o," he said slowly, "I don't know what's the matter with me lately,
Joe, but I don't seem to have ambition for anything. I go through my
regular stunts, but that's all I want to do. I don't even stay under
water as long as I used to, and Jim Tracy was kicking again to-day. He
said I'd have to do better, but I don't see how I can. Of course he
was nice about it, as he always is, but I know he's disappointed in me."

"Oh, I guess not, Ben. Maybe you'll do better to-night."

"I hope so. Anyhow you'll have a thriller for them."

"You're coming to Helen's party, aren't you?"

"Oh, sure, Joe. I wouldn't miss that. I'm glad she's got some money,"
and Ben spoke rather despondently.

Joe made arrangements with his helper to look after the special
appliances needed for the new trick, and went to supper. He did not
see Helen, and guessed that she was still busy with the law clerk.

"I hope she doesn't trust too much to that chap," mused Joe. "I don't
just like his looks."

The big tent was crowded when Joe began his performance that night. He
received his usual applause, and then gave the signal that he was about
to put on his new act. He was hoisted up to the top trapeze, which was
a short one, and to this Joe had fastened a longer one.

He sat upon the bar of this, swinging to and fro, working himself into
position until he was resting on the "hocks," as performers call that
portion of the leg just above the knee.

Suddenly Joe seemed to fall over backward, and there was a cry of alarm
from the crowd. But he remained in position, swinging by his insteps.

In the trapeze world this is known as "drop back to instep hang." Joe
had done it most effectively, but that was not all of the trick.

Quickly he grasped the ropes of the lower trapeze. He twined his legs
about these, and then, with a thrilling yell, he let himself slide,
head down along the ropes, holding only by his intertwined legs and
insteps, which he had padded with asbestos to take up the heat of
friction.

Down the long ropes he slid until he came to a sudden stop as his
outstretched hands grasped the lower bar. There he hung suspended a
moment, while the audience sat thrilled, thinking it had been an
accidental fall and a most miraculous escape. But Joe had planned it
all out in advance, and knew it was safe, especially as the life net
was under him.

He suspended himself on the bar a moment, and then made a back
somersault, and amid th