THE BLAZING BANQUET
Across the wire walked the young performer, and as he walked he tossed into the air, catching them as they came down, the flaming torches. When it is remembered that the fire was of the real, blazing sort, and hot at that, also when it is recalled that if Joe happened to catch hold of the wrong end of any of the whirling torches, and when it is evident that he must "watch his step," it will be seen that he was performing no easy feat.
Yet to watch him one would have thought that he had been doing it right along for many performances, instead of this being his first in public, though he and Ham Logan had practiced in private.
Across the wire walked Joe, juggling with fire, and when he reached the other platform he walked backward along the swaying wire.
Then the applause broke out, loud and long. The crowd appreciated the trick, with all its dangers. True, Joe Strong was an expert on the wire, and he was also a good juggler. But juggling with torches while on a swaying cable was not as easy as handling harmless rubber balls or Indian clubs, and the circus throng seemed to appreciate this.
Getting back to the platform whence he had started, Joe dropped the still blazing torches into a tub of water where they went out hissingly. This provided a fitting climax to the act, as showing that the flames were real ones.
And then Joe donned his cap of leather, with the little grooved wheels fastened in the top, and on his head he slid down the slanting wire through the blazing hoops. It was a good end to a good trick; and the crowd went wild.
"Well, Joe, you sure did put another one over for us," said Jim Tracy, at the conclusion of the performance. "That fire juggling was a great trick. That's the sensation you promised us, I suppose."
"No, it isn't," was the answer. "I'm not ready for that yet. But I'm glad you liked the trick. No, what I have up my sleeve is something even better, I think."
"Well, I hope you haven't any blazing torches up your sleeve," remarked Helen, with a laugh. "You'll need a new coat, if you have."
"No danger," laughed Joe. "I think I'll be ready soon. By the way, any news of the bogus tickets—I mean the detectives haven't found out anything positive, have they?"
"Not yet," answered Mr. Moyne, who had joined the little party. "And it's keeping all of us who have to do with the financial end guessing as to where the trouble will break out next."
"It is an unpleasant state of affairs," agreed Joe. "But I don't see what we can do except to wait. You haven't noticed any more of the counterfeit tickets of late, have you?"
"No," answered the treasurer. "It's only when we hit the big mill cities that they are worked in on us. That's why I believe there is some system to it all."
"Well, we'll have to break up the system," declared Joe. "As soon as I get this new act of mine perfected I'm going to take a day or two off, over Sunday say, and visit the detective agency. They may need stirring up."
"I wish something could be done," declared the treasurer.
About a week after this conversation, during which time the circus had moved from place to place, doing good business, Mrs. Watson, meeting Helen on the lot, said:
"Who are Joe's new friends?"
"New friends? I didn't know he had any specially new ones," remarked the young bareback rider. "Has he been befriending some more poor broken-down circus men, like Ham Logan?"
"These aren't men," said the clown's wife. "They are three pretty girls. I saw Joe coming back from downtown with them. They seemed jolly—laughing and talking."
"Three pretty girls!" murmured Helen. And then she quickly added, with an air of indifference: "Oh, I suppose they may be some cousins he hasn't seen for a long while."
"I thought Joe said he had no relatives in this country," went on Mrs. Watson.
"I'm sure I don't know," and Helen's voice was very cool.
"There's something behind all this," mused Mrs. Watson, as Helen walked away. "I hope those two haven't quarreled. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
However, it was too late now. The seeds of jealousy seemed to have been sown, though unwittingly, by Mrs. Watson. Helen walked on with her head high in the air, and as the clown's wife passed Joe's official tent a little later she heard, issuing from it, the jolly laughter and talk of several girlish voices.
"I wonder what Joe Strong is up to," thought Mrs. Watson. "He never acted like that before—going off with other girls and neglecting Helen. I'm going to speak to him. No, I won't either!" she decided. "I'll just keep still until I know I can help. It's better that way."
It was perhaps an hour after this that Joe, meeting Helen, called to her:
"Oh, I say! don't you want to do me a favor?"
"What sort?" asked the rider of Rosebud, and if Joe had not been thinking of something else he would have noticed the danger signs about Helen's countenance.
"The fancy jacket I use in one of my tricks is torn," went on Joe. "Would it be asking too much to request you to mend it?"
Helen tossed back her head and there was a snap to her eyes as she answered:
"Why don't you get one of the three pretty girls to do your mending? I'm afraid I'm not clever enough!" And with that she walked on haughtily.
For an instant Joe was so surprised that he could not speak. His face plainly showed how taken aback he was. Then, after a moment, he managed to stammer:
"Oh, but I say! Helen! Wait a moment! Let me explain. I—er I—I only—"
But Helen did not pause, she did not look back, and she did not answer. Joe stood staring after her in blank amazement. Then he gave utterance to a low whistle and exclaimed:
"Oh, ho! I see! Well, it will be my turn later!" and he laughed silently.
"He's either playing a mean trick or else he's up to some joke," declared Mrs. Watson, who, from a distance, had watched this little scene. "And," she added with a shake of her head, "I can't be sure what it is. Young folks are so foolish! So foolish!" and she sighed as she walked away.
Joe, with the torn jacket in his hand, turned back toward his own tent, and presently there came from it the sounds of several young persons, including girls, in conversation and laughter.
It was later, that same afternoon, when Helen noticed Joe in one part of the big tent. He was surrounded by three pretty young ladies and three good-looking young men. They were on one of the platforms seated about a table, and Joe seemed to be entertaining them, for there were plates, cups, knives and forks on the board—all the outward indications of a meal.
The time was late afternoon, following the day performance and prior to the evening show. Helen looked curiously over at the gay little scene, and something tugged at her heart-strings. Then she looked away, and Mrs. Watson, observing her from the other side of the tