Part 16 (2/2)

A little later Joe saw Tonzo and Sid talking together. He could not help hearing what they said, as they were in their dressing room, while he was in his, putting on the red, scaly suit which he wore in the tank.

”Will he do it?” asked Sid of Tonzo.

”No. He claims he can't afford it.”

”And getting nearly twice as much as we do! Say, he must be a regular tight-wad!”

”That's what he is,” said Tonzo bitterly. ”Afraid to spend his money!”

The words stung Joe. He paused in his dressing.

”Tight-wad?” he mused. ”So that's what they call me. Well, it isn't a very nice name, but if they think I'm going to spend my money on blow-outs for the crowd they're mistaken. I'm not going to be so foolish.”

Joe knew that Tonzo had not proposed dissipation, for circus performers, particularly those who take their lives in their hands on high trapezes, cannot afford to live a riotous life, even for one night. Their nerves would be shattered for days to come, and once a performer's nerve is gone he is useless to himself and to others. But Joe was not going to waste his money on even an ordinary supper for the crowd.

”But I sure do hate to be called a tight-wad,” he mused, ”especially when I don't deserve it.”

However, he seemed to have acquired that reputation unwittingly.

Several times after that he heard sneering remarks directed toward himself, and once or twice some laughing reference was made to the ”blow-out” he was going to give.

Joe flushed at these slurs, but he did not give in.

CHAPTER XIV

HELEN IS WORRIED

Joe Strong stood in a secluded part of the circus lot early one morning before breakfast. The show had reached the place only a little while before, there having been a delay because of a slight accident. Most of the performers, with increased appet.i.tes, were wending their way to the dining tents, but Joe, with coat and vest off, with shoulders thrown back and head held high in the air, was taking in long breaths and expelling them again to the utmost capacity of his lungs.

”What in the world are you doing, Joe?” asked Helen, who was on her way to breakfast. ”Are you trying to rival Mr. Jefferson when he breaks a chain on his chest?” for this was one of the feats of the strong man.

”Hardly that,” laughed Joe, as he let out a long breath.

”Then what are you doing?”

”Practising deep breathing for my tank work. I'm going to try for the four-minute record to-day.”

”Are you really?” Helen was much interested.

”I don't say I'm going to do it,” went on Joe, for he was anything but boastful. ”But this seems a good day to make the attempt. It's clear and crisp after the rain, and I seem to be able to hold my breath longer on a day like this than when it's warm and muggy. So I thought I'd get in a little early practice before I got too loggy with a big breakfast.”

”A good idea,” Helen said. ”I'll wait for you and we'll eat together.”

”Thanks,” remarked Joe. ”But I'll be ten minutes yet, and your appet.i.te may not stand such a delay.”

”Oh, yes, it will,” laughed Helen. ”I'll run over and see how Rosebud is while you finish your practice,” and she turned toward the horse tent where her trick pet was contentedly munching his breakfast of oats.

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