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+ border-bottom: thin dashed blue + } + + + +/* paragraphs */ +.hanging2 { + padding-left: 5em; + text-indent: -3em; + } + +/* box style */ +.bbox1 {border: 10px double; + margin-left: 25%; + margin-right: 25%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + padding-right: 1em; + width: 50%;} + +.x-ebookmaker .bbox1 {border: 10px double; + margin-left: 8%; + margin-right: 8%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + padding-right: .5em; + width: 84%;} + +/*horizontal lines*/ +hr.short {width: 20%; + margin-left: 40%; + margin-right: 40%; + margin-top: .5em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + height: .05em; + color: black; + background-color: black;} + +hr.shorter {width: 10%; + margin-left: 45%; + margin-right: 45%; + margin-top: .5em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + height: .05em; + color: black; + background-color: black;} + + +/*ebook */ + +.x-ebookmaker .wd50 {width: 100%;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78067 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" style="max-width: 105.375em;"> +<img class="wd80" src="images/cover.jpg" title="Original cover" alt="Original cover"> +</figure> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="i_f000" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f000.jpg" alt="Picture of a man flying in an aeronautical machine"> + <figcaption> + <p>Then the Bat was seen to drop suddenly.</p> + <p class="right"> + <i>See <a href="#Page_76">page 76</a></i></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1 class="linesp"> +<span class="fs135 letter-sp1">JOE STRONG</span><br> +<span class="fs80">AND HIS</span><br> +<span class="fs135 letter-sp1">WINGS OF STEEL</span><br> +</h1> +<p class="center linespm p1b"><span class="fnormal fs115">OR</span><br> + +<span class="fs150"><i><b>A YOUNG ACROBAT IN THE CLOUDS</b></i></span></p> + +<p class="center fs110">BY</p> +<p class="center fs200"><b>VANCE BARNUM</b></p> +<p class="center p2b">Author of “Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard,” “Joe Strong +on the Trapeze,” etc.</p> +<p class="center fnormal fs125 p2b"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p> +<p class="center linesp"> +<span class="fs110">NEW YORK</span><br> +<span class="fs135">HEARST’S INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY CO.</span><br> +<span class="fs110">PUBLISHERS</span> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter bbox1"> +<p class="center fs135 letter-sp"> +BOOKS FOR BOYS</p> +<p class="center fs90"> +BY</p> +<p class="center fs150"> +VANCE BARNUM +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p class="center fs135"> +THE JOE STRONG SERIES +</p> + +<p class="hanging2">12mo. Cloth Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, +postpaid.</p> + +<hr class="short"> + +<p class="hanging2"> + <span class="fs125">JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD</span><br> + Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed</p> +<p class="hanging2"> + <span class="fs125">JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE</span><br> + Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer</p> +<p class="hanging2"> + <span class="fs125">JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH</span><br> + Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank</p> +<p class="hanging2"> + <span class="fs125">JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE</span><br> + Or, Motor-Cycle Perils of the Air</p> +<p class="hanging2"> + <span class="fs125">JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL</span><br> + Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds</p> +</div> + +<p class="center smcap"> +Copyright, 1916, by<br> +Hearst’s International Library Company</p> +<hr class="shorter"> +<p class="center">JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> +<p class="center fs135"> +CONTENTS +</p> +</div> + + +<table class="autotable wd50"> +<tr> +<th class="tdr fs60 fnormal">CHAPTER</th> +<th class="tdl"></th> +<th class="tdr fs60 fnormal">PAGE</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Queer Machine</span></td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Tangles</span></td> +<td class="tdr">10</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Setback</span></td> +<td class="tdr">18</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Under Canvas Again</span></td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">In the Tank</span></td> +<td class="tdr">36</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A New Act</span></td> +<td class="tdr">45</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Jealousy</span></td> +<td class="tdr">53<br></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The New Wings</span></td> +<td class="tdr">60</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">An Accident</span></td> +<td class="tdr">69</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Success at Last</span></td> +<td class="tdr">77</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Joe’s Surprise</span></td> +<td class="tdr">86</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Runaway Balloon</span></td> +<td class="tdr">94</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Rescued</span></td> +<td class="tdr">102</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Aviation Meet</span></td> +<td class="tdr">111</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Joe’s Plan</span></td> +<td class="tdr">119</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Prize Race</span></td> +<td class="tdr">127</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Old Inventor</span></td> +<td class="tdr">136</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Prisoner</span></td> +<td class="tdr">146</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Dangerous Plight</span></td> +<td class="tdr">154</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Suspicions</span></td> +<td class="tdr">163</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Queer Offer</span></td> +<td class="tdr">173</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Hotel Fire</span></td> +<td class="tdr">184</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">A Perilous Flight</span></td> +<td class="tdr">193</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">Revelations</span></td> +<td class="tdr">201</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV</a>.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">New Plans</span></td> +<td class="tdr">210</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center fs135"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</p> +</div> + + + +<table class="autotable wd50"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Then the Bat was seen to drop suddenly</td> +<td class="tdl botalign" colspan="2"><i><a href="#i_f000">Frontispiece</a></i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"> </td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdc fs60">FACING<br> PAGE</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="2">Nearer and nearer he came to the floating balloon</td> +<td class="tdr botalign"><a href="#i_p108a">108</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"> </td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="2">There the rescuers, somewhat overpowered by +the strong and sickening odor, saw Joe +lying in a heap on the floor</td> +<td class="tdr botalign"><a href="#i_p166a">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"> </td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="2">Joe glided down in the Bat as the men on the roof rushed toward him</td> +<td class="tdr botalign"><a href="#i_p202a">202</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> +<p class="center fs215 word-sp"> +JOE STRONG AND HIS<br> +WINGS OF STEEL +</p> + + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_I"> + <span class="fs90"> CHAPTER I</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A QUEER MACHINE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“This is where you’ve been hiding yourself, is it, +Joe?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ve been practically living here for the +last month or so, supervising my new machine, +Benny. Come in and I’ll show it to you. And +you too, Bill. You may be interested.”</p> + +<p>“Does it work?” asked the man addressed as +Bill, a stout, good-natured looking, and jolly individual, +who, accompanied by a youth, had called +at a certain factory to see Joe Strong.</p> + +<p>“Work? Well, I hope it will, Bill,” answered +Joe. “But it isn’t in shape for trial yet. I hope +to have it completed, or nearly so, in a week. Then +I’ll give you a real exhibition.”</p> + +<p>“You’re great on exhibitions,” returned Benny +Turton, laughing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I like ’em,” admitted Joe with a smile. +“But come in. Mr. Brader has about given me the +run of his factory, and I can take you all through, +though I guess you’ve seen most of the stuff here.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, circus apparatus isn’t new to either of us,” +said Bill Watson, who was a veteran clown. “But +we’re interested in your new machine, Joe.”</p> + +<p>Joe Strong, who on hearing that his two friends +from the Sampson Brothers’ Show, where he had +formerly performed, would be in the neighborhood +where the new apparatus was being made, had invited +them to come to see it, and they had taken +advantage of his offer.</p> + +<p>Led by Joe, Bill and Benny followed through +the big factory, which was a humming hive of +industry, for Mr. Brader was one of the largest +manufacturers of circus apparatus in the country.</p> + +<p>Joe unlocked a door and admitted his friends to +a room partitioned off from the main part of the +factory.</p> + +<p>“The men aren’t working on my machine just at +present,” he said. “We had to send off to get certain +parts, and there’s a delay. But it is so nearly +completed that you can get an idea of what it will +do. Here she is!”</p> + +<p>He threw open the door, and for a moment +neither Ben nor Bill said anything. They just +stood looking at the queer machine.</p> + +<p>Finally Bill asked:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<p>“What’s it for?”</p> + +<p>“Flying,” answered Joe.</p> + +<p>“Humph!” mused the veteran clown. “You’ll +break your neck, Joe Strong, if you try to fly with +wings like that. Don’t risk it!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Joe,” chimed in Benny Turton. +“I don’t know what this machine is, but you sure +do take too many risks. Your trapeze work was +bad enough——”</p> + +<p>“But it wasn’t anything to the way he rode his +motor-cycle on the high wire,” put in Bill. “And +now he’s going to do something even more dangerous.”</p> + +<p>Joe regarded his friends with smiling face.</p> + +<p>“You’re not giving me a chance to explain,” he +said. “I don’t believe my wings of steel will be +any more dangerous than riding the motor-cycle +on the high wire was.”</p> + +<p>“Wings of steel, eh? Is that what you call +them?” asked Benny Turton.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s as good a name as any, and if you’ll +come closer and look you’ll see that the wings are +really of light sheet steel, almost as thin as paper, +but very strong. Take a look.”</p> + +<p>The two visitors came closer to the queer +apparatus. They saw a sort of cage, made of metal +and of leather thongs. On either side of this cage +extended a bat-like wing of thin curved steel, as +thin almost, according to Joe, as a sheet of paper. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>But the wing was braced and reinforced by spreading +ribs of metal, as the bones of a bat’s wing hold +that membrane extended.</p> + +<p>The wings were hinged to the middle frame, and +as Joe touched the thin leaves of metal they rose +and fell at his touch, creating a little breeze in the +workroom.</p> + +<p>“Is that how it operates?” asked the clown. +“Are you going to work the wings up and down +by your hands and arms?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,” Joe answered. “I couldn’t get +enough power that way. Here is what operates +them.”</p> + +<p>He showed his friends two spaces down in the +lower part of the framework.</p> + +<p>“Powerful storage batteries of a new type are +to go in there,” Joe explained. “And they operate +motors which will vibrate the wings up and +down.”</p> + +<p>“Then you’re really going to fly like a bird?” +asked Ben.</p> + +<p>“Well, I hope to. Of course I can’t be sure +about it until I make the test. I’m waiting now +for the motors. They have been delayed, but I +expect them in about a week, and then I’ll make a +trial flight.”</p> + +<p>“Going to invite us to see it?” asked Bill.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad to have you come,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>The old clown shook his head.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<p>“I like you too much, Joe, to see you smashed +to pieces,” said the veteran laugh-maker. “I guess +I’ll stay away.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t be dashed to pieces,” declared Joe. +“The trouble is going to be—if there is any—in +going up, not in coming down.”</p> + +<p>“How do you make that out?” asked Ben. “I +thought the descent was where the most trouble was +in flying stunts. As the Irishman said, it wasn’t +the falling that hurt, it was the stopping that made +all the mischief.”</p> + +<p>Joe laughed.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I’ll have that trouble,” he said. +“As I told you, I’ll be all right if I can make +my wings of steel raise me from the ground. Then +even if my motor should stop unexpectedly I +would just have to glide down as a bird +soars.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s why you feel you won’t be hurt,” +said the clown; “your wings of steel will be like a +parachute.”</p> + +<p>“Something, yes,” conceded Joe. “So you +needn’t have any fear of coming to see me perform.”</p> + +<p>“Well, under that condition I’ll come,” agreed +Bill, and Benny said he would also.</p> + +<p>“This must be costing something,” observed the +clown. “They can’t make single machines like +this for a few dollars.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> + +<p>“It is costing me a pretty penny,” said Joe. +“But it’s an idea I’ve long had in mind, and I +wanted to carry it out.</p> + +<p>“I’ve put a large part of what I got from my +mother’s estate in England into this machine, and +I expect to put in more when I get the rest of +what is coming to me. That will be along soon, +and I’ll just about need it. This experimenting +eats up cash. I had to have everything made to +order. There wasn’t a single thing I needed carried +in stock.</p> + +<p>“It was while I was riding my motor-cycle in the +circus one day that I got my idea of wings of +steel,” Joe went on to explain. “I thought how +fine it would be if I could glide like a bird.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you get an aeroplane?” asked Bill. +“They’re quite common now—almost as common +as automobiles, and there are even schools where +they teach one to fly.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the trouble,” said Joe. “They’re too +common. There isn’t enough of novelty about +them. I wanted something that would draw a big +crowd.”</p> + +<p>“Then you’re going to give exhibitions with +your wings of steel—I mean public exhibitions?” +asked Benny Turton.</p> + +<p>“I hope to.”</p> + +<p>“And will you come back to the circus?” asked +Bill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know about that,” said Joe slowly. +“I can’t tell what I’m going to do until I find out +if my machine is going to be a success. That’s +the main point.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s see how you look inside it,” suggested +Ben, and Joe took his position within the queer +framework, and slipped his arms into loops on +the underside of the wings of steel.</p> + +<p>“I can move them by hand power, just to give +you an idea how they work,” he said, as he vibrated +the big wings, and a breeze came, so strong that +it blew off the clown’s straw hat.</p> + +<p>“Say, you’ve got some power there, Joe!” the +laugh-maker commented.</p> + +<p>“I’ll need it,” asserted the young inventor. “It’s +going to be no easy task to raise me and the +machine off the earth. Once we’re up, though, the +gliding motion will sustain me, just as a thin sheet +of tin will scale through the air.</p> + +<p>“You see I can steer myself by working one +wing faster than the other, for each one will have +a separate motor. I also have a small rudder down +here, or, rather, two rudders. I control them with +my feet. One is for steering from side to side, +and the other is the elevation rudder. By deflecting +it one way I can go up, and by reversing it I +glide down.”</p> + +<p>“It sounds easy,” said Ben, but there was doubt +in his tone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>“Joe, you sure have ideas,” commented Bill. +“But I wouldn’t take the risks you do—not for a +good many thousand dollars!”</p> + +<p>“Well, if this thing works right, I’ll be a good +many thousand dollars in pocket,” Joe said. “I’ll +take in big money by going about the country giving +real flying exhibitions—not circling around in an +airship or an aeroplane—though they’re wonderful +enough; I don’t mean to say anything against +them.</p> + +<p>“But my wings of steel will be different. I want +to resemble a big bird as nearly as I can, and I +think therein will be the great novelty.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it will be novel all right,” admitted Bill.</p> + +<p>Joe then gave a further demonstration of his +queer apparatus—that is, as good a demonstration +as he could under the circumstances. The two +visitors looked at it on all sides, but neither one +had very much faith in Joe’s plan.</p> + +<p>“You’d better stick to the motor-cycle,” said +Benny Turton. “As for me, the tank where I +play a human fish is good enough for me.”</p> + +<p>Joe crawled out of the framework, and pointed +out some other mechanical appliances on his apparatus. +As he was locking the workroom preparatory +to accompanying his two friends outside, a +messenger handed him a letter.</p> + +<p>“Ha! Maybe this is what I’ve been waiting for,” +he said. “Word of the motors being completed.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>Then, as he looked at the stamp and saw a foreign +one on the envelope, he said:</p> + +<p>“Why, this is from England! I guess they’re +sending me the rest of my money. Well, it will +come in handy.”</p> + +<p>He opened the letter quickly. A hasty glance +through the contents caused Joe to utter an exclamation; +and it was not one of joy.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Bill Watson.</p> + +<p>“Bad news,” replied Joe quietly. “Very bad!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_II"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER II</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">TANGLES</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>For a moment Bill and Ben hesitated, and each, +in his own mind, pondered whether it would be +better or not to leave Joe alone for a while, and +allow him to settle his own affairs. And then the +fellowship that seems to exist among persons who +perform together for the amusement of the public +asserted itself, and Bill asked sympathetically:</p> + +<p>“Is there anything we can do, Joe? Is it bad +news about your new machine? Can’t they make +it for you—I mean finish it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it isn’t that,” Joe said. “This letter is from +a lawyer in England who was looking after my +affairs. He says my mother’s estate is badly +tangled up, and it is doubtful if I ever get any more +money out of it, and I may be sued for taking +what I have already had.”</p> + +<p>Benny Turton whistled.</p> + +<p>“That’s hard luck!” he exclaimed. “Why, I +thought everything was going smoothly. I don’t +see how they can take back what you have already +had.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p>“They’ll have their own troubles getting it,” said +Joe, “as most of it has been spent on my wings of +steel. But of course if the courts decide that I had +no right to it, I will have spent it wrongfully, and +I’ll be liable to punishment.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I thought the lawyer for the mining syndicate +that Mr. Craige represented handled your +affairs,” said Bill Watson.</p> + +<p>“He did at first,” Joe answered, “but he had to +turn my legal matters over to some one who was +not so busy as he. A Mr. Kent Bolling now has +charge, and this letter is from him. The whole +affair is all mixed up. I’ll have to write him a +letter at once and ask what can be done.”</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll leave you,” said Ben. “Come to the +circus when you can, Joe. We’re playing a straight +week in Wharton, and you may find time to run +over. Wharton is only ten miles. We came on +the train to-day, but you can make it on your +motor-cycle.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ll try to get over,” promised Joe. And +then, bidding his friends good-bye, he went to his +boarding place to pen a letter to the English +solicitor.</p> + +<p>And while Joe is doing that just a moment will +be taken to acquaint new readers with something +of the history of Joe Strong, as it has been given +in the previous books of this series.</p> + +<p>In the first volume, entitled “Joe Strong, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>Boy Wizard; Or, the Mysteries of Magic Exposed,” +it is related that Joe, having run away +from home, fell in with a stage magician, Professor +Rosello, and went on the road with him, doing +tricks. Joe was particularly fitted for this, as his +father, Alexander Strong, known as Professor +Morretti, had been a magician himself.</p> + +<p>The boy’s mother, whose maiden name was Janet +Willoughby, had learned to ride spirited horses in +England, where she was born. She afterward came +to America and joined a circus, she and her husband +sometimes traveling together and again in +separate shows.</p> + +<p>So Joe inherited dexterity and daring. He became +an expert sleight-of-hand worker, and learned +to do many circus tricks. He was fearless and +nerveless, and he could as easily balance himself +on his head on top of the church spire as he could +down on the ground.</p> + +<p>Joe’s father and mother had died when he was +small, and he was brought up by a rather strict man, +Deacon Amos Blackford, from whom he later ran +away.</p> + +<p>After various adventures on the road with +Professor Rosello, Joe Strong joined Sampson +Brothers’ Circus and became one of the performers. +In the second volume, named “Joe Strong on the +Trapeze; Or, the Daring Feats of a Young Circus +Performer,” the story of Joe’s life in the circus +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>is given. It was an exciting one. He made friends +and enemies, and among the former were Bill +Watson, the veteran clown, who had known Joe’s +mother; Benny Turton, who performed in a big +glass tank of water, and was known as the human +fish; and Helen Morton, a pretty bareback rider.</p> + +<p>Joe became an expert on the trapeze and flying +rings, and it was while with the show that he once +showed how long he could stay under water in +Benny’s glass tank.</p> + +<p>In the third volume, “Joe Strong, the Boy Fish; +Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank,” we find +Joe taking the place of Benny Turton, who became +incapacitated through illness.</p> + +<p>Joe had many adventures while acting as the +“boy fish.” He improved Ben’s act greatly, and +learned to stay under water for nearly five minutes +at a stretch. This served him in good stead once +when a diver was caught in an outlet pipe at the +bottom of a big reservoir.</p> + +<p>From a stranded circus juggler Joe bought a +motor-cycle. He became an expert rider, then had +an idea that he could do some thrilling tricks with +the gasoline-bicycle. In the fourth book, called +“Joe Strong on the High Wire; Or, Motor-Cycle +Perils of the Air,” we find Joe perfecting the feat +of riding his machine across an open space on a +suspended wire.</p> + +<p>But this was not the only feat the lad did, for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>he climbed up the outside of the Flatiron Building +in New York, for a moving picture concern, and +rode across a street on a wire stretched from one +high building to another.</p> + +<p>Joe left the circus for a time, but came back to +it to give exhibitions of his motor-cycle riding, and +it was while on the road that he received information +which enabled him to claim some money from +England. His mother, it appeared, was heir to +part of a large estate. She had been disowned by +her family when she married Mr. Strong, but at +the last her father forgave her, and expressed a +wish to have her share in his money.</p> + +<p>While on his motor-cycle one day Joe was able +to save from severe injury, if not from death, two +Englishmen, Mr. Forrest Craige and Mr. Floyd +Strailey, and it was Mr. Craige who helped our +hero to obtain his inheritance.</p> + +<p>With the money he received Joe was able to +carry out a long-cherished scheme—that of building +for himself wings of steel, a partial account +of which has already been given in the present +volume.</p> + +<p>The youth had left the circus at the close of +the previous season, when the show wintered in +one of the Southern states, in order to devote his +time to building his queer flying machine. Now it +was nearing completion.</p> + +<p>The circus was again on the road, but Joe was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>not with it, though he thought he might rejoin it +at some future time. Among the reasons for this, +aside from earning his living, was the fact that +Joe was very fond of Helen Morton, and he had +a faint idea that some day he might be able to manage +matters so she would not have to perform in +public, as a circus environment is not always best +for a girl, though there are many noble men and +women in the profession.</p> + +<p>At any rate, Joe’s wings of steel were now nearly +finished, and he had great hopes of what he could +do with them by giving exhibitions in public, as +he had done when he rode his motor-cycle on the +high wire.</p> + +<p>“But if what this lawyer says is true, and I am +to get no more money from mother’s estate, and, +not only that, but have to pay back what I have +already used, then good-bye wings of steel!” said +Joe gloomily, as he again read the epistle from +England. “Let’s see what it is he says,” he mused.</p> + +<p>In brief the letter, which was from another +attorney than the one who originally had the case, +stated that one of the heirs under the will of Mr. +Willoughby, who was the father of Joe’s mother, +had objected to our hero sharing in the estate, and +announced his intention of making Joe pay back +the money received.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what’s the matter with him, anyhow,” +mused Joe as he glanced over the letter. “This +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>objecting heir got a bigger share than any one else, +and yet he isn’t satisfied. He wants mine, too. +There is bound to be a lot of litigation over the +matter, so this lawyer says,” went on Joe gloomily; +“and lawsuits cost money. I wish I were rich +enough to go over there and find out things for +myself. It isn’t any fun to have to be writing +letters back and forth. But it’s the only way. I’ve +spent nearly all my spare cash on that machine. +If that is a failure, I’m ‘up the spout,’ as the Dutchman +said.</p> + +<p>“Well, the only thing to do is to keep on and see +where I come out. I ought to get the motors in +a few days, and then we’ll see what can be done.”</p> + +<p>When he had first had his idea for the wings of +steel, which he thought would enable him to give +even a more spectacular performance than he had +given with his motor-cycle on the high wire, Joe had +gone to Mr. Brader, the manufacturer who had +made his first apparatus, to have him build the +flying machine.</p> + +<p>At first Mr. Brader, who manufactured much +special apparatus for circus performers, had said +Joe’s plan was not feasible. But the young performer +had insisted on having what he wanted, and +as he had made a working plan for the machine, +the manufacturer set his men to work on it in his +factory.</p> + +<p>“And now it’s all but done,” said Joe, as he sat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>down to write to the English solicitor. “Only Ben +and Bill seem to think I’m going to break my neck +with it. Well, I’ll show them that it’s perfectly +safe. I’ll soon be flying up near the clouds. It +will be great!” And, for the moment, his exultation +drove away his gloomy feeling concerning the +possible loss of his money.</p> + +<p>Joe wrote to the solicitor, urging him to do his +best to secure the rest of our hero’s inheritance +for him. He explained why he wanted it, and said +it did not seem fair to make him pay back what +he had already been given, even if no more were +forthcoming.</p> + +<p>“There! We’ll see what comes of that!” the lad +exclaimed, as he went out to post the letter. “I +wish Mr. Craige’s lawyer had charge of the case, +instead of this Mr. Bolling. I wonder if I can +trust him? I must make some inquiries.”</p> + +<p>And then, there being nothing further Joe could +do, he decided to ride over on his motor-cycle that +afternoon to visit some of his circus friends.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_III"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER III</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A SETBACK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Preparations for giving the evening performance +of the circus were under way when Joe +arrived. He left his motor-cycle with one of the +men he knew and then proceeded to look for Helen, +Benny or some others of his friends. Benny was +on his way to the dining tent, but as Joe saw +Helen at the same time that he had a glimpse of the +human fish, it can be imagined in which direction +the lad walked. Ben called to him, however:</p> + +<p>“Well, did you cable your lawyer to hustle that +money over to you right away, and quit fooling?”</p> + +<p>“I wish I could have done that,” Joe answered, +“but I wrote him a stiff letter.”</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Ben. “See you later. Will +you come over and have a bite?”</p> + +<p>“Not now, thanks.”</p> + +<p>Joe greeted Helen with a smile.</p> + +<p>“I see you are still alive,” she murmured as she +shook hands with him.</p> + +<p>“Why shouldn’t I be?” asked Joe, with a puzzled +look.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, I didn’t know, from what Ben and Bill +told me, but that you might be trying to fly over +to see us, and if you did you might have fallen on +the way.”</p> + +<p>“Not quite so bad as that, Helen.”</p> + +<p>“Joe, are you really going to trust yourself to +those wings of steel?”</p> + +<p>“I am, if I can get them to work.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll use a life-net, won’t you, as you did in +your motor-cycle act?”</p> + +<p>“I can’t very well. You see I expect to cover +a good bit of space when I fly up and soar around, +and it would have to be a pretty big net to catch +me if I fell.”</p> + +<p>“But what if you do fall, Joe?” and Helen +seemed quite anxious.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m not going to fall,” he told the pretty +bareback rider. “I’ve faith enough in my machine +for that. But it isn’t in working order yet. Now +let’s talk about yourself. How are you, and how +is the nice horse?” for Helen had a steed named +Rosebud, of which she was very fond, as was +Joe.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Rosebud is all right. I’m just on my way +to give him his sugar allowance. Want to come +with me?”</p> + +<p>“I most certainly do.”</p> + +<p>A little later Helen and Joe were in the animal +tent, and Rosebud was rubbing his velvety muzzle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>first against the youth and then against Helen’s +hand, as she fed him the lumps of sugar.</p> + +<p>“That’s his reward for being good to-day,” +Helen said with a smile. “I never had him act +better in the ring, and I put him through some new +tricks for the first time in public this afternoon, +too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s nice. How is the show going, by the +way?”</p> + +<p>Helen paused a moment before replying. Then +she said:</p> + +<p>“Well, Joe, to tell you the truth, it isn’t going as +well as it did when you were with it last season.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so? I hope my leaving didn’t have +anything to do with it, Helen.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we miss you, of course; but you see we’re +on a new circuit, and playing in sections of the +country where there isn’t such a large population +as we’re used to. We’re not getting the crowds +we are in the habit of playing to, and I think the +management is beginning to feel it.”</p> + +<p>“Is Jim Tracy worried?” asked Joe, referring to +his good friend, the ring-master, who was one of +the owners of the show.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think he is. We all are, in fact, for of +course our salaries depend on the money the circus +takes in. I’m better off than some, for you know +I have my little inheritance from grandfather’s +estate to fall back on. But some of the performers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>haven’t saved anything, and if the show fails——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it won’t do that!” interrupted Joe quickly. +“Can’t Jim change the route so as to get into a +better section of the country?”</p> + +<p>“He’s thought of that, he told me. But the +trouble is that the other good routes are taken up +by other circuses, and you know it isn’t much use +to follow a show in a city.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” Joe admitted. “Once the small +boy and his sister have seen one show in a season, +dad or mother isn’t going to give them money for a +second peep, no matter how much Johnny and Mary +want to go.”</p> + +<p>“That’s it,” agreed Helen, as she patted Rosebud. +“So you see there isn’t much of anything +that can be done except to keep on and hope for +better audiences. That’s one reason why I put +Rosebud into a new act. I wanted to make a +thriller. I hoped it would draw a crowd.”</p> + +<p>“And has it?”</p> + +<p>“It hasn’t had a chance for a good test yet. +This is the first day.”</p> + +<p>“Is it a thriller?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll let you judge of that, if you’re going to stay +for the night show.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am. I’ll see you then, Helen.”</p> + +<p>A little later Joe, after visiting with some of the +circus men, went to supper with Helen.</p> + +<p>Torches were glowing, and the “barkers” out in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>front of the side show were bawling out the attractions +within. Inside the big tents (the one where +the animals were exhibited, and the “main top” +where the performance took place) the portable +gasoline-incandescent lights were aglow. Helen +had gone to her dressing room, and Joe stood about +watching the crowds approaching, for the hour of +the night show was at hand.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t going to be a very good crowd,” mused +Joe, as he estimated the numbers in the throng. “I +guess they’re doing about a fourth less business +than when I was with them. Not that my act made +all the difference,” he told himself with a smile. +“It must be, as Helen says, that they’re on a +poor route. Well, I’ll go inside and see what’s +happening.”</p> + +<p>Joe knew the ticket taker at the entrance, who +passed him in with a nod, saying:</p> + +<p>“If you don’t look out, Joe, we’ll be after you +to be with us again.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to wait until I get my new act +worked up,” Joe answered with a smile.</p> + +<p>With a burst of music and with flares from the +trumpets, the grand entry was made; then later, as +the camels, horses and elephants filed out, the gaily +clad men and women performers ran in to do their +acts.</p> + +<p>Joe looked over to where the Lascalla Brothers, +a troupe of trapeze performers, were flying through +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>the air, somersaulting and doing all manner of +tricks. Joe’s first appearance in circus work had +been with this team, the members of which were +“brothers” in name only.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t mind doing a few stunts on the bars +or rings,” said the youth to himself, as he watched +his former partners. “I think I’ll try it in private. +Nothing like keeping one’s arms and legs supple. +There is no telling when I might need to do some +of the stunts I used to do. If I get my wings of +steel to work, trapeze practice will be just the thing +for me.”</p> + +<p>Joe turned to look at Benny Turton, who was +performing tricks in a tank of water, while in another +tank, built around the first in such a way as +to make it appear to be but one big glass box, swam +a number of goldfish. A trained seal, Lizzie, performed +with Ben.