ment.

"I'll settle any bills that Mr. Logan may owe for board or lodging,"
said Joe.

"Board! He don't owe much for _board_!" sneered the barkeeper. "He
hasn't eaten enough to keep a fly alive. But he does owe for his room."

"I'll pay that," offered Joe. Then he was guided upstairs to a squalid
room.

"Come in!" called a weak voice, and Joe, pushing back the door, saw,
lying on a tumbled bed, the form of the old fire-eater. It was a great
change Ham Logan was in even worse condition than when he had applied
to Joe for work. He was utterly disreputable. But in spite of that there
was something about his face and eyes that gave Joe hope. The man was
sober--that was one thing.

As Joe looked at him, Ham turned his face away.

"I--I'm ashamed to have you see me," he murmured. "I fought it off as
long as I could, but I just had to see you. 'Tisn't for my own sake!" he
added quickly. "I know you're through with me. But it's for your
own--and the good of the show. I've got something to tell you, and, when
I've done that, you can go away again and forget me. That's all I'm fit
for--to be forgotten!"

A dry sob shook his emaciated frame.

"Son, here's a quarter," said Joe to the red-haired Micky. "You go out
and get yourself an ice-cream soda and come back in half an hour."

And after he had thus delicately removed a witness to the sad scene Joe
closed the door, and, going over to the bed, held out both his hands to
the man.

And then tears--tears to which he had long been stranger--coursed down
the sunken cheeks of Hamilton Logan.

Just what Joe said to the man whom he had befriended and who had gone
back to his old ways and what Ham Logan said to his young benefactor
will never be known. Neither would tell, and no one else knew. As a
matter of fact, it did not matter. Afterward, though, following some
sensational happenings which did become known, Joe told his closest
friends enough of Ham's story to make clear the trend of events.

Punctually on the time agreed, Micky Donlon was back at his post. Joe
was coming out of the room.

"Are you engaged for the rest of the day?" asked the young circus
performer of his guide.

"Engaged?"

"I mean have you anything to do?"

"Not so's you could notice! Me mudder's goin' to dress up to see de
show, but me--I'm all ready!"

"Good! Then you can help me. I'll pay you for your time. Can we get an
automobile in this part of the city?"

"Gee, no, mister! Dere's jitne