Part 29 (2/2)
”You mean the lioness?”
”Yes. She went on a rampage and there was nearly a bad accident, so we had to kill her.”
”Too bad,” remarked Joe, for he knew what a loss it meant to a show when a fine animal, such as Princess was, must be disposed of. ”Still it was better than to have her kill her trainer or some one,” he added.
”That's right,” agreed a canvasman.
Joe pa.s.sed on to the dressing tent. Helen saw him coming and ran to meet him.
”Oh, Joe!” she exclaimed. ”I am so glad to see you! Are you all right again?”
”Quite, thank you. I'm a little lame and stiff yet, but I'll soon get limbered up when I get in my tights and feel myself swinging from a trapeze.”
”Oh, but you must be careful, Joe.”'
”I will. I don't want to have another accident. And now about yourself. How have you been?”
”Fine.”
”And Rosebud?”
”The same as ever. I've taught him a new trick. I must show you. I haven't put it on in public yet.”
”I shall like to see him. Well, you haven't had any more fortunes left to you, have you?”
”No, indeed. I wish I had. But I can increase what I have.”
”How?”
”Just buy more oil stock. I had a letter from Mr. Sanford, saying he could get me some more. It's going up in price; so he advised me to buy at once.”
”Are you going to?”
”Would you?” Helen asked.
”I'll tell you later,” Joe answered. ”Have you one of the stock certificates you did buy?”
”Yes. In my trunk. Do you want to see it?”
Joe did and said so. Helen got it for him and Joe compared it with the one the man in the hospital had given him. His heart sank as he saw that the names of the officers and directors were the same. The Circle City Oil Syndicate was a failure.
Joe's face must have reflected his emotions, for Helen asked him:
”What's the matter? Is anything wrong?”
”I am afraid I have bad news for you,” Joe replied.
”In what way? You're not going to----”
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