chums of the Curlytops helped, leaving to Ted and Janet the work of
getting the animals ready to do their tricks. Jack Turton was to be a fat
little clown, riding on a pony his father had bought for him. Harry Kent
and some other boys were to help Teddy, and some of Jan's girl friends
offered to help her.

And we must not forget Trouble. As arranged, he was to come into the tent
at a certain time, driving Skyrocket, the dog, and Turnover, the cat,
hitched to his little express wagon, with funny Miss Muffin on the seat.

At last the day of the circus came. Into the tent were moved the cages of
the white mice and the white rats, the tank containing Slider, the pet
alligator, the cage of Mr. Nip, the parrot, and the box of Jack, the
monkey. Snuff, Skyrocket and Turnover were on hand. Tip and Top were all
ready to perform their tricks.

"Do you think we'll have a big crowd?" asked Janet of Ted, when
everything was arranged and it was almost time for the show to begin.

"Sure we will!" he answered. "Everybody I met is coming--all the fellows
and girls and a lot of men and women. We'll make a lot of money for the
orphans."

"I wish Uncle Toby could be here to see it all," went on Janet, as she
took a last look inside the tent to make sure everything was in order
"He'd be surprised at some of the things his pets can do."

"Yes, I wish Uncle Toby could be here," said her brother. "It's queer
about him. He never answered any of daddy's letters. South America must
be a good way off, for Uncle Toby hasn't gotten there yet."

"Well," began Ted. "I guess----" and then Harry Kent called:

"Hey, Ted! You'd better look at Slider! He's trying to crawl out of his
tank."

"It isn't time for him to start his act yet!" answered the Curlytop boy.
"I'll have to give him a bit of meat to quiet him!"

And a little while after that the audience began to enter the tent. Boys
and girls, of course, were the first, but there were a number of men and
women, too, and it was not long before every seat was taken. Mr. and Mrs.
Martin just had to be there--they couldn't stay away when the Curlytops
were giving a show. Besides, Mother Martin had to help Trouble dress for
his act.

"Oh, we're going to have a big crowd!" said Janet excitedly to Teddy, in
the little dressing room behind the stage. There was a stage almost like
the one Professor Montelli had in his dog show.

"You better go out and make your talk now," went on Janet to her brother