pe of being able to reduce the amount
owed for fines.

Both the manager and the squire looked despondent, the latter
particularly so, for he had saddled upon the town what might prove to
be a white elephant before the matter was ended.

Despite the discouraging state of affairs the performers did their
best, and the audience were delighted. Jet danced until it was
impossible to take another step, and then, on being called before the
curtain, was forced to bow his thanks instead of responding to the
fourth encore.

During all the time he was on the stage he had scrutinized the faces of
the spectators, but without recognizing any face other than the one
before him, and it was in a decidedly contented frame of mind that he
followed his companions back to jail after the result of the "show" was
made known.

By this evening's work, after the hall rent, printing and services of
the musicians had been paid, the company were able to reduce the entire
amount of fines exactly four dollars, and one of the party remarked,
laughingly:

"At this rate, by hard work, providing the people are willing to come
to a show every night, we may manage to pull through in about three
months, which won't be a profitable speculation, considering the fact
that we might have bought all the fruit for a dollar at the outside."

On the following afternoon Jet received a reply to his letter, and in
it Harvey said:

"Pay your fine and come out of jail at once. You can avoid our
constable by remaining with the company the greater portion of the
time; but it is necessary you should learn who the visitor is. Can't
you walk around that way now and then? I don't fancy Bob will stay in
the house all the time. This work can be done better now by you than
any one I could send, since the presence of a stranger in the little
village would attract attention."

While reading this Jet was busily engaged in trying to make some excuse
whereby he could do as Harvey ordered without arousing the suspicion of
his companions.

If he had paid the fine in the first place all would have been simple;
but reason must be given for leaving after telling the manager that he
did not dare to spend the money he had on his person.

A happy thought occurred to him.

Pretending to read after the letter was finished, he contrived, without
being seen, to take fifteen dollars from his pocket, and, holding them
up triumphantly, he cried:

"Here's enough with which t