e booming of the drum he dropped into the net
and made his bows in response to the applause.

The new feat was appreciated at once, but it was some time before the
crowd realized that the fall backward was not accidental.

Joe was congratulated by his fellow performers, though, as might be
expected, there was some little jealousy. But Joe was used to that by
this time.

It was a merry little party that gathered later in the hotel room for
Helen's supper. She sat at the head of the table, with Joe on one side
and Bill Watson, the veteran clown, on the other.

"Well, did you make out all right with your lawyer friend?" Joe asked.

"Oh, yes, Joe, I never had so much money at one time in my life before."

"What did you do with it?"

"I kept out enough to pay for this supper, and the rest I put in the
circus ticket wagon safe."

"What, all your cash?"

"Oh, I didn't take it all, Joe."

"You didn't take it all?"

"No. Mr. Sanford--he's the law clerk, you know--said I ought not to
have so much money with me, so he offered to take care for me all I
didn't want to use right away."

"He's going to take care of it for you?" Joe repeated.

"Yes. He says he can invest it for me. But eat your supper, Joe."

Somehow or other Joe Strong did not feel much like eating. He had a
sudden and undefinable suspicion of that law clerk.

CHAPTER XX

A FALL

There were merry hearts at the little celebration given by Helen
Morton--"Mademoiselle Mortonti"--in recognition of coming into her
inheritance. That is, the hearts were all merry save that of Joe
Strong.

For a few seconds after Helen had made the statement about having left
her money with the law clerk for investment, Joe could only stare at
her. On her part the young circus rider seemed to think there was
nothing unusual in what she had done.

"Congratulations, Miss Morton!" called Bill Watson, as he waved his
napkin in the air. "Congratulations!"

"Why don't you call me Helen as you used to?" asked the girl.

"Oh, you're quite a rich young lady now, and I didn't think you would
want me to be so familiar," he replied with a laugh.

"Goodness! I hope every one isn't going to get so formal all at once,"
she remarked, with a look at Joe.

"I won't--not unless you want me to," he answered.

"But why don't you eat?" she asked him. "You sit there as if you had
no appetite. I'm as hungry as a bear--one of our own circus bears,
too. Come, why don'