +</P> + +<P> +He had not relaxed his policy of vigilance, and he never went up on a +bar or on the rings without first testing his apparatus. For he never +forgot the strangely rotted rope. That it had been eaten by some acid, +he was sure. +</P> + +<P> +He did not again get sight of that particular small trapeze, nor did he +ask Sid or Tonzo what had become of it. He did not want to know. +</P> + +<P> +"It's best to let sleeping dogs lie," reasoned Joe. "But I'll be on +the lookout." +</P> + +<P> +Matters had been going along well, and Joe had been given an increase +of salary. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if I can't get a fortune from some of my mother's rich and +aristocratic ancestors," Joe thought with a smile, "I can make it +myself by my trapeze work. And, after all, I guess, that's the best +way to get rich. Though I'm not sure I'll ever get rich in the circus +business." +</P> + +<P> +But the calm of Joe's life—that is if, one can call it calm to act in +a circus—was rudely shaken one day when in his mail he found a badly +scrawled note. There was no signature to it, but Joe easily guessed +from whom it came. The note read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"You want to look out for yourself. You may think you're smart, but I +know some smarter than you. This is a big world, but accidents may +happen. You want to be careful." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Some of Sim Dobley's work," mused Joe, as he tore up the note and cast +it aside. "He's trying to get my nerve. Well, I won't let that worry +me. He won't dare do anything. Queer, though, that he should be +following the circus still. He sure does want his place back. I'm +sorry for him, but I can't help it." +</P> + +<P> +Joe did not regard the warning seriously, and he said nothing about it +to Helen or any one else. +</P> + +<P> +"It would only worry Helen," he reflected. +</P> + +<P> +The show was over for the night. Even while the performers in the big +tent had been going through with their acts, men had taken away the +animal cages and loaded them on the flat railroad cars. Then the +animal tent was taken down and packed into wagons with the poles and +pegs. +</P> + +<P> +As each performer finished, he or she went to the dressing tent and +packed his trunk for transportation. From the dressing tent the actors +went to the sleeping car, and straight to bed. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's acts went very well that night. He was applauded again and again +and he was quite pleased as he ran out of the tent to make ready for +the night journey. He saw Benny Turton changing into his ordinary +clothes from his wet fish-suit, which had to be packed in a rubber bag +for transportation after the night performance, there being no time to +dry it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, how goes it, Ben?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, not very well," was the spiritless answer. "I've got lots of +pain." +</P> + +<P> +"Too bad," said Joe in a comforting tone. "Maybe a good night's sleep +will fix you up." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," said the "human fish." +</P> + +<P> +The circus train was rumbling along the rails. It was the middle of +the night, and they were almost due at the town where next they would +show. +</P> + +<P> +Joe, as well as the others in his sleeping car, was suddenly awakened +by a crash. The train swayed from side to side and rolled along +unevenly with many a lurch and bump. +</P> + +<P> +"We're off the track!" cried Joe, as he rolled from his berth. And the +memory of the scrawled warning came vividly to him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE STRIKE +</H4> + +<P> +The circus train bumped along for a few hundred feet, the engine +meanwhile madly whistling, the wheels rattling over the wooden +sleepers, and inside the various cars, where the performers had been +suddenly awakened from their sleep, pandemonium reigned. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" called Benny Turton from his berth near Joe's. +</P> + +<P> +"Off the track—that's all," was the answer, given in a reassuring +voice. For Joe had, somehow or other, grasped the fact there was no +great danger unless they ran into something, and this, as yet, had not +happened. +</P> + +<P> +The train was off the track (or at least some of the coaches were) but +it was quickly slowing down, and Joe, by a quick glance at his watch, +made a mental calculation of their whereabouts. +</P> + +<P> +For several miles in the vicinity where the accident had occurred was a +long, and comparatively straight stretch of track, with no bridges and +no gullies on either side. A train running off the track, even if +going at fairly fast speed, would hardly topple over. +</P> + +<P> +Before starting out that night Joe had inquired of one of the men about +the journey, and, learning that they were approaching his former home, +the town of Bedford, he had looked up the route and the time of arrival +at their next stopping place. He had a quick mind, and he remembered +about where they should be at the time the accident occurred. In that +way he was able to determine that, unless they struck something, they +were in comparatively little danger. +</P> + +<P> +"Off the track—that's all!" repeated Benny Turton as he looked down +from his berth at Joe. "Isn't that enough? Wow! What's going on now?" +</P> + +<P> +The train had stopped with a jolt. The air brakes, which the engineer +had flung on at the first intimation of danger, had taken hold of the +wheels with a sudden grip. +</P> + +<P> +"This is the last stop," said Joe, and he smiled up at Benny. He could +do so now, for he felt that their coach, at least, was safe. But he +was anxious as to what had happened to the others. Helen, with many of +the other women performers, was in the coach ahead. +</P> + +<P> +Benny crawled down from his berth, and stood looking at Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't seem to worry you much," he remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not as long as there's nothing worse than this," Joe answered. +"You're not hurt, are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only my feelings." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you'll get over that. Let's see what's up." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the aisle of the car was filled with excited men +performers. They all wanted to know what had happened, their location +and various other bits of information. +</P> + +<P> +"The train jumped the track," said Joe, who appeared the coolest of the +lot. "We don't seem to have hit anything, though at first I thought we +had. We're right side up, if not exactly with care." +</P> + +<P> +"Where are we?" demanded Tonzo Lascalla. +</P> + +<P> +"We ought to be near Far Hills, according to the time table," Joe +answered. "If I could get a look out I could tell." +</P> + +<P> +He went to the end of the car and peered out. It was a bright +moonlight night, and Joe was able to recognize the locality. As a boy +he had tramped all around the country within twenty-five miles of +Bedford, in the vicinity of which they now were, and he had no +difficulty in placing himself. He found that he had guessed correctly. +</P> + +<P> +By this time there was an excited crowd of trainmen and circus +employees outside the coaches which had left the rails. Joe and some +of the others slipped on their clothes and went out to see what had +happened. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's first glance was toward the coach in which he knew Helen rode. +He was relieved to see that though it had also left the rails it was +standing upright. In fact, none of the cars had tilted more than was +to be expected from the accident. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this is a nice pickle!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, bustling up. "This +means no parade, and maybe no afternoon show. How long will it take +you to get us back on the rails?" he asked one of the brakemen. +</P> + +<P> +"Hard to say," was the answer. "We'll have to send for the wrecking +crew. Lucky it's no worse than a delay." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I suppose so," agreed the ring-master. It was only one train of +the several that made up the circus which had left the rails. The +animal cars were on ahead, safe, and the sections following the +derailed coaches had, by a fortunate chance, not left the rails. +</P> + +<P> +"What caused us to jump?" asked Benny. +</P> + +<P> +"There was a fish plate jammed in a switch," answered one of the +brakemen. "We found it beside the track where we knocked it out, and +that saved the other trains from doing as we did." +</P> + +<P> +"A fish plate in the switch?" repeated Joe. "Did it get there by +accident?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ask me something easier," quoted the brakeman. "It might have, and +again it might not. I understand you discharged a lot of men at your +last stop, and it may be some of them tried to get even with you." +</P> + +<P> +It was true that a number of canvasmen had been allowed to go because +they were found useless, but none of the circus men believed that these +individuals would do so desperate a deed as to try to wreck the train. +</P> + +<P> +Joe thought of the threatening letter he had received—Sim Dobley was +the writer, he was sure—but even Sim would hardly try anything like +this. He might feel vindictive against Joe, and try to do him some +harm or bring about Joe's discharge. +</P> + +<P> +But to wreck a train—— +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe he'd do that," reasoned Joe. "I won't mention the +letter—it would hardly be fair. I don't want to get him into trouble, +and I have no evidence against him." +</P> + +<P> +So Joe kept quiet. +</P> + +<P> +The circus trains ahead of the derailed one could keep on to their +destination. After some delay those in the rear were switched to +another track, and so passed around the stalled cars. +</P> + +<P> +Then the wrecking crew arrived, and just as the first gray streaks of +dawn showed the last of the cars was put back on the track. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we're off again," remarked Joe, as, with Benny and some of their +friends, they got back in their berths. +</P> + +<P> +"Not much more chance for sleep, though," the "human fish" remarked, +dolefully enough. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I think I can manage to get some," said, Joe, as he covered up, +for the morning was a bit chilly. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope my glass tank didn't get cracked in the mix-up," remarked +Benny. "It wouldn't take much to make that leak, and I've had troubles +enough of late without that." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I guess it's perfectly safe," remarked Joe, sleepily. +</P> + +<P> +The excitement caused by the derailing was soon forgotten. Circus men +are used to strenuous happenings. They live in the midst of +excitement, and a little, more or less, does not bother them. Most of +them slept even through the work of getting the train back on the rails. +</P> + +<P> +Of course the circus was late in getting in—that is the derailed train +with its quota of performers was. Early in the morning, when they +should have been on the siding near the grounds, the train was still +puffing onward. +</P> + +<P> +Joe arose, got a cup of coffee in the buffet car, and went on ahead to +inquire about Helen and some of his friends in the other coach. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't mind it much," Helen said, when Joe asked her about it. +"I felt a few bumps, and I thought we had just struck a poor spot in +the roadbed." +</P> + +<P> +"She hasn't any more nerves than you have, Joe Strong," declared Mrs. +Talfo, "the fat lady." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you mind it much?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Did I? Say, young man, it's a good thing I had a lower berth. I +rolled out, and if I had fallen on anybody—well, there might have been +a worse wreck! Fortunately no one was under me when I tumbled," and +Mrs. Talfo chuckled. +</P> + +<P> +"And you weren't hurt?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The fat lady laughed. Her sides shook "like a bowlful of jelly," as +the nursery rhyme used to state. +</P> + +<P> +"It takes more than a fall to hurt me," said Mrs. Talfo. "I'm too well +padded. But we're going to get in very late," she went on with a look +at her watch. "The performers should be at breakfast at this time, to +be ready for the street parade." +</P> + +<P> +"We may have to omit the parade," said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't care," declared the fat lady with a sigh. "It does jolt me +something terrible to ride over cobble streets, and they never will let +me stay out." +</P> + +<P> +"You're quite an attraction," said Joe, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, it's all right to talk about it," sighed Mrs. Talfo, "but I +guess there aren't many of you who would want to tip the scales at five +hundred and eighty pounds—advertised weight, of course," she added, +with a smile. "It's no joke—especially in hot weather." +</P> + +<P> +The performers made merry over the accident now, and speculated as to +what might happen to the show. Their train carried a goodly number of +the "artists," as they were called on the bills, and without them a +successful and complete show could not be given. +</P> + +<P> +"We may even have to omit the afternoon session," Joe stated. +</P> + +<P> +"Who said so?" Helen demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Tracy." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's better to lose that than to have the whole show wrecked," +said the snake charmer. "I remember being in a circus wreck once, and +I never want to see another." +</P> + +<P> +"Did any of the animals get loose?" asked Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I should say they did! We lost a lion and a tiger, and for weeks +afterward we had to keep men out hunting for the creatures, which the +excited farmers said were taking calves and lambs. No indeed! I don't +want any more circus wrecks. This one was near enough." +</P> + +<P> +This brought up a fund of recollected circus stories, and from then on, +until the train stopped on the siding near the grounds, the performers +took turns in telling what they had known of wrecks and other accidents +to the shows with which they had been connected. Joe listened eagerly. +It was all new to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I only hope my glass tank isn't cracked," said Benny again. He seemed +quite worried about this. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if it's broken they'll have to get you another," Joe told him. +The tank was carried in one of the cars of the derailed train. +</P> + +<P> +"They might, and they might not," said Benny. "My act hasn't been +going any too well of late, and maybe they'd be glad of a chance to +drop it from the list. I only hope they don't, though, for I need the +money." +</P> + +<P> +Benny spoke wistfully. He seemed greatly changed from the boy Joe had +known at first. Benny had grown thinner, and he often put his hand to +his head, as though suffering constant pain. Joe and Helen felt sorry +for him. +</P> + +<P> +Still there was little they could do, except to cheer him up. Benny +had to do his own act—which was a unique one that he had evolved after +years of practice. It was not alone the staying under water that made +it popular, it was the tricks that the lad did. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we're here at last," said Joe, as he and his friends alighted +from their sleeping car. "Better late than never, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +Men were busy on the circus grounds, putting up tents, arranging the +horses and other animals, putting the wagons in their proper places and +doing the hundred and one things that need to be done. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what's going on over there," said Helen, as she pointed to a +group of men about the place where the canvas for the main tent had +been spread out in readiness for erection. "It looks like trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"It does," agreed Joe, as he saw Jim Tracy excitedly talking to the +canvasmen. "I'm going to see what it is." +</P> + +<P> +He approached the ring-master, who was also one of the owners of the +show. +</P> + +<P> +"Anything wrong?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Wrong? I should say so! As if I didn't already have troubles enough +here, the tent-men go on a strike for more money. I never saw such +luck!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +IN BEDFORD +</H4> + +<P> +Joe Strong looked from the group of sullen, lowering canvasmen to Jim +Tracy. On the ring-master's face were signs of anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it really a strike?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what they call it," replied the circus owner. "I didn't know +they belonged to a union, and I don't believe they do. They just want +to make trouble, and they take advantage of me at a time when I'm tied +up because we're late with the show." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it they want?" asked Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"More money," Jim Tracy replied. "I wouldn't mind giving it to them if +I could afford it, or if they weren't getting the same wages that are +paid other canvasmen in other circuses. But they are. As a matter of +fact, they get more, and they have better grub. I can't understand +such tactics!" +</P> + +<P> +"It looks as if some of them were coming over to speak to you," +remarked Joe, as he observed one of the strikers detach himself from +the group, and approach the ring-master. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him come," snapped Jim. "He'll get no satisfaction from me." +</P> + +<P> +The man seemed a bit embarrassed as he approached, chewing a straw +nervously. He ignored several of the circus performers, Joe and Helen +among them, who were grouped about Jim Tracy, and, addressing the +owner, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, have you made up your mind? Is it to be more money for us or no +show for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's going to be 'no' to your unreasonable demand, and I want to tell +you, here and now, that the show's going on. You can go back to your +cowardly crowd, that tries to hit a man when he's down, and tell 'em +Jim Tracy said that!" cried the ring-master with vigor. "You'll get no +more money from me. I'm paying you wages enough as it is!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right, no money—no show!" said the fellow, impudently. "We gave +you half an hour to make up your mind, and if that's your answer you +can take the consequences." +</P> + +<P> +He started to walk away, and Tracy called after him: +</P> + +<P> +"If you try to interfere or make trouble, and if you try to stop the +show, I'll have you all arrested if I have to send for special +detectives." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we won't make any trouble except what you make for yourself," +declared the striker. "We just won't do anything—that'll be the +trouble. There's your 'main top,' and there she'll stay. We won't +pull a rope or drive a peg!" +</P> + +<P> +He pointed to the pile of canvas with its mass of ropes, poles and pegs +that lay on the ground ready for erection. It should have been up by +this time, and the parade ought to have been under way. But with the +railroad accident, the delay and the strike, the big tent in which Joe, +Helen and the others were to perform was not yet raised. +</P> + +<P> +"The cowards!" exclaimed Jim in a low voice; looking at Joe. "I wonder +if I'd better give in to 'em?" +</P> + +<P> +"Can you get others to take their places?" the young trapeze acrobat +wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"Not here. I could if I were nearer New York. But as it is——" He +threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. "I guess I'll have to +give in," he said. "I can't afford not to give a show. Here, you——" +</P> + +<P> +He called to the departing striker. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute!" Joe quickly exclaimed to the ring-master. "I think we +can find a way out of this." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any men who know something about putting up the tent?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know all there is to be known about it myself. But it takes more +than one man to raise the 'main top.' There are a lot of the animal +men and wagon drivers who used to be canvas hands. They haven't +struck. But there aren't enough of them. It's no use." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is!" cried Joe. "We men performers will turn canvasmen for +the time being. Give us some hands who know how to lay out the canvas, +how to lace up the different sections, which ropes to pull on; men to +show us how to drive stakes and to haul up the poles—do that and we'll +have the tent up in time for the show!" +</P> + +<P> +"Can you do it?" cried the ring-master, in an eager tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure we can!" exclaimed Joe. "There are enough of us, and we're +willing to turn in. You get the men who know how, and we'll be their +assistants." +</P> + +<P> +"It might work," said Tracy, reflectively. "I'm much obliged to you, +Joe. It's worth trying. But do you think the performers will do it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll talk to 'em," said the trapeze artist. "They'll be glad to raise +the tent, rather than see a performance given up. Go get your men and +I'll talk to the others." +</P> + +<P> +"All right—I will." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you call me?" asked the striker who had been appointed to wait on +the ring-master and learn his decision. +</P> + +<P> +"I did <I>not</I>!" cried Jim Tracy. "I'm through with you. We don't need +your services." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha!" laughed the man. "Let's see you get up the 'main top' without +us." +</P> + +<P> +"Stick around long enough and you'll see it," said Joe Strong. +</P> + +<P> +Joe found a group of the men performers gathered in the dressing tent, +discussing the situation. And while the ring-master hastened to gather +up such forces as he could muster, Joe made his little talk. +</P> + +<P> +"You're just the very one we want," he said to Tom Jefferson, "the +strong man." "You ought to be able to put up the tent alone. Come on +now, gentlemen, we must all work together," and rapidly he explained +the situation to some who did not understand it. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you help raise the tent?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"We will!" cried the performers in a chorus. +</P> + +<P> +Soon there was a busy scene in the circus "lots." Not that there is not +always a busy time when the show is being made ready, but this was +somewhat different. Led by Joe, the performers placed themselves under +the direction of some veteran canvasmen who had been working in other +departments of the circus. +</P> + +<P> +Jim Tracy, who had in his day been a helper, took the part of the +striking foreman of the canvas-workers, and the "main top" soon began +to look as it always did. The big center poles were put in place and +guyed up. The sections of canvas were laced together in the regular +manner, so that they could be taken apart quickly simply by pulling on +a rope. Knots tied in erecting a circus tent must be made so they are +easily loosed, even in wet weather. +</P> + +<P> +For a while the striking canvasmen stood and laughed at the efforts of +those who were taking their places. But they soon ceased to jeer. For +the tent was slowly but correctly going up. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll give the show after all!" cried Joe, as he labored at lifting +heavy sections of canvas, pulling on ropes or driving stakes. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe we will," agreed the ring-master. "I don't know how to +thank you, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, pshaw! I didn't do anything! I'm only helping the same as the +rest." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but it was your idea, and you persuaded the men to pitch in." +</P> + +<P> +And, in a sense, this was true. For Joe was a general favorite with +the circus performers, though he had been with them only a +comparatively short time. But he had his mother's reputation back of +him, as well as his father's, and Bill Watson had spoken many a good +word for the young fellow. Circus folk are always loyal to their own +kind, and there were many, as Joe learned later, who knew his mother by +reputation, and some personally. So they were all glad to help when +Joe put the case to them vividly, as he did. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's popularity stood him in good stead, even though there were some +who were jealous of the reputation he was making. But jealousies were +cast aside on this occasion. +</P> + +<P> +Even the Lascalla Brothers did their share, working side by side with +Joe at putting up the tent, as they worked with him on the trapeze. +The strong man was a great help, doing twice the work that the others +did. +</P> + +<P> +The performers wore their ordinary clothes, laying aside coats and +vests as they labored. And the men who knew how circus tents must go +up, saw to it that the amateurs did their work well, so there would be +no danger of collapse. +</P> + +<P> +While the big tent was being put up the other preparations for the show +were proceeded with. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Sampson, who were part owners +with Jim Tracy, arranged for a small parade, since it had been +advertised. On the back of one of the elephants rode the fat lady, +with a banner which explained that because of a strike of the canvasmen +the usual street exhibition could not be given. The assurance was +made, though, that the show itself would be the same as advertised. +</P> + +<P> +"That will prevent the public from being too sympathetic with the +strikers," said Jim Tracy. "The public, as a rule, doesn't care much +for a strike that interferes with its pleasure." +</P> + +<P> +At last the big tent was up, and all was in readiness for the afternoon +performance, though it would be a little late. +</P> + +<P> +"It won't be much fun taking down the tent after the show to-night," +said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you won't have to," stated the ring-master. "I may be able to +hire men to take the strikers' places before then." +</P> + +<P> +"But if you can't, we'll help out," declared the young trapeze +performer, though he knew it would be anything but pleasant for himself +and the others, after high-tension work before a big audience, to +handle heavy canvas and ropes in the dark. +</P> + +<P> +The public seemed to take good-naturedly to the circus, not being +over-critical of the lack of the usual big street parade. And men, +women and children came in throngs to the afternoon performance. +</P> + +<P> +The circus people fairly outdid themselves to give a good show, and Joe +worked up a little novelty in one of his "lone" acts. +</P> + +<P> +He gave an exhibition of rope-climbing, Jim Tracy introducing the act +with a few remarks about the value of every one's knowing how to ascend +or descend a rope when, thereby, one's life might some time be saved. +</P> + +<P> +"Professor Strong will now entertain you," announced the ring-master, +"and tell you something about rope-work." +</P> + +<P> +Joe had hardly bargained for this, but his work as a magician, when he +often had the stage to himself and had to address a crowded theatre, +stood him in good stead. He was very self-confident, and he +illustrated the way a beginner should learn to climb a rope. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't try to go up hand over hand at first," Joe said. "And don't +climb away up to the top unless you're sure you know how to come down. +You may get so exhausted that you'll slip, and burn your hands +severely, for the friction of rapidly sliding down a rope will cause +bad burns." +</P> + +<P> +Joe showed how to begin by holding the rope between the soles of the +feet, letting them take the weight instead of the hands and arms. He +went up and down this way, and then went up by lifting himself by his +hands alone, coming down the same way—which is much harder than it +looks. +</P> + +<P> +Joe also illustrated the "stirrup hold," which may be used in ascending +or descending a rope, to get a rest. The rope is held between the +thighs, the hands grasping it lightly, and while a turn of the rope +passes under the sole of the left foot and over the toes of the same, +the right foot is placed on top, pressing down the rope which passes +over the left foot. In this way the rope is held from slipping, and +the entire weight of the body can rest on the side of the left leg, +which is in a sort of rope loop. Thus the arms are relieved. +</P> + +<P> +Joe showed other holds, and also how to sit on a rope that dangled from +the top of the tent. Half way up he held the rope between his thighs, +and made a loop, which he threw over his left shoulder. Then, by +pressing his chin down on the rope, it was held between chin and +shoulder so that it could not slip. Grasping the rope with both hands +above his head, Joe was thus suspended in a sitting position, almost as +easily as in a chair. The crowd applauded this. +</P> + +<P> +Then Joe went on with his regular trapeze work—doing some back flyaway +jumps that thrilled the audience. This trick is done by grasping the +trapeze bar firmly at arm's length, swinging backward and downward +until the required momentum is reached. When Joe was ready he suddenly +let go and turned a backward somersault to the life net. +</P> + +<P> +The trick looked simple, but Joe had practised it many times before +getting it perfectly. And he often had bad falls. One tendency he +found was to turn over too far before letting go the bar. This was +likely to cause his feet to strike the swinging bar, resulting in an +ugly tumble. +</P> + +<P> +The evening performance was even better attended than that of the +afternoon. Jim Tracy succeeded in hiring a few men to assist with the +tents, but he had not enough, and it began to look as though the +performers would have to do double work again. +</P> + +<P> +But there occurred one of those incidents with which circus life is +replete. The place they were showing in was a large factory town, and +at night crowds of men and boys—not the gentlest in the +community—attended. +</P> + +<P> +At something or other, a crowd of roughs felt themselves aggrieved, and +under the guidance of a "gang-leader" began to make trouble. They +threatened to cut the tent ropes in retaliation. +</P> + +<P> +"That won't do," decided Jim Tracy. "I've got to tackle that gang, and +I don't like to, for it means a fight. Still I can't have the tent +collapse." +</P> + +<P> +He hurriedly gathered a crowd of his own men, armed them with stakes, +and charged the gang of roughs that was creating a small riot, to the +terror of women and children. +</P> + +<P> +The rowdies finding themselves getting the worst of it, called for help +from among the factory workers, who liked nothing better than to +"beat-up" a circus crowd. Jim Tracy and his men were being severely +handled when a new force took a hand in the mêlée. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, boys. We can't stand for this!" shouted Jake Bantry, the +leader of the striking canvasmen. "They sha'n't bust up the show, even +if the boss won't give us more money." +</P> + +<P> +The canvasmen were used to trouble of this kind. Seizing tent pegs, +and with cries of "Hey Rube!"—the time-honored signal for a battle of +this kind—the striking canvasmen rushed into the fracas. +</P> + +<P> +In a short time the roughs had been dispersed, and there was no more +danger of the tents being cut and made to collapse. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm much obliged to you boys," said Jim Tracy to the strikers, when +the affray was over. "You helped us out finely." +</P> + +<P> +"It was fun for us," answered Jake Bantry. "And say, Mr. Tracy, we've +been talking it over among ourselves, and seeing as how you've always +treated us white, we've decided, if you'll take us back, that we'll +come—and at the same wages." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I'll take you back!" exclaimed the owner heartily. "And +glad to have you." +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Come on, boys! Strike's broken!" cried Bantry. +</P> + +<P> +So Joe and his fellow-artists did not have to turn to tent work that +night. +</P> + +<P> +In looking over the advance booking list one day, Joe saw Bedford +marked down. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" he cried. "I wonder if that's my town." It was, as he +learned by consulting the press agent. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you glad?" asked Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, rather, I guess!" Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +And one morning Joe awakened in his berth, and looked out to see the +familiar scenes of the town where he had lived so long. +</P> + +<P> +"Bedford!" exclaimed Joe. "Well, I'm coming back in a very different +way from the one I left it," and he chuckled as he thought of the +"side-door Pullman," and the pursuing constables. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HELEN'S MONEY +</H4> + +<P> +After breakfast Joe, who did not take part in the parade, set out to +see the sights of his "home town," or, rather, he hoped to meet some of +his former friends, for there were not many sights to see. +</P> + +<P> +"The place hasn't changed much," Joe reflected as he passed along the +familiar streets. "It seems only like yesterday that I went away. +Well, Timothy Donnelly has painted his house at last, I see, and they +have a new front on the drug store. Otherwise things are about the +same. I wonder if I'd better go to call on the deacon. I guess I +will—I don't have any hard feelings toward him. Yes, I'll go to see +him and——" +</P> + +<P> +Joe's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Say! Look! There goes Joe Strong who used to live here!" +</P> + +<P> +The young circus performer turned and saw Willie Norman, a small boy +who lived on the street where Joe formerly dwelt. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Willie," called Joe in greeting. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," was the answer. "Say, is it true you're with the circus? +Harry Martin said you were." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right—I am," Joe admitted. He had kept up a fitful +correspondence with Harry and some of the other chums, and in one of +his letters Joe had spoken of his change of work. +</P> + +<P> +"In a circus!" exclaimed Willie admiringly. "Do they let you feed the +elephant?" he asked with awe. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I haven't gotten quite that far," laughed Joe. "I'm only a +trapeze performer." +</P> + +<P> +"Say, I'd like to see you act," Willie went on, "but I ain't got a +quarter." +</P> + +<P> +"Here's a free ticket," Joe said, giving his little admirer one. In +anticipation of meeting some of his friends in Bedford that day, Joe +had gotten a number of free admission tickets from the press agent, who +was always well supplied with them. Willie's eyes glistened as he took +the slip of pasteboard. +</P> + +<P> +"Geewillikens!" he exclaimed. "Say, you're all right, Joe! I'm going +to the circus! I wish I could run away and join one." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you dare try it!" Joe warned him. "You're too small." +</P> + +<P> +He went on, meeting many former acquaintances, who turned to stare at +the boy whose story had created such a stir in the town. Joe was +looked upon by some as a hero, and by others as a "lost sheep." It is +needless to say that Deacon Blackford was one who held the latter +opinion. +</P> + +<P> +Joe called on his former foster-father, but did not find him at the +house. Mrs. Blackford was in, however, and was greatly surprised to +see Joe. She welcomed and kissed him, and there were traces of tears +in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so sorry you left us, but perhaps it +was all for the best, for you must live your own life, I suppose. I +never really believed you took the money," she added, referring to an +incident which was related in the book previous to this. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to hear that," Joe said. "I want to thank you for all your +care of me. I didn't like to run away, but it seemed the only thing to +do. And, as you say, I think it has turned out for the best. The +circus life appeals to me, and I'm getting on in the business." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Blackford was really glad to see Joe. She had a real liking for +him, in spite of the fact that she had a poor opinion of circus folk +and magicians, and she did not believe all the deacon believed of Joe. +She could not forget the days when, while he was a little lad, she had +often sung him to sleep. But these days were over now. +</P> + +<P> +Joe found the deacon at the feed store. The lad's former foster-father +was not very cordial in his greeting, and, in fact, seemed rather +embarrassed than otherwise. Perhaps he regretted his accusation +against our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Would you like to see the circus?" Joe inquired, as he was leaving the +office. "I have some free tickets and——" +</P> + +<P> +"What! Me go to a circus?" cried the deacon, with upraised hands. +"Never! Never! Circuses and theatres are the invention of the Evil +One. I am surprised at your asking me!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe did it for a joke, more than for anything else, as he knew the +deacon would not take a ticket. Bidding him good-bye, Joe went out to +find his former chums. +</P> + +<P> +They, as may well be supposed, were very glad to see him. And that +they envied Joe's position goes without saying. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well! You certainly put one over on us!" exclaimed Charlie Ford +admiringly. "How did you do it, Joe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it just happened, I guess. More luck than anything else." +</P> + +<P> +"When you got Professor Rosello out of the fire you did a good thing," +commented Tom Simpson. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess I did—in more ways than one," admitted Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"And are you really doing trapeze acts?" inquired Henry Blake. +</P> + +<P> +"Come and watch me," was Joe's invitation. "Here is a reserved seat +ticket for each of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Harry Martin. "Talk about the return of the prodigal! +You'll make the folks here open their eyes, Joe. It isn't everybody +who runs away from home who comes back as you do." +</P> + +<P> +Joe told his chums some of his experiences, and they went with him out +to the circus grounds, where he took them about, as only a privileged +character can, showing them how the show was "put together." +</P> + +<P> +"It sure is <I>great</I>!" exclaimed Charlie, ruffling up his red hair. +</P> + +<P> +Joe fairly outdid himself in the performances that day. He went +through his best feats, alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, with a +snap and a swing that made the veteran performers look well to their +own laurels. Joe did some wonderful leaping and turning of somersaults +in the air, one difficult backward triple turn evoking a thundering +round of applause. +</P> + +<P> +And none applauded any more fervently than little Willie Norman. +</P> + +<P> +"I know him!" the little lad confided to a group about him. "That's +Joe Strong. He gave me a ticket to the show for nothing, mind you! I +know him all right!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you do not!" chaffed another boy. +</P> + +<P> +"I do so, and I'm going to speak to him after the show!" +</P> + +<P> +This Willie proudly did, thereby refuting the skepticism of his +neighbor. For the word soon passed among the town-folk that Joe +Strong, who used to live with Deacon Blackford, was with the circus, +and after the show he held an informal little reception in the dressing +tent which a number of men and boys, and not a few women, attended. +</P> + +<P> +All were curious to see behind the scenes, and Joe showed them some +interesting sights. He invited his four chums to have supper with him, +and the delight of Harry, Charlie, Henry and Tom may be imagined as +they sat in the tent with the other circus folk, listening to the +strange jargon of talk, and seeing just how the performers behaved in +private. +</P> + +<P> +Altogether Joe's appearance in Bedford made quite a sensation, and he +was glad of the chance it afforded him to see his former friends and +acquaintances, and also to let them see for themselves that circus +people and actors are not all as black as they are painted. Joe was +glad he could do this for the sake of his father and mother, as he +realized that the wrong views held by Deacon and Mrs. Blackford were +shared by many. +</P> + +<P> +Joe bade good-bye to his chums and traveled on with the show, leaving, +probably, many rather envious hearts behind. For there is a glamour +about a circus and the theatre that blinds the youthful to the hard +knocks and trouble that invariably accompany those who perform in +public. +</P> + +<P> +Even with Joe's superb health there were times when he would have been +glad of a day's rest. But he had it only on Sundays, and whether he +felt like it or not he had to perform twice a day. Of course usually +he liked it, for he was enthusiastic about his work. But all is not +joy and happiness in a circus. As a matter of fact Joe worked harder +than most boys, and though it seemed all pleasure, there was much of it +that was real labor. New tricks are not learned in an hour, and many a +long day Joe and his partners spent in perfecting what afterward looked +to be a simple turn. +</P> + +<P> +But, all in all, Joe liked it immensely and he would not have changed +for the world—at least just then. +</P> + +<P> +The circus reached the town of Portland, where they expected to do a +good business as it was a large manufacturing place. Here Helen found +awaiting her a letter from the law firm. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe!" the girl exclaimed. "I'm going to get my money here—at +least that part of my fortune which isn't tied up in bonds and +mortgages. We must celebrate! I think I'll give a little dinner at +the hotel for you, Bill Watson and some of my friends." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Helen. Count me in." +</P> + +<P> +The letter stated that a representative of the firm would call upon +Helen that day in Portland, and turn over to her the cash due from her +grandfather's estate. +</P> + +<P> +That afternoon Helen sent word to Joe that she wanted to see him, and +in her dressing room he found a young man, toward whom Joe at once felt +an instinctive dislike. The man had shifty eyes, and Joe always +distrusted men who could not look him straight in the face. +</P> + +<P> +"This is Mr. Sanford, from the law firm, Joe," said Helen. "He has +brought me my money." +</P> + +<P> +"Is he your lawyer?" asked Mr. Sanford, looking toward Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"No, just a friend," Helen answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he going to look after your money for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think Miss Morton is capable of looking after it herself," Joe put +in, a bit sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course. I didn't mean anything. Now if you'll give me your +attention, Miss Morton, I'll go over the details with you." +</P> + +<P> +"You needn't wait, Joe, unless you want to," Helen said. "I'd like to +have you arrange about the little supper at the hotel, if you will, +though." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure I will!" Joe exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +The circus was to remain over night, and this would give Helen a chance +for her feast, which she thought had better take place at the Portland +hotel, as it would be more private than the circus tent. Joe went off +to arrange for it, leaving Helen with the lawyer's clerk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE IS SUSPICIOUS +</H4> + +<P> +Joe's day was already a full one, though he did not tell Helen so. He +gladly undertook to arrange the little supper for her at the hotel, and +it was only a coincidence that it happened on the night of a day when +he had decided to work in a new trick on his trapeze, when he performed +alone. It was not exactly a new trick, in the sense that it had never +been done before. In fact there is very little new in trapeze work +nowadays, but Joe had decided to give a little different turn to an old +act. It required some preparation, and he needed to do this during the +day. He was going to "put on" the trick at night, and not at the +matinee. +</P> + +<P> +But for the time being he gave up his hours to arranging for Helen the +supper which would take place after the night performance. +</P> + +<P> +Joe saw the hotel proprietor and arranged for a private room with a +supper to be served for twenty-five. Helen had many more friends than +that among the circus folk, but she had to limit her hospitality, +though she would have liked to have them all at her little celebration. +She chose, however, after Joe and Bill Watson and Benny Turton, the +women performers who were more intimately associated with her in her +acts, and some of the men whose acquaintance she had made since joining +the Sampson show. +</P> + +<P> +Joe hurried to the hotel, did what was necessary there, and then went +back to the tent. He intended, when the afternoon show was over, to do +some practice on his new act. +</P> + +<P> +As he passed into the big tent, which was now deserted, he met Jim +Tracy, who, of course, was invited to Helen's supper. +</P> + +<P> +"What's all this I hear about our little lady?" asked the ring-master. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess it's all true," Joe answered. "She has come into a +little money." +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to hear it! I'll be with you to-night. Oh, by the way, Joe, I +had a letter from the railroad people about our wreck, or, rather, +derailment." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you? What did they say?" +</P> + +<P> +"They couldn't find any evidence that the fish plate was put in the +switch purposely. It might have dropped there. Of course some tramp +might have put it there to get revenge for being put off a train, but +it would be hard to prove. And as for getting evidence against Sim +Dobley—why, it's out of the question. But you want to keep on looking +out for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," Joe promised. +</P> + +<P> +After thinking the matter over Joe had decided it would be best to +speak to the ring-master about the threatening letter, which had been +received so close to the time when the derailment occurred. Jim Tracy +had at once agreed with Joe that the discharged acrobat might possibly +have been mad and rash enough to try to wreck the train, and the +railroad detectives had been communicated with. But nothing had come +of the investigation, and the accident had been set down as one of the +many unexplained happenings that occur on railroads. +</P> + +<P> +A search had been made for Dobley, but he seemed to have disappeared +for the time being, and Joe was glad of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready for the new stunt?" asked Tracy, as he passed on. