n with a horse and wagon outside the tent who had a big
box for Joe, even that caused no comment, for it was almost time for
the show to start and every one was busy about his or her own affairs
or special act.

But when Jim Tracy passed the platform on which the tank was standing,
and saw a big canvas cover wrapped about the sides of the glass box, he
opened his eyes in surprise.

"What's the idea, Joe?" he asked.

"Oh, just a little experiment," was the answer.

"Experiment! You're not going to fall down on the act, are you?
Remember we have it billed in this town, and we're likely to play to
record-breaking audiences both this afternoon and evening. You're not
going to cut out the act, are you, after promising----"

"Cut out the act? Of course not!"

"But putting that canvas around the tank makes it look as though it was
out of business."

"Oh, it isn't out of business at all," said Joe with a laugh. "In fact
I hope it will draw more business than before. Just leave it to me,
Jim. It will be all right, I'm sure. You go ahead and make the usual
announcement, only don't pull any four-minute immersion on me, for I'm
not up to that yet. Make it three and a quarter if you like, I think I
can hold my breath that long."

"But I don't quite see, Joe."

"You don't need to, now. I want to spring it on you, as well as on the
public. Just give me a man to yank off the canvas cover when I say the
word, and that'll be all I want."

"All right, Joe. It's your affair, as long as you do as we've
advertised."

"I'll do that and more, Jim Tracy. Leave it to me."

Joe's trapeze work came first on the programme, and while he liked this
as well as ever and did his usual hair-raising feats, this day he was a
bit impatient for the act to be over, so he could do what he had
planned in the tank.

At last, however, he made his final swing, and dropped down into the
life net amid the plaudits of the crowd. Then Joe hurried to the
dressing tent to get into Benny's scaly, green, rubber suit.

"That's another thing I'm going to do when I get around to it," thought
Joe, as he squeezed himself into the garments. "I'm going to have
another suit, different, and of another color. I've got to change this
act about to bring it up to my ideas."

Out on the little platform at the edge of the tank, Joe took his place.
Jim Tracy, standing near by on the ground, pointed up to the
queerly-clad figure and made his usual dramatic announcement