oesn't come in unless he buys a ticket, and as for
taking him back--nothing doing, take it from me!"

The foreign-looking man turned aside, muttering, and Joe followed the
ring-master.

CHAPTER VI

JOE MAKES A HIT

"Those fellows are always making trouble," murmured the ring-master, as
he walked with Joe toward a tent where the young performer could leave
his valise.

"What fellows are they?" the lad asked, but he felt that he knew what
the answer was going to be.

"The Lascalla Brothers," replied Jim. "There were two brothers in the
business, Sid and Tonzo Lascalla. They used to be together and have a
wonderful act. But Sid died, and Tonzo got a fellow-countryman to take
his place, using the same name. They were good, too. Then about four
years ago they added a third man. Why they ever took up with Sim
Dobley I can't imagine, but they did.

"Whatever else I'll say about Sim, I'll give him credit for being a
wonder on a trapeze--that is when he was sober. When he got
intoxicated, or partly so, he'd take risks that would make your hair
stand up on end. That's why I had to get rid of him. First I knew,
he'd have had an accident and he'd be suing the circus. So I let him
go. Sim went under the name Rafello Lascalla, and became one of the
brothers.

"For a while the three of them worked well together. And it's queer,
as I say, how Sid and Tonzo took to Jim. But they did. You'd think he
was a regular brother. In fact all three of 'em seemed to be real
blood brothers. Sid and Tonzo are Spaniards, but Sim is a plain
Yankee. He used to say he learned to do trapeze tricks in his father's
barn."

"That's where I practised," said Joe.

"Well, it's as good a place as any, I reckon. Anyhow, I had to get rid
of Sim, and now Tonzo comes and asks me to put him back. He says Sim
is behaving himself, and will keep straight. He's somewhere on the
grounds now, Tonzo told me. But I don't want anything to do with him.
I'll stand a whole lot from a man, but when I reach the limit I'm
through for good. That's what I am with Sim Dobley, otherwise known as
Rafello Lascalla. You're to take his place, Joe."

"I am!"

There was no mistaking the surprise in the youth's voice.

"Why, what's the matter? Don't you want to?" asked Jim, in some
astonishment.

"Yes, of course. I'll do anything in the show along the line of
trapeze work you want me to. But--well, maybe I'd better tell you all
about it."