"I beg your pardon."

"That's all right," replied Dick, with a smile. "Whom shall I make the
check out to?"

"Me," replied the manager. "Wellington Dappleton. But say," he added,
"would you mind telling me what you want of the circus?"

"I'll tell you," answered Dick, with something of a serious air. "When I
was out walking this morning I saw a procession from the orphan asylum.
I heard about the circus being over here, and I knew those poor
youngsters couldn't go. I made up my mind that if I could, I'd have the
circus come to town and I'd take those kids free. It's the only chance
they'll ever get, maybe, and I--well, I've got plenty of money. I can
just as well spend some of it this way as in having a good time myself.
When can you come?"

"We'll be there to-morrow and play the afternoon and evening," said the
manager. "And I'll tell you what I'll do. You needn't make out that
check now. We'll wait until after the last performance, and all I'll ask
you to do will be to make good whatever I'm short of a thousand-dollar
profit. Maybe we can get enough admissions in the town to make up part
of the sum. I'll not see a lad do the only good turn in these parts.
I'll meet you half way, and there's my hand on it," and once more he
gripped Dick's fingers in a hold that made them tingle.

"But the orphans come in free," insisted Dick.

"The orphans come in free," repeated the manager, "and any other boys or
girls you like. We'll only charge the grown folks."

So it was arranged. Dick and the manager had a long talk, so long that
Dick had time only to see the closing acts in the big tent.

"Well, you missed it," said Frank, as he met Dick on his way out. "You
should have seen that fellow hold all those others. It was great! I'm
going to join a circus."

"Better wait," advised Dick, with a smile. "Have a talk with that
acrobat. The show is coming to Hamilton Corners to-morrow, and you can
ask him how he likes the life."

"The show coming to Hamilton Corners?"

"Yes," and then Dick told of the arrangements.

Hamilton Corners hardly knew itself when it awoke the next morning. The
town was gay with many colored posters, showing fierce animals wandering
together over vast treeless plains, and many-hued lithographs of men
risking their lives on the high trapeze. Before the boys had fairly
gotten the idea into their heads that the circus was coming the
cavalcade of wagons began arriving. Dick had seen the town authorities