determined face and snapping black eyes of Ray Rose. "I do believe you
want to cut up some trick on me, because I stole your part, or it seems
to you I did, and yet, you rather like me, and hate to do it, after
all."

"How did you know?" cried Ray Rose, astonished. "That's exactly what
was in my mind! Well, honest, if I can conquer my desire to get even
with you, I'll let you alone. But I feel pretty sure I shall do your
act myself."

"You are the queerest girl I ever saw!" and Patty looked her
astonishment. "Your frankness and your slyness together are the
funniest combination! Just for your queer cleverness, I give you
permission to get my place from me if you can! But don't forget I
offered it to you."

"That's nothing. Bob Riggs wouldn't let me take it. But if I get it
in some way that he can't help himself, remember that you told me I
might."

Patty was greatly amused at this conversation, but as other and more
important matters quickly demanded her attention, she promptly forgot
the whole matter.

The circus proper was to be an evening entertainment, but in the
afternoon of the same day, the entire cast of characters marched up and
down the streets as an advertisement, hoping to attract attention and
rouse curiosity to such an extent that the attendance at the evening
performance would be large.

The animals presented a fearsome sight. Lions, bears, tigers, monkeys,
a giraffe and a donkey, were followed by clowns, acrobats, trapeze
performers, and jugglers.

Patty, as _premiere danseuse_, rode in a gilded chariot drawn by four
gaily caparisoned white horses. She sat enthroned on a high seat, and
waved smiling greetings as she passed.

Ray Rose, in Pierrette costume, was gay and good-natured, and chummed
up with Patty, in evident forgetfulness of any ill-feeling.

"She's all right," Patty said to Elise, as they went home after the
parade, and prepared to rest up a little before the evening performance.

Patty had no sooner reached her room than she was called to the
telephone. The speaker was Ray Rose.

"Excuse me, Miss Fairfield, but I do want to speak to you a minute. I
think my Pierrette act would be a whole lot prettier, if I had a few
Highland Fling steps in it, don't you?"

"I do," Patty replied, after a moment's consideration. "Put them in
after the one-step movement."

"Yes, that's what I meant. May I run over to your house a minute, and
will you show me about the Fling?