he circus life as a duck
does to water." He seemed to fit right in. He made some new friends,
but of all the men or youths in the show he liked best Benny Turton and
the ring-master. Joe and the Lascalla Brothers got along well, but
there was not much intimacy between them, though they worked well in
the "team."

Joe was on the lookout for any signs of Sim Dobley, but that
unfortunate man did not appear, as far as our hero could learn. If Sid
or Tonzo made further appeals for his reinstatement they said nothing
about it to Joe.

As the show went on, playing from town to town, Joe become more and
more used to the life. He liked it very much, and each day he was
becoming more proficient on the trapeze.

One day, about two weeks after he had joined the circus, Joe had an
idea for a new feat. It involved his jump from a distance, catching
Tonzo Lascalla by the legs and hanging there. It was harder than
making a leap for the other performer's hands, since, if Joe missed his
clutch, Tonzo would have a chance to grab him with his hands. But when
Joe leaped for his partner's feet a certain margin of safety was lost.

It was not that a fall would be dangerous if Joe missed, for the life
net was below him. But the effect of the trick would be spoiled.

They practised the trick in private--Joe and Tonzo--and for a time it
did not seem to work. Joe fell short every time of grasping the
other's legs.

"You will never do it," said Sid, and there was a queer look on his
face as he glanced at Tonzo. The other seemed to wink, just the mere
fraction of a wink, and then, like a flash, it came to Joe.

"He doesn't want me to do it," thought our hero. "Tonzo wants me to
fail. He doesn't want me to be successful, for he thinks maybe he can
get Sim back. But I'll fool him! I think he has been drawing up his
legs the instant I jumped for them, so I would miss. I'll watch next
time."

This Joe did, and found his surmise right. Just before he reached with
outstretched hands for Tonzo's legs, the man drew them slightly up,
and, as a result, Joe missed.

"Here's where I turn a trick on him," mused the young performer, as he
failed and landed in the net In his next attempt Joe leaped unusually
high, and though Tonzo drew up his legs he could not pull them beyond
Joe's reach.

"That's the time I did it!" cried Joe, as he made the catch and swung
to and fro.

Sid, on the ground below, shrugged his shoulders, and said s