a clown in the ring, but not in the dressing room," said he,
tartly. "I want my pay, or I don't go on."

"All right then, you can consider yourself discharged," cried Giles
Frozzler.

He had started in the circus business as a clown and thought he could
very well fill his employee's place for a day or two. In the meantime
he would send to the city for another clown whom he knew was out of a
situation.

At last the show began with what Frozzler termed on his handbills the
Grand Opening Parade, consisting of the two elephants, two ladies on
horseback, two circus hands on horseback, the little bear, who was
tame, and several educated dogs. In the meantime the band, consisting
of seven pieces, struck up a march which was more noise than harmony.

"Here's your grand circus," whispered Sam. "Beats the Greatest Show on
Earth to bits, doesn't it?"

"I'll wager a big tomato against a peck of clams that I can get up a
better show myself, and do it blindfolded, too," returned Tom.

The grand opening at an end, there was a bit of juggling by a juggler
who made several bad breaks in his act, and then came the lady bareback
rider. At the same time, Frozzler came out, dressed in a clown's suit
and painted up.

"Hullo, there's that chap again!" cried Dick. "He must be running half
the show himself."

"How are you to-morrow?" sang out the clown. And after doing a
flip-flap, he continued: "Mr. Ringmaster, what's the difference between
your knife and me?"

"I know!" shouted Tom. "His knife is a jack-knife, while you are a
jack-of-all-trades!"

At this sally there was a loud laugh.

"What is the difference between my knife and you?" queried the
ringmaster, as soon as he could make himself heard.

"That's it."

"I don't know."

"I told you!" shouted Tom.

"The difference between your knife and me," answered Frozzler, "is that
you can shut your knife up but you can't shut me up," and then he made
a face and did another tumble.

"His knife is sharper than you, too," cried Sam. A roar followed, which
made Frozzler so angry he shook his fist at the youngest Rover.

"Why is that boy like a fish?" cried Frozzler.

"Because he's too slippery for a clown to catch," put in Fred, loudly,
and this created such a laugh that Frozzler's answer was completely
lost on the crowd. Again he shook his fist at our friends, but they
merely laughed at him.

"I had a funny dream last night," went on the clown. "What do you think
I dreame