meal.

The time was late afternoon, following the day performance and prior to
the evening show. Helen looked curiously over at the gay little scene,
and something tugged at her heart-strings. Then she looked away, and
Mrs. Watson, observing her from the other side of the tent, shook her
gray head.

"I can't understand Joe Strong," murmured the clown's wife. "What has
come over him?"

It was just before the opening of the evening performance that night
when Joe, meeting Helen in the dressing tent, said:

"I shan't need you in the box trick, to-night, nor in the vanishing lady
stunt, either."

"Oh, I suppose you're going to use one of the new, pretty girls,"
snapped Helen.

Joe looked at her quietly.

"No," he said, "I am not. But I am not going to put on either trick. I
thought you'd like to know, so if you want to introduce any of your
extras you'll have a chance."

"Thank you!" she said coldly, and passed on.

Joe smiled as he looked after her.

With a blare of trumpets, a boom and ruffle of drums, the gay procession
started around the circus arena. The stately elephants, the hideous
camels and the beautiful horses went around to be looked at, wondered
at, and admired. Then, when the last of the cavalcade had passed out,
the various acts began. Helen had a new costume for her bareback act,
and as she started it she looked over to where Joe was busy on his
stage. She saw the young men and women around him. They wore fancy
costumes and seemed a part of the circus. Helen wondered what act they
were going to appear in, since none including them had been announced.

She danced about on the back of Rosebud, and thought bitterly that Joe
had never noticed her new dress. She was wearing it for the first time,
too.

The whistle blew. All acts stopped and Jim Tracy advanced toward Joe's
platform.

"A most marvelous and striking act!" he cried, not stating what it was
to be.

All eyes, even those of Helen Morton, turned in the direction of Joe
Strong.

He acted quickly. With a wave of his hand he invited the three pretty
girls and the three well-appearing young men to be seated. They took
their places around a table, with Joe acting as host. The table appeared
to be well laden, and at first the act seemed to be only a rather
elaborate meal being served in public.

"What is it all about?" mused Helen. "I can't see anything very
wonderful in that."

But, even as she thus mused, something strange happened