ed the record from the old
Bible. Joe got the press agent of the show to typewrite a letter to go
with the copies, and they were sent to the New York lawyers.

"Now we'll wait and see what comes of it," Helen said. "But I'm not
going to lose any sleep over it. I never inherited a fortune, and I
don't expect to."

A few days later, when the show reached Blairstown, Bill Watson, a
veteran clown, joined the troupe of fun-makers. He was made royally
welcome, for his presence had been missed.

"Bill, I want to introduce to you a new friend of mine," said Helen,
when she had the opportunity. "He's one of our newest and best
performers, aside from you and me," she joked.

"What's the name?" asked jovial Bill, holding out his hand.

"Joe Strong."

"Been in the business long?"

"Not very. I was with Professor Rosello before I came here."

"Never heard of him," and Bill shook his head.

"He was a conjurer," explained Joe. "My father was, too. He was
Professor Morretti, and my mother----"

"Was Madame Hortense. She was Janet Willoughby before her marriage,"
broke in Bill Watson, speaking calmly.

"What!" cried Joe. "Did you know her--them?"

"I knew both of them," said Bill. "I didn't connect your name with
them at first, Strong not being uncommon. But when you mentioned your
father, the professor, why, it came to me in a flash. So you're Madame
Hortense's son, eh?"

"Did you know my mother well?" asked Joe.

"Know her?" cried the veteran clown. "I should say I did! Why, she
and I were great friends, and so were your father and I, but I did not
see so much of him, as he was in a different line. But your mother,
Joe! Ah, the profession lost a fine performer when she died. I never
thought I'd meet her son, and in a circus at that.

"But I'm glad you're with us, and I want to say that if you have Helen,
here, on your side, you've got one of the finest little girls in all
the world."

"I found that out as soon as I joined," said Joe.

"Trust you young chaps for not losing any chances like that," chuckled
the clown. "Well, I'm glad you two are friends. They tell me you're
quite an addition to the Lascalla troupe."

"I'm glad I've been able to do so well," Joe said.

"And how have you been, Helen?" the old clown wanted to know.

"First rate. And, oh, Bill. We have _such_ a mystery for you--Joe and
I!"

"A mystery, Helen?"

"Yes; I'm going to be an heiress. Wait until I show you the let