Part 20 (1/2)
”Getting back from Elmwood is all that bothers me, though. The train connections are pretty close. I was just going to see about hiring an auto. Know where I can get one in this town?”
”What do you want with an auto when I have my little jitney?” asked Babson, indicating the motor-cycle. ”She's a good machine, but I haven't cleaned her lately. She'll carry double, too. Hop up behind me and I'll have you at Elmwood in no time. I'll bring you back, too, though I won't promise to carry the seal. Time is no object to me--now,” and he laughed rather grimly.
”Say, I believe I'll take you up,” Joe said. ”That is, if you'll allow me to pay you as I would have to pay a chauffeur.”
”Pay nothing!” exclaimed the man. ”I guess I can do you that favor. If you feel like spending any money why don't you buy this machine? I'll sell it cheap, and you could have a lot of fun with it. Take your wife out for a run between performances.”
”I haven't one,” laughed Joe.
”Well, you may have one some day. That's no reason for not buying my motor-cycle. I'll let you have it cheap.”
”I don't know how to run one,” objected Joe.
”It won't take you long to learn. Come on, I'll take you over and you can look at the seal, and I'll be giving you instructions on the way.”
”All right,” agreed Joe. ”But first come in and watch my act. Then you can see Tracy, too.”
And so it was arranged. Babson was disappointed in not securing work from the ring-master, who said, though, that there might be an opening later. But the former juggler enjoyed Joe's act, and said so.
”Don't say anything about the seal proposition,” Joe cautioned him, as he went out with Babson after the performance in the tank. ”I don't want it known until I actually have the seal.”
”Oh, I'll keep quiet. But say, Joe, that act of yours, as it stands now, is a dandy! It sure is!”
”Glad you like it. I'm going to make it better yet, I think.”
Joe enjoyed the trip on the motor-cycle. It was not his first one, for a boy he once knew in Bedford owned one, and Joe had frequent rides on it. But now he took a new interest, since he began to consider buying this one.
”It wouldn't be such a bad idea,” he told himself as Babson explained how simple it was to ride and operate one. ”And I suppose Helen would come for a ride now and then. It wouldn't be any bother taking it with me. A motor-cycle, more or less, wouldn't matter to a circus.”
Joe found the seal still unsold. The man had owned several of the intelligent creatures which he took about with him giving performances in theatres. But his health had broken down, and he had been forced to give up his act and had advertised his seals for sale.
”I only have this one seal left,” he explained to Joe, ”but she is the best of the lot. I hate to part with her.”
They went out to the barn, where there was a large tank of water.
Stepping up to it Mr. Blossom, the seal's owner, called loudly:
”Here, Lizzie!”
The water had been calm and placid, but in a moment it was violently agitated, and a queer snakelike head was thrust up, while there came a series of loud cries:
”Hook! Hook! Hook!”
”There she is,” said Mr. Blossom. He leaned his head over close to the water, and the seal, swimming to him, seemed to kiss him.
”That's the girl, Lizzie!” Mr. Blossom exclaimed. ”And now I suppose you want your reward.”
From a pail near the tank he took up a dead fish. The seal held up her head high from the water. Mr. Blossom balanced the fish on the animal's nose, and raised a finger.
”No, no. Not yet, Lizzie!” he cried. ”Wait a moment.”