face," Jerry mourned softly in her ear.

Mr. Bowe laughed at that, and it was such a good-humored, infectious
chuckle of mirth that Jerry at last looked up at his very disappointing
father, and the twinkle in his father's eyes and the engaging, twisty
smile that played about his lips comforted Jerry. This father of his
wasn't so ordinary looking, after all! But a clown is so much more
interesting than just an everyday father.

"You'll see Whiteface often enough," he promised Jerry, "to satisfy even
you."

"Nora won't," said Jerry, "nor Kathleen nor Celia Jane."

"The boy's right!" exclaimed Mr. Burrows. "Dress up as the clown to see
the woman who's cared for Gary and I'll have Sultana got ready for you
to ride on. The boy's a better press agent than the one I pay to
advertise the circus. I announced that Sultana had found your stolen
child and told the newspaper men all about it. You and your wife ride on
Sultana through the town, and you'll be followed by all the children at
the circus and those who are not here, and the circus will get such an
advertising as it never had before. And it will make Gary happy, too."

"Will it, Gary?" asked his father.

"Yes!" cried Jerry, thrilled at the thought of riding through the town
on an elephant, with his father and mother. "It'll be better 'n a
circus."

"Robert Bowe, disappear!" commanded Robert Bowe.

That surprising father of Jerry's wagged his head solemnly with such a
comical look that Jerry shrieked with delight as Mr. Bowe turned a
handspring that carried him through the curtains into another part of
the tent.

Mr. Burrows went out laughing, to have Sultana brought around, and Jerry
waited impatiently for Whiteface to reappear. His most blissful dreams
had been exceeded this wonderful day, and now the most wonderful part
was still to come.

He was too excited to pay very close attention to what his mother said,
and Danny and Chris seemed to have been struck dumb by this dazzling
height of glory that was about to befall "Orfum" Jerry Elbow, who had
suddenly been transformed into Gary L. Bowe, son of a clown and of an
elephant-lady.

Suddenly there sounded the delightful clicking that Whiteface made with
his mouth and Jerry's eyes almost popped out of his head in his
eagerness for Whiteface to reappear. He watched the curtain where his
everyday father had disappeared, without daring to wink his eyes for
fear Whiteface would get in without his seeing him.

As