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I'll pull it off to-night if nothing happens," Joe said. +</P> + +<P> +He was glad there were few people in the big tent when he entered it +after the afternoon performance, to put in some hard practice. Joe's +own trapeze was in place, but he lowered it to the ground, and went +carefully over every inch of the ropes, canvas straps, snaps, and the +various fastenings to make sure nothing was wrong. He found everything +all right. +</P> + +<P> +It was not exactly that he was suspicious of the Lascalla Brothers, but +he was taking no chances. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's act worked well in practice. When he had performed his trick for +the last time he saw Benny Turton, the "human fish," coming into the +tent to look after his tank, about which the young performer was very +particular. +</P> + +<P> +"How do you like that, Ben?" asked Joe, as he finished the new trick. +</P> + +<P> +"First rate. That's a thriller all right, Joe! That'll make 'em sit +up and take notice. I'll have to work in something new myself if you +keep on piling up the stuff." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I guess you could do that, Ben." +</P> + +<P> +The "human fish" shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he said slowly, "I don't know what's the matter with me lately, +Joe, but I don't seem to have ambition for anything. I go through my +regular stunts, but that's all I want to do. I don't even stay under +water as long as I used to, and Jim Tracy was kicking again to-day. He +said I'd have to do better, but I don't see how I can. Of course he +was nice about it, as he always is, but I know he's disappointed in me." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I guess not, Ben. Maybe you'll do better to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so. Anyhow you'll have a thriller for them." +</P> + +<P> +"You're coming to Helen's party, aren't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, sure, Joe. I wouldn't miss that. I'm glad she's got some money," +and Ben spoke rather despondently. +</P> + +<P> +Joe made arrangements with his helper to look after the special +appliances needed for the new trick, and went to supper. He did not +see Helen, and guessed that she was still busy with the law clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope she doesn't trust too much to that chap," mused Joe. "I don't +just like his looks." +</P> + +<P> +The big tent was crowded when Joe began his performance that night. He +received his usual applause, and then gave the signal that he was about +to put on his new act. He was hoisted up to the top trapeze, which was +a short one, and to this Joe had fastened a longer one. +</P> + +<P> +He sat upon the bar of this, swinging to and fro, working himself into +position until he was resting on the "hocks," as performers call that +portion of the leg just above the knee. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Joe seemed to fall over backward, and there was a cry of alarm +from the crowd. But he remained in position, swinging by his insteps. +</P> + +<P> +In the trapeze world this is known as "drop back to instep hang." Joe +had done it most effectively, but that was not all of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly he grasped the ropes of the lower trapeze. He twined his legs +about these, and then, with a thrilling yell, he let himself slide, +head down along the ropes, holding only by his intertwined legs and +insteps, which he had padded with asbestos to take up the heat of +friction. +</P> + +<P> +Down the long ropes he slid until he came to a sudden stop as his +outstretched hands grasped the lower bar. There he hung suspended a +moment, while the audience sat thrilled, thinking it had been an +accidental fall and a most miraculous escape. But Joe had planned it +all out in advance, and knew it was safe, especially as the life net +was under him. +</P> + +<P> +He suspended himself on the bar a moment, and then made a back +somersault, and amid the booming of the drum he dropped into the net +and made his bows in response to the applause. +</P> + +<P> +The new feat was appreciated at once, but it was some time before the +crowd realized that the fall backward was not accidental. +</P> + +<P> +Joe was congratulated by his fellow performers, though, as might be +expected, there was some little jealousy. But Joe was used to that by +this time. +</P> + +<P> +It was a merry little party that gathered later in the hotel room for +Helen's supper. She sat at the head of the table, with Joe on one side +and Bill Watson, the veteran clown, on the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, did you make out all right with your lawyer friend?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Joe, I never had so much money at one time in my life before." +</P> + +<P> +"What did you do with it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I kept out enough to pay for this supper, and the rest I put in the +circus ticket wagon safe." +</P> + +<P> +"What, all your cash?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't take it all, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"You didn't take it all?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. Mr. Sanford—he's the law clerk, you know—said I ought not to +have so much money with me, so he offered to take care for me all I +didn't want to use right away." +</P> + +<P> +"He's going to take care of it for you?" Joe repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. He says he can invest it for me. But eat your supper, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +Somehow or other Joe Strong did not feel much like eating. He had a +sudden and undefinable suspicion of that law clerk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A FALL +</H4> + +<P> +There were merry hearts at the little celebration given by Helen +Morton—"Mademoiselle Mortonti"—in recognition of coming into her +inheritance. That is, the hearts were all merry save that of Joe +Strong. +</P> + +<P> +For a few seconds after Helen had made the statement about having left +her money with the law clerk for investment, Joe could only stare at +her. On her part the young circus rider seemed to think there was +nothing unusual in what she had done. +</P> + +<P> +"Congratulations, Miss Morton!" called Bill Watson, as he waved his +napkin in the air. "Congratulations!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you call me Helen as you used to?" asked the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you're quite a rich young lady now, and I didn't think you would +want me to be so familiar," he replied with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness! I hope every one isn't going to get so formal all at once," +she remarked, with a look at Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't—not unless you want me to," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"But why don't you eat?" she asked him. "You sit there as if you had +no appetite. I'm as hungry as a bear—one of our own circus bears, +too. Come, why don't you eat and be happy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'm thinking," Joe remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"This isn't the time to think!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so glad I have +a little money. I won't have to worry now if I shouldn't be able to go +on with my circus act. I could take a vacation if I wanted to, +couldn't I?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to?" asked Joe. Somehow he felt a sudden sinking +sensation in the region of his heart. At least he judged it was his +heart that was affected. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not right away," Helen answered. "I'm going to stay with the show +until it goes into winter quarters, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"And after that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +The little celebration went merrily on. Helen's health was proposed +many times, being pledged in lemonade, grape juice and ginger ale. She +blushed with pleasure as she sat between Joe and the veteran clown, for +many nice things were said about her, as one after another of her +guests congratulated her on her good fortune. +</P> + +<P> +"Speech! Speech!" some one called out. +</P> + +<P> +"What do they mean?" asked Helen of Bill Watson. +</P> + +<P> +"They want you to say something," the clown said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I never could—never in the world!" and Helen blushed more vividly +than before. +</P> + +<P> +"Try it," urged Joe. "Just thank them. You can do that." +</P> + +<P> +Much confused, Helen arose at her place. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather ride in a circus ring ten times over than make a speech," +she confessed in an aside to Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on," he urged. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear friends," she began tremblingly, "I want to thank you for all +the nice things you have said about me, and I want to say that I'm +glad—glad——" She paused and blushed again. +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to be here," prompted Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's it—glad to be here, and I—er—I—— Oh, you finish for +me, Joe!" she begged, as she sat down amid laughter. +</P> + +<P> +Then the supper went on, more merrily than before. But it had to come +to an end at last, for the show people needed their rest if they were +to perform well the next day. And most of them, especially those like +Joe and the acrobats, who depended on their nerve as well as their +strength, needed unbroken slumber. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe walked back to the railroad, where their sleeping cars were +standing on a siding, the young trapeze performer asked Helen about her +business transaction with the law clerk. He had not had a chance to do +this at the supper. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," began the girl, "as you know, he brought me the cash, Joe. Oh, +how nice those new bills did look. He had it all in new bills for me. +Mr. Pike told him to do that, he said, as they didn't know whether I +could use a check, traveling about as I am. Anyhow he had the bills +for me—about three thousand dollars it was. The rest of my little +fortune, you know, is in stocks and bonds. I only get the interest, +but this cash was from the sale of some of grandfather's property." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you didn't keep the cash yourself?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"No. Mr. Sanford said it wouldn't be safe for me to carry so much +money around with me. Do you think it would?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not," Joe agreed. "But you could have let our treasurer +keep it for you. He could have banked it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; Mr. Sanford thought of that, he said. But he also said if my +money was in the bank I wouldn't get more than three per cent. on it. +I don't know exactly what he means—I never was any good at fractions, +and I know nothing about business. But, anyhow, Mr. Sanford kindly +explained that I would get more interest on my money if it was invested +than if it was in a bank. And he offered to invest for me all I didn't +need at once. Wasn't he kind?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," admitted Joe, rather dubiously. "How is he going to invest +it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he knows lots of ways, he said, being in the law office. But he +said he thought it would be best to buy oil stock with it. Oil stock +was sure to go up in price, he said; and I would make money on that as +well as interest, or dividends—or something like that. Wasn't he +good?" +</P> + +<P> +"To himself maybe, yes," answered Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" inquired Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, maybe it's all right," Joe said. He did not want to alarm +the girl unnecessarily, but he had a deeper suspicion than before of +Sanford. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it's just fine," Helen went on. "I have quite some cash with +me—I'm going to let our treasurer keep that, and give me some when I +need it. Then, from time to time, I'll get dividends on my oil stock." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," said Joe, in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Helen, quickly. "What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," proceeded Joe. "Anyhow we had a good time to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you enjoy it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly did, Helen." +</P> + +<P> +They parted near the train, Joe to go to his car and Helen to hers. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, by the way," Joe called after her. "Did Mr. Sanford say what oil +company it was he was going to invest your money in?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he told me. It's the Circle City Oil Syndicate. He has some +stock in it, he told me, and it's a fine concern. Oh, Joe, I'm so glad +I have inherited a little fortune." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," Joe returned, wondering at the same time if he would ever +hear anything encouraging of his mother's relatives in England. +</P> + +<P> +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," Joe murmured as he entered his car. +"I must look them up. This fellow, Sanford, may be all right, but he +struck me as being a pretty slick individual, who would look out for +himself first, and the firm's clients afterward. He'll bear +investigating." +</P> + +<P> +However, nothing could be done that night. The clerk had gone back +with the larger part of Helen's money, and Joe did not want to cause +her worry by speaking of his suspicions. +</P> + +<P> +The circus did a good business the next day, drawing even larger +throngs than to the previous performances. The story of Helen's good +fortune was printed in the local paper, with an account of the +celebration supper she gave, and when she rode into the ring on Rosebud +the applause that greeted her was very pronounced. +</P> + +<P> +Joe repeated his "drop back to instep hang" that afternoon. It was +rather a perilous feat and he was not so sure of it as he was of his +other exercises. But it was a "thriller" and that was what the public +seemed to want—something that made them gasp, sit up, and hold their +breath while they waited to see if "anything would happen" to the +reckless performer. +</P> + +<P> +Joe climbed up to his small trapeze, swung on it and then fell backward +for his first instep hang. He accomplished this successfully, and then +came the thrilling slide down the longer ropes. +</P> + +<P> +Down Joe shot, depending on stopping himself with his outstretched and +down-hanging hands when he reached the second bar. +</P> + +<P> +But the inevitable "something" happened. Joe's hands slipped from the +bar, his head struck it a glancing blow, and the next instant he felt +himself falling head first down toward the life net. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE HEARS SOMETHING +</H4> + +<P> +Women and children screamed, and there were hoarse shouts from the men +who witnessed Joe's fall. At first some thought it was only part of +the acrobatic trick, but a single glance at the desperate struggles of +the young trapeze performer dispelled this idea. +</P> + +<P> +For Joe was struggling desperately in the air to prevent himself from +falling head first into the life net. +</P> + +<P> +It might be thought that one could fall into a loose, sagging net in +any position and not be hurt. But this is not so. A fall into a net +from a great height is often as dangerous as landing on the ground. +Circus folk must know how to fall properly. +</P> + +<P> +If the person falling lands on his head he is likely to dislocate, if +not to break, his neck, and falling on one's face may sometimes be +dangerous. The best way, of course, is to land on one's feet, and this +was what Joe was trying to bring about. +</P> + +<P> +When he realized that he had missed grasping the bar of the second +trapeze (though he could not understand his failure) he knew he must +turn over, and that quickly, or he would strike on his head in the net. +He tried to turn a somersault, but he was at a disadvantage, not having +prepared for that in advance. +</P> + +<P> +"I've got to turn! I've got to turn!" he thought desperately, as he +fell through space. +</P> + +<P> +He did manage to get partly over and when he landed in the net he took +the force of the blow partly on his head and partly on his shoulder. +Everything seemed to get black around him, and there was a roaring in +his ears. Then Joe Strong knew nothing. He had been knocked +unconscious by the fall. +</P> + +<P> +The circus audience—or that part of it immediately near Joe's +trapezes—was at once aware that something unusual had occurred. +</P> + +<P> +Some women arose, as though to rush out. Others screamed and one or +two children began to cry. A slight panic was imminent, and Jim Tracy +realized this. +</P> + +<P> +From where she was putting her horse, Rosebud, through his paces Helen +saw what happened to Joe. In an instant she jumped from the saddle, +and ran across the ring toward the net in which he lay, an inert form. +</P> + +<P> +Other circus performers and attendants rushed to aid Joe, and this +added to the confusion and excitement. Many in the audience were +standing up, trying to see what had happened, and those behind, whose +view was obstructed, cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Sit down! Down in front!" +</P> + +<P> +"Give us some music!" ordered Jim Tracy of the band, which had stopped +playing when Joe performed his trick in order that it might be more +impressive. A lively tune was started, and though it may seem +heartless, in view of the fact that a performer possibly was killed, it +was the best thing to do under the circumstances, for it calmed the +audience. +</P> + +<P> +Tender hands lifted Joe out of the net, and carried him toward the +dressing room. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on with the show!" the ring-master ordered the performers who had +left their stations. "Go on with the show. We'll look after him. +There are plenty of us to do it." +</P> + +<P> +And the show went on. It had to. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he—is he badly hurt?" faltered Helen, as she walked beside the +four men who were carrying Joe on a stretcher which had been brought +from the first aid tent. The circus was always ready to look after +those hurt in accidents. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so—he took the fall pretty well—only partly on his +head," said Bill Watson, who had stopped his laughable antics to rush +over to Joe. "He may be only stunned." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," breathed Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better get back to your ring," suggested Bill. "Finish your +act." +</P> + +<P> +"It was almost over," Helen objected. "I can't go back—now. Not +until I see how he is." +</P> + +<P> +"All right—come along then," said the old clown, sympathetically. He +guessed how matters were between Helen and Joe. "I don't believe the +boss will mind much. There's enough of the show left for 'em to look +at." +</P> + +<P> +He glanced down at Joe, who lay unconscious on the stretcher. They +were now in the canvas screened passage between the dressing tent and +the larger one, where the performance had been resumed. Helen put out +her hand and touched Joe's forehead. He seemed to stir slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"Have they sent for a doctor?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"They'll get one from the crowd," replied Bill. "There's always one or +more in a circus audience." +</P> + +<P> +And he was right. As they placed Joe on a cot that had been quickly +made ready for him, a physician, summoned from the audience by the +ring-master, came to see what he could do. Silently Helen, Bill and +the others stood about while the medical man made his examination. +</P> + +<P> +"Will he die?" Helen asked in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"Not at once—in fact not for some years to come, I think," replied the +physician with a smile. "He has had a bad fall, and he will be laid up +for a time. But it is not serious." +</P> + +<P> +Helen's face showed the relief she felt. +</P> + +<P> +"He'll have to go to a hospital, though," continued the medical man. +"His neck is badly strained, and so are the muscles of his shoulder. +He won't be able to swing on a trapeze for a week or so." +</P> + +<P> +Bill Watson whistled a low note. He knew what it meant for a circus +performer to be laid up. +</P> + +<P> +"Please take him to a hospital," cried Helen impulsively, "and see that +he has a good physician and a nurse—I mean, you look after him +yourself," she added quickly, as she saw the doctor smiling at her. +</P> + +<P> +"And have a trained nurse for him. I'll pay the bill," she went on. +"I'm so glad that money came to me. I'll use some of it for Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"She just inherited a little fortune," explained Bill in a whispered +aside to the medical man. "They're quite fond of each other—those +two." +</P> + +<P> +"So it seems. Well, he'll need a nurse and medical treatment for a +while to come. I'll go and arrange to have him taken to the hospital. +Has he any friends that ought to be notified—not that he is going to +die, but they might like to know." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he hasn't any friends but us here in the circus. His father +and mother are dead, and he ran away from his foster-father—a good +thing, too, I guess. Well, the show will have to go on and leave him +here, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, certainly. He can't travel with you." +</P> + +<P> +The ambulance came and took Joe away. Jim Tracy communicated with the +hospital authorities, ordering them to give the young trapeze performer +the best possible care in a private room, adding that the management +would pay the bill. +</P> + +<P> +"That has already been taken care of," the superintendent of the +hospital informed the ring-master. "A Miss Morton has left funds for +Mr. Strong's case." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Jim Tracy. Then he smiled. +</P> + +<P> +The circus neared its close. The animal tent came down, the lions, +tigers, horses and elephants were taken to their cars. The performers +donned their street clothes and went to their sleeping cars. +</P> + +<P> +Helen, Benny Turton and Bill Watson paid a visit to the hospital just +before it was time for the circus train to leave. Joe had not +recovered consciousness, but he was resting easily, the nurse said. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell him to join the show whenever he is able," was the message Jim +Tracy had left for Joe, "and not to worry. Everything will be all +right." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-bye," whispered Helen close to Joe's ear, But he did not hear her. +</P> + +<P> +And the circus moved on, leaving stricken Joe behind. +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly morning when he came out of his unconsciousness with a +start that shook the bed. +</P> + +<P> +"Quiet now," said the soothing voice of the nurse. +</P> + +<P> +Joe looked at her, wonder showing in his eyes. Then his gaze roved +around the hospital room. He looked down at the white coverings on his +enameled bed and then, realizing where he was, he asked: +</P> + +<P> +"What happened?" +</P> + +<P> +"You had a fall from your trapeze, they tell me," the nurse said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Am I badly hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"The doctor does not think so. But you must be quiet now. You are to +take this." +</P> + +<P> +She held a glass of medicine to his lips. +</P> + +<P> +"But I must know about it," Joe insisted. "I've got to go on with the +show. Has the circus left?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hours ago, yes. It's all right. You are to stay here with us until +you are better. A Mr. Tracy told me to tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Jim—the ring-master. Well I—I guess I'll have to stay +whether I want to or not." +</P> + +<P> +Joe had tried to raise his head from the pillow, but a severe pain, +shooting through his neck and shoulders, warned him that he had better +lie quietly. He also became aware that his head was bandaged. +</P> + +<P> +"I must be in pretty bad shape," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not so very," replied the trained nurse cheerfully. "But you must +keep quiet if you are to get well quickly. The doctor will be in to +see you soon." +</P> + +<P> +Joe sunk into a sort of doze, and when he awakened again the doctor was +in his room. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, how about me?" asked the young performer. +</P> + +<P> +"You might be a whole lot worse," replied the medical man with a smile. +"It's just a bad wrench and sprain. You'll be lame and sore for maybe +two weeks, but eventually you'll be able to go back, risking your neck +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there's not such an awful lot of risks," Joe said. "This was just +an accident—my first of any account. I can't understand how my hands +slipped off the bar. Guess I didn't put enough resin on them. How +long will I be here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, perhaps a week—maybe less." +</P> + +<P> +"Did they bring my pocketbook—I mean my money?" +</P> + +<P> +"You don't have to worry about that," said the doctor. "It has all +been attended to. A Miss Morton made all the arrangements." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," was all Joe said, but he did a lot of thinking. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's injury was more painful than serious. His sore muscles had to be +treated with liniment and electricity, and often massaged. This took +time, but in less than a week he was able to be out of bed and could +sit in an easy chair, out on one of the verandas. +</P> + +<P> +Of course Joe wrote to Helen as soon as he could, thanking her and his +other friends for what they had done for him. In return he received a +letter from Helen, telling him how she—and all of the circus +folk—missed him. +</P> + +<P> +There was also a card from Benny Turton, and a note from Jim Tracy, +telling Joe that his place was ready for him whenever he could come +back. But he was not to hurry himself. They had put no one in his +place on the bill, simply cutting his act out. The Lascalla Brothers +worked with another trapeze performer, who gave up his own act +temporarily to take Joe's position. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess everything will be all right," reflected our hero. "But +I'll join the show again as soon as I can." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was sitting on the sunny veranda one afternoon in a sort of doze. +Other convalescent patients were near him, and he had been listening, +rather idly, to their talk. He was startled to hear one man say: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'd have been all right, and I could have my own automobile now, +if I hadn't been foolish enough to speculate in oil stocks." +</P> + +<P> +"What kind did you buy?" another patient asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, one of those advertised so much—they made all sorts of claims for +it, and I was simple enough to believe them. I put every cent I had +saved up in the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and now I can whistle for my +cash—just when I need it too, with hospital and doctor bills to pay." +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you get any of it back?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so. In fact I'd sell my stock now for a dollar a share +and be glad to get it. I paid twenty-five. Well, it can't be helped." +</P> + +<P> +Joe looked up and looked over at the speaker. He was a middle-aged +man, and he recognized him as a patient who had come in for treatment +for rheumatism. +</P> + +<P> +Joe wondered whether he had heard aright. +</P> + +<P> +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," mused Joe. "That's the one Helen has +her money in—or, rather, the one that San ford put her money in for +her. I wonder if it can be the same company. I must find out, and if +it is——" +</P> + +<P> +Joe did not know just what he would do. What he had overheard caused +him to be vaguely uneasy. His old suspicions came back to him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BAD NEWS +</H4> + +<P> +Joe Strong waited until he had a chance to speak privately to the man +who had admitted losing money in oil stocks. This hospital patient was +a Mr. Anton Buchard, and his room was not far from Joe's. +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," began the young trapeze performer in opening the talk. +"But a short time ago I happened to overhear what you were telling your +friend about some oil stocks—the Circle City Syndicate. I didn't mean +to listen, but I couldn't help hearing what you were saying." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't let that part worry you," said Mr. Buchard. "It's no secret +that I lost my money in that wild-cat speculation. But are you +interested in it?" +</P> + +<P> +"To a certain extent I am," Joe answered. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you didn't buy any of the worthless stock." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but a friend of mine was induced to. That is—er—she—she has +some stock of the Circle City Oil Syndicate. It may not be the same as +that you were speaking of." +</P> + +<P> +"No, that is true. There are many oil concerns in the market, and lots +of them are legitimate, and are making money. But there are plenty of +others which are frauds. And the one I invested in is that kind. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, as you say, it may not be the same as that in which your +friend holds stock, even if it has the same name. Would you know any +of the officers or directors of the concern in which your friend holds +stock?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," Joe replied. "I did not see her stock certificates. +She bought them through a law clerk named Sanford." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Buchard shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't recognize that name," he said. "But of course anybody could +sell the stock. How did your friend ever come to be interested in this +concern?" +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon Joe told of Helen's inheritance, mentioning the fact that he +and she both were in the circus. +</P> + +<P> +"The circus, eh!" exclaimed the man. "Well, now that's interesting! I +remember, when I was a boy, it was my great ambition to run away and +join a circus. But I dare say it isn't such a life of roses as I +imagined." +</P> + +<P> +"There's plenty of hard work," Joe told him, "and then something like +this is likely to happen to you at any time—especially if you are on +the trapeze," and he motioned to the bandages still around his neck and +shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Mr. Buchard, when Joe had finished +telling of Helen's fortune. "I'm going out of here in a couple of +days. I'm getting much better—that is until the next attack. I'll +get out my worthless certificates of stock in the Circle City Oil +Syndicate, and bring you one. You can then see the names of the +officers and directors, and can compare them with the names on Miss +Morton's stock. If they are the same it's pretty sure to be the same +company." +</P> + +<P> +"And if it is," asked Joe, "would you advise her to sell out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sell out! My dear boy, I only hope she will be able to. I wish I had +known in time—I'd have sold out quickly enough. I never should have +bought the stuff. But it's too late to worry about that now. The +money is lost. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll bring you a stock certificate and you +can compare it with Miss Morton's when you see her. Are you going out +soon?" +</P> + +<P> +"In a few days, I hope. I want to get back to the circus." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't blame you. It isn't very cheerful here, though they do the +best they can for you." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Buchard was as good as his word. The day after he left the +hospital he came back to call on Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's a certificate," he said, handing over an elaborately engraved +yellow-backed sheet of paper. "Take it with you, and show it to Miss +Morton." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," the young trapeze performer responded. "I'll mail yours +back to you as soon as I've compared the names." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you don't need to do that," said Mr. Buchard with a rueful laugh. +"It isn't worth the price of a good cigar." +</P> + +<P> +Joe wrote to Helen, telling her he would soon be with the circus again, +but he did not mention the stock certificate. +</P> + +<P> +"There'll be time enough to tell her when I find out if it's the same +concern," he reasoned. "It may not be. After all, the stock Sanford +sold her may be valuable." +</P> + +<P> +But Joe's hope was a faint one. +</P> + +<P> +The day came when he was able to leave the hospital. He found that not +only had all bills been paid, but that there was an allowance to his +credit. Helen had thought he would need money to travel with, and had +left him a sum. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I'll pay her back when I get the chance," Joe reflected. +"The circus will pay the hospital and doctor's bills—they always do. +And I've got money enough saved up to pay Helen back." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was really making a good salary, and he was careful of his money, +not wasting it as some of the more reckless performers did. +</P> + +<P> +He said good-bye to his nurse, to the orderlies and to the physician +who had attended him. +</P> + +<P> +"Now don't try to rush things," the doctor warned Joe. "You must favor +your neck and shoulder muscles for a couple of weeks yet. They will be +lame and sore if you don't. Take it easy, and gradually work up to +your former exploits. If you do that you'll be all right." +</P> + +<P> +Joe promised to be careful, and then, with the stock certificate safely +in his pocket—though it was of no value, he reflected—he set out to +rejoin the circus, which had moved on several hundred miles since his +accident. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if she'll lose her money," mused Joe, as he rode on in the +train. "It would be too bad if she did. Of course it isn't all in +this oil syndicate, but enough of it is to make a big hole in her +little fortune. Hang it all, if this oil stock turns out bad I'll take +that Sanford up to the top of the tent and drop him off." +</P> + +<P> +He smiled grimly at this novel form of revenge. But really he was very +much in earnest. +</P> + +<P> +"Something will have to be done," Joe decided. But he did not know +just what. +</P> + +<P> +In due time he reached the town where the circus was showing. As Joe's +train pulled in he saw, on a siding, the big yellow cars, with the name +Sampson Brothers painted on their sides. There were the flat vehicles +on which the big animal cages stood, box cars for the horses and +elephants and the sleeping cars in which the company traveled. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but it's good to get back!" exclaimed Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The parade was in progress as he walked along the main street. He did +not stop to watch it, having seen it often enough. Besides he was +anxious to talk to Helen, and he knew he would find her at the tent at +this hour, since she was not in the parade. +</P> + +<P> +As Joe turned in at the circus lots he saw several of the attendants +and canvasmen. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" they called cheerily. "Glad to see you with us again!" +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm glad to be back!" Joe exclaimed heartily. "How's everything?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, fine." +</P> + +<P> +"Had any trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not much since you had yours. Had to shoot Princess a couple of towns +back." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean the lioness?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. She went on a rampage and there was nearly a bad accident, so we +had to kill her." +</P> + +<P> +"Too bad," remarked Joe, for he knew what a loss it meant to a show +when a fine animal, such as Princess was, must be disposed of. "Still +it was better than to have her kill her trainer or some one," he added. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed a canvasman. +</P> + +<P> +Joe passed on to the dressing tent. Helen saw him coming and ran to +meet him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so glad to see you! Are you all right +again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite, thank you. I'm a little lame and stiff yet, but I'll soon get +limbered up when I get in my tights and feel myself swinging from a +trapeze." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but you must be careful, Joe."' +</P> + +<P> +"I will. I don't want to have another accident. And now about +yourself. How have you been?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fine." +</P> + +<P> +"And Rosebud?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same as ever. I've taught him a new trick. I must show you. I +haven't put it on in public yet." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall like to see him. Well, you haven't had any more fortunes left +to you, have you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed. I wish I had. But I can increase what I have." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just buy more oil stock. I had a letter from Mr. Sanford, saying he +could get me some more. It's going up in price; so he advised me to +buy at once." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to?" +</P> + +<P> +"Would you?" Helen asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you later," Joe answered. "Have you one of the stock +certificates you did buy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. In my trunk. Do you want to see it?" +</P> + +<P> +Joe did and said so. Helen got it for him and Joe compared it with the +one the man in the hospital had given him. His heart sank as he saw +that the names of the officers and directors were the same. The Circle +City Oil Syndicate was a failure. +</P> + +<P> +Joe's face must have reflected his emotions, for Helen asked him: +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter? Is anything wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid I have bad news for you," Joe replied. +</P> + +<P> +"In what way? You're not going to——" +</P> + +<P> +"It's about your stock. I'm sorry to tell you that your oil stock is +worthless—part of your fortune is gone, Helen!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HELEN GOES +</H4> + +<P> +Helen looked dazed for a few seconds. She stared at Joe as though she +did not understand what he had said. She looked at the oil stock +certificates in his hand. Joe continued to regard them dubiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Worthless—my investment worthless?" Helen asked, after a bit. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I'm afraid of," Joe replied. "Of course I don't know much +about stocks, bonds and so on, but a man said this stock certificate +wasn't worth the price of a good cigar," and he held up the one the +hospital patient had given him. "Yours is the same kind, Helen, I'm +sorry to say." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know, Joe? Let me see them." +</P> + +<P> +Joe gave her the two papers—elaborately printed, and lavishly enough +engraved to be government money, but aside from that worthless. +</P> + +<P> +Then Joe told of the incident in the hospital—how he had accidentally +heard the man speak of the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and the +conversation that followed. +</P> + +<P> +"If what he says is true, Helen, your money is gone," Joe finished. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm afraid so." she said slowly. "Oh, dear, isn't it too bad? +And I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could increase my +fortune. Now I am likely to lose it. I wish I had known more about +business. I'd never have let this man fool me." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had, too," remarked Joe. "Then I'd have advised you not to +risk your money in oil. But perhaps it isn't too late yet." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean we may be able to sell back this stock. Of course it would +hardly be right to sell it to an innocent person, who did not know of +its worthlessness, for then they would lose also. But I mean the +Syndicate might buy it back, rather than have it become known that the +concern was worthless. I don't know much about such things." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither do I," agreed Helen. "I'll tell you what let's do, Joe. +Let's ask Bill Watson. He use to be in business before he became a +clown, and he might tell us what to do." +</P> + +<P> +"A good idea," commented Joe. "We'll do it." +</P> + +<P> +The old clown was in the dressing room, but he came out when Helen and +Joe summoned him, half his face "made up," with streaks of red, white +and blue grease paint. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Bill, we're in such trouble!" cried Helen, +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble!" exclaimed Bill. The word seemed hardly to fit in with his +grotesque character. "What trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's about my money," Helen went on. "I'm going to lose it all, Joe +thinks." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, not all!" exclaimed the young trapeze performer quickly. "Only +what you invested in oil stock. Here's the story, Bill," and Joe +related his part of it, Helen supplying the information needed from her +end. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," went on Joe, as he concluded, "what we want to know is—can +Helen save any of this oil money?" +</P> + +<P> +Bill Watson was silent a moment. Then he slowly shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," he answered. "Money invested in wild-cat oil wells +is seldom recovered. Of course you could bring a lawsuit against this +Sanford, but the chances are he's skipped out by this time." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, he hasn't," Helen exclaimed. "I had a letter from him only +the other day. He asked me if I didn't want to buy some more stock. I +know where to find him." +</P> + +<P> +Once more the veteran clown shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"He might allow you to find him if he thought you were bringing him +more cash for his worthless schemes," he said, "but if he found out you +wanted to serve papers on him in a suit, or to get hold of him to make +him give back the money he took from you, Helen, that would be a +different story. I'm afraid you wouldn't see much of Mr. Sanford then. +He'd be mighty scarce." +</P> + +<P> +"Could we sell back the stock to the oil company?" Joe wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly," answered the clown. "They make that stock to sell to the +public, and they never buy it back unless there's a chance for them to +make money. And, according to Joe's tale, there isn't in this case." +</P> + +<P> +"Not by what that man said," affirmed the young trapeze performer. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose the only thing to do," went on the old clown, "would be to +give the case into the hands of a good lawyer, and let him see what he +could do with it. Turn over the stock to him, give him power to act +for you, Helen, and wait for what comes. You'll be traveling on with +the show, and you can't do much, nor Joe either, though I know he would +help you if he could, and so would I." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what!" exclaimed Joe heartily. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do just as you say," agreed Helen. "But it does seem too bad to +lose my money, and I counted on doing so much with it. But it can't be +helped." +</P> + +<P> +She was more cheerful over it than Joe thought she would be. He +suspected that she had not altogether lost hope, but as for himself Joe +counted the money gone, and it was not a small sum to lose. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Helen," he said. "I noticed a lawyer's office on the main +street as I was looking at the parade. We'll go there and get him to +take the case. We'll be out of here to-night and we can leave matters +in his hands, with instructions to send us word when he has the money +back." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm afraid you'll never get that word," said the old clown. +</P> + +<P> +There was time enough before the afternoon performance for Joe and +Helen to pay a visit to the law office. Joe also reported to Jim +Tracy, who was glad to see him. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want you to get on the trapeze to-day," said the ring-master. +"Take a little light practice first for a few days. And do all you can +for her," he added in a low voice, motioning to Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure will!" Joe exclaimed fervently. +</P> + +<P> +The lawyer listened to the story as Joe and Helen told it to him, and +agreed to take the case against Sanford and the Circle City Oil +Syndicate for a small fee. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do the best I can," he said, "but I'm afraid I can't promise you +much in results. Let me have the papers and your future address." +</P> + +<P> +Joe put on his suit of tights for that afternoon, though he did not +take part in the trapeze work. He fancied that the Lascalla Brothers +were not very glad to see him, but this may have been fancy, for they +were cordial enough as far as words went. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe they thought I would be laid up permanently," reasoned Joe. +"Then they could have their former partner back. I wonder if he's been +around lately?" +</P> + +<P> +He made some inquiries, but no one had noticed Sim Dobley hanging about +the lots as he had done shortly after his discharge. Nor had there +been, as Joe had a faint suspicion there might be, any connection +between the train wreck and the discharged employee. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe Sim would be so desperate as to wreck a train just to +get even with me," decided Joe. "I guess it was just a coincidence. +He only wrote that threatening letter as a bluff." +</P> + +<P> +Helen Morton did not allow her distress over the prospective loss of +her money to interfere with her circus act. She put Rosebud through +his paces in the ring, and received her share of applause at the antics +of the clever horse. Helen did a new little trick—the one she had +told Joe about. +</P> + +<P> +She tossed flags of different nations to different parts of the ring, +and then told Rosebud to fetch them to her, one after the other, +calling for them by name. +</P> + +<P> +The intelligent horse made no mistakes, bringing the right flag each +time. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said Helen at the conclusion of her act, "show me what all +good little children do when they go to bed at night." +</P> + +<P> +Rosebud bent his forelegs and bowed his head between them as if he were +saying his prayers. