hy, you bill my act
big!"

"Oh, I know it. It's a good act, Joe."

"Then give me more money! I've just got to have it!"

CHAPTER XIII

ILL FEELING

The ring-master looked critically at the boy fish, but Joe returned the
gaze steadily. He seemed very much in earnest.

"Say, Joe," asked Jim Tracy teasingly, "you're not going to get
married, are you, that you want more money?"

Joe blushed and answered:

"No, not just yet, though I suppose you do pay the married men more
than the single ones."

"Yes, that's the general custom. But if we practically doubled your
salary, Joe, you'd be getting more than some of the married men."

"Well, I'm doing a double turn, Mr. Tracy. You've got to think of
that."

The ring-master scratched his head. Clearly Joe had the best of the
argument there.

"Well, I guess you're right," Jim Tracy was forced to admit.

"Then you'll give me more money?" Joe's voice was eager.

"I'll take it up with the treasurer, Joe," answered his friend. "You
know this circus is a partnership affair, and I can't act alone. But
I'll do the best I can for you."

It was a day or so later that Joe again brought up the subject. It was
after a particularly successful performance, where Joe had been loudly
applauded for staying under water within a few seconds of four minutes.

"Now's a good time to strike again for my increase," thought the boy
fish. He approached Jim.

"How about more money for me?" Joe asked. "Do I get it?"

"Yes, we have decided to give it to you," was the ring-master's answer.
"But I can't imagine what a boy like you--for you are only a boy--can
want of so much money."

"Oh, I have a very good use for it," replied Joe coolly. "Thanks, Mr.
Tracy."

"Oh, you're welcome, Joe. And I want you to feel that we are glad to
pay you well, for you are a drawing card for the show. Only don't waste
your money. The time to save is when you're young. I only wish I'd done
so."

Joe smiled at this good advice, but he did not say whether or not he
was going to follow it. He was pleased when, on the next pay day, he
received an envelope with nearly twice as much in it as he had been in
the habit of getting.

"It's a good thing I got up spunk to ask for it," mused Joe. "I guess I
didn't do so badly when I ran away from the deacon's."

Joe thought back to the time when he had first made the acquaintance of
Professor Rosello, the magician, rescuing him at the fireworks
explosion.