growing bigger and bigger.

"An' we're all goin' to the circus to-night!" Danny informed them.

"All of us!" Celia Jane got breath enough to utter.

"Me, too?" Nora asked.

"Yes, all of you!" laughed Jerry. "And Kathleen, too."

"I wanta see serka," cried the baby.

"And so you shall," said Whiteface, so close that Kathleen drew
whimpering away from his white, chalky features. "It's all true, Mrs.
Mullarkey."

"Don't be afraid of Whiteface, Kathleen," called Jerry. "He's father."

At last Mrs. Mullarkey found her voice, but at the queer, choking sound
she made, Jerry looked up and saw tears running down her face.

"I can't tell you how _glad_ I am that you have found your father and
mother, Jerry," she said. "Mr. Darner is here now and, after all, he was
going to take you away--this very day. And Celia Jane--" She couldn't
finish, but put Kathleen down and covered her face with her apron,
rocking her body back and forth.

Jerry looked towards the house and saw at the living-room window the
face of a man,--a large, heavy face that seemed to scowl out at the
crowd.

CHAPTER XIII

"--AND ELEPHANTS TO RIDE UPON"

Jerry's new-found mother went quickly to Mother 'Larkey and placed a
comforting arm about her shoulder.

"_I_ am Mrs. Bowe, Gary's mother," she said, "and oh, how can I ever
thank you for loving him and giving him a home? I never can repay you."

"That we can't, Mrs. Mullarkey," Whiteface interposed. "But what is this
about taking Gary away? And Celia Jane?"

"Let's go into the house first," suggested Mrs. Bowe. "We have too big
an audience here."

She led the way, her arm still about Mrs. Mullarkey's shoulder. Jerry
and his father followed, though Jerry turned at the door to have another
look at Sultana and the admiring throng of children gathered about her.

Nora and Celia Jane, who had lapsed into tongue-tiedness after learning
that they were all going to see the circus that night, now started
slowly into the house, Kathleen clinging to Nora's hand to keep from
falling. But their eyes were turned back towards Sultana until they
passed through the door.

Danny and Chris were also of two minds whether to follow the great clown
or remain outside with the elephant, but their mother's statement that
Mr. Darner had come to take Jerry away and was even then in the house
finally drew them as a magnet, their eyes also directed towards Sultana
until they stumbled through the door.

Jerry