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good horse!" ejaculated Helen. "Now come and get your sugar +and give me a kiss," and the animal daintily picked up a lump of the +sweet stuff from Helen's hand, and then lightly touched her cheek with +his velvety muzzle. +</P> + +<P> +Then with a leap the pretty young rider vaulted into the saddle and +rode out of the ring amid applause. +</P> + +<P> +"You're doing beautifully, Helen!" was Joe's compliment, as Helen rode +out. +</P> + +<P> +"I may be all right on a horse," she answered, "but I don't know much +about money and business." +</P> + +<P> +The show moved on that night, and the next day, when the tent was set +up, Joe indulged in light practice. He found the soreness almost gone, +and as he worked alone, and with the Lascalla Brothers, his stiffness +also disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I'll go on to-night," he told the ring-master. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Joe. We'll be glad to have you, of course. But don't take +any chances." +</P> + +<P> +Mail was distributed among the circus folk that day following the +afternoon performance. Joe had letters from some people to whom he had +written in regard to his mother's relatives in England. One gave him +the address of a London solicitor, as lawyers are designated over +there, and Joe determined to write to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Though I guess my chances of getting an inheritance are pretty slim," +he told Helen. "I'm not lucky, like you." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you don't call me lucky!" she exclaimed. "Having money doesn't +do me any good. I lose it as fast as I get it." +</P> + +<P> +She had a letter from her lawyer, stating that he had looked further +into the case since she had left the papers with him, and that he had +less hope than ever of ever being able to get back the cash paid for +the oil stock. +</P> + +<P> +Joe did not intend to work in any new tricks the first evening of his +reappearance after the accident. But when he got started he felt so +well after his rest and his light practice, that he made up his mind he +would put on a couple of novelties. Not exactly novelties, either, for +they are known to most gymnasts though not often done in a circus. +</P> + +<P> +Joe went up to the top of the tent. Near the small platform, from +which he jumped in the long swing, to catch Tonzo Lascalla in the +trapeze, Joe had fastened a long cotton rope about two inches in +diameter. +</P> + +<P> +He caught hold of the rope in both hands and passed it between his +thighs, letting it rest on the calf of his left leg. He then brought +the rope around over the instep of his left foot, holding it in +position with pressure by the right foot, which was pressed against the +left. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I come!" Joe cried, and then, letting go with his hands, Joe +stretched out his arms, and came down the rope in that fashion, the +pressure of his feet on the rope that passed between them regulating +his speed. +</P> + +<P> +It was a more difficult feat than it appeared, this descending a rope +without using one's hands, but it seemed to thrill the crowd +sufficiently. +</P> + +<P> +But Joe had not finished. He knew another spectacular act in rope +work, which looked difficult and dangerous, and yet was easier to +perform than the one he had just done. Often in trapeze work this is +the case. +</P> + +<P> +The spectator may be thrilled by some seemingly dangerous and risky +act, when, as a matter of fact, it is easy for the performer, who +thinks little of it. On the other hand that which often seems from the +circus seats to be very easy may be so hard on the muscles and nerves +as to be actually dreaded by the performer. +</P> + +<P> +Having himself hauled up to the top of the tent again, Joe once more +took hold of the rope. He held himself in position, the rope between +his legs, which he thrust out at right angles to his body, his toes +pointing straight out. Suddenly he "circled back" to an inverted hang, +his head now pointing to the ground many feet below. Then he quickly +passed the rope about his waist, under his right armpit, crossed his +feet with the rope between them, the toes of the right foot pressing +the cotton strands against the arch of his left foot. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready!" cried Joe. +</P> + +<P> +There was a boom of the big drum, a ruffle of the snare, and Joe slid +down the rope head first with outstretched arms, coming to a sudden +stop with his head hardly an inch from the hard ground. But Joe knew +just what he was doing and he could regulate his descent to the +fraction of an inch by the pressure of his legs and feet on the rope. +</P> + +<P> +There was a yell of delight from the audience at this feat, and Joe, +turning right side up, acknowledged the ovation tendered him. Then he +ran from the tent—his part in the show being over. +</P> + +<P> +For a week the circus showed, moving from town to city. It was +approaching the end of the season. The show would soon go into winter +quarters, and the performers disperse until summer came again. +</P> + +<P> +Helen had heard nothing favorable from the lawyer, and she and Joe had +about given up hope of getting back the money. +</P> + +<P> +The circus had reached a good-sized city in the course of its travels, +and was to play there two days. On the afternoon of the first day, +just before the opening of the performance, Joe went to Helen's tent to +speak to her about something. +</P> + +<P> +"She isn't here," Mrs. Talfo, the fat lady, told him. "She's gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Gone!" echoed Joe. "Isn't she going to play this afternoon?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe not—no." +</P> + +<P> +"But where did she go?" +</P> + +<P> +"You'll have to ask Jim Tracy. I saw her talking to him. She seemed +quite excited about something." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if anything could have happened," mused Joe. "They couldn't +have discharged her. That act's too good. But it looks funny. She +wouldn't have left of her own accord without saying good-bye. I wonder +what happened." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JOE FOLLOWS +</H4> + +<P> +Some little time elapsed before Joe found a chance to speak to Jim +Tracy. There had been a slight accident to one of the circus wagons in +unloading from the train for that day's show, and the ring-master was +kept very busy. One of the elephants was slightly hurt also. +</P> + +<P> +But finally the confusion was straightened out, and our hero had a +chance to ask the question that was troubling him. +</P> + +<P> +"What had become of Helen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I don't know where she went," Jim Tracy said. "She came to me +almost as soon as we got in this morning, and wanted to know if she +could have the afternoon off." +</P> + +<P> +"Cut out her act?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it. Of course I didn't want to lose her out of the show, but +as long as we're going to be here two days, and considering the fact +that she hadn't had a day off since the show started out this season, I +said she might go. And so she went—at least I suppose she did." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she's gone," Joe replied. "But where?" +</P> + +<P> +Jim Tracy did not know and said so. He was too busy to talk much more +about it. +</P> + +<P> +"She'll be back in time for the evening performance—that's all I +know," he told Joe. +</P> + +<P> +The young trapeze' performer sought out the old clown and told him what +had taken place. +</P> + +<P> +"Helen gone!" exclaimed Bill. "That's queer!" +</P> + +<P> +"I thought maybe you'd know about it, Bill." +</P> + +<P> +"Me? No, not a thing. She never said a word to me. Are you sure you +and she didn't have any—er—little tiff?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not!" and Joe blushed under his tan. "She didn't tell me +she was going." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, she'll be back to-night, Jim says. I guess she's all right. +Now I've got to get busy." +</P> + +<P> +But Joe was not satisfied. It was not like Helen to go off in this +way, and he felt there was something strange about it. +</P> + +<P> +"I do hope she isn't going to try to make any more investments with her +money—that is with what she has left," he mused. "Maybe she heard of +some other kind of stock she can buy, and she thinks from the profits +of that she can make up for what she is sure to lose in the oil +investment. Poor Helen! It certainly is hard luck!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe thought so much of his new theory that he visited the circus +treasurer with whom Helen had left some of her money. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it's here in the safe—what she left with me," the treasurer said. +"Too bad about her losing that nice sum, wasn't it? It will take her +quite a while to save that much." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had hold of the law clerk who tricked her into buying the oil +stock," said Joe with energy. "I'd make him eat the certificates, and +then I'd—well, I don't know what I would do." +</P> + +<P> +"But you haven't got him," said the treasurer, "and I guess their kind +take good care to keep out of the way of those they've swindled." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," Joe agreed. +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing he could do at present, and he had soon to go on with +his act. But Joe Strong made up his mind if Helen were not back early +to make a thorough search for her. +</P> + +<P> +"That is if I can get any trace of her," he went on. "She may run into +danger without knowing it, for she hasn't had much experience in life, +even if she is a circus rider." +</P> + +<P> +Joe was himself again now. His muscles seemed to have benefited by the +rest, and the young trapeze performer went through all his old acts, +alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, and Joe also put on one or two +new things, or, rather, variations of old ones. +</P> + +<P> +In one part of his performance he balanced himself upon his neck and +shoulders on a trapeze high up in the top of the tent. He was almost +standing upon his head. While this is not difficult for a performer to +do when the trapeze is stationary it is not easy when the apparatus is +swinging. Joe was going to try that. +</P> + +<P> +A ring hand pulled on a light rope attached to the trapeze on which Joe +was thus balanced on his neck and set the bar and ropes in motion. +They moved slowly, and through only a short arc at first. But in a +little while Joe, in his perilous position, was executing a long swing. +</P> + +<P> +His feet were pressed against the ropes and his hands were on his hips. +He balanced his body instinctively in this posture. But this was not +all of the trick. +</P> + +<P> +When the trapeze was swinging as high as he wanted it, Joe suddenly +brought his legs together. For an instant he poised there on the bar, +supporting himself on his neck and shoulders, as straight as an arrow. +</P> + +<P> +Then, with a shout to warn those below, he fell over in a graceful +curve, and began a series of rapid somersaults in the air. +</P> + +<P> +Down he fell, the hushed attention of the big crowd being drawn to him. +Just before reaching the life net, Joe straightened out and fell into +the meshes feet first, bouncing out on a mat and from there bowing his +thanks for the applause. +</P> + +<P> +Thus Joe brought his act to a close for that afternoon, and he was glad +of it for he wanted to go out and see if Helen had returned. As soon +as he had changed to his street clothes he sought her tent. +</P> + +<P> +The women of the circus dressed together, each one in a sort of canvas +screened apartment, and in the Sampson Brothers' Show they also had a +sort of ante-room to the dressing tent, where they could receive their +friends. +</P> + +<P> +There was no one in this room when Joe entered, save some of the maids +which the higher-salaried circus women kept to help them dress, "make +up" and so on. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Miss Morton in?" asked Joe of a maid who knew him. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Mr. Strong. I don't believe she has returned yet. I'll go and +look in her room, though." The maid came back shaking her head. +</P> + +<P> +"She isn't there," she told Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder where she can be," he mused. "Why didn't she leave some +word? Are you sure there wasn't a letter or anything on her trunk?" he +inquired of the maid. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I didn't look. You may go in if you like. I guess it will be +all right." +</P> + +<P> +None of the performers were in the dressing tent then, being out in the +big one doing their acts. Joe knew his way to Helen's room, having +been there many times, for there would often be little impromptu +gatherings in it to talk over circus matters between the acts. +</P> + +<P> +He looked about for a letter, thinking she might have left one for him +before going away. He saw nothing addressed to himself, but on the +ground, where it had evidently dropped, was an open note. Joe could +not help reading it at a glance. To his surprise it was signed by +Sanford, the tricky law clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be glad to see you if you will call on me when you reach +Lyledale," the letter read. "I am glad you think of buying more stock. +I have some to sell. I will be at the Globe Hotel." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "It's just as I feared. She's been doing +business with Sanford again—trying to make good her loss on the oil +stock. He has an appointment with her here in Lyledale. That's where +she's gone—to meet him. She must have sold some of her other +securities to get money to buy more stock. I must stop this. I've got +to follow her. Poor Helen!" +</P> + +<P> +Joe had found out what he wanted to know by accident. Helen, he +reasoned, must have received the letter that day, or perhaps the day +before, and had planned to meet Sanford on reaching Lyledale where the +circus was then playing. In order to do this she had to be excused +from the afternoon performance. +</P> + +<P> +"But I'll put a stop to that deal if I can," Joe declared. "I'll tell +her how foolish and risky it is to invest any more money with Sanford. +I only hope she'll believe me." +</P> + +<P> +Joe's time was his own until the night performance. He decided he +would at once follow Helen to the hotel and there remonstrate with her, +if it were not too late. +</P> + +<P> +"Queer that she kept it a secret from all of us," remarked Joe as he +started for town. "I guess she knew we'd try to stop her from throwing +good money after bad, as they say. Well, now to see what luck I'll +have." +</P> + +<P> +The Globe Hotel was the best and largest in town. Joe had no +difficulty in finding it, and on inquiring at the desk was told that +Mr. Sanford was a guest at the place. +</P> + +<P> +"He has two rooms," the clerk told Joe. "One he uses as an office, +where he does business." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then he's been here before?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, often. I don't know what his business is, but I think, he is +a sort of stock and bond dealer." +</P> + +<P> +"More like a stock and bond swindler," thought Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Sanford will see you in a few minutes," the bellboy reported to +Joe, having come back from taking up our hero's card. "There's a lady +in the office with him now." +</P> + +<P> +"A young lady?" Joe asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," nodded the bellboy. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go up now!" decided Joe. "I think he might just as well see me +now as later." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he won't like it," the clerk warned him. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care whether he likes it or not!" cried Joe. "It may be too +late if I don't go up now. You needn't bother to announce me," he said +to the bell-boy who offered to accompany Joe to show the way. "I guess +I can find the room all right." +</P> + +<P> +Joe rode up in the elevator, and turned down the corridor leading to +the two rooms occupied by Sanford. Pausing at the door of the outer +room, Joe heard voices. He recognized one as Helen's. +</P> + +<P> +"She's there all right," mused Joe. "I hope I'm not too late!" +</P> + +<P> +He was about to enter when he heard Helen say: "Please give it back to +me. It isn't fair to take advantage of me this way." +</P> + +<P> +"You went into this with your eyes open," Sanford replied. "It was a +straight business deal, and I'm not to blame for the way it turned out. +Now this stock——" +</P> + +<P> +Joe waited no longer. He fairly burst into the room, crying: +</P> + +<P> +"Helen, don't waste any more money on his worthless investments!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE LAST PERFORMANCE +</H4> + +<P> +It would have been difficult to say who was the more surprised by the +sudden entrance of Joe Strong—Helen or the law clerk. Both seemed +startled. +</P> + +<P> +Once more Joe cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Helen, don't throw away any more of your money on his stocks!" +</P> + +<P> +"How dare you come in here?" demanded Sanford. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind about that," answered Joe coolly. "I know what I'm doing. +I'm not going to see you get any more of her money." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe. How did you know I was here?" asked Helen. "I didn't want +any one to know I came." +</P> + +<P> +"I found out. I feared this was what you'd do." +</P> + +<P> +"Do what, Joe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Buy more stock in the hope of making good your losses on the Circle +City investment." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Joe, I'm not doing that. I don't want to buy any more stock. +I've had too much as it is." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what in the world did you come here for?" cried Sanford. "You +intimated that you wanted more stock. That's why I met you here—to +sell it to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I thought that's what you'd think," replied Helen, and she seemed +less excited now than Joe Strong. "But what I came for was to sell you +back these worthless oil certificates. I want my money back." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you won't get it!" sneered the law clerk. "You bought that +stock and now——" +</P> + +<P> +"Now she's going to sell it again," put in Joe. He seemed to +understand the situation now. +</P> + +<P> +"Helen," he went on, "I think it would be well if you left this matter +in my hands. If you'll just go downstairs and to the nearest police +station and ask an officer to step around here, I think we can find +something for him to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Police!" faltered Sanford. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, perhaps we won't need one," said Joe coolly, "but it's +always best, in matters of this kind, to have one on hand. It doesn't +cost anything. Just get an officer, Helen, and wait downstairs with +him. I'll have a little talk with Sanford." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Joe! I—I——!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Helen, you just leave this to me. Run along." +</P> + +<P> +Joe Strong seemed to dominate the situation. He displayed splendid +nerve. +</P> + +<P> +Helen went slowly from the room. +</P> + +<P> +"The clerk will tell you where to find a policeman," Joe called to her. +"You needn't tell him why one is needed. It may be that we shall get +along without one, and there's no need of causing any excitement unless +we have to." +</P> + +<P> +"Joe—Joe," faltered Helen. "You will be careful—won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well," and Joe smiled quizzically, "I'll be as careful as he'll let +me," and he nodded toward the law clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" demanded Sanford, uneasily. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll see in a few minutes," said Joe calmly. +</P> + +<P> +When Helen went out Joe, with a quick movement, closed and locked the +hall door. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that for?" cried Sanford. +</P> + +<P> +"So you won't get out before I'm through with you." +</P> + +<P> +The law clerk made a rush for Joe, endeavoring to push him to one side. +But muscles trained on a typewriter or with a pen are no match for +those used on the flying rings and trapeze. +</P> + +<P> +With a single motion of his hand Joe thrust the clerk aside, fairly +forcing him into a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then," said Joe calmly, "you and I will have a little talk. You +needn't try to yell. If you do I'll stuff a bedspread in your mouth. +And if you want to try conclusions with me physically—well, here you +are!" +</P> + +<P> +With a quick motion Joe caught the fellow up, and raised him high in +the air, over his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh—oh! Put me down! Put me down!" Sanford begged. "I—I'll fall!" +</P> + +<P> +"You won't fall as long as I have hold of you," chuckled Joe. "But +there's no telling when I might let go. Now let's talk business." +</P> + +<P> +Trembling, Sanford found himself in the chair again. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you sell Miss Morton any more stock?" demanded Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"No—I—she—came here to buy, I thought, but——" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as long as she didn't it's all right. Now then about that oil +stock you got her to invest her money in—is that stock good?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, of course it——" +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't!" interrupted Joe, "and you knew it wasn't when you sold it to +her. Now then I want you to take that stock back and return her money. +And I don't want you to sell that stock to some other person, either. +You just tear it up. It's worthless, and you know it. I want Miss +Morton's money back for her." +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't it!" whined the clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you know where to get it. I fancy if I tell Mr. Pike, of your +law firm, what you've been up to——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't tell him! Don't tell him!" whined the clerk. "He doesn't +know anything about it. I—I just did this as a side line. If you +tell him I'll lose my position and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll tell him all right, if you don't give back Miss Morton's +money!" said Joe grimly. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you I haven't the cash." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you must get it. You've been doing business here before, the +hotel clerk tells me. Come now—hand over the cash—get it—and I'll +let you go, though perhaps I shouldn't. If you don't pay up—well, the +officer ought to be downstairs waiting for you now. Come!" cried Joe +sharply. "Which is it to be—the money or jail?" +</P> + +<P> +Sanford looked around like a cornered rat seeking a means of escape. +There was none. Joe, big and powerful, stood between him and the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Well?" asked Joe significantly. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'll pay her back the money," faltered Sanford. "But I'll have to +go out to get it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, you won't," said Joe cheerfully. "If you went out you might +forget to come back. Here's a telephone—just use that." +</P> + +<P> +Sanford sighed. His last chance was gone. +</P> + +<P> +Just what or to whom he telephoned does not concern us. But in the +course of an hour or so a messenger called with money enough to make +good all Helen had risked in oil stock. The cash was handed to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, you keep it for me, Joe," she said. "I don't seem to know how +to manage my fortune." +</P> + +<P> +"What about those stock certificates?" asked Sanford. "I want them +back." +</P> + +<P> +"They are worthless, by your own confession," replied Joe, "and you're +not going to fool some one else on them. "We'll just keep them for +souvenirs, eh, Helen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just as you say, Joe," she answered with a blush. +</P> + +<P> +Sanford blustered, but to no purpose. He was beaten at his own game, +and the fear of exposure and arrest brought him to terms. +</P> + +<P> +"But you shouldn't have gone to him alone, Helen," remonstrated Joe, +when they were on their way back to the circus with the recovered cash. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'd been so foolish as to lose my money, that I wanted to see if +I couldn't get it back again," she said. "I didn't want any of you to +help me, as I'd already given trouble enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble!" cried Joe. "We would have been only too glad to help you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you did it in spite of me," Helen said, with a smile. "I did +not intend you should know where I had gone. How did you find out?" +</P> + +<P> +"I saw a letter you dropped in the tent, and I followed. But how did +you happen to locate Sanford?" +</P> + +<P> +"By adopting just what Bill Watson said was the only plan. I made +believe I wanted to buy more stock. Bill said that was the only way to +catch Sanford. If I had tried to find him to get my money back he +would have kept out of my way. But when he thought I might have more +cash for him, he wrote and told me where I could find him. So I just +waited until our show came here and then I called on Mr. Sanford. +</P> + +<P> +"I was just begging him to give me back the money for the oil stock +when you came in on us, Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad I did." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I. I hardly think he'd have paid me if it had not been for you. +How did you make him settle?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I just sort of 'held him up' for it," but Joe did not explain the +way he had actually "held up" the swindler. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm so glad to get my money back!" Helen sighed as they reached the +circus grounds, over which dusk was settling, for it was now early fall. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm glad, too," added Joe. "Then next time you buy oil stock——" +</P> + +<P> +"There'll not be any next time," laughed Helen, as she went to give +Rosebud his customary lumps of sugar. +</P> + +<P> +And that night, in the Sampson Brother's Show, there was an impromptu +little celebration over the recovery of Helen's money. +</P> + +<P> +Later Joe learned that Sanford gave up his place in the law office. +Perhaps the swindler was afraid Mr. Pike would find out about his +underhand transactions. Sanford, it seemed, had done some law business +for the oil company, and they let him sell some of the worthless stock +for himself, allowing him to keep the money—that is what Joe did not +make him pay back. +</P> + +<P> +It was the night of the final performance. The performers went through +their acts with new snap and daring, for it was the last time some of +them would face the public until the following season. A few would +secure engagements for the winter in theatres, but most of them would +winter with the circus. +</P> + +<P> +When the tents came down this time they would be shipped to Bridgeport, +where many shows go into winter quarters. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Joe," remarked Helen, as she came out of the ring just as Joe +finished his last thrilling feat, "what are you going to do? Will you +be with us next season?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. I've had several offers to go with hippodrome +exhibitions, and on a theatrical circuit." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then you are going to leave us?" +</P> + +<P> +Joe looked at Helen. There seemed to be a new light in her eyes. And +though she was smiling, there was something of disappointment showing +on her face. With parted lips she gazed at Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought perhaps you would stay," she murmured, her eyes downcast. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I guess I will!" said Joe in a low voice. "This is a pretty good +circus after all." +</P> + +<P> +And so Joe stayed. And what he did in the show will be related in the +next volume of this series, to be called: "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish; +Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank." +</P> + +<P> +The chariots rattled their final dusty way around the big tent. The +"barkers" came in to sell tickets for the "grand concert." The animal +tent was already down for the last time that season. With the ending +of the concert the bugler blew "taps." The torches went out. +</P> + +<P> +"Good night, Joe," said Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Good night, Helen," he answered, and as they clasped hands in the +darkness we will say good-bye to Joe Strong. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +The End +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Joe Strong on the Trapeze, by Vance Barnum + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + +***** This file should be named 28642-h.htm or 28642-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/4/28642/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Joe Strong on the Trapeze + or The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer + +Author: Vance Barnum + +Release Date: April 30, 2009 [EBook #28642] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +JOE STRONG + +ON THE TRAPEZE + + +OR + +_THE DARING FEATS OF A YOUNG + +CIRCUS PERFORMER_ + + + +BY + +VANCE BARNUM + + +Author of "Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard," "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish," +"Joe Strong on the High Wire," etc. + + + + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO. + +RACINE, WISCONSIN + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS + +BY + +VANCE BARNUM + + +THE JOE STRONG SERIES + + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD + _Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed_ + +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE + _Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer_ + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH + _Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank_ + +JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE + _Or, Motor-Cycle Perils of the Air_ + +JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL + _Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds_ + +JOE STRONG--HIS BOX OF MYSTERY + _Or, The Ten Thousand Dollar Prize Trick_ + +JOE STRONG, THE BOY FIRE EATER + _Or, The Most Dangerous Performance on Record_ + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1916 + +GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY + + +Printed by + +WESTERN PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO. + +Racine, Wisconsin + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE FIRE TRICK + II. JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY + III. ANOTHER OFFER + IV. A CHANCE ENCOUNTER + V. OFF TO THE CIRCUS + VI. JOE MAKES A HIT + VII. JOE TURNS A TRICK + VIII. HELEN'S LETTER + IX. BILL WATSON'S IDEA + X. IN THE TANK + XI. HELEN'S DISCOVERY + XII. JUST IN TIME + XIII. A BAD BLOW + XIV. HELEN'S INHERITANCE + XV. A WARNING + XVI. THE STRIKE + XVII. IN BEDFORD + XVIII. HELEN'S MONEY + XIX. JOE IS SUSPICIOUS + XX. A FALL + XXI. JOE HEARS SOMETHING + XXII. BAD NEWS + XXIII. HELEN GOES + XXIV. JOE FOLLOWS + XXV. THE LAST PERFORMANCE + + + + +JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIRE TRICK + +"Better put on your pigeon-omelet trick now, Joe." + +"All right. That ought to go well. And you are getting ready for----" + +"The fire trick," interrupted Professor Alonzo Rosello, as he and his +young assistant, Joe Strong, stood bowing and smiling in response to +the applause of the crowd that had gathered in the theatre to witness +the feats of "Black Art, Magic, Illusion, Legerdemain, Prestidigitation +and Allied Sciences." That was what the program called it, anyhow. + +"The fire trick!" repeated Joe. "Do you think it will work all right +now?" + +"I think it will. I've had the apparatus overhauled, and you know we +can depend on the electric current here. It isn't likely to fail just +at the wrong moment." + +"No, that's so, still----" + +Again Joe had to bow, as did Professor Rosello, for the applause +continued. They were both sharing it, for both had taken part in a +novel trick, and it had been successfully performed. + +Joe had taken his place in a chair on the stage, and, after having been +covered by a black cloth by the professor, had, when the cloth was +removed a moment later, totally disappeared. Then he was seen walking +down the aisle of the theatre, coming in from the lobby. + +There was much wonder as to how the trick was it done, especially since +the chair had been placed over a sheet of paper on the stage, and, +before and after the trick, the professor had exhibited the sheet--the +front page of a local paper--apparently unbroken. (This trick is +explained in detail in the first volume of this series, entitled, "Joe +Strong, the Boy Wizard.") + +"The audience seems to be in good humor to-night," observed the +professor to Joe, as they bowed again. The two could carry on a +low-voiced conversation while "taking" their applause. + +"Yes, I'm glad to see them that way," answered the youth. "It's not +much fun playing to a frosty house." + +"I should say not! Well, Joe, get ready for your pigeon-omelet trick, +and I'll prepare the fire apparatus." + +The professor, with a final bow, made an exit to one side of the stage, +which was fitted up with Oriental splendor. As he went off, and as Joe +Strong picked up some apparatus from a table near him, a disturbed look +came over the face of the boy wizard. + +"I don't like that fire trick," he mused. "It's altogether too +uncertain. It's spectacular, and all that, and when it works right it +makes a big hit, but I don't like it. Well, I suppose he'll do it, +anyhow--or try to. I'll be on the lookout though. If the current +fails, as it did last time----" Joe shrugged his shoulders, and went +on with his trick. + +Since he had become associated with Professor Rosello, Joe had adopted +the philosophic frame of mind that characterizes many public +performers, especially those who risk bodily injury in thrilling the +public. That is, he was willing to take the chance of accident rather +than disappoint an audience. "The show must go on," was the motto, no +matter how the performer suffered. The public does not often realize +its own cruelty in insisting on being amused or thrilled. + +"Yes, I'll have to keep my eyes open," thought Joe. "After all, +though, maybe nothing will happen. And yet I have a feeling as if +something would. It's foolish, I know,, but----" + +Again Joe shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing he could do to +avoid it, as far as he could see. Joe was beginning to acquire the +superstition shared by many theatrical persons. + +The theatre, filled with persons who had paid good prices to see +Professor Rosello's performance was hushed and still now, as Joe, his +preparations complete, advanced to the edge of the stage. He was +smiling and confident, for he was about to perform a trick he had done +many times, and always with success. For the time being he dismissed +from his mind the risk Professor Rosello would run in doing the "fire +trick," for which the chief performer was even then preparing. + +"Persons in the audience," began Joe, smilingly addressing the house, +"often wonder how we actors and professional people eat. It is +proverbial, you know, that actors are always hungry. Now I am going to +show you that it is easier for us to get food than it is for other folk. + +"For instance: If I were to be shipwrecked on a desert island I could +reach out into the seemingly empty air, and pick money off invisible +tree branches--like this." + +Joe stretched up his hand, which seemed to contain nothing, and in an +instant there appeared between his thumb and finger a bright gold coin. + +"So much for a start!" he exclaimed with laugh. "We'll drop that on +this plate, and get more." There was a ringing sound as the coin +dropped on the plate, and Joe, reaching up in the air, seemed to gather +another gold piece out of space. This, too, fell with a clink on the +plate. And then in rapid succession Joe pulled in other coins until he +had a plateful. + +Probably it has been guessed how that trick was done. Joe held one +coin in his hand, palmed so that it was not visible. A movement of his +well-trained muscles sent it up between his thumb and finger. Then he +seemed to lay it on a plate. But the plate was a trick one, with a +false bottom, concealed under which was a store of coins. A pressure +on a hidden spring sent one coin at a time out through a slot, and it +seemed as if Joe deposited them on the receptacle as he gathered them +from the air. + +"But we must remember," Joe went on, as he laid the plate of coins down +on a table, "that I am on a desert island. Consequently all the money +in the world would be of no use. It would not buy a ham sandwich or a +fresh egg. Why not, then, gather eggs from the air instead of coins? +A good idea. One can eat eggs. So I will gather a few." + +Joe stretched his hand up over his head, made a grab at a seemingly +floating egg and, capturing it, laid it on the table. In like manner +he proceeded until he had three. + +This trick was worked in the same way as was the coin one, Joe holding +but one egg, cleverly palmed, in his hand, the others popping up from a +secret recess in the table. But the audience was mystified. + +"Now some persons like their eggs raw, while others prefer them +cooked," resumed Joe. "I, myself, prefer mine in omelet form, so I +will cook my eggs. I have here a saucepan that will do excellently for +holding my omelet. I will break the eggs into it, add a little water, +and stir them up." + +Joe suited the action to the words. He cracked the three eggs, one +after another, holding them high in the air to let the audience see the +whites and yolks drip into the shining, nickel pan. + +"But a proper omelet must be cooked," Joe said. "Where shall we get +fire on a desert island, particularly as all our matches were made wet +when we swam ashore? Ah, I have it! I'll just turn this bunch of +flowers into flame." + +He took up what seemed to be a spray of small roses and laid it under +the saucepan. Pointing his wand at the flowers Joe exclaimed: + +"Fire!" + +Instantly there was a burst of flame, the flowers disappeared, and +flickering lights shot up under the saucepan. + +"Now the omelet is cooking," said Joe, as he clapped on a cover. "We +shall presently dine. You see how easy it is for actors and magicians +to eat, even on a desert island. I think my omelet must be cooked now." + +He took the cover off the saucepan and, on the instant, out flew two +white pigeons, which, after circling about the theatre, returned to +perch on Joe's shoulders. + +There was loud applause at this trick. + +The boy wizard bowed and smiled as he acknowledged the tribute to his +powers, and then hurried off the stage with the pigeons on his +shoulders. He did not stop to explain how he had chosen to make the +omelet change into pigeons, the surprise at the unexpected ending of +the illusion being enough for the audience. + +Of course, one realizes there must have been some trick about it all, +and there was--several in fact. The eggs Joe seemed to pick out of the +air were real eggs, and he really broke them into the saucepan. But +the saucepan was made with two compartments. Into one went the eggs, +while in another, huddled into a small space where there were air holes +through which they might breathe, were two trained pigeons, which Joe +had taught, not without some difficulty, to fly to his shoulders when +released. + +After he had put the cover on the saucepan Joe caused the fire to +appear. The flowers were artificial ones, made of paper soaked in an +inflammable composition, and then allowed to dry. As Joe pointed his +wand at them an assistant behind the scenes pressed an electric button, +which shot a train of sparks against the prepared paper. It caught +fire, the flowers were burned, and ignited the wick of an alcohol lamp +that was under the saucepan. + +Then, before the pigeons had time to feel the heat, Joe took off the +cover, opening the secret chamber and the birds flew out. + +Easy, indeed, when you know how! + +Joe walked off the stage, to give place to Professor Rosello, who was +going next to give his "fire trick." This was an effective illusion, +and was worked as follows: + +Professor Rosello came out on the stage attired in a flowing silk robe +of Japanese design. His helpers wheeled out a long narrow box, which +was stood upright. + +The professor, after some "patter," or stage talk, announced that he +would take his place in the small box, or cabinet, which would then be +lifted free from the stage to show that it was not connected with +hidden wires. As soon as the cabinet was set down again, the house +would be plunged in darkness, and inside the cabinet would be seen a +bony skeleton, outlined in fire, the professor having disappeared. +This would last for several seconds, and then the illuminated skeleton +would disappear and the magician again be seen in the box. + +"And in order to show you that I do not actually leave the box while +the trick is in progress except in spirit," the professor went on to +state, "I will suffer myself to be tied in with ropes, a committee from +the audience being invited to make the knots." + +He took his place in the upright cabinet, and three men volunteered to +tie him in with ropes which were fastened at the back of the box, two +ends being left free. + +The cabinet containing the professor was lifted up, and set down on the +stage again. Then the ropes were tied, Joe supervising this. + +"Tie any kind of knot you like, gentlemen," Joe urged, "only make them +so you can quickly loosen them again, as the professor is very much +exhausted after this illusion." This, of course, was merely stage talk +for effect. + +Finally the knots were tied, the committee retired, and Joe, taking his +place near the imprisoned performer, asked: + +"Are you ready?" + +He looked keenly at the professor as he asked this. + +"It's all right Joe--I guess it's going to work properly," was the +low-voiced response. Then aloud Professor Rosello replied: + +"I am ready!" + +"Light out!" called Joe sharply. This was a signal for the stage +electrician to plunge the house into darkness. It was done at once. + +Then, to the no small terror of some in the audience, there appeared in +the upright cabinet the figure of a grinning skeleton, outlined in +flickering flames. It was startling, and there was a moment of silence +before thunderous applause broke out at the effectiveness of the trick. + +The clapping was at its height when Joe, who always stood near the +cabinet when this trick was being done, heard the agonized voice of the +professor calling to him: + +"Joe! Joe! Something has gone wrong! There must be a short circuit! +I'm on fire! Joe, I'm being burned! Help me!