, wouldn't shrink from any violence, no
matter how great. You ought to make her some acknowledgment, Kit."

"I wouldn't dare to," answered the young acrobat. "If her father should
find out what she did for me, I am afraid her life would not be safe."

CHAPTER XXXIV.

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Two or three days later, the circus was billed to show at Glendale, a
manufacturing village in Western Pennsylvania. The name attracted the
attention of Kit, for this was the place where his uncle had lived for
many years previous to the death of Kit's father. He naturally desired
to learn something of his uncle's reputation among the villagers, who
from his long residence among them must remember him well.

The circus had arrived during the night. As a general thing Kit was not
in a hurry to get up, but as he was to stay but a day in Glendale, he
rose early, with the intention of improving his time.

Breakfast in the circus tent was not ready till nine o'clock, for circus
men of every description get up late, except the razorbacks, who are
compelled to be about very early to unload the freight cars, and the
canvas men, who put up the tents. So Kit went to the hotel, and
registering his name called for breakfast.

After he had eaten it, he strolled into the office, hoping to meet some
one of whom he could make inquiries respecting his uncle. This was made
unexpectedly easy. A man of about his uncle's age had been examining the
list of arrivals. He looked at Kit inquisitively.

"I beg your pardon, young man," he said, "but are you Christopher
Watson?"

"Yes, sir," answered Kit, politely.

"Did you ever have any relatives living in this place?"

"Yes, sir. My uncle, Stephen Watson, used to live here."

"I thought so. I once saw your father. He came here to visit your uncle.
You look like him."

Kit was gratified, for he cherished a warm affection for his dead
father, and was glad to have it said that he resembled him.

"Are you going to stay here long?" asked the villager.

"No, sir; I am here only for the day."

"On business, I presume."

"Yes, sir," answered Kit, smiling. "I am here with Barlow's circus."

The other looked amazed.

"You don't mean to say that you are connected with the circus?" he
exclaimed.

"Yes, sir."

"In what capacity?"

"I am an acrobat."

"I don't understand it at all. Why should your father's son need to
travel with a circus?"

"Because I have my living to earn, an