Part 38 (1/2)

Leo smiled. He had heard that Porler was a very conceited man who had been in the business for a dozen years or more.

Once he had wanted to become Professor Ricardo's partner, but the professor refused to go into the deal.

This made Porler angry with the professor and also with the circus folks.

When Leo arrived at the circus lot he found that the two balloons had been located side by side.

Porler was to exhibit at one o'clock, while Leo usually went up an hour later.

The young gymnast cautioned Larry to be on guard, so that no harm should come to his outfit, and he likewise cautioned his men to keep away from Porler's inclosure and thus avoid trouble.

The backs of the two tents used by Leo and Porler were almost together, and while Leo was in his own, looking over his things, he heard quarreling in the tent beyond.

”Oh, don't ask me to do that, Mr. Porler!” pleaded a boyish voice.

”Anything but that!”

”You must do it, Mart Keene!” responded the gruff voice of the balloonist.

”I can't-really I can't!” pleaded the boyish voice again.

”You can do it and you will. My reputation is at stake and you must go up with me and do the fairy act.”

”I will fall and break my neck!”

”No, you won't-not unless you get too confoundedly nervous, which you haven't any right to do.”

”Let me do my own act,” pleaded Mart Keene, for such was the boy's name.

”No, you'll do as I want you to. We must show up at our best.”

The boy began to cry.

He was a street waif from New Orleans. Porler had picked him up in the French quarter one day and adopted him. He had promised him a good living and some money, but he got neither. He had often abused him, and at times made him do acts in connection with his exhibitions which imperiled Mart's limbs and life. He did not care what became of the boy, as long as he made money.

Porler flew into a rage when Mart started to cry.

”Shut up!” he cried in a low tone that was full of pa.s.sion. ”Do you want the crowd outside to hear your sniveling?'

”I will stop when you promise not to make me do the fairy act,” sobbed Mart.

”You'll do that act, I say, and that ends it!” howled Porler.

He looked around the tent, and, espying a whip lying near a trunk, picked it up.

”Do you see this?” he demanded.

”Oh, don't whip me, please!”