and mortgages, which will bring you
in an income of approximately sixty dollars a month."

"That's fifteen a week!" exclaimed Helen, who was used to calculating
that way, as are most circus and theatrical persons.

"Of course you could sell these bonds and mortgages, and get the cash
for them," said the lawyer, "but I would not advise you to. You will
have about three thousand dollars in cash, as it is, and this ought to
be enough for your immediate needs, especially as I understand you have
a good position."

"Yes, I am earning a good salary," Helen admitted, "but I have not been
able to save much. I am very glad of my little fortune."

"And I am glad for you, my dear young lady. Now, as I said, as soon as
I get back to New York I will send one of my clerks on to you with the
cash. I may be old fashioned, but I don't like to trust too much to
the mails. Besides, I want to get your signature to certain documents,
and you will have to make certain affidavits to my clerk. So I will
send him on. Let me have a note of where you will be during the next
week."

Helen gave the dates when the circus would play certain towns, and Mr.
Pike left.

"Well, it's true, little girl, isn't it?" cried Joe as they walked back
to the circus together.

"Yes, and I'm very glad. I've always wanted money, but I never thought
I'd have it--at least as much as I'm going to get. I wish you would
inherit a fortune, Joe."

"Oh, don't worry about me. I don't expect it, and what one never has
had can't be missed very much. Maybe I'll get mine--some day."

"I hope so, Joe. And now I want you to promise me something."'

"What?"

"That if ever you need money you'll come to me."

Joe hesitated a moment before answering. Then he said:

"All right, Helen, I will."

To Joe the novelty of life in a circus was beginning to wear off. To
be sure there was something new and different coming up each day, but
he had now gotten his act down to a system, and to him and the other
performers one day was much like another, except for the weather,
perhaps.

They did their acts before crowds every day--different crowds, to be
sure; but, after all, men, women and children are much alike the world
over. They want to be amused and thrilled, and the circus crowds in
one place are no different from those in another.

The Sampson Brothers' Show was not one of the largest, though it was
considered first class. Occasionally it played one of t