Part 32 (1/2)

Leaving the town the next day, Leo and Carl struck out for a city five miles away, having heard that it was a good place in which to perform.

There was no stage running to the city, so the pair walked the distance.

When they reached the outskirts Leo suddenly stopped short and pointed to several billboards fastened to the side of a barn.

”What's the matter?” asked Carl. ”I don't see anything but circus bills.

And the circus won't be here until the day after to-morrow.”

”It's the 'Greatest Show on Earth'-the circus I used to travel with,”

said the young acrobat.

”Oh, that's so. Well, we needn't come in contact with the crowd, if you don't care to do so,” said Carl.

For Leo had told his friend the whole story of the stolen circus tickets and Carl sympathized with him over the fact that he was under suspicion.

”If only I could get at the bottom of that affair.” murmured Leo as they walked along one of the city streets.

”Those ticket thieves are sure to be run down some day,” put in Carl, ”and then your name will be cleared.”

”They can't be run down any too quick for me.” answered Leo.

Since leaving the circus he had often thought of Barton Reeve, Natalie Sparks and his other friends. No communications had pa.s.sed between them for the reason that none of those traveling with the circus knew where Leo was.

In Chalburgh, for such was the city's name, Leo and Carl were lucky enough to strike an engagement with a fat men's a.s.sociation. The a.s.sociation gave a picnic in a large grove, and the pair performed on one end of the dancing platform. This engagement brought in eight dollars more, and when they were paid off the head man of the committee asked if they intended to remain in the city long.

”That depends,” said Carl. ”We'll stay if we can find another opening.”

”I might be able to find you an engagement with another society,” said the fat man, who tipped the scales at three hundred and ten pounds. ”I can let you know by to-morrow night, if you can wait that long.”

Leo and Carl consulted together, and agreed to remain in Chalburgh, and the fat man took down their hotel address.

So the time went by until the day came when the circus was to perform in the city. Long before daybreak the wagons arrived and also the canvas and ring men. Leo could not resist the temptation to take a walk down to the circus-grounds for a look at the familiar scene.

While he stood there somebody touched him on the shoulder. It was Barton Reeve.

”How are you, Leo,” said the menagerie manager heartily, as he held out his hand.

”I am pretty well, thank you,” replied the young gymnast.

”Where have you been all this time?”

”Knocking around on my own hook,” and Leo smiled faintly. He was glad to see Reeve still considered him a friend.

”I heard you had joined Wampole's specialty company.”

”I did, but I had to get out,” answered the boy, and told of the theatrical manager's doings and of how he was now giving private exhibitions with Carl.

”I wish you were back in our show,” said Barton Reeve. ”All of us miss you.”

”Has Mr. Lambert discovered the ticket thieves yet?”