afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out somehow till I get as much as
ten dollars, an' then we'll run away some night, an' go 'way off as far
as--as--as out West; an' we'll stay there, too."

The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long;
started toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming, joining
the other monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in one of the
swings.

"Now see here, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, in alarm, "you mustn't go to
telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll be
dished, sure."

The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what the
boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence, said,
as he started toward the door, "That's right--mum's the word; you keep
quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away from the whole
crowd."

All the monkeys chattered; and Toby, believing that everything which
he had said had been understood by the animals, went out of the door to
meet his other taskmaster.

VI. A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON

"Now, then, lazybones," was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came out of
the tent, "if you've fooled away enough of your time, you can come here
an' tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed yourself this
noon, an' it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you go without anything
to eat tonight; it 'll make you move round more lively in future."

Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving
from his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal word,
and this last punishment--that of losing his supper--caused the poor
boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started for the hotel as
he concluded his cruel speech; and poor little Toby, going behind the
counter, leaned his head upon the rough boards and cried as if his heart
would break.

All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished,
and in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid Uncle
Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby thought that
if he could only nestle his little red head on the pillows of his little
bed in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's, he would be the happiest and
best boy, in the future, in all the great wide world.

While he was still sobbing away at a most furious rate he heard a voice
close at his elbow, and, looking up, saw the thinnest man he had
ever seen in all his life. The man had flesh colored t