from off the pole across his
shoulders.

"They'll come in handy before very long," he told the crowd with a
laugh as he came down the pole.

"Good for you, Spider," called out his boy friends, running up to
admire the fine new skates which he was proud to show.

"What a horrid name," commented Beth, "but I'm glad he won."

CHAPTER VI

JERRY'S TREAT

Uncle Billy now led the party over to the pop corn and peanut stand
where he made several purchases for them, after which he told Jerry
that he had a treat in store for her.

"It's a secret between us and we'll tell you all about it when we get
back," he said to the others. "Now what would you like to do while we
are away?"

"Ride on the merry-go-round," declared both the girls in a breath, and
so after a few minutes, when they had reached the merry-go-round a
long string of tickets was handed Beth and she willingly promised to
remain there until Uncle Billy returned.

"What is it we're going to do?" asked Jerry in great excitement,
dancing along beside Uncle Billy as they started away.

"Away over your head I see something," he answered--"something round
like a ball, with a basket hanging beneath it. Can you guess what it
is?"

"Oh, do stop teasing," pleaded Jerry, "and tell me."

"It's a balloon," replied Uncle Billy. "Would you like to go up in it?"

"Oh, yes," she answered, her eyes dancing with delight. "Will it sail
away off?"

"No, Jerry, it won't or you wouldn't catch me going up in it. I'm going
to look it all over first to find out if it's perfectly safe."

"But suppose the rope should break?" insisted Jerry as they hurried
along.

"We'd let the gas escape from the bag, and that would make the balloon
sink slowly to the earth. Of course we would not let all of the gas
out, but just enough to let it sink to the ground. Why, you little
monkey," added Uncle Billy, "I believe you wanted it to break away,"
and he laughed at her daring.

After the balloon ropes were well tested, both climbed into the basket
where two women passengers were already standing beside the attendant.

"Only fifty cents for ten minutes above the clouds," shouted the man
selling tickets, "step this way and get off the earth."

"He's trying to be funny, isn't he?" laughed Jerry as she held tightly
to the basket's edge.

"All aboard for the ascension," someone called, and with a queer,
swaying motion and sudden lurches the huge ball of gas rose slowly into
the a