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY + +Joe Strong was in a quandary. He did not quite know what to do. To +give an alarm--to let the audience know something had gone wrong with +the trick--that the professor was in danger of being burned to +death--to even utter the word "Fire!" might cause a terrible panic, +even though the heavy asbestos curtain were rung down on the instant. + +On the contrary, Joe could not stand idly by without doing something to +save his friend, Professor Rosello, from the great danger. The +applause kept up, none in the audience suspecting anything wrong. + +"Quick, Joe!" whispered the performer. "The current is burning me. I +can't stand it any longer." + +"I'll save you!" hoarsely answered the young magician; and then, on the +darkened stage, he lifted the cabinet, performer and all to one side. + +This was not an easy feat to do. The professor was no light weight, +and the cabinet itself was heavy. But Joe was a powerful youth, and by +raising the cabinet on his back, much as a porter carries a heavy +trunk, he shifted it to one side. This took it away from the hidden +electrical connections sunk in the floor of the stage, and the +flickering, playing, shimmering electric lights went out. + +The stage, the whole house, was in dense darkness. There was a sudden +silence which might precede a panic of fear. Joe's work was not yet +done. What could he do to reassure the audience and, at the same time, +to bring the illusion to a satisfactory conclusion? + +While he is quickly debating this in his mind, I will take just a +moment to tell my new readers something of Joe Strong, and how he came +to be following the calling of a stage magician. + +In the first volume of this series, entitled "Joe Strong, the Boy +Wizard; Or, The Secrets of Magic Exposed," Joe was introduced as a +youth of about seventeen years, living in the country town of Bedford. +He was talking one day with some of his chums, and explaining to them +how this same Professor Rosello had done a trick in the local theatre +the night before, when suddenly there came a fire-alarm from a +fireworks factory near by. + +Some powder exploded and Joe managed to save the professor, whose real +name was Peter Crabb, from severe injury, if not from death. In doing +this Joe spoiled his suit of clothes, and on returning home his +foster-father, Deacon Amos Blackford threatened to punish him. + +Joe was an orphan. His mother, Mrs. Jane Strong, had been a famous +circus bareback rider, known to the public as Madame Hortense. Joe's +father was Alexander Strong, or, to give him his stage name, Professor +Morretti. He had been a magician, even better than Professor Rosello. +Both Joe's parents had died when he was a small boy. + +For a time the boy was cared for by his mother's circus friends, but +finally Joe was adopted by the Blackfords. His life with them was not +a happy one, and the climax came when the deacon punished Joe for +spoiling his suit in rescuing Professor Rosello. + +In the night, Joe ran away. He decided to appeal to the magician who +had gone on to another town to give a show. Joe had a half-formed plan +in mind. The boy was of great strength, and fearless. When a mere +child he had attempted circus feats, and now he was an expert on the +trapeze and flying rings, while he had also made a study of "magic," +and could perform many tricks. Joe was absolutely fearless, and one of +his delights was to execute daring acts at great heights in the air. +When a boy he climbed up the village church steeple. + +Thus, taking matters into his own hands, Joe ran away and joined +Professor Rosello, who hired him as an assistant. Joe had a natural +aptitude for tricks of magic and was a great help to the professor. He +even invented some tricks of his own. So Joe and Professor Rosello +toured the country, making a fairly good living. + +The night Joe ran away Deacon Blackford was robbed in a strange manner, +and, for a time, suspicion was thrown on Joe, a warrant being issued +for his arrest. Among the other adventures which Joe had was a meeting +with the ring-master of Sampson Brothers' Colossal Circus. Joe had +done a favor for Benny Turton, the "human fish," and Benny made it +possible for Joe to try some tricks on the circus trapezes. As a +result Jim Tracy, the ring-master and one of the owners of the show, +made Joe an offer to join the circus. Joe would have liked this, as he +had taken quite a fancy for Helen Morton--billed as Mademoiselle +Mortonti--a fancy rider on her trick horse, Rosebud. But Joe thought +it best to remain with Professor Rosello for a time. + +The circus went on its way, and Joe and the professor went on theirs. +Joe progressed in his chosen work, and he and Mr. Crabb found +themselves becoming well-known performers. On the road Joe met several +persons who had seen his father's feats of magic, and the youth learned +of the great respect in which his parent had been held by the members +of the "profession." + +"And I suppose," Professor Rosello had said, "if you could meet some +circus folks they would remember your mother, even if Jim Tracy did not +know her." + +So Joe had became a traveling magician. And it is in that capacity +that the readers of this volume first meet him. + +But, as Joe stood there on the darkened stage, realizing the great +danger to which his friend was subjected, and wondering what he could +do to relieve him and not have the trick a failure, he, for an instant, +wished he had chosen some other calling. It was a great responsibility +for a young fellow, for now the fate of the whole remaining performance +was in Joe's hands. There was much yet to be done, and it was not to +be thought that, after being burned, as he said he was, the professor +could go on. + +There was uneasiness now among the stage hands. The electrician from +the wings was cautiously whispering to Joe to let him know what to do. +As yet the audience had not realized anything was wrong. + +"Are you badly hurt?" Joe asked the professor in a whisper, standing +near the now dark cabinet. + +"I'm burned on my back, yes. I'm glad you shut off the current when +you did, or I'd have been killed." + +"I didn't shut off the current," Joe answered. "I just pulled the +connecting legs of the cabinet out of the sockets in the stage floor." + +"That was just as good. The current's off. But something has to be +done." + +"What went wrong?" asked Joe. + +"One of the wire connections in here. I can feel it now with my +fingers. A wire has broken. If I could twist it together----" + +"I'll do it," volunteered Joe. He had to work the dark, as a glimmer +of light would show that the cabinet had been moved, and the audience +would suspect that something was wrong. But Joe knew every inch of the +cabinet, for he and the professor had worked this trick out between +them. In an instant he had twisted the wire ends together, pushing +them to one side so they would not come in contact with the professor's +body, for the ends were not now insulated. + +"It's all right," Joe whispered. "Can you manage to finish the trick +if I put the cabinet back the connections?" + +"Yes, I think so. Go ahead." + +Joe called to the leader of the orchestra: + +"Louder!" + +The musicians had been softly playing some "shivery" music. At once +they struck into a blare of sound. This would cover any noise Joe +might make in putting the cabinet back in place, so that the two metal +legs would rest in the electric sockets in the stage, which contained +the conductors that supplied the electric current needed. + +In another moment Joe lifted the cabinet, Professor Rosello and all, +back to where it had stood at first. Again there was the grinning, +glowing skeleton showing. The applause was renewed, and then the glow +died out, and as the house lights flashed up there stood the professor +in the cabinet, as at first, in his flowing silk robe. + +Close observers might have noticed that he was quite pale, and he had +to grit his teeth to keep back a moan of pain from the burns he had +received. + +"Now, gentlemen," said Joe to the committee, which had stepped down off +the stage, "if you will kindly examine the knots, and loosen them, I +shall be obliged to you. Quickly, if you please, as this act is very +trying on the professor." + +Joe wanted to get his friend back of the scenes as soon as he could, to +have his burns dressed. + +"Are the knots just as you tied them?" asked Joe. + +The men admitted they were. + +"Proving conclusively," the young wizard went on, "that the professor +did not leave the cabinet to produce the effect you have just +witnessed." + +The professor bowed to the applause as he stepped out of the cabinet, +which was at once taken away by assistants. Then Joe walked back of +the scenes with his friend, a pantomimist engaging the attention of the +audience while the next part of the program was being prepared. + +But could the show go on with the professor disabled? That was what +Joe wondered. He felt, more than ever, the weight of responsibility on +his shoulders. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ANOTHER OFFER + +Professor Rosello sank into a chair when he reached his dressing room. + +"Quick! Get a doctor!" called Joe to one of the two helpers who +traveled with them. "Bring him in through the stage door! Don't let +it be known out in front." + +One of the stage hands gave the helper the address of the nearest +physician, and, fortunately, he was in his office. The doctor came at +once and put a soothing ointment on the burns of the professor's back, +where the electric sparks had penetrated his clothing. + +"That's better," remarked the magician with a sigh of relief. "I guess +we'll have to ring down the curtain, Joe. I can't go on." + +"I'll finish the show," declared the boy wizard. + +"Can you do it?" + +"Not as well as you, of course. But I think I can keep them +interested, so they will feel they have had their money's worth. I'll +carry on the show. I can vary my egg and watch tricks a bit, and I'll +do that wine and water one, bringing the live guinea pig out of the +bottle." + +"All right, Joe, if you think you can. I'm not equal to any more. I +think I'd better go to the hotel." + +"I think so too, Professor. Now don't worry. I'll carry on the show +as best I can." + +"And I think you can do it well, Joe. I'm proud of you. If it hadn't +been for you stopping the electric current when you did I would be dead +now." + +"Oh, I hardly think it was as bad as that." + +"Yes it was. One of those wires broke. After this I'll examine every +connection a minute before I go into the cabinet. You saved my +life--this is the second time. Once at the fireworks factory, and +again to-night. I'll be so deeply in your debt, Joe, that I can never +pay you." + +"Oh, don't worry about that," laughed the boy wizard, now much relieved +in mind. With the professor safe he could go out on the stage with a +light heart and an easy mind. He was used to facing the public, but +this meant that he would have to do more tricks than usual, and some +that were particularly the professor's own, though Joe knew how they +were worked. + +When the physician had relieved the sufferer, Joe called a carriage and +sent the magician to the hotel where they were staying. Then the +pantomimist having finished, Joe prepared to go on with some illusions. +And right here, while Joe is making his preparations, a description of +the "fire trick" can be given. + +The cabinet was, of course, a trick one. That is, it was provided with +hidden electric contrivances so that when the professor stepped into +it, by merely pressing a button he could have a shower of sparks shot +out all around him. As he was insulated, these sparks could not injure +him. + +On the heavy silk robe he wore there had been painted the grinning +skeleton. It was painted with a secret chemical paint, and when +subjected to a flow of electricity the bones and skull showed outlined +in fire. The professor, keeping well back toward the rear of the +cabinet, was invisible. + +Tying the ropes about him was not necessary as he did not leave the +cabinet anyhow, but it added to the effectiveness of the illusion. But +on this evening, after the electric wire broke causing a short circuit, +the tying of the ropes was well-nigh fatal, for the professor could not +move in order to escape, and had to stay while the current burned him. +Luckily, however, Joe acted in time. + +As has been intimated, the two front legs of the cabinet were really +the positive and negative termini for the wires that were inside the +box. These legs stood in two sockets in the floor of the stage, and to +them ran the wires from the theatre's circuit. When the helpers lifted +the cabinet up, to show, ostensibly, that it had no connection with the +floor, they put the legs down in the hidden sockets. Thus the +connections were made. As can be seen, Joe had but to lift the cabinet +away to break the connection. + +In spite of the accident, the trick had ended satisfactorily, thanks to +the quick work of Joe Strong. His strength, too, played not a little +part in this, for ordinarily the cabinet required two men to shift it. +But Joe had a knack of using his powerful muscles to the best +advantage, and it was this, with his most marvelous nerve, that enabled +him to do so many sensational things, about which this and future +volumes concerning our hero will tell. + +The professor having been sent to his hotel to rest, and the +pantomimist having finished his act, Joe went out on the stage to +continue the performance. He made no reference to the non-appearance +of the chief performer, letting it be taken for granted that Professor +Rosello had finished his part in the entertainment. + +"I would now like to borrow a gold gentleman's watch," began Joe; this +misplacement of words never failing to bring out a laugh. He then +proceeded to perform the trick of apparently smashing a borrowed watch, +firing the fragments from a pistol at a potted plant, and causing the +reunited watch to appear among the roots of the pulled-up flower. + +As this trick has been described in detail in the first volume of this +series, exposing just how it is done, the description will not be +repeated here. In that book will also be found the details of how Joe +made an ordinary egg float or sink in a jar of water, at his pleasure. +(This is a trick one can easily do at home without apparatus.) Joe did +that trick now, and also the one of lighting a candle, causing it to go +out and relight itself again while he stood at one side of the stage, +merely pointing his wand at the flickering flame. (See the first +volume.) + +Joe now essayed another trick. He brought out a bottle, apparently +empty, and said that it was a magical flask. + +"From this I am able to pour three kinds of drinks," he stated. "Some +persons like water, others prefer milk, while nothing but grape juice +will satisfy some. Now will you kindly state which drink you like?" +and he pointed to a man in the front row. + +"I'll have grape juice," was the answer. + +"Very good," returned Joe. "Here you are!" He tilted the bottle, and +a stream of purple grape juice ran from the flask into a goblet. Joe +handed it to the man. + +"It's perfectly good grape juice," Joe said, smilingly. "You need not +be afraid to sample it." The man did so, after a moment's hesitation. + +"Is it all right?" Joe asked. "Just tell the audience." + +"It's good," the man testified. + +"Take it all. I have other drinks in the bottle," Joe said. + +"Save me some!" cried a boy up in the gallery, as the man drained the +glass of grape juice. + +"Now who'll have milk?" Joe asked. + +"I will," called a boy in the second row. Without moving from where he +stood Joe picked up a glass, and, from the same bottle, poured out a +drink of milk which he passed to the boy, who took it wonderingly. + +"Is it the real stuff?" asked Joe, smiling at the lad. + +"That's what it is!" was the quick answer. + +"Drink it then. And now for water. Here we are!" And from the same +bottle, out of which the audience had seen milk and grape juice come, +Joe poured sparkling water and passed it to a lady in the audience. + +"Hello! What's this? There appears to be something else in the +bottle!" exclaimed Joe, apparently surprised, as he held the flask up +to his ear. + +"Yes, I'll let you out--right away," he said aloud. "There must be +some mistake," he went on, "there is an animal in this bottle. I'll +have to break it open to get it out." + +He went quickly back on the stage with the bottle, took up a hammer, +and holding the flask over a table gently cracked the glass. In an +instant he held up a little guinea pig. + +There was a moment's pause, and then the applause broke out at the +effectiveness of the trick. + +How was it done? + +A trick bottle, you say at once. That is right. The bottle was made +with three compartments. One held milk, another grape juice and the +third water. Joe could pour them out in any order he wished, there +being controlling valves in the bottom of the bottle. + +But how did the guinea pig get inside? + +It was another bottle. The bottom of this one had been cut off, and, +after the guinea pig had been put inside, the bottom was cemented on +again. This was done just before the trick was performed. On his way +back to the stage, after having given the lady the glass of water, Joe +substituted the bottle containing the guinea pig for the empty one that +had held the three liquids. This was where his quick sleight-of-hand +work came in. When he gently broke the bottle it was easy enough to +remove the little animal, which had been used in tricks so often that +it was used to them. + +Joe brought the show to a satisfactory conclusion, perhaps a little +earlier than usual, as he was anxious to get to the hotel and see how +the professor was. The audience seemed highly pleased with the +illusions the boy wizard gave them, and clapped long and loud as Joe +made his final bow. + +He left the theatrical people and his helpers to pack up, ready for the +trip to the next town, and hastened to the hotel. There he found +Professor Rosello much better, though still suffering somewhat. + +"Do you think you will be able to go on to-morrow night?" asked Joe. + +"I don't know," was the answer. "I can tell better to-morrow." + +But when the next day came, after a night journey that was painful for +Mr. Crabb, he found that he could not give his portion of the +performance. + +And as Joe alone was not quite qualified to give a whole evening's +entertainment it was decided to cancel the engagement. It was not an +important one, though several good "dates" awaited them in other towns +on the route. + +"I think I need a rest, Joe," the professor said "My nerves are more +shattered than I thought by that electrical accident. I need a good +rest to straighten them out. I think we'll not give any performances +for at least a month--that is I sha'n't." + +Joe looked a little disappointed on hearing this. His living depended +on working for the professor. + +"I say I'll not give any more performances right away, Joe," went on +the professor, "but there's no reason why you shouldn't. I have been +watching you of late, and I think you are very well qualified to go on +with the show alone. You could get a helper, of course. But you can +do most of my tricks, as well as your own. What do you say? I'll make +you a liberal offer as regards money. You can consider the show yours +while I'm taking a rest. Would you like it?" + +"I think----" began Joe, when there came a knock on the door of their +hotel room. + +"Telegram for Joe Strong!" called the voice of the bellboy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A CHANCE ENCOUNTER + +Professor Rosello and Joe Strong looked at each other. It was not +unusual for the magician to receive telegrams in reference to his +professional engagements, but Joe up to now had never received one of +the lightning messages which, to the most of us, are unusual +occurrences. + +"Are you sure it's for me?" Joe asked the boy, as he opened the door. + +"It's got your name on it," was the answer. That seemed proof enough +for any one. + +"Maybe it's from your folks--the deacon," suggested the professor. +"Something may have happened." + +He really hoped there had not, but, in a way, he wanted to prepare Joe +for a possible shock. + +"I wonder if it can have anything to do with the deacon's robbery," +mused Joe as he took the message from the waiting lad. "But, no, it +can't be that. Denton and Harrison are still in jail--or they were at +last accounts--and the robbery is cleared up as much as it ever will +be. Can't be that." + +And then, unwilling and unable to speculate further, and anxious to +know just what was in the message Joe tore open the envelope. The +message was typewritten, as are most telegrams of late, and the message +read: + + +"If you are at liberty, can use you in a single trapeze act. Forty a +week to start. Wire me at Slater Junction. We show there three days. +Jim Tracy--Sampson Bros. Circus." + + +"What is it?" asked the professor as he noted a strange look on Joe's +face. In fact, there was a combination of looks. There was surprise, +and doubt, and pleased anticipation. + +"It's an offer," answered Joe, slowly. + +"An offer!" + +"Yes, to join a circus." + +"A circus!" + +The professor did not seem capable of talking in very long sentences. + +"Yes, the Sampson Brothers' Show," Joe went on. "You know I went to +see them that time they played the same town and date we did. I met +the 'human fish' and----" + +"Oh, yes, I remember. You did some acts on the trapeze then." + +"Yes, and this Jim Tracy--he's ring-master and one of the owners--made +me a sort of offer then. But I didn't want to leave you. Now he +renews the offer." + +The boy wizard handed the message to the professor who read it through +carefully. Then after a look at Joe he said: + +"Well, my boy, that's a good offer, I'd take it. I sha'n't be able to +pay you forty a week for some time, though you might make it if you +took my show out on the road alone, or with one assistant. Then, too, +there's always a chance to make more in a circus--that is, if you +please your public. I might say thrill them enough, for your trapeze +act will have to be mostly thrills, I take it." + +"Yes," assented Joe. And, somehow, a feeling of exultation came to +him. While doing puzzling tricks before a mystified audience was +enticing work, yet Joe had a longing for the circus. He was almost as +much at home high in the air, with nothing but a slack wire or a +swaying rope to support him, as he was on the ground. Part of this was +due to his early attempts to emulate the feats of circus performers, +but the larger part of it was born in him. He inherited much of his +daring from his mother, and his quickness of eye and hand from his +father. + +Moreover, mingled with the desire to do some thrilling act high up on a +trapeze in a circus tent, while the crowd below held its breath, Joe +felt a desire to meet again pretty Helen Morton, whose bright smile and +laughing eyes he seemed to see in fancy now. + +"It's a good offer," went on the professor, slowly, "and it seems to +come at the right time for both of us, Joe. We were talking about your +taking out my show. I really don't feel able to keep up with it--at +least for a time. Are you ready to give me an answer now, Joe, or +would you like to think it over a bit?" + +"Perhaps I had better think of it a bit," the youth answered. "Though +I have pretty nearly made up my mind." + +"Don't be in a hurry," urged Professor Rosello. "There is no great +rush, as far as I am concerned. One or two days will make no +difference to me. Though if you don't take up my offer I shall +probably lease the show to some professional. I want to keep my name +before the public, for probably I shall wish to go back into the +business again. And besides, it is a pity to let such a good outfit as +we now have go into storage. But think it over carefully. I suppose, +though, that you will have to let the circus people know soon." + +"They seem to be in a hurry--wanting me to telegraph," responded Joe. +"I'll give them an answer in a few hours. I think I'll go out and walk +around town a bit. I can think better that way." + +"Go ahead, Joe, and don't let me influence you. I want to help you, +and I'll do all I can for you. You know I owe much to you. Just +remember that you have the option on my show, such as it is, and if you +don't take my offer I won't feel at all offended. Do as you think +right." + +"Thank you," said Joe, feelingly. + +There was not much of interest to see in the town where they had come, +expecting to give a performance, but Joe did not really care for sights +just then. He had some hard thinking to do and he wanted to do it +carefully. Hardly conscious of where he was walking, he strolled on, +and presently found himself near the outskirts of the town, in a +section that was more country than town. A little stream flowed +through a green meadow, the banks bordered by trees. + +"It looks just like Bedford," mused Joe. "I'm going to take a rest +there." + +He sat down in the shade of a willow tree and in an instant there came +back to him the memory of that day, some months ago, when he had come +upon his chums sitting under the same sort of tree and discussing one +of the professor's tricks which they had witnessed the night before. + +"Then there was the fireworks explosion. I rescued the professor--ran +away from home--was chased by the constables--hopped into the freight +car--the deacon's house was robbed and set on fire and---- Say! what a +lot has happened in a short time," mused Joe. "And now comes this +offer from the circus. I wonder if I'd better take it or keep on with +the professor's show. Of course it would be easier to do this, as I'm +more familiar with it." + +Just then there recurred to Joe something he had often heard Deacon +Blackford say. + +"The easiest way isn't always the best." + +The deacon was not, by any means, the kindest or wisest of men, and +certainly he had been cruel at times to Joe. But he was a sturdy +character, though often obstinate and mistaken, and he had a fund of +homely philosophy. + +Joe, working one day in the deacon's feed and grain store, had proposed +doing something in a way that would, he thought, save him work. +"That's the easiest way," he had argued. + +"Well, the easiest way isn't always the best," the deacon had retorted. + +Joe remembered that now. It would be easier to keep on with the +professor's show, for the work was all planned out for him, and he had +but to fulfil certain engagements. Then, too, he was getting to be +expert in the tricks. + +"But I want to get on in life," reasoned Joe. "Forty dollars a week is +more than I'm getting now, nor will I stick at that point in the +circus. It will be hard work, but I can stand it." + +He had almost made up his mind. He decided he would go back and +acquaint the professor with his decision. + +As Joe was passing a sort of hotel in a poor section of the town he +almost ran into, or, rather, was himself almost run into by a man who +emerged from the place quickly but unsteadily. + +Joe was about to pass on with a muttered apology, though he did not +feel the collision to be his fault, when the man angrily demanded: + +"What's the matter with you, anyhow? Why don't you look where you're +going?" + +"I tried to," said Joe, mildly enough. "Hope I didn't hurt you." + +"Well, you banged me hard enough!" + +The man seemed a little more mollified now. Joe was at once struck by +something familiar in his voice and his looks. He took a second glance +and in an instant he recognized the man as one of the circus trapeze +performers he had seen the day he went to the big tent, or "main top," +of Sampson Brothers' Circus to watch the professionals at their +practice. The man was one of the troupe known as the "Lascalla +Brothers," though the relationship was assumed, rather than real. + +Joe gave a start of astonishment as he sensed the recognition. He was +also surprised at the great change in the man. When Joe had first seen +him, a few months before, the performer had been a straight, lithe +specimen of manhood, intent, at the moment when Joe met him, on seeing +that his trapeze ropes were securely fastened. + +Now the man looked and acted like a tramp. He was dirty and ragged, +and his face bore evidences of dissipation. He leered at Joe, and then +something in our hero's face seemed to hold his attention. + +"What are you looking at me that way for, young fellow?" he demanded. +"Do you know me?" + +"No, not exactly," was the answer. "But I've seen you." + +"Well, you're not the only one," was the retort. "A good many thousand +people have seen me on the circus trapeze. And I'd be there to-day, +doing my act, if it hadn't been for that mean Jim Tracy. He fired me, +Jim did--said he was going to get some one for the act who could stay +sober. Huh? I'm sober enough for anybody, and I took only a little +drink because I was sick. Even at that I can beat anybody on the high +bar. But he sacked me. Never mind! I'll get even with him, and if he +puts anybody in my place--well, that fellow'd better look out, that's +all!" + +The man seemed turning ugly, and Joe was glad the fellow had not +connected him with the youth who had paid a brief visit to the trapeze +tent that day, months before. + +"I wonder if it's to take his place that Jim Tracy wants me?" mused +Joe, as he turned aside. "I guess Jim put up with this fellow as long +as he could. Poor chap! He was a good acrobat, too--one of the best +in the country." Joe knew the Lascalla Brothers by reputation. + +"If I take his place----" Joe was doing some quick thinking. "Oh, +well, I've got to take chances," he told himself. "After all, we may +never meet." + +Joe had fully made up his mind. Before going back to the professor he +stopped at the telegraph office and sent this message to Jim Tracy. + +"Will join circus in two days." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OFF TO THE CIRCUS + +"Well?" questioned Professor Rosello, as Joe came back to the hotel. +"Is it my show or----" + +"The circus," answered Joe, and he did not smile. He was rather +serious about it, for in spite of what his friend had said Joe could +but feel that the magician might be disappointed over the choice. But +Professor Rosello was a broad-minded man, as well as a fair and +generous one. + +"Joe, I'm sure you did just the right thing!" he exclaimed, as he shook +hands with the boy wizard, or rather with the former boy wizard, for +the lad was about to give up that life. Yet Joe knew that he would not +altogether give it up. He would always retain his knowledge and +ability in the art of mystifying. + +"Yes, I thought it all over," said Joe, "and I concluded that I could +do better on the trapeze than at sleight-of-hand. You see, if I want +to be a successful circus performer I have to begin soon. The older I +get the less active I'll be, and some tricks take years to polish off +so one can do them easily." + +"I understand," the professor said. "I think you did the right thing +for yourself." + +"Of course if I could be any help to you I wouldn't leave you this +way," Joe went on earnestly. "I wouldn't desert in a time of trouble." + +"Oh, it isn't exactly trouble," replied the magician. "I really need a +rest, and you're not taking my offer won't mean any money loss to me, +though, personally, I shall feel sorry at losing you. But I want you +to do the best possible thing for yourself. Don't consider me at all. +In fact you don't have to. I am going to take a rest. I need it. +I've been in this business nearly thirty years now, and time is +beginning to tell. + +"I think there is more of a future for you in the circus than there +would be in magic. Not that you have exhausted the possibilities of +magic by any means, but changes are taking place in the public. The +moving pictures are drawing away from us the audiences we might +otherwise attract. Then, too, there has been so much written and +exposed concerning our tricks, that it is very hard to get up an +effective illusion. Even the children can now guess how many of the +tricks are done. + +"It may be that I shall give up altogether. At, any rate I will lease +my show out for a time. I'm I going to take a rest. And now about +your plans. What are you going to do?" + +"I don't exactly know," was the hesitating answer. "I have telegraphed +to Mr. Tracy that I would join his circus in two days. I think I'll +need that much time to get ready." + +"Yes. We can settle up our business arrangements in that time, Joe. +As I said, I'll be very sorry to lose you, but it is all for the best. +We may see each other occasionally. Shall you tell the deacon of the +change?" + +"I think not. He and I don't get along very well, and he hasn't much +real interest in me, now that he feels I am following in the footsteps +of my father. And if he knew that I was taking up the profession my +mother felt called to, he would have even less regard for me. I'll not +write to him at all." + +"Perhaps that is wise. I wonder, Joe, if in traveling about with +Sampson Brothers' Show you will meet any one who knew your mother?" + +"I wish that would happen," Joe answered. "I'd like to hear about her. +I shall ask for information about her." + +Joe related his encounter with one of the Lascalla Brothers--which one +he did not know. + +"I wonder if he'll try to make trouble?" he asked. + +"I hardly think so," answered the professor. "He's probably a bad egg, +and talks big. Just go on your own way, do the best you can, keep +straight and you'll be all right." + +They talked for some little time further, discussing matters that +needed to be settled between them, and making arrangements for Joe to +leave. + +Now that he had come to a decision he was very glad that he was going +with the circus. + +"I'll be glad to meet Benny Turton, the 'human fish,' again," said Joe +to himself. "His act is sure a queer one. I wonder if I could stay +under water as long as he does. I'm going to try it some day if I get +a chance at his tank. And Helen--I'll be glad to see her again, too." + +Joe did not admit, even to himself, just how glad he would be to meet +the pretty circus rider again. But he surely anticipated pleasure in +renewing the acquaintance. + +"That is, if she'll notice me," thought Joe. "I wonder what the social +standing is between trick and fancy riders and the various trapeze +performers." + +The next day was a busy one. Joe had to pack his belongings. Some he +arranged to store with the professor's things. He also helped his +friend, the magician, to prepare an advertisement for the theatrical +papers, announcing that The Rosello Show was for lease, along with the +advance bookings. Joe also went over the apparatus with the professor, +making a list of some necessary repairs that would have to be made. + +"And now, Joe," said the professor, when the time for parting came, "I +want you to feel free to use any of my tricks, or those you got up +yourself, whenever you want to." + +"Use the tricks?" queried Joe. + +"Yes. It may be that you'll find a chance to use them in the circus, +or to entertain your friends privately. I want you to feel free to do +so. There will not be any professional jealousy on my part." + +Joe was glad to hear this. The professor was unlike most professional +persons who entertain the public. + +"Well, good-bye," said Joe, as the professor went with him to the +railroad station, the burns having progressed rapidly in their healing. +"You'll always be able to write me in care of the circus." + +"Yes, I can keep track of your show through the theatrical papers, Joe. +Let me hear from you occasionally. Write to the New York address where +I buy most of my stuff. They'll always have the name of my forwarding +post-office on file. And now, my boy, I wish you all success. You +have been a great help to me--not to mention such a little thing as +saving my life," and he laughed, to make the occasion less serious. + +"Thank you," said Joe. "The same to you. And I hope you will soon +feel much better." + +"A rest will do me good," responded the professor. Then the train +rolled in, and Joe got aboard with his valise. He waved farewell to +his very good friend and then settled back in his seat for a long ride. + +Joe Strong was on his way at last to join the circus. + +As he sat in his comfortable seat, he could not help contrasting his +situation now with what it had been some months before, when he was +running away from the home of his foster-father in the night and riding +in a freight car to join the professor. + +Then Joe had very few dollars, and the future looked anything but +pleasant. He had to sleep on the hard boards, with some loose hay as a +mattress. + +Now, while he was far from having a fortune, he had nearly two hundred +dollars to his credit, and he was going to an assured position that +would pay well. It was quite a contrast. + +"I wonder if I'll make good," thought Joe. Involuntarily he felt of +his muscles. + +"I'm strong enough," he thought with a little smile--"Strong by name +and strong by nature," and as he thought this there was no false pride +about it. Joe knew his capabilities. His nerves and muscles were his +principal assets. + +"I guess I'll have to learn some new stunts," Joe thought. "But Jim +Tracy will probably coach me, and tell me what they want. I wonder if +I'll have to act with the Lascalla bunch? They may not be very +friendly toward me for taking the place of one of their number. Well, +I can't help it. It isn't my doing. I'm hired to do certain work--for +trapeze performing is work, though it may look like fun to the public. +Well, I'm on my way, as the fellow said when the powder mill blew up," +and Joe smiled whimsically. + +It was a long and tiresome trip to the town where the circus was +performing, and Joe did not reach the "lot" until the afternoon +performance was over. + +The sight of the tents, the smell that came from the crushed grass, the +sawdust, the jungle odor of wild animals--all this was as perfume to +Joe Strong. He breathed in deep of it and his eyes lighted up as he +saw the fluttering flags, and noted the activity of the circus men who +were getting ready for the night show--filling the portable gasoline +lamps, putting on new mantles which would glow later with white +incandescence to show off the spectacle in the "main top." As Joe took +in all this he said to himself: + +"I'm to be a part of it! That's the best ever!" + +It was some little time before he could find Jim Tracy, but at length +he came upon the ring-master, who was trying to do a dozen things at +once, and settle half a dozen other matters on which his opinion was +wanted. + +"Oh, hello, Joe?" Jim called to the young performer. "Glad you got +here. We need you. Want to go on to-night?" + +"Just as you say. But I really need a little practice." + +"All right. Then just hang around and pick up information. We don't +have to travel to-night, so you'll have it easy to start. I'll show +you where you'll dress when you get going. I'll have to give you some +one else's suit until we can order one your size, but I guess you won't +mind." + +"No, indeed." + +Joe was looking about with eager eyes, hoping for a glimpse of Helen +Morton. However, he was not gratified just then. + +"Now, Joe," went on the ring-master, coming over after having settled a +dispute concerning differences of opinions between a woman with trained +dogs and a clown who exhibited an "educated" pig, "if you'll come with +me, I'll----" + +"Well, what is it now?" asked Jim Tracy, exasperation in his voice. A +dark-complexioned, foreign-looking man had approached him, and had said +something in a low voice. + +"No, I won't take him back, and you needn't ask!" declared Jim. "You +can tell Sim Dobley, otherwise known as Rafello Lascalla, that he's +done his last hanging by his heels in my show. I don't want anything +more to do with him. I don't care if he is outside. You tell him to +stay there. He doesn't come in unless he buys a ticket, and as for +taking him back--nothing doing, take it from me!" + +The foreign-looking man turned aside, muttering, and Joe followed the +ring-master. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +JOE MAKES A HIT + +"Those fellows are always making trouble," murmured the ring-master, as +he walked with Joe toward a tent where the young performer could leave +his valise. + +"What fellows are they?" the lad asked, but he felt that he knew what +the answer was going to be. + +"The Lascalla Brothers," replied Jim. "There were two brothers in the +business, Sid and Tonzo Lascalla. They used to be together and have a +wonderful act. But Sid died, and Tonzo got a fellow-countryman to take +his place, using the same name. They were good, too. Then about four +years ago they added a third man. Why they ever took up with Sim +Dobley I can't imagine, but they did. + +"Whatever else I'll say about Sim, I'll give him credit for being a +wonder on a trapeze--that is when he was sober. When he got +intoxicated, or partly so, he'd take risks that would make your hair +stand up on end. That's why I had to get rid of him. First I knew, +he'd have had an accident and he'd be suing the circus. So I let him +go. Sim went under the name Rafello Lascalla, and became one of the +brothers. + +"For a while the three of them worked well together. And it's queer, +as I say, how Sid and Tonzo took to Jim. But they did. You'd think he +was a regular brother. In fact all three of 'em seemed to be real +blood brothers. Sid and Tonzo are Spaniards, but Sim is a plain +Yankee. He used to say he learned to do trapeze tricks in his father's +barn." + +"That's where I practised," said Joe. + +"Well, it's as good a place as any, I reckon. Anyhow, I had to get rid +of Sim, and now Tonzo comes and asks me to put him back. He says Sim +is behaving himself, and will keep straight. He's somewhere on the +grounds now, Tonzo told me. But I don't want anything to do with him. +I'll stand a whole lot from a man, but when I reach the limit I'm +through for good. That's what I am with Sim Dobley, otherwise known as +Rafello Lascalla. You're to take his place, Joe." + +"I am!" + +There was no mistaking the surprise in the youth's voice. + +"Why, what's the matter? Don't you want to?" asked Jim, in some +astonishment. + +"Yes, of course. I'll do anything in the show along the line of +trapeze work you want me to. But--well, maybe I'd better tell you all +about it." + +Then Joe related his encounter with the discharged circus employee. + +"Hum," mused Jim, when Joe finished. "So that's how the wind sets, is +it? He's hanging around here now trying to find out who is going to +take his place." + +"And when he finds that I have," suggested Joe hesitatingly, "he may +cause trouble." + +Jim Tracy started. + +"I didn't think of that!" he said slowly. "You say he threatened you?" + +"Well, not exactly me, for he didn't know who I was," replied Joe. +"But he said he'd make it decidedly hot for you, and for the man who +took his place." + +Jim Tracy snapped his fingers. + +"That's how much I care for Sim Dobley," he said. "I'm not afraid of +him. He talks big, but he acts small. I'm not in the least worried, +and if you are----" + +"Not for a minute!" exclaimed Joe quickly. "I guess I can look after +myself!" + +"Good!" exclaimed Jim. "That's the way I like to hear you talk. And +don't you let Sim Dobley, or either of the Lascalla Brothers, bluff +you. I'm running this show, not them! If they make any trouble you +come to me." + +"I guess I can fight my own battles," observed Joe calmly. + +"Good!" said the ring-master again. "I guess you'll do. This is your +dressing room," he went on. "Just leave your grip here, and it will be +safe. You won't have to do anything to-night but look on. I'll get +you a pair of tights by to-morrow and you can go on. Practise up in +the morning, and work up a new act with Sid and Tonzo if you like. +I'll introduce you to them at supper." + +"Do you think they'll perform with me?" Joe wanted to know. + +"They'll have to!" exclaimed the ring-master with energy. "This is my +circus, not theirs. They'll do as I say, and if there is any funny +business---- Well, there just won't be," he added significantly. + +"Do Tonzo and Sid want Sim to come back and act with them?" asked Joe, +as he deposited his valise in a corner of a dressing room that was made +by canvas curtains partitioning off a part of a large tent. + +"That's what they say. Tonzo told me that Sim would behave himself. +But I'm through with Sim, and he might as well understand that first as +last. You're going to take his place. Now I'll have to leave you. +You'll put up at the hotel with some of the performers. Here's your +slip that you can show to the clerk. I'll see you in the morning, if +not before, and make arrangements for your act. To-night you just look +on. Now I've got to go." + +Joe looked about the dressing room. It was evidently shared with +others, for there were suits of men's tights scattered around, as well +as other belongings. Joe left his valise and went outside. He wanted +to see all he could--to get familiar with the life of a circus. + +It cannot be said that Joe was exactly easy in his mind. He would much +rather have joined the circus without having supplanted a performer of +so vindictive a character as Sim Dobley. But, as it had to be, the lad +decided to make the best of it. + +"I'll be on the watch for trouble," he murmured as he went out of the +dressing tent. + +A busy scene was being enacted on the circus lots. In fact, many +scenes. It was feeding time for some of the animals and for most of +the performers and helpers. The latter would dine in one of the big +tents, under which long tables were already set. And from the distance +Joe could catch an odor of the cooking. + +"My, but that smells good!" he told himself. He was hungry. + +The Sampson Brothers' Show was a fair-sized one. It used a number of +railroad cars to transport the wagons, cages and performers from place +to place. On the road, of course, the performers and helpers slept in +the circus sleeping cars. But when the show remained more than one +night in a place some of the performers were occasionally allowed to +sleep at the local hotels, getting their meals on the circus grounds, +for the cooking for and feeding of a big show is down to an exact +science. + +As Joe wandered forth he heard a voice calling to him: + +"Well, where in the world did you come from?" + +"Oh, hello!" cried our hero, as, turning, he saw Benny Turton, the +"human fish," walking toward him. + +"I'm glad to see you again!" went on Benny, as he shook hands with Joe. + +"And I'm glad to see you." + +"What are you doing here?" the "human fish" asked. + +"Oh, I'm part of the show now," replied Joe, a bit proudly. + +"Get out! Are you, really?" + +"I sure am!" And Joe told the circumstances. + +"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Ben. "Real glad!" + +"How's your act going?" asked Joe. + +The "human fish" paused a moment before answering. + +"Oh, I suppose it goes as well as ever," he said slowly. "Only I---- +Oh, what's the use of telling my troubles?" he asked, with a smile. "I +reckon you have some of your own." + +"Not very big ones," confessed Joe. "But is anything the matter?" + +"No, oh, no. Never mind me; tell me about yourself." + +Joe told something of his experiences since last seeing Ben, and, as he +talked, he looked at the youth who performed such thrilling feats under +water in the big tank. Joe thought Benny looked paler and thinner than +before. + +"I guess the water work isn't any too healthy for him," mused Joe. "It +must be hard to be under that pressure so long. I feel sorry for him." + +"What are you two talking about--going to get up a new act that will +make us all take back seats?" asked a merry voice. Joe recognized it +at once, and, with a glad smile, he turned to see Helen Morton coming +toward him. + +"I thought I knew you, even from your back," she told Joe, as she shook +hands with him. + +"Does Rosebud want any sugar?" he asked, smiling. + +"No, thank you! He's had his share to-day. But it was good of you to +remember. I must introduce you to my horse." + +"I shall be happy to meet him," returned Joe, with his best "stage bow." + +Helen laughed merrily, as she walked across the grounds with Joe and +Benny. + +"It's almost supper time," she said, "and I'm starved. Can't we all +eat together?" + +"I don't see why not," Ben answered, and they were soon at a table +where many other performers sat, all, seemingly, talking at once. Joe +was very much interested. + +He was more than interested in two dark-complexioned men who regarded +him curiously. One was the person who had spoken to Jim Tracy. The +other Joe had not seen before. + +"They're the Lascalla Brothers," Ben informed him. "That is, there are +two of them. The third----" + +"I'm to be the third," Joe broke in. + +"You are?" asked Ben, and he regarded his friend curiously. "Well, +look out for yourself; that's all I've got to say." + +"Why has he to look out for himself?" inquired Helen, who had caught +the words. "Are you going to eat all there is on the table, Ben, so +there won't be any for Mr. Strong? Is that why he must look out?" + +"No, not that," Ben answered. "It--it was something else." + +"Oh, secrets!" and Helen pretended to be offended. + +"It wasn't anything," Joe assured her. And he tried to forget the +warning Ben had so kindly given him. + +Joe attended the performance that night as a sort of privileged +character. He went behind the scenes, and also sat in the tent. He +was most interested in the feats of the two Lascalla Brothers, and he +decided that, with a little practice, he could do most of the feats +they presented. + +That night, at the hotel, Joe was introduced to Sid and Tonzo. They +bowed and shook hands, and, as far as Joe could see, they did not +resent his joining their troupe. They seemed pleasant, and Joe felt +that perhaps the difficulties had been exaggerated. Nothing was said +of Sim Dobley, and though Joe had been on the watch for the deposed +performer that afternoon and evening, he had not seen him. + +"You will, perhaps, like to practise with us?" suggested Tonzo, after a +while. + +"I think it would be wise," agreed Joe. + +"Very well, then. We will meet you at the tent in the morning." + +Bright and early Joe was on hand. Jim Tracy found him a pair of pink +tights that would do very well for a time, and ordered him a new, +regular suit. + +At the request of Tonzo Lascalla, Joe went through a number of tricks, +improvising them as he progressed. Next the two Spaniards did their +act, and showed Joe what he was to do, as well as when to do it, so as +to make it all harmonize. + +Then hard practice began, and was kept up until the time for the +afternoon show. Joe did not feel at all nervous as he prepared for his +entrance. His work on the stage with Professor Rosello stood him in +good stead. + +In another moment he was swinging aloft with his two fellow-performers, +in "death-defying dives," and other alliterative acts set down on the +show bills. + +"Can you catch me if I jump from the high-swinging trapeze, and vault +toward you, somersaulting?" Joe asked Tonzo, during a pause in their +act. + +"Of a certainty, yes, I can catch you. But can you jump it?" + +"Sure!" declared Joe. "I've done it before." + +"It is a big jump, Mr. Strong," Tonzo warned him. "Even your +predecessor would have hesitated." + +"I'll take the chance," Joe said. "Now this is the way I'll do it. +I'll get a good momentum, swinging back and forth. You stand upon the +high platform, holding your trapeze and waiting. When I give the word +and start on my final swing, you jump off, hang by your knees, hands +down. I'll leap toward you, turn over three times, and grab your +hands. Do you get me?" + +"Of a certainty, yes. But it is not an easy trick." + +"I know it--that's why I'm going to do it. Do you get me?" + +"If he doesn't 'get you,' as you call it, Mr. Strong," put in Sid, "you +will have a bad fall. Of course there is the life net, but if you do +not land right----" + +"Oh, I'll land all right," said Joe, though not boastingly. + +The time for the new trick came. Joe climbed up to a little platform +near the top of the tent and swung off, swaying to and fro on a long +trapeze. On the other side of the tent Tonzo took his place on a +similar platform, fastened to a pole. He was waiting for Joe to give +the word. + +To and fro, in longer and longer arcs, Joe swung. He hung by his +hands. Carefully his eye gauged the distance he must hurl himself +across. Finally he had momentum enough. + +"Come on!" he cried to Tonzo. + +The latter leaped out on his trapeze, swinging by his knees. Right +toward Joe he swung. + +"Here I come!" Joe shouted, amid breathless silence among the +spectators below him. They realized that something unusual was going +on. + +"Go!" shouted Sid, who was waiting down on the ground for the +conclusion of the trick. + +Joe let go. He felt himself hurling through the air. Quickly he +doubled himself in a ball, and turned the somersaults. Then he +straightened out, dropped a few feet, and his hands squarely met those +of Tonzo. The latter clasped Joe's in a firm grip, and, holding him, +swung to and fro on the long trapeze. + +A roar of applause broke out at Joe's daring feat. He had made a +hit--a big hit, for the applause kept up after he had dropped to the +life net. He stood beside Tonzo and Sid, all three bowing and smiling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +JOE TURNS A TRICK + +"That's the idea!