</p> + +<p>“Here’s what I want to see!” Joe exclaimed, as +Helen came daintily into the ring, an attendant +leading her horse, Rosebud. And then the girl in +whom Joe was so greatly interested went through +her act with her well-trained steed. Toward the +close Helen made a flying leap from a pedestal +to the back of Rosebud while the horse was +going at a good rate of speed. It was a +dangerous act, but it brought forth a round of +applause.</p> + +<p>“How did you like it, Joe?” asked Helen, after +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>the show when there was time to talk. “Was it +thrilling enough?”</p> + +<p>“Too much so, Helen,” said Joe gravely. “I +don’t like you to do that last jump.”</p> + +<p>“Why not? I’ve been practising it for ever so +long. To-day is the first time I have used it, +and, as I said, we simply must put on a more +thrilling show or the people won’t come to see +us.”</p> + +<p>“I know. But you might fall and be hurt.”</p> + +<p>“So might you, on your motor-cycle or your +wings of steel—more especially on the wings of +steel. If it’s risky for me, Joe, it’s risky for you, +and I couldn’t be hurt half as much as you could, +for I wouldn’t fall far.”</p> + +<p>“I know, Helen. But I wish you’d give up that +jump.”</p> + +<p>“Do you, really, Joe?” and she looked at him +earnestly.</p> + +<p>“I certainly do!” he exclaimed with emphasis. +“If you were hurt, Helen, I would——”</p> + +<p>Joe did not finish, but Helen knew what he +meant.</p> + +<p>“I can’t give up that stunt, Joe,” she said. “But +I’ll promise to be very careful—that is if you do +the same.”</p> + +<p>“I will, Helen. Let’s shake on it!”</p> + +<p>“All right,” she agreed laughingly, and if the boy +held her hand longer than was really necessary for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>a bargain-binding clasp, who is going to find fault +with him?</p> + +<p>Joe did not care to ride back the ten miles to his +boarding place near the apparatus factory after +dark on his motor-cycle, so he stayed at a hotel +in the city where the circus was playing. In the +morning he called to say good-bye to Helen.</p> + +<p>“I want to get back and see if my motors for +the wings of steel have arrived,” he told the girl.</p> + +<p>“When shall I see you again?” she asked him.</p> + +<p>“The first chance I get. I’ll be able to ride over +when you show in Millville, I think.”</p> + +<p>“Do,” she urged.</p> + +<p>“And be careful about your jump,” called Joe.</p> + +<p>“I will,” she promised.</p> + +<p>It was three days after this that the motors for +which Joe had been waiting arrived at the factory. +Then followed a busy time while he and Mr. +Brader’s men attached them to the wings of steel, +and connected them to the small but powerful storage +batteries inside the framework.</p> + +<p>“There!” Joe exclaimed, “my machine is done, +all but some finishing touches which have nothing +to do with the power to mount into the air. I’m +going to give it a trial.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going up in it yourself?” asked Mr. +Brader.</p> + +<p>“Not the first time. I’ll set it going without +taking my place inside the framework. I’ll have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>a rope fastened to it so it can’t get away, and I’ll +attach a spring balance to see how much upward +pull it registers. If it lifts itself and pulls enough +pounds to represent my weight, I’ll know it’s a +success.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a good way to test it,” said Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>The test came off the next day in the same lot +outside the factory where Joe had given his motor-cycle-wire +act its initial test.</p> + +<p>The wings of steel were rather uncanny looking, +some of the men thought, for they seemed like a +great bat or some prehistoric monster. With Joe +in the contrivance it would appear even more striking +and odd. But he was not yet going to trust +himself to it.</p> + +<p>The device was brought out, and preliminary +tests made of the motors and batteries.</p> + +<p>“Well, everything seems to be all right,” the +young inventor announced. “Now for the real +test.”</p> + +<p>A rope was made fast to the “<i>Bat</i>,” as Joe had +christened his wings of steel. This rope was to +prevent its soaring off, on the same principle that a +captive balloon is held to earth. To the motors was +attached a long wire with a switch connection. +This was so arranged that Joe could turn on the +power, the <i>Bat</i> would rise, trailing the wire after +it, and Joe could shut off the current any time he +desired. As he would not be in the <i>Bat</i> to steer it, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>he set the rudders to guide the craft up on a gentle +slant, and out away from the factory. Also there +was a spring balance to test the pull of the machine.</p> + +<p>“Here she goes!” cried the lad, as he turned the +switch.</p> + +<p>There was a hum as the motors received the +current from the storage battery, and the great +wings flapped up and down, slowly at first, and +then more rapidly as Joe turned on more current.</p> + +<p>“She’s going up!” cried Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bat</i> left the ground a little way. Joe looked +at the spring scale, and his face showed disappointment. +He turned on the power full, but the <i>Bat</i> +did not rise any higher, and as the boy read the pull +exerted, he said:</p> + +<p>“Only fifty pounds! Not a third enough. +Something is wrong!”</p> + +<p>And even as he spoke the wings of steel fell back +to the ground with a crash of metal.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER IV</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">UNDER CANVAS AGAIN</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Too bad, Joe!” exclaimed Mr. Brader. “What +seems to be the trouble?”</p> + +<p>The former circus performer shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell yet,” he answered. “The main thing +seems to be that the motors aren’t powerful enough, +and that means the storage battery isn’t strong +enough.”</p> + +<p>“But she went up, Joe. Couldn’t you give her +more current?”</p> + +<p>“I gave her all I could, and burned out a safety +fuse. That was what made it fall back. The +current failed when the fuse went out. I hope +nothing was smashed.”</p> + +<p>A hasty examination of the <i>Bat</i> showed that +there were several slight breaks but that they could +easily be fixed. The main trouble was that the +wings of steel were not powerful enough to lift +Joe, even if they would raise and fly the machine +itself.</p> + +<p>Joe readjusted the mechanism, put in a new fuse, +changed the tilt of the rudders slightly and rearranged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>the wiring that led from the batteries to +the motors so as to give them slightly more current. +But this did no good. The <i>Bat</i> rose slightly, it is +true, but the pull exerted, as shown on the scale, was +but forty pounds.</p> + +<p>“Something sure is wrong,” Joe declared despondently. +“I’ve got to make some changes.”</p> + +<p>He began work that very day, taking out the +motors to see if they could be made more powerful. +As this class of work was not done in the circus +apparatus factory, Joe had to go to New York, +to a concern that made a specialty of small +motors.</p> + +<p>There he received another setback, for he was +told that the motors he had were the most powerful +that could be made and keep within the weight he +had specified.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll have to increase the weight,” Joe +decided, “and I’ll have to make the wings larger to +exert more lifting power. Can it be done?”</p> + +<p>“Well, perhaps,” said the head engineer of the +motor concern. “By using a different kind of metal +which is lighter but stronger than that which we +did use, we may be able to get a more powerful +motor and, at the same time, not add much to +your burden.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you would,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to be rather expensive, though.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it can’t be helped, I suppose,” remarked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>Joe. But the setback had come at a bad time for +him, since his money was going fast, and that which +he had counted on getting from the English estate +was tied up.</p> + +<p>“And I may lose it altogether,” Joe said. “I +don’t wish any trouble to the heir who is making +all this fuss, but if he would just drop out of sight +long enough for me to get the balance due me, I’d +appreciate it. I think I’ll write to Mr. Craige and +see if he can’t get the syndicate lawyer to take up +the case again. He put it through before ‘with bells +on’, as the boys say. If he’d handle my case I’m +sure there wouldn’t be such a delay. This Mr. Kent +Bolling may be all right, but I don’t like the way +he acts.”</p> + +<p>Writing letters concerning his English money, +and paying visits every day to the motor factory, +Joe put in a busy two weeks. Occasionally he heard +from Helen, writing pleasant letters in response +to her chatty ones. But he was not able to run +over to the circus when it showed in Millville, as +he was in New York at the time. Work on the +motors was proceeding slowly, and Joe had to draw +his bank account down pretty low to meet the +necessary expenses.</p> + +<p>“If worst comes to worst I might climb the Flatiron +Building again,” mused Joe as he passed the +structure at Broadway and Fifth Avenue one day. +He recalled the time when he had done this for a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>moving picture concern, and remembered that he +had been paid a goodly sum for it.</p> + +<p>“And I might see if they want me to do some +more wire-riding with my motor-cycle,” the boy +continued to muse. “I don’t want to take up that +again unless I must, but if my <i>Bat</i> isn’t going to +be a success I may have to.”</p> + +<p>The motors were finally completed and Joe +shipped them to the Brader factory, writing that +he would be there soon himself to superintend the +attaching of them to his wings of steel.</p> + +<p>“And if they aren’t successful this time, I don’t +know what I shall do,” thought the youth, a bit +despondently.</p> + +<p>It was nearly two weeks before the queer machine +could be so changed as to make the new motors +fit. The wings were also made larger by several +square feet of surface.</p> + +<p>“That ought to give lifting power enough to +pull up two chaps like me,” said Joe. “I’m going +to try to increase the size of the battery, too, in +order to get more current.”</p> + +<p>Once more the test was arranged for, and to +make sure that it would be a fair one the young +experimenter put inside the cage a weight more +than equal to his own.</p> + +<p>“If the wings lift that they’ll lift me,” he said.</p> + +<p>The controlling wire was to be used as before, +as were also the rope and the pull-registering scale.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> + +<p>There was an anxious look on Joe’s face as he +took his position with the electrical switch in his +hand. He, and Mr. Brader also, had gone carefully +over every part of the wings, and there seemed +to have been left undone nothing that could make +for success.</p> + +<p>“All ready, Joe?” asked the apparatus manufacturer.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” the boy answered. “Here she goes once +more.”</p> + +<p>There was a click as Joe pressed the switch, and +at once there arose a low humming from the motors.</p> + +<p>“That sounds better!” cried Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’ve got more power this time,” the lad +said. There was a hopeful look on his face.</p> + +<p>The big wings began to beat up and down. +Faster and faster they went, until the breeze they +created could be felt at some distance away, and +one man’s hat was blown off.</p> + +<p>“Feed the current slowly, Joe,” advised Mr. +Brader.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I’m doing. I don’t want to burn +out any more fuses. But I’m using a heavier one +this time.”</p> + +<p>Faster went the wings, and those looking closely +could see the <i>Bat</i> lift a little way from the +ground.</p> + +<p>“She’s going up!” eagerly cried one of the workmen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure,” cautioned Joe. He did not +want another disappointment.</p> + +<p>Slowly he pushed around the graduated electrical +switch, each segment over which the copper connection +passed allowing more and more current to +flow into the motors.</p> + +<p>Faster vibrated the wings up and down, their +motions being almost identical with those of the +weird animal after which the wings of steel were +named.</p> + +<p>At last, when the final bit of energy was flowing +through the motors which were now humming and +whining, the queer machine arose suddenly from +the ground. It went higher than on the occasion +of the first test, and Joe, glancing at the scale, +noted a pull of thirty-five pounds.</p> + +<p>“I think that will do the trick!” he exclaimed. +“If it pulls that much with a weight in it equal to +me, I ought to be able to fly all right. I believe +it’s a success!”</p> + +<p>But the young experimenter spoke too soon. +Suddenly there was a flash of fire in the motor +compartment of the <i>Bat</i>. Then came a sharp +report and a puff of smoke. The machine settled +back to the ground with a crash.</p> + +<p>“What was that?” cried Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>“One of the motors has burned out,” said Joe +despondently. “I guess I used too heavy a safety +fuse. Well, it’s all off now.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>The smell of burning insulation filled the air, and +Joe quickly shut off the current to prevent a similar +accident in the other motor. The <i>Bat</i> was not damaged +by the drop, as it was a slight one, and Joe, +profiting by his first experience, had put springs +in the bottom to take up the shock.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess it’s a failure,” the youth went +on. “These are the best motors I could get, and +if they won’t stand the strain nothing will. I’m +going to quit—at least for a time.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Brader, who had never been very sanguine +as to the success of the wings of steel, did not try +to change the lad’s mind. He felt that it was a +waste of money to build such a machine.</p> + +<p>And, though he did not say so, Joe had spent all +he could afford.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got to go to work and earn more,” he said +to himself, as he gave orders to have the <i>Bat</i> stored +in the factory.</p> + +<p>“I’ll try to think up a new way of applying the +power,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Then you aren’t giving up for good?” asked +Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed.”</p> + +<p>Joe’s plans were unsettled for the next few days. +He did not know just what to do, but, in a measure, +the matter was decided for him. A letter came +to him from his friend, Jim Tracy, the circus ring-master.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Joe,” wrote one of the owners of the Sampson +Brothers’ Show, “I wish you could see your way +to come back to us. We are playing to better +business now, and I want to make good with the +public. We miss your high-wire act. Can you +come on and join the show? Let your wings of +steel go for the present.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“I guess he doesn’t know what happened to +them,” said Joe, with a grim smile.</p> + +<p>Then he began to think seriously of what Jim +Tracy had written. Here was an unexpected way +out of his financial difficulties.</p> + +<p>“I could go with the show for the season and +earn enough to have another essay at my wings,” +the youth reflected. “There must be something +wrong with them. I may have to hire an expert +aeroplanist to look them over. I could do that. +Yes, I think I’ll go back to the circus again.”</p> + +<p>He telegraphed his determination to the ring-master, +and a week later Joe was again under +canvas.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_V"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER V</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">IN THE TANK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“So you had to come back to us after all, Joe?”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’re glad to see you again.”</p> + +<p>“And we hope you won’t have to go away any +more.”</p> + +<p>Thus Joe Strong’s circus friends greeted him +when he rejoined the tented show. They crowded +around him, shaking hands and clapping him on +the back, some good-naturedly chaffing him because +of his failure to become a “birdman.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I haven’t given up yet,” said Joe, +accepting the criticisms in the spirit in which they +were offered. “I’ve merely come down for a rest. +I’ll fly yet.”</p> + +<p>“The best flying you can do will be on your motor-cycle,” +said Bill Watson. “Or, if you like, you +can team it with me in a clown act, Joe.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, I’ll think about it. But I’m afraid I +can’t be as funny as you are.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks for the compliment,” and the veteran +clown went to his dressing room to get ready to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>make the circus audience, young and old, laugh +and be merry.</p> + +<p>“No, but, seriously, Joe, what are you going to +do?” asked Helen, as she paused on her way to +prepare for the afternoon performance, for Joe had +arrived just prior to that event.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t given it much thought,” he said. “I +want to talk it over with Jim Tracy. Of course my +motor-cycle act would go well, but the paraphernalia +for that is rather bulky to carry about, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Not so bulky as the elephants.”</p> + +<p>“No,” he laughed. “Well, I’m going to be a +spectator to-night, and think it over. I may see +some of the acts that need improving, and if I do +I’ll offer my valuable services.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry Rosebud doesn’t carry double,” said +Helen, also laughing. “Else we might team it.”</p> + +<p>“Say, that <em>would</em> be great!” Joe exclaimed. “I +wonder if I couldn’t plan out something like that?”</p> + +<p>“Think it over,” Helen advised.</p> + +<p>But as Joe watched the performance that afternoon +he could not call to mind any part he could +play in Helen’s act. It was perfect as it was, and, +as she had said, Rosebud would not carry double, +as do some of the ring horses in the circus—a man +and a woman riding around and doing all manner of +exploits and tricks on the bare back of the animal.</p> + +<p>“No, I’ve got to think of something else,” decided +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>the lad. “I guess for the present I’ll go back to +rope, ring and trapeze work. That will keep my +muscles in good shape until the time comes when +I can fly on my wings of steel. For I am going to +make them work!” he told himself vigorously. +“I’m going to find out what’s wrong and correct it. +And if I can’t fly across the country, as I hope, I +can perhaps make flights in the big tent, and build +up a reputation that way.”</p> + +<p>When Joe mentioned the matter to his friend, +the ring-master, Jim Tracy decided that perhaps +it would be best for the lad to resume his trapeze +work, which had been his first work with the +circus.</p> + +<p>“Our trapeze part of the show needs strengthening,” +said Jim Tracy, “and you’re the boy that can +put a little ginger into it, Joe. The Lascallas are +rather falling down lately. I don’t mean that literally, +but they work sort of listlessly. See what you +can do.”</p> + +<p>And Joe did. He at once began to practise on +the flying rings and the trapeze, also doing some +turns on the long rope. The boy had made a specialty +of this before, doing some novel tricks, such as +sliding down a rope head first without using his +hands on the strands and coming to a sudden stop +with his head but a few inches from the ground. +This always made the spectators gasp.</p> + +<p>Joe’s trapeze act and similar feats have already +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>been fully described in the second volume of this +series. Suffice it to say now that he repeated his +former triumphs and brought new laurels to himself +by thrilling the crowds.</p> + +<p>Joe worked alone on his second advent to the +circus, preferring to do so rather than to do team +work with the Lascallas.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, though, if he had asked them to let him +work with them, they might have refused, for there +was not a little professional jealousy of Joe on the +part of the other trapeze performers. The boy +received so much applause that this was natural, +though it does not follow that the rival actors did +not do well. They did, but Joe brought to his +feats such vim, dash and daring that he fairly compelled +applause.</p> + +<p>Through it all, however, he was always thinking +of his wings of steel, and wondering how they +could be made to work, to lift him high up +in the clouds so he could soar down like a +bird.</p> + +<p>“There’s something wrong with them,” decided +Joe, “and it’s going to take money to find out what +it is and to get them right. And to earn money +I’ve got to stay in the circus a while.”</p> + +<p>The youth received a good salary, and, as his +board and lodging cost him nothing, he was able +to save a considerable portion of it, for he was not +a spendthrift.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p>The show moved on from city to city, and Joe +went with it. Business was fairly good, though +not what it had been during the previous season, +and Jim Tracy was constantly trying to devise new +ways for bettering his attractions. There were no +new animals he could secure, for he already had a +good supply, and, moreover, they are not the main +part of the show except in the country districts. +In cities the audiences demanded acts, and thrilling +acts at that.</p> + +<p>“So it’s our acts we’ve got to brush up,” the +ring-master said, in talking matters over with the +other owners of the show.</p> + +<p>“How are you going to do it?” some one asked.</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll get Joe Strong to put back his +motor-cycle act,” he said. “That will do for one +thing.”</p> + +<p>“The strong man can’t lift any more, that’s sure,” +said Mr. Ward, one of the partners, “and the fat +lady can’t get any fatter.”</p> + +<p>“It wouldn’t do much good if she could,” +declared Jim, “as they are only freak acts. We +want thrillers.”</p> + +<p>Joe Strong, coming out of his dressing tent one +day at the conclusion of the afternoon performance, +saw the ring-master pacing up and down in a +thoughtful manner.</p> + +<p>“What’s wrong now, Jim?” our hero asked. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>“Has the baby elephant bitten the boxing kangaroo?”</p> + +<p>“No, it’s only that we’ve got to put some more +ginger into this show. Have you noticed how dull +the audiences seem to be lately? Nothing seems +to wake ’em up. Even Bill Watson’s new clown +act isn’t going as well as it deserves.”</p> + +<p>“I hadn’t noticed,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>“No, because you get good hands, and then +you’re out of the tent when the frost settles down. +But we’ve got to do something, and I guess you’d +better bring back your motor-cycle act. We’ll pay +you more money for doing that than for the trapeze +work.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you really want it I guess I can arrange +it,” Joe said. “I’ll telegraph to have the apparatus +sent on. Meanwhile, maybe I can work up a +little enthusiasm for you in a new way—or rather +by varying something you have at present.”</p> + +<p>“How do you mean, Joe?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll show you to-night. Let it come as a surprise.”</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy looked thoughtfully at Joe for a +moment. Then the ring-master said:</p> + +<p>“All right. I’ll leave it to you. You’ve pulled +off quite a few good stunts in the past, and maybe +you can again. You have full leeway. Do just +as you please, Joe.”</p> + +<p>And Joe did.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span></p> + +<p>That night there was a large crowd in the big +tent, but, as the ring-master had said, it did not +show much enthusiasm. The people watched the +trick ponies, the lumbering elephants and the racing +horses. They smiled, some even laughed aloud, +at the antics of the clowns; but there were few +gasps at some of the really good work of the +trapeze performers, including Joe’s.</p> + +<p>When Benny Turton came on to do his tank act +more interest was shown. This tank, where Joe had +formerly acted the part of the boy fish, has been +described in the third book of this series; so all +that need be said here about it is that Benny did +some tricks under water. The tank had double +walls, and between them goldfish swam on all four +sides, so that it looked as though the “human fish,” +as Benny was billed, was really swimming among +the fish. It was an optical illusion, though when +Joe, who had introduced the goldfish, first did the +trick the fish were actually in the water with him.</p> + +<p>However, when Joe added a trained seal to this +act the fish had to be isolated, or Lizzie, the seal, +would have eaten them, for fish were her favorite +food. So the double glass sides enabled Ben, who +had again taken up the act when Joe left it, to have +both the seal and the fish, making the turn quite +spectacular.</p> + +<p>Benny began his act. In his shimmering, rubber +suit, covered with glittering scales, he looked not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>unlike a big fish. He dived into the water and did +some posing, showing how long he could hold his +breath. Then he gave the signal for the seal to +be loosed from her crate on the ground near the +tank, which stood on a raised platform.</p> + +<p>As the seal flapped her way toward the flight of +steps, up which she wiggled herself to get into the +tank, an uncouth looking fellow darted from his +seat near the ring and rushed toward Lizzie.</p> + +<p>“Here, come back, you!” cried one of the uniformed +ushers. “What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Mister Officer, I want to catch that there +animal!” the fellow exclaimed in a nasal drawl. +“She’s loose; can’t you see? She’ll bite somebody. +What sort of a critter is it, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>“Come back here and let it alone!” yelled the +usher. “It’s all right!”</p> + +<p>“But, Mister Officer, the critter’s loose!”</p> + +<p>“I know. It’s meant to be that way. It’s part of +the show, don’t you understand?”</p> + +<p>But the outlandish looking individual did not +heed. He rushed after Lizzie, the seal, who was +now barking loudly in her peculiar way and lumbering +up the steps. Right after her ran the man, +the usher pursuing him. Many were now watching +what was going on, and Ben, in his tank, looked +curiously at the little unexpected happening.</p> + +<p>Up the steps went the seal, the queer fellow close +after her. At the edge of the tank Lizzie hesitated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>a moment, and then plunged gracefully in. The +man made a grab for her, seemingly lost his balance, +and then, amid a roar of laughter from the +audience, in he too plunged, splashing the water +over the usher.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER VI</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A NEW ACT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>That part of the audience near the tank was +instantly in an uproar, and persons farther off were +wondering what had happened.</p> + +<p>“Get him out!”</p> + +<p>“He’ll be drowned!”</p> + +<p>“Man overboard!”</p> + +<p>These were only a few of the cries uttered by +the crowd.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the usher and some of the special +officers who traveled with the circus to preserve +order did not know what to do. Several of them +gathered about the tank, and some one summoned +Jim Tracy from the ring where he was putting a +squad of horses through their paces.</p> + +<p>“Some rube fell in the tank while chasing the +seal, eh?” remarked Jim Tracy. “Well, I’ll get him +out if I have to use an elephant hook. Who is +he?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” the man answered. “I never +saw him before. He was one of the crowd. Just +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>jumped up out of his seat and rushed after the seal. +It was funny, in a way.”</p> + +<p>“Was it?” asked Jim. “I’ll make it funny for +him if he tries to spoil one of our best acts!”</p> + +<p>The ring-master rushed over to the tank, and, +hastening up the steps so he could look down in +the tank, he cried:</p> + +<p>“Here, you rube, come out of that! What do +you mean, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>Jim gestured violently, for he happened to think +that the person under water could not hear what +was being said.</p> + +<p>And then to the surprise of the ring-master, as +well as to the astonishment of the crowd and the +ushers, the stranger in the tank, who had remained +under water all this while, calmly took off a false +moustache and revealed the features of Joe Strong.</p> + +<p>As if that was not enough, Joe proceeded to take +off his clothes, the big boots and other “make-up” +of a countryman, and reveal himself in a suit similar +to Benny’s—the same suit Joe had worn when he +did the tank act.</p> + +<p>“Well—I’ll—be—jiggered!” exclaimed Jim +Tracy, and there was no concealing his surprise. +Joe had “put one over” on him and the rest of the +circus folk, as well as fooled the public, giving +them all a good joke to laugh over.</p> + +<p>Then Joe and Ben proceeded to do a sort of +team act in the tank, holding their breath under +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>water, while about them swam the seal and, in the +outer tank, the goldfish.</p> + +<p>It was a big “hit” and the crowd appreciated the +act, applauding loudly and long.</p> + +<p>“I thought it was a real farmer.”</p> + +<p>“So did I!”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t he act naturally?”</p> + +<p>“And wasn’t it funny the way he chased the seal, +and fell in after it?”</p> + +<p>Thus commented the persons in the audience one +to another, laughing meanwhile at Joe’s clever +act.</p> + +<p>When our hero came out, leaving Benny to do +the long-holding-breath act alone, Jim Tracy spoke.</p> + +<p>“Is that what you were planning to do to put +some ginger in the show?”</p> + +<p>“It was,” answered Joe with a smile. “Do you +think I succeeded?”</p> + +<p>“You surely did. We’ve got to have that at +every performance after this, even if we have to +cut out your trapeze work. How’d you happen to +think of it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it just sort of came to me. I had planned, +after talking to you, to do a sort of team act with +Ben, and he agreed to it. Then it occurred to me +that it would go better if it could come about unexpectedly. +So I told him what I was going to do, +but I didn’t let on to you for fear you wouldn’t like +it. Then, too, I wanted to make it as natural as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>possible, so the public wouldn’t guess that the +ushers were in the game. So no one knew it but +Ben and me, unless it was Lizzie. I think she +must have known me, in spite of my make-up and +get-up.”</p> + +<p>“I think it likely, Joe,” laughed the ring-master. +“And so you togged yourself up and put one over +on all of us?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, a countryman’s rig isn’t hard to get, and +I bought the false moustache. I was afraid it +might come off in the water, and that you’d know +me, but it stuck on.”</p> + +<p>“You had me completely fooled,” confessed the +ring-master. “Of course we can’t fool the ushers +again, but I’ll get a good man, and coach him, so +he can pretend to think you are a real countryman +as he chases you. It will go with the public all +right, especially as we show only one day in a +town, as a rule, and to a different audience afternoon +and night. Yes, we’ll keep that as a permanent +feature, Joe. It was great!”</p> + +<p>From then on Joe had to do the trick twice a +day. It was decided to have him drop his trapeze +work, and ride the motor-cycle on the high wire +as soon as his special apparatus should be received +from the place where he had stored it.</p> + +<p>But, for the present, as soon as Joe had finished +his act on the bars, rings and ropes, he hurried to +his dressing room, and attired himself in the rig +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>of a farmer. Then he would stroll into the big +tent, just as if he were a spectator who had arrived +late. A seat would be saved for him, and near it +would be an usher who was drilled in the part he +had to play.</p> + +<p>As soon as Lizzie was loosed from her cage, up +Joe would jump, to run after the flapping animal, +pretending to think it had escaped. Then would +follow his fall into the tank. It never failed to +“bring down the house,” especially when Jim Tracy +would himself act as though he, too, had been +deceived by the trick.</p> + +<p>For Jim’s part in the odd act was as before. He +would rush over to the tank and pretend to be +vastly angry at the countryman. Then Joe would +reveal himself in his true character, and word would +circulate that he was one of the regular circus +folk.</p> + +<p>The crowds laughed at the clever way they had +been deceived, but it was good-natured laughing, +and they rather liked it than otherwise. And so +Joe had injected the necessary “ginger” into the +show, at least for the time being.</p> + +<p>“And when you put back the high-wire riding +act, that will add to it,” said Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>In due time Joe’s apparatus arrived, and was +got ready to be set up in the tent. It has been +recorded elsewhere that Joe had a thin wire cable +anchored at each end in the ground, and raised up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>by two pairs of “shears” set about three hundred +feet apart. The lad rode up the slanted wire at +one end on a motor-cycle with grooved rims on +the wheels to fit the wire. On reaching the level +stretch he shot across that at good speed, and rode +down the other side. And, while doing this, the +youth, with a revolver in each hand, would shoot +glass balls or toy balloons, shattering them with the +two shots, for Joe was an expert marksman.</p> + +<p>This act, as it had done elsewhere when put on, +thrilled the large audiences, so that Joe really did +more than his share in providing the “ginger.”</p> + +<p>“Everything’s going splendidly!” said Jim +Tracy, about a week after Joe had again put on +his motor-cycle turn. “With that and with your +fall into the tank we’re drawing big crowds, +Joe, my boy; so I’m going to give you more +money.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good! I need it.”</p> + +<p>“Still harping on your wings of steel?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I’m going to have them sooner or +later. I know my idea is all right, and I’ve got a +new man working on the machine now. He may +solve the difficulty.”</p> + +<p>As Jim Tracy left Joe, Helen, who had heard +part of what was said, approached.</p> + +<p>“Are you really still working on your queer flying +machine, Joe?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Helen, and I’m going to fly, too!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Joe, I wish you wouldn’t!” she exclaimed +impulsively.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” he asked, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Oh, suppose you should fall and be hurt—maybe +killed—what would I ever do, Joe?” and +Helen blushed as she asked this.</p> + +<p>“Would you care?” he asked softly.</p> + +<p>“You—you know I would,” she whispered, and +there was no doubt as to her fondness for Joe +Strong.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad,” was the youth’s answer. “And I will +be careful, Helen; for I like you more than any girl +I ever met.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe you won’t say that when you meet Miss +Tyndall,” returned Helen.</p> + +<p>“Miss Tyndall! Who is she?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“Oh, she’s a new performer who is coming to +us. Mr. Sampson has engaged her. He was telling +me about her. It’s going to be another new act.”</p> + +<p>“What is it? Is it like yours? Is Miss Tyndall +a bareback rider?”</p> + +<p>“No, she has what is called a ‘happy family.’ +You know—a dog, a cat, a monkey, a kangaroo, +and, I believe, some other animals. She has them +all in one cage, and she makes them do tricks. It’s +quite novel, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“Sounds good,” Joe admitted. “But what makes +you think I may be so taken with Miss Tyndall, +whom I have never seen?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>“She is very pretty, as one can tell by her picture, +which Mr. Sampson showed me.”</p> + +<p>“I know somebody else who is pretty,” commented +Joe.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be silly,” Helen advised him, but, +obviously, she was not ill-pleased. “And she is +said to be very attractive,” the girl went on. “So +I’m just warning you, Joe. Don’t look at her when +you ought to be steering your motor-cycle, or you +may take a tumble from the high wire.