"We would have been only too glad to help you."

"Well, you did it in spite of me," Helen said, with a smile. "I did
not intend you should know where I had gone. How did you find out?"

"I saw a letter you dropped in the tent, and I followed. But how did
you happen to locate Sanford?"

"By adopting just what Bill Watson said was the only plan. I made
believe I wanted to buy more stock. Bill said that was the only way to
catch Sanford. If I had tried to find him to get my money back he
would have kept out of my way. But when he thought I might have more
cash for him, he wrote and told me where I could find him. So I just
waited until our show came here and then I called on Mr. Sanford.

"I was just begging him to give me back the money for the oil stock
when you came in on us, Joe."

"Well, I'm glad I did."

"So am I. I hardly think he'd have paid me if it had not been for you.
How did you make him settle?"

"Oh, I just sort of 'held him up' for it," but Joe did not explain the
way he had actually "held up" the swindler.

"I'm so glad to get my money back!" Helen sighed as they reached the
circus grounds, over which dusk was settling, for it was now early fall.

"And I'm glad, too," added Joe. "Then next time you buy oil stock----"

"There'll not be any next time," laughed Helen, as she went to give
Rosebud his customary lumps of sugar.

And that night, in the Sampson Brother's Show, there was an impromptu
little celebration over the recovery of Helen's money.

Later Joe learned that Sanford gave up his place in the law office.
Perhaps the swindler was afraid Mr. Pike would find out about his
underhand transactions. Sanford, it seemed, had done some law business
for the oil company, and they let him sell some of the worthless stock
for himself, allowing him to keep the money--that is what Joe did not
make him pay back.

It was the night of the final performance. The performers went through
their acts with new snap and daring, for it was the last time some of
them would face the public until the following season. A few would
secure engagements for the winter in theatres, but most of them would
winter with the circus.

When the tents came down this time they would be shipped to Bridgeport,
where many shows go into winter quarters.

"Well, Joe," remarked Helen, as she came out of the ring just as Joe
finished his last thrilling feat, "what are you going to do? Will you
be with us next seaso