re the seal's owner lived, and by putting his tank act on a
little sooner Joe could get off in the afternoon in time to make the
visit and get back to the circus in season for the night's performance;
that is, if he made good train connections.

"That's the only trouble," thought Joe, on arrival. "I wouldn't want to
be stranded and have to cut out my act at night. That wouldn't look
very well. I wonder how I can manage it? If I only had an auto or an
airship."

But neither was available just then, though Joe began to think of
engaging an automobile if one could be hired in the town.

He was on the verge of making inquiries as to this shortly before the
afternoon performance, when, as he walked across the circus lot, he saw
a man who had been with the circus the previous season as a juggler.
The man was standing near a motor-cycle, and neither looked
particularly prepossessing. They were both covered with dust, though
the machine was of a standard make, and needed only a good cleaning.

"Hello, Joe!" called the performer. "How are you?"

"Why, it's Babson!" Joe exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in some time.
What are you doing? Are you with a show?"

"No, I wish I were," came the answer. "I'm sort of down on my luck.
After I left the Sampsons I did well for a while, and then I had an
accident to my hand, and I had to quit juggling."

He held out a hand on which were two crooked fingers which seemed
permanently out of shape.

"How did it happen?" asked Joe.

"Oh, I had an accident riding this machine. I wish I'd never bought it.
I could use the money now to good advantage."

"That's too bad," said Joe, sympathetically.

"I wonder if there's any chance to get on here," went on Babson. "I
could help in an animal act--I know something about the cats."

"You might try," Joe said. "I saw Jim Tracy around a while ago."

"What are you doing?" Babson asked. "Same trapeze work?"

"Oh, no; I've got a new act--Turton's tank. He gave out, you know. Come
on in and watch. It makes quite a hit. I've put in a lot of new stuff,
and I'm thinking of adding more." Then, in a sudden burst of
confidence, Joe told about the seal, though it was the first time he
had mentioned his new idea to any one.

"I'm going to see about it now, as soon as I finish," Joe said.
"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