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll look out!” Joe promised. “Anyway, +my heart isn’t in my own keeping any more, so +there’s no further danger of my losing it. I’ve lost +it already.”</p> + +<p>Helen blushed again.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER VII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">JEALOUSY</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Say! she is pretty, all right, and that’s a dandy +little act she has.”</p> + +<p>“There! What did I tell you?” exclaimed Helen.</p> + +<p>It was Joe who had made the first remark, on +seeing, for the first time, Miss Tyndall with her +“happy family.” The new performer had arrived +and joined the circus, having been engaged personally +by Mr. Sampson, the only remaining “brother” +of the family which had given the show its name.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t mean anything except that she is +nice looking and that her act is a novel one,” protested +Joe, rather taken aback. “Can’t I say that +much?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll forgive you,” laughed Helen. “And she +certainly is pretty!”</p> + +<p>Miss Tyndall was really beautiful, and she created +a favorable impression not only on the circus folk, +but on the public in general. Though some of the +rival performers said that the new arrival made +herself appear younger than she really was.</p> + +<p>Joe, though he heard that said, paid little attention +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>to such jealous comments. He talked to Miss +Tyndall, as did many others in the circus, but he +had no special liking for her, though several of +the men joked him about the matter, and hinted +that Miss Tyndall was making sheep’s eyes at +him.</p> + +<p>“And you want to look out, Helen, or you’ll +have a rival,” they warned the owner of Rosebud.</p> + +<p>Helen tossed her head, and pretended not to care.</p> + +<p>As for Joe, he was really too busy to give more +than a passing thought to what was said. He had +two things to worry him. One was the tangle into +which his English money affairs was getting, and +the other was the unsatisfactory progress made on +his wings of steel.</p> + +<p>In regard to Joe’s inheritance, the lawyer who +had first represented him was away, and could not +take further charge of the affair. As has been +explained, the matter was in the hands of a Mr. +Bolling, and Joe did not altogether like the way +Mr. Bolling was doing.</p> + +<p>Not that there was anything unprofessional in +the solicitor’s conduct, and Joe could not find any +flaws in his legal action. But to our hero it seemed +that Mr. Bolling was not energetic enough.</p> + +<p>“It needs some of our American lawyers to handle +a case like that,” thought Joe. Mr. Bolling had +written that not only was there a slim chance of +Joe’s getting any more money, but that he might +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>even be sued for what had already been paid to +him.</p> + +<p>“Well, let ’em sue!” said Joe. “They can’t get +what I haven’t got. I’ve spent all of that money on +my wings of steel. I had a right to it; so why +shouldn’t I use it on my invention? And I’m doing +my best to earn more; for I know my wings will +succeed if they are properly made. I wonder how +that fellow is coming on with them. I must write +and find out. But first I’ve got to touch Mr. Bolling +up a bit, and let him know I think I have a +right to the rest of my mother’s money, and that +he ought to ‘hump’ himself, as the boys say, and +get it for me.”</p> + +<p>Several letters had passed back and forth between +Joe and the English solicitor, and with the writing +of them, and the correspondence about the <i>Bat</i>, +Joe was kept so busy that it is no wonder he had +no time to pay much attention to Miss Tyndall, +pretty and engaging as she was.</p> + +<p>After his failure with the wings of steel the +young experimenter had given the question of their +construction serious thought. The thing was plain. +The machine, with him in it, was too heavy to +raise itself from the ground as it was then constructed.</p> + +<p>“It is clear,” said Joe, “that I’ll have to use more +powerful motors and bigger storage batteries. +And how to do that is a question.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> + +<p>It was at this rather discouraging point that Joe +had heard of an inventor who specialized in electric +motors and batteries. The young circus performer +communicated with him, and engaged him to work +on the problem of the wings of steel. The man, a +Mr. Ryden, was much impressed with Joe’s idea, +and grew enthusiastic about it. He went to the +Brader factory, and there he was, at present, engaged +on the reconstruction of the <i>Bat</i>.</p> + +<p>Joe still kept up his two chief acts in the circus. +He gave his thrilling ride across the high wire on +his motor-cycle, and then created gales of laughter +by falling into the tank.</p> + +<p>Occasionally the lad did some of his sleight-of-hand +tricks, at which he had been so successful +when on the road with Professor Rosello. Joe +wanted to keep his fingers nimble against the day +when he might be soaring in his wings of steel.</p> + +<p>“There’ll be plenty for my hands and feet to do +when I get up in the air, with the different switches, +rudders and things to control,” reflected the boy, +“so I want to be in good practice.”</p> + +<p>At odd times, too, Joe worked in private on the +trapeze, for he wanted to keep in general good +physical condition, and nothing is better for this +than work on the bars or rings.</p> + +<p>The latest reports from Mr. Ryden about the +<i>Bat</i> were rather encouraging, and Joe was planning, +when the circus should be within traveling distance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>of the Brader factory, to ride over on his motor-cycle +to see how matters were progressing.</p> + +<p>Joe Strong had two motor machines. One was +a specially made, light one for use on the high wire, +and the other was an ordinary road machine.</p> + +<p>One day Joe was busy overhauling his road motor-cycle +in preparation for a run about the country. +He carried the two machines with him and often +went off on little pleasure trips, sometimes taking +Helen with him. He was thinking, on this occasion, +of asking her to go for a ride, as there was +plenty of time between the afternoon and the night +performances.</p> + +<p>However, he was not able to carry out his intentions, +for, just as he had his machine in readiness +and was starting to look for Helen, he saw Miss +Tyndall coming toward him, with a little dog in +her arms.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mr. Strong, I am in <em>such</em> trouble!” +exclaimed the girl who exhibited the “happy +family.”</p> + +<p>“Trouble! What kind?” asked Joe pleasantly.</p> + +<p>“It’s Pinky, my best little dog. He’s got a bone +in his throat, and I’ve got to get him to a veterinarian +right away or my pet may die. That would +spoil my act! What shall I do?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t one of the animal men get it out for you?”</p> + +<p>“They’ve tried, but Pinky is so little they +haven’t an instrument small enough. Oh! there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>must be a good veterinarian in the town. If I +could only get Pinky to him in time! But—look!”</p> + +<p>She held out the little dog, which seemed to be +in his last stages, for he was gasping and choking.</p> + +<p>“It’s too bad!” said Joe. “I wonder what we +can do? I have it!” he cried. “Jump on my motor-cycle—it’s +built for two—and I’ll run you into town +in a jiffy. Then we’ll look up an animal doctor and +see what can be done. I’d take Pinky in myself, +only I can’t very well carry him and manage the +machine.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’d rather come with you myself!” exclaimed +Miss Tyndall. “Pinky won’t let any one +touch him if I’m not with him. It’s awfully good +of you, Mr. Strong. Do I just sit on the rear seat?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, just sit steady. I’ll have you in town in +no time.”</p> + +<p>They were off a moment later, Joe directing the +machine off the circus grounds into the city on the +outskirts of which the show was being given.</p> + +<p>They inquired the way to the nearest veterinarian, +and the animal doctor was soon working over +Pinky. He easily extracted the bone, but the little +dog was so weak that the doctor advised that it +be left in his establishment, at least until night.</p> + +<p>“Well, if I have to I suppose I must,” said Miss +Tyndall. “But the act won’t be half as good without +Pinky.”</p> + +<p>“I think he’ll be in shape for the evening performance,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>said the doctor. “You can come back +for him then.”</p> + +<p>So, without the little dog, Joe and Miss Tyndall +left the place.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I was <em>so</em> worried about him!” the girl exclaimed. +“My nerves are all in a flutter. I thought +he’d die. I wish I could calm myself, or I won’t +be able to do my act to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take you for a little ride,” suggested Joe. +“It will do you good.”</p> + +<p>He guided the machine off into the pleasant +country, and they rode back to the circus in time +for supper, Joe promising to take her on the machine +later to get the dog.</p> + +<p>After the youth had put away his motor-cycle +he walked over to his dressing tent, meeting Helen +on the way.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he called to her pleasantly. “I meant +to take you for a ride this afternoon, but——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you needn’t bother to explain,” she cut in, +passing on.</p> + +<p>Joe started back as though struck.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER VIII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE NEW WINGS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>For a moment Joe hardly knew what to think. +He stared after Helen, who walked on with her +head held high in the air. She did not once turn +around, as Joe half-hoped she would do, so he knew +what she had said she had really meant. For some +reason or other she was angry with him.</p> + +<p>“But what in the world for, I can’t understand,” +he mused, as he walked slowly away. “Just because +I didn’t take her for a ride couldn’t have made all +that difference. She doesn’t care much for the +motor-cycle anyhow. I’ll have to ask her what it +is.”</p> + +<p>He was undecided whether or not to do this at +once or to wait a while. Finally he decided to wait. +A little later he met Miss Tyndall walking along. +She came over toward Joe.</p> + +<p>“Will you have time to do me another favor?” +she asked, falling into step with him.</p> + +<p>“Another one of the dogs ill?” he asked with a +smile.</p> + +<p>“No, but I wonder if you can take me with you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>when you go back to get Pinky. I’ll be so anxious +about him.”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, I intended to take you—that is, if you +want to come.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, indeed I do! I never knew before how +thrilling it was to ride on a motor-cycle. I don’t +see how you dare ride one on the high wire.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s all in practice and in getting used to it,” +Joe said.</p> + +<p>“How did you come to take up that line of +work?” Miss Tyndall asked.</p> + +<p>And then, almost before he realized it, Joe was +telling the girl much of his past life—of going out +on the road with the magician, of joining the circus, +and finally of acting in the tank. In her turn Miss +Tyndall told something of herself. She had always +been fond of animals, and so, naturally, when she +had to earn her own living she chose to do it +through the medium of the “happy family” of cats, +dogs and other animals.</p> + +<p>As Joe and Miss Tyndall were thus talking Helen +again passed. She bowed and smiled, but her +glance did not include Joe.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t Miss Morton a dear girl?” asked Miss +Tyndall.</p> + +<p>“Fine!” answered Joe enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>“And she is so expert with her horse. I should +think all the men in the circus would be in love +with her.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, we all like her,” said Joe warmly.</p> + +<p>“It’s nice to be popular,” was Miss Tyndall’s +comment, and she sighed a little, giving Joe a sideways +glance.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think <em>you</em> have any reason to complain,” +he returned with a laugh. “I’ve heard many compliments +about you.”</p> + +<p>“Have you, really? Tell me about them. Please +do, Joe—I mean Mr. Strong!” and she seemed confused, +and blushed. “I didn’t mean to do that,” +she went on. “But I hear nearly every one call you +by your first name——”</p> + +<p>“So why shouldn’t you?” interrupted Joe with a +smile. “Go ahead—I like it. And I’ll call you—Hazel.”</p> + +<p>“That will be fine!” she exclaimed, laughing. +“I do so hate being formal—Joe,” and there was +the dancing light of mischief in her eyes as she +looked at him.</p> + +<p>Just before the time for the evening performance +Joe took Miss Tyndall on the motor-cycle over +to get the little dog. It was a fine moonlight evening +and the trip was soon made. Pinky had fully recovered +and seemed to enjoy the ride back in Miss +Tyndall’s arms. The girl and Joe plainly enjoyed +the trip, for they talked nonsense and laughed all +along the way.</p> + +<p>Joe did not get a chance to speak to Helen until +after the night performance, and when he did she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>was hurrying to the train, for the show was about +to move on.</p> + +<p>“Helen,” began Joe, “I want to ask——”</p> + +<p>“Please don’t ask me anything now,” she said, +and she smiled faintly. “I am <em>so</em> tired! I want +to lie down. I’ll see you in the morning. Did +you and Miss Tyndall have a nice ride?”</p> + +<p>“Why—er—yes,” said Joe, haltingly. “I—er—that +is——”</p> + +<p>But Helen, hurrying on to her car, did not wait +for him to finish.</p> + +<p>“This is queer,” mused Joe. “I wonder if Helen +really thinks I care for Hazel?”</p> + +<p>And the more he thought about it the more he +was puzzled.</p> + +<p>The next day, after arriving at the place where +the circus was to show and having made sure that +his motor-cycle apparatus was in proper shape, Joe +sought out Helen, determined to have a talk with +her.</p> + +<p>“If she thinks I deliberately took Miss Tyndall +out for a ride instead of taking her, as I promised, +I’ll have to tell her differently, that’s all,” mused +Joe. “She must be—jealous,” and he smiled at +the thought.</p> + +<p>But the determination to clear matters up with +Helen and the ability to do so, were two different +things. Helen either deliberately or by accident +kept out of Joe’s way all that day, and when she did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>meet him she seemed to have some excuse for not +stopping to chat as she had formerly done.</p> + +<p>Miss Tyndall, on the other hand, made it a point +to speak to Joe several times. She invited him +to come and be introduced more intimately to some +of the members of her animal family, and Joe accepted. +He liked Miss Tyndall very much, but not +in the same way that he cared for Helen.</p> + +<p>There was a decided coolness in Helen’s manner, +and Joe could not help noticing it. It was evident +to others, too, for Bill Watson, the veteran clown, +spoke about it.</p> + +<p>“What’s wrong between you and the little lady, +Joe?” he asked. “You and she don’t seem to be on +good terms.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t my fault,” protested Joe.</p> + +<p>“And I notice you’re taking quite a shine to Miss +Tyndall,” the clown went on. “Well, she’s a mighty +nice little girl; but it isn’t right, Joe, to throw over +old acquaintances altogether when a new one comes +along.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not!” cried Joe. Then, getting desperate, +he said: “What would you do, Bill? Helen doesn’t +seem to want to speak to me any more.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?”</p> + +<p>Then Joe told the story of the motor-cycle ride +to take the dog to the doctor’s.</p> + +<p>“That’s it!” exclaimed the clown. “Now possibly +Helen doesn’t understand that. It may be that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>some one has been gossiping. I’ll tell you what to +do. Make it a point to see her, and tell her the +whole business.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve tried to, several times, but she won’t listen. +She always seems to be in too much of a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll fix it,” said Bill. “I’ll get my wife to call +her in for a chat, and then I’ll let you know. You +can stroll in, just casually, and then my wife will +go out and you’ll have a chance to speak to Helen. +Will that do?”</p> + +<p>“Fine, thanks.”</p> + +<p>That plan was carried out. At first Helen seemed +embarrassed when alone with Joe, but he went +boldly at the work of getting the explanation over +with.</p> + +<p>“Look here, Helen!” he exclaimed, “I want to +tell you about that ride with Miss Tyndall.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know that it’s important for me to +know,” she remarked, a bit coldly.</p> + +<p>“But I <em>want</em> you to listen,” he said. And then +he told about the dog, and Miss Tyndall’s request +that he hurry with her pet to the doctor’s.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I didn’t know that!” Helen exclaimed. +“They never told me it was to take the dog! I’m—I’m +so sorry, Joe,” and she held out her hand.</p> + +<p>“Did some one tell you about my taking her out +for a ride?” Joe asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes. It was Miss——Oh, well, I won’t mention +any names. Maybe she didn’t mean to cause +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>trouble. But when I saw you and Miss Tyndall +coming back that day I thought you just went off +with her for a pleasure trip.”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed!” cried Joe.</p> + +<p>“Not that you wouldn’t have a perfect <em>right</em> to, +if you <em>liked</em>,” Helen went on, “only——”</p> + +<p>“Only I didn’t want to!” interrupted Joe. “It +was a case of doing her a favor.”</p> + +<p>“I see,” murmured Helen, and she tried to draw +away her hand, but Joe, smiling, still held it.</p> + +<p>“It’s a fine day,” he said, “and perhaps you’d like +to come for a little motor-cycle ride yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I would,” Helen answered softly. And +a little later, as the two rode off together, there +being a few hours to spare between performances, +Bill Watson turned to his wife and said:</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess those two children have made +up.”</p> + +<p>“It looks so,” agreed Mrs. Watson with a smile. +“That’s what they are—just children, and nice children, +too!”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can’t be young but once!” and the old +clown sighed, though the weight of years rested +lightly on him.</p> + +<p>If Miss Tyndall felt any resentment she did not +show it. She was as smiling and jolly as ever to +both Joe and Helen. But when she dropped several +hints to Joe that another motor-cycle ride would +not be objectionable, even if there were no necessity +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>for taking a dog to the doctor’s, Joe managed to get +out of it gracefully.</p> + +<p>And thus that little episode was safely gotten over +with, though for a time it caused Joe some uneasiness.</p> + +<p>Then our hero had something new to think about. +One day two letters came to him. One was from +his English solicitor, stating that Joe’s financial +affairs were in worse shape than ever. He was +urged to come over, if he possibly could, or send +money to hire additional solicitors.</p> + +<p>“Not if I know it!” Joe exclaimed. “I would +like to run over and shake ’em up, but as for money—I’ll +need all I have and can get to complete my +wings of steel. And, speaking of them, let’s hear +what Mr. Ryden has to say,” for the other letter +was from the inventor who was working on the +wings of steel.</p> + +<p>Joe had but to read a few lines before he realized +that the news was good. Mr. Ryden wrote:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“I do not want to be too sanguine, but I think the +new wings are going to be a success. I wish you +could come and test them. They work all right, +with a weight equal to yours, but it wants an actual, +living person under them to make the test complete. +And I confess I have not the nerve to trust myself +to them.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Joe, so loudly that Helen, who +was passing, heard and asked:</p> + +<p>“What is it, Joe? Are you going to get the rest +of your money?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet, but my wings of steel are finished. I’m +going to try them.”</p> + +<p>A troubled look came over Helen’s face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Joe, I wish you wouldn’t!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry,” he answered. “It will be all +right. I won’t get hurt.”</p> + +<p>Joe was anxious to test the <i>Bat</i> as soon as possible, +and how to do this, and not lose any time from +the circus, was a problem to be solved. For his +high-wire act was billed in advance, and to omit it +from any performance would be to keep bad faith +with the public.</p> + +<p>However, on consulting Jim Tracy, Joe learned +that there would be one open date, when the circus, +by reason of making a “long jump,” would not +play. And as the route took them within fair distance +of Mr. Brader’s factory, Joe decided he would +go there, as this would be the best chance he would +have to give the new wings a trial.</p> + +<p>“And we’ll go with you,” said Ben Turton and +Bill Watson, when Joe told them his plans.</p> + +<p>“We saw the failure; now we want to see the +success,” said the old clown.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER IX</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">AN ACCIDENT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Well, they don’t look different, Joe, from their +appearance when I saw them first,” commented +Benny Turton.</p> + +<p>“And they don’t seem a bit safer,” added the +veteran clown. “I say again what I said before, +Joe, that you’ll break your neck if you try to fly +with those things.”</p> + +<p>Joe, with his two friends, had arrived at Mr. +Brader’s factory, and the wings, as reconstructed by +Mr. Ryden, had been brought out for inspection.</p> + +<p>“Well, as to that,” said Joe, “I’ll answer you +one at a time. The wings may not <em>look</em> very different, +but they are. Aren’t they, Mr. Ryden?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” the inventor said. “The principle is +the same—that is, we use a storage battery and +motors to vibrate the wings. But the wings themselves +are larger and are differently curved, so they +will beat the air with more force. And they are +moved by gear wheels and torsion rods now, instead +of by sprocket chains, as Joe had them at first. In +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>that way, by using motors only slightly more powerful +and a storage battery of somewhat larger +capacity, we get much more force. I think Joe can +fly this time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll soon know,” asserted the young circus +performer, “for I’m going up in them.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like you first to see a preliminary test without +getting into the cage,” said the inventor. “We’ll +send the <i>Bat</i> up alone.”</p> + +<p>“All right; maybe that would be best,” agreed +Joe.</p> + +<p>Accordingly the machine was taken out into the +factory lot, and with the connecting wire, the holding +rope and other devices arranged about as before, +Joe threw the switch that sent the current +into the motors.</p> + +<p>At once the wings vibrated powerfully, and, once +the motors were running at three-quarter speed, up +rose the wings of steel, soaring through the air, and +carrying a weight equal to Joe’s body.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Joe, “they’re going up! They’re +going up, and I haven’t used the full strength of +the current either! Hurrah!”</p> + +<p>Upward soared the wings to the full length of the +holding rope. Joe looked at the strength-indicating +gauge, and noted a pull of sixty pounds. This +with all the weight aboard that the <i>Bat</i> would have +to carry, indicated good reserve power.</p> + +<p>“They’re a success!” cried Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> + +<p>“Not until you try them yourself,” said Mr. +Ryden with a smile.</p> + +<p>The wings of steel hovered in the air above the +heads of Joe and his friends. It was a Saturday, +and no workmen were in the factory, consequently +there was no crowd to witness the test.</p> + +<p>“What do you think now, Bill?” asked Joe, his +eyes shining in triumph.</p> + +<p>The veteran clown pondered for a moment.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said slowly, as he looked up at the +<i>Bat</i>, which was tugging at the stout holding rope, +“they went up, that’s sure, Joe; but what about +coming down?”</p> + +<p>“That’s easy. All I have to do is to shut off the +current, and they’ll soar down like a bird. What +do you think of them, Ben?”</p> + +<p>“They’re great!” exclaimed the human fish. “But +I’d think twice before trusting myself once to them, +Joe.”</p> + +<p>“I have thought twice. I’m going up in a little +while. You’ve turned the trick, Mr. Ryden.”</p> + +<p>“Glad you think so. There were a lot of problems +I had to solve that I had never met with before. +It was a novel idea—making wings of steel—and +I give you credit for originating it, Joe +Strong.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now for a real test!” cried the lad. “Here +they come down!”</p> + +<p>As he spoke he shut off the electric current. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>wings stopped flapping up and down, and the machine +slowly settled to earth, with a sort of volplane +motion, familiar to all who have seen aeroplanes +glide earthward.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let it down too fast,” cautioned Mr. +Ryden.</p> + +<p>“I’ll not,” Joe answered. Occasionally he turned +on the current for a moment, and this, by vibrating +the wings, would check the downward sweep of +the <i>Bat</i>, until finally it settled on the grass not far +from the watchers.</p> + +<p>“And now for my part in the programme,” remarked +Joe, as he proceeded to make the final +test.</p> + +<p>He had brought with him his football helmet, +which he used when riding his motor-cycle on the +high wire, but, aside from this, Joe took no precautions. +There were none he could take, for the +use of a life-net was out of the question.</p> + +<p>“But if I do fall, I won’t fall hard,” he told his +friends, “for the wings will themselves act as a +check to a rapid descent.”</p> + +<p>The holding rope was taken off, and the pull-gauge +removed, while Mr. Ryden detached the electrical +wire. When inside the metal and leather +framework of the <i>Bat</i> the current would be turned +on and off by Joe himself, a switch being placed +where he could easily reach it. As has been mentioned +before, the steering was done with the feet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> + +<p>In the original wings Joe’s arms had been thrust +through loops in the underside of the wings themselves. +But in the new machine the wings vibrated +too rapidly to allow him to do this, so a new resting +place had been devised for his arms.</p> + +<p>In a short time Joe was ready to get inside the +framework, which was so hinged as to permit +ready entrance and exit. He took his place, and +looked at his waiting friends.</p> + +<p>“Watch me soar!” he said, smiling. “I’ll not go +very high nor very far at first.”</p> + +<p>“The shorter distance you go up, the less you’ll +have to cover coming down,” said the old clown +grimly.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry!” laughed Joe.</p> + +<p>The young experimenter was the coolest of them +all, for even Mr. Ryden, who admitted having once +gone up in a balloon, showed nervousness. But, as +has been said, Joe seemed to have been born without +nerves. Or, perhaps, they were under such perfect +control that what to others would be dizzy heights +were as nothing to him.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of hesitation, while Joe and +Mr. Ryden looked over every part to see that nothing +had been misplaced by the experimental flight.</p> + +<p>“She seems to be all right,” the lad announced +as he looked at the electrical switch, and moved his +feet on the rudder controls, showing that they answered +perfectly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess there’s nothing more that we can +do,” said the inventor.</p> + +<p>“Well, here I go, then!” exclaimed Joe.</p> + +<p>With a quick motion he threw over the electrical +switch. There was a humming, throbbing note as +the motors took up the current, and then the wings, +controlled by the gear wheels and torsion rods, began +to flap up and down. Slowly they vibrated at +first, for Joe was feeding the current in gradually. +Then the wings of the <i>Bat</i> went up and down +faster and faster until one could hardly distinguish +them except as a blur of blackness.</p> + +<p>“He isn’t going to make it—he’s too heavy,” +murmured Bill Watson.</p> + +<p>But, even as he spoke, the machine rose from the +ground, and then, as they looked on in wonder, +the <i>Bat</i> soared upward on a long slant, taking Joe +with it.</p> + +<p>“Here I go!” he called down to them.</p> + +<p>For a moment they were speechless with wonder, +and then Benny gave a cheer in which the other two +joined.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! Hurrah!” yelled the human fish. +“Joe’s done it again! He’s put another one +over!”</p> + +<p>Up and up the youth went on his wings of steel—up +and up, until he was several hundred feet +above the earth. And then the watchers saw him +sail out across an open field.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> + +<p>“He’s doing it! He’s doing it!” cried Bill Watson. +“Just as he said he would.”</p> + +<p>And Joe was. The wings of steel seemed to be +a perfect success. They had carried the lad up, +and he was able to guide himself in any direction +he desired, even against the wind.</p> + +<p>“Though he won’t be able to do much against a +powerful wind,” said the inventor. “The wings +aren’t strong enough for that. But they are just +right for exhibition purposes. See him go! He’s +as fearless as a bird!”</p> + +<p>And so the boy was, and almost as free in the air +as a feathered songster. Back and forth he guided +the <i>Bat</i>, to one side and then to the other, now up +and now down.</p> + +<p>“Now he’s coming back!” exclaimed Ben. “Say, +I believe I’d like to try it myself. It looks perfectly +safe.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t as easy as it looks,” commented the inventor.</p> + +<p>“Look!” suddenly exclaimed the clown. “Is he +all right? It seems to me that the thing is lopsided!”</p> + +<p>“It is!” agreed Mr. Ryden. “Something is +wrong! He’s tilting too much to one side. I +wonder what can be the matter?”</p> + +<p>They saw with alarm that Joe was not flying as +well as before. He was headed for the apparatus +factory, and in another moment the machine was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>hovering over the roof. Then the <i>Bat</i> was seen to +drop suddenly.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to fall on the roof! He’ll be hurt—killed +maybe!” cried Benny.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_X"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER X</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">SUCCESS AT LAST</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Just what had happened to Joe, enclosed in the +cage part of his wings of steel, the watchers did +not know. All they were certain of was that the +lad seemed to have lost control of the machine and +was coming down rapidly, straight for the roof of +the factory.</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand it,” said Mr. Ryden. “The +wings are still vibrating, and they ought to hold +him up.”</p> + +<p>“But they don’t seem to be going as fast as they +were,” observed the old clown. “Too bad! I don’t +want to be a dismal prophet, but Joe sure is going +to be hurt!”</p> + +<p>And it certainly seemed so.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer to the roof of the factory fell +the <i>Bat</i> with Joe in it. They could see him more +plainly now, and he seemed to be working desperately +with hands and feet to correct whatever was +wrong.</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand it,” said the inventor. “It +seems as if the battery were giving out, but it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>newly charged, and there ought to be plenty of current +in it still.”</p> + +<p>“Look!” quickly cried Benny Turton. “He’s +steering away now.”</p> + +<p>As they watched, they saw Joe guide the mass +of metal and leather away from the factory. He +no longer hovered over the roof.</p> + +<p>“He’ll have farther to fall to reach the ground,” +said Bill Watson, “but the turf will be softer than +the roof.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe he won’t fall,” observed Benny. “The +wings seem to be going faster now.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what they are!” exclaimed Mr. Ryden. +“He’s got better control.”</p> + +<p>Joe had soared upward a way now, and the +big wings were certainly going faster, which would +seem to indicate that whatever had been the matter +with the current was now remedied.</p> + +<p>But all danger was not over. Even though the +<i>Bat</i> sailed away from the vicinity of the factory, +it was not working properly. There was still what +in a ship would be called “a list to port.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand what makes him tilt so,” +said Mr. Ryden. “It must be something wrong +with one of the rudders. See! He’s going up +again!”</p> + +<p>And so Joe was. He had guided his peculiar +craft away from the danger of the factory, and was +mounting upward. But whether this would enable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>him to regain an “even keel” was a matter yet to +be settled.</p> + +<p>It was soon evident that Joe was not going to +gain the perfect control of his machine which he +needed to be able to guide it safely down. For, as +his friends watched, they saw him suddenly swerve +to one side, and then shoot down on a long slant.</p> + +<p>“There he goes! He’ll be killed sure!” cried Bill +Watson.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” shouted Benny. “We must be on +hand when he falls, to do what we can for +him!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Ryden, with a gesture of despair, followed +the two circus workers out through the gate of +the factory yard. The test had taken place within +an enclosure fenced about, but Joe had soared over +the fence, and above the field beyond.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to have a bad fall!” exclaimed Bill, +as the three raced on toward the point where it +seemed Joe would land in his wings of steel.</p> + +<p>But Benny, with a quick glance ahead, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“If he can only hit the water it may save his +life!”</p> + +<p>“What water?” asked the old clown.</p> + +<p>“That creek, river, or whatever you call it,” the +human fish replied. “Joe knows all there is to know +about swimming and diving, and if he can fall into +the water it will be a whole lot better than landing +on the ground.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>“I should say so!” exclaimed Mr. Ryden. “That +is if the machine doesn’t hold him under.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be there to pull him out,” said the old +clown grimly.</p> + +<p>As Benny had said, Joe was now headed directly +for a stream of water that flowed through the big +meadow just beyond Mr. Brader’s factory; and, +as the human fish had also remarked, Joe knew all +there was to know about taking care of himself in +water; the only danger lay in the fact that he might +be held down by his machine.</p> + +<p>Straight for the creek, as though he had intentionally +steered for it, flew Joe in the <i>Bat</i>. A moment +later in he splashed.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried Ben. “We’ve got to get him +out.”</p> + +<p>They raced on toward the stream, but there was +no need to aid Joe, for as the three reached the +bank they saw him swimming toward shore, while +the big <i>Bat</i>, supported on the outstretched wings +of steel, floated on the surface. The spread of the +wings was so big that they easily held up the weight +of the storage batteries and motors.</p> + +<p>“Are you hurt, Joe?” cried Ben.</p> + +<p>“No—just—shaken up—a bit,” was the panting +answer.