n," and Joe bowed teasingly.

"I thought you were going to call me Helen--if I called you Joe," she
said.

"So I am. That was only in fun," for soon after their acquaintance
began these two young persons had fallen into the habit of dropping the
formal Miss and Mister.

"Well, what would you do, Joe?" Helen asked.

"I think I'd answer this letter seriously," replied the young
performer. "If it is a joke you can't lose more than a two cent stamp,
and, on the other hand, if it's serious they'll want to hear from you.
You may be the very person they want. This letter head doesn't look
much like a joke."

The paper on which the letter was written was of excellent quality, and
Joe could tell by passing his fingers over the names, addresses and
other matter that it was engraved--not printed.

"If it's a joke they went to a lot of work to get it up," he continued.
"Have you any papers, to prove your identity?"

"Yes, I have some birth and marriage certificates, and an old bible
that was Grandfather Seth's. I wouldn't want to send them off to New
York though."

"It won't be necessary--at least not at first. I'll help you make
copies of them, and if these lawyers want to see the real things let
them send a man on. That's my advice."

"And very good advice it is too, Joe," Helen said. "I don't believe
Bill Watson could give any better. He's a real nice elderly man, and
he's been almost a father to me. I often go to him when I have my
little troubles. I wish he were here now. But you are very good to
me, Joe. I'm going to take your advice."

"I'll help you make the copies," Joe offered. "Did you ever have any
idea that your grandfather left valuable property?"

"No, and I don't believe papa or mamma did, either. We were not
exactly poor, but we weren't rich. Oh, wouldn't it be nice if I were
to get some money?"

"You wouldn't stay with the circus then, would you?"

"Oh, I don't know," she answered musingly. "I think I like it here."

"I know I do," Joe said. "But if you don't want to take my advice you
can wait until Mr. Watson comes back. You say he's expected?"

"Yes. Mr. Tracy said he'd join us at Blairstown in a few days. But,
anyhow, I'm going to do as you said, Joe. And if I get a million
dollars maybe I'll buy a circus of my own," and she laughed at the
whimsical idea.

Taking some spare time, she and Joe made copies of certain certificates
Helen had in her trunk, and they also copi