"No, just a friend," Helen answered.

"Is he going to look after your money for you?"

"I think Miss Morton is capable of looking after it herself," Joe put
in, a bit sharply.

"Oh, of course. I didn't mean anything. Now if you'll give me your
attention, Miss Morton, I'll go over the details with you."

"You needn't wait, Joe, unless you want to," Helen said. "I'd like to
have you arrange about the little supper at the hotel, if you will,
though."

"Sure I will!" Joe exclaimed.

The circus was to remain over night, and this would give Helen a chance
for her feast, which she thought had better take place at the Portland
hotel, as it would be more private than the circus tent. Joe went off
to arrange for it, leaving Helen with the lawyer's clerk.

CHAPTER XIX

JOE IS SUSPICIOUS

Joe's day was already a full one, though he did not tell Helen so. He
gladly undertook to arrange the little supper for her at the hotel, and
it was only a coincidence that it happened on the night of a day when
he had decided to work in a new trick on his trapeze, when he performed
alone. It was not exactly a new trick, in the sense that it had never
been done before. In fact there is very little new in trapeze work
nowadays, but Joe had decided to give a little different turn to an old
act. It required some preparation, and he needed to do this during the
day. He was going to "put on" the trick at night, and not at the
matinee.

But for the time being he gave up his hours to arranging for Helen the
supper which would take place after the night performance.

Joe saw the hotel proprietor and arranged for a private room with a
supper to be served for twenty-five. Helen had many more friends than
that among the circus folk, but she had to limit her hospitality,
though she would have liked to have them all at her little celebration.
She chose, however, after Joe and Bill Watson and Benny Turton, the
women performers who were more intimately associated with her in her
acts, and some of the men whose acquaintance she had made since joining
the Sampson show.

Joe hurried to the hotel, did what was necessary there, and then went
back to the tent. He intended, when the afternoon show was over, to do
some practice on his new act.

As he passed into the big tent, which was now deserted, he met Jim
Tracy, who, of course, was invited to Helen's supper.

"What's all this I hear about our little lady?" asked the ring-maste