</p> + +<p>He reached the bank, and was quickly pulled up +on shore, for it was seen that he was well-nigh +exhausted, even though he might not be hurt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> + +<p>“I—I’m all right,” said Joe, as he wiped the +water from his face. “Is there a boat about here +so we can rescue the wings? I don’t want to lose +them.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?” asked Mr. Brader.</p> + +<p>“Something wrong with the steering gear,” Joe +answered. “I’ll talk about that later. Just now I +want to save my machine.”</p> + +<p>“I see a boat!” cried Ben, who had been looking +up and down the stream. “We’ll get it out for +you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can help,” said Joe, coolly enough. “I’ll +be all right—as soon as I get my—my wind,” and +he smiled.</p> + +<p>It was no easy matter to get the wings of steel +ashore, for they were awkward to handle in the +water. But at last they were towed to a shallow +place and then lifted out on the bank, Joe giving +valuable help, for he was very strong. “Strong by +name and strong by nature,” as he often remarked +laughingly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose your machine is ruined now,” +said Benny, as he looked at the wet and dripping +<i>Bat</i>.</p> + +<p>“Not necessarily. Why?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“Why, I understood that an electric motor, once +it got wet, was no good.”</p> + +<p>“Not these,” said Mr. Ryden with a laugh of +relief. “On Joe’s advice I made these motors water-proof, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>and, not only that, but I enclosed them in +water-tight compartments in the interior of the <i>Bat</i>. +The storage battery, too, is water-proof, and you +can turn it upside down without any danger.</p> + +<p>“No, if water were our only trouble it wouldn’t +be much. But I am afraid something is broken.”</p> + +<p>“I know one of the steering rudders is,” said +Joe. “That was why I could not control the machine, +and came so near to alighting on the factory +roof.”</p> + +<p>“It was a narrow escape,” observed the old +clown.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve had closer,” said Joe. “And now let’s +get to work and see what the trouble is. I may +be able to make another flight before dark.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going up again?” asked Benny Turton +in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why, of course, if I can get it to work!” said +Joe. “A little thing like this won’t stop me.”</p> + +<p>With the help of the watchman from the Brader +factory, the <i>Bat</i> was carried back to the testing +yard. And then, after Joe had taken off his wet +clothes, and had them drying in the boiler room +(meanwhile donning a pair of overalls and a jumper +belonging to one of the workmen) he and Mr. +Ryden went over the whole machine carefully.</p> + +<p>The defect was soon discovered. It was in one of +the controls of the rudders, a small wire cable having +slipped from the clamp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> + +<p>The fall into the water had done a little damage, +but not much, and this was soon repaired, Joe and +Mr. Ryden working together over the machine.</p> + +<p>There was still an hour or two of daylight left +when the <i>Bat</i> was got in shape for another test.</p> + +<p>“Then you are really going up again?” asked Bill +Watson, as Joe made ready.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” Joe asked. “I didn’t get so much +as a scratch! Falling into water is easier than landing +in a life-net, and we’ve got the cage of the <i>Bat</i> +so fixed that I can easily get out of it in a hurry if +I have to. You see the wings were so broad that +it was impossible to pull them under water. Of +course I’m going up again!”</p> + +<p>The rudder controls were repaired in such a +way that there was no possible chance of another +break, unless the whole machine fell apart. And +then Joe, not waiting for his own clothes to dry, +again took his place in the cage, wearing the overalls +and jumper, but not forgetting the football +helmet.</p> + +<p>“That saved me from a bad bang on the head +before,” he said, “and I’m not going to leave it +off.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Bat</i> was scarcely dry from its bath when +Joe was ready to soar up in it again. Again the +motors hummed and throbbed, and as the wings +vibrated more and more rapidly up rose the machine, +taking Joe with it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span></p> + +<p>Once more he went up above the high fence, and +beyond it, flying over the green meadow. And +now a crowd, attracted by the strange, weird sight +in the air, had gathered in the roadway to watch +the test being made.</p> + +<p>This time the flight was a success. Joe went +up even higher than he had at first, and moved +about, from side to side, up and down, around +in a circle and back to the place whence he had +started.</p> + +<p>He had risen up like a bird, elevating himself +and the machine by the beating of the wings against +the air. But when he came down he stopped the +motors, and gracefully glided, even as an eagle +or a condor swoops down from his watching place, +miles high in the air, to secure its quarry.</p> + +<p>As lightly as a feather Joe descended to the +earth, the springs in the bottom of his machine allowing +him to alight with scarcely a jar.</p> + +<p>“Success!” cried Joe, as he came out of the +cage. “It works!”</p> + +<p>“A big success!” cried Ben.</p> + +<p>“Better than I ever thought it would be,” remarked +the clown. “Joe, you’re a wonder!”</p> + +<p>“No, Mr. Ryden is the wonder,” said Joe. “If +he hadn’t solved the problems I’d never have been +able to go up.”</p> + +<p>“But if you hadn’t evolved the idea, I’d never +have thought of it,” said the inventor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> + +<p>“I move that the mutual admiration society adjourn,” +returned Joe with a laugh. “Now we +must think of getting back to the circus, and my +machine must go with me.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XI</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">JOE’S SURPRISE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When Joe’s second, and successful, flight was +concluded he found his clothes were dry enough to +put on.</p> + +<p>“Though they need a visit to the tailor’s before +I shall look the way I want to,” he said with a +smile. “But we’ll be traveling back after dark, so +no one will see me.”</p> + +<p>“And I’ll have the machine crated and shipped +to you,” said Mr. Ryden. “Are you going to use +it in the circus?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t quite decided,” was Joe’s reply. “Jim +Tracy, our ring-master and one of the owners, +doesn’t seem to think much of it. But I may cause +him to change his mind. I think the wings of +steel, aside from everything else, are quite a +novelty.”</p> + +<p>“They’re more than a novelty,” said Bill Watson. +“They’re a dangerous toy,” and he smiled grimly.</p> + +<p>“But they’ll attract a lot of attention,” said Benny +Turton, “and that’s what one wants in a circus.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll see what can be done with them,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>concluded Joe. “At least I have proved that I can +fly with them.”</p> + +<p>The journey back to the town in which the circus +was to stay over Sunday was safely made. A few +days later, on their arrival in another town, Joe +received word from the express company that there +was a big box for him.</p> + +<p>“It’s my wings of steel,” said the young performer. +“I suppose I can carry them with the rest of my +baggage, Jim Tracy?” he asked the ring-master.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” was the answer. “Bring ’em along. +Ben and Bill were telling me what you have been +doing, but I’d rather you wouldn’t use your new +machine, Joe.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked our hero in some surprise. +For instead of finding the ring-master enthusiastic, +as he had thought he would be, Joe found the circus +owner rather indifferent toward what the boy felt +was a decided triumph. “Why don’t you want me +to use the wings?” he repeated.</p> + +<p>“Because, from what Bill Watson tells me, +they’re dangerous, Joe, and I don’t want you to get +hurt.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I didn’t get hurt! I had one little accident, +but I got out of it all right. My wings are as safe +as——”</p> + +<p>“They’re not any safer than your high wire, and +that isn’t safe,” said the ring-master. “Understand, +Joe, I’m speaking from a selfish motive. I don’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>want you to get hurt, because your place would be +hard to fill as a drawing attraction, and goodness +knows we need that in this circus of late.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I’m not going to get hurt,” Joe declared, +“and I intend to use the wings some time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, put it off until the end of the season,” +was the ring-master’s advice. “You are one of our +most valuable assets, Joe, like a baby elephant——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t compare me with one of the animals,” +interrupted Joe with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“No, but you know what I mean. You’re as big +a drawing card as a baby elephant would be, and +you know how the crowds come to the show just +to see that. So I don’t want to lose you by having +you break your neck in your wings of steel—and +Bill Watson declares that’s what you will do.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bill! Well, Bill <em>means</em> all right,” said Joe +with a smile, “but he’s as nervous as a woman about +some things.”</p> + +<p>“Well, just leave off the wings,” concluded the +ring-master, as he passed on.</p> + +<p>“And continue to be the baby elephant,” added +Joe, who seemed amused at the idea.</p> + +<p>“Elephant—elephant,” he repeated to himself, as +he went to his dressing tent. “I wonder if I could +work that trick. It would give Jim Tracy the surprise +of his life—and some others, too. I’ve a good +notion to try it.”</p> + +<p>But what he was going to try Joe confided to no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>one—not even to Helen. She asked him about his +wings of steel, but the lad had no chance to show +them to her or to make another flight, for the circus +was constantly on the road now, playing only two +performances in each stopping place; consequently, +there was not time to unbox the wings and make a +flight. Not that their owner was anxious to do so, +for he planned to make money out of his wings by +giving exhibitions, and he did not see how he could +do this by going up on the circus grounds in plain +sight of every one.</p> + +<p>“If I can’t make a contract to fly in the circus +tent, which I could do, for it’s high enough, then +I must make contracts with fairs and expositions, +as I did when I first rode the high wire,” said Joe. +“But first I’m going to carry out my surprise.”</p> + +<p>The show played in a large city one Saturday, but +the attendance was not good, and Joe saw Jim +Tracy, Mr. Sampson and some of the other partners +in conference later on. He heard that they +were discussing ways and means of cutting down +expenses, and, at the same time, making the circus +a better drawing card.</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s about time to spring my surprise,” +reasoned Joe. “We will lay up over Sunday in +Millburn, and that will give me a chance to get out +the wings and set them up.”</p> + +<p>Joe did not, as a rule, believe in working on Sunday, +and Sunday performances were never given. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>But in a circus, as in many other industries and +businesses, there are certain things that must be +done on Sunday as well as on week days. Sometimes +the show traveled on Sunday, and if it did not, +there were the animals to feed and look after, and +many routine tasks to perform.</p> + +<p>So Joe felt that he had a certain right to do on +Sunday what he had, of necessity, to do. Accordingly, +with the help of Benny Turton, he unboxed +the wings of steel and put them together. This was +a comparatively simple matter, for the wings had +only to be attached to the framework, and the gear +wheels and torsion rods connected. The storage +battery was still charged, but to make sure of plenty +of current Joe had the electrodes attached to a +small dynamo which was carried with the circus, +the dynamo being operated by a gasoline engine. +Joe had a transformer, so that the battery would +receive only the proper sort of current, it being +possible to change an alternation into a direct current.</p> + +<p>The youth said nothing to Jim Tracy about the +plan for a surprise. As a matter of fact, he saw little +of the ring-master that day. There seemed to +be some financial trouble, and that had taken him +out of town for the greater part of the day.</p> + +<p>“And are those the wings of steel, in which you +fly?” asked Helen, when Joe brought her in to give +her a view of the machine.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s what they are, Helen. What do you +think of them?”</p> + +<p>“Joe, I think they’re very dangerous,” she answered +earnestly, “and I do hope you will never +get hurt in them.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so myself, Helen, but they’re not as dangerous +as you think. I’ll give you a chance to judge +to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to make a flight?”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” he exclaimed, looking around to make +sure no one heard. “It’s a secret!”</p> + +<p>Helen shook her head.</p> + +<p>“I don’t like such dangerous secrets,” she murmured.</p> + +<p>After Joe had charged the storage battery to its +capacity he gave the wings a partial trial in the +privacy of the tent, when only a few of the circus +folk were about. He turned on the power slightly—enough +to be sure that the wings would vibrate, +and he was certain that when the full strength was +sent into the motors that the <i>Bat</i> would rise with +him in it, as it had done before.</p> + +<p>There was a worried look on the face of Jim +Tracy the next day. Joe, who approached to talk +over some circus matters with him, noted this, and +asked:</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble?”</p> + +<p>“All sorts,” answered the ring-master gloomily. +“It looks as if we were going to have a frost.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>“Not this hot weather,” protested Joe, for it was +the middle of the summer.</p> + +<p>“I mean a financial frost,” Jim explained. “There +has been only a small advance sale of tickets, and +always before, in this town, we have drawn well. +But I guess the public is getting tired of circuses—and +we’ve got one of the best.”</p> + +<p>“I know what financial troubles are,” said Joe, as +he thought of his own tangled affairs in England, +which were no nearer to being straightened out than +before. “But why don’t you give ’em a bang-up +parade, Jim, and awaken enthusiasm?”</p> + +<p>“We’re going to have a parade, but I don’t see +how I can make it any different, or make it draw +a crowd to fill the tents.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I can think of a way, Jim. May I borrow +Rajah?”</p> + +<p>“What! Our biggest elephant?”</p> + +<p>“I want the biggest you’ve got, and a man to +steer him—or whatever it is you do to elephants. +May I have him?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, I suppose so. Are you going to ride +in the parade?”</p> + +<p>“Sort of. It will be my first offense.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don’t try anything rash,” advised Jim. +“Rajah won’t stand for being ridden over by a +motor-cycle.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t do that,” Joe promised, laughing.</p> + +<p>Jim seemed strangely indifferent to what Joe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>proposed to do, but our hero knew it was because +the ring-master was thinking of the troubles which +the circus had to meet.</p> + +<p>Monday dawned bright and clear, a fine circus +day if ever there was one. Preparations for the +parade started soon after breakfast, and every one +had orders to look his best—to make as good a +showing as possible.</p> + +<p>Joe told Tom Layton, the mahout of Rajah, of +the permission accorded by the ring-master.</p> + +<p>“Want to ride on Rajah; eh?” repeated Tom. +“Why sure, I’ve no objection. Rajah is as steady +as a church and as gentle as a baby. I can do anything +with him.”</p> + +<p>“That’s why I decided on him,” said Joe. “He +won’t run away if something happens, will he?”</p> + +<p>“If something happens? What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>Joe looked around to be sure no one was listening, +and then he explained something to Tom in a low +voice. The elephant man seemed surprised, and +then amused. Finally he remarked:</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, it can be done. And, as you say, we +can carry up the sides of the howdah higher so no +one can see what is in it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I want. I think we’ll give ’em a +surprise all right.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE RUNAWAY BALLOON</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>With a blare of trumpets, with stirring music +from the circus band on top of the big gilded wagon, +with the crazy medley supplied by the clown band, +with the booming of drums and the shrill tones of +the calliope, or “steam piano,” as it used to be called, +the parade started for the main street of the town, +followed by the usual crowd of boys who had been +waiting on the circus lots since early morning.</p> + +<p>“Well, it makes a pretty good showing,” said +Mr. Sampson to Jim Tracy, as they sat in their +carriage at the head of the cavalcade, for the owners +made it a point to do this.</p> + +<p>“Yes, the parade is all right,” conceded the ring-master, +but there was no enthusiasm in his voice. +“If only we can get the crowds we’ll be all right. +I don’t see anything of Joe Strong, though,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“He never goes in the parade,” commented Mr. +Sampson.</p> + +<p>“He said he wanted to this time—asked to be +allowed to ride on Rajah. But I don’t see him. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>wonder what Tom has made the sides of the howdah +so high for?” and Jim looked at the small “house” +which is carried on an elephant’s back. This howdah +had been made taller, with cloth of gay colors.</p> + +<p>Jim did not pursue the subject further, for he and +Mr. Sampson began to talk of business matters. +The parade was soon in the main street of the town, +and certainly the crowds seemed large enough.</p> + +<p>“They’ll come out for the free show, but they +don’t seem to want to crowd the tents when they +have to pay half a dollar a head,” said the ring-master +gloomily.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there appeared to be some commotion +in the throng back of the carriage. Jim and Mr. +Sampson turned around to see what was going on. +They heard cries of wonder from the crowd.</p> + +<p>“Look!” cried Mr. Sampson. “What is that in +the howdah on Rajah’s back?”</p> + +<p>“It’s Joe Strong and his wings of steel!” cried +the ring-master. “That’s his game. He’s taken +his flying machine up on the elephant’s back to give +the crowd something to stare at. I wondered what +he was up to, but I didn’t think of this.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he’s making ’em sit up and take notice all +right,” said Mr. Sampson eagerly.</p> + +<p>The added cloth sides of the howdah had been +dropped down, revealing Joe in his queer cage of +leather and steel. The big wings, which had been +folded down, were now outspread.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, the wings began to vibrate up +and down, slowly at first, but with increasing speed.</p> + +<p>“Will Rajah bolt?” called Joe to the mahout on +the elephant’s head.</p> + +<p>“Not he,” answered Tom Layton. “Let her +go, Joe. Start your flight whenever you’re ready, +and take care of yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Well, here I go!” cried the lad. Inside the cage +of the <i>Bat</i> he turned the power full on, and an instant +later he had risen from the elephant’s back +and was soaring out of the roofless howdah, and +through the air over the heads of the crowd.</p> + +<p>Then such a roar as went up! Even the circus +folk applauded, as did those in the crowd who +looked on with widely opened eyes at the strange +flight of the human bat.</p> + +<p>Around and around circled Joe, eventually returning +to the back of Rajah, where he landed gently. +Then he made another flight, repeating this several +times, and attracting more attention than anything +else in the parade all along the route.</p> + +<p>Back and forth, sometimes to the head of the +procession and again to the rear, flew Joe in his +wings of steel. And there was no denying the hit he +had made. He kept up his flights all during the +parade.</p> + +<p>When the circus had circled back to the lots again, +Jim Tracy hurried over to where Joe stood, having +descended from the elephant’s back by means of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>small rope ladder. The wings of steel were being +lowered to the ground.</p> + +<p>“Joe, you turned another trick for us!” exclaimed +the ring-master. “That’s one of the best stunts yet. +I take back all I ever said against the wings of steel. +You’re going to fly in the tent, aren’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I hadn’t quite made up my mind,” said +the lad.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll make it up for you!” cried Mr. Sampson +with a laugh. “Jim and I were just wondering +what we could do to make our show draw bigger +crowds, and you’ve done it for us. It was great, +Joe! You’ll have to give flights in the tent sure. +The people will expect it.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think they will?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure of it. You <em>can</em> fly in the tent, can’t +you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, only I can’t go up as high as the wings +will take me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, do the best you can. We’ll have crowds +now all right! They’ll expect to see you do your +flying stunt.”</p> + +<p>This was proved a little later, for inquiries began +to come in over the temporary telephone that had +been installed on the circus grounds. Those calling +up wanted to be sure they would see the young aviator +in the wings of steel if they came to the circus, +and they were assured that they would, for Joe decided +to fly in the tent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p> + +<p>To do this act Joe had to omit some of his other +turns, but he kept the comedy tank act, for that always +“got a hand.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll bill you as the ‘boy-bird-fish,’” said Jim +Tracy. “That ought to make a hit.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I hope, for the sake of the show, that it +does,” commented Joe.</p> + +<p>It need hardly be told what a success Joe made +of his first flight in the tent. As Jim Tracy had predicted, +there was a big crowd at the afternoon performance, +and a larger one in the evening. Joe flew +perfectly. He made his ascent from that part of +the enclosed space where the chariot and other races +were held, and he flew around in a circle. He did +not go very high, of course, but it was flying nevertheless, +and the crowd appreciated it. Joe circled +back and forth over the heads of the audience, and +dropped down little paper flags, which were eagerly +grabbed up as souvenirs.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt of the sensation that Joe +made.</p> + +<p>“Well, Helen, what did you think of it?” asked +Joe, when the performance was over, and he had a +chance to talk to his friend.</p> + +<p>“It was perfectly marvelous, Joe!” she exclaimed. +“But, oh, I just couldn’t bear to look at you! I +was so afraid you’d fall!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” he laughed, “there was no danger. +If the wings stopped flapping I’d just hold them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>out stiff and come down as easily as if I were in a +parachute. Besides, I didn’t go up very high.”</p> + +<p>“No, you couldn’t in the tent. But you may fly +high some day, and then if you fall——”</p> + +<p>She did not finish the sentence, but Joe understood.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to fall,” he said, and he seemed +quite sure of himself.</p> + +<p>Big new show bills were soon gotten out, showing +Joe in the <i>Bat</i> flying through the air, while on another +portion of the picture he was depicted in the +tank of water with Benny. It was a novel attraction.</p> + +<p>As has been said, it was decided to retain the tank +act, for it made such a hit, and it formed a great +contrast to the flying turn. Joe was, in a sense, +master of two elements—the air and the water.</p> + +<p>Once more the show was on the road, and for +a time business was better, for the news of the +queer flying machine, so unlike an aeroplane, had +spread over the country.</p> + +<p>Joe had no difficulty in transporting his apparatus, +and the fact that the circus had a dynamo made it +easy to recharge the storage battery. The young +experimenter found his wings of steel worked even +better than he had hoped. The newness wore off +and they became more flexible, so that he could +more easily guide them.</p> + +<p>The only trouble was that in flying in the tent he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>hardly had room enough to give a good exhibition +of what he could do. The circus tent was one of +the largest made. It was bigger than the one the +Sampson Brothers had used when Joe had first +come to them, for they had bought one of increased +size to accommodate Joe’s high-wire act.</p> + +<p>“If necessary we’ll get a bigger one yet next season,” +said Mr. Sampson. “We want you to have +plenty of room, Joe.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s what I need. I really ought to fly +in the open, but there would be no money in giving +on open-air show.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed not. And we need the money. How is +your English inheritance coming on?”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t coming on at all,” Joe said. “There’s +some trouble I can’t understand. But it may +straighten out in time.”</p> + +<p>On reaching, in the course of the route, the town +of Highfield, the managers of the circus found the +lot where they were to erect their tents occupied +by a man who had a captive balloon, in which, for +a small sum, he allowed persons to go up.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid he’ll draw the crowd away from us,” +said Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>“No, he won’t. Not after Joe does his flying act +in the parade,” said Mr. Sampson, “and the crowd +gets a taste of what it can see in our tents.”</p> + +<p>It was just before the afternoon performance that +Joe had the <i>Bat</i> out on the circus lot recharging the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>storage battery. Off to one side was the captive +balloon, surrounded by a small crowd.</p> + +<p>Leaving his machine in charge of the electrician, +Joe strolled over to look at the captive balloon.</p> + +<p>“Here’s your chance now, ladies and gentlemen!” +exclaimed the man who owned the balloon. “Go +up and see how the earth looks from the clouds. +Only a quarter—twenty-five cents—for a trip in +the balloon. Perfectly safe, and we land you back +on earth in ten minutes. No danger at all. I go +up with you, and my assistant down here pulls us +back by the rope. Who’ll go up in the captive balloon?”</p> + +<p>Several persons entered the basket which was attached +to the big swaying bag, which had been filled +with illuminating gas from one of the city mains.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, just as the balloon man was about +to get into the car to rise with his passengers, something +happened. Whether the rope had been frayed +by too much use, or whether the balloon gave a +stronger tug than usual, was not disclosed. But +in a moment the balloon, a captive to earth no +longer, shot up, while the women in it screamed in +terror and the men shouted in alarm.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XIII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">RESCUED</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“The balloon is loose! The balloon is loose!”</p> + +<p>Thus cried the crowd, but it was a needless cry, +for every one could see that the balloon was shooting +upward.</p> + +<p>The man who had intended going up in the basket, +as well as his assistant, made frantic grabs for +the car, but it was beyond their reach in an instant.</p> + +<p>Those watching saw one woman attempt to throw +herself over the side of the basket, but a man pulled +her back.</p> + +<p>“Keep still! Stay in the basket! You’ll be all +right!” cried the balloon man. “She’ll come down +some time!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but when?” asked a frenzied woman. “My +daughter is in that balloon! She’ll be killed!”</p> + +<p>“No, she won’t! They’ll be all right,” said the +owner of the big bag. “If they will only open the +valve and let out some of the gas they’ll come down +quicker.”</p> + +<p>“Then tell ’em what to do!” cried some one in +the crowd.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> + +<p>The man made a trumpet of his hands, and yelled:</p> + +<p>“Pull on the white cord. Pull a little at a time. +That will open the valve and let the gas out slowly, +then you’ll come down. But don’t pull the red +cord!”</p> + +<p>“They can’t hear you,” said Joe. “Yell louder.”</p> + +<p>“Get a megaphone,” some one advised.</p> + +<p>“Here, make one out of a newspaper,” a man +cried. He rolled a paper into the form of a cone, +tore off one end to make a place for the mouth, and +handed it to the balloon man.</p> + +<p>“Pull on the white cord, but not on the red!” +shouted the aeronaut, directing the improvised megaphone +toward the balloon, which was now far up +in the air.</p> + +<p>“Why not on the red cord?” asked a young +man.</p> + +<p>“That’s the ripping cord,” the balloonist explained +in a low voice. “If they pull that it will +tear a section out of the silk bag, and the balloon +will come down with a rush.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, anything to get it down!” begged the woman +who had said her daughter was in the car. “Do +anything to get it down!”</p> + +<p>Joe Strong had a sudden inspiration. His wings +of steel! Why could he not use them to fly after +the escaping balloon? If he could not reach the +valve cord himself, he could tell those in the balloon +what to do.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> + +<p>He started on a rush toward the place where his +machine was being charged.</p> + +<p>“Is the battery ready?” he called to the electrician.</p> + +<p>“Yes, all ready for a flight. But what’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“That balloon!” cried Joe. “It broke loose and +there are men and women in it. I’m going up and +tell them how to open the gas valve so they can get +down.”</p> + +<p>He did not have his football helmet with him, not +being prepared for his flight, but he did not stop for +that now. The balloon was slowly sailing upward. +There being, fortunately, scarcely any wind currents, +it was floating almost exactly above the circus +tents.</p> + +<p>“Can you fly that high?” asked the electrician, as +he helped Joe get into the cage of the <i>Bat</i>, closing +the supports about him.</p> + +<p>“I think so,” the lad answered. “I’m going to +try, anyhow!”</p> + +<p>So much attention was centered on the runaway +balloon that no one seemed aware of what the young +circus performer was about to do save the electrician. +Joe turned on the current and the big wings +began to vibrate, moving faster and faster until +the boy felt himself rising from the ground.</p> + +<p>Joe had now a new feat to accomplish. He must +rise higher than he had ever gone before, but he felt +sure that he could do it. He gave a glance up at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>drifting balloon, and he could dimly discern hands +held out over the edge of the basket in an appeal +for help.</p> + +<p>Over at the place where the windlass had been +stationed to haul the balloon back to earth, was +gathered a crowd of excited men and women. +Those who had friends or relatives in the runaway +ship of the air were frantically begging that something +be done. But the balloonist and his assistant +could do nothing except to assure the imploring ones +that the big bag would eventually come down, as +the gas gradually escaped.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but when it comes down my daughter may +be dead!” cried a woman frantically.</p> + +<p>“What else can I do?” asked the hectored balloonist. +“I can not jump up in the air and pull down +the balloon, much as I wish to. It was an unavoidable +accident, I am sorry to say.”</p> + +<p>“Why wasn’t your rope stronger?” demanded an +indignant man.</p> + +<p>“It was always strong enough before,” was the +answer. “A very strong puff of wind must have +come to cause the cable to break. I am sorry. +I——”</p> + +<p>“Look! Look!” some one shouted. “There goes +the fellow who flies in the circus! Maybe he’s going +up to bring down the balloon!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, if he only can!” murmured the woman who +had been weeping for her daughter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + +<p>The electrician, having assisted Joe, ran over to +where the crowd was assembled. He heard what +the woman said.</p> + +<p>“Joe Strong will bring that balloon down if anybody +can,” said the man who had charged Joe’s +battery for him.</p> + +<p>“Does he know anything about balloons?” eagerly +asked the man who owned the runaway air +craft.</p> + +<p>“I guess so. Anyhow, he said if he could not +open the valve himself he would call to those in the +car and tell them how to do it.”</p> + +<p>“Does he know which cord to pull?” went on +the aeronaut. “If he tells them to pull the red one—the +ripping cord—at that height the balloon +will——”</p> + +<p>And then he stopped. He saw the mother looking +at him, and he dared not tell her that if the ripping +cord was pulled the balloon would collapse +from the sudden release of the gas and plunge too +swiftly down. The ripping cord is only used when +the balloon is close to the ground, to make a sudden +landing to save going into the water or coming down +on dangerous ground.</p> + +<p>“I guess Joe Strong knows enough about balloons +not to make a mistake,” the electrician said. +“He planned the wings of steel, and any boy who +can do that knows something about air craft. Leave +it to Joe.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile Joe was soaring upward in the <i>Bat</i>. +He guided his queer craft in as straight a course as +he could toward the drifting balloon, and as he had +the power of the wings to lift him, as well as the +force of a slightly upward current of air, he was +moving faster than the balloon.</p> + +<p>For the first time since he had used the reconstructed +<i>Bat</i>, Joe turned on the full current. The +result surprised him, for he shot upward so suddenly +and with such speed, that his breath was well-nigh +taken from him.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got to slow down a little,” the lad decided. +He turned back the switch and the result was a +better rate of movement. He was moving more +slowly, but he was still moving at greater speed +than the balloon, and he was sure he would eventually +overtake it.</p> + +<p>The young aeronaut gave no heed to himself. He +did not think of his own danger; but that was like +him, since he never gave a thought to what was +below him in making his air trips.</p> + +<p>Up and up he soared, steering, by means of the +rudders operated by his feet, a slanting course. The +balloon seemed to have reached a heavy stratum of +air, through which it could not pass, and was now +drifting along parallel to the plane of the earth’s +surface—for though the earth is curved, the curve +is so vast that it may be spoken of as a plane, as regards +a certain limited extent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + +<p>Joe was now coming nearer to the runaway balloon. +Now he could plainly make out the persons in +it—five men and three women. They called to him, +and held out their hands appealingly, but he could +not hear what they said.</p> + +<p>“I hope I can make them hear me above the noise +my steel wings make,” thought the young aviator. +“I can’t get into the balloon myself, that’s sure. If +I had had a little more practice with my machine I +might manage it, though, for it would be like getting +from one moving automobile into another, once +you had the speeds the same. But I guess I’d better +call to them.”</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer he came to the floating balloon. +Joe gave a look down. He was above some +low-lying clouds, and it was the first time in his +life he had been up so high. The feeling gave him +no uneasiness, however, for, as has been said, Joe’s +nerves were not of the sort that were affected by +what, to others, would be dizzy heights.