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, hurrying over to where the +three gymnasts stood. "Give 'em some more of that, Joe!" + +"I haven't any more like that--just now," answered the young circus +performer, panting slightly, for he was a bit out of breath from his +exertion and the anxiety lest his trick should fail. + +"Well, do it again at to-night's performance, then," urged the +ring-master, and Joe nodded in agreement. + +"It was a good trick, my boy," said Tonzo Lascalla, "but don't try it +too often." + +"Why not?" Joe asked. + +"Because it is risky. I might not catch you some day." + +"I'd only fall into the life net if you did miss," said Joe coolly, +though, for a moment, he thought there might be a hidden meaning in +what his fellow-performer said. + +"Well, it is not every one who knows how to fall into a life net," put +in Sid Lascalla. "If one lands on his head the neck is likely to be +dislocated." + +"I know how to fall," Joe declared, and, though he spoke positively, he +was not in the least boastful. "Here, I'll show you," he went on. + +Their act was not quite finished, but before going on with the next +gymnastic feat Joe caught hold of a hoisting rope that ran through a +pulley, and, at a nodded signal, one of the ring-men hauled the lad up +to the top of the tent to the little platform where Joe had stood when +taking his place on the high trapeze. + +Joe signaled to the ring-master that he was going to make a jump into +the net from that height, and at once the crowd again became aware that +something unusual was going on. It was a jump seldom made, at least in +The Sampson Brothers' Circus. The platform was fully twenty feet +higher than the trapeze from which Joe and his fellow-performer had +dropped a few minutes before. And, as Sid Lascalla had said, there was +a risk even in jumping into a life net. But Joe Strong seemed to know +what he was about. + +"Say, he's going to do some jump!" exclaimed Benny Turton, who came +into the ring at that moment, dressed in his shimmering, scaly suit, +ready to do his "human fish" act. + +"That's what!" cried Jim Tracy. "Give him the long roll and the boom!" +he called to the leader of the musicians. + +As Joe poised for his jump the snare drummer rattled out a "ruffle," +and as it started Joe leaned forward and leaped. + +Down he went, for a few feet, as straight as an arrow. Then he +suddenly doubled up into a sort of ball, and began turning over and +over. The crowd held its breath. The drum continued to rattle out its +thundering accompaniment. How many somersaults Joe turned none of the +spectators reckoned, but the youthful performer kept count of them, for +he wanted to "straighten out," to land on his feet in the net. + +"He'll never do it!" predicted Tonzo Lascalla. + +And it did begin to look as though Joe had miscalculated. + +But no. Just before he reached the springy life net he straightened +out and came down feet first, bouncing up, and down like a rubber ball. +The instant he landed the bass drum gave forth a thundering "boom," and +as Joe rose, and came down again, the drummer punctuated each descent +with a bang, until the crowd that had applauded madly at the jump was +laughing at the queer effect of Joe's bouncing to the accompaniment of +the drum. + +"He did it!" cried Jim Tracy. "It was a great jump. We'll feature +that now." + +He looked at Sid and Tonzo Lascalla, as though asking why they had not +worked something like this into their acts previously. But the +Spaniards only shrugged their shoulders and raised their eyebrows. + +"That was great, Joe!" exclaimed Benny Turton, as Joe leaped to the +ground over the edge of the life net. "Great!" + +Joe smiled happily. + +"It was wonderful," added Helen Morton, who was about to put her trick +horse, Rosebud, through his paces. "It was wonderful--but I don't like +to see anybody take such risks." + +"Anybody?" asked Joe in a low voice. + +"Well, then--you," she whispered, as she ran off to her ring. + +"Well, I did it, you see," observed Joe to his two partners. "I guess +I know how to fall into a net." + +"You sure do!" averred the ring-master. "Try that at each performance, +Joe." + +"Only--be careful," added Tonzo Lascalla. "We do not want to have to +get another partner." + +The act of Joe and the two other "Lascalla Brothers" came to an end +with Joe and Sid hanging suspended from the legs of Tonzo, who +supported himself on a swinging trapeze. It made an effective close. + +Joe was through then, and could watch the rest of the show or go to +bed, as he pleased. He elected to stay in the "main top" and watch +Helen in her act. He was also much interested in the "human fish." + +"Pshaw!" Joe heard Jim Tracy murmur, as he, too, looked at Benny in the +tank. "He isn't staying under as long as he used to, not by half a +minute. I wonder what's the matter with him. First we know he'll be +cutting the time, and we'll hear a howl from the public. That won't +do! I'll have to give him a call-down." + +Joe felt sorry for Ben, who did not seem at all well. Joe thought he +had better not interfere, but he resolved to speak to the +water-performer privately, and see if he could not help him. + +Joe repeated his sensational acts at the next day's performances, and +that night he and the others in the circus moved on to the next stand. +Joe wrote a line to Professor Rosello, telling him of the success. + +It was a quite novel experience for Joe, traveling with a circus. But +he was used to sleeping cars by this time, on account of the going from +town to town with the magician. + +However, he had never before had a berth in a train filled with circus +performers, and, for a time, he could not sleep because of the +strangeness. But he soon grew used to it, and in a few nights he could +doze off as soon as he stretched out. + +Joe's new suit of pink tights arrived. It matched those of the +Lascalla Brothers. In fact, Joe was now billed as one of that trio, +though, of course, he went by his own name in private. He was +sufficiently dark as to hair and complexion to pass for a Spaniard. + +To quote his own words, Joe was "taking to the circus life as a duck +does to water." He seemed to fit right in. He made some new friends, +but of all the men or youths in the show he liked best Benny Turton and +the ring-master. Joe and the Lascalla Brothers got along well, but +there was not much intimacy between them, though they worked well in +the "team." + +Joe was on the lookout for any signs of Sim Dobley, but that +unfortunate man did not appear, as far as our hero could learn. If Sid +or Tonzo made further appeals for his reinstatement they said nothing +about it to Joe. + +As the show went on, playing from town to town, Joe become more and +more used to the life. He liked it very much, and each day he was +becoming more proficient on the trapeze. + +One day, about two weeks after he had joined the circus, Joe had an +idea for a new feat. It involved his jump from a distance, catching +Tonzo Lascalla by the legs and hanging there. It was harder than +making a leap for the other performer's hands, since, if Joe missed his +clutch, Tonzo would have a chance to grab him with his hands. But when +Joe leaped for his partner's feet a certain margin of safety was lost. + +It was not that a fall would be dangerous if Joe missed, for the life +net was below him. But the effect of the trick would be spoiled. + +They practised the trick in private--Joe and Tonzo--and for a time it +did not seem to work. Joe fell short every time of grasping the +other's legs. + +"You will never do it," said Sid, and there was a queer look on his +face as he glanced at Tonzo. The other seemed to wink, just the mere +fraction of a wink, and then, like a flash, it came to Joe. + +"He doesn't want me to do it," thought our hero. "Tonzo wants me to +fail. He doesn't want me to be successful, for he thinks maybe he can +get Sim back. But I'll fool him! I think he has been drawing up his +legs the instant I jumped for them, so I would miss. I'll watch next +time." + +This Joe did, and found his surmise right. Just before he reached with +outstretched hands for Tonzo's legs, the man drew them slightly up, +and, as a result, Joe missed. + +"Here's where I turn a trick on him," mused the young performer, as he +failed and landed in the net In his next attempt Joe leaped unusually +high, and though Tonzo drew up his legs he could not pull them beyond +Joe's reach. + +"That's the time I did it!" cried Joe, as he made the catch and swung +to and fro. + +Sid, on the ground below, shrugged his shoulders, and said something to +Tonzo in Spanish. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HELEN'S LETTER + +"Now I wonder," mused Joe as he leaped out of the net, "what they said +to each other. I'm sure it was about me. Well, let it go. I did the +trick, and I guess he won't pull his legs away again. If he does he'll +have to pull 'em so far that it will be noticed all over, and he can't +say it was an accident. I'll take care to make a high jump." + +Joe practised the trick again and again, until he felt he was perfect +in it. Tonzo seemed to have given up the idea of spoiling it, if that +had been his intention, and he and Joe worked at it until they could do +it smoothly. + +"When are you going to put it on?" Jim Tracy inquired, when told there +was a new feature to the Lascalla Brothers' act. + +"Oh, in a couple of nights now," Joe answered. + +"You sure are making good, all right," the ring-master informed him. +"I didn't make any mistake booking you. I didn't know whom to turn to +in a hurry when Sim Dobley went back on me, and then I happened to +think of you. Got your route from one of the magazines, and sent you +the wire." + +"I was mighty glad to come," confessed Joe. + +The new act created more applause than ever for the Lascalla Brothers +when it was exhibited, but the louder applause seemed to come to Joe, +though he did not try to keep his fellow performers from their share. +And, as might be expected, there was not a little professional jealousy +on the part of some of the other performers. + +If Sid and Tonzo were jealous of him they took pains to hide that fact +from Joe, but some of the others were not so careful. A few of the +other gymnasts openly declared that the Lascalla Brothers were getting +altogether too much public attention. + +"They detract from me," declared Madame Bullriva, the "strong woman," +whose star feat was to get beneath a board platform on which stood +twelve men, and raise it from the saw-horses across which it lay. +True, she only raised it a few inches, but the act was "billed big." + +"I don't get half the applause I used to," she complained to Jim Tracy. +"You let those 'Spanish onions' have too much time in the ring, and +give that Joe Strong a ruffle of drums and the big boom every time he +makes the long jump." + +"But it's worth it," said the ring-master. "It's a big drawing card." + +"So's my act, but I don't get a single drum beat. Can't I have some +music with my act?" + +"I'll see," promised the ring-master, but he had many other things to +think of, and the act of Madame Bullriva went unheralded, to her great +disgust. + +"Talk about footlight favorites," she complained to Helen Morton, as +they dressed together for a performance, "that Joe Strong is getting +all that's coming to him." + +"Oh, I don't think he tries to take away from any of us," Helen +answered. + +"No, he doesn't personally. He's a nice boy. But Tracy makes too much +fuss over him. I like Joe, but he and his partners are 'crabbing' my +act, all right." + +"Perhaps if you spoke to him----" + +"What! Me? Let him know I cared? I guess not! I'll join some other +circus first." + +"You might put another man on the platform, and lift thirteen," the +young trick rider suggested. + +"What! Lift thirteen? That would be unlucky, my dear. I did it once +when I was on the Western circuit in a Wild West show, and believe +me--never again! I strained a shoulder muscle, and I had to lie up in +a hospital five weeks. Twelve men are enough to lift at once, take it +from me! But Joe is a nice boy, I'll say that. Don't you like him?" + +Helen's answer was not very clear, but perhaps that was because she was +fixing her hair in readiness for the entrance into the ring with her +trained horse, Rosebud. + +Joe, Helen and Benny Turton seemed to have formed a little group among +themselves. They sat together at the circus table, and when they were +not "on," they were much in the company of one another. + +They were about the same age, and they enjoyed each other's society +greatly, being congenial companions. Joe was "introduced" to Rosebud +and, being naturally fond of animals, he made friends with the +intelligent horse at once, which pleased Helen. + +She and Joe were getting very fond of one another, though perhaps +neither of them would have admitted that, if openly taxed with it. +But, somehow or other, Joe seemed naturally to drift over near Helen +when they were both in the tent, awaiting their turns. And when their +acts were over they either took walks together in and about the town +where the circus was playing, or they sat in their dressing tent +talking. Often Benny Turton would join them, always being made welcome. + +But Benny did not have much time. His shimmering, scaly, green suit +was quite elaborately made, and it took him some time to get into it. +It took equally as long to get out of it, and after his act he was +always more or less exhausted and had to rest. + +"I don't know what's the matter with me," he said one day to Helen and +Joe, as he joined them after having been in the big glass tank. "But I +feel so tired after I come out that I want to go to bed." + +"Maybe you stay under water too long," Helen said sympathetically. + +"I don't stay under as long as I used to," Benny remarked. "In fact +Jim Tracy was sort of kicking just now. Said I was billed to stay +under water four minutes, and I was cutting it to three. I can't help +it. Something seems to hurt me here," and he put his hands to his ears +and to the back of his head. + +"Maybe you ought to see a doctor," suggested Joe. + +"I can't," said Benny shortly. "In this circus business if they find +out you're sick the management begins to think of booking some one else +for your act. No, I've got to keep on with it. But some days I don't +feel much like it." + +Joe and Helen felt sorry for Benny, but there was little they could do +to aid him. It was not as if they could take some of the burden of +work off his shoulders. His act was peculiar, and he alone could do it. + +"Though I think," said Joe to himself one day after watching Benny +perform, "I think I could stay under water almost as long as he does +after I'd practised it a bit. I'm going to try some time. I think +deep breathing exercises would help. I'm going to begin on them." + +Joe had to have good "wind" for his own acts, but, as he was naturally +ambitious, he started in on systematic breathing exercises. These +would do him much general good even if he should never enter the +water-tank. + +Occasionally Joe would do some simple sleight-of-hand tricks for the +amusement of Benny and Helen. He did not want to lose the art he had +acquired. + +"I may want to quit the circus some day and go back in the illusion +business," he said. + +"Quit the circus! Why?" Helen asked him. + +"Oh, I'm not thinking seriously of it, of course," he said quickly. +"But I don't want to get rusty on those tricks." + +Joe heard occasionally from Professor Rosello, who had leased his show +and was taking a much needed rest. He inquired as to Joe's progress, +and was glad, he said, to hear our hero was doing well. + +One day, when the circus was playing a large manufacturing city on a +two days' date, Joe had another glimpse of the man he had supplanted. +The young trapeze artist went out of the tent when his share in the +afternoon performance was over, and as he paused to look at the crowd +in front of the sideshow tent he heard some one addressing him. + +"So you're the chap that took my place, are you?" a vindictive voice +asked. "I've been wanting to see you!" + +Joe turned to, behold Sim Dobley, who seemed worse off than when the +young performer had first met him. + +"Yes, I've been wanting to see you!" and there was a sneer in Sim's +words. + +Joe decided nothing could be gained by temporizing, or by showing that +he was alarmed. + +"Well, now you've seen me, what are you going to do about it?" he +coolly asked. + +"That's all right. You wait and you'll see!" was the threatening +response. "Nobody can knock me out of an engagement and get away with +it. You'll see!" + +"Look here!" exclaimed Joe. "I didn't knock you out of your place. No +one did except yourself, and you know it. And I'm not going to stand +for any talk like that from you, either." + +"That's right, give it to him!" said another voice, and Jim Tracy came +up. "Don't let him bluff you, Joe. As for you, Dobley, I've told you +to keep away from this circus, and I mean it! I heard you'd been +following us. Rode on one of the canvas wagons last night, didn't you?" + +"Well, what if I did?" + +"This! If you do it again I'll have you arrested. I'm through with +you and I want you to keep away." + +"I guess this is a free country!" + +"Yes, the _country_ is free, but our _circus_ isn't. You keep out in +the country and you'll be all right. Keep off our wagons. Moreover, +if I catch you making any more threats against our performers I'll---- +But I guess Joe can look after himself all right," finished the +ring-master. "Just you keep away, that's all, Dobley." + +The man slunk off in the crowd. Joe really felt sorry for him, but he +could do nothing. Dobley had thrown away his chances and they had come +to Joe, who was entitled to them. Later that day Joe saw Sid and Tonzo +in close conversation with their former partner, but our hero said +nothing to the ring-master about it, though he was a bit uneasy in his +own mind. + +The next afternoon when Joe came out of his dressing room after his +trapeze act, he met Helen Morton. The fancy rider held an open letter +in her hand, and she seemed disturbed at its contents. + +"No bad news, I hope," remarked Joe. + +"No, not exactly," Helen answered. "On the contrary it may be good +news. But I don't exactly understand it. I wish Bill Watson were +here, so I could ask his advice." + +"Who is Bill Watson?" asked Joe. + +"He's one of our clowns, one of the oldest in the business, I guess. +He was taken ill just before you joined the show, but he's coming back +next week. I often ask his advice, and I'd like to now--about this +letter." + +"Why don't you ask mine?" suggested Joe, half jokingly. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BILL WATSON'S IDEA + +Helen Morton gave Joe a glance and a smile. Then she looked at the +open letter in her hand. + +"That's so," she said brightly. "I never thought of that. I wonder if +you could advise me?" + +"Why, I'm one of the best advisers you ever saw," returned Joe, +laughingly. + +"I know you're good on the trapeze," Helen admitted, "but have you had +any business experience?" + +"Well, I was in business for myself after I ran away from home and +joined the professor," answered Joe. "That is, I had to attend to some +of his business. What is it all about?" + +"That's just what I want to know," answered the young circus rider. +"It's a puzzle to me." + +She again referred to the letter, then with a sort of hopeless gesture +held it out to Joe. He took it and cried: + +"Why, what's this? It's all torn up," and he exhibited a handful of +scraps of paper. + +"Oh--Joe!" Helen gasped. "How did that happen?" + +"Just a mistake," he replied. With a quick motion of his hand he held +out the letter whole and untorn. + +"Oh--oh!" she stammered. Then, laughing, added: "Is that one of your +sleight-of-hand tricks?" + +"Yes," Joe nodded. When Helen handed him the letter he happened to be +holding the scraps of a circular letter he had just received and torn +up. It occurred to him, just for a joke, to make Helen believe her +letter had suddenly gone to pieces. It was one of Joe's simplest +tricks, and he often did them nowadays in order to keep in practice. + +"You certainly gave me a start!" Helen exclaimed. "I had hardly read +the letter myself. It's quite puzzling." + +"Do you want me to read it--and advise you?" asked Joe. + +"If you will--and can--yes." + +Joe hastily glanced over the paper. He saw in a moment that it was +from a New York firm of lawyers. The body of the letter read: + + +"We are writing to you to learn if, by any chance, you are the daughter +of Thomas and Ruth Morton who some years ago lived in San Francisco. +In case you are, and if your grandfather on your father's side was a +Seth Morton, we would be glad to have you notify us of these facts, +sending copies of any papers you may have to prove your identity. + +"For some years we have been searching for a Helen Morton with the +above named relatives, but, so far, have not located her. + +"We discovered a number of Helen Mortons, but they were not the right +ones. Recently we saw your name in a theatrical magazine, and take +this opportunity to inquire of you, sending this letter in care of the +circus with which we understand you are connected. Kindly reply as +soon as possible. If you are the right person there is a sum of money +due you, and we wish, if that is the case, to pay it and close an +estate." + + +Joe read the letter over twice without speaking. + +"Well," remarked Helen, after a pause, "I thought you were going to +advise me." + +"So I am," Joe said. "I want to get this through my head first. But +let me ask you: Is this a joke, or are you the Helen Morton referred +to?" + +"I don't know whether it's a joke or not, Joe. First I thought it was. +But my father's name was Thomas, and my grandfather was a Seth Morton, +and he lived in San Francisco. Of course that was when I was a little +girl, and I don't remember much about it. We lived in the West before +papa and mamma died, and it was there I learned to ride a horse. + +"When I was left alone except for an elderly aunt, I did not know what +to do. My aunt took good care of me, however, but when she died there +was no one else, and she left no money. I tried to get work, but the +stores and factories wanted experienced girls, and the only thing I had +any experience with was a horse. + +"I got desperate, and decided to see if I couldn't make a living by +what little talent I had. So one day, when a circus was showing in our +town, I took my horse, Rosebud, rode out and did some stunts in the +lots. The manager saw me and hired me. Oh, how happy I was! + +"That wasn't with this show. I only joined here about two years ago. +Of course my friends--what few I had--thought it was dreadful for me to +become a circus rider, but I've found that there are just as good men +and women in circuses as anywhere else in this world," and her cheeks +grew red, probably at the memory of something that had been said +against circus folk. + +"I know," said Joe, quietly. "My mother was a circus rider." + +"So you have told me. But now about this letter, Joe. I wish Bill +Watson were here--he might know what to do about it." + +"Well, I can't say that I do, in spite of my boast," Joe answered. "It +may be a joke, and, again, it may be the real thing. You may be an +heiress, Miss Morton," and Joe bowed teasingly. + +"I thought you were going to call me Helen--if I called you Joe," she +said. + +"So I am. That was only in fun," for soon after their acquaintance +began these two young persons had fallen into the habit of dropping the +formal Miss and Mister. + +"Well, what would you do, Joe?" Helen asked. + +"I think I'd answer this letter seriously," replied the young +performer. "If it is a joke you can't lose more than a two cent stamp, +and, on the other hand, if it's serious they'll want to hear from you. +You may be the very person they want. This letter head doesn't look +much like a joke." + +The paper on which the letter was written was of excellent quality, and +Joe could tell by passing his fingers over the names, addresses and +other matter that it was engraved--not printed. + +"If it's a joke they went to a lot of work to get it up," he continued. +"Have you any papers, to prove your identity?" + +"Yes, I have some birth and marriage certificates, and an old bible +that was Grandfather Seth's. I wouldn't want to send them off to New +York though." + +"It won't be necessary--at least not at first. I'll help you make +copies of them, and if these lawyers want to see the real things let +them send a man on. That's my advice." + +"And very good advice it is too, Joe," Helen said. "I don't believe +Bill Watson could give any better. He's a real nice elderly man, and +he's been almost a father to me. I often go to him when I have my +little troubles. I wish he were here now. But you are very good to +me, Joe. I'm going to take your advice." + +"I'll help you make the copies," Joe offered. "Did you ever have any +idea that your grandfather left valuable property?" + +"No, and I don't believe papa or mamma did, either. We were not +exactly poor, but we weren't rich. Oh, wouldn't it be nice if I were +to get some money?" + +"You wouldn't stay with the circus then, would you?" + +"Oh, I don't know," she answered musingly. "I think I like it here." + +"I know I do," Joe said. "But if you don't want to take my advice you +can wait until Mr. Watson comes back. You say he's expected?" + +"Yes. Mr. Tracy said he'd join us at Blairstown in a few days. But, +anyhow, I'm going to do as you said, Joe. And if I get a million +dollars maybe I'll buy a circus of my own," and she laughed at the +whimsical idea. + +Taking some spare time, she and Joe made copies of certain certificates +Helen had in her trunk, and they also copied the record from the old +Bible. Joe got the press agent of the show to typewrite a letter to go +with the copies, and they were sent to the New York lawyers. + +"Now we'll wait and see what comes of it," Helen said. "But I'm not +going to lose any sleep over it. I never inherited a fortune, and I +don't expect to." + +A few days later, when the show reached Blairstown, Bill Watson, a +veteran clown, joined the troupe of fun-makers. He was made royally +welcome, for his presence had been missed. + +"Bill, I want to introduce to you a new friend of mine," said Helen, +when she had the opportunity. "He's one of our newest and best +performers, aside from you and me," she joked. + +"What's the name?" asked jovial Bill, holding out his hand. + +"Joe Strong." + +"Been in the business long?" + +"Not very. I was with Professor Rosello before I came here." + +"Never heard of him," and Bill shook his head. + +"He was a conjurer," explained Joe. "My father was, too. He was +Professor Morretti, and my mother----" + +"Was Madame Hortense. She was Janet Willoughby before her marriage," +broke in Bill Watson, speaking calmly. + +"What!" cried Joe. "Did you know her--them?" + +"I knew both of them," said Bill. "I didn't connect your name with +them at first, Strong not being uncommon. But when you mentioned your +father, the professor, why, it came to me in a flash. So you're Madame +Hortense's son, eh?" + +"Did you know my mother well?" asked Joe. + +"Know her?" cried the veteran clown. "I should say I did! Why, she +and I were great friends, and so were your father and I, but I did not +see so much of him, as he was in a different line. But your mother, +Joe! Ah, the profession lost a fine performer when she died. I never +thought I'd meet her son, and in a circus at that. + +"But I'm glad you're with us, and I want to say that if you have Helen, +here, on your side, you've got one of the finest little girls in all +the world." + +"I found that out as soon as I joined," said Joe. + +"Trust you young chaps for not losing any chances like that," chuckled +the clown. "Well, I'm glad you two are friends. They tell me you're +quite an addition to the Lascalla troupe." + +"I'm glad I've been able to do so well," Joe said. + +"And how have you been, Helen?" the old clown wanted to know. + +"First rate. And, oh, Bill. We have _such_ a mystery for you--Joe and +I!" + +"A mystery, Helen?" + +"Yes; I'm going to be an heiress. Wait until I show you the letter," +which she did, to the no small astonishment of Bill Watson. + +"Well, well," he said over and over again, when Helen and Joe told of +the answer they had sent the New York lawyers. "Suppose you do get +some money, Helen?" + +"It's too good to suppose. I can't imagine any one leaving me money." + +"I wish I knew a fairy godmother who would leave me some," murmured +Joe. "But that wouldn't happen in a blue moon." + +Bill Watson turned, and looked rather curiously at the young circus +performer. + +"Well, now, do you know, Joe Strong," he said, "I have an idea." + +"An idea!" cried Helen gaily. "How nice, Bill. Tell us about it!" + +"Now just a moment, young lady. Don't get too excited with an old man +just off a sick bed. But Joe's speaking that way--I call you Joe, as I +knew your folks so well--Joe's speaking that way gave me an idea. I +wouldn't be so terribly surprised, my boy, if you did have money left +you some day." + +"How?" asked Joe in surprise. + +"Why, your mother, whom, as I said, I knew very well, came of a very +rich and aristocratic family in England. She was disowned by them when +she married your father--as if public performers weren't as good as +aristocrats, any day! But never mind about that. Your mother +certainly was rich when she was a girl, Joe, and it may be she is +entitled to money from the English estates now, or, rather, you would +be, since she is dead. That's my idea." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IN THE TANK + +"Are you really serious in that?" asked Joe of the old clown, after a +moment's consideration. + +"Of course I am, Joe. Why? Would it be strange to have some one leave +you money?" + +"It certainly would! But it would be a nice sort of strangeness," +replied the young performer. "I never dreamed that such a thing might +happen." + +"Oh, I don't say it _will_," Bill Watson reminded him. "But the fact +remains that your mother came from what is sometimes called 'the landed +gentry' of England, and the estates there, or property, descend to +eldest sons differently than property does in this country. It may be +worth looking into, Joe." + +"But I don't know much about my mother," Joe said. "I hardly ever meet +any one who knew her. My foster-parents would never speak of her--they +were ashamed of her calling." + +"More shame to them!" exclaimed the clown. "There never was a finer +woman than your mother, Joe Strong. And as for riding--well, I wish we +had a few of her kind in the show now. I don't mean to say anything +against your riding, my dear," he said to Helen. "But Janet Strong did +a different sort, for she was a powerful woman, and could handle a +horse better than most men." + +"I guess I must get my liking for horses from her," Joe remarked. + +"Very likely," agreed Bill Watson. "Some day I'll have a long talk +with you about your mother, Joe, and I'll give you all the information +I can. There may be some of her old acquaintances you can write to, to +find out if she was entitled to any property." + +"Wouldn't it be fine if we both came into fortunes!" gaily cried Helen, +with sparkling eyes. "Wouldn't it be splendid, Joe?" + +"Too good to be true, I'm afraid. But you have a better chance than I, +Helen." + +"Perhaps. Would you leave the circus, Joe, if you got rich?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I guess I'd stay in it while you did--to sort of +look after you," and he smiled quizzically. + +"Trying to get my job, are you?" chuckled Bill. "Well, we are young +only once. But I must say, Helen, that this young man gave you as good +advice as I could, and I hope it turns out all right." + +Joe liked Bill Watson--every one did in fact--and the young performer +was pleased to learn something of his mother, and glad to learn that he +would be told more. + +The enforced rest Bill Watson had taken on account of a slight illness, +seemed to have done the old clown good, for he worked in some new +"business" in his acts when he again donned the odd suit he wore. His +presence, too, had a good effect on the other clowns, so that the +audiences, especially the younger portion, were kept in roars of +merriment at each performance. + +Joe, also, did his share to provide entertainment for the circus +throngs. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that Joe provided the +thrills, for some of his feats were thrilling indeed. Not that the +other members of the Lascalla troupe did not share in the honors, for +they did. Both Sid and Tonzo were accomplished and veteran performers +on the flying rings and trapeze bars, but they had been in the business +so long that they had become rather hardened to it, and stuck to old +tricks and effects instead of getting up new ones. + +Joe was especially good at this, and while some of his feats were not +really new, he gave a different turn to them that seemed to make for +novelty. + +"But I don't like to see you take such risks," Helen said to him on +more than one occasion. "I'm afraid you'll be hurt." + +"You have to take risks in this business," Joe stated. "I don't think +about them when I'm away up at the top of the tent, swinging on the +bar. I just think of the trick and wonder if Sid or Tonzo will catch +me or me one of them when the jump is made. Besides, the life net is +always below us. + +"Yes, but suppose you miss the net or it breaks?" + +"I don't like supposes of that sort," laughed Joe, coolly. Truly he +had good nerves, under perfect control. He was adding to his muscular +strength, too. Constant and steady practice was making his arms and +legs powerful indeed. + +For a while Joe had been on the watch for some overt act on the part of +Sid or Tonzo that would spoil an act and bring censure down on himself. +But following that one attempt neither of the Spaniards did anything +that Joe could find fault with. They were enthusiastic over some of +the feats he performed, and worked in harmony with him. If they were +jealous over Joe's popularity and the applause he often received as his +share alone in some trick, they did not show it. + +"Oh, Joe!" exclaimed Helen one day, when they were in the small tent +getting ready for the afternoon performance. "I have a letter from the +New York lawyers." + +"What do they say?" Joe asked eagerly. "Did they send the money?" + +"No. But they thanked me for the copies of the proofs I sent, and they +said they believed they were on the right track. They will write again +soon. So it wasn't a joke, anyhow." + +"It doesn't look so," the youth agreed. "Is everything all +right--Rosebud safe, and all that?" + +"Yes. He's feeling himself again." The trick horse had been ailing +the day before, and Helen was a little worried about her pet. + +Joe and Helen wandered into the main tent, which was now set up. Joe +wanted to get in a little practice on the trapeze, while Helen went in +to watch, as she often did. The men were setting up the big glass tank +in which the "human fish" performed, and when Joe came down from his +trapeze, rather warm and tired, the water looked very inviting. + +"I've a good notion to go in for a swim," he said to Helen. + +"Why don't you?" she dared him. "It would do you good. It's such a +hot day. I almost wish I could myself." + +"I believe I will," Joe said. "I've got a bathing suit in my trunk." + +The big tent was almost deserted at this hour, for the parade was in +progress. Joe and Helen did not take part in this. Joe came back +attired for a swim, and going up the steps by which Benny mounted to +the platform on the edge of the tank before he plunged in, Joe poised +there. + +"Here I go," he called to Helen. "Got a watch?" + +"Yes, Joe." + +"Time me then. I'm going to see how long I can stay under water." + +In he went head first, making a clean dive, for Joe was an adept in the +water. He swam about in the limpid depths, Helen watching him +admiringly through the glass sides of the tank. Then Joe settled down +on the bottom as Benny was in the habit of doing. Helen nervously +watched the seconds tick off on her wrist watch. + +When two minutes had passed, and Joe was still below the water, the +girl became nervous. + +"Come on out, Joe!" she called. Joe could not hear her, of course. He +waved his hand to her. He could not stay under much longer, he felt +sure, but he did not want to give up. It was not until three seconds +of the third minute had passed that he found it impossible to hold his +breath longer, and up he shot, filling his lungs with air as he reached +the surface. + +At that moment Benny Turton came into the tent, and saw some one in his +tank. + +"What happened?" he cried, running forward. "Did some one fall in?" + +"It's all right," Helen informed the "human fish." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HELEN'S DISCOVERY + +Joe Strong climbed out of the tank. He grinned cheerfully at Benny. + +"It was so hot I took a bath in your tub," he explained. "It sure was +fine! Hope you don't mind?" + +"Not a bit," returned Benny, cheerfully. "Come in any time you like. +It isn't exactly a summer resort beach, but it's the best we have." + +"And Joe stayed under water over three minutes," Helen said. + +"Did I, really?" Joe cried. + +"You certainly did." + +"I was just giving myself a try-out," Joe explained to Benny. + +"That's pretty good," declared the "human fish," as he tested the +temperature of the water. "I couldn't do that at first." + +"Oh, you see I've lived near the water all my life," Joe explained, +"and it comes sort of natural to me. Don't be afraid that I'm going +after your act though," he added, with a laugh. + +"I almost wish you would," and Benny spoke wearily. + +"What's the matter?" asked Helen, with ready sympathy. + +"Oh, I don't know. I don't feel just right, somehow or other. It's +mostly in my head--back here," and Benny pointed to the region just +behind his ears. "I've got a lot of pain there, and going under water +and staying so long seems to make it worse." + +"Why don't you see a doctor?" asked Joe. + +"Well, you know what that would mean. I might have to lay off, and I +don't want that. I need the money." + +Benny had a widowed mother to support, and it was well known that he +sent her most of his wages, keeping only enough to live on. + +"Well, I wish I could help you," said Joe, "but I can't do all the +stunts you can under water, even if I could hold down both jobs." + +"The stunts are easy enough, once you learn how to hold and control +your breath," Benny said. "That's the hardest part of it, and you seem +to have gotten that down fine. How was the water, cold?" + +"No, just about right for me," Joe declared. "I don't like it too +warm." + +Benny again tested the temperature by putting his hand in the tank. + +"I think I'll have 'em put a little hot water in just before I do my +act," he said. "I have an idea that the cold water gets in my ears and +makes the pain in my head." + +"Perhaps it does," Joe agreed. + +Preparations for the afternoon performance were now actively under way. +The big parade was out, going through the streets of the town, and soon +those taking part in the pageant would return to the "lot." Then, at +two, the main show would start. + +Joe had a new feat for that day's performance. He and the two +Spaniards had worked it out together. It was quite an elaborate act, +and involved some risk, though at practice it had gone well. + +Joe was to take his place on the small, high elevated platform at one +side of the tent, and Tonzo would occupy a similar place on the other +side. Joe was to swing off, holding to the flying rings, which, for +this trick, had been attached to unusually long ropes. + +Opposite him Tonzo was to swing from a regulation trapeze, which also +was provided with a long rope. After the two had acquired sufficient +momentum, they were to let go at a certain signal and pass each other +in the air, Joe under Tonzo. Then Joe would catch the trapeze bar, and +Tonzo the rings, exchanging places. + +Once they had a good grip, Sid was to swing from a third trapeze, and, +letting go, grasp Tonzo's hands, that performer, meanwhile, having +slipped his legs through the rings, hanging head downward. + +When Sid had thus caught bold, he was to signal to Joe, who was to make +a second flying leap, and grasp Sid's down-hanging legs. + +As said before, the feat went well in practice and the ring-master was +depending on it for a "thriller." But whether it would go all right +before a crowded tent was another matter. Joe was a little nervous +over it--that is as nervous as he ever allowed himself to get, for he +had evolved the feat, and Sid and Tonzo had not been over-enthusiastic +about it. + +However, it must be attempted in public sooner or later, and this was +the day set for it. Before the show began Joe, Sid and Tonzo went over +every rope, bar and ring. They wanted no falls, even though the life +net was below them. + +"Is everything all right?" Joe asked his partners. + +"Yes," they told him. + +The usual announcement was made of the Lascalla Brothers' act, and on +this occasion Jim Tracy, who was making the presentation, added +something about a "death-defying double exchange and triple suspension +act never before attempted in any circus ring or arena throughout the +world." + +That was Joe's trick. + +The three performers went through some of their usual exploits, +ordinary enough to them, but rather thrilling for all that. Then came +the preparations for the new feat. + +Joe and Tonzo took their places on the small platforms, high up on the +tent poles. The eyes of all in their vicinity were watching them +eagerly. Sid was in his place, ready to swing off when the two had +crossed each other in the air and had made the exchange. + +"Are you ready?" called Jim Tracy in his loud voice. + +"Ready," answered Joe's voice, from high up in the tent. + +"Ready," responded Tonzo, after a moment's hesitation, during which he +pretended to fix one slipper. This was done for dramatic effect, and +to heighten the suspense. + +Helen, who had just finished her tricks with Rosebud, paused at the +edge of a ring to watch the new act. + +"Then go!" shouted the ring-master. + +Joe and Tonzo swung off together, and then swayed to and fro like giant +pendulums, Joe on the rings and Tonzo on the trapeze. + +"Ready?" cried Joe to his swinging partner. + +"Yes," answered Tonzo. + +"Come on!" Joe said. + +It was time to make the exchange. This was one of the critical parts +of the trick. + +Joe let go the rings and hurled himself forward his eyes on the +swinging trapeze bar, his hands out stretched to grasp it. He passed +the form of his partner in mid-air, and the next instant he was +swinging from the trapeze. + +He could not turn to look, but he felt sure, from the burst of applause +which came, that Tonzo had successfully done his part. + +Again Tonzo and Joe were swinging in long arcs, so manipulating their +bodies as to give added momentum to the long ropes. + +"Ready down there?" asked Joe of Sid. + +"Ready," he answered. + +"Then go!" + +Sid swung off, as Tonzo hung head downward with outstretched hands. +Sid easily caught them, for this was a trick they often did together. +Now must come Joe's second leap, and it was not so easy as the first, +nor did he have as good a chance of catching Sid's legs as he would +have had at Tonzo's hands. + +However, it was "all in the day's work," and he did not hesitate at +taking chances. + +He reached the height of his swing and started downward in a long sweep. + +"Here I come!" he called. + +He let go the trapeze bar, and made a dive for Sid's dangling legs. +For the fraction of a second Joe thought he was going to miss. But he +did not. He caught Sid by the ankles and the three hung there, +swinging in mid-air, Tonzo, of course, supporting the dragging weight +of the bodies of Joe and Sid. But Tonzo was a giant in his strength. + +There was a burst of music, a rattle and boom of drums, as the feat +came to a successful and startling finish. Then, as Joe dropped +lightly into the life net, turning over in a succession of somersaults, +the applause broke out in a roar. + +Sid and Tonzo dropped down beside Joe, and the three stood with arms +over one another's shoulders, bowing and smiling at the furor they had +caused. + +"A dandy stunt!" cried Jim Tracy, highly pleased, as he went over to +another ring to make an announcement. "Couldn't be better!" + +This ended the work of Joe and his partners for the afternoon, the new +feat being a climax. They ran out of the tent amid continuous +applause, and Joe saw Helen waiting for him. