Part 22 (1/2)

”Stick around long enough and you'll see it,” said Joe Strong.

Joe found a group of the men performers gathered in the dressing tent, discussing the situation. And while the ring-master hastened to gather up such forces as he could muster, Joe made his little talk.

”You're just the very one we want,” he said to Tom Jefferson, ”the strong man.” ”You ought to be able to put up the tent alone. Come on now, gentlemen, we must all work together,” and rapidly he explained the situation to some who did not understand it.

”Will you help raise the tent?” Joe asked.

”We will!” cried the performers in a chorus.

Soon there was a busy scene in the circus ”lots.” Not that there is not always a busy time when the show is being made ready, but this was somewhat different. Led by Joe, the performers placed themselves under the direction of some veteran canvasmen who had been working in other departments of the circus.

Jim Tracy, who had in his day been a helper, took the part of the striking foreman of the canvas-workers, and the ”main top” soon began to look as it always did. The big center poles were put in place and guyed up. The sections of canvas were laced together in the regular manner, so that they could be taken apart quickly simply by pulling on a rope. Knots tied in erecting a circus tent must be made so they are easily loosed, even in wet weather.

For a while the striking canvasmen stood and laughed at the efforts of those who were taking their places. But they soon ceased to jeer. For the tent was slowly but correctly going up.

”We'll give the show after all!” cried Joe, as he labored at lifting heavy sections of canvas, pulling on ropes or driving stakes.

”I believe we will,” agreed the ring-master. ”I don't know how to thank you, Joe.”

”Oh, pshaw! I didn't do anything! I'm only helping the same as the rest.”

”Yes, but it was your idea, and you persuaded the men to pitch in.”

And, in a sense, this was true. For Joe was a general favorite with the circus performers, though he had been with them only a comparatively short time. But he had his mother's reputation back of him, as well as his father's, and Bill Watson had spoken many a good word for the young fellow. Circus folk are always loyal to their own kind, and there were many, as Joe learned later, who knew his mother by reputation, and some personally. So they were all glad to help when Joe put the case to them vividly, as he did.

Joe's popularity stood him in good stead, even though there were some who were jealous of the reputation he was making. But jealousies were cast aside on this occasion.

Even the Lascalla Brothers did their share, working side by side with Joe at putting up the tent, as they worked with him on the trapeze.

The strong man was a great help, doing twice the work that the others did.

The performers wore their ordinary clothes, laying aside coats and vests as they labored. And the men who knew how circus tents must go up, saw to it that the amateurs did their work well, so there would be no danger of collapse.

While the big tent was being put up the other preparations for the show were proceeded with. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Sampson, who were part owners with Jim Tracy, arranged for a small parade, since it had been advertised. On the back of one of the elephants rode the fat lady, with a banner which explained that because of a strike of the canvasmen the usual street exhibition could not be given. The a.s.surance was made, though, that the show itself would be the same as advertised.

”That will prevent the public from being too sympathetic with the strikers,” said Jim Tracy. ”The public, as a rule, doesn't care much for a strike that interferes with its pleasure.”

At last the big tent was up, and all was in readiness for the afternoon performance, though it would be a little late.

”It won't be much fun taking down the tent after the show to-night,”

said Joe.

”Perhaps you won't have to,” stated the ring-master. ”I may be able to hire men to take the strikers' places before then.”

”But if you can't, we'll help out,” declared the young trapeze performer, though he knew it would be anything but pleasant for himself and the others, after high-tension work before a big audience, to handle heavy canvas and ropes in the dark.

The public seemed to take good-naturedly to the circus, not being over-critical of the lack of the usual big street parade. And men, women and children came in throngs to the afternoon performance.

The circus people fairly outdid themselves to give a good show, and Joe worked up a little novelty in one of his ”lone” acts.