</p> + +<p>The lad was now within a short distance of the +balloon. He found that he was moving faster than +the escaped bag, so he reduced the speed. This +caused the wings to make less noise, and Joe could +hear the men and the women calling to him for +assistance.</p> + +<p>“Save us!”</p> + +<p>“Help us get down!”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="i_p108a" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p108a.jpg" alt="Picture of a man in an aeronautical machine approaching a balloon"> + <figcaption> + <p>Nearer and nearer he came to the floating balloon.</p> + <p class="right"> + <i><a href="#Page_108">Page 108</a></i></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> + +<p>“Please listen to me!” cried Joe, making a megaphone +of his hands, for they were not needed in +steering. “Do you see two cords hanging down +from up above?”</p> + +<p>“Yes! Yes! Two cords!” a man answered.</p> + +<p>“Which shall I pull? The red one?” asked another.</p> + +<p>“No! No!” shouted the young aviator. “If you +do that you’ll be—you’ll go down too fast,” he +hastily substituted. “Pull the white cord. Yank it +once, then wait. Then pull it again. Don’t let out +too much gas at once.”</p> + +<p>Joe had not heard without understanding, what +the balloon man had said about the cords which regulated +the gas.</p> + +<p>“Pull the white cord,” Joe cried again.</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered the man.</p> + +<p>While Joe flew, encased in the cage of his wings +of steel, alongside the drifting balloon, the man +reached up and took hold of the white cord. The +boy watched him, almost afraid lest, in the excitement +of the moment, some mistake be made.</p> + +<p>But the man did just what he was told to do. He +pulled the white cord, and at once the balloon began +to fall.</p> + +<p>“Not too much!” cried Joe. “A little at a time.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” the man answered. “I understand.”</p> + +<p>Again he let out some gas. The balloon sank +lower.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>“We’re saved! We’re rescued!” cried one of the +women in the basket.</p> + +<p>As the balloon began to descend Joe, in his wings +of steel, guided himself toward the earth.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XIV</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE AVIATION MEET</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The two craft of the air came down together—Joe +Strong looking like some weird bird, encased +as he was in the cage of the <i>Bat</i>, the other in the +more familiar shape of the ordinary balloon.</p> + +<p>Joe had perfect control over his machine, and +could steer himself wherever he wanted to go, now +checking his descent by making the wings flap up +and down, as a gull does when hovering over the +water, again darting to one side or the other, following +the drifting of the balloon, for the big gas +bag had struck a lower stratum of air that was in +more rapid motion than the upper region.</p> + +<p>“Keep letting out the gas!” cried Joe to the man +who held the white cord in his hand. “But watch +yourself when you get nearer the earth.”</p> + +<p>“And thank goodness we <em>are</em> getting back to +earth!” fervently exclaimed one of the woman. +“Oh! I thought I should never see it again. How +did you ever get that machine, young man, to come +to save us?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I use it in the circus,” Joe explained.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> + +<p>Talking could easily be carried on, as there was +no sound from the balloon, and Joe’s motors, running +at low speed, made only a slight humming +sound. Besides, the upper air was a good carrier +of voices.</p> + +<p>Joe looked down at the crowd below. It was +wildly excited, as was made evident by the running +about and the pointing upward of the men, women +and children. They were following the balloon, +which was now drifting some distance away from +the place where it had been tethered.</p> + +<p>“They see us! They’re waving to us!” cried a +young lady. “I can see my mother!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I told her I’d get you back safe,” said Joe, +guessing that this was the daughter of the woman +who had made such frantic appeals to him.</p> + +<p>The young aviator kept watch of the man who +had hold of the gas valve cord. Though the lad +did not know much about balloons he had a natural +mechanical sense, and his work in the air on his +wings of steel had made him a good judge of distance +and had given him the ability to calculate accurately +the time needed for aerial evolutions. He +noted how far the balloon was above the earth, and +called to the man:</p> + +<p>“Open it a little wider now, and hold it open until +I tell you to let it close.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered the man. He and the +others seemed to place all their dependence on Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> + +<p>There was a rush of gas from the opened valve, +and the balloon went down so suddenly, and for +such a distance, that the women screamed.</p> + +<p>“You’re all right!” called Joe, who was following +closely. “Close the valve!” he shouted to the man.</p> + +<p>A release of the cord caused the valve to close of +itself, for it was operated by a spring. The balloon +stopped falling, but it was now so near the ground +that many ready and eager hands could reach up +and almost grasp the edge of the basket. It went +down farther, and in another moment the thoroughly +frightened, but now relieved, passengers +were climbing out, with various expressions and exclamations.</p> + +<p>“No more balloons for me!”</p> + +<p>“Me either! I never want to see one.”</p> + +<p>“I never thought we’d get back to earth again.”</p> + +<p>“I almost fainted when I found we were going +up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ve been in some tight places,” said one +man, “but this was about the worst. No more for +mine! Little old earth is good enough for me after +this.”</p> + +<p>“Same here!” a companion agreed.</p> + +<p>The relatives and friends of the persons emerging +from the basket of the balloon crowded around +them, the women, more demonstrative than the men, +hugging and kissing one another.</p> + +<p>Then Joe, who had made a landing not far away +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>from the point where the balloon had come to earth, +received his share of attention.</p> + +<p>“There’s the young fellow who did it all. He +saved us!” cried a woman.</p> + +<p>“That’s what he did!” added the man who had +pulled the valve cord. “He came up after us and +told us just what to do to get down. Only for him +one of us might have pulled the wrong cord, and +we’d have fallen like a chunk of lead.”</p> + +<p>A crowd gathered about Joe, some to inspect his +curious wings of steel at close quarters, others to +see the lad himself. Those whom he had rescued, +as well as their friends, shook him warmly by the +hand until his palm ached.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it wasn’t much that I did,” he protested +modestly, when showered with praises. “The balloon +would have come down eventually, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I tell them,” said the owner of the +balloon. “They wouldn’t have been hurt.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’d as soon die by falling as of being +frightened to death!” exclaimed one woman. “No +more balloons for me!”</p> + +<p>The balloonist and his assistant were now deflating +the bag, and getting ready to pack it up. For +it was evident that no more business could be done +that day. The crowd was too frightened at what +had happened, even though there had been, perhaps, +no real danger to the occupants of the basket.</p> + +<p>But this did not lessen the regard in which Joe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>Strong was held. He had suddenly become a hero. +He had done a clever feat. Even the balloon man +admitted that.</p> + +<p>“I never saw such a queer contraption of a flying +machine,” he said to Joe. “What do you do with +it?”</p> + +<p>“Fly in the circus,” and Joe indicated the big +white tent.</p> + +<p>“He’s with the circus!” exclaimed one eager-faced +boy.</p> + +<p>“I’m goin’ to see him!” added another.</p> + +<p>“S’m I!” a third chimed in.</p> + +<p>“I made another good advertisement for the +show, anyhow,” thought Joe with a smile.</p> + +<p>The excitement began to quiet down now, though +a big crowd was still gathered about the scene, discussing +in all its phases what had just taken place. +Joe had some of the circus men cart his machine +back to the dynamo to be recharged. There was +still a good supply of current available in the storage +battery, but the young birdman had made a +longer flight than he was in the habit of making, +and he wanted to be sure he would have plenty of +power for the exhibition in the circus tent.</p> + +<p>A little later, this time for safety’s sake having +donned his football helmet, Joe Strong was flying +about in the big crowded tent. There was no counter +attraction in the captive balloon, for the owner +had taken it away, and many who had witnessed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>the accident and Joe’s thrilling rescue, came to the +show to view once more the <i>Bat</i> and its human +occupant.</p> + +<p>In addition to providing an extra advertisement +for the circus, Joe gained a personal one for himself. +For word of what he had done came to the +ears of an enterprising newspaper reporter, who +got a good story out of it. And as there happened +to be in the crowd a camera enthusiast who snapped +Joe as he was going to the rescue of those in the +balloon, there appeared with the newspaper account +a picture of the young aviator in flight. The story +was published all over that section of the country, +and Joe’s fame spread.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad you rescued those poor people, +Joe,” said Helen, after the performance. “Of +course, it was a great risk you took——”</p> + +<p>“No risk at all!” Joe insisted. He declared, +though few believed him, that his wings were perfectly +safe.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyhow,” Helen went on, not wishing to +renew the old argument, “you have proved that +your wings are useful as well as marvelous, Joe.”</p> + +<p>“So I have!” he exclaimed. “I never thought of +that. I may be able to make several of these machines +and sell them. They might be useful for +rescuing stranded aviators,” and he laughed at the +idea of an aviator being “stranded” in mid-air.</p> + +<p>There was such a crowd at the night performance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>that many had to be turned away for lack of +seating room. They came to see the birdman and +his wings of steel, that was evident, and in order +not to disappoint such a large number Joe decided +on a little novelty. With the permission of Jim +Tracy he flew around outside the tent, after finishing +his act inside. He attached some small incandescent +electric lights to his machine, illuminating them +with current from his storage battery in the <i>Bat</i>, +so that he was plainly visible as he flew over the +heads of the overflow crowd from the circus tent. +It was a free exhibition, and it pleased the people +very much.</p> + +<p>For a week or so after Joe’s sensational rescue +of the balloon passengers the circus played to good +business. They were touring through a populous +and rich farming section, with a number of fair-sized +cities scattered about, and large numbers came +to the show.</p> + +<p>Then, for some reason, business began to fall +off again until the managers were almost in despair. +For it takes a large quantity of money to +run a circus, especially a train-show as contrasted +to a wagon-show. In the latter the whole outfit is +hauled from place to place by horse and wagon, +and transportation charges are low.</p> + +<p>But railroad charges are high, and with the other +necessary charges accumulating from day to day it +was needful for the show to take in a large sum +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>every twenty-four hours to keep things running. +Then, too, several of the performers, like Joe, were +paid large salaries.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ve had a pretty lean week,” remarked +Jim Tracy to Joe one Saturday night as the show +closed, to remain over Sunday in the town where +it had played. “A pretty lean week, and if we have +many more—well, I guess I’d better not say what +will happen.</p> + +<p>“But I’m counting on Rockport to make good +for us. We stay there three days, and it’s the center +of a big and prosperous section. We ought to take +in a lot of money there.”</p> + +<p>“I hope we do,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>“We’ve just got to!” the ring-master exclaimed.</p> + +<p>But alas for their hopes. When Rockport was +reached and the circus went out to the lots that +had been hired, Jim Tracy saw a collection of newly +erected wooden buildings not far away, evidently +of temporary construction.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” Jim asked the advance agent. +“Has another circus gotten in ahead of us?”</p> + +<p>“No, it’s about as bad though. That’s an aviation +meet, and they start giving flying exhibitions +to-day!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XV</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">JOE’S PLAN</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Joe Strong, coming up +in time to hear the last remark. “What’s going +on?”</p> + +<p>“An aviation meet,” repeated the advance agent, +whose business it is to go ahead and arrange matters +for the coming circus. “They’re going to run +counter to us. I didn’t know, until the last minute, +what it was, or I’d have wired you not to +come. But now the show is here——”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to stay,” said Jim Tracy gloomily. +“It’s a long jump to our next stop, and we need +money to go on. We’ve got to play here if only +to half crowds.”</p> + +<p>“And it’s likely to be that,” observed the advance +agent. “Aeroplanes are new out in this section, +and the people are crazy to see them.”</p> + +<p>“An aviation meet, eh?” mused Joe. “Well, I +guess it is a mighty interesting thing, but I hope the +people will patronize our circus.”</p> + +<p>“That remains to be seen,” the advance agent +said. “They’re going to have all sorts of attractions—races; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>the dropping of chalk bombs; a war +game, in which the aviators will endeavor to locate +hidden bodies of troops; and things of that sort. +We sure are up against it hard!”</p> + +<p>Joe began to think so himself. Though it was +early and there was none of the “birdmen” in +sight, there was a big crowd around the hangars, +as the wooden buildings are called which house the +biplanes and monoplanes.</p> + +<p>“If they crowd over there now just on the chance +of having a glimpse at an aviator, what will they +do when the real show starts?” mused Joe. “Why, +we’re almost deserted!”</p> + +<p>This was true. The usual crowd that always +came to see the circus tents put up was but poorly +represented, and if this was a forecast of what +would happen in the afternoon and evening, when +the show would be under way, it meant something +like financial disaster.</p> + +<p>One big feature in favor of the aviation meet was +that it was open and free to every one. Of course, +an admission fee was charged to the grounds, which +was the only place where a close view could be +had of the machines and the aviators. But once +the birdmen arose in the air, they were visible for +a long distance the country round. And what small +boy, especially, would pay fifty cents, or even a +quarter, to go to a circus, when he could see the +aeroplanes for nothing? Very few, thought Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> + +<p>But there was, as the ring-master said, only one +thing to do, and that was to go on with the circus +and trust to luck to draw part of the crowd away +from the aviation meet. The latter show was first +on the ground, but the circus had been billed long +in advance, and it was fair enough to both sides.</p> + +<p>So while the tents were being put up, and the +animal exhibit being put into readiness, Joe and +Helen strolled over toward the aviation grounds.</p> + +<p>“Be back in time for the parade, Joe!” called +the ring-master after him. “If ever we needed you +to fly from the back of Rajah, we need you to-day. +We’ve got to do all we can to arouse interest in +our show.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll be on hand!” Joe promised.</p> + +<p>He wanted very much to look at some of the +aeroplanes, for he had some new ideas regarding +the <i>Bat</i>, and he wanted to see if they were feasible. +He thought he could get additional ideas by seeing +the monoplanes and biplanes.</p> + +<p>“And do men actually fly in them?” asked Helen, +when she and Joe had gone in through the gate, +Joe buying the tickets.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he answered. “They really glide through +the air, but on a different principle from that on +which my machine works. They get their power +from wooden propellers, revolved by a gasoline engine. +The propellers in the air act just as do the +propellers of a boat in the water, only the air propellers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>must move much faster, as water is denser +than air. In my machine I rise just as a bird does, +by successive flappings of the wings of steel against +the air. Once I am up I can glide like a bird, and +drift, as the aeroplanes sometimes drift, on a downward +slant. Volplaning, they call it.”</p> + +<p>“How interesting!” exclaimed Helen.</p> + +<p>“Do you like it?” asked Joe. “If you do, I may +build an aeroplane some day and take you for a +ride above the clouds.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, no!” exclaimed Helen quickly. “I +mean it is interesting to look at and hear about, +but I don’t want to go up. Seeing that balloon get +loose was enough for me!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that was nothing!” laughed Joe.</p> + +<p>It was too early for the regular exhibition of +the aeroplane meet, but mechanics were busy over +machines, and, in some cases, the aviators themselves +were on hand, looking after their apparatus, +getting ready for the afternoon flight. The flights +would take place about the time the circus started, +and would be a big counter attraction.</p> + +<p>Joe pointed out to Helen the difference between +the biplanes and monoplanes. The latter have but +one expanse of surface, composed of specially prepared +cloth stretched over a light framework. Biplanes, +as the name indicates, have two surfaces, +one above the other. The biplanes are more powerful +and safer, but the monoplanes, or “one-planes,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>are swifter and more easily managed, though rather +dangerous.</p> + +<p>Joe wanted a chance to talk to some of the aviators, +but he did not get it, as the time of the parade +was drawing near and he had to do his part, rising +in his wings of steel from the back of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'the big eleplant'" id="tn-123">the big elephant</ins>, +Rajah. That was counted on to attract attention +and draw crowds out to the tents.</p> + +<p>If the throngs in the streets that watched the +circus procession and applauded Joe’s flight were +any indication, the circus might hope to do a good +business. For Rockport was a large city, and all +about it were thriving towns which seemed to have +poured out much of their population to witness one +or the other of the shows.</p> + +<p>There was a big, cheering and apparently eager +crowd in the streets to witness the parade, and the +hopes of the circus folk rose somewhat on the return +to the grounds. But when the afternoon came, +and the ticket sellers and ticket takers were ready +and waiting, they were not overwhelmed with a +rush. Of course, many persons came to the circus, +but more went to the aviation meet, or stood outside +the enclosure, ready to watch the aviators +fly.</p> + +<p>“I was afraid of this,” said Jim Tracy, with a +gesture of despair, as he looked in the half-filled +tent. “We can’t pull against the aeroplanes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we can all do our best!” exclaimed Helen. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>“We’ll show the crowd we have in here what a +fine show we can give!”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk!” exclaimed Bill Watson, +the veteran clown. “Helen, you’ve struck the right +idea. We’ll give a bang-up, smashing good show, +and it will be talked about. Not that we don’t always +do our best, but this time we must do our bestest!” +and he smiled at his new word.</p> + +<p>“Well, that will help some,” conceded Jim Tracy, +“and I’m sure obliged to you all for the spirit you +show. Do the best you can, and if we fail, we’ll +go down with flying colors anyhow. Start the +music!”</p> + +<p>With a blare of trumpets the grand entry was +under way, and then began a game fight against +odds on the part of the circus folk. For the aviation +meet was in full progress, and during the +pauses in the performance in the main tent there +could be heard the staccato explosions of the engines +of the aircraft, for some of them flew over +the circus grounds.</p> + +<p>As Helen had proposed, they all did their best. +The clowns worked hard to get laughs, and the +acrobats did their most dangerous tricks to win +applause.</p> + +<p>In his flying exhibition Joe went around the tent +more times than usual, to give the people their +money’s worth, as he said afterward. And when +the time came for him and Benny to go into the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>tank (Joe doing the countryman turn as before) +he proposed to the human fish that they try for a +record on holding their breath under water.</p> + +<p>Benny agreed, and Jim Tracy made the announcement. +This aroused much interest, and +there were eager watchers as Benny and Joe deflated +their lungs, to fill them to their capacity with +fresh air.</p> + +<p>They made a good record, too, better than usual, +though Joe, on certain occasions, had beaten it. The +crowd applauded, and then came some of Joe’s +sleight-of-hand tricks under water, while Lizzie, the +trained seal, added to the interest of the tank act.</p> + +<p>“Well, they can’t say but that we gave them a +good show,” said Jim Tracy, as the crowd filed out. +“Now if they’ll only spread the report around town, +it may bring a big crowd out to-night. There’s one +consolation, moreover, the aviation meet will be +closed at night.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, it won’t,” said Mr. Sampson gloomily. +“I’ve been making inquiries, and they’re going to +give a night show too. The machines are to fly in +the air, illuminated with electric lights, and there +will probably be as big a crowd over there as there +was this afternoon. We’ve got to get the people +here on the merits of our show, or else quit the +game.”</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy shrugged his shoulders. He did not +know what to say.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> + +<p>Joe and Helen, after the afternoon performance, +had gone over to the aviation grounds again, and +the lad met one of the aviators, with whom he had +a long talk, learning some things he did not know +before. The aviator also told Joe what the programme +for the next day was going to be.</p> + +<p>What Mr. Sampson feared happened that night. +Or rather, it did not happen. There was even a +smaller crowd in the circus tents than in the afternoon, +but the performers did not relax their efforts +to amuse and thrill the audience.</p> + +<p>“We’ve just <em>got</em> to do something!” the ring-master +exclaimed, when a report came in that a +big crowd was over at the aviation grounds.</p> + +<p>“What can we do?” asked Mr. Sampson.</p> + +<p>“Who has an idea?” asked the ring-master. +“Don’t all speak at once,” he added, with a grim +smile.</p> + +<p>“I have a plan,” said Joe. “It may work, and +again it may not. But I’m willing to try it.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you!” cried Jim Tracy. “Let’s hear +your plan, Joe.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XVI</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE PRIZE RACE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe Strong looked into the faces of those gathered +about him. There were the ring-master; Bill +Watson, the veteran clown, who owned a small interest +in the show; and Mr. Sampson; besides the +other partners. On each face was anxiety, for they +well knew what failure meant. And if the tents +were not filled failure might result, on account of so +long a run of bad luck.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is what I thought of,” began Joe. +“There is to be a free-for-all race to-morrow—a +sort of handicap affair, and I was thinking I could +enter myself and the <i>Bat</i>. We could let it be known +that I was from the circus, and, even if I didn’t +win the prize, it would advertise the show so that +we might get a big crowd in. The race takes place +in the morning, so it won’t interfere with my performance.”</p> + +<p>“But do you know anything about running an +aeroplane, Joe?” asked Mr. Sampson.</p> + +<p>“I don’t intend to run one of them. I’ll use my +<i>Bat</i>.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> + +<p>“Is it fast enough?” asked Jim Tracy. “Some +of those aeroplanes are pretty speedy, I understand.”</p> + +<p>“I can make the <i>Bat</i> go fast when I want to,” +Joe replied. “I don’t dare let it out in the tent or I +might burst through the side. But of course I can’t +compete with their speediest machines. However, +this is to be a handicap affair—that is, the fast machines +will have to let the slower ones get off first +on a time allowance. I ought to get a pretty big +allowance as I don’t rate very high in power as compared +to the others. So I think I have a good +chance for a prize.”</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe you have,” conceded Jim Tracy. +“It’s very good of you to offer, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“Well, why shouldn’t I? I want to see the circus +make money as much as the rest of you. My living +depends on it, especially since I don’t seem to +be getting any more money from England.”</p> + +<p>“Is the game up over there?” asked the veteran +clown.</p> + +<p>“So it seems,” answered Joe. “Well, what do +you say? Shall I try in the prize race?”</p> + +<p>“By all means!” exclaimed Mr. Sampson. “Get +your entry in early, and do the best you can. I’ll +have some dodgers printed advertising the fact that +one of our circus performers is going to race in the +oddest air machine ever invented. Even if you +don’t win the race you may create enough interest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>to bring bigger crowds in here to see you. Go to it, +Joe, as the boys say!”</p> + +<p>“I will!” promised the young performer. “I’ll +give my <i>Bat</i> a good overhauling to-night to have it +ready for to-morrow morning, and I’ll go over now +and make my entry.”</p> + +<p>Joe had no difficulty in getting himself and his +machine entered in the handicap prize race, which +was for a gold cup and a sum of money, there being +no amateur rules to govern air-flying. When +the lad described and named his machine the official +making out the entry blank looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>“You don’t expect to stand any chance in that, +do you?” he asked, smiling good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes,” said Joe. “It is a peculiar machine, +but I think I can make good if I get the right kind +of handicap.”</p> + +<p>“We will be perfectly fair, of course, and from +what you tell me of the power of your storage battery +you will get a good time allowance. I shall +have to see your machine, first, however.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll have it over in the morning,” promised Joe. +Then he went back to his own quarters in the circus +tent to work over the <i>Bat</i>. He had an extra set of +gear wheels and torsion rods which gave greater +speed than the ones he had been using, and these +he put in, with the help of some of the circus mechanics. +Then the storage battery was charged to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>its limit, and the boy himself carefully oiled every +bearing.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll see what happens,” he said, as he +went to bed at a late hour to get some much-needed +rest.</p> + +<p>There was considerable activity the next day both +on the circus grounds and in the aviation enclosure. +For word of what Joe intended to attempt had gone +around, and there was much interest manifested. +The aviators were “grooming” their machines in +readiness for the race, and on all sides could be +heard the popping of the powerful engines.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bat</i> was taken over for the official handicap +test, and to Joe’s delight he was given the longest +time allowance of any of the racers.</p> + +<p>This meant that Joe would be allowed to start +off ahead of any of the others, who would follow +at indicated intervals. And this was perfectly fair, +just as it is fair to allow a small boy to start ahead +of a big boy in a race. It evened matters up.</p> + +<p>A great crowd was on hand early in the morning, +for the aviation meet had been well advertised, and +the race was a special attraction.</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky they had it in the morning instead of +the afternoon,” remarked Jim Tracy, as he watched +the throngs surging around the hangars and scattering +over the grounds, “else we wouldn’t have a +handful of people in our tent. But if Joe brings +home the prize, and even if he doesn’t, we may +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>get enough advertising out of it to pull us up even.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>He was getting ready for the race, and to make +it more spectacular he had donned the white shimmering +suit he wore when riding his motor-cycle +across the high wire. This showed him off to advantage +inside the framework where he had to take +his place to operate and steer his queer machine.</p> + +<p>The course was three times around the aviation +grounds, the termination being in front of the grandstand. +Already some of the aviators were practising, +flying around to “tune up” their engines. +Joe decided he would not do this, as his power in +the storage battery was a constantly lessening one, +and he could not afford to waste any of the current. +He knew pretty well what the <i>Bat</i> could do, +and his motive power, unlike that of the others, was +positive and certain as long as a volt or ampere remained +in the battery. A gasoline engine is so +complicated that it needs constant attention and +care.</p> + +<p>Larger and larger crowds assembled to witness +the race, and while the grandstand, as well as the +less expensive seats, was well filled there was also +a vast throng outside the grounds.</p> + +<p>“If we only had them in our tent!” exclaimed +Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>“Maybe we’ll get them there this afternoon,” said +Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> + +<p>It was almost time for the race to begin. Joe’s +machine was taken to the starting line and he got +inside. The officials were waiting, watches in hand.</p> + +<p>“Go!” came the sudden order, and Joe turned on +the power.</p> + +<p>Once again the big wings vibrated up and down, +fanning the air with ever-increasing power. Then, +amid a cry from the crowd, the <i>Bat</i> rose quickly +upward and shot off around the course.</p> + +<p>Joe decided to go upward until he found a favorable +current of air. He wanted a place where the +wind did not blow at all, if such were possible to +find, for, as the course was circular, if he got into +a wind stratum he would be helped half way around, +and then hindered as much in the other half.</p> + +<p>At about a thousand feet elevation the boy found +what he wanted, and then he set off on a straight +course, having risen at an angle. He was going +quite fast, but still had some power in reserve.</p> + +<p>A noise behind him, like the firing of a dozen +rifles, told Joe his first competitor was coming after +him, but he could not turn around to look back.</p> + +<p>“I’ve just got to keep on flying and trust to luck,” +he told himself. For his machine was so built that +only by a great effort could he turn around in it. +“The next one I make will have more room,” Joe +decided.</p> + +<p>On and on the lad went. He could hear the explosions +of more aircraft engines now.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p> + +<p>“I guess the last of ’em must be off now,” Joe +reflected. “They are the speediest of the lot. Still +they may have an accident, and while I don’t wish +any one bad luck I do hope I win this race.”</p> + +<p>As may be guessed, accidents are very likely to +happen to aeroplanes, though the machines are much +safer and more reliable than in former years. The +accident of which Joe thought was the stoppage of +the engine. Once this occurs, it is necessary for +the aviator to descend to the ground and start again. +He glides, or volplanes, to the earth, with very +little risk, and has a mechanician whirl his propellers +until the stalled engine starts again.</p> + +<p>There are very few aeroplanes with self-starters +that can be put in operation from the aviator’s +seat. The makers are coming to this very necessary +feature, however.</p> + +<p>Joe Strong knew that if some of the speediest, and +therefore largest and most complicated, machines +should have a stalled engine, his chances would be +improved. It was all in the sporting chance. An +accident might happen to the wings of steel as well.</p> + +<p>Once around the course went Joe, the others +following him. Down below, the big crowd, including +many circus folk, were cheering like mad, +for it was a thrilling and exciting sight.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m ahead yet,” said the young circus +performer to himself, as he glanced out of the side +of his cage and saw none of the others in line with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>him. “If I can keep it up for two rounds more I’ll +be all right. But the worst is yet to come.”</p> + +<p>Half way on the second round Joe heard a noise +gradually drawing nearer to him. Then he had a +glimpse of an aeroplane that was overtaking +him.</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s all up,” the boy mused. Still he was +doing his best, and he had the satisfaction of knowing +that either way it would be a big drawing card +for the circus.</p> + +<p>Slowly the other air machine nosed its way ahead +of Joe. There were other machines behind the +circus airman and his nearest competitor, but they +did not seem to be able to cut down Joe’s lead +sufficiently to pass him.</p> + +<p>“Well, now comes the test,” the lad said grimly, +as he swung into the “home stretch.” He gradually +turned on the reserve power he had been saving, and +saw that he was creeping slowly up. Then to his +joy, though with it was mingled a feeling of regret +for the other man, he saw that the aeroplane was +losing speed. The explosions did not come so regularly.</p> + +<p>“His engine is missing!” thought Joe. “I’ve got +a chance!”</p> + +<p>There was a click as he threw the switch over as +far as it would go and shot forward at increased +speed. As he did this, he noted the lack of sound +from the rival machine and knew that the engine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>had gone dead. The aviator began to volplane +down.</p> + +<p>Then, amid the wild cheers of the crowd, Joe +flew on and on, until he shot over the finish line—a +winner!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XVII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE OLD INVENTOR</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Joe Strong wins!”</p> + +<p>It was the voice of the race-judge announcing +that fact—a fact which every spectator could see +for himself, for the aviator in the monoplane which +had come so near to beating our hero had come to +earth some distance from the finish line. And those +behind Joe did not cross until after he had done so.</p> + +<p>“Well, I did the trick,” thought Joe, as he came +down to the ground, and released himself from the +inner cage. “But it was a close squeak. Now we’ll +see what good it does the circus.”</p> + +<p>The fact that Joe had won because of the disablement +of one of his competitors’ machines did not +in the least detract from his victory. Every race, +or contest, is won either through the superiority of +one man or machine over another, or because of +some failure, slip or weakness on the part of the +loser.</p> + +<p>“Great work, Joe! Great work!” cried Benny +Turton, rushing up to shake hands with his +chum.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s just what it was!” chimed in Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>Others were crowding around Joe, endeavoring +to shake his hand. Most of them were strangers to +him, but among them were some of his circus friends +and the other aviators.