Part 7 (1/2)

”Does Rosebud want any sugar?” he asked, smiling.

”No, thank you! He's had his share to-day. But it was good of you to remember. I must introduce you to my horse.”

”I shall be happy to meet him,” returned Joe, with his best ”stage bow.”

Helen laughed merrily, as she walked across the grounds with Joe and Benny.

”It's almost supper time,” she said, ”and I'm starved. Can't we all eat together?”

”I don't see why not,” Ben answered, and they were soon at a table where many other performers sat, all, seemingly, talking at once. Joe was very much interested.

He was more than interested in two dark-complexioned men who regarded him curiously. One was the person who had spoken to Jim Tracy. The other Joe had not seen before.

”They're the Lascalla Brothers,” Ben informed him. ”That is, there are two of them. The third----”

”I'm to be the third,” Joe broke in.

”You are?” asked Ben, and he regarded his friend curiously. ”Well, look out for yourself; that's all I've got to say.”

”Why has he to look out for himself?” inquired Helen, who had caught the words. ”Are you going to eat all there is on the table, Ben, so there won't be any for Mr. Strong? Is that why he must look out?”

”No, not that,” Ben answered. ”It--it was something else.”

”Oh, secrets!” and Helen pretended to be offended.

”It wasn't anything,” Joe a.s.sured her. And he tried to forget the warning Ben had so kindly given him.

Joe attended the performance that night as a sort of privileged character. He went behind the scenes, and also sat in the tent. He was most interested in the feats of the two Lascalla Brothers, and he decided that, with a little practice, he could do most of the feats they presented.

That night, at the hotel, Joe was introduced to Sid and Tonzo. They bowed and shook hands, and, as far as Joe could see, they did not resent his joining their troupe. They seemed pleasant, and Joe felt that perhaps the difficulties had been exaggerated. Nothing was said of Sim Dobley, and though Joe had been on the watch for the deposed performer that afternoon and evening, he had not seen him.

”You will, perhaps, like to practise with us?” suggested Tonzo, after a while.

”I think it would be wise,” agreed Joe.

”Very well, then. We will meet you at the tent in the morning.”

Bright and early Joe was on hand. Jim Tracy found him a pair of pink tights that would do very well for a time, and ordered him a new, regular suit.

At the request of Tonzo Lascalla, Joe went through a number of tricks, improvising them as he progressed. Next the two Spaniards did their act, and showed Joe what he was to do, as well as when to do it, so as to make it all harmonize.

Then hard practice began, and was kept up until the time for the afternoon show. Joe did not feel at all nervous as he prepared for his entrance. His work on the stage with Professor Rosello stood him in good stead.

In another moment he was swinging aloft with his two fellow-performers, in ”death-defying dives,” and other alliterative acts set down on the show bills.

”Can you catch me if I jump from the high-swinging trapeze, and vault toward you, somersaulting?” Joe asked Tonzo, during a pause in their act.

”Of a certainty, yes, I can catch you. But can you jump it?”