again, come to me."

Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend to
one or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out the
corner of his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also, and was
engaged in an angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result of which he
very much feared would be another and a worse whipping for him.

But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation
was ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business
without speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from his
supper, Mr. Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward the rear
of the tents; and Tony was very positive that he was to be the subject
of their conversation, which made him not a little uneasy.

It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr. Lord
returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him to go into
the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only too glad to escape
so easily, and he went to his work with as much alacrity as if he were
about entering upon some pleasure.

When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply about
being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he had just
been relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord.

VII. AN ACCIDENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Toby's experience in the evening was very similar to that of the
afternoon, save that he was so fortunate as not to take any more
bad money in payment for his goods. Mr. Jacobs scolded and swore
alternately, and the boy really surprised him by his way of selling
goods, though he was very careful not to say anything about it, but made
Toby believe that he was doing only about half as much work as he ought
to do. Toby's private hoard of money was increased that evening, by
presents, ninety cents, and he began to look upon himself as almost a
rich man.

When the performance was nearly over Mr. Jacobs called to him to help
in packing up; and by the time the last spectator had left the tent the
worldly possessions of Messrs. Lord and Jacobs were ready for removal,
and Toby allowed to do as he had a mind to, so long as he was careful to
be on hand when Old Ben was ready to start.

Toby thought that he would have time to pay a visit to his friends the
skeleton and the Fat Woman, and to that end started toward the place
where their tent had been standing; but to his sorrow he found that it
was already being take