</p> + +<p>“Allow me to congratulate you!” exclaimed the +judge of the race, and he, also, shook hands with +the boy. “Your time for the three rounds of the +course was twenty-seven minutes, eight and three-fifth +seconds, which is very good, considering the +type of machine you used.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” responded Joe. “I don’t recommend +my machine for speed. I got it up for the +novelty of it, as novelty is what is wanted in a +circus.”</p> + +<p>“I see,” remarked the judge. “Now if you will +come over to the stand I’ll give you the cup and +prize money.”</p> + +<p>After giving some of the circus attendants instructions +about caring for the <i>Bat</i>, Joe Strong +made his way through the throng. He would soon +have to use the wings of steel in the circus, and the +batteries needed recharging.</p> + +<p>“Well, you beat me fairly and squarely, friend,” +said the man who had been forced to come down +in his monoplane.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you think so,” the circus lad responded. +“I’m sorry your engine went back on you. Only +for that you’d have come in first.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s all in the game. I’ll beat you next +time.”</p> + +<p>“There isn’t going to be any next time for me—not +in the style of air craft I’ve been using,” said +our hero. “It isn’t built for racing, I can see that. +I did it for the advertisement it would give our +show.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s a good one. I’m coming in myself to +see you to-night, for I don’t fly after dark. I don’t +care for it.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad to see you,” responded Joe.</p> + +<p>A little later, with the prize money and cup in his +possession, Joe and his circus friends went back to +the circus grounds, there being no parade that day. +The prize cup was put on exhibition, and the press +agent of the show saw to it that a good notice of +Joe’s success was sent to the papers.</p> + +<p>“It’s the best advertisement of the show we’ve +had in a long while,” the press agent said, clapping +the winner of the air race on the back. “I +wish you could do something like that every +day.”</p> + +<p>“That would be a little too much,” Joe replied. +“But I’ll do the best I can.”</p> + +<p>Joe’s feat in winning the aviation prize had just +the effect he and the others of the circus had hoped +for. It brought crowds to the show that afternoon, +so that every seat was filled, and hundreds had to be +turned away. And this in spite of the fact that there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>was an exhibition on the aviation grounds at the +same time.</p> + +<p>“I don’t wish them any bad luck!” exclaimed Jim +Tracy, “but that is what I like to see,” and he motioned +toward the crowd in the tent, and nodded +over toward the place where the aviators were flying +before a very small attendance. “And turning them +away is a good sign. They’ll come back to-night—and +others too I hope.”</p> + +<p>This hope was also realized, for another record-breaking +crowd assembled for the evening performance.</p> + +<p>“We’ll make up what we lost by staying here +another day,” said Mr. Sampson. “Things begin +to look brighter.”</p> + +<p>Every one felt much better. Perhaps Joe best of +all, for it had been permitted him to bring about +the good luck.</p> + +<p>The fact seemed to be that the public wanted to +see a person in an air craft at close range, which +they could do in Joe’s case as he flew slowly over +their heads.</p> + +<p>A biplane or monoplane moves so swiftly that it +is soon beyond the range of the spectators, and only +appears like a speck in the sky. But Joe, though +he could go high when he wished, remained near the +earth, thus enabling every one in the circus tents +to see how his machine was operated and how he +steered it. This, perhaps, was the reason why such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>crowds came to the circus after Joe had advertised +himself by winning the aviation prize.</p> + +<p>The third day of the circus in Rockport was also +marked by a record-breaking attendance, and there +was jubilation among the partners. They would +have stayed another two days, which would have +marked the end of the aviation meet, and which +would have insured them more patrons, but they +had other dates to fill, so they moved on.</p> + +<p>Not, however, before several of the aviators had +called on Joe to examine more closely the <i>Bat</i>. All +of them agreed that it was a clever piece of work, +but they said, with Joe, that for quick work kept +up for a long distance, it was not to be compared +with a monoplane or a biplane.</p> + +<p>“Its chief value,” said the man who had so nearly +beaten Joe, “is its smallness. It would be great in +war, I think, for an army could carry several of +these small machines, and a man could go up, take +an observation, and come back with much less +trouble than in one of the big machines we +have.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t fancy going to war,” laughed Joe.</p> + +<p>Once more the big show moved on, and the “hoo-doo” +which seemed to have fallen on the finances +appeared to be broken. For after the performances +in Rockport the circus played to good business in +several cities in succession. Joe, Benny Turton, +Helen, with her horse, Rosebud, Bill Watson, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>one or two others were the “stars” of the circus, +and its chief attractions.</p> + +<p>Joe, as may well be imagined, was almost a show +in himself. He rode his motor-cycle across the +high wire, giving an exhibition in marksmanship +that was very difficult, for he had to steer his machine +with his knees as he shot the pistols at the +glass balls or toy balloons. Then, having thrilled +the crowds in that fashion, he got inside the <i>Bat</i> and +circled about the tent. And once again in this part +of his work Joe introduced something new.</p> + +<p>Helen saw him outside his dressing room one day, +inside the main dressing tent, juggling with a number +of red balls.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing, Joe?” she asked. “You’re +not going back to your sleight-of-hand work, are +you?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly,” he answered. “But I don’t want +to get rusty, and I’m practising so I can do this +when I’m flying in the <i>Bat</i>. I think it will make +the act a little livelier.”</p> + +<p>“I think it would if you dropped them on the +heads of persons in the audience,” Helen said with +a laugh.</p> + +<p>“That’s why I’m practising—so I won’t drop +them,” Joe replied. “Anyhow, they’re so light they +wouldn’t hurt much, but I don’t want to do any +ragged juggling like that. Hence the practice,” and +he went on tossing the balls up in the air, skillfully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>catching them, sometimes using one hand and sometimes +two.</p> + +<p>After considerable practice, the youth felt that he +had gotten back enough of his former skill to try +juggling while he was flying. He did not succeed +very well when he first practised with the machine +in an empty tent. But he kept at it and at +last announced he was ready to put on a new +act.</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed the ring-master. “Go to it, +Joe!”</p> + +<p>Joe did. And that day, while flying about the tent +over the heads of the audience, the young airman +tossed up the red balls and caught them, keeping +them circulating in the air.</p> + +<p>It was simple enough in itself, but when it is remembered +that Joe had to give considerable attention +to the steering of his machine—up and down as +well as sideways—and look after the controlling +of the motors, varying the vibration of the wings in +making turns, and do this while using his hands for +juggling, it will be seen that it was not quite easy. +The young experimenter had been obliged to make +a little different arrangement in the mechanism to +enable him to use his hands freely.</p> + +<p>Joe’s variation of his flying act acted as a new +stimulus to the applause of the crowd, and he received +so many “hands,” as this sort of appreciation +is called, that some of the other performers were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>more jealous of him than ever. But that was only +natural.</p> + +<p>In addition to all this Joe did an act with Benny +in the tank, using the same plan that he had found +so laughable—that of the rustic pretending to catch +the seal and falling in. This never failed to bring +forth a laugh.</p> + +<p>Joe’s fame spread, especially after his winning of +the aviation prize, and one day he received a letter +from a rival circus, making him an offer of a high +salary if he would transfer his work to their tents. +The offer was a good one, the salary being much +larger than the one Joe was then getting.</p> + +<p>“Well, I would like the extra money,” he mused, +“especially as I don’t seem to be going to get mine +from England. But I must play square with my +friends. I can’t desert them now.”</p> + +<p>Joe was going to say nothing of the offer to Jim +Tracy or Mr. Sampson, for he did not think they +could afford to increase his salary, and he did not +want to cause them worry, as they had been very +good to him.</p> + +<p>But he spoke of the matter to Helen, and, she, +saying nothing to Joe about it, privately informed +the ring-master.</p> + +<p>“Joe is entitled to get all he can,” she said, “but +he doesn’t want to tell you about the offer for fear +you will think he is trying to force you to raise his +salary.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m glad you told me,” said Jim Tracy. “Your +idea is right—a performer is entitled to all he can +get. Nor do I blame the other circus for trying to +get Joe. But we’re not going to let him go. I’ll +have a talk with him.”</p> + +<p>Joe was surprised when the ring-master spoke +of the letter.</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t going to say anything about it,” said +Joe.</p> + +<p>“I know you weren’t, and I appreciate your motive. +But I found out. And I want to say, Joe, +that I have taken up the matter with the other +owners, and we have decided not to raise your +salary.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I didn’t expect you to,” and Joe wondered +at the smile on Jim’s face.</p> + +<p>“No, we’re not going to raise your salary, but +we’re going to do something better. We are going +to give you an interest in the show, and if +we keep on doing as good business as we have the +last few weeks, and if you continue to draw, as +I know you will, you’ll have a larger salary than +even the other people offered.”</p> + +<p>Joe was so surprised that he hardly knew what to +say, but he managed to stammer his thanks. A few +days later legal steps were taken that made him one +of the Sampson Brothers’ partners.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Joe, I’m so glad!” Helen exclaimed, her +eyes shining.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p> + +<p>“So am I!” he answered. “Was it you who told +about the offer from the other circus?”</p> + +<p>“How’d you guess?” she laughed, and blushed.</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t very hard, seeing that you were the +only one I told,” Joe replied.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after this that, as Joe was +resting after the afternoon performance, a messenger +came to him, saying:</p> + +<p>“There’s an elderly man outside asking for you. +Shall I show him in?”</p> + +<p>“What’s his name?”</p> + +<p>“He said he didn’t want to give it except to you.”</p> + +<p>Joe thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>“It may be some word from my English estate,” +he mused. “I’ll see the man,” he told the messenger.</p> + +<p>An aged man, with gray hair, a bushy beard, and +queer, sharp, darting eyes came shuffling in.</p> + +<p>“Are you the young fellow who made the flying +machine, and sails in it?” he asked. The lad +thought he had to deal with a curiosity-seeker and +was sorry he had let him in.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I made the <i>Bat</i>,” Joe answered. “I’m +sorry that I have no time now to——”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” exclaimed the old man. “Can any one +hear what we say? It must be kept secret. Listen! +I am an inventor, and I have discovered something +that will be of great value if put on your apparatus. +May I tell you about it?”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XVIII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A PRISONER</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe at first thought he had to deal with a dangerous +crank, for the old man had a queer manner. +The circus performer was about to call for some of +the sturdy canvasmen to put him out, but the visitor +seemed to read what was in the lad’s mind, for he +quickly said:</p> + +<p>“Now don’t be rash, young man. I came here +at great personal inconvenience to do you a favor, +so don’t turn me away. I am not asking for any +of your money. I have more than I need, which +may seem strange when I tell you I am an inventor.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, inventors don’t usually become millionaires,” +said Joe, who decided to listen to what the +man had to say.</p> + +<p>“I did not make my fortune by an invention,” +the man went on. “It was left to me, and I have +spent many thousands in perfecting several machines. +I am much interested in aviation.”</p> + +<p>The man’s language was good, and he talked rationally. +And as Joe looked more closely at him he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>saw that his clothing was of fine quality, though +carelessly worn. The man’s cuffs showed diamond-studded +links, and his watch chain was of heavy +gold.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I misjudged him,” thought the youth. +“He may be rich and eccentric, and may have discovered +something worth while. If he could tell +me some way of getting a more powerful storage +battery and, at the same time, of less weight, it +might be a good thing for the <i>Bat</i>. I’ll hear what +he has to say.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any one to overhear what we say,” +the visitor went on.</p> + +<p>“They won’t,” said Joe. “But, if you like, you +can come into my dressing room.”</p> + +<p>“I’d rather, if you will, have you come to my +shop,” the inventor replied. “I have fitted up a +workroom in my house, and I do my tinkering there. +It’s safer, too, for several persons have tried to +steal my inventions. But now I keep them locked +up. Will you come? It isn’t far.”</p> + +<p>“What is the nature of your invention that applies +to my flying machine?” Joe asked. “And do +you think you can tell me how to improve it?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I can,” said the man eagerly. “I have +watched you fly. I was in Rockport at the aviation +meet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, then you know something of heavier-than-air +machines?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> + +<p>“I do. And I have read much about you. I was +interested from the first in your <i>Bat</i>, as you call it, +and I made up my mind that I would see you as +soon as I could. Business called me away from +Rockport before I could speak to you, but I knew +the circus was coming here, so I waited. I just +witnessed your flight in the tent.”</p> + +<p>Joe was more and more favorably impressed by +the man, and he decided to humor him to the extent +of going to his house with him.</p> + +<p>“Do you know anything about storage batteries +and small motors?” asked Joe. “I depend on them +in my machine, Mr.——?”</p> + +<p>He paused questioningly.</p> + +<p>“Clark is my name—Samuel Clark,” the man +said. “I have lived here all my life. I have made +a special study of storage battery motors. That +is what I want to talk to you about, and show +you.”</p> + +<p>This suited Joe, for he had a hazy plan for the +next year of building a larger flying machine that +would carry two. He hoped to induce Helen to +fly with him, for that would make a big hit, he was +sure.</p> + +<p>“All right, Mr. Clark,” Joe said, “I’ll come with +you. But I have to be back here for the evening +performance.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I understand that,” was the answer. +“My place is not far away. I am sorry I haven’t an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>automobile or a carriage, but I am rather old-fashioned, +and prefer to walk.”</p> + +<p>“I like walking myself,” Joe admitted. “But +with my motor-cycle and my flying machine I don’t +get much of it, so I’ll be glad of a little exercise +with you.”</p> + +<p>Joe and the inventor left the circus grounds, and +on the way to Mr. Clark’s house the man talked intelligently +about electric energy as embodied in +motors and storage batteries.</p> + +<p>“I guess maybe he may have invented something +worth while,” mused Joe, “and he’s eccentric enough +not to try to market it. If I can get a battery +powerful enough to make a double machine go up, +it may be a great thing.”</p> + +<p>One thing struck Joe as being rather queer, but +he did not give it much thought until afterward, +when it was almost too late: So many persons who +passed him and Mr. Clark on the street looked +at the latter in a very odd way. Several times +persons seemed to be talking about Mr. Clark as +he passed them. Joe ascertained this by looking +back, and twice he saw men pointing or nodding +their heads in the direction of his companion.</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s because he’s a bit odd, that’s all,” +thought Joe.</p> + +<p>And another odd thing was that though Mr. Clark +said he had lived in the place all his life he neither +bowed nor spoke to any one he passed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span></p> + +<p>“Another eccentricity,” decided the lad. He was +so taken up with his new idea of building a bigger +machine, and flying about the circus tent with +Helen, that he gave no more heed to the two queer +things he had noticed.</p> + +<p>“You have seen my machine work,” remarked +Joe, to his companion. “Do you think it possible +to make one twice as large and that would carry +two persons, and yet have the storage battery not +twice as heavy in proportion?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure it can be done!” exclaimed Mr. Clark +eagerly. “In fact, my battery now, though not perfected, +would do that work. But I am going to +get it even lighter yet, and I am working on another +point that will be more valuable. It is the doing +away with the sulphuric acid in storage batteries. +I am going to make a dry one.”</p> + +<p>“That <em>would</em> be an invention!” cried Joe, who +could see the value in that possibility. “That would +be just the thing for submarines. For now there is +danger that the storage battery may become flooded +with sea water. Then chlorine gas is generated, +and that is fatal to the crew.”</p> + +<p>“My idea exactly!” exclaimed the inventor, and +then he plunged into a mass of technical details, +rather beyond Joe.</p> + +<p>“Here’s my place,” said the aged man some time +later. The walk had been a long one, but Joe had +enjoyed the exercise.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span></p> + +<p>They had come to a less thickly settled part of the +city. Mr. Clark turned into a patch that led toward +a large but shabby and gloomy-looking house. All +around it was a high hedge, unkempt and untrimmed. +The gate was half off the hinges, and the +whole place spelled decay. For an instant Joe held +back.</p> + +<p>“After all, wasn’t my first impression right and +isn’t this man a dangerous crank?” Joe asked himself. +“I wonder if I hadn’t better pull out of this +right now.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t waste money keeping my place up,” said +the old man. “This is the old homestead, but it is +going to be sold soon to a development company +which wants the land. The house is to be torn +down, so it isn’t worth while to spend money on it. +It isn’t so bad inside.”</p> + +<p>So that accounted for the looks. Joe kept on. +With a key which squeaked rustily in the lock the +old man opened the front door. The place smelled +musty, as though it was seldom opened, and there +did not seem to be any one but themselves in the +house. The footfalls of Joe and his companion +echoed through the silent rooms.</p> + +<p>“I live alone,” explained the man, in answer to +Joe’s look of inquiry. “I don’t wish to be bothered +with people, and I have no near relatives. I can +work better alone.” This feeling was natural +enough in an inventor, the lad felt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> + +<p>“Now for my workshop,” the old man said. “I’ll +let you judge of some of my inventions. Come up +this way. And look out, for some of the steps have +rotted away.”</p> + +<p>He started toward a big staircase and the boy +followed. One did need to mind one’s step, for +there were big holes in the stairs, and some, Joe +thought, seemed to have been made with an axe, +as if vandals had started to demolish the old building.</p> + +<p>“Right in here,” went on Mr. Clark, unlocking +the door of a room on the second floor.</p> + +<p>He stood aside to let Joe enter first, and our +hero unthinkingly did so. He saw before him a +queer mass of machinery, some of which he recognized +as electrical. In one corner was a big +storage battery, but at a glance Joe knew it was +too large for his machine. And in another corner +was something that rather surprised him.</p> + +<p>It was a flying machine, not unlike his own in +so far as it had metal wings. But the boy was +sure it would never go up. It was too big and +clumsy.</p> + +<p>He turned to speak to the inventor, and ask about +the new light-weight storage battery, when he saw +the door being pulled shut, with Mr. Clark on the +other side. There was a malicious grin on the old +man’s face, and a queer glint in his eyes. He seemed +to have changed in an instant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> + +<p>Joe sprang forward to prevent the door’s closing—for +he at once suspected a trap—but he was +too late. The lock clicked, and with a laugh that +had in it the sound of madness the old man cried:</p> + +<p>“Now I’ve got you just where I want you! You +won’t steal any more of my inventions!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XIX</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A DANGEROUS PLIGHT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe Strong was so startled, astonished and altogether +taken by surprise that he did not feel capable +of moving for several seconds. Then he threw +himself against the door, but it opened inward, and +he only bruised himself.</p> + +<p>“Ha-ha!” laughed the old man on the other side. +“You can’t get out that way. I’ll teach you to take +my invention and go flying all over the country with +it. I’ll teach you!”</p> + +<p>“Say, are you crazy?” cried Joe, a suspicion that +such was the case entering his mind.</p> + +<p>“Crazy? Me? No, I’m not crazy!” was the +quick retort. “But most of the other folks in the +world are. You are crazy to try to steal my invention +and think I would not find it out. Now you’ll +never do it again. You’ll die in there.”</p> + +<p>Joe knew that he must be cool and keep his head. +He had evidently been made a prisoner by a madman, +and perhaps by humoring him he could get out +without using force. He looked around the room +and saw it contained only one window, high up, and +that was small and guarded by iron bars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>“I think you are making a mistake, Mr. Clark,” +said Joe as calmly as he could. “I never stole any +of your inventions. In fact I never saw you before +to-day.”</p> + +<p>“That makes no difference,” was the retort. +“You stole my invention just the same. Look in +that corner and you’ll see a flying machine like +yours. I made it years ago, and you found out +about it and made one like it. You have secured +a lot of money by exhibiting yourself in a machine +made from my stolen invention, but this is the end. +I have you where I want you now.”</p> + +<p>That was evident enough. But it was a place +Joe did not want to be in, even though the crazy inventor +wanted him there.</p> + +<p>“That was the meaning of all those looks on +the part of persons in the street,” thought Joe. +“They knew he was crazy and they were probably +wondering why he was allowed to be at liberty. I +wish I had not come here.”</p> + +<p>But it was too late to wish that now, and the +youth had to do the next best thing—try to get +out.</p> + +<p>“Why do you say I stole your invention?” he +asked, thinking to get the man to open the door +and come in, in which case Joe would have a fighting +chance.</p> + +<p>“Because I know you stole it,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“How do you make that out?” demanded Joe. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>“Isn’t yours just the same as mine? And didn’t +I make mine first?”</p> + +<p>“That may be,” Joe admitted. “There is a slight +resemblance between my <i>Bat</i> and your machine in +here. But if you’ll come in I can point out where +there’s a whole lot of difference. The only place +where they are similar is the wings, and even there +mine are somewhat different from yours. Come in +and I’ll make it clear to you.”</p> + +<p>“No, I’ll not come in!” was the answer with a +sly laugh. “You are young and strong. You want +to injure me.”</p> + +<p>“I promise you I won’t,” Joe said. He only +wanted the door opened so he could flee from the +house of mystery.</p> + +<p>“I’ll not come in,” said the old man with a +chuckle. “I’ll talk to you from this side of the +door.”</p> + +<p>Joe was almost in despair. Still he might be able +to break his way out of the room. He resolved to +try another appeal.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Clark!” he called, “I think you are entirely +mistaken in your idea, and if you’ll let me out, or +come in here, I can prove it. I never had an idea +that there was another machine even as little like +mine as yours is. Now I’m willing to bring my +machine here, set it up side by side with yours, and +allow any committee of mechanics or electricians +you want to pick out settle the matter. If they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>decide that I have taken any of your ideas I’ll +pay you for them.”</p> + +<p>“Money can’t pay me for what I have lost,” was +the snarling answer. “Besides, I have money +enough.”</p> + +<p>“Then what do you want?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“I want revenge!” was the cry of the madman. +“I want to pay you back for what you did!”</p> + +<p>“But I did nothing,” Joe insisted.</p> + +<p>There was no reply to this.</p> + +<p>“Come!” cried Joe, trying to make his voice +sound casual. “I must get out soon to go back +to the circus.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll never play in the circus again!” cried +Mr. Clark. “You have made your last flight—unless +you try to fly in my machine, and there +isn’t room in there.”</p> + +<p>Joe looked around the apartment in which he +had been made a prisoner. It was small, and was +cluttered up with machinery and, as far as the boy +could judge, useless inventions. A second look at +the machine which slightly resembled his told him +that it never would be able to raise itself from the +ground, to say nothing of carrying a passenger.</p> + +<p>He resolved to try one more appeal before planning +to use force to free himself.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Clark!” he called.</p> + +<p>“Well?” answered the voice, from a distance it +seemed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> + +<p>“Have you been able to fly in your machine?” +asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“No,” was the reply. “But I will soon be able to. +It needs only a few changes. I would have had +it done now only I heard about your stealing my +invention, and I had to plan to catch you. Now +I have you, I’m going to work on my machine again—after +I dispose of you.”</p> + +<p>“But if you’ll come in now,” cried Joe, “I’ll show +you several things that are wrong. I’ll show you +how to make it like mine. I have no patent on mine. +I don’t care who makes one like it—or as many as +they want. Come in and we’ll talk it over!”</p> + +<p>“Not much I won’t!” was the cry. Then Joe +heard retreating footsteps and knew that he must +depend on himself to escape.</p> + +<p>His first care was to examine the door. It was of +heavy oak, and without a key or a tool something +like a burglar’s jimmy it could not be forced.</p> + +<p>“So I’ve got to get a jimmy,” decided Joe.</p> + +<p>The door was easier to work at than the window, +which was so high that Joe doubted if he could +reach it, as there was nothing in the room on which +he could stand.</p> + +<p>At first glance Joe was afraid there was nothing +in the place that he could use for a jimmy, or short +lever. It needed to be something powerful, with a +thin wedge-like edge that could be inserted in the +crack between the door and jamb.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span></p> + +<p>“I’ll have to take apart some of this truck machinery, +maybe,” Joe decided. “If I could get a +rod out I might use that. But it would be blunt on +the end, and I need something sharp. I might +hammer a piece of pipe together though.”</p> + +<p>He sought for some pipe and finally found it. +Then with a chunk of iron for a hammer and +another for an anvil, he beat the ends together. +He had a rude sort of lever, but when he tried to +insert it in the crack of the door he found the +aperture too small.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have to smash through a panel,” the youth +decided. “But I’ll try once more to make him listen +to reason. Mr. Clark! Mr. Clark!” he cried. He +waited, but there was no answer.</p> + +<p>“If you don’t let me out I’ll have to smash this +door!” Joe went on.</p> + +<p>There was still no reply, and then he began to +hammer on the portal with the piece of pipe. A +few splinters of wood were knocked off, and then, to +his surprise, Joe discovered that there was a middle +section of steel in the wooden door.</p> + +<p>“Why, this place was made for a regular prison!” +he exclaimed. “I wonder if he could have gotten +this ready on purpose for me?” But the lad soon +decided against that idea.</p> + +<p>It was evident that without other tools Joe could +not break his way through the door. There remained +only the window. “Unless I can chop my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>way through a plaster wall,” Joe reasoned. “They’d +hardly have steel-lined walls.”</p> + +<p>It was easy enough to knock off some of the +plaster, making a hole that disclosed the lath. But +when Joe broke some of these off he discovered +that the walls were like the door—they had an inner +sheet of steel.</p> + +<p>“A regular safety-deposit vault,” said the youth. +“I’ve got to try the window.”</p> + +<p>He looked about for something of which to make +a ladder. Somehow he felt strangely ill and dizzy. +There was a queer odor in the air. It had been +slowly increasing, and was now very perceptible.</p> + +<p>“It smelled—smelled just that way when I was +in the hospital,” the boy remarked, half aloud. “It’s—it’s—Why, +it’s ether!” he cried. “He’s forcing +ether in here somehow to make me insensible. +If I can find out how it’s coming in I can stop it.”</p> + +<p>But Joe could not find the place where the volatile +odor entered. And every moment he felt +weaker. He felt that his senses were leaving him. +Desperately he tried to put together some of the +pieces of the machinery so that he could reach the +window. If he could open that and let in fresh +air, even though he could not get out, he might keep +himself from becoming senseless.</p> + +<p>But before he could complete the improvised ladder +Joe fell over insensible. And there he lay on +the floor, in the midst of the queer jumble of machinery, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>the prisoner of a madman who seemed to +have vanished.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Supper time was approaching. Helen was waiting +for Joe to come back, for he and she generally +sat at table together, with Benny Turton and Bill +Watson.</p> + +<p>“Has Joe come back yet?” asked Helen of Benny.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know he’d gone away,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he went off with a Mr. Clark. I was in +the dressing tent when this stranger came in and +introduced himself to Joe. I could not help hearing +what was said. It was about Joe’s flying machine. +Mr. Clark said he had a new kind of storage +battery he wanted to show Joe, and Joe went off to +his house with him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, he’ll be back soon,” said Benny. +“There’s half an hour before supper will be served.”</p> + +<p>But Helen, somehow or other, was nervous. She +“felt as though something were going to happen,” +she said afterward.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see what keeps Joe,” she remarked to +Bill Watson.</p> + +<p>“Where did he go?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Off with a Mr. Clark, some sort of an inventor.”</p> + +<p>“Not old Sam Clark; was it?” cried the clown +in such evident excitement that Helen said:</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, I believe that was his name,” and she +detailed what she had heard.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, if it’s old Sam Clark, then Joe has gone +off with a dangerous crank,” said the clown. “I +heard of him when we played here once before. +He’s an old resident of this place and has lots of +money, but he’s crazy. Everybody here knows he’s +insane. He’s been in the asylum more than once.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what can we do?” cried Helen, in distress.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to go to Joe’s rescue, that’s all!” +declared Bill with emphasis. “Of course nothing +may have happened, and Clark may only think he +can interest Joe in some crazy invention. But it’s +best to be on the safe side. We’ll find out where +they went.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going alone?” asked Helen, as the clown +started off.</p> + +<p>“No, I’ll take Benny Turton with me. No use +making too much excitement over the affair, for, +after all, it may amount to nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t I come with you?” pleaded Helen +eagerly.</p> + +<p>Bill thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” he said. “We’ll go to Joe’s rescue.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XX</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">SUSPICIONS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Bill Watson was quite familiar with the plan +of the city in which the circus was then playing. +He had been there before with the show, and had +once spent a week there, having been taken ill, and +unable to go on. So this accounted for his knowledge +of the eccentric Mr. Clark.</p> + +<p>“What sort of man is he?” asked Benny, as, with +Helen, he hurried on with the fun-maker.</p> + +<p>“Well, I never heard that he was really dangerous,” +answered Bill. “But he may be, for all that.”</p> + +<p>An exclamation came from Helen—a cry of +alarm.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that doesn’t go to show that he’d harm Joe,” +said Bill quickly, realizing that he had made a mistake. +“Besides, Joe is quick and clever, and he’s +got powerful fists. I guess he’d leave Clark at the +first suspicious sign. If trouble did start Joe could +take care of himself.”</p> + +<p>“Of course!” confirmed Benny, for he saw Bill +winking at him behind Helen’s back, and the human +fish guessed this was what Bill wanted him to do.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, I hope he’s all right,” observed the +girl, with a sigh. “Let’s hurry on. Where are we +going, Bill?”</p> + +<p>“First to the old Clark mansion. It’s most +likely that he’d get Joe to go with him there, if +anywhere.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think I heard them say something about +going to Mr. Clark’s house,” averred Helen. She +was nervous and excited, but tried not to show it +as they hastened on.</p> + +<p>“Is it far away?” asked Ben.</p> + +<p>“It’s quite a way out,” Bill said. “I guess we’d +better take a carriage—a closed one if we can get +it.”</p> + +<p>He had a double object in this. One was to gain +time, and the other was to have a conveyance at +hand in case anything had happened to Joe. They +found a hack at the depot and were soon speeding +on toward the outskirts of the city. The driver +looked rather queerly at Bill when he gave their +destination.</p> + +<p>“’Tisn’t very often I get an order to go out +there,” he said. “Folks don’t generally call on that +crank.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we have a little business with him,” Bill +answered, noncommittally.</p> + +<p>Bidding the driver of the hack to wait for them, +Bill, Helen and Benny went up the weed-lined front +path. A knock on the door brought no answer, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>a pull at the bell handle disclosed the fact that it +was not connected with anything that would produce +a ring.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ve got to break our way in if we +can’t find an open window,” Bill remarked. “It’s +going contrary to law to break into a man’s house, +but I guess the circumstances justify us in this +case.”