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" she whispered. "So glad!" + +It was about a week after this, the show meanwhile having moved on from +town to town, that one of the trapeze performers who did a "lone act," +that is all by himself, was taken ill. + +"I'll just shift you to his place, Joe," said Jim. "You can easily do +what he did, and maybe improve on it." + +"But what about my Lascalla act?" + +"Oh, I'm not going to take you out of that. You'll do the most +sensational things with them, but they can have some one else for the +ordinary stunts. I want you to have some individual work." + +Joe was glad enough for this chance, for it meant more money for him, +and also brought him more prominently before the public. But the +Lascalla Brothers were not so well pleased. They did not say anything, +but Joe was sure they were more jealous of him than before. He was +going above them on the circus ladder of success and popularity. But +it was none of Joe's planning. His success was merited. + +The mail had been distributed one day, and Helen had a letter from the +New York lawyers, stating that a member of the firm was coming on to +inspect the old Bible and the other original proofs of her identity. + +"I must tell Joe," she said, and on inquiry learned that he was in the +main tent, practising. As she walked past the dressing room which Joe +and the Lascalla Brothers used, she saw a strange sight. + +Sid and Tonzo were doing something to a trapeze. They had pushed up +the outer silk covering of the rope--covering put on for ornamental +purposes--and Tonzo was pouring something from a bottle on the hempen +strands. + +"I wonder what he is doing that for," mused Helen. "Can it be that----" + +She got no further in her musing, for she heard Sid speaking, and she +listened to what he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +JUST IN TIME + +"This ought to do the business," said Sid. + +"Yes," agreed Tonzo, "and not so quickly that it will be noticed, +either. It will work slowly, but surely." + +"That's what we want," commented the other. "We're in no hurry. Any +time inside of a week will do. Now we'll put this away to ripen." + +"That's queer," thought Helen, and she passed on, for by the movement +in the canvas dressing room she thought the men were about to come out, +and she did not want them to see her at what they might consider spying +on them. "I never heard of ripening a rope before," the girl said. +"But it may be they have to for a trapeze. I'll ask Joe about it. He +might fix some of his ropes that way." + +Helen went on, anxious to find the young performer, and show him her +letter from the lawyer. + +"I'll tell Bill Watson, too," Helen decided. + +As she expected, both Joe and the old clown were much interested in her +news. + +"It does really begin to look as though you would come into some money, +doesn't it?" Joe said. + +"I'm beginning to believe it myself," Helen answered, "though I don't +really count on it as yet." + +"Yes, it's best to go a little slowly," advised Bill. "Not to count +your chickens before they're hatched is a good motto. But this looks +like business. I'd like to interview that lawyer when he comes." + +"I'll turn him over to you," Helen said with a laugh. "To you and Joe, +and you can arrange about getting my money for me. I'll make you two +my official advisers." + +"I accept with pleasure," Joe answered, with a bow. + +"And that reminds me," went on Bill. "I'm going to give you the +addresses of some people who might know about your mother's folks in +England, Joe. As I told you, they disowned her when she married your +father, though there wasn't a finer man going. But he was an American, +and that was one thing they had against him, and another was that he +was a public performer. + +"I think, too, that they rather blamed him for your mother's going into +the circus business, Joe. Your mother was always a good horsewoman, so +I have understood. She took part in many a fox hunt in England, and in +cross-country runs, always coming out in front. And when your father +met her he, as I understand it, suggested that, just for fun, she try +circus work. She took it up seriously, and Madame Hortense became one +of the foremost circus riders of her time. But from then on her name +was forgotten by her relatives, and her picture was, so to speak, +turned to the wall." + +"I wish I could get one of those pictures," said Joe thoughtfully. "I +have only a very small one that was in my father's watch. I'd like a +large one, for I can't remember, very well, how she looked." + +"She was a handsome woman," said the clown. "It may be that you can +get a picture of her from England--that is, if they saved one. I'll +give you the address of some folks you can write to. It might be well +to get a firm of lawyers here to take the matter up for you." + +"I believe it would be best," agreed Joe. + +"Why not let my lawyers--notice that, _my_," laughed Helen. "Why not +let my lawyers act for you, Joe? That is, after we see what sort they +are. They seem honest." + +"Another good idea!" commented the young performer. "I'll do it. You +say one of them is coming to see you?" + +"So he says in this letter." + +"Does he know where to find you?" + +"Yes; I have told him the places where the circus will show for the +next two weeks. He can find the place easily enough, and inquire for +me. Oh, I'm so anxious to know how rich I'm going to be!" + +"I don't blame you," chuckled Bill. "Now, Joe, if I had a pencil and +paper I'd give you those addresses I spoke of." + +Joe supplied what was needed, and obtained the names of some men and +women--circus performers who had been associated with his mother. Joe +wrote to them, asking the names of his mother's relatives in England, +and their addresses. + +Helen's attention was so taken up with the affairs of her inheritance +that she forgot about the queer actions of Sid and Tonzo until after +the performance that night. + +Then, as she and Joe were going to the train to take the sleeping cars +for the next stop, Helen asked: + +"Joe, did you ever hear of ripening trapeze ropes?" + +"Ripening trapeze ropes?" he repeated. "No. What do you mean?" + +Helen then told what she had seen and heard in the dressing tent. + +Joe shook his head. + +"It may be some secret process they have of treating ropes to make them +tougher, so they'll last longer," Joe said. "They may call it +ripening, but I never heard of it. I'll ask them." + +"Don't tell them I saw them," Helen cautioned him. + +"Of course not," Joe answered. "Perhaps it may be a professional +secret with them, and they won't tell me anyhow. But I'll ask." + +But when Joe, as casually as he could, inquired of Sid and Tonzo what +they knew of ripening trapeze ropes, the two Spaniards shook their +heads, though, unseen by Joe, a quick look passed between them. + +"I sometimes oil my ropes, to make them pliable," Tonzo admitted. +"Olive oil I use. But it does not make them ripe." + +"I guess that must have been it," thought Joe. "Helen was probably +mistaken. It might have been a word that sounded like ripening." + +So he said no more about it then, though when he reported to Helen the +result of his questioning, she shook her head. + +"I'm sure I heard aright," she declared. "And they were pouring +something from a bottle on the trapeze rope from which they had pushed +the silk covering." + +"It might have been olive oil," Joe said. + +"It might," Helen admitted, '"but I don't believe it was. They don't +handle any of your ropes, do they?" + +"I always look after my own. Why?" + +"Oh, I just wanted to know," and that was all the answer Helen would +give. + +As Joe went to his dressing room for that afternoon's performance he +passed Senor Bogardi, the lion tamer. Something in the man's manner +attracted Joe's attention, and he asked him: + +"Aren't you feeling well to-day, Senor?" + +"Oh, yes, as well as usual. It is my Princess who is not well." + +"Princess, the big lioness?" + +"Yes. I do not know what to make of her actions. She is never rough +with me, but a little while ago, when I went in her cage, she growled +and struck at me. I had to hit her--which I seldom do--and that did +not improve her temper. I do not know what to make of her. I have to +put her through her paces in the cage this afternoon, and I do not want +any accident to happen. + +"It is not that I am afraid for myself," went on the tamer, and Joe +knew he spoke the truth, for he was absolutely fearless. "But if she +comes for me and I have to--to do--something, it may start a panic. +No, I do not like it," and he shook his head dubiously. + +"Oh, well, maybe it will come out all right," Joe assured him. "But +you'd better tell Jim, and have some extra men around. She can't get +out of her cage, can she?" + +"Oh, no, nothing like that. Well, we shall see." + +It was almost time for the performance to begin. The crowd was already +streaming into the animal tent and slowly filtering into the "main +top," where the performance took place. Before that, however, there +was a sort of "show" in the animal arena, Senor Bogardi's appearance in +the cage with the lioness being one of the features. + +Joe had gone to his dressing tent and was coming out again, when he +heard unusual roars from the animal tent. The lions often let their +thunderous voices boom out, sometimes startling the crowd, but, somehow +or other, this sounded differently to Joe. + +"I wonder if that's Princess cutting up," he reflected. "Guess I'll go +in and have a look. I hope nothing happens to the senor." + +Though lion tamers, as well as other performers with wild beasts, seem +to take matters easily, slipping into the cage with the ferocious +creatures as a matter of course, they take their lives in their hands +whenever they do it. No one can say when a lion or a tiger may +suddenly turn fierce and spring upon its trainer. And there is not +much chance of escape. The claws of a lion or a tiger go deep, even in +one swift blow of its powerful paws. + +Joe started for the animal tent, and then remembered that he needed in +his act that day a certain short trapeze, the ends of the ropes being +provided with hooks that caught over the bar of another trapeze. + +He hurried back to get it, and then, as the unusual roars kept up in +the arena, he hastened there. As he had surmised, it was Princess who +was roaring, her fellow captives joining in. Senor Bogardi had slipped +into the cage, and was waiting until the creature had calmed down a +little. + +Cages in which trainers perform with wild beasts are built in two +parts. In one end is a sort of double door, forming a compartment into +which the trainer can slip for safety. The senor had opened the outer +door of the cage and slipped in, it being fastened after him. + +But he was still separated from Princess by another iron-barred door +that worked on spring hinges. And Princess did not seem to want this +door opened. She sprang against it with savage roars and thrust her +paws through, trying to reach her trainer. He sought to drive her back +into a far corner, so that he would have room to enter. Once in, he +felt he could subdue her. But Princess would not get back +sufficiently, though Senor Bogardi ordered her, and even flicked her +through the bars with the heavy whip he carried. + +"I guess you'd better cut out the act to-day," advised Jim Tracy, as he +saw how matters were going. The women and children were beginning to +get nervous, some of them hastening into the other tent. Men, too, +were looking about as if for a quick means of escape in case anything +happened. + +"No, no. I must make her obey me," insisted the performer. "If I give +in to her now I will lose power over her. Get back, Princess! Get +back! Down!" he ordered. + +But the lioness only snarled and struck at the bars with her paws. +Then she threw herself against the spring door, roaring. The cage +rocked and shook, and several women screamed. + +"Cut out the act!" ordered the ring-master. "It isn't safe with this +crowd." + +"That's right," chimed in a man. "We know it isn't your fault, +professor." + +"Thank you!" Senor Bogardi bowed. "For the comfort of the audience I +will omit my act to-day. But I will subdue Princess later." + +There was a breath of relief from the crowd as the trainer prepared to +leave the cage. Men who had fastened the door after him raised the +iron bar that held it so he could emerge. + +The lion-tamer slipped from the cage through the outside door, which +was about to be shut when Princess, with all her force, threw herself +against the inner spring door. + +Whether it was insecurely fastened or whether she broke the fastenings, +was not disclosed at the moment, but the door gave way and the enraged +beast sprang into the smaller compartment and toward the outer door. + +"Quick!" cried the trainer. "Up with that bar! Fasten the door, or +she'll be out among us!" + +The circus men raised the bar, but the cage was swaying so from the +leapings of the lioness that they could not slip the iron in place. It +almost dropped from their hands. + +Joe Strong saw the danger. He stood near the cage, the crowd having +rushed back, men and women yelling with fright. Joe saw the outer door +swing open. In another instant the lioness would be out. + +At that moment the men dropped the iron bar. + +"Quick! Something to fasten the door--to hold it!" cried the +lion-tamer. + +Joe acted in a flash and not an instant too soon. He forced the strong +hickory bar of his small trapeze into the places meant to receive the +iron bar, and as the lioness, with a roar of rage, flung herself +against the door, it did not give way, but held. Joe had prevented her +escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A BAD BLOW + +"Quick now! With the iron bar!" cried Senor Bogardi. "That trapeze +stick won't hold long!" + +But it held long enough. As the lioness, flung back into a corner of +her cage by her impact against the steel door, gathered herself for +another spring, the men slipped into place the iron bar, Joe pulling +out his trapeze. + +"It's all right now--no more danger!" called Jim Tracy. "Take it easy, +folks, she can't get out now!" + +This was true enough. The beast, after a fruitless effort to force a +way out of the cage, retreated to a corner and lay down, snarling and +growling. + +"I don't know what's gotten into Princess," said the trainer as he +looked at her. "She never acted this way before." + +"It's a good thing she showed her temper before you got in the cage +with her, and not afterward," remarked Joe, as he was about to pass on +to the performance tent. + +"That's right," agreed Senor Bogardi. "And you did the right thing in +the nick of time, my boy. Only for your trapeze bar she'd have been +out among the crowd," and he looked at the men, women and children, who +were now calming down. + +The small panic was soon over, and in order to quiet the lioness a big +canvas was thrown over her cage, so she would not be annoyed by +onlookers. + +"I guess she needs a rest," her trainer said. "I'll let her alone for +a day or so, and she may get over this." + +Joe went on into the tent where he was to do his trapeze acts. It was +nearly time for him to appear, and the other two Lascalla Brothers were +waiting for him. They would do an act together, and Joe one of his +single feats, however, before the three appeared in a triple act. + +The young performer was straightening out the ropes attached to his +trapeze, when he noticed that the bar of the small one, which he had +thrust into the door of the lioness' cage, was cracked. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Joe. "This won't do. I can't risk doing tricks up +at the top of the tent on a cracked bar. It might hold, and again it +might not." + +He tried the cracked bar in his hands. It gave a little, but seemed +fairly strong. + +"I wonder if I could get another," mused Joe. "Guess I'd better try." + +He walked over to where the Lascalla Brothers stood near their +apparatus. + +"What's the matter?" asked Sid, seeing Joe trailing the broken trapeze +after him. + +"This bar is cracked. It's my short trapeze that I fasten to the big +one. I used it just now to hold the door so the lioness wouldn't get +out, and the wood is cracked. I was wondering if you had a spare one +like this." + +"We have!" exclaimed Tonzo quickly. "Get the little short one--the one +with the silk coverings on the ropes," he said to Sid. "Joe can use +that." + +"I'll be back with it in a second," Sid stated, as he hurried off to +the dressing tent, for it was nearly time for the performance to begin. +Sid returned presently with another trapeze. + +At this moment Helen came in with her horse, Rosebud, for she was about +to do her act. + +"What's the matter, Joe?" asked Helen, for she knew that at this point +in the performance he ought to be on the other side of the tent doing +his act. + +"Oh, I cracked a trapeze bar," Joe replied, as he stepped up beside the +girl and patted Rosebud. "Sid is going to get me another. Here he +comes now with it." + +At the sight of the trapeze the circus man was bringing up, Helen was +conscious of a strange feeling. She saw the silk-covered ropes, and +the recollection of that scene in the tent came vividly to her. + +"I guess this will do you, Joe," remarked Sid, holding out the trapeze. +"It's the only one we have like yours." + +"Thanks," responded the young performer. "That will do nicely. I've +got to hustle now and----" + +Joe turned away, but became aware that Helen was leaning down from the +saddle and whispering to him. + +"Joe! Joe!" she exclaimed, making sure the Lascalla Brothers could not +hear her, for they were On the other side of Rosebud. "Joe, don't use +the trapeze!" + +"Why not?" + +"Because I'm sure that's the one I saw those two men 'ripening,' as +they call it. They had pulled back the silk cover, and were pouring +something on the rope. Look at it before you use it. Be careful!" + +Then she flicked Rosebud with the whip and rode into the ring to do her +act amid a blare of trumpets. Joe stood there, holding the trapeze. +The two Spaniards were starting their act now, and were high up in the +air. + +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "I wonder what's up. Can it be that this rope +is doctored? I won't let them see me looking at it." + +He hurried over to his own particular place in the tent. + +"Lively, Joe!" called Jim Tracy. "You're late as it is!" + +"I'll be right on the job in a moment," the young performer answered. +"I had to get another trapeze--the lioness cracked mine." + +"Oh, all right--but hustle." + +Under pretense of fastening the short trapeze to the larger one Joe +pushed back the loose silk covering the ropes. To his surprise, on one +rope was a dark stain. Joe rubbed his fingers over the strands. They +were rotten, and crumbled at the touch. Joe smelled of the dark stain. + +"Acid!" exclaimed Joe. "Some one spilled acid on this rope. Talk +about putting on something to ripen it! This is something to rot it!" + +He tested the rope in his hands. It did not part, but some of the +strands gave, and he did not doubt but that if he trusted his weight to +it it would break and give him a fall. + +"Now I wonder if they did that on purpose to queer me," mused Joe. "If +they did they waited for a most opportune time to give me the doctored +trapeze. They couldn't have known I was going to break mine. I wonder +if they did it on purpose. + +"Of course I wouldn't have been killed, and probably not even much +hurt, if the rope did break," thought Joe. "I'd only fall into the +life net, but it sure would spoil my act and make me look like an +amateur. Maybe that's their game! If it was----" + +Joe paused, and looked over in the direction of the two Spaniards. +They were going through their act, but Joe thought he had a glimpse of +Tonzo looking over toward him. + +"They want to see what happens to me," thought Joe. "Well, they won't +see anything, for I sha'n't use this trapeze. I'll change my act." + +"Hey, what's the matter over there, Joe?" called Jim Tracy to him. +"You ought to be up on the bar." + +"I know it, Mr. Tracy. But I've got to make a change at the last +minute. I can't use this extra trapeze." + +"All right; do anything you like, but do it quick!" + +Joe signaled to his helper, who began hoisting him to the top of the +tent by means of rope and pulley. Once on his own regular trapeze, +which he had tested but a short while before, Joe went through his act. + +He had to improvise some acts to take the place of those he did on the +short trapeze. But he did these extra exploits so well and so easily +that no one in the audience suspected that it was anything but the +regular procedure. + +Then Joe, amid applause, descended and went over to work with the two +Spaniards. He carried the doctored trapeze with him. + +"I didn't use this," he said, looking closely at Tonzo. "It seems to +have been left out in the rain and one of the ropes has rotted." + +"Rotted?" asked Sid, his voice trembling. + +"Something like that, yes," answered Joe. + +"Ah, that is too bad!" exclaimed Tonzo, and neither by a false note nor +by a change in his face did he betray anything. "I am glad you +discovered the defect in time." + +"So am I," said Joe significantly. "Come on, now. + +"Probably they fixed the rope with acid, and kept it ready against the +chance that some day I might use it," reflected Joe. "The worst that +could happen would be to spoil my tricks--I couldn't get much hurt +falling into the net, and they knew that. But it was a mean act, all +right, and I sha'n't forget it. I guess they want to discourage me so +they can get their former partner back. But I'm going to stick!" + +"Did you find out anything, Joe?" asked Helen, when she had a chance to +speak to him alone. + +"I sure did, thanks to you, little girl. I might have had a ridiculous +fall if I'd used their trapeze. You were right in what you suspected." + +"Oh, Joe! I'm so glad I saw it in time to warn you." + +"So am I, Helen. It was a mean piece of business, and cunning. I +never suspected them of it." + +"Oh, but you will be careful after this, won't you, Joe?" + +"Indeed I will! I want to live long enough to see you get your +fortune. By the way, when is that lawyer coming?" + +"He is to meet me day after to-morrow." + +"I'll be on hand," Joe promised. + +It rained the next day, and working in a circus during a rain is not +exactly fun. Still the show goes on, "rain or shine," as it says on +the posters, and the performers do not get the worst of it. It is the +wagon and canvas men who suffer in a storm. + +"And this is a bad one," Joe remarked, when he went in the tent that +afternoon for his act. "It's getting worse. I hope they have the tent +up good and strong." + +"Why?" asked Helen. + +"Because the wind's increasing. Look at that!" he exclaimed as a gust +careened the big, heavy canvas shelter. "If some of the tent pegs pull +out there'll be trouble." + +Helen looked anxious as she set off to put Rosebud through his tricks, +and Joe was not a little apprehensive as he was hoisted to the top of +the tent. He saw the big pole to which his trapeze was fastened, +swaying as the wind shook the "main top." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HELEN'S INHERITANCE + +Joe Strong had scarcely begun his act when he became aware that indeed +the storm was no usual blow and bluster, accompanied by rain. He could +feel his trapeze swaying as the whole tent shook, and while this would +not have deterred him from going on with his performance, he felt that +an accident was likely to occur that would start a panic. + +"It surely does feel as if the old 'main top' was going to fall," +thought Joe as he swung head downward by his knees, preparatory to +doing another act. He could see that many in the audience were getting +uneasy, and some were leaving their seats, though the red-capped ushers +were going about calling: + +"Sit still! Keep your seats! There is no danger. The tent is +perfectly safe." + +Jim Tracy had ordered this done. As a matter of fact the tent was not +perfectly safe, but under the circumstances it was best to tell the +people this to quiet them and to avoid having them make a rush to get +out, as in that case many would be hurt--especially the women and the +children. + +"It's a good thing it isn't night," reflected Joe. "Whew! That was a +bad one!" he exclaimed as a terrific blast seemed fairly to lift one +side of the tent. Men started from their seats and women and children +screamed. + +"Just keep quiet and it will be all right," urged the ring-master, but +the crowd was fast getting beyond control. + +Joe saw Jim Tracy sending out a gang of men to drive the tent pegs +deeper into the ground. The rain softened the soil, and thus made the +pegs so loose that they were likely to pull out. At the same time the +rain, wetting the ropes, caused them to shrink, and thus exert a +stronger pull on the pegs and poles. So the ropes had to be eased off, +while the pegs were pounded farther into the ground with big mauls. + +"Lively now, men!" called the ring-master. + +The big tent swayed, sometimes the top of it being lifted high up by +the wind which blew under it. Again the sides would bulge in, making +gaps by which the rain entered. + +But the band kept on playing. Jim saw to that, for nothing is more +conducive to subduing a panic than to let the crowd hear music. The +performers, too, kept on with their acts, and some of the audience +began to feel reassured. + +But the wind still kept up, blowing stronger if anything, and Joe and +others realized that it needed but a little accident to start a rush +that might end fatally for some. + +Joe was just about to go into the second series of his gymnastic work +when he heard a tent pole beneath him snap with a breaking sound. At +first he thought it was the big one to which his apparatus was made +fast, but a glance showed him this one was standing safe. It was one +of the smaller side poles. + +That part of the tent sagged down, the wind aiding in the break, and +there were cries of fear from scores of women, while men shouted all +sorts of directions. + +But the circus people had gone through dangers like this before, and +they knew what to do. Under the direction of Jim Tracy and his +helpers, extra poles were quickly put in place to take the weight of +the wet canvas off the broken one. This at once raised the tent up +from those on whom it had partly fallen. + +And then something else happened. + +One of five horses which were being put through a series of tricks by a +man trainer, suddenly bolted out of the ring. Joe, high up in the +tent, saw him running, and noted that the animal was headed for the +ring where Helen Morton was performing with Rosebud. + +"He's going to run into her!" thought Joe. "I've got to do something!" + +He must think and act quickly. While attendant's were running after +the bolting horse Joe, looking down, saw that the animal would pass +close to his life net. In an instant Joe had decided what to do. + +He poised on the small platform, from which he made his swings, and +dropped straight into the big net. Just as he had calculated, he +bounced up again, and as he did so he sprang out to one side. + +Joe's quick eyes and nerves had enabled him to judge the distance +correctly. He leaped from the net just as the horse was opposite him, +and landed on his back in a riding position. + +It was the work of but a second to reach forward, grasp the little +bridle which the animal wore, and pull him to one side. + +And it was not a second too soon, either, for the horse was on the edge +of the ring in which Helen was performing with Rosebud. If the +maddened animal had gone in, there would have been a collision in which +the girl performer would, undoubtedly, have been injured. + +"Good work, Joe!" cried the ring-master. "But there's plenty more to +be done. I guess we'll have to get all the men performers to help hold +down the tent. I'm afraid she's going." + +"It does look so," Joe admitted as he leaped from the horse and gave +him in charge of one of the attendants. "What can we do?" + +"Help drive in extra pins and attach more ropes. I'm going to dismiss +the audience. We'll stay over here to-morrow, and give an extra +performance to make up for it." + +"I'll get a crowd together and we'll help the canvasmen," offered Joe. + +"And I'll help," said Benny Turton, who had finished his tank act. + +"Come on!" cried Joe, as he led the way. + +Meanwhile Jim Tracy had requested the audience to file out as quickly +and in as orderly a manner as possible. The crowd was not large, as +the weather had been threatening in the morning and many had stayed at +home. But it was no easy matter to dismiss even a small throng in such +a storm. + +However, it was accomplished, the band meanwhile playing its best, and +under hard conditions, as part of the tent over them split and let the +rain in on them. + +But the music served a good turn, and while the people were hurrying +out the canvasmen, aided by the performers, Joe among them, drove in +extra pegs, tightening those that had become loose, put on additional +ropes, so that, by hard work, the big tent was prevented from blowing +down. + +Once outside, the audience, though most of them were soon drenched, +took it good-naturedly. They were given emergency tickets as they +passed out, good for another admission. + +And then the storm, which seemed to have reached its height, settled +down into a heavy rain. The wind died out somewhat, and there was no +danger from the collapse of the tent. + +"Good work, boys!" said the ring-master, as the performers, all of them +wet through, and in their performing suits too, came in. "Good work! +If it hadn't been for you I don't know what we would have done. I'll +not forget it." + +There had been some trouble in the animal tent during the storm; the +beasts, especially the elephants, evincing a desire to break loose. +But their trainers quieted them, and soon the circus was almost normal +again. + +Of course the afternoon had been lost, but there was hope of a good +attendance at night if the storm were not too bad. And by remaining +over another afternoon the deficiency could be made up. Word was +telegraphed ahead to the next town announcing a postponement in the +date. The broken pole was replaced with another, and then the +performers enjoyed an unexpected vacation. + +"I want to thank you, Joe, for what you did," said Helen, coming up to +him in the dining tent, where an early supper was served. "I saw what +you did--stopping that runaway horse." + +"Oh, it wasn't anything," Joe said, modestly enough. + +"Wasn't it?" asked Helen, with a smile. "Well, I consider myself and +Rosebud something worth saving." + +"Oh, I didn't mean it that way," Joe said quickly. "But the runaway +might not have gone near you." + +"Yes, I'm afraid he would. But you saved me." + +"Well, if you feel that way about it," laughed Joe, for he did not want +Helen to take the matter too seriously, "why then we're even. You +saved me from a bad fall on the trapeze." + +The storm subsided somewhat by night, and there was a good attendance. +And the receipts the next day were very large in the afternoon, for the +story of what the circus men had done was widely spread, and served as +a good advertisement. Joe was applauded louder than ever when he did +his acts. + +The two wily Lascalla Brothers never referred to the incident of the +rotted trapeze rope, and Joe did not know whether to believe them +guilty or not. At most, he thought, they only wanted to give him a +tumble that might make him look ridiculous, and so discourage him from +continuing the work. In that case their deposed partner might get a +chance. But Joe did not give up, and he kept a sharp lookout. He +redoubled his vigilance regarding his ropes, bars and rings, inspecting +all of them just before each performance. + +On arriving at the next town Helen received a note in her mail asking +her to call at the principal hotel in the place. It was signed by one +of the members of the law firm. + +"You come with me, Joe," she begged. "I don't want to go alone." + +"All right," agreed the young performer. "We'll go and get your +inheritance." + +"If there's any to get," laughed Helen. "Oh, Joe, I'm so nervous!" + +"Nervous!" he answered. "I wish I could be afflicted with nervousness +like that--money-nervousness, I'd call it!" + +They found Mr. Pike, the lawyer, to be an agreeable gentleman. He had +requested Helen to bring with her the proofs of her identity, the old +Bible and other books, which she did. These the lawyer examined +carefully, and asked the girl many questions, comparing her answers +with some information in his notebook. Finally he said: + +"Well, there is no doubt but you are the Miss Helen Morton we have been +looking for so long, and I am happy to inform you that you are entitled +to an inheritance from your grandfather's estate." + +"Really?" cried Helen, eagerly. + +"Really," answered the lawyer, with a smile. "It isn't a very large +fortune, but it will yield you a neat little income every year. In +fact there is quite an accumulation due you, and I shall be happy to +send it on as soon as I get back to New York. I congratulate you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A WARNING + +Helen could hardly believe the good news. Though she had hoped, since +hearing from the law firm, that she might be entitled to some money, +Helen had always been careful not to hope too much. + +"For I don't want to be badly disappointed," she told Joe. + +"Well," he remarked, "I wish my chances were as good as yours." + +For the answers he received from the letters he wrote concerning his +mother's relatives in England were disappointing. As far as these +letters went there was no estate in which Joe might share, though Bill +Watson insisted that the late Mrs. Strong came of a wealthy family. + +"Anyhow, you've got yours, Helen," said Joe. + +"Well, I haven't exactly got it yet," and she looked at Mr. Pike. + +"Oh, the money is perfectly safe," the lawyer assured Helen. "I have +part of it on deposit in my bank, and the rest is safe in California." + +"Just how did it happen to come to me?" Helen inquired. + +"Well," answered the lawyer slowly, "it's a long and complicated story. +Your grandfather on your father's side was quite a landholder in San +Francisco. Some of his property was not worth a great deal, and other +plots were very valuable. In time he sold off most of it, but one +large tract was considered so worthless that he could not find a buyer +for it. When he died he still owned it, and it descended to your +father. + +"He thought so little of it that he never tried to put it on the +market. But during the last few years the city has grown out in the +direction of this land, and recently the property was sold. + +"An effort was made to find the owner, your father, but as he was dead, +and no one knew what had become of his heirs, the land was sold, and +the money deposited with the state, to be turned over to the right +owner when found. We have a branch office in San Francisco, and we +were engaged to try to find any Morton heirs. Finally we found you, +and now I am glad to say that my work in this connection is so happily +ended. + +"As I told you, I have some cash ready for you. The rest of your +inheritance is in the form of bonds and mortgages, which will bring you +in an income of approximately sixty dollars a month." + +"That's fifteen a week!" exclaimed Helen, who was used to calculating +that way, as are most circus and theatrical persons. + +"Of course you could sell these bonds and mortgages, and get the cash +for them," said the lawyer, "but I would not advise you to. You will +have about three thousand dollars in cash, as it is, and this ought to +be enough for your immediate needs, especially as I understand you have +a good position." + +"Yes, I am earning a good salary," Helen admitted, "but I have not been +able to save much. I am very glad of my little fortune." + +"And I am glad for you, my dear young lady. Now, as I said, as soon as +I get back to New York I will send one of my clerks on to you with the +cash. I may be old fashioned, but I don't like to trust too much to +the mails. Besides, I want to get your signature to certain documents, +and you will have to make certain affidavits to my clerk. So I will +send him on. Let me have a note of where you will be during the next +week." + +Helen gave the dates when the circus would play certain towns, and Mr. +Pike left. + +"Well, it's true, little girl, isn't it?" cried Joe as they walked back +to the circus together. + +"Yes, and I'm very glad. I've always wanted money, but I never thought +I'd have it--at least as much as I'm going to get. I wish you would +inherit a fortune, Joe." + +"Oh, don't worry about me. I don't expect it, and what one never has +had can't be missed very much. Maybe I'll get mine--some day." + +"I hope so, Joe. And now I want you to promise me something."' + +"What?" + +"That if ever you need money you'll come to me." + +Joe hesitated a moment before answering. Then he said: + +"All right, Helen, I will." + +To Joe the novelty of life in a circus was beginning to wear off. To +be sure there was something new and different coming up each day, but +he had now gotten his act down to a system, and to him and the other +performers one day was much like another, except for the weather, +perhaps. + +They did their acts before crowds every day--different crowds, to be +sure; but, after all, men, women and children are much alike the world +over. They want to be amused and thrilled, and the circus crowds in +one place are no different from those in another. + +The Sampson Brothers' Show was not one of the largest, though it was +considered first class. Occasionally it played one of the large +cities, but, in the main, it made a circuit of places of smaller +population. + +Joe kept on with his trapeze work, now and then adding new feats, +either by himself or with the Lascalla Brothers. On their part they +seemed glad to adopt Joe's suggestions. Occasionally they made some +themselves, but they were more in the way of spectacular effects--such +as waving flags while suspended in the air, or fluttering gaily colored +ribbons or strands of artificial flowers. But Joe liked to work out +new and difficult feats of strength, skill and daring, and he was +generally successful. + +He had not relaxed his policy of vigilance, and he never went up on a +bar or on the rings without first testing his apparatus. For he never +forgot the strangely rotted rope. That it had been eaten by some acid, +he was sure. + +He did not again get sight of that particular small trapeze, nor did he +ask Sid or Tonzo what had become of it. He did not want to know. + +"It's best to let sleeping dogs lie," reasoned Joe. "But I'll be on +the lookout." + +Matters had been going along well, and Joe had been given an increase +of salary. + +"Well, if I can't get a fortune from some of my mother's rich and +aristocratic ancestors," Joe thought with a smile, "I can make it +myself by my trapeze work. And, after all, I guess, that's the best +way to get rich. Though I'm not sure I'll ever get rich in the circus +business." + +But the calm of Joe's life--that is if, one can call it calm to act in +a circus--was rudely shaken one day when in his mail he found a badly +scrawled note. There was no signature to it, but Joe easily guessed +from whom it came. The note read: + + +"You want to look out for yourself. You may think you're smart, but I +know some smarter than you. This is a big world, but accidents may +happen. You want to be careful." + + +"Some of Sim Dobley's work," mused Joe, as he tore up the note and cast +it aside. "He's trying to get my nerve. Well, I won't let that worry +me. He won't dare do anything. Queer, though, that he should be +following the circus still. He sure does want his place back. I'm +sorry for him, but I can't help it." + +Joe did not regard the warning seriously, and he said nothing about it +to Helen or any one else. + +"It would only worry Helen," he reflected. + +The show was over for the night. Even while the performers in the big +tent had been going through with their acts, men had taken away the +animal cages and loaded them on the flat railroad cars. Then the +animal tent was taken down and packed into wagons with the poles and +pegs. + +As each performer finished, he or she went to the dressing tent and +packed his trunk for transportation. From the dressing tent the actors +went to the sleeping car, and straight to bed. + +Joe's acts went very well that night. He was applauded again and again +and he was quite pleased as he ran out of the tent to make ready for +the night journey. He saw Benny Turton changing into his ordinary +clothes from his wet fish-suit, which had to be packed in a rubber bag +for transportation after the night performance, there being no time to +dry it. + +"Well, how goes it, Ben?" asked Joe. + +"Oh, not very well," was the spiritless answer. "I've got lots of +pain." + +"Too bad," said Joe in a comforting tone. "Maybe a good night's sleep +will fix you up." + +"I hope so," said the "human fish." + +The circus train was rumbling along the rails. It was the middle of +the night, and they were almost due at the town where next they would +show. + +Joe, as well as the others in his sleeping car, was suddenly awakened +by a crash. The train swayed from side to side and rolled along +unevenly with many a lurch and bump. + +"We're off the track!" cried Joe, as he rolled from his berth. And the +memory of the scrawled warning came vividly to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE STRIKE + +The circus train bumped along for a few hundred feet, the engine +meanwhile madly whistling, the wheels rattling over the wooden +sleepers, and inside the various cars, where the performers had been +suddenly awakened from their sleep, pandemonium reigned. + +"What's the matter?" called Benny Turton from his berth near Joe's. + +"Off the track--that's all," was the answer, given in a reassuring +voice. For Joe had, somehow or other, grasped the fact there was no +great danger unless they ran into something, and this, as yet, had not +happened. + +The train was off the track (or at least some of the coaches were) but +it was quickly slowing down, and Joe, by a quick glance at his watch, +made a mental calculation of their whereabouts. + +For several miles in the vicinity where the accident had occurred was a +long, and comparatively straight stretch of track, with no bridges and +no gullies on either side. A train running off the track, even if +going at fairly fast speed, would hardly topple over. + +Before starting out that night Joe had inquired of one of the men about +the journey, and, learning that they were approaching his former home, +the town of Bedford, he had looked up the route and the time of arrival +at their next stopping place. He had a quick mind, and he remembered +about where they should be at the time the accident occurred. In that +way he was able to determine that, unless they struck something, they +were in comparatively little danger. + +"Off the track--that's all!" repeated Benny Turton as he looked down +from his berth at Joe. "Isn't that enough? Wow! What's going on now?" + +The train had stopped with a jolt. The air brakes, which the engineer +had flung on at the first intimation of danger, had taken hold of the +wheels with a sudden grip. + +"This is the last stop," said Joe, and he smiled up at Benny. He could +do so now, for he felt that their coach, at least, was safe. But he +was anxious as to what had happened to the others. Helen, with many of +the other women performers, was in the coach ahead. + +Benny crawled down from his berth, and stood looking at Joe. + +"It doesn't seem to worry you much," he remarked. + +"Not as long as there's nothing worse than this," Joe answered. +"You're not hurt, are you?" + +"Only my feelings." + +"Well, you'll get over that. Let's see what's up." + +By this time the aisle of the car was filled with excited men +performers. They all wanted to know what had happened, their location +and various other bits of information. + +"The train jumped the track," said Joe, who appeared the coolest of the +lot. "We don't seem to have hit anything, though at first I thought we +had. We're right side up, if not exactly with care." + +"Where are we?" demanded Tonzo Lascalla. + +"We ought to be near Far Hills, according to the time table," Joe +answered. "If I could get a look out I could tell." + +He went to the end of the car and peered out. It was a bright +moonlight night, and Joe was able to recognize the locality. As a boy +he had tramped all around the country within twenty-five miles of +Bedford, in the vicinity of which they now were, and he had no +difficulty in placing himself. He found that he had guessed correctly. + +By this time there was an excited crowd of trainmen and circus +employees outside the coaches which had left the rails. Joe and some +of the others slipped on their clothes and went out to see what had +happened. + +Joe's first glance was toward the coach in which he knew Helen rode. +He was relieved to see that though it had also left the rails it was +standing upright. In fact, none of the cars had tilted more than was +to be expected from the accident. + +"Well, this is a nice pickle!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, bustling up. "This +means no parade, and maybe no afternoon show. How long will it take +you to get us back on the rails?" he asked one of the brakemen. + +"Hard to say," was the answer. "We'll have to send for the wrecking +crew. Lucky it's no worse than a delay." + +"Yes, I suppose so," agreed the ring-master. It was only one train of +the several that made up the circus which had left the rails. The +animal cars were on ahead, safe, and the sections following the +derailed coaches had, by a fortunate chance, not left the rails. + +"What caused us to jump?" asked Benny. + +"There was a fish plate jammed in a switch," answered one of the +brakemen. "We found it beside the track where we knocked it out, and +that saved the other trains from doing as we did." + +"A fish plate in the switch?" repeated Joe. "Did it get there by +accident?" + +"Ask me something easier," quoted the brakeman. "It might have, and +again it might not. I understand you discharged a lot of men at your +last stop, and it may be some of them tried to get even with you." + +It was true that a number of canvasmen had been allowed to go because +they were found useless, but none of the circus men believed that these +individuals would do so desperate a deed as to try to wreck the train. + +Joe thought of the threatening letter he had received--Sim Dobley was +the writer, he was sure--but even Sim would hardly try anything like +this. He might feel vindictive against Joe, and try to do him some +harm or bring about Joe's discharge. + +But to wreck a train---- + +"I don't believe he'd do that," reasoned Joe. "I won't mention the +letter--it would hardly be fair. I don't want to get him into trouble, +and I have no evidence against him." + +So Joe kept quiet. + +The circus trains ahead of the derailed one could keep on to their +destination. After some delay those in the rear were switched to +another track, and so passed around the stalled cars. + +Then the wrecking crew arrived, and just as the first gray streaks of +dawn showed the last of the cars was put back on the track. + +"Well, we're off again," remarked Joe, as, with Benny and some of their +friends, they got back in their berths. + +"Not much more chance for sleep, though," the "human fish" remarked, +dolefully enough. + +"Oh, I think I can manage to get some," said, Joe, as he covered up, +for the morning was a bit chilly. + +"I hope my glass tank didn't get cracked in the mix-up," remarked +Benny. "It wouldn't take much to make that leak, and I've had troubles +enough of late without that." + +"Oh, I guess it's perfectly safe," remarked Joe, sleepily. + +The excitement caused by the derailing was soon forgotten. Circus men +are used to strenuous happenings. They live in the midst of +excitement, and a little, more or less, does not bother them. Most of +them slept even through the work of getting the train back on the rails. + +Of course the circus was late in getting in--that is the derailed train +with its quota of performers was. Early in the morning, when they +should have been on the siding near the grounds, the train was still +puffing onward. + +Joe arose, got a cup of coffee in the buffet car, and went on ahead to +inquire about Helen and some of his friends in the other coach. + +"Oh, I didn't mind it much," Helen said, when Joe asked her about it. +"I felt a few bumps, and I thought we had just struck a poor spot in +the roadbed." + +"She hasn't any more nerves than you have, Joe Strong," declared Mrs. +Talfo, "the fat lady." + +"Did you mind it much?" Joe asked. + +"Did I? Say, young man, it's a good thing I had a lower berth. I +rolled out, and if I had fallen on anybody--well, there might have been +a worse wreck! Fortunately no one was under me when I tumbled," and +Mrs. Talfo chuckled. + +"And you weren't hurt?" asked Joe. + +The fat lady laughed. Her sides shook "like a bowlful of jelly," as +the nursery rhyme used to state. + +"It takes more than a fall to hurt me," said Mrs. Talfo. "I'm too well +padded. But we're going to get in very late," she went on with a look +at her watch. "The performers should be at breakfast at this time, to +be ready for the street parade." + +"We may have to omit the parade," said Joe. + +"I wouldn't care," declared the fat lady with a sigh. "It does jolt me +something terrible to ride over cobble streets, and they never will let +me stay out." + +"You're quite an attraction," said Joe, with a smile. + +"Oh, yes, it's all right to talk about it," sighed Mrs. Talfo, "but I +guess there aren't many of you who would want to tip the scales at five +hundred and eighty pounds--advertised weight, of course," she added, +with a smile. "It's no joke--especially in hot weather." + +The performers made merry over the accident now, and speculated as to +what might happen to the show. Their train carried a goodly number of +the "artists," as they were called on the bills, and without them a +successful and complete show could not be given. + +"We may even have to omit the afternoon session," Joe stated. + +"Who said so?" Helen demanded. + +"Mr. Tracy." + +"Well, it's better to lose that than to have the whole show wrecked," +said the snake charmer. "I remember being in a circus wreck once, and +I never want to see another." + +"Did any of the animals get loose?" asked Joe. + +"I should say they did! We lost a lion and a tiger, and for weeks +afterward we had to keep men out hunting for the creatures, which the +excited farmers said were taking calves and lambs. No indeed! I don't +want any more circus wrecks. This one was near enough." + +This brought up a fund of recollected circus stories, and from then on, +until the train stopped on the siding near the grounds, the performers +took turns in telling what they had known of wrecks and other accidents +to the shows with which they had been connected. Joe listened eagerly. +It was all new to him. + +"I only hope my glass tank isn't cracked," said Benny again. He seemed +quite worried about this. + +"Well, if it's broken they'll have to get you another," Joe told him. +The tank was carried in one of the cars of the derailed train. + +"They might, and they might not," said Benny. "My act hasn't been +going any too well of late, and maybe they'd be glad of a chance to +drop it from the list. I only hope they don't, though, for I need the +money." + +Benny spoke wistfully. He seemed greatly changed from the boy Joe had +known at first. Benny had grown thinner, and he often put his hand to +his head, as though suffering constant pain. Joe and Helen felt sorry +for him. + +Still there was little they could do, except to cheer him up. Benny +had to do his own act--which was a unique one that he had evolved after +years of practice. It was not alone the staying under water that made +it popular, it was the tricks that the lad did. + +"Well, we're here at last," said Joe, as he and his friends alighted +from their sleeping car. "Better late than never, I suppose." + +Men were busy on the circus grounds, putting up tents, arranging the +horses and other animals, putting the wagons in their proper places and +doing the hundred and one things that need to be done. + +"I wonder what's going on over there," said Helen, as she pointed to a +group of men about the place where the canvas for the main tent had +been spread out in readiness for erection. "It looks like trouble." + +"It does," agreed Joe, as he saw Jim Tracy excitedly talking to the +canvasmen. "I'm going to see what it is." + +He approached the ring-master, who was also one of the owners of the +show. + +"Anything wrong?" Joe asked. + +"Wrong? I should say so! As if I didn't already have troubles enough +here, the tent-men go on a strike for more money. I never saw such +luck!