t there are plenty of
others which are frauds. And the one I invested in is that kind.

"Of course, as you say, it may not be the same as that in which your
friend holds stock, even if it has the same name. Would you know any
of the officers or directors of the concern in which your friend holds
stock?"

"I'm afraid not," Joe replied. "I did not see her stock certificates.
She bought them through a law clerk named Sanford."

Mr. Buchard shook his head.

"I don't recognize that name," he said. "But of course anybody could
sell the stock. How did your friend ever come to be interested in this
concern?"

Thereupon Joe told of Helen's inheritance, mentioning the fact that he
and she both were in the circus.

"The circus, eh!" exclaimed the man. "Well, now that's interesting! I
remember, when I was a boy, it was my great ambition to run away and
join a circus. But I dare say it isn't such a life of roses as I
imagined."

"There's plenty of hard work," Joe told him, "and then something like
this is likely to happen to you at any time--especially if you are on
the trapeze," and he motioned to the bandages still around his neck and
shoulders.

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Mr. Buchard, when Joe had finished
telling of Helen's fortune. "I'm going out of here in a couple of
days. I'm getting much better--that is until the next attack. I'll
get out my worthless certificates of stock in the Circle City Oil
Syndicate, and bring you one. You can then see the names of the
officers and directors, and can compare them with the names on Miss
Morton's stock. If they are the same it's pretty sure to be the same
company."

"And if it is," asked Joe, "would you advise her to sell out?"

"Sell out! My dear boy, I only hope she will be able to. I wish I had
known in time--I'd have sold out quickly enough. I never should have
bought the stuff. But it's too late to worry about that now. The
money is lost.

"Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll bring you a stock certificate and you
can compare it with Miss Morton's when you see her. Are you going out
soon?"

"In a few days, I hope. I want to get back to the circus."

"I don't blame you. It isn't very cheerful here, though they do the
best they can for you."

Mr. Buchard was as good as his word. The day after he left the
hospital he came back to call on Joe.

"Here's a certificate," he said, handing over an elaborately engraved
yellow-backed sheet of pap