</p> + +<p>“Here’s a window with some panes of glass out,” +called Benny, who had gone around to the side of +the house.</p> + +<p>“Can you reach in and turn the catch?” the clown +asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Benny. A moment later he +had leaped into the house, from which came no +sound. And no sooner had Benny entered than he +called out:</p> + +<p>“Hurry, Bill! There’s something queer been +going on here. I can smell ether or chloroform. +Come on.”</p> + +<p>Bill scrambled in after the human fish. Helen +called to them in alarm to know what had happened, +but the clown told her to stay outside—that +they would soon be back.</p> + +<p>Calling Joe’s name, Bill and Benny rushed +through the rooms on the lower floor. There was +no answer to their hails, and no one appeared to +question their right to enter.</p> + +<p>“Up-stairs!” cried Bill. “He must be there if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>he isn’t down in the cellar—that is, if he’s here at +all.”</p> + +<p>“I think he is,” Benny said.</p> + +<p>Up the stairs, partly chopped away, they hastened, +using such care as was necessary, and their +first sight was of a closed door with a key in the +lock.</p> + +<p>“The smell is stronger here,” Benny said. “I +believe this is where he is.”</p> + +<p>It was the work of but a moment to turn the key +and open the door, and there the rescuers, somewhat +overpowered by the strong and sickening +odor, saw Joe lying in a heap on the floor.</p> + +<p>“Out with him! Quick! To the fresh air!” +cried Bill. He and Benny carried the unconscious +lad down a rear stairway which was in better shape +than the front one. They opened the front door, +which was fastened with a spring lock, and lay +Joe down on the front porch.</p> + +<p>“Is he—is he——” began Helen, but she could +not frame the sentence.</p> + +<p>“He’s breathing,” said Bill. “I guess he’ll come +around all right. But I can’t understand what +happened.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe we’d better get him to a doctor,” suggested +Benny.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess so,” agreed Bill. “No, wait—he’s +opening his eyes. If we had some water it might +revive him.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="i_p166a" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p166a.jpg" alt="Picture of two men finding a prone man in a darkened room"> + <figcaption> + <p>There the rescuers, somewhat overpowered by the strong and + sickening odor, saw Joe lying in a heap on the floor.</p> + <p class="right"> + <i><a href="#Page_166">Page 166</a></i></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p> + +<p>“I’ll see if I can find any!” Helen cried, eager +to help.</p> + +<p>She darted into the house and made her way to +the kitchen, whence she presently emerged with a +pitcher of water she had drawn from the sink +faucet.</p> + +<p>Some of this sprinkled on Joe’s face, and a little +given him to drink, helped wonderfully in the work +of revivification the fresh air had commenced. The +lad managed to rise to a sitting position, but there +was a dazed look on his face.</p> + +<p>“How did I get here?” he asked slowly. “How +did you get here?”</p> + +<p>“We don’t know much, except that we came to +get you,” said Bill. “Are you hurt? Do you think +you’re coming around all right, or shall we get a +doctor?”</p> + +<p>“I—I guess I’m all right,” Joe answered. “I’m +not hurt, that’s sure. I was just overcome by some +gas or ether.”</p> + +<p>He drank some more of the water and then, at +Bill’s suggestion, he walked around a bit to start +his blood to circulating. In a little while some color +came into the boy’s pale cheeks, and in a few +minutes he declared he felt almost like himself +again.</p> + +<p>“But it was a queer experience,” he declared. “I +can’t understand it at all. Did you see anything +of that madman?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> + +<p>“Clark, you mean?” asked Bill. “No, he seems +to have run away. He is just what you say—a +madman.”</p> + +<p>“A dangerous lunatic,” agreed Joe. “He ought +to be in an asylum. The idea of thinking I stole +his flying machine invention!”</p> + +<p>“Let’s get back to the show,” proposed Bill. “You +can tell us the story on the way back in the carriage. +Are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Sure!” Joe answered, his strength of voice +showing that he was rapidly improving.</p> + +<p>The hack driver looked closely at his fares as he +drove them back, but they did not satisfy his curiosity, +for they did not want the story to be made +public—at least not at present.</p> + +<p>Joe told the story from the beginning. Helen sat +near him in the carriage, and he reached out occasionally +and touched her hand.</p> + +<p>“And when I felt myself keeling over in a sort +of faint,” Joe concluded, “I didn’t know what to +make of it. The overpowering odor, whatever it +was, seemed to come from some hidden pipe. It’s a +mystery.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have it looked into by the proper authorities,” +said Bill. “It isn’t safe to allow that lunatic +at large.”</p> + +<p>“How did you know where I was?” Joe asked.</p> + +<p>“It was Helen,” said Benny; and when he told +how the rescue had been brought about Joe indicated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>part of his thanks to the girl by an eloquent +look and a warm pressure on her hand.</p> + +<p>“It was just by chance that I overheard you say +where you were going,” put in Helen.</p> + +<p>“But what gets me,” said Joe, “is why he had +that queer room in his house—a room like a prison +vault.”</p> + +<p>They learned the reason for that a little later, +when Bill laid the facts before the police authorities. +Then the whole story was told, but no public +complaint was made against the lunatic, as Joe and +the other circus folk had no time to stay to press +the charge.</p> + +<p>But the police said they would have the madman +taken into custody and sent to an asylum as soon as +they could find him, though for the present he +seemed to have disappeared.</p> + +<p>The story of the unfortunate Mr. Clark was this: +He was a wealthy man, as he said, and he had invented +several machines. But he lost his reason, +and at that time his family, disliking to send him to +an institution, had had a strong room fitted up +in the old homestead. The room was lined with +steel, for Mr. Clark was of such a mechanical turn +of mind that he would have escaped from an ordinary +apartment.</p> + +<p>At times he became so violent that it was dangerous +to go into the same room with him, so a +hidden pipe was arranged in order that a quieting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>and harmless gas might be introduced into his vault. +This would cause him to sleep, and he would then +be quiet and apparently rational for weeks at a +time, seeming as sane as any one.</p> + +<p>But finally all his relatives died, and the authorities, +after one of the unfortunate man’s outbreaks, +sent him to an asylum. Treatment there +seemed to effect a cure, and he was released, but +only to go back again later. This occurred several +times, but on the occasion of the man’s attack on +Joe, the lunatic had managed to make his escape +from the institution.</p> + +<p>Just how Mr. Clark got the idea that Joe had +stolen his invention was, of course, only to be +guessed at. It was one of the queer kinks in his +brain. But he seemed to want to get rid of Joe, +and knowing of the hidden pipe leading to the vault +had put some ether in it instead of the harmless gas +that had been used on himself.</p> + +<p>Then he had evidently run away, leaving Joe to +his fate; and only for Helen’s wit, and the quick +work of Bill and Benny, there might have been a +different ending to the story.</p> + +<p>During his sane, and perhaps during some of his +insane, spells Mr. Clark would potter and tinker +away at his “inventions” in the queer vault he made +his workshop, and whither he had lured Joe. +“Well,” said the chief of police, to whom complaint +was made about the lunatic, “we’ll put him away as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>soon as we can. And the old house is soon to be +torn down, so there’ll be no more danger there.”</p> + +<p>“Then he told the truth about that,” remarked +Joe.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. He is cunning like all insane persons, +and speaks the truth at times. It’s a sad case, but +I’m glad you got out all right.”</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy, when told of what had happened, +wanted Joe not to do his turns that night. But our +hero, after a cold shower bath and a good meal, +said he felt as well as ever, and would not disappoint +the crowds. Accordingly, he performed his +motor-cycle and flying feats, but he only did part of +the tank act, not staying under for any great length +of time, as he did not want to tax his lungs, which +showed some slight effects from the ether.</p> + +<p>The show moved on, but later Joe and his friends +learned that the unfortunate Mr. Clark had been +sent to an institution, whence there was little hope +of his coming out.</p> + +<p>“I wish I knew his secret of a powerful and light +storage battery,” said the young circus performer. +“I’ll need it if I want to make a bigger <i>Bat</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to keep on with the circus?” +asked Helen.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think I shall. I’ve a lot of plans in my +head for a bigger and better show if I can ever +raise the money. I just wish my English inheritance +would ‘make good.’ I’d use that money in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>circus, and I’d build a bigger flying machine. Would +you double up with me in that act, Helen?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” she answered hesitatingly. “Now +that you are one of the owners, and when you have +a bigger show, you may have no use for a performer +like me.”</p> + +<p>“The day will never come when I won’t want +you, Helen,” said Joe in a low voice. “But I guess +it will be a long while before I get enough money +to do what I want.”</p> + +<p>It was about a week after this that something +came to Joe’s attention which caused him to do +some hard thinking. He had subscribed to a London +paper some time before because of his interest +in English affairs. Occasionally the copies went +astray in the mail on account of Joe’s travels, but +this number came safely with some letters. And +in reading the journal Joe saw a notice to the effect +that charges of professional misconduct were to be +made against a lawyer named Kent Bolling.</p> + +<p>“Why, that’s my lawyer!” exclaimed Joe. “I +wonder if he is dealing straight with me. I’ve got +to look into this thing. It seems suspicious to me. +I’ve got to do something!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XXI</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A QUEER OFFER</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe was not in a position to go to England to try +to straighten out his affairs, much as he wished to +do so. His new position, as one of the partners in +the circus, and the attraction his acts were to it, +made it impossible for him to leave.</p> + +<p>“But if I don’t get things straightened out before, +I’ll take a run over when we go into winter quarters,” +decided the lad. “I’ll need a little vacation, +anyhow, and a trip to England will do me good. +I may pick up some new ideas about circuses.”</p> + +<p>“So you might,” agreed Helen, in whom Joe +confided, also showing her the article in the paper.</p> + +<p>“But for the present I’ll have to learn what I +can by writing,” the youth went on.</p> + +<p>“I’ll help you,” offered Helen.</p> + +<p>Together the young people outlined a sort of +letter-writing campaign. Joe sent notes to the +persons mentioned in the London paper as carrying +on the investigation into the conduct of Mr. Bolling. +He also wrote to the solicitor who had first acted +in the matter of the English estate, begging him to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>use again his influence to straighten the matters +out and take Joe’s affairs from the hands of Mr. +Kent Bolling.</p> + +<p>“And now we can only wait,” the youth said, +when the last of the epistles had been mailed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile matters were going fairly well with +the circus. Several times the big tent was crowded +to its capacity, and some of the crowd had to be +turned away. At other times the attendance would +be rather less. And being now a partner, whose +money varied with the success of the show, Joe took +more interest in the attendance than formerly.</p> + +<p>Of course, he had always been glad to see a +crowded tent, as any performer is. It is much +easier to act and do one’s best before a big audience +than in front of a slim and unsympathetic +one. All actors realize this.</p> + +<p>The circus reached the city of Ralston and played +to good business there for two days and two nights. +The next stopping place was Mortville, which was +the center of a thriving community, and where +they expected also to do well.</p> + +<p>“I think, instead of going by train, I’ll make a +night hike of it by highway,” said Mr. Sampson, +when considering the matter of moving the show to +Mortville. “The performers can ride, of course, +and we’ll send our cars by rail, but it’s a roundabout +route and we’ll get in so late it will mean cutting +out the parade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s too good an advertising feature to omit, +and we won’t have to do it if we drive the animal +and other wagons, and move our horses across +country by road.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?” asked Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>“Why, there’s been a new state road opened between +Ralston and Mortville, which makes it about +fifteen miles shorter than it used to be, and much +less than the railroad makes it. To go by rail we +have to go to Benton Junction and then double +back. If we go by the state road we can go direct. +This will bring the wagons to the lot early in the +morning, and we can get the preliminary work done +in time to prepare for the parade. The performers +can have breakfast on the train, and they’ll be in +on time to take part in the procession. It’s the early +morning work—erecting the tent and all that—which +takes time. So we’ll make a night hike.”</p> + +<p>This had been done occasionally before on short +trips, but not since Joe had been with the show. +And when he heard what was going to be done +he said:</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll ride on one of the wagons.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” asked Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>“I want the experience,” was the answer. “Now +that I’m one of the partners, I want to learn all I +can about the details of circus management.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a fine idea,” said Mr. Sampson. “Ride +by all means. It’s going to be a nice moonlight +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>night, and I’d take the ride myself only I want to +look after the train details.”</p> + +<p>So it came about that when the tents were struck +that night, and the canvas, poles, stakes and ropes +piled in the big wagons, the vehicles started off on +the road, each one pulled by eight sturdy horses.</p> + +<p>Joe took his place on the seat of one of the canvas +wagons alongside of the driver, who handled +the many reins with as much ease as the average +man does a single pair.</p> + +<p>Joe was familiar with all the life of a circus except +this night-moving by road, and he was keenly +interested in it. Along the new highway, illumined +by the mellow light of the moon, the circus cavalcade +proceeded. Joe’s driver was Terry Bland, +an old hand at the business, and he told the lad +many stories as they drove along.</p> + +<p>“You can crawl back on the canvas and go to +sleep when you like,” he said to Joe.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t want to,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“You’ll need it, if you expect to do all your acts +to-morrow,” Terry went on. “I’ll have a chance to +sleep after we get in and unloaded, as I always do. +But you won’t. Better get a nap.”</p> + +<p>“I will maybe, a little later,” Joe agreed. At present +he was too interested to leave his high perch +on the seat of the big wagon. But after an hour or +so it grew rather monotonous, listening to the rumble +of the heavy wheels and the tramping of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>hoofs of many horses, and Joe decided to take +the driver’s advice. He made as comfortable a +bed as possible on the canvas, covering himself +with part of it, and soon was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>How long he slept he did not know, but when +he awoke, with something of a start, he found that +the wagon was not moving.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he cried, starting up. “Are we in?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet,” was the answer. The voice did not +come from the driver’s seat. Joe looked forward, +but did not see Terry.</p> + +<p>“What’s wrong?” he asked in some alarm, as he +crawled out. He could see nothing of the other +circus wagons.</p> + +<p>“Nothing much,” was the reply, and the voice +came from down on the ground, at the side of the +vehicle. “One of the wheel-nuts was rattling, and +I got off to look at it. Found it was quite loose, so +I’m tightening it. Took me longer than I expected +and the rest of the procession has gone on. We’ll +soon be up with ’em, though.”</p> + +<p>A little later, having fixed the wheel to his satisfaction, +the driver mounted to his seat and +they set off again. It was slightly down grade, and +as Terry wanted to catch up to the wagons that had +gone on ahead he called sharply to his steeds. They +responded with a brisk canter which took them +along at good speed.</p> + +<p>“It’s rather sharp out,” commented the driver. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>“Begins to feel like fall, especially in the early morning,” +and he slung one arm against his chest, beating +it to start the blood circulating more rapidly.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Joe. “But I like it. When I was +a kid in the country I used to——”</p> + +<p>But he did not finish the sentence, for, just then, +the wagon jolted over a stone and lurched so much +to one side that the driver was pitched off and fell to +the ground, losing his grip on the many reins.</p> + +<p>Joe had a momentary view of Terry, falling clear +of the ponderous wheels to the grass beside the road, +and then he realized the necessity for prompt action, +as the horses, frightened perhaps by the jolt of the +vehicle, started to run away.</p> + +<p>“Here’s trouble!” flashed through the lad’s mind. +“A big heavy wagon, and eight horses running away +down hill! I wonder if I can work the brakes.”</p> + +<p>Even as he thus thought, the youth acted. The +reins were fastened to a hook at the side of the +seat and did not fall when Terry dropped them. +Joe grasped them in both hands and began to pull +in on the team. He dared not look back to see +what had become of the driver, but he hoped a +severe shaking up would be the only result of the +man’s fall.</p> + +<p>Joe knew something about horses, though he had +never driven a circus team.</p> + +<p>Calling soothingly to the frightened and galloping +animals, Joe began pulling them in. At the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>same time his feet found the brake bar, which extended +across the whole front of the foot-rest +below the seat, and with all his might he pressed +on it.</p> + +<p>For a moment it seemed as if it was going to be +of no avail. The hill was steep at this place, and +the wagon was swaying dangerously from side to +side. But the brake was of a new lever kind, and +exerted great power. The grip on the wheels soon +began to tell. Slowly the speed of the wagon slackened, +though only the two horses nearest the vehicle +could put any holding-back strain on it. Joe +was afraid lest one of the animals should fall and +bring the whole eight down in a heap together. +But the circus horses were sure-footed, and nothing +like that happened.</p> + +<p>It was not until the bottom of the slope was +reached that the wagon was completely stopped, and +Joe breathed more easily. He looked back and saw +coming along the moon-lit road a limping figure +which he recognized as that of Terry.</p> + +<p>“Well, he’s alive, anyhow,” thought the lad.</p> + +<p>“First time that ever happened to me!” the +driver exclaimed as he came up. “I never fell off +a seat before. Say, boy, you brought that team +up in great shape! Only for you there would have +been a bad mess.”</p> + +<p>“I was afraid, myself, that was going to happen,” +said Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> + +<p>“You certainly did it mighty slick,” went on +Terry. “And this is one of the hardest teams to +drive in the whole show.”</p> + +<p>“Are you hurt?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“Just sprained my leg a little. But that’s nothing +to what might have happened. I’m glad you rode +with me to-night.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” returned the lad.</p> + +<p>It was lucky, indeed, that Joe Strong had been +along, and when the show got in in the morning and +Mr. Sampson heard what had happened, he was very +grateful to the youth. Part of the main tent was in +that wagon, and had there been an accident, and +had it been delayed, there might have been much +trouble.</p> + +<p>The tents were erected and preparations made for +the parade before the train containing the show-folk +arrived. Mr. Sampson’s plan of a night road journey +proved to be a good one, the runaway team +being the only thing that somewhat marred it.</p> + +<p>The circus met with a good reception in Mortville, +and it was here that another phase of the queer +tangle that seemed to involve his English matters +occurred to Joe.</p> + +<p>The afternoon performance was over and the +young circus actor was getting ready to take Helen +out for a ride on his motor-cycle when a note was +handed to him. It bore no stamp, and seemed to +have come by messenger.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span></p> + +<p>“Where did you get it?” asked Joe of the circus +attendant who had handed it to him.</p> + +<p>“A boy brought it just now.”</p> + +<p>“Messenger boy?”</p> + +<p>“No, just an ordinary kid.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t wait, though I told him there might +be an answer.”</p> + +<p>By this time Joe was reading the note. Its contents +puzzled him, for all it said was:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“If you would like to get some inside facts about +your English affairs, come to the Globe Hotel at +once and ask for Perkins. But come alone or it’s +all off.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“Humph! this is queer,” said the boy.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Helen.</p> + +<p>Joe showed her the note.</p> + +<p>“Are you going?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“I think so.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Joe, I wouldn’t!”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“This may be another trap, like the one that unfortunate +Mr. Clark set for you. Maybe it’s from +him.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t likely,” Joe said. “He was put in the +asylum and I guess he hasn’t gotten out. Besides, +this is at a public hotel here in town. I can’t come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>to any harm there. I guess I’ll go and see what Mr. +Perkins has to say. You don’t mind waiting for +the ride?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not, Joe. Only do take care of yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I will,” he promised. “And I’ll come back as +soon as I can.”</p> + +<p>The Globe Hotel was the principal hostelry in the +place. It was on the main street, and Joe soon +reached it.</p> + +<p>“Perkins?” repeated the hotel clerk when Joe +asked for the name specified in the note. “There +he is over there,” and he pointed to a man who +looked as if he had just come over from England.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Perkins?” asked Joe, questioningly.</p> + +<p>“That’s I!” exclaimed the man, with a strong +English accent. “And are you Mr. Strong?”</p> + +<p>Joe nodded in assent.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a proposition to make to you,” Perkins +went on. “I’m glad you came alone, for I don’t +want my business known. If you’ll just step in +here we can have a quiet chat,” and he indicated +a small alcove off the main corridor.</p> + +<p>Certainly there could be no danger in that, Joe +thought, for he was in plain view of the hotel +clerk, and Perkins did not seem to be anything but +a harmless individual.</p> + +<p>“What’s it all about, and why are you so mysterious?” +asked Joe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> + +<p>“I have to be,” was the low-voiced reply. “Now +to get down to business. If I help you get what +money is coming to you from your mother’s estate +in England, will you share it with me?”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XXII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">THE HOTEL FIRE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe was taken aback by the man’s strange proposition, +and he plainly showed the surprise he felt.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s a straight offer!” exclaimed Perkins. +“I know it may sound a bit queer to you, but it’s +done every day on the other side.”</p> + +<p>“How did you come to be interested in my affairs?” +asked Joe, wishing to gain all the information +he could.</p> + +<p>“I have friends among the lawyers across the +water,” he answered with a grin. “They tip me +off occasionally when there’s a bit to be made on +the side. And I came over here on purpose to see +you and make you an offer.”</p> + +<p>“You came on purpose to see me?” cried Joe.</p> + +<p>“Certainly. I was willing to spend money for +a passage on the chance of making a good sum, +and there’s quite a bit due you as I understand.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, there is. Though how you found it out, +I don’t know,” said the youth. “But why should +I share my money with you?”</p> + +<p>“Because I’ll help you get it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> + +<p>“Can’t I get it myself?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so,” the fellow replied, with a +grin. “You haven’t been getting it very fast, have +you—not since the first installment?”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s true enough,” Joe said. “But I +have taken steps to compel a settlement which has +been rather slow.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll never be able to get a settlement on your +own account,” declared Mr. Perkins.</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Because you don’t know the ropes, or all there is +to be known.”</p> + +<p>“And how do you happen to?”</p> + +<p>“Because I’m on the inside, I tell you. Now look +here, Mr. Strong!” and the man’s manner was earnest, +though he kept his voice low, and looked over +his shoulder occasionally as if he feared some one. +“I know more than I’m telling, but I’m not going +to give away all my secrets until you promise to +whack up with me. If I help you collect your +money, which you can’t get any other way, you +surely ought to be willing to pay for my +services.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing to pay for any legitimate help,” said +Joe. “But what do you mean when you ask me to +‘whack up’ as you call it?”</p> + +<p>“Go halves, of course.”</p> + +<p>“Halves!” cried Joe.</p> + +<p>“Hush! Not so loud, I beg of you,” whispered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>the man. “Half is what I usually get on cases +like this.”</p> + +<p>“Then this is your business—settling up disputed +estates on a fifty per cent. commission?”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s my profession on the side. Sometimes +I get more than half, and sometimes less. I’d +have to get half in this case, to cover my expenses.”</p> + +<p>Joe pondered for a moment. He did not like the +idea of giving up any portion of his estate, except, +perhaps, the amount the regular lawyers would +charge. But then it might be better to take up this +fellow’s offer in order to get a quick settlement, he +reflected.</p> + +<p>“Though I’ll not give him half, or even a quarter,” +decided the boy.</p> + +<p>“Well, what about it?” Perkins asked, a bit impatiently.</p> + +<p>“I’ll consider the matter,” Joe replied, “and let +you know later what I’ll do about it. Just now +I——”</p> + +<p>“Joe!” interrupted a voice behind him, “excuse +me but a cablegram came for you and I brought it +here, thinking it might be urgent.”</p> + +<p>Joe looked up to see Benny Turton standing near +him. Perkins also saw Joe’s friend, and an angry +look came over the man’s face.</p> + +<p>“I told you it would be all off if you brought any +one with you!” the Englishman cried, ignoring the +fact that Joe had not brought Benny, who had come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>in later, and unexpectedly. “Now the game’s up! +I won’t have any dealings with you!”</p> + +<p>And the man, without further ceremony, rushed +from the place, leaving Benny and Joe staring after +him in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Well, what ailed him?” asked Benny.</p> + +<p>“He seemed afraid of you,” his chum answered.</p> + +<p>“I never saw him before in my life that I know +of,” returned Benny.</p> + +<p>“Then he didn’t want any third party to hear +what he was saying. It’s a queer game, Ben. I’ll +tell you about it in a minute, but first I must read +the cablegram.”</p> + +<p>“I thought maybe you might want it,” went on +Benny, “and as Helen said you were here on some +business connected with your English estate, I came +on. Maybe the cablegram has to do with it.”</p> + +<p>“It has,” Joe answered. “It’s from the lawyer +who did such good work for me at first. He has +agreed to take it up again, and he’s going to get +right after this Mr. Bolling, who, I begin to think, +is something of an incompetent, if not a scoundrel.”</p> + +<p>“And who was this fellow, Joe?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn’t get very far toward finding out, +he ran off so suddenly. But he made me a queer +offer. I should like to have a chance to talk more +with him. I must ask the clerk about him.”</p> + +<p>But the clerk knew very little of Mr. Perkins +beyond the fact that he had come to the hotel that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>day, and did not seem to have any particular business. +He had a cheap room, near the roof, and +had said he would probably remain only a day or +two.</p> + +<p>Joe and Benny looked about the hotel for him, +but Mr. Perkins appeared to have taken himself off, +though why he should have fled so suddenly, just +because Benny spoke to Joe, was beyond the comprehension +of both young men.</p> + +<p>Joe told his friend the whole story of Mr. Perkins, +deciding it would be best to have a witness in +case of proceedings later.</p> + +<p>“Well, it certainly was a queer game,” said +Benny. “Do you think he could be in with Bolling?”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t mention his name. But he certainly +knew some inside facts about my affairs.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think you’ll have any dealings with +him?”</p> + +<p>“I might, Benny, if I can’t get my money any +other way. But he will have to modify his terms. +Fifty per cent. is too high.”</p> + +<p>“I should say so! But before you do anything, +why don’t you wait and see what this other lawyer +can do? The one who sent the cablegram. He +may help you.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I will wait. Much obliged to you for +bringing it to me. Well, I guess Mr. Perkins isn’t +going to show up around here right away, so we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>may as well go back to the circus. I promised to +take Helen for a ride.”</p> + +<p>“I notice you don’t take Miss Tyndall any more,” +said Benny, with a mischievous smile.</p> + +<p>“No, I guess it’s safer not to,” laughed Joe. “I +like her, but—well, you know how it is.”</p> + +<p>“I guess so,” agreed Benny, with a broader smile +on his face.</p> + +<p>It had been the plan that the circus should stay +only one day in this city, but on getting back to the +grounds Benny and Joe found a change had been +made in the arrangements. Word had been received +that at the next stopping place a big fair was +in progress which would probably interfere with +the attendance at the Sampson Brothers’ Show. +And as there was still a large population to draw +from in Mortville, it was decided to remain over +night, and to give two shows and the usual parade +the next day.</p> + +<p>“Well, that suits me,” said Joe. “I’ll have another +chance to have a talk with Perkins.”</p> + +<p>“How do you suppose he found you?” asked +Helen, to whom Joe told what had happened.</p> + +<p>“He said he came over from London on purpose. +Of course the lawyers there have my address, and +lately I sent them a complete schedule, stating where +the circus would be every day. So Perkins must +have known we’d be here on, or about, this date, +and he came to wait for me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p> + +<p>Joe’s acts, as well as those of the other circus +performers, seemed to please the big audience in +the crowded tent that night. There was generous +applause, and Joe expected more when he did the +funny countryman act of falling into the tank with +Benny and the trained seal.</p> + +<p>The boy had taken off his shimmering white suit—the +one he wore when he rode the motor-cycle +and drove the <i>Bat</i>, and was attired in a big, loose, +clumsily-made suit, with large boots—the stage +farmer’s outfit. Under it was the water-proof suit +for use in the tank.</p> + +<p>The boy, in his make-up, took his seat among the +spectators, of whom he was supposed to be one. +Lizzie, the trained seal, was loosed from her crate +to flap her way to the steps of the platform on +which the tank set. The lithe animal started on her +journey, and Joe, according to the programme, +started after her, pretending to think she had got +loose by accident. At the same time, a little +boy sitting near Joe also got up, and before his +father could stop him, had run close to the +seal.</p> + +<p>“I want it! I want it!” the child cried. “I want +it to play with!”</p> + +<p>For a moment there was more confusion than Joe +had bargained for. He knew he must get the child, +for sometimes Lizzie snapped at strangers who +touched her, and she had teeth of razor-like sharpness. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>She could bite off the hand of the child as +easily as she could bite through a large fish.</p> + +<p>“Come back! Come back!” cried Joe. But the +child was fleet of foot, and our hero had fairly to +leap forward. Even then he was only just in time +to snatch the youngster away as he laid a little hand +on Lizzie’s smooth back.</p> + +<p>The seal, feeling a strange touch on her, turned +with a growl and showed her teeth, snapping at the +hand of the boy. But Joe had him out of danger, +though the little fellow did not realize from what he +had escaped.</p> + +<p>“Don’t play with circus animals, bubby!” cautioned +Joe as he handed the little one to the startled +father. Then Joe had to go on with his own part +in the act, ending up, when he could not catch Lizzie +before she flopped into the tank, by falling in +himself.</p> + +<p>Joe and Benny did the double turn under water, +and that ended Joe’s work for the night. It had +been a full day for him, counting in his ride on the +circus wagon.</p> + +<p>As usual, in the parade the next day Joe rode in +the flying machine on the back of Rajah, the big +elephant. The procession was wending its way +down one of the city streets, but Joe noticed that +the usual crowds were not present.</p> + +<p>“What’s going on? Is there a counter attraction?” +he heard one of the circus horsemen ask a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>mounted policeman—one of several escorting the +circus parade.</p> + +<p>“Big fire a few blocks down,” was the answer. +“The Globe Hotel is burning! You can see the +smoke of it!”</p> + +<p>Joe looked in the direction indicated, and saw a +black pall mounting over the trees.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XXIII</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">A PERILOUS FLIGHT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“That’s some fire,” remarked Joe to Tom Layton, +the elephant man, speaking over the top of +the howdah in which the boy stood ready to make +his flight, not yet having arisen on his wings of +steel.</p> + +<p>“It does look that way,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a wave of excitement seemed to sweep +over the crowd. Word was passed from one person +to another until it reached the policeman who +had given the first information of the fire.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” called Joe to the officer.</p> + +<p>“The fire’s getting worse,” came the answer, +“and there’s a report that a number of people are +trapped by the flames.”