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN BEDFORD + +Joe Strong looked from the group of sullen, lowering canvasmen to Jim +Tracy. On the ring-master's face were signs of anxiety. + +"Is it really a strike?" Joe asked. + +"That's what they call it," replied the circus owner. "I didn't know +they belonged to a union, and I don't believe they do. They just want +to make trouble, and they take advantage of me at a time when I'm tied +up because we're late with the show." + +"What is it they want?" asked Helen. + +"More money," Jim Tracy replied. "I wouldn't mind giving it to them if +I could afford it, or if they weren't getting the same wages that are +paid other canvasmen in other circuses. But they are. As a matter of +fact, they get more, and they have better grub. I can't understand +such tactics!" + +"It looks as if some of them were coming over to speak to you," +remarked Joe, as he observed one of the strikers detach himself from +the group, and approach the ring-master. + +"Let him come," snapped Jim. "He'll get no satisfaction from me." + +The man seemed a bit embarrassed as he approached, chewing a straw +nervously. He ignored several of the circus performers, Joe and Helen +among them, who were grouped about Jim Tracy, and, addressing the +owner, asked: + +"Well, have you made up your mind? Is it to be more money for us or no +show for you?" + +"It's going to be 'no' to your unreasonable demand, and I want to tell +you, here and now, that the show's going on. You can go back to your +cowardly crowd, that tries to hit a man when he's down, and tell 'em +Jim Tracy said that!" cried the ring-master with vigor. "You'll get no +more money from me. I'm paying you wages enough as it is!" + +"All right, no money--no show!" said the fellow, impudently. "We gave +you half an hour to make up your mind, and if that's your answer you +can take the consequences." + +He started to walk away, and Tracy called after him: + +"If you try to interfere or make trouble, and if you try to stop the +show, I'll have you all arrested if I have to send for special +detectives." + +"Oh, we won't make any trouble except what you make for yourself," +declared the striker. "We just won't do anything--that'll be the +trouble. There's your 'main top,' and there she'll stay. We won't +pull a rope or drive a peg!" + +He pointed to the pile of canvas with its mass of ropes, poles and pegs +that lay on the ground ready for erection. It should have been up by +this time, and the parade ought to have been under way. But with the +railroad accident, the delay and the strike, the big tent in which Joe, +Helen and the others were to perform was not yet raised. + +"The cowards!" exclaimed Jim in a low voice; looking at Joe. "I wonder +if I'd better give in to 'em?" + +"Can you get others to take their places?" the young trapeze acrobat +wanted to know. + +"Not here. I could if I were nearer New York. But as it is----" He +threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. "I guess I'll have to +give in," he said. "I can't afford not to give a show. Here, you----" + +He called to the departing striker. + +"Wait a minute!" Joe quickly exclaimed to the ring-master. "I think we +can find a way out of this." + +"How?" + +"Have you any men who know something about putting up the tent?" + +"I know all there is to be known about it myself. But it takes more +than one man to raise the 'main top.' There are a lot of the animal +men and wagon drivers who used to be canvas hands. They haven't +struck. But there aren't enough of them. It's no use." + +"Yes, it is!" cried Joe. "We men performers will turn canvasmen for +the time being. Give us some hands who know how to lay out the canvas, +how to lace up the different sections, which ropes to pull on; men to +show us how to drive stakes and to haul up the poles--do that and we'll +have the tent up in time for the show!" + +"Can you do it?" cried the ring-master, in an eager tone. + +"Sure we can!" exclaimed Joe. "There are enough of us, and we're +willing to turn in. You get the men who know how, and we'll be their +assistants." + +"It might work," said Tracy, reflectively. "I'm much obliged to you, +Joe. It's worth trying. But do you think the performers will do it?" + +"I'll talk to 'em," said the trapeze artist. "They'll be glad to raise +the tent, rather than see a performance given up. Go get your men and +I'll talk to the others." + +"All right--I will." + +"Did you call me?" asked the striker who had been appointed to wait on +the ring-master and learn his decision. + +"I did _not_!" cried Jim Tracy. "I'm through with you. We don't need +your services." + +"Ha!" laughed the man. "Let's see you get up the 'main top' without +us." + +"Stick around long enough and you'll see it," said Joe Strong. + +Joe found a group of the men performers gathered in the dressing tent, +discussing the situation. And while the ring-master hastened to gather +up such forces as he could muster, Joe made his little talk. + +"You're just the very one we want," he said to Tom Jefferson, "the +strong man." "You ought to be able to put up the tent alone. Come on +now, gentlemen, we must all work together," and rapidly he explained +the situation to some who did not understand it. + +"Will you help raise the tent?" Joe asked. + +"We will!" cried the performers in a chorus. + +Soon there was a busy scene in the circus "lots." Not that there is not +always a busy time when the show is being made ready, but this was +somewhat different. Led by Joe, the performers placed themselves under +the direction of some veteran canvasmen who had been working in other +departments of the circus. + +Jim Tracy, who had in his day been a helper, took the part of the +striking foreman of the canvas-workers, and the "main top" soon began +to look as it always did. The big center poles were put in place and +guyed up. The sections of canvas were laced together in the regular +manner, so that they could be taken apart quickly simply by pulling on +a rope. Knots tied in erecting a circus tent must be made so they are +easily loosed, even in wet weather. + +For a while the striking canvasmen stood and laughed at the efforts of +those who were taking their places. But they soon ceased to jeer. For +the tent was slowly but correctly going up. + +"We'll give the show after all!" cried Joe, as he labored at lifting +heavy sections of canvas, pulling on ropes or driving stakes. + +"I believe we will," agreed the ring-master. "I don't know how to +thank you, Joe." + +"Oh, pshaw! I didn't do anything! I'm only helping the same as the +rest." + +"Yes, but it was your idea, and you persuaded the men to pitch in." + +And, in a sense, this was true. For Joe was a general favorite with +the circus performers, though he had been with them only a +comparatively short time. But he had his mother's reputation back of +him, as well as his father's, and Bill Watson had spoken many a good +word for the young fellow. Circus folk are always loyal to their own +kind, and there were many, as Joe learned later, who knew his mother by +reputation, and some personally. So they were all glad to help when +Joe put the case to them vividly, as he did. + +Joe's popularity stood him in good stead, even though there were some +who were jealous of the reputation he was making. But jealousies were +cast aside on this occasion. + +Even the Lascalla Brothers did their share, working side by side with +Joe at putting up the tent, as they worked with him on the trapeze. +The strong man was a great help, doing twice the work that the others +did. + +The performers wore their ordinary clothes, laying aside coats and +vests as they labored. And the men who knew how circus tents must go +up, saw to it that the amateurs did their work well, so there would be +no danger of collapse. + +While the big tent was being put up the other preparations for the show +were proceeded with. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Sampson, who were part owners +with Jim Tracy, arranged for a small parade, since it had been +advertised. On the back of one of the elephants rode the fat lady, +with a banner which explained that because of a strike of the canvasmen +the usual street exhibition could not be given. The assurance was +made, though, that the show itself would be the same as advertised. + +"That will prevent the public from being too sympathetic with the +strikers," said Jim Tracy. "The public, as a rule, doesn't care much +for a strike that interferes with its pleasure." + +At last the big tent was up, and all was in readiness for the afternoon +performance, though it would be a little late. + +"It won't be much fun taking down the tent after the show to-night," +said Joe. + +"Perhaps you won't have to," stated the ring-master. "I may be able to +hire men to take the strikers' places before then." + +"But if you can't, we'll help out," declared the young trapeze +performer, though he knew it would be anything but pleasant for himself +and the others, after high-tension work before a big audience, to +handle heavy canvas and ropes in the dark. + +The public seemed to take good-naturedly to the circus, not being +over-critical of the lack of the usual big street parade. And men, +women and children came in throngs to the afternoon performance. + +The circus people fairly outdid themselves to give a good show, and Joe +worked up a little novelty in one of his "lone" acts. + +He gave an exhibition of rope-climbing, Jim Tracy introducing the act +with a few remarks about the value of every one's knowing how to ascend +or descend a rope when, thereby, one's life might some time be saved. + +"Professor Strong will now entertain you," announced the ring-master, +"and tell you something about rope-work." + +Joe had hardly bargained for this, but his work as a magician, when he +often had the stage to himself and had to address a crowded theatre, +stood him in good stead. He was very self-confident, and he +illustrated the way a beginner should learn to climb a rope. + +"Don't try to go up hand over hand at first," Joe said. "And don't +climb away up to the top unless you're sure you know how to come down. +You may get so exhausted that you'll slip, and burn your hands +severely, for the friction of rapidly sliding down a rope will cause +bad burns." + +Joe showed how to begin by holding the rope between the soles of the +feet, letting them take the weight instead of the hands and arms. He +went up and down this way, and then went up by lifting himself by his +hands alone, coming down the same way--which is much harder than it +looks. + +Joe also illustrated the "stirrup hold," which may be used in ascending +or descending a rope, to get a rest. The rope is held between the +thighs, the hands grasping it lightly, and while a turn of the rope +passes under the sole of the left foot and over the toes of the same, +the right foot is placed on top, pressing down the rope which passes +over the left foot. In this way the rope is held from slipping, and +the entire weight of the body can rest on the side of the left leg, +which is in a sort of rope loop. Thus the arms are relieved. + +Joe showed other holds, and also how to sit on a rope that dangled from +the top of the tent. Half way up he held the rope between his thighs, +and made a loop, which he threw over his left shoulder. Then, by +pressing his chin down on the rope, it was held between chin and +shoulder so that it could not slip. Grasping the rope with both hands +above his head, Joe was thus suspended in a sitting position, almost as +easily as in a chair. The crowd applauded this. + +Then Joe went on with his regular trapeze work--doing some back flyaway +jumps that thrilled the audience. This trick is done by grasping the +trapeze bar firmly at arm's length, swinging backward and downward +until the required momentum is reached. When Joe was ready he suddenly +let go and turned a backward somersault to the life net. + +The trick looked simple, but Joe had practised it many times before +getting it perfectly. And he often had bad falls. One tendency he +found was to turn over too far before letting go the bar. This was +likely to cause his feet to strike the swinging bar, resulting in an +ugly tumble. + +The evening performance was even better attended than that of the +afternoon. Jim Tracy succeeded in hiring a few men to assist with the +tents, but he had not enough, and it began to look as though the +performers would have to do double work again. + +But there occurred one of those incidents with which circus life is +replete. The place they were showing in was a large factory town, and +at night crowds of men and boys--not the gentlest in the +community--attended. + +At something or other, a crowd of roughs felt themselves aggrieved, and +under the guidance of a "gang-leader" began to make trouble. They +threatened to cut the tent ropes in retaliation. + +"That won't do," decided Jim Tracy. "I've got to tackle that gang, and +I don't like to, for it means a fight. Still I can't have the tent +collapse." + +He hurriedly gathered a crowd of his own men, armed them with stakes, +and charged the gang of roughs that was creating a small riot, to the +terror of women and children. + +The rowdies finding themselves getting the worst of it, called for help +from among the factory workers, who liked nothing better than to +"beat-up" a circus crowd. Jim Tracy and his men were being severely +handled when a new force took a hand in the melee. + +"Come on, boys. We can't stand for this!" shouted Jake Bantry, the +leader of the striking canvasmen. "They sha'n't bust up the show, even +if the boss won't give us more money." + +The canvasmen were used to trouble of this kind. Seizing tent pegs, +and with cries of "Hey Rube!"--the time-honored signal for a battle of +this kind--the striking canvasmen rushed into the fracas. + +In a short time the roughs had been dispersed, and there was no more +danger of the tents being cut and made to collapse. + +"I'm much obliged to you boys," said Jim Tracy to the strikers, when +the affray was over. "You helped us out finely." + +"It was fun for us," answered Jake Bantry. "And say, Mr. Tracy, we've +been talking it over among ourselves, and seeing as how you've always +treated us white, we've decided, if you'll take us back, that we'll +come--and at the same wages." + +"Of course I'll take you back!" exclaimed the owner heartily. "And +glad to have you." + +"Good! Come on, boys! Strike's broken!" cried Bantry. + +So Joe and his fellow-artists did not have to turn to tent work that +night. + +In looking over the advance booking list one day, Joe saw Bedford +marked down. + +"Hello!" he cried. "I wonder if that's my town." It was, as he +learned by consulting the press agent. + +"Are you glad?" asked Helen. + +"Well, rather, I guess!" Joe said. + +And one morning Joe awakened in his berth, and looked out to see the +familiar scenes of the town where he had lived so long. + +"Bedford!" exclaimed Joe. "Well, I'm coming back in a very different +way from the one I left it," and he chuckled as he thought of the +"side-door Pullman," and the pursuing constables. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HELEN'S MONEY + +After breakfast Joe, who did not take part in the parade, set out to +see the sights of his "home town," or, rather, he hoped to meet some of +his former friends, for there were not many sights to see. + +"The place hasn't changed much," Joe reflected as he passed along the +familiar streets. "It seems only like yesterday that I went away. +Well, Timothy Donnelly has painted his house at last, I see, and they +have a new front on the drug store. Otherwise things are about the +same. I wonder if I'd better go to call on the deacon. I guess I +will--I don't have any hard feelings toward him. Yes, I'll go to see +him and----" + +Joe's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that exclaimed: + +"Say! Look! There goes Joe Strong who used to live here!" + +The young circus performer turned and saw Willie Norman, a small boy +who lived on the street where Joe formerly dwelt. + +"Hello, Willie," called Joe in greeting. + +"Hello," was the answer. "Say, is it true you're with the circus? +Harry Martin said you were." + +"That's right--I am," Joe admitted. He had kept up a fitful +correspondence with Harry and some of the other chums, and in one of +his letters Joe had spoken of his change of work. + +"In a circus!" exclaimed Willie admiringly. "Do they let you feed the +elephant?" he asked with awe. + +"No, I haven't gotten quite that far," laughed Joe. "I'm only a +trapeze performer." + +"Say, I'd like to see you act," Willie went on, "but I ain't got a +quarter." + +"Here's a free ticket," Joe said, giving his little admirer one. In +anticipation of meeting some of his friends in Bedford that day, Joe +had gotten a number of free admission tickets from the press agent, who +was always well supplied with them. Willie's eyes glistened as he took +the slip of pasteboard. + +"Geewillikens!" he exclaimed. "Say, you're all right, Joe! I'm going +to the circus! I wish I could run away and join one." + +"Don't you dare try it!" Joe warned him. "You're too small." + +He went on, meeting many former acquaintances, who turned to stare at +the boy whose story had created such a stir in the town. Joe was +looked upon by some as a hero, and by others as a "lost sheep." It is +needless to say that Deacon Blackford was one who held the latter +opinion. + +Joe called on his former foster-father, but did not find him at the +house. Mrs. Blackford was in, however, and was greatly surprised to +see Joe. She welcomed and kissed him, and there were traces of tears +in her eyes. + +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so sorry you left us, but perhaps it +was all for the best, for you must live your own life, I suppose. I +never really believed you took the money," she added, referring to an +incident which was related in the book previous to this. + +"I'm glad to hear that," Joe said. "I want to thank you for all your +care of me. I didn't like to run away, but it seemed the only thing to +do. And, as you say, I think it has turned out for the best. The +circus life appeals to me, and I'm getting on in the business." + +Mrs. Blackford was really glad to see Joe. She had a real liking for +him, in spite of the fact that she had a poor opinion of circus folk +and magicians, and she did not believe all the deacon believed of Joe. +She could not forget the days when, while he was a little lad, she had +often sung him to sleep. But these days were over now. + +Joe found the deacon at the feed store. The lad's former foster-father +was not very cordial in his greeting, and, in fact, seemed rather +embarrassed than otherwise. Perhaps he regretted his accusation +against our hero. + +"Would you like to see the circus?" Joe inquired, as he was leaving the +office. "I have some free tickets and----" + +"What! Me go to a circus?" cried the deacon, with upraised hands. +"Never! Never! Circuses and theatres are the invention of the Evil +One. I am surprised at your asking me!" + +Joe did it for a joke, more than for anything else, as he knew the +deacon would not take a ticket. Bidding him good-bye, Joe went out to +find his former chums. + +They, as may well be supposed, were very glad to see him. And that +they envied Joe's position goes without saying. + +"Well, well! You certainly put one over on us!" exclaimed Charlie Ford +admiringly. "How did you do it, Joe?" + +"Oh, it just happened, I guess. More luck than anything else." + +"When you got Professor Rosello out of the fire you did a good thing," +commented Tom Simpson. + +"Yes, I guess I did--in more ways than one," admitted Joe. + +"And are you really doing trapeze acts?" inquired Henry Blake. + +"Come and watch me," was Joe's invitation. "Here is a reserved seat +ticket for each of you." + +"Whew!" whistled Harry Martin. "Talk about the return of the prodigal! +You'll make the folks here open their eyes, Joe. It isn't everybody +who runs away from home who comes back as you do." + +Joe told his chums some of his experiences, and they went with him out +to the circus grounds, where he took them about, as only a privileged +character can, showing them how the show was "put together." + +"It sure is _great_!" exclaimed Charlie, ruffling up his red hair. + +Joe fairly outdid himself in the performances that day. He went +through his best feats, alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, with a +snap and a swing that made the veteran performers look well to their +own laurels. Joe did some wonderful leaping and turning of somersaults +in the air, one difficult backward triple turn evoking a thundering +round of applause. + +And none applauded any more fervently than little Willie Norman. + +"I know him!" the little lad confided to a group about him. "That's +Joe Strong. He gave me a ticket to the show for nothing, mind you! I +know him all right!" + +"Oh, you do not!" chaffed another boy. + +"I do so, and I'm going to speak to him after the show!" + +This Willie proudly did, thereby refuting the skepticism of his +neighbor. For the word soon passed among the town-folk that Joe +Strong, who used to live with Deacon Blackford, was with the circus, +and after the show he held an informal little reception in the dressing +tent which a number of men and boys, and not a few women, attended. + +All were curious to see behind the scenes, and Joe showed them some +interesting sights. He invited his four chums to have supper with him, +and the delight of Harry, Charlie, Henry and Tom may be imagined as +they sat in the tent with the other circus folk, listening to the +strange jargon of talk, and seeing just how the performers behaved in +private. + +Altogether Joe's appearance in Bedford made quite a sensation, and he +was glad of the chance it afforded him to see his former friends and +acquaintances, and also to let them see for themselves that circus +people and actors are not all as black as they are painted. Joe was +glad he could do this for the sake of his father and mother, as he +realized that the wrong views held by Deacon and Mrs. Blackford were +shared by many. + +Joe bade good-bye to his chums and traveled on with the show, leaving, +probably, many rather envious hearts behind. For there is a glamour +about a circus and the theatre that blinds the youthful to the hard +knocks and trouble that invariably accompany those who perform in +public. + +Even with Joe's superb health there were times when he would have been +glad of a day's rest. But he had it only on Sundays, and whether he +felt like it or not he had to perform twice a day. Of course usually +he liked it, for he was enthusiastic about his work. But all is not +joy and happiness in a circus. As a matter of fact Joe worked harder +than most boys, and though it seemed all pleasure, there was much of it +that was real labor. New tricks are not learned in an hour, and many a +long day Joe and his partners spent in perfecting what afterward looked +to be a simple turn. + +But, all in all, Joe liked it immensely and he would not have changed +for the world--at least just then. + +The circus reached the town of Portland, where they expected to do a +good business as it was a large manufacturing place. Here Helen found +awaiting her a letter from the law firm. + +"Oh, Joe!" the girl exclaimed. "I'm going to get my money here--at +least that part of my fortune which isn't tied up in bonds and +mortgages. We must celebrate! I think I'll give a little dinner at +the hotel for you, Bill Watson and some of my friends." + +"All right, Helen. Count me in." + +The letter stated that a representative of the firm would call upon +Helen that day in Portland, and turn over to her the cash due from her +grandfather's estate. + +That afternoon Helen sent word to Joe that she wanted to see him, and +in her dressing room he found a young man, toward whom Joe at once felt +an instinctive dislike. The man had shifty eyes, and Joe always +distrusted men who could not look him straight in the face. + +"This is Mr. Sanford, from the law firm, Joe," said Helen. "He has +brought me my money." + +"Is he your lawyer?" asked Mr. Sanford, looking toward Joe. + +"No, just a friend," Helen answered. + +"Is he going to look after your money for you?" + +"I think Miss Morton is capable of looking after it herself," Joe put +in, a bit sharply. + +"Oh, of course. I didn't mean anything. Now if you'll give me your +attention, Miss Morton, I'll go over the details with you." + +"You needn't wait, Joe, unless you want to," Helen said. "I'd like to +have you arrange about the little supper at the hotel, if you will, +though." + +"Sure I will!" Joe exclaimed. + +The circus was to remain over night, and this would give Helen a chance +for her feast, which she thought had better take place at the Portland +hotel, as it would be more private than the circus tent. Joe went off +to arrange for it, leaving Helen with the lawyer's clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JOE IS SUSPICIOUS + +Joe's day was already a full one, though he did not tell Helen so. He +gladly undertook to arrange the little supper for her at the hotel, and +it was only a coincidence that it happened on the night of a day when +he had decided to work in a new trick on his trapeze, when he performed +alone. It was not exactly a new trick, in the sense that it had never +been done before. In fact there is very little new in trapeze work +nowadays, but Joe had decided to give a little different turn to an old +act. It required some preparation, and he needed to do this during the +day. He was going to "put on" the trick at night, and not at the +matinee. + +But for the time being he gave up his hours to arranging for Helen the +supper which would take place after the night performance. + +Joe saw the hotel proprietor and arranged for a private room with a +supper to be served for twenty-five. Helen had many more friends than +that among the circus folk, but she had to limit her hospitality, +though she would have liked to have them all at her little celebration. +She chose, however, after Joe and Bill Watson and Benny Turton, the +women performers who were more intimately associated with her in her +acts, and some of the men whose acquaintance she had made since joining +the Sampson show. + +Joe hurried to the hotel, did what was necessary there, and then went +back to the tent. He intended, when the afternoon show was over, to do +some practice on his new act. + +As he passed into the big tent, which was now deserted, he met Jim +Tracy, who, of course, was invited to Helen's supper. + +"What's all this I hear about our little lady?" asked the ring-master. + +"Well, I guess it's all true," Joe answered. "She has come into a +little money." + +"Glad to hear it! I'll be with you to-night. Oh, by the way, Joe, I +had a letter from the railroad people about our wreck, or, rather, +derailment." + +"Did you? What did they say?" + +"They couldn't find any evidence that the fish plate was put in the +switch purposely. It might have dropped there. Of course some tramp +might have put it there to get revenge for being put off a train, but +it would be hard to prove. And as for getting evidence against Sim +Dobley--why, it's out of the question. But you want to keep on looking +out for yourself." + +"I will," Joe promised. + +After thinking the matter over Joe had decided it would be best to +speak to the ring-master about the threatening letter, which had been +received so close to the time when the derailment occurred. Jim Tracy +had at once agreed with Joe that the discharged acrobat might possibly +have been mad and rash enough to try to wreck the train, and the +railroad detectives had been communicated with. But nothing had come +of the investigation, and the accident had been set down as one of the +many unexplained happenings that occur on railroads. + +A search had been made for Dobley, but he seemed to have disappeared +for the time being, and Joe was glad of it. + +"Ready for the new stunt?" asked Tracy, as he passed on. + +"Yes; I'll pull it off to-night if nothing happens," Joe said. + +He was glad there were few people in the big tent when he entered it +after the afternoon performance, to put in some hard practice. Joe's +own trapeze was in place, but he lowered it to the ground, and went +carefully over every inch of the ropes, canvas straps, snaps, and the +various fastenings to make sure nothing was wrong. He found everything +all right. + +It was not exactly that he was suspicious of the Lascalla Brothers, but +he was taking no chances. + +Joe's act worked well in practice. When he had performed his trick for +the last time he saw Benny Turton, the "human fish," coming into the +tent to look after his tank, about which the young performer was very +particular. + +"How do you like that, Ben?" asked Joe, as he finished the new trick. + +"First rate. That's a thriller all right, Joe! That'll make 'em sit +up and take notice. I'll have to work in something new myself if you +keep on piling up the stuff." + +"Oh, I guess you could do that, Ben." + +The "human fish" shook his head. + +"No," he said slowly, "I don't know what's the matter with me lately, +Joe, but I don't seem to have ambition for anything. I go through my +regular stunts, but that's all I want to do. I don't even stay under +water as long as I used to, and Jim Tracy was kicking again to-day. He +said I'd have to do better, but I don't see how I can. Of course he +was nice about it, as he always is, but I know he's disappointed in me." + +"Oh, I guess not, Ben. Maybe you'll do better to-night." + +"I hope so. Anyhow you'll have a thriller for them." + +"You're coming to Helen's party, aren't you?" + +"Oh, sure, Joe. I wouldn't miss that. I'm glad she's got some money," +and Ben spoke rather despondently. + +Joe made arrangements with his helper to look after the special +appliances needed for the new trick, and went to supper. He did not +see Helen, and guessed that she was still busy with the law clerk. + +"I hope she doesn't trust too much to that chap," mused Joe. "I don't +just like his looks." + +The big tent was crowded when Joe began his performance that night. He +received his usual applause, and then gave the signal that he was about +to put on his new act. He was hoisted up to the top trapeze, which was +a short one, and to this Joe had fastened a longer one. + +He sat upon the bar of this, swinging to and fro, working himself into +position until he was resting on the "hocks," as performers call that +portion of the leg just above the knee. + +Suddenly Joe seemed to fall over backward, and there was a cry of alarm +from the crowd. But he remained in position, swinging by his insteps. + +In the trapeze world this is known as "drop back to instep hang." Joe +had done it most effectively, but that was not all of the trick. + +Quickly he grasped the ropes of the lower trapeze. He twined his legs +about these, and then, with a thrilling yell, he let himself slide, +head down along the ropes, holding only by his intertwined legs and +insteps, which he had padded with asbestos to take up the heat of +friction. + +Down the long ropes he slid until he came to a sudden stop as his +outstretched hands grasped the lower bar. There he hung suspended a +moment, while the audience sat thrilled, thinking it had been an +accidental fall and a most miraculous escape. But Joe had planned it +all out in advance, and knew it was safe, especially as the life net +was under him. + +He suspended himself on the bar a moment, and then made a back +somersault, and amid the booming of the drum he dropped into the net +and made his bows in response to the applause. + +The new feat was appreciated at once, but it was some time before the +crowd realized that the fall backward was not accidental. + +Joe was congratulated by his fellow performers, though, as might be +expected, there was some little jealousy. But Joe was used to that by +this time. + +It was a merry little party that gathered later in the hotel room for +Helen's supper. She sat at the head of the table, with Joe on one side +and Bill Watson, the veteran clown, on the other. + +"Well, did you make out all right with your lawyer friend?" Joe asked. + +"Oh, yes, Joe, I never had so much money at one time in my life before." + +"What did you do with it?" + +"I kept out enough to pay for this supper, and the rest I put in the +circus ticket wagon safe." + +"What, all your cash?" + +"Oh, I didn't take it all, Joe." + +"You didn't take it all?" + +"No. Mr. Sanford--he's the law clerk, you know--said I ought not to +have so much money with me, so he offered to take care for me all I +didn't want to use right away." + +"He's going to take care of it for you?" Joe repeated. + +"Yes. He says he can invest it for me. But eat your supper, Joe." + +Somehow or other Joe Strong did not feel much like eating. He had a +sudden and undefinable suspicion of that law clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A FALL + +There were merry hearts at the little celebration given by Helen +Morton--"Mademoiselle Mortonti"--in recognition of coming into her +inheritance. That is, the hearts were all merry save that of Joe +Strong. + +For a few seconds after Helen had made the statement about having left +her money with the law clerk for investment, Joe could only stare at +her. On her part the young circus rider seemed to think there was +nothing unusual in what she had done. + +"Congratulations, Miss Morton!" called Bill Watson, as he waved his +napkin in the air. "Congratulations!" + +"Why don't you call me Helen as you used to?" asked the girl. + +"Oh, you're quite a rich young lady now, and I didn't think you would +want me to be so familiar," he replied with a laugh. + +"Goodness! I hope every one isn't going to get so formal all at once," +she remarked, with a look at Joe. + +"I won't--not unless you want me to," he answered. + +"But why don't you eat?" she asked him. "You sit there as if you had +no appetite. I'm as hungry as a bear--one of our own circus bears, +too. Come, why don't you eat and be happy?" + +"I--I'm thinking," Joe remarked. + +"This isn't the time to think!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so glad I have +a little money. I won't have to worry now if I shouldn't be able to go +on with my circus act. I could take a vacation if I wanted to, +couldn't I?" + +"Are you going to?" asked Joe. Somehow he felt a sudden sinking +sensation in the region of his heart. At least he judged it was his +heart that was affected. + +"No, not right away," Helen answered. "I'm going to stay with the show +until it goes into winter quarters, anyhow." + +"And after that?" + +"Oh, I don't know." + +The little celebration went merrily on. Helen's health was proposed +many times, being pledged in lemonade, grape juice and ginger ale. She +blushed with pleasure as she sat between Joe and the veteran clown, for +many nice things were said about her, as one after another of her +guests congratulated her on her good fortune. + +"Speech! Speech!" some one called out. + +"What do they mean?" asked Helen of Bill Watson. + +"They want you to say something," the clown said. + +"Oh, I never could--never in the world!" and Helen blushed more vividly +than before. + +"Try it," urged Joe. "Just thank them. You can do that." + +Much confused, Helen arose at her place. + +"I'd rather ride in a circus ring ten times over than make a speech," +she confessed in an aside to Joe. + +"Go on," he urged. + +"My dear friends," she began tremblingly, "I want to thank you for all +the nice things you have said about me, and I want to say that I'm +glad--glad----" She paused and blushed again. + +"Glad to be here," prompted Joe. + +"Yes, that's it--glad to be here, and I--er--I---- Oh, you finish for +me, Joe!" she begged, as she sat down amid laughter. + +Then the supper went on, more merrily than before. But it had to come +to an end at last, for the show people needed their rest if they were +to perform well the next day. And most of them, especially those like +Joe and the acrobats, who depended on their nerve as well as their +strength, needed unbroken slumber. + +As Joe walked back to the railroad, where their sleeping cars were +standing on a siding, the young trapeze performer asked Helen about her +business transaction with the law clerk. He had not had a chance to do +this at the supper. + +"Well," began the girl, "as you know, he brought me the cash, Joe. Oh, +how nice those new bills did look. He had it all in new bills for me. +Mr. Pike told him to do that, he said, as they didn't know whether I +could use a check, traveling about as I am. Anyhow he had the bills +for me--about three thousand dollars it was. The rest of my little +fortune, you know, is in stocks and bonds. I only get the interest, +but this cash was from the sale of some of grandfather's property." + +"Then you didn't keep the cash yourself?" Joe asked. + +"No. Mr. Sanford said it wouldn't be safe for me to carry so much +money around with me. Do you think it would?" + +"Of course not," Joe agreed. "But you could have let our treasurer +keep it for you. He could have banked it." + +"Yes; Mr. Sanford thought of that, he said. But he also said if my +money was in the bank I wouldn't get more than three per cent. on it. +I don't know exactly what he means--I never was any good at fractions, +and I know nothing about business. But, anyhow, Mr. Sanford kindly +explained that I would get more interest on my money if it was invested +than if it was in a bank. And he offered to invest for me all I didn't +need at once. Wasn't he kind?" + +"Perhaps," admitted Joe, rather dubiously. "How is he going to invest +it?" + +"Oh, he knows lots of ways, he said, being in the law office. But he +said he thought it would be best to buy oil stock with it. Oil stock +was sure to go up in price, he said; and I would make money on that as +well as interest, or dividends--or something like that. Wasn't he +good?" + +"To himself maybe, yes," answered Joe. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Helen. + +"Oh, well, maybe it's all right," Joe said. He did not want to alarm +the girl unnecessarily, but he had a deeper suspicion than before of +Sanford. + +"I think it's just fine," Helen went on. "I have quite some cash with +me--I'm going to let our treasurer keep that, and give me some when I +need it. Then, from time to time, I'll get dividends on my oil stock." + +"Maybe," said Joe, in a low voice. + +"What?" asked Helen, quickly. "What do you mean?" + +"Never mind," proceeded Joe. "Anyhow we had a good time to-night." + +"Did you enjoy it?" + +"I certainly did, Helen." + +They parted near the train, Joe to go to his car and Helen to hers. + +"Oh, by the way," Joe called after her. "Did Mr. Sanford say what oil +company it was he was going to invest your money in?" + +"Yes, he told me. It's the Circle City Oil Syndicate. He has some +stock in it, he told me, and it's a fine concern. Oh, Joe, I'm so glad +I have inherited a little fortune." + +"So am I," Joe returned, wondering at the same time if he would ever +hear anything encouraging of his mother's relatives in England. + +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," Joe murmured as he entered his car. +"I must look them up. This fellow, Sanford, may be all right, but he +struck me as being a pretty slick individual, who would look out for +himself first, and the firm's clients afterward. He'll bear +investigating." + +However, nothing could be done that night. The clerk had gone back +with the larger part of Helen's money, and Joe did not want to cause +her worry by speaking of his suspicions. + +The circus did a good business the next day, drawing even larger +throngs than to the previous performances. The story of Helen's good +fortune was printed in the local paper, with an account of the +celebration supper she gave, and when she rode into the ring on Rosebud +the applause that greeted her was very pronounced. + +Joe repeated his "drop back to instep hang" that afternoon. It was +rather a perilous feat and he was not so sure of it as he was of his +other exercises. But it was a "thriller" and that was what the public +seemed to want--something that made them gasp, sit up, and hold their +breath while they waited to see if "anything would happen" to the +reckless performer. + +Joe climbed up to his small trapeze, swung on it and then fell backward +for his first instep hang. He accomplished this successfully, and then +came the thrilling slide down the longer ropes. + +Down Joe shot, depending on stopping himself with his outstretched and +down-hanging hands when he reached the second bar. + +But the inevitable "something" happened. Joe's hands slipped from the +bar, his head struck it a glancing blow, and the next instant he felt +himself falling head first down toward the life net. