ed to play in other places, therefore the whole thing had better be
dropped."

The surgeon received his fee and left the invalid after advising that
he be kept perfectly quiet.

The performers continued their efforts to amuse, and Jet, lying on a
pile of wardrobe stuff, with the music of the orchestra and the
applause of the audience ringing in his ears, tried to decide upon his
course of action.

"I'll have to leave the show here an' find them fellers," he thought to
himself, and then the pain of his wound prevented any further study of
the detective work he hoped to perform.

It so chanced, however, that he did not carry out this resolution.

When morning came he was too sick to have much choice in the matter,
and the kind-hearted manager said as he wrapped the boy in an old
overcoat:

"We'll take him along in the hope of his getting better. If he don't
improve in a day or two he can be left in some other town, for it's
certain his life isn't safe in this place. Those fellows hit to kill
last night, and on a second attempt might be more successful."

It was forty-eight hours before Jet fully realized the condition of
affairs, and then the show was nearly a hundred miles from the scene of
the attack.

"Have we passed Cooperstown Junction?" he asked of the manager as the
performers boarded a train.

"Bless your heart, lad, we left that desolate place behind us the
morning after you were hurt."

"How can I get back there?"

"I shan't allow you to try it yet awhile. In your present condition it
would be as much as your life is worth to make the attempt."

"But I must go."

"See here, Jet, why not tell me what is on your mind? I might be able
to help you."

"Some time you shall know all about it; but not now."

"Just as you please," was the impatient reply. "Will you be able to do
a turn to-night?"

"I must get off the train at the next station."

"Not much."

"That's what I've got to do. You've been mighty good to me, but I
can't go any farther from New York."

"How will you get back without money?"

"Walk, if there isn't any other way."

It was useless for the manager to make any protest. He was eager to
keep Jet with the company, for he had seen that he could please the
public; but after quite a lengthy conversation the boy's determination
was so strong that it would have been useless to oppose him further.

"Well, if I can't help myself, I suppose you must go. Here are a
couple of