heard some one addressing him.

"So you're the chap that took my place, are you?" a vindictive voice
asked. "I've been wanting to see you!"

Joe turned to, behold Sim Dobley, who seemed worse off than when the
young performer had first met him.

"Yes, I've been wanting to see you!" and there was a sneer in Sim's
words.

Joe decided nothing could be gained by temporizing, or by showing that
he was alarmed.

"Well, now you've seen me, what are you going to do about it?" he
coolly asked.

"That's all right. You wait and you'll see!" was the threatening
response. "Nobody can knock me out of an engagement and get away with
it. You'll see!"

"Look here!" exclaimed Joe. "I didn't knock you out of your place. No
one did except yourself, and you know it. And I'm not going to stand
for any talk like that from you, either."

"That's right, give it to him!" said another voice, and Jim Tracy came
up. "Don't let him bluff you, Joe. As for you, Dobley, I've told you
to keep away from this circus, and I mean it! I heard you'd been
following us. Rode on one of the canvas wagons last night, didn't you?"

"Well, what if I did?"

"This! If you do it again I'll have you arrested. I'm through with
you and I want you to keep away."

"I guess this is a free country!"

"Yes, the _country_ is free, but our _circus_ isn't. You keep out in
the country and you'll be all right. Keep off our wagons. Moreover,
if I catch you making any more threats against our performers I'll----
But I guess Joe can look after himself all right," finished the
ring-master. "Just you keep away, that's all, Dobley."

The man slunk off in the crowd. Joe really felt sorry for him, but he
could do nothing. Dobley had thrown away his chances and they had come
to Joe, who was entitled to them. Later that day Joe saw Sid and Tonzo
in close conversation with their former partner, but our hero said
nothing to the ring-master about it, though he was a bit uneasy in his
own mind.

The next afternoon when Joe came out of his dressing room after his
trapeze act, he met Helen Morton. The fancy rider held an open letter
in her hand, and she seemed disturbed at its contents.

"No bad news, I hope," remarked Joe.

"No, not exactly," Helen answered. "On the contrary it may be good
news. But I don't exactly understand it. I wish Bill Watson were
here, so I could ask his advice."

"Who is Bill Watson?" asked Joe.

"He's one of our clowns, o