ct. It certainly made a pretty scene with Joe, in his red scaly suit,
going through all manner of performances in the water, while the dark
seal swam in and out, sometimes circling around his head, again darting
through his looped arms, while on all sides they were surrounded by
goldfish and gracefully waving green grass and plants.

It was one of the showiest acts in the circus, and taking advantage one
day of a particularly gracious reception on the part of the crowd, and
when he had lengthened his stay under water by two seconds, Joe asked
for more money.

Jim Tracy whistled in mild surprise, but he did not make half the
objections he had made on the other occasion.

"I'm under a lot more expense," Joe explained. "Lizzie cost me money,
and I have to buy fish for her every day. Besides, the extra tank
fittings cost considerable."

"All right, Joe. I'm not making any kick," said the ring-master.
"You're certainly worth a lot to us, and we can't afford to lose you. I
wouldn't say that to every performer, or they'd get such a swelled head
that there'd be no doing anything with them. But you're different, I'm
glad to say. Yes, you shall have more money. The act is worth it,
especially since you got Lizzie. First you know you'll be a
millionaire, my boy."

"Not in this business, I guess," laughed Joe.

Joe found himself liking more and more his motor-cycle rides. Helen,
too, enjoyed them very much. She was even learning to manage the
machine herself, though, as yet, she had not ventured to drive it at
more than a slow speed, and then on some little-frequented road.

As soon as the circus reached a town where it was to show, and Joe and
Helen had had their breakfast, and had seen, one to his tank and seal
and the other to her horse, they would set off for a ride through the
beautiful country. It took them away from the atmosphere of the circus,
and rested them mentally and physically. They were in better trim for
the strenuous and exacting work that was to follow.

Helen had greatly elaborated her act since the time when Joe had first
seen it. She had taken a little dog--the same one that had refused to
act with Joe in the tank--and had trained it to ride with her on
Rosebud's back. The dog did some simple tricks, and that, with the
beautiful and intelligent horse and Helen, who herself was strikingly
pretty, made an act that always was well applauded.

"I only hope you two don't have a break-down when you're out