</p> + +<p>Joe let out a whistle, and a sudden resolution +came into his mind. But the policeman was not +through imparting information.</p> + +<p>“That’s not the worst, either,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” the elephant man wanted to know.</p> + +<p>“Because a good part of the fire department is +out of town on their annual outing, and there’s not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>half enough men left to fight a big blaze. They took +some of their biggest ladders with them, and as +the Globe Hotel is the highest building in town +it’s going to be a job to get the people off the +roof.”</p> + +<p>“Is that where they are?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“That’s what they say.”</p> + +<p>By this time the excitement over the fire had +grown to such an extent that crowds were deserting +the attraction of the circus parade to go to see +the conflagration. From his elevated position on +the back of the elephant Joe could see the smoke +getting thicker, and he could note the sharp tongues +of flame darting through it.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to see that fire!” cried Joe to the +elephant man.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’ll be nearer to it pretty soon,” was +Tom’s comment. “Though whether they’ll let the +parade through that street is a question. Most likely +they won’t.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to wait for the parade to get +there,” Joe made answer. “It’s likely we’ll be held +back, as you say. I’m going to fly down there. +I want to see it at close range.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Do as you please. I guess we’ll +abandon the parade anyhow. Nobody seems to be +taking much interest in it.”</p> + +<p>This was true enough, for the crowds were now +running down the main thoroughfares in the direction +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>of the burning hotel. The parade was “playing +to empty streets,” as it were.</p> + +<p>Joe lowered the cloth sides of the little house on +the elephant’s back, and made ready to rise in his +wings of steel. He threw over the switch that controlled +the electric current, and the motors hummed +and throbbed as the gear wheels and torsion rods +transmitted the power to the wings.</p> + +<p>Up and down flapped the big wings of the <i>Bat</i>, +and Joe slowly left the elephant’s back. A few of +the throng turned to watch him, and there were the +usual expressions of wonder, but all eyes were soon +turned toward the big fire, which, as Joe could see, +was assuming large proportions.</p> + +<p>Up and up rose the young acrobat, up toward the +low-lying clouds, and then toward the other clouds +of smoke he directed his flight. He could see the +still-moving circus procession below him, and the +crowds of people, and then he had a glimpse of the +hotel—a better view than had yet been afforded him.</p> + +<p>“I can’t see any persons on the roof,” said Joe, +as he turned on more power. “Still there may be +some. And with no ladders to get them down—well, +maybe they can use the fire escapes if the inside +stairs are burned away.”</p> + +<p>It did not take the young aviator long, in his +marvelous flying machine, to reach the scene of the +conflagration. He went down a little lower, approaching +the burning hotel on the side where there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>was the least smoke. Though his wings made +comparatively little noise—certainly not enough to +be heard by the crowd above the racket caused by +the fire and the means being used to subdue it—Joe +saw hundreds in the throng looking up at him. And, +for a time, attention was divided between him and +the blazing hotel.</p> + +<p>It was a hard matter for Joe to find a clear place +on which to make a landing, but he managed it and +came to rest where he could get a good view. People +at once crowded up around him, for they had +seen on the circus bills a representation of Joe flying +in the <i>Bat</i> and they wanted a closer view.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a cry came.</p> + +<p>“Look! Look! There they are!”</p> + +<p>Hundreds of hands pointed toward the roof of +the hotel.</p> + +<p>And there, as the smoke was rolled back by a +gust of wind, Joe saw a number of men and one +woman huddled together on the flat roof of the +hotel. And in that instant they held out their +hands in mute appeal to the crowds below them.</p> + +<p>“Can’t they save them?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“They can’t seem to,” half a dozen voices answered +him.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” demanded the young acrobat, as he +looked at the firemen dragging up more lengths of +hose.</p> + +<p>“No ladders long enough.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> + +<p>“They took the longest ladders over to Tarnytown +to the contests there,” some one said.</p> + +<p>“There isn’t a ladder made long enough to reach +to the roof of that hotel,” declared one man. “They +could use scaling ladders, or a rope maybe, but the +trouble is that the fire is about the middle of the +hotel, and they can’t get up past the windows—they’re +spouting fire on all four sides.”</p> + +<p>This was true enough. The fire had started on +the eighth story of the Globe Hotel, and had +quickly spread out fan-wise on that and the floor +above and below. The hotel was of what is called +“slow-burning” construction, and was not absolutely +fire-proof.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t there any fire escapes?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there are some,” a man in the crowd replied, +“but they didn’t build one that can be reached +from the roof. The nearest one is some distance +down, and it would be a risky jump from the roof +to get to it.”</p> + +<p>“And the inside of the hotel is a roaring furnace +where they’d have to pass if they tried the inside +stairs,” another said. “They’re doomed!”</p> + +<p>Once more the smoke rolled back and hid from +view the unfortunates on the roof. How they got +there no one could say, but probably when the fire +was discovered they had, in their fright, rushed up +instead of down, as had most of the hotel inmates. +And again, it may have been that they tried to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>descend, but found their way cut off by burning +stairways. At any rate they were on the roof, +frantically appealing to those below to save them.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t the firemen do something?” demanded +a hysterical woman near Joe. “Surely they +can save them!”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked a man gloomily. “If they had +wings like these here,” and he indicated the <i>Bat</i>, +“they might fly down. But that’s the only way. +No ladder can reach them.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t they throw them up a rope?” persisted +the woman. “They might fasten that somewhere +on the roof, and slide down. I’ve heard of people +saving themselves at fires by coming down +ropes.”</p> + +<p>“It could be done if we could get a rope up to +them,” a man admitted. “But who could toss a +line up there?” and he pointed to the high roof. +“Not the best sailor living could do it.”</p> + +<p>“But shoot a rope up in some way—as they shoot +a line to sinking vessels at sea!” a new voice cried.</p> + +<p>“That needs a cannon, and there’s no time to get +one,” was the despondent comment. “It takes special +apparatus to do that. There isn’t any in the +city. A man with a bow and arrow might get a +light line up, so they could haul up a heavier one.”</p> + +<p>“Get a bow and arrow!” arose a general cry. But +no one, in the excitement of the moment, knew +where to go for them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span></p> + +<p>It was then that Joe Strong stepped into the +breach.</p> + +<p>“I’ll carry a rope up there if you get me one,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“How?” some one near him asked.</p> + +<p>“With my wings of steel. I can fly a good deal +higher than that roof.”</p> + +<p>For a moment no one spoke, but as the crowd +looked at Joe and his strange machine it was evident +that the problem was solved. At least an +attempt could be made to save the unfortunates.</p> + +<p>“Get me a rope!” cried Joe. “I’ll carry it up!”</p> + +<p>“The firemen have ropes,” came the information.</p> + +<p>A dozen in the crowd rushed for the nearest hook +and ladder truck. On that were carried ropes, life-nets +and other special appliances for use in saving +lives. But up to now there had been no chance to +bring them into play.</p> + +<p>A long, light, but strong rope was brought to Joe, +where he stood ready to make his perilous flight in +the <i>Bat</i>. For it would be perilous. He might land +on the roof just as it collapsed. That this would +happen soon could not be doubted, for the fire was +still burning fiercely in spite of the tons of water +poured into the heart of it. And then, too, there +was always danger in flying—something might +break and let the machine fall. But the lad did not +count that chance much.</p> + +<p>“Stand ready to pay out the rope as I go up,” he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>directed those who had brought the cable to him. +“Don’t let it get tangled, or it will pull away from +me—maybe pull me down. And when I have my +end up there be ready to fasten this end to something +so they can come down the rope. Make it +good and tight.”</p> + +<p>“Yes! Yes! We’ll do that!” was the eager response. +“Go on up with the rope!”</p> + +<p>Again the smoke cloud parted and another view +could be had of the imperilled men.</p> + +<p>“Where’s the woman?” some one cried.</p> + +<p>“She’s burned!” a man murmured hoarsely.</p> + +<p>“They’ll all be burned soon,” another added.</p> + +<p>But Joe Strong was doing his best to save them. +He attached the rope to his machine, and again cautioning +the men in charge of it to see that it paid out +well, he turned on the power in the <i>Bat</i>.</p> + +<p>In a moment he began rising, but he could no +longer see those on the roof, for the smoke had +rolled in again.</p> + +<p>Up and up went the lad, the rope trailing out behind +him. He could hear cries of wonder from the +crowd now, for he was in plain sight and what he +was about to do was evident to all.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to save them!” was shouted on all +sides. “That circus flying machine boy is going to +save them!”</p> + +<p>In his heart Joe hoped he could.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XXIV</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">REVELATIONS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Contact by contact Joe shoved over his electrical +switch until he was using full power in the +motors, and the big wings were flapping and fanning +the air, carrying him up to the hotel roof.</p> + +<p>The fire in the middle of the building was fiercer +now, and the flames, having crept up two more +stories, were almost as high as the roof itself. On +two sides there was a wall of smoke, through which +it would be difficult to pass. On the other, tips +of flame occasionally shot up, leaving but one side +over which the rope could be passed so there might +be a chance for life.</p> + +<p>“One chance out of four,” mused Joe, as he +looked up at the roof, “and that chance may go +any second. It’s a slim outlook.”</p> + +<p>The rope was paying out freely, and he realized +that he had capable helpers on the ground below.</p> + +<p>Though the youth was steering his craft some +distance away from the hotel, intending to come +closer as he got beyond the fire zone, he could +feel the heat of the flames as they belched out of +the windows. It was a fierce conflagration.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span></p> + +<p>Higher and higher he went, until finally he was +ready to sail in and land on the roof, being well +above the burning hotel. The imperilled ones saw +him, and raised their hands in mute appeal. Joe +could see them shouting to him, but the crackle of +the flames was so great he could not distinguish +the words.</p> + +<p>“There’s the woman,” he murmured, as he saw +a huddled female form lying on the roof. “She +isn’t burned. Only fainted, I guess. But how will +they get her down the rope, unless one of the men +carries her? And that’ll be no easy work.”</p> + +<p>But Joe had too many things to think of just +then to allow himself to dwell on that detail. That +could be taken up when it was reached. Squarely +over the middle of the roof the lad guided his wings +of steel. He saw the open scuttle by which the +men and the woman had reached their positions. +The roof had not burned through in any place yet, +but it was smoking over in one corner, and it was +only a question of a few minutes before it would +break into flames.</p> + +<p>Joe glided down in the <i>Bat</i> and, as the men on the +roof rushed toward him, he quickly got out of the +frame.</p> + +<p>“Can you save us?” one young fellow asked frantically.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to make a big try!” cried Joe. “Is +that woman dead?”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="i_p202a" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p202a.jpg" alt="Picture of an aeronautical machine near a building roof"> + <figcaption> + <p>Joe glided down in the Bat as the men on the roof rushed + toward him.</p> + <p class="right"> + <i><a href="#Page_202">Page 202</a></i></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span></p> + +<p>“No, only fainted,” some one answered.</p> + +<p>“Lower her down first!” cried a big man, whose +clothing was scorched, showing how narrow had +been his escape from the flames. “I see you brought +up a rope,” he added. “Lower the woman first!”</p> + +<p>“That’s what!” came the general cry. “The +woman first!”</p> + +<p>“We can’t lower her!” said Joe.</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Because flames are shooting out of the windows +on all four sides of the hotel below us. We might +pick out a spot where for the moment there would +be no fire, but it might burst out any second and +burn the rope through. It can’t be done. If I had +a steel rope it would be all right, but I haven’t.”</p> + +<p>“How you going to save us then?” demanded a +man.</p> + +<p>“By a slanting rope. We’ll fasten this to the +roof here. Down below there they’ll carry it out +some distance and make it fast. Thus the rope will +be held away from the flames for a time, and you +men can go down it hand over hand. It’s the only +way. Quick now, the roof may soon fall!”</p> + +<p>“But what about the woman?” persisted the big +man. “We’ve got to save her. I won’t go down +to face that crowd and have it said I left a woman +back here to die!”</p> + +<p>“I won’t either!” cried the others. “We’ve got +to save her.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p> + +<p>Joe did some rapid thinking. For a moment he +thought he might take her down in the <i>Bat</i>. It +would not lift double, but it might safely soar down +with his weight and that of the woman. But then, +as he saw the parapet, or raised wall of masonry, +around the edge of the roof, put there as a sort of +guard rail, he knew his plan would not work. He +would have to make the <i>Bat</i> lift him and the woman +over that parapet and it could not be done. There +must another way be found.</p> + +<p>“Can one of you men carry her?” he asked, nodding +toward the unconscious form.</p> + +<p>“It would be pretty hard to do it and go down the +rope,” said one man. The others nodded their +agreement. Then the big man had an inspiration.</p> + +<p>“Will the rope hold double?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and more too,” said Joe, who knew something +about ropes from his circus experience.</p> + +<p>“Then cut off an end of it, tie the woman to my +shoulders, and I’ll go down the rope with her on +my back,” cried the big man.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you can do it?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“I used to be a sailor,” was the quiet answer.</p> + +<p>“Then go ahead,” advised Joe. “Make the rope +fast while I fix some holding loops with the piece +we cut off.”</p> + +<p>It was the work of but a few seconds for the +sailor to make a tight knot around a projection on +the roof. Meanwhile Joe, using the extra piece +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>of rope, made loops around the woman’s shoulders +and waist. She could thus be held on the big man’s +back in an upright position.</p> + +<p>Once the main cable was made fast, Joe signalled +to those on the ground to carry out their end and +make that fast.</p> + +<p>“All ready now!” called the young acrobat.</p> + +<p>The fire was raging more hotly now. In one +corner of the roof there was a little tongue of flame +showing. The roof had burned through and puffs +of smoke were coming up. It was a question of +minutes—nay, seconds—now.</p> + +<p>The rope passed from the roof to the ground on +a long slant, and thus, instead of dangling straight +down the side of the building, where it would +have been burned by the flames spouting from the +windows, it was at a safe distance above the fire.</p> + +<p>“Come on! Come on!” cried Joe. “Who’s to +go first?”</p> + +<p>“Let him,” spoke a young man, pointing to the +one who had offered to carry the woman.</p> + +<p>They fastened her to his back. She was now +slowly regaining the consciousness she had lost +through excessive fear, but she was in no condition +to help herself.</p> + +<p>“Well, here I go,” said the big man. He climbed +over the parapet and then, using care and caution, +he began to descend the rope, hand over hand.</p> + +<p><ins class="corr" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'A great cry cry'" id="tn-205">A great cry</ins> arose from the crowd below as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>they saw the first of the saved ones coming from the +place of peril.</p> + +<p>“Wait until he gets down a way, and then one of +the rest of you try it,” advised Joe.</p> + +<p>“I’m very light, I might go now. I wouldn’t +add much to the rope,” spoke a voice close to Joe. +He started at the sound of it—for it was decidedly +English in accent.</p> + +<p>“Perkins!” he exclaimed, recognizing now the +man who had made him the strange offer about his +estate.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Strong!” cried the Englishman. “I didn’t +know you before—I’m that excited!”</p> + +<p>And Joe had not recognized the fellow whose +face was covered with smoke and dirt. It was the +voice that brought recognition. If the man had +spoken before Joe had been too excited to notice it. +But it was Perkins surely enough.</p> + +<p>“Yes, go on,” said Joe. “You are a light weight.”</p> + +<p>“You—you’ve saved my life!” was the comment. +“I won’t forget it, Mr. Strong.”</p> + +<p>“Hurry!” was all Joe answered.</p> + +<p>One after another the men followed down the +rope. It bore their weight safely, and only in that +way could they have been saved.</p> + +<p>Joe’s idea had worked out well.</p> + +<p>Cheer after cheer came from the crowd, as those +who were anxiously waiting below saw the men +leaving their place of danger. Joe looked down and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>noted that the big man, who had carried the woman +on his back, was safe on the ground now. Willing +hands were caring for the waitress, for Joe afterward +learned she was one of the hotel servants.</p> + +<p>And then, when he saw the last man start down +the hempen way to safety, the lad got in his wings +of steel and turned on the power. The wings vibrated, +and up he rose.</p> + +<p>Only just in time, too; for as he passed over the +parapet and began to soar away from the hotel, one +corner of the roof caved in, and up shot a burst +of sparks, flames and smoke.</p> + +<p>“A close call!” exclaimed Joe, as he increased +his rate of sailing in order to get away from the +crater of the volcano he feared might soon represent +what had been a hotel.</p> + +<p>Joe was received with wild acclaim when he +reached the ground. It seemed that every man, +woman and child in the crowd wanted to clasp his +hand—to touch him somewhere—as he came out +of the <i>Bat</i>. Cheers were given for him, though few +knew his name even, except as they had seen it on +the circus posters.</p> + +<p>“It was the greatest rescue I ever saw!” cried a +man, and others echoed his words.</p> + +<p>By this time firemen from a neighboring municipality +had come up, and with their help the other +handicapped fire-fighters, who were short-numbered, +were better able to cope with the flames. Though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>the roof had burned through there was now a chance +of getting the fire under control, though the upper +half of the hotel was a mass of ruins. Only the +fact that the conflagration had started in the middle, +whence it burned up instead of down, saved any +portion of it.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess I’d better get back to the circus +parade,” Joe thought, as soon as he could get out +of the crowd. He again rose in the air until he +was high enough to see the procession wending its +way back to the lots. The parade had been given +up when half over. The fire was too big an attraction +with which to compete.</p> + +<p>“You covered yourself with glory again, Joe,” +cried Jim Tracy a little later. “It was great!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it wasn’t much,” said Joe modestly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it was—I saw it,” declared the ring-master. +“And if we don’t play to the biggest day and +night since you won the aviation prize, I’m no +prophet.”</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy was a good prophet, and throngs had +to be turned away from the show, even though straw +was spread around the ring to allow hundreds to +sit on the ground. And Joe Strong was cheered +again and again as he sailed around the tent in the +<i>Bat</i> which the crowd knew at once as the life-saving +machine.</p> + +<p>At night it was the same. And so many had to +be turned away that the management decided to stay +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>another day in the place as business, thanks to the +young aeronaut’s advertising, was so good.</p> + +<p>Joe was interviewed by several newspaper reporters, +and his picture was in more than one journal +as one of the heroes of the day.</p> + +<p>“It was all because of the wings of steel,” said +the boy. “In them any one could have gone up.”</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have to equip the fire department +with a set,” said a deputy chief who called to thank +Joe. “They’d come in very useful in another case +like that.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you don’t have any more cases like that,” +observed the young hero.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” echoed the fireman.</p> + +<p>It was the day after the rescue that Joe, in his +tent, received word that some one wanted to see him. +Not wishing to admit any more cranks or madmen, +he went out to see who it was. He saw Perkins.</p> + +<p>“I—I’ve come to thank you, Mr. Strong,” said +the Englishman. “And I want to beg your pardon +for trying to make a deal with you. I’m done now. +I’m ready to blow the whole game. It was a put-up +job to get your money away from you.”</p> + +<p>“On whose part?” asked the young acrobat.</p> + +<p>“On the part of your lawyer, Mr. Bolling. He’s +a crook, and I was crooked with him. But I’m +through now, and I’ll help you get your money.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak linesp fnormal" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + <span class="fs90">CHAPTER XXV</span> + <br> + <span class="fs75">NEW PLANS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joe looked at Perkins. He was in two minds as +to whether or not to believe the Englishman, yet +the latter seemed sincere and penitent.</p> + +<p>“I guess you’d better tell me the whole story,” +suggested the boy.</p> + +<p>“I will,” Perkins promised. “I’ve been a bad +man, but I’m done now. That fire cured me. I +thought I was a goner, and when you rescued me, +and when I found out it was you—well, I made up +my mind to do the square thing and confess. I’ll +help you all I can.”</p> + +<p>“Come into my dressing tent,” suggested Joe +kindly, for he saw that the man was nervous. “I’ll +listen to what you have to say, and then we can +decide what to do.”</p> + +<p>So Perkins told his story. It was one full of plots +and counterplots, not all of which involved Joe.</p> + +<p>“This Bolling is a crook,” said Perkins. “I’m +calling him that though I was one myself up to now. +But I’m through!”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad to hear it,” said the youth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> + +<p>“His chief game,” went on the Englishman, +speaking with a peculiar cockney accent, “is to work +on involved English estates, such as your mother’s. +How he got hold of that case I don’t know, but he +did. The money due you—I mean the extra money +besides that which you already had—was turned +over to him, but he held it back, and wrote you that +the matter was so involved that it wasn’t likely you’d +get what was due you. Didn’t he say that?”</p> + +<p>“In effect he did,” admitted Joe. “But how did +you know?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m one of his tools—or I was!” exclaimed +Perkins, with new energy. “I’m through now! +Well, as I said, your money was turned over to him, +as he said he represented you. Of course those +who paid him expected that he would transfer the +money to you, keeping out whatever his charges +were. But he did not. He kept it all, and said it +was in litigation—involved in lawsuits.”</p> + +<p>“Then there wasn’t any one heir who was making +trouble?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p>“Not a one. It was all a ‘put-up job,’ as you +say over here in the States.”</p> + +<p>“And how did you happen to come over here?” +asked the young acrobat.</p> + +<p>“Well, as I say, I was one of Bolling’s tools. +When he found out that you were getting suspicious, +which I think he did because of your letters, +he called me in. He said he thought you were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>going to make trouble, and that I’d better come over +and make an offer to whack up with you.</p> + +<p>“Well, I agreed to. He had me in his power, +Bolling did, because of other crooked work I had +done for him. So we got the route of the circus, +and I made arrangements to see you. Our idea was +that if we couldn’t get the whole of your money +we’d take half. I was to offer to help you get +what was due you if you’d give me fifty per cent.</p> + +<p>“Of course, if you had agreed I’d have simply +notified Bolling and he would have sent you half +of your estate. The rest he and I would have kept—he +getting the larger share, as he always does.</p> + +<p>“But when you came to see me the other day, +and when your friend came in so unexpectedly, I +thought you had put up a game to trap and arrest +me. That’s why I ran away in such a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“I imagined something like that,” the youth observed.</p> + +<p>“And that’s about all there is to tell,” said the +man. “I didn’t know what next to do. Then came +the fire. I was trapped in my room. There was +some sort of explosion I think, it was all so sudden. +We went up to the roof and—well, you saved my +life. I’m doing all I can to make up for the nasty +way I acted.”</p> + +<p>“Shake hands!” exclaimed Joe impulsively. After +all, the little Englishman had proved that he had +good qualities in him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p> + +<p>“And now,” went on our hero, “I’m going to +ask you for some advice. You seem to know the +inside of this game. What would you say was +best to do?”</p> + +<p>“Get right after Bolling!” exclaimed Perkins. +“I’ll testify against him, and my testimony will be +valuable.”</p> + +<p>“Then you’d better go back to London,” said +Joe, “and see the lawyer who first acted for me—Mr. +Craige’s friend. He is again taking up the +case, and with your testimony he can act to better +advantage. Go back to England, if you will, and +help my case.”</p> + +<p>The man seemed embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“I’d go back in a minute, Mr. Strong,” he said, +“but, to tell you the truth, I haven’t the money. +Bolling gave me only enough to get to you. He +said you’d come across with the money easy, so I +could get back. If you’ll wait until I earn my +passage, I’ll——”</p> + +<p>“I’ll advance the cash,” said Joe.</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll do my best to get your inheritance +back from Bolling!” cried Perkins. “And I know, +with the help of a good lawyer, it can be done. I +just haven’t been able to sleep—not a wink—since +you saved my life at the fire. I’ve kept thinking of +how nasty I’ve acted toward you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll call it even,” said Joe. “Not that +money can buy a life, but I think you’ve done the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>square thing. Now let’s go into details, and I’ll give +you a letter to Mr. Craige’s lawyer, who is acting +for me again, and also arrange to advance the +money to you.”</p> + +<p>Perkins was a repentant and grateful man.</p> + +<p>Joe told no one save Helen, Benny and Bill about +the visit from the Englishman.</p> + +<p>“I guess I’m now in a fair way to get what’s coming +to me,” said the youth gleefully.</p> + +<p>“And when you do,” remarked Benny, “I suppose +you’ll invent some other queer flying machine, +or something like it, and astonish the natives some +more.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe,” said the lad dreamily, as he looked at +Helen and smiled.</p> + +<p>One of the first things Joe did after he heard the +confession of Perkins was to forward a cablegram +to the syndicate attorney, telling briefly what had +occurred. In return he got a message saying it was +good news, and to send Perkins on as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Englishman received a cablegram +himself. It was from Bolling, and read:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“What is situation in Strong case?”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“What shall I tell him?” Perkins asked Joe. +“There’s one of your American expressions that has +been sticking in my mind. I’d like to cable him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>that, if you don’t mind. It would spoof him a +bit.”</p> + +<p>“What expression is it?” the boy asked.</p> + +<p>“Let me see now. It—it is this. Hum—now it’s +queer I can’t recall it—but it means that there is +an absolute absence of anything at all having happened—that +is it, sir—an absolute absence of +anything at all having taken place. Cable him +that!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! You mean, ‘Nothing doing!’” suggested +Joe, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“That’s it! An absolute absence of anything at +all having transpired—nothing doing—very good, +cable him that.”</p> + +<p>This Joe, still laughing, did.</p> + +<p>Perkins went back to England, doubtless with +many new and strange ideas about the United +States. And the circus kept on its way.</p> + +<p>The season was approaching when outdoor exhibitions +must fold their tents away, for the days +were growing shorter and fall would soon be at +hand.</p> + +<p>Still the Sampson Brothers’ Show had a few +dates to fill. Business had been good since Joe’s +winning of the aviation prize. That seemed to +bring good luck.</p> + +<p>They were playing in the city of Boonton, and +from there the show was to go to Bridgeport for +the winter. Crowded were the tents, for there had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>been a good advance sale of tickets and there was +“straw room only,” which meant that many sat on +the ground on straw placed around the ring.</p> + +<p>“Well, Joe, how is the English money coming +along?” asked Bill Watson, as he passed our hero, +who was getting ready for his act.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t heard from Perkins since he went +back,” Joe replied, “but I guess everything is coming +along all right. There goes my signal.”</p> + +<p>A peculiar bugle call announced that Joe’s turn +had come to circle about the tent in the <i>Bat</i>. He +had already ridden the motor-cycle on the high +wire.</p> + +<p>There was applause as Joe took his place in the +framework and started about the tent. He was now +well known the country over, it seemed, and in +every town where the circus showed there were special +stories in the papers about the young acrobat +and aviator, for Joe could qualify for both.</p> + +<p>Up into the air went Joe. Around over the heads +of the people he sailed, the big wings flapping. +And as he circulated he dropped tiny flags for +souvenirs.</p> + +<p>Benny Turton was doing some preliminary work +in the big glass tank, and as our hero flew +over it he had a sudden idea. A smile came to his +face.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it and surprise them all!” he said to +himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> + +<p>Hovering over the tank, Joe suddenly released +himself from the holding straps. Then, with a kick +of his feet to turn the rudder in order to steer the +<i>Bat</i> safely to an open space in the ring, and shutting +off the current, Joe made a dive through the +air toward the tank.</p> + +<p>There were shouts of astonishment and of alarm +as his form, in the shimmering white suit, shot +downward, to enter the water a moment later. +Benny, who was on the bottom of the tank, looked +up in alarm, but a glance at Joe’s face showed him +that it had been done by design, and was not an accident. +Lizzie, the seal, was not in the tank just +then.</p> + +<p>Then Joe and Benny posed under the water, while +the audience applauded madly at Joe’s clever trick +which had so startled them when they thought it an +accident.</p> + +<p>“That was great!” cried the ring-master, as Joe +came out. “You must do that every performance +after this.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe—next season,” laughed Joe. “This is +the last night.”</p> + +<p>And so it was, for the show was to disband until +summer came again.</p> + +<p>That night, as Joe was packing his trunk to go +to New York, where he planned to fill a winter season +engagement, a cablegram came for him. It was +from the attorney for the syndicate, and read:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Perkins a great help. Bolling has absconded. +Your money safe. Am sending it on. Congratulations.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“That’s just fine, Joe!” exclaimed Helen, when +he told her. “Oh, I am so glad. What are you going +to do with it all?”</p> + +<p>“Two things,” said Joe, with a smile. “For one +thing, as long as I am part owner of the show now, +I’m going to invest some money in it. I’m going to +make it a bigger circus—second to none in the country. +I believe there’s money in the circus business.”</p> + +<p>“And what’s the second thing you’re going to +do?” asked Helen, as Joe paused.</p> + +<p>He went over closer to her and said:</p> + +<p>“With the rest of my money I’m going to buy an +engagement ring for you. May I?”</p> + +<p>There would be no use in setting down here +Helen’s answer. You have already guessed it.</p> + +<p>And so that brings my story to a close. Not that +this was an end to the adventures of Joe Strong, for +he had many more, and they may be related in +another volume. But, for the present, let us say +good-bye.</p> + + +<p class="center"> +THE END +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak fs100 fnormal" id="Transcribers_Notes"> + Transcriber’s Notes + </h2> + + + +<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been +silently corrected after careful comparison with other +occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources. +Some hyphens in words have been silently removed when a predominant +preference was found in the original book. Except for those changes +noted below, all misspellings in the text and inconsistent spellings +have been retained.</p> + +<p><a href="#tn-123">Page 123</a>: “a big eleplant” replaced by “a big elephant”.</p> +<p><a href="#tn-205">Page 205</a>: “A great cry cry” replaced by “A great cry”.</p> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78067 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78067-h/images/cover.jpg b/78067-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..96409f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/78067-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78067-h/images/i_f000.jpg b/78067-h/images/i_f000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1387203 --- /dev/null +++ b/78067-h/images/i_f000.jpg diff --git a/78067-h/images/i_p108a.jpg b/78067-h/images/i_p108a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d330502 --- /dev/null +++ b/78067-h/images/i_p108a.jpg diff --git a/78067-h/images/i_p166a.jpg b/78067-h/images/i_p166a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..83849c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/78067-h/images/i_p166a.jpg diff --git a/78067-h/images/i_p202a.jpg b/78067-h/images/i_p202a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..abe851d --- /dev/null +++ b/78067-h/images/i_p202a.jpg |