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +JOE HEARS SOMETHING + +Women and children screamed, and there were hoarse shouts from the men +who witnessed Joe's fall. At first some thought it was only part of +the acrobatic trick, but a single glance at the desperate struggles of +the young trapeze performer dispelled this idea. + +For Joe was struggling desperately in the air to prevent himself from +falling head first into the life net. + +It might be thought that one could fall into a loose, sagging net in +any position and not be hurt. But this is not so. A fall into a net +from a great height is often as dangerous as landing on the ground. +Circus folk must know how to fall properly. + +If the person falling lands on his head he is likely to dislocate, if +not to break, his neck, and falling on one's face may sometimes be +dangerous. The best way, of course, is to land on one's feet, and this +was what Joe was trying to bring about. + +When he realized that he had missed grasping the bar of the second +trapeze (though he could not understand his failure) he knew he must +turn over, and that quickly, or he would strike on his head in the net. +He tried to turn a somersault, but he was at a disadvantage, not having +prepared for that in advance. + +"I've got to turn! I've got to turn!" he thought desperately, as he +fell through space. + +He did manage to get partly over and when he landed in the net he took +the force of the blow partly on his head and partly on his shoulder. +Everything seemed to get black around him, and there was a roaring in +his ears. Then Joe Strong knew nothing. He had been knocked +unconscious by the fall. + +The circus audience--or that part of it immediately near Joe's +trapezes--was at once aware that something unusual had occurred. + +Some women arose, as though to rush out. Others screamed and one or +two children began to cry. A slight panic was imminent, and Jim Tracy +realized this. + +From where she was putting her horse, Rosebud, through his paces Helen +saw what happened to Joe. In an instant she jumped from the saddle, +and ran across the ring toward the net in which he lay, an inert form. + +Other circus performers and attendants rushed to aid Joe, and this +added to the confusion and excitement. Many in the audience were +standing up, trying to see what had happened, and those behind, whose +view was obstructed, cried: + +"Sit down! Down in front!" + +"Give us some music!" ordered Jim Tracy of the band, which had stopped +playing when Joe performed his trick in order that it might be more +impressive. A lively tune was started, and though it may seem +heartless, in view of the fact that a performer possibly was killed, it +was the best thing to do under the circumstances, for it calmed the +audience. + +Tender hands lifted Joe out of the net, and carried him toward the +dressing room. + +"Go on with the show!" the ring-master ordered the performers who had +left their stations. "Go on with the show. We'll look after him. +There are plenty of us to do it." + +And the show went on. It had to. + +"Is he--is he badly hurt?" faltered Helen, as she walked beside the +four men who were carrying Joe on a stretcher which had been brought +from the first aid tent. The circus was always ready to look after +those hurt in accidents. + +"I don't think so--he took the fall pretty well--only partly on his +head," said Bill Watson, who had stopped his laughable antics to rush +over to Joe. "He may be only stunned." + +"I hope so," breathed Helen. + +"You'd better get back to your ring," suggested Bill. "Finish your +act." + +"It was almost over," Helen objected. "I can't go back--now. Not +until I see how he is." + +"All right--come along then," said the old clown, sympathetically. He +guessed how matters were between Helen and Joe. "I don't believe the +boss will mind much. There's enough of the show left for 'em to look +at." + +He glanced down at Joe, who lay unconscious on the stretcher. They +were now in the canvas screened passage between the dressing tent and +the larger one, where the performance had been resumed. Helen put out +her hand and touched Joe's forehead. He seemed to stir slightly. + +"Have they sent for a doctor?" she asked. + +"They'll get one from the crowd," replied Bill. "There's always one or +more in a circus audience." + +And he was right. As they placed Joe on a cot that had been quickly +made ready for him, a physician, summoned from the audience by the +ring-master, came to see what he could do. Silently Helen, Bill and +the others stood about while the medical man made his examination. + +"Will he die?" Helen asked in a whisper. + +"Not at once--in fact not for some years to come, I think," replied the +physician with a smile. "He has had a bad fall, and he will be laid up +for a time. But it is not serious." + +Helen's face showed the relief she felt. + +"He'll have to go to a hospital, though," continued the medical man. +"His neck is badly strained, and so are the muscles of his shoulder. +He won't be able to swing on a trapeze for a week or so." + +Bill Watson whistled a low note. He knew what it meant for a circus +performer to be laid up. + +"Please take him to a hospital," cried Helen impulsively, "and see that +he has a good physician and a nurse--I mean, you look after him +yourself," she added quickly, as she saw the doctor smiling at her. + +"And have a trained nurse for him. I'll pay the bill," she went on. +"I'm so glad that money came to me. I'll use some of it for Joe." + +"She just inherited a little fortune," explained Bill in a whispered +aside to the medical man. "They're quite fond of each other--those +two." + +"So it seems. Well, he'll need a nurse and medical treatment for a +while to come. I'll go and arrange to have him taken to the hospital. +Has he any friends that ought to be notified--not that he is going to +die, but they might like to know." + +"I guess he hasn't any friends but us here in the circus. His father +and mother are dead, and he ran away from his foster-father--a good +thing, too, I guess. Well, the show will have to go on and leave him +here, I suppose." + +"Oh, yes, certainly. He can't travel with you." + +The ambulance came and took Joe away. Jim Tracy communicated with the +hospital authorities, ordering them to give the young trapeze performer +the best possible care in a private room, adding that the management +would pay the bill. + +"That has already been taken care of," the superintendent of the +hospital informed the ring-master. "A Miss Morton has left funds for +Mr. Strong's case." + +"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Jim Tracy. Then he smiled. + +The circus neared its close. The animal tent came down, the lions, +tigers, horses and elephants were taken to their cars. The performers +donned their street clothes and went to their sleeping cars. + +Helen, Benny Turton and Bill Watson paid a visit to the hospital just +before it was time for the circus train to leave. Joe had not +recovered consciousness, but he was resting easily, the nurse said. + +"Tell him to join the show whenever he is able," was the message Jim +Tracy had left for Joe, "and not to worry. Everything will be all +right." + +"Good-bye," whispered Helen close to Joe's ear, But he did not hear her. + +And the circus moved on, leaving stricken Joe behind. + +It was nearly morning when he came out of his unconsciousness with a +start that shook the bed. + +"Quiet now," said the soothing voice of the nurse. + +Joe looked at her, wonder showing in his eyes. Then his gaze roved +around the hospital room. He looked down at the white coverings on his +enameled bed and then, realizing where he was, he asked: + +"What happened?" + +"You had a fall from your trapeze, they tell me," the nurse said. + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Am I badly hurt?" + +"The doctor does not think so. But you must be quiet now. You are to +take this." + +She held a glass of medicine to his lips. + +"But I must know about it," Joe insisted. "I've got to go on with the +show. Has the circus left?" + +"Hours ago, yes. It's all right. You are to stay here with us until +you are better. A Mr. Tracy told me to tell you." + +"Oh, yes, Jim--the ring-master. Well I--I guess I'll have to stay +whether I want to or not." + +Joe had tried to raise his head from the pillow, but a severe pain, +shooting through his neck and shoulders, warned him that he had better +lie quietly. He also became aware that his head was bandaged. + +"I must be in pretty bad shape," he said. + +"No, not so very," replied the trained nurse cheerfully. "But you must +keep quiet if you are to get well quickly. The doctor will be in to +see you soon." + +Joe sunk into a sort of doze, and when he awakened again the doctor was +in his room. + +"Well, how about me?" asked the young performer. + +"You might be a whole lot worse," replied the medical man with a smile. +"It's just a bad wrench and sprain. You'll be lame and sore for maybe +two weeks, but eventually you'll be able to go back, risking your neck +again." + +"Oh, there's not such an awful lot of risks," Joe said. "This was just +an accident--my first of any account. I can't understand how my hands +slipped off the bar. Guess I didn't put enough resin on them. How +long will I be here?" + +"Oh, perhaps a week--maybe less." + +"Did they bring my pocketbook--I mean my money?" + +"You don't have to worry about that," said the doctor. "It has all +been attended to. A Miss Morton made all the arrangements." + +"Oh," was all Joe said, but he did a lot of thinking. + +Joe's injury was more painful than serious. His sore muscles had to be +treated with liniment and electricity, and often massaged. This took +time, but in less than a week he was able to be out of bed and could +sit in an easy chair, out on one of the verandas. + +Of course Joe wrote to Helen as soon as he could, thanking her and his +other friends for what they had done for him. In return he received a +letter from Helen, telling him how she--and all of the circus +folk--missed him. + +There was also a card from Benny Turton, and a note from Jim Tracy, +telling Joe that his place was ready for him whenever he could come +back. But he was not to hurry himself. They had put no one in his +place on the bill, simply cutting his act out. The Lascalla Brothers +worked with another trapeze performer, who gave up his own act +temporarily to take Joe's position. + +"Well, I guess everything will be all right," reflected our hero. "But +I'll join the show again as soon as I can." + +Joe was sitting on the sunny veranda one afternoon in a sort of doze. +Other convalescent patients were near him, and he had been listening, +rather idly, to their talk. He was startled to hear one man say: + +"Well, I'd have been all right, and I could have my own automobile now, +if I hadn't been foolish enough to speculate in oil stocks." + +"What kind did you buy?" another patient asked. + +"Oh, one of those advertised so much--they made all sorts of claims for +it, and I was simple enough to believe them. I put every cent I had +saved up in the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and now I can whistle for my +cash--just when I need it too, with hospital and doctor bills to pay." + +"Can't you get any of it back?" + +"I don't think so. In fact I'd sell my stock now for a dollar a share +and be glad to get it. I paid twenty-five. Well, it can't be helped." + +Joe looked up and looked over at the speaker. He was a middle-aged +man, and he recognized him as a patient who had come in for treatment +for rheumatism. + +Joe wondered whether he had heard aright. + +"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," mused Joe. "That's the one Helen has +her money in--or, rather, the one that San ford put her money in for +her. I wonder if it can be the same company. I must find out, and if +it is----" + +Joe did not know just what he would do. What he had overheard caused +him to be vaguely uneasy. His old suspicions came back to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +BAD NEWS + +Joe Strong waited until he had a chance to speak privately to the man +who had admitted losing money in oil stocks. This hospital patient was +a Mr. Anton Buchard, and his room was not far from Joe's. + +"Excuse me," began the young trapeze performer in opening the talk. +"But a short time ago I happened to overhear what you were telling your +friend about some oil stocks--the Circle City Syndicate. I didn't mean +to listen, but I couldn't help hearing what you were saying." + +"Oh, don't let that part worry you," said Mr. Buchard. "It's no secret +that I lost my money in that wild-cat speculation. But are you +interested in it?" + +"To a certain extent I am," Joe answered. + +"I hope you didn't buy any of the worthless stock." + +"No, but a friend of mine was induced to. That is--er--she--she has +some stock of the Circle City Oil Syndicate. It may not be the same as +that you were speaking of." + +"No, that is true. There are many oil concerns in the market, and lots +of them are legitimate, and are making money. But there are plenty of +others which are frauds. And the one I invested in is that kind. + +"Of course, as you say, it may not be the same as that in which your +friend holds stock, even if it has the same name. Would you know any +of the officers or directors of the concern in which your friend holds +stock?" + +"I'm afraid not," Joe replied. "I did not see her stock certificates. +She bought them through a law clerk named Sanford." + +Mr. Buchard shook his head. + +"I don't recognize that name," he said. "But of course anybody could +sell the stock. How did your friend ever come to be interested in this +concern?" + +Thereupon Joe told of Helen's inheritance, mentioning the fact that he +and she both were in the circus. + +"The circus, eh!" exclaimed the man. "Well, now that's interesting! I +remember, when I was a boy, it was my great ambition to run away and +join a circus. But I dare say it isn't such a life of roses as I +imagined." + +"There's plenty of hard work," Joe told him, "and then something like +this is likely to happen to you at any time--especially if you are on +the trapeze," and he motioned to the bandages still around his neck and +shoulders. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Mr. Buchard, when Joe had finished +telling of Helen's fortune. "I'm going out of here in a couple of +days. I'm getting much better--that is until the next attack. I'll +get out my worthless certificates of stock in the Circle City Oil +Syndicate, and bring you one. You can then see the names of the +officers and directors, and can compare them with the names on Miss +Morton's stock. If they are the same it's pretty sure to be the same +company." + +"And if it is," asked Joe, "would you advise her to sell out?" + +"Sell out! My dear boy, I only hope she will be able to. I wish I had +known in time--I'd have sold out quickly enough. I never should have +bought the stuff. But it's too late to worry about that now. The +money is lost. + +"Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll bring you a stock certificate and you +can compare it with Miss Morton's when you see her. Are you going out +soon?" + +"In a few days, I hope. I want to get back to the circus." + +"I don't blame you. It isn't very cheerful here, though they do the +best they can for you." + +Mr. Buchard was as good as his word. The day after he left the +hospital he came back to call on Joe. + +"Here's a certificate," he said, handing over an elaborately engraved +yellow-backed sheet of paper. "Take it with you, and show it to Miss +Morton." + +"Thank you," the young trapeze performer responded. "I'll mail yours +back to you as soon as I've compared the names." + +"Oh, you don't need to do that," said Mr. Buchard with a rueful laugh. +"It isn't worth the price of a good cigar." + +Joe wrote to Helen, telling her he would soon be with the circus again, +but he did not mention the stock certificate. + +"There'll be time enough to tell her when I find out if it's the same +concern," he reasoned. "It may not be. After all, the stock Sanford +sold her may be valuable." + +But Joe's hope was a faint one. + +The day came when he was able to leave the hospital. He found that not +only had all bills been paid, but that there was an allowance to his +credit. Helen had thought he would need money to travel with, and had +left him a sum. + +"Of course I'll pay her back when I get the chance," Joe reflected. +"The circus will pay the hospital and doctor's bills--they always do. +And I've got money enough saved up to pay Helen back." + +Joe was really making a good salary, and he was careful of his money, +not wasting it as some of the more reckless performers did. + +He said good-bye to his nurse, to the orderlies and to the physician +who had attended him. + +"Now don't try to rush things," the doctor warned Joe. "You must favor +your neck and shoulder muscles for a couple of weeks yet. They will be +lame and sore if you don't. Take it easy, and gradually work up to +your former exploits. If you do that you'll be all right." + +Joe promised to be careful, and then, with the stock certificate safely +in his pocket--though it was of no value, he reflected--he set out to +rejoin the circus, which had moved on several hundred miles since his +accident. + +"I wonder if she'll lose her money," mused Joe, as he rode on in the +train. "It would be too bad if she did. Of course it isn't all in +this oil syndicate, but enough of it is to make a big hole in her +little fortune. Hang it all, if this oil stock turns out bad I'll take +that Sanford up to the top of the tent and drop him off." + +He smiled grimly at this novel form of revenge. But really he was very +much in earnest. + +"Something will have to be done," Joe decided. But he did not know +just what. + +In due time he reached the town where the circus was showing. As Joe's +train pulled in he saw, on a siding, the big yellow cars, with the name +Sampson Brothers painted on their sides. There were the flat vehicles +on which the big animal cages stood, box cars for the horses and +elephants and the sleeping cars in which the company traveled. + +"Oh, but it's good to get back!" exclaimed Joe. + +The parade was in progress as he walked along the main street. He did +not stop to watch it, having seen it often enough. Besides he was +anxious to talk to Helen, and he knew he would find her at the tent at +this hour, since she was not in the parade. + +As Joe turned in at the circus lots he saw several of the attendants +and canvasmen. + +"Hello!" they called cheerily. "Glad to see you with us again!" + +"And I'm glad to be back!" Joe exclaimed heartily. "How's everything?" + +"Oh, fine." + +"Had any trouble?" + +"Not much since you had yours. Had to shoot Princess a couple of towns +back." + +"You mean the lioness?" + +"Yes. She went on a rampage and there was nearly a bad accident, so we +had to kill her." + +"Too bad," remarked Joe, for he knew what a loss it meant to a show +when a fine animal, such as Princess was, must be disposed of. "Still +it was better than to have her kill her trainer or some one," he added. + +"That's right," agreed a canvasman. + +Joe passed on to the dressing tent. Helen saw him coming and ran to +meet him. + +"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed. "I am so glad to see you! Are you all right +again?" + +"Quite, thank you. I'm a little lame and stiff yet, but I'll soon get +limbered up when I get in my tights and feel myself swinging from a +trapeze." + +"Oh, but you must be careful, Joe."' + +"I will. I don't want to have another accident. And now about +yourself. How have you been?" + +"Fine." + +"And Rosebud?" + +"The same as ever. I've taught him a new trick. I must show you. I +haven't put it on in public yet." + +"I shall like to see him. Well, you haven't had any more fortunes left +to you, have you?" + +"No, indeed. I wish I had. But I can increase what I have." + +"How?" + +"Just buy more oil stock. I had a letter from Mr. Sanford, saying he +could get me some more. It's going up in price; so he advised me to +buy at once." + +"Are you going to?" + +"Would you?" Helen asked. + +"I'll tell you later," Joe answered. "Have you one of the stock +certificates you did buy?" + +"Yes. In my trunk. Do you want to see it?" + +Joe did and said so. Helen got it for him and Joe compared it with the +one the man in the hospital had given him. His heart sank as he saw +that the names of the officers and directors were the same. The Circle +City Oil Syndicate was a failure. + +Joe's face must have reflected his emotions, for Helen asked him: + +"What's the matter? Is anything wrong?" + +"I am afraid I have bad news for you," Joe replied. + +"In what way? You're not going to----" + +"It's about your stock. I'm sorry to tell you that your oil stock is +worthless--part of your fortune is gone, Helen!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HELEN GOES + +Helen looked dazed for a few seconds. She stared at Joe as though she +did not understand what he had said. She looked at the oil stock +certificates in his hand. Joe continued to regard them dubiously. + +"Worthless--my investment worthless?" Helen asked, after a bit. + +"That's what I'm afraid of," Joe replied. "Of course I don't know much +about stocks, bonds and so on, but a man said this stock certificate +wasn't worth the price of a good cigar," and he held up the one the +hospital patient had given him. "Yours is the same kind, Helen, I'm +sorry to say." + +"How do you know, Joe? Let me see them." + +Joe gave her the two papers--elaborately printed, and lavishly enough +engraved to be government money, but aside from that worthless. + +Then Joe told of the incident in the hospital--how he had accidentally +heard the man speak of the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and the +conversation that followed. + +"If what he says is true, Helen, your money is gone," Joe finished. + +"Yes, I'm afraid so." she said slowly. "Oh, dear, isn't it too bad? +And I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could increase my +fortune. Now I am likely to lose it. I wish I had known more about +business. I'd never have let this man fool me." + +"I wish I had, too," remarked Joe. "Then I'd have advised you not to +risk your money in oil. But perhaps it isn't too late yet." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean we may be able to sell back this stock. Of course it would +hardly be right to sell it to an innocent person, who did not know of +its worthlessness, for then they would lose also. But I mean the +Syndicate might buy it back, rather than have it become known that the +concern was worthless. I don't know much about such things." + +"Neither do I," agreed Helen. "I'll tell you what let's do, Joe. +Let's ask Bill Watson. He use to be in business before he became a +clown, and he might tell us what to do." + +"A good idea," commented Joe. "We'll do it." + +The old clown was in the dressing room, but he came out when Helen and +Joe summoned him, half his face "made up," with streaks of red, white +and blue grease paint. + +"Oh, Bill, we're in such trouble!" cried Helen, + +"Trouble!" exclaimed Bill. The word seemed hardly to fit in with his +grotesque character. "What trouble?" + +"It's about my money," Helen went on. "I'm going to lose it all, Joe +thinks." + +"Oh, not all!" exclaimed the young trapeze performer quickly. "Only +what you invested in oil stock. Here's the story, Bill," and Joe +related his part of it, Helen supplying the information needed from her +end. + +"Now," went on Joe, as he concluded, "what we want to know is--can +Helen save any of this oil money?" + +Bill Watson was silent a moment. Then he slowly shook his head. + +"I'm afraid not," he answered. "Money invested in wild-cat oil wells +is seldom recovered. Of course you could bring a lawsuit against this +Sanford, but the chances are he's skipped out by this time." + +"Oh, no, he hasn't," Helen exclaimed. "I had a letter from him only +the other day. He asked me if I didn't want to buy some more stock. I +know where to find him." + +Once more the veteran clown shook his head. + +"He might allow you to find him if he thought you were bringing him +more cash for his worthless schemes," he said, "but if he found out you +wanted to serve papers on him in a suit, or to get hold of him to make +him give back the money he took from you, Helen, that would be a +different story. I'm afraid you wouldn't see much of Mr. Sanford then. +He'd be mighty scarce." + +"Could we sell back the stock to the oil company?" Joe wanted to know. + +"Hardly," answered the clown. "They make that stock to sell to the +public, and they never buy it back unless there's a chance for them to +make money. And, according to Joe's tale, there isn't in this case." + +"Not by what that man said," affirmed the young trapeze performer. + +"I suppose the only thing to do," went on the old clown, "would be to +give the case into the hands of a good lawyer, and let him see what he +could do with it. Turn over the stock to him, give him power to act +for you, Helen, and wait for what comes. You'll be traveling on with +the show, and you can't do much, nor Joe either, though I know he would +help you if he could, and so would I." + +"That's what!" exclaimed Joe heartily. + +"I'll do just as you say," agreed Helen. "But it does seem too bad to +lose my money, and I counted on doing so much with it. But it can't be +helped." + +She was more cheerful over it than Joe thought she would be. He +suspected that she had not altogether lost hope, but as for himself Joe +counted the money gone, and it was not a small sum to lose. + +"Come on, Helen," he said. "I noticed a lawyer's office on the main +street as I was looking at the parade. We'll go there and get him to +take the case. We'll be out of here to-night and we can leave matters +in his hands, with instructions to send us word when he has the money +back." + +"And I'm afraid you'll never get that word," said the old clown. + +There was time enough before the afternoon performance for Joe and +Helen to pay a visit to the law office. Joe also reported to Jim +Tracy, who was glad to see him. + +"I don't want you to get on the trapeze to-day," said the ring-master. +"Take a little light practice first for a few days. And do all you can +for her," he added in a low voice, motioning to Helen. + +"I sure will!" Joe exclaimed fervently. + +The lawyer listened to the story as Joe and Helen told it to him, and +agreed to take the case against Sanford and the Circle City Oil +Syndicate for a small fee. + +"I'll do the best I can," he said, "but I'm afraid I can't promise you +much in results. Let me have the papers and your future address." + +Joe put on his suit of tights for that afternoon, though he did not +take part in the trapeze work. He fancied that the Lascalla Brothers +were not very glad to see him, but this may have been fancy, for they +were cordial enough as far as words went. + +"Maybe they thought I would be laid up permanently," reasoned Joe. +"Then they could have their former partner back. I wonder if he's been +around lately?" + +He made some inquiries, but no one had noticed Sim Dobley hanging about +the lots as he had done shortly after his discharge. Nor had there +been, as Joe had a faint suspicion there might be, any connection +between the train wreck and the discharged employee. + +"I don't believe Sim would be so desperate as to wreck a train just to +get even with me," decided Joe. "I guess it was just a coincidence. +He only wrote that threatening letter as a bluff." + +Helen Morton did not allow her distress over the prospective loss of +her money to interfere with her circus act. She put Rosebud through +his paces in the ring, and received her share of applause at the antics +of the clever horse. Helen did a new little trick--the one she had +told Joe about. + +She tossed flags of different nations to different parts of the ring, +and then told Rosebud to fetch them to her, one after the other, +calling for them by name. + +The intelligent horse made no mistakes, bringing the right flag each +time. + +"And now," said Helen at the conclusion of her act, "show me what all +good little children do when they go to bed at night." + +Rosebud bent his forelegs and bowed his head between them as if he were +saying his prayers. + +"That's a good horse!" ejaculated Helen. "Now come and get your sugar +and give me a kiss," and the animal daintily picked up a lump of the +sweet stuff from Helen's hand, and then lightly touched her cheek with +his velvety muzzle. + +Then with a leap the pretty young rider vaulted into the saddle and +rode out of the ring amid applause. + +"You're doing beautifully, Helen!" was Joe's compliment, as Helen rode +out. + +"I may be all right on a horse," she answered, "but I don't know much +about money and business." + +The show moved on that night, and the next day, when the tent was set +up, Joe indulged in light practice. He found the soreness almost gone, +and as he worked alone, and with the Lascalla Brothers, his stiffness +also disappeared. + +"I think I'll go on to-night," he told the ring-master. + +"All right, Joe. We'll be glad to have you, of course. But don't take +any chances." + +Mail was distributed among the circus folk that day following the +afternoon performance. Joe had letters from some people to whom he had +written in regard to his mother's relatives in England. One gave him +the address of a London solicitor, as lawyers are designated over +there, and Joe determined to write to him. + +"Though I guess my chances of getting an inheritance are pretty slim," +he told Helen. "I'm not lucky, like you." + +"I hope you don't call me lucky!" she exclaimed. "Having money doesn't +do me any good. I lose it as fast as I get it." + +She had a letter from her lawyer, stating that he had looked further +into the case since she had left the papers with him, and that he had +less hope than ever of ever being able to get back the cash paid for +the oil stock. + +Joe did not intend to work in any new tricks the first evening of his +reappearance after the accident. But when he got started he felt so +well after his rest and his light practice, that he made up his mind he +would put on a couple of novelties. Not exactly novelties, either, for +they are known to most gymnasts though not often done in a circus. + +Joe went up to the top of the tent. Near the small platform, from +which he jumped in the long swing, to catch Tonzo Lascalla in the +trapeze, Joe had fastened a long cotton rope about two inches in +diameter. + +He caught hold of the rope in both hands and passed it between his +thighs, letting it rest on the calf of his left leg. He then brought +the rope around over the instep of his left foot, holding it in +position with pressure by the right foot, which was pressed against the +left. + +"Here I come!" Joe cried, and then, letting go with his hands, Joe +stretched out his arms, and came down the rope in that fashion, the +pressure of his feet on the rope that passed between them regulating +his speed. + +It was a more difficult feat than it appeared, this descending a rope +without using one's hands, but it seemed to thrill the crowd +sufficiently. + +But Joe had not finished. He knew another spectacular act in rope +work, which looked difficult and dangerous, and yet was easier to +perform than the one he had just done. Often in trapeze work this is +the case. + +The spectator may be thrilled by some seemingly dangerous and risky +act, when, as a matter of fact, it is easy for the performer, who +thinks little of it. On the other hand that which often seems from the +circus seats to be very easy may be so hard on the muscles and nerves +as to be actually dreaded by the performer. + +Having himself hauled up to the top of the tent again, Joe once more +took hold of the rope. He held himself in position, the rope between +his legs, which he thrust out at right angles to his body, his toes +pointing straight out. Suddenly he "circled back" to an inverted hang, +his head now pointing to the ground many feet below. Then he quickly +passed the rope about his waist, under his right armpit, crossed his +feet with the rope between them, the toes of the right foot pressing +the cotton strands against the arch of his left foot. + +"Ready!" cried Joe. + +There was a boom of the big drum, a ruffle of the snare, and Joe slid +down the rope head first with outstretched arms, coming to a sudden +stop with his head hardly an inch from the hard ground. But Joe knew +just what he was doing and he could regulate his descent to the +fraction of an inch by the pressure of his legs and feet on the rope. + +There was a yell of delight from the audience at this feat, and Joe, +turning right side up, acknowledged the ovation tendered him. Then he +ran from the tent--his part in the show being over. + +For a week the circus showed, moving from town to city. It was +approaching the end of the season. The show would soon go into winter +quarters, and the performers disperse until summer came again. + +Helen had heard nothing favorable from the lawyer, and she and Joe had +about given up hope of getting back the money. + +The circus had reached a good-sized city in the course of its travels, +and was to play there two days. On the afternoon of the first day, +just before the opening of the performance, Joe went to Helen's tent to +speak to her about something. + +"She isn't here," Mrs. Talfo, the fat lady, told him. "She's gone." + +"Gone!" echoed Joe. "Isn't she going to play this afternoon?" + +"I believe not--no." + +"But where did she go?" + +"You'll have to ask Jim Tracy. I saw her talking to him. She seemed +quite excited about something." + +"I wonder if anything could have happened," mused Joe. "They couldn't +have discharged her. That act's too good. But it looks funny. She +wouldn't have left of her own accord without saying good-bye. I wonder +what happened." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +JOE FOLLOWS + +Some little time elapsed before Joe found a chance to speak to Jim +Tracy. There had been a slight accident to one of the circus wagons in +unloading from the train for that day's show, and the ring-master was +kept very busy. One of the elephants was slightly hurt also. + +But finally the confusion was straightened out, and our hero had a +chance to ask the question that was troubling him. + +"What had become of Helen?" + +"Why, I don't know where she went," Jim Tracy said. "She came to me +almost as soon as we got in this morning, and wanted to know if she +could have the afternoon off." + +"Cut out her act?" Joe asked. + +"That's it. Of course I didn't want to lose her out of the show, but +as long as we're going to be here two days, and considering the fact +that she hadn't had a day off since the show started out this season, I +said she might go. And so she went--at least I suppose she did." + +"Yes, she's gone," Joe replied. "But where?" + +Jim Tracy did not know and said so. He was too busy to talk much more +about it. + +"She'll be back in time for the evening performance--that's all I +know," he told Joe. + +The young trapeze' performer sought out the old clown and told him what +had taken place. + +"Helen gone!" exclaimed Bill. "That's queer!" + +"I thought maybe you'd know about it, Bill." + +"Me? No, not a thing. She never said a word to me. Are you sure you +and she didn't have any--er--little tiff?" + +"Of course not!" and Joe blushed under his tan. "She didn't tell me +she was going." + +"Oh, well, she'll be back to-night, Jim says. I guess she's all right. +Now I've got to get busy." + +But Joe was not satisfied. It was not like Helen to go off in this +way, and he felt there was something strange about it. + +"I do hope she isn't going to try to make any more investments with her +money--that is with what she has left," he mused. "Maybe she heard of +some other kind of stock she can buy, and she thinks from the profits +of that she can make up for what she is sure to lose in the oil +investment. Poor Helen! It certainly is hard luck!" + +Joe thought so much of his new theory that he visited the circus +treasurer with whom Helen had left some of her money. + +"No, it's here in the safe--what she left with me," the treasurer said. +"Too bad about her losing that nice sum, wasn't it? It will take her +quite a while to save that much." + +"I wish I had hold of the law clerk who tricked her into buying the oil +stock," said Joe with energy. "I'd make him eat the certificates, and +then I'd--well, I don't know what I would do." + +"But you haven't got him," said the treasurer, "and I guess their kind +take good care to keep out of the way of those they've swindled." + +"I guess so," Joe agreed. + +There was nothing he could do at present, and he had soon to go on with +his act. But Joe Strong made up his mind if Helen were not back early +to make a thorough search for her. + +"That is if I can get any trace of her," he went on. "She may run into +danger without knowing it, for she hasn't had much experience in life, +even if she is a circus rider." + +Joe was himself again now. His muscles seemed to have benefited by the +rest, and the young trapeze performer went through all his old acts, +alone and with the Lascalla Brothers, and Joe also put on one or two +new things, or, rather, variations of old ones. + +In one part of his performance he balanced himself upon his neck and +shoulders on a trapeze high up in the top of the tent. He was almost +standing upon his head. While this is not difficult for a performer to +do when the trapeze is stationary it is not easy when the apparatus is +swinging. Joe was going to try that. + +A ring hand pulled on a light rope attached to the trapeze on which Joe +was thus balanced on his neck and set the bar and ropes in motion. +They moved slowly, and through only a short arc at first. But in a +little while Joe, in his perilous position, was executing a long swing. + +His feet were pressed against the ropes and his hands were on his hips. +He balanced his body instinctively in this posture. But this was not +all of the trick. + +When the trapeze was swinging as high as he wanted it, Joe suddenly +brought his legs together. For an instant he poised there on the bar, +supporting himself on his neck and shoulders, as straight as an arrow. + +Then, with a shout to warn those below, he fell over in a graceful +curve, and began a series of rapid somersaults in the air. + +Down he fell, the hushed attention of the big crowd being drawn to him. +Just before reaching the life net, Joe straightened out and fell into +the meshes feet first, bouncing out on a mat and from there bowing his +thanks for the applause. + +Thus Joe brought his act to a close for that afternoon, and he was glad +of it for he wanted to go out and see if Helen had returned. As soon +as he had changed to his street clothes he sought her tent. + +The women of the circus dressed together, each one in a sort of canvas +screened apartment, and in the Sampson Brothers' Show they also had a +sort of ante-room to the dressing tent, where they could receive their +friends. + +There was no one in this room when Joe entered, save some of the maids +which the higher-salaried circus women kept to help them dress, "make +up" and so on. + +"Is Miss Morton in?" asked Joe of a maid who knew him. + +"No, Mr. Strong. I don't believe she has returned yet. I'll go and +look in her room, though." The maid came back shaking her head. + +"She isn't there," she told Joe. + +"I wonder where she can be," he mused. "Why didn't she leave some +word? Are you sure there wasn't a letter or anything on her trunk?" he +inquired of the maid. + +"Well, I didn't look. You may go in if you like. I guess it will be +all right." + +None of the performers were in the dressing tent then, being out in the +big one doing their acts. Joe knew his way to Helen's room, having +been there many times, for there would often be little impromptu +gatherings in it to talk over circus matters between the acts. + +He looked about for a letter, thinking she might have left one for him +before going away. He saw nothing addressed to himself, but on the +ground, where it had evidently dropped, was an open note. Joe could +not help reading it at a glance. To his surprise it was signed by +Sanford, the tricky law clerk. + +"I shall be glad to see you if you will call on me when you reach +Lyledale," the letter read. "I am glad you think of buying more stock. +I have some to sell. I will be at the Globe Hotel." + +"Whew!" whistled Joe. "It's just as I feared. She's been doing +business with Sanford again--trying to make good her loss on the oil +stock. He has an appointment with her here in Lyledale. That's where +she's gone--to meet him. She must have sold some of her other +securities to get money to buy more stock. I must stop this. I've got +to follow her. Poor Helen!" + +Joe had found out what he wanted to know by accident. Helen, he +reasoned, must have received the letter that day, or perhaps the day +before, and had planned to meet Sanford on reaching Lyledale where the +circus was then playing. In order to do this she had to be excused +from the afternoon performance. + +"But I'll put a stop to that deal if I can," Joe declared. "I'll tell +her how foolish and risky it is to invest any more money with Sanford. +I only hope she'll believe me." + +Joe's time was his own until the night performance. He decided he +would at once follow Helen to the hotel and there remonstrate with her, +if it were not too late. + +"Queer that she kept it a secret from all of us," remarked Joe as he +started for town. "I guess she knew we'd try to stop her from throwing +good money after bad, as they say. Well, now to see what luck I'll +have." + +The Globe Hotel was the best and largest in town. Joe had no +difficulty in finding it, and on inquiring at the desk was told that +Mr. Sanford was a guest at the place. + +"He has two rooms," the clerk told Joe. "One he uses as an office, +where he does business." + +"Oh, then he's been here before?" Joe asked. + +"Oh, yes, often. I don't know what his business is, but I think, he is +a sort of stock and bond dealer." + +"More like a stock and bond swindler," thought Joe. + +"Mr. Sanford will see you in a few minutes," the bellboy reported to +Joe, having come back from taking up our hero's card. "There's a lady +in the office with him now." + +"A young lady?" Joe asked. + +"Yes," nodded the bellboy. + +"I'll go up now!" decided Joe. "I think he might just as well see me +now as later." + +"Maybe he won't like it," the clerk warned him. + +"I don't care whether he likes it or not!" cried Joe. "It may be too +late if I don't go up now. You needn't bother to announce me," he said +to the bell-boy who offered to accompany Joe to show the way. "I guess +I can find the room all right." + +Joe rode up in the elevator, and turned down the corridor leading to +the two rooms occupied by Sanford. Pausing at the door of the outer +room, Joe heard voices. He recognized one as Helen's. + +"She's there all right," mused Joe. "I hope I'm not too late!" + +He was about to enter when he heard Helen say: "Please give it back to +me. It isn't fair to take advantage of me this way." + +"You went into this with your eyes open," Sanford replied. "It was a +straight business deal, and I'm not to blame for the way it turned out. +Now this stock----" + +Joe waited no longer. He fairly burst into the room, crying: + +"Helen, don't waste any more money on his worthless investments!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE LAST PERFORMANCE + +It would have been difficult to say who was the more surprised by the +sudden entrance of Joe Strong--Helen or the law clerk. Both seemed +startled. + +Once more Joe cried: + +"Helen, don't throw away any more of your money on his stocks!" + +"How dare you come in here?" demanded Sanford. + +"Never mind about that," answered Joe coolly. "I know what I'm doing. +I'm not going to see you get any more of her money." + +"Oh, Joe. How did you know I was here?" asked Helen. "I didn't want +any one to know I came." + +"I found out. I feared this was what you'd do." + +"Do what, Joe?" + +"Buy more stock in the hope of making good your losses on the Circle +City investment." + +"But, Joe, I'm not doing that. I don't want to buy any more stock. +I've had too much as it is." + +"Then what in the world did you come here for?" cried Sanford. "You +intimated that you wanted more stock. That's why I met you here--to +sell it to you." + +"Yes, I thought that's what you'd think," replied Helen, and she seemed +less excited now than Joe Strong. "But what I came for was to sell you +back these worthless oil certificates. I want my money back." + +"Well, you won't get it!" sneered the law clerk. "You bought that +stock and now----" + +"Now she's going to sell it again," put in Joe. He seemed to +understand the situation now. + +"Helen," he went on, "I think it would be well if you left this matter +in my hands. If you'll just go downstairs and to the nearest police +station and ask an officer to step around here, I think we can find +something for him to do." + +"Police!" faltered Sanford. + +"Oh, well, perhaps we won't need one," said Joe coolly, "but it's +always best, in matters of this kind, to have one on hand. It doesn't +cost anything. Just get an officer, Helen, and wait downstairs with +him. I'll have a little talk with Sanford." + +"Oh, Joe! I--I----!" + +"Now, Helen, you just leave this to me. Run along." + +Joe Strong seemed to dominate the situation. He displayed splendid +nerve. + +Helen went slowly from the room. + +"The clerk will tell you where to find a policeman," Joe called to her. +"You needn't tell him why one is needed. It may be that we shall get +along without one, and there's no need of causing any excitement unless +we have to." + +"Joe--Joe," faltered Helen. "You will be careful--won't you?" + +"Well," and Joe smiled quizzically, "I'll be as careful as he'll let +me," and he nodded toward the law clerk. + +"What do you mean?" demanded Sanford, uneasily. + +"You'll see in a few minutes," said Joe calmly. + +When Helen went out Joe, with a quick movement, closed and locked the +hall door. + +"What's that for?" cried Sanford. + +"So you won't get out before I'm through with you." + +The law clerk made a rush for Joe, endeavoring to push him to one side. +But muscles trained on a typewriter or with a pen are no match for +those used on the flying rings and trapeze. + +With a single motion of his hand Joe thrust the clerk aside, fairly +forcing him into a chair. + +"Now then," said Joe calmly, "you and I will have a little talk. You +needn't try to yell. If you do I'll stuff a bedspread in your mouth. +And if you want to try conclusions with me physically--well, here you +are!" + +With a quick motion Joe caught the fellow up, and raised him high in +the air, over his head. + +"Oh--oh! Put me down! Put me down!" Sanford begged. "I--I'll fall!" + +"You won't fall as long as I have hold of you," chuckled Joe. "But +there's no telling when I might let go. Now let's talk business." + +Trembling, Sanford found himself in the chair again. + +"Did you sell Miss Morton any more stock?" demanded Joe. + +"No--I--she--came here to buy, I thought, but----" + +"Well, as long as she didn't it's all right. Now then about that oil +stock you got her to invest her money in--is that stock good?" + +"Why, of course it----" + +"Isn't!" interrupted Joe, "and you knew it wasn't when you sold it to +her. Now then I want you to take that stock back and return her money. +And I don't want you to sell that stock to some other person, either. +You just tear it up. It's worthless, and you know it. I want Miss +Morton's money back for her." + +"I haven't it!" whined the clerk. + +"Then you know where to get it. I fancy if I tell Mr. Pike, of your +law firm, what you've been up to----" + +"Oh, don't tell him! Don't tell him!" whined the clerk. "He doesn't +know anything about it. I--I just did this as a side line. If you +tell him I'll lose my position and----" + +"Well, I'll tell him all right, if you don't give back Miss Morton's +money!" said Joe grimly. + +"I tell you I haven't the cash." + +"Then you must get it. You've been doing business here before, the +hotel clerk tells me. Come now--hand over the cash--get it--and I'll +let you go, though perhaps I shouldn't. If you don't pay up--well, the +officer ought to be downstairs waiting for you now. Come!" cried Joe +sharply. "Which is it to be--the money or jail?" + +Sanford looked around like a cornered rat seeking a means of escape. +There was none. Joe, big and powerful, stood between him and the door. + +"Well?" asked Joe significantly. + +"I--I'll pay her back the money," faltered Sanford. "But I'll have to +go out to get it." + +"Oh, no, you won't," said Joe cheerfully. "If you went out you might +forget to come back. Here's a telephone--just use that." + +Sanford sighed. His last chance was gone. + +Just what or to whom he telephoned does not concern us. But in the +course of an hour or so a messenger called with money enough to make +good all Helen had risked in oil stock. The cash was handed to her. + +"Here, you keep it for me, Joe," she said. "I don't seem to know how +to manage my fortune." + +"What about those stock certificates?" asked Sanford. "I want them +back." + +"They are worthless, by your own confession," replied Joe, "and you're +not going to fool some one else on them. "We'll just keep them for +souvenirs, eh, Helen?" + +"Just as you say, Joe," she answered with a blush. + +Sanford blustered, but to no purpose. He was beaten at his own game, +and the fear of exposure and arrest brought him to terms. + +"But you shouldn't have gone to him alone, Helen," remonstrated Joe, +when they were on their way back to the circus with the recovered cash. + +"Well, I'd been so foolish as to lose my money, that I wanted to see if +I couldn't get it back again," she said. "I didn't want any of you to +help me, as I'd already given trouble enough." + +"Trouble!" cried Joe. "We would have been only too glad to help you." + +"Well, you did it in spite of me," Helen said, with a smile. "I did +not intend you should know where I had gone. How did you find out?" + +"I saw a letter you dropped in the tent, and I followed. But how did +you happen to locate Sanford?" + +"By adopting just what Bill Watson said was the only plan. I made +believe I wanted to buy more stock. Bill said that was the only way to +catch Sanford. If I had tried to find him to get my money back he +would have kept out of my way. But when he thought I might have more +cash for him, he wrote and told me where I could find him. So I just +waited until our show came here and then I called on Mr. Sanford. + +"I was just begging him to give me back the money for the oil stock +when you came in on us, Joe." + +"Well, I'm glad I did." + +"So am I. I hardly think he'd have paid me if it had not been for you. +How did you make him settle?" + +"Oh, I just sort of 'held him up' for it," but Joe did not explain the +way he had actually "held up" the swindler. + +"I'm so glad to get my money back!" Helen sighed as they reached the +circus grounds, over which dusk was settling, for it was now early fall. + +"And I'm glad, too," added Joe. "Then next time you buy oil stock----" + +"There'll not be any next time," laughed Helen, as she went to give +Rosebud his customary lumps of sugar. + +And that night, in the Sampson Brother's Show, there was an impromptu +little celebration over the recovery of Helen's money. + +Later Joe learned that Sanford gave up his place in the law office. +Perhaps the swindler was afraid Mr. Pike would find out about his +underhand transactions. Sanford, it seemed, had done some law business +for the oil company, and they let him sell some of the worthless stock +for himself, allowing him to keep the money--that is what Joe did not +make him pay back. + +It was the night of the final performance. The performers went through +their acts with new snap and daring, for it was the last time some of +them would face the public until the following season. A few would +secure engagements for the winter in theatres, but most of them would +winter with the circus. + +When the tents came down this time they would be shipped to Bridgeport, +where many shows go into winter quarters. + +"Well, Joe," remarked Helen, as she came out of the ring just as Joe +finished his last thrilling feat, "what are you going to do? Will you +be with us next season?" + +"I don't know. I've had several offers to go with hippodrome +exhibitions, and on a theatrical circuit." + +"Oh, then you are going to leave us?" + +Joe looked at Helen. There seemed to be a new light in her eyes. And +though she was smiling, there was something of disappointment showing +on her face. With parted lips she gazed at Joe. + +"I thought perhaps you would stay," she murmured, her eyes downcast. + +"I--I guess I will!" said Joe in a low voice. "This is a pretty good +circus after all." + +And so Joe stayed. And what he did in the show will be related in the +next volume of this series, to be called: "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish; +Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank." + +The chariots rattled their final dusty way around the big tent. The +"barkers" came in to sell tickets for the "grand concert." The animal +tent was already down for the last time that season. With the ending +of the concert the bugler blew "taps." The torches went out. + +"Good night, Joe," said Helen. + +"Good night, Helen," he answered, and as they clasped hands in the +darkness we will say good-bye to Joe Strong. + + + + +The End + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Joe Strong on the Trapeze, by Vance Barnum + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE *** + +***** This file should be named 28642.txt or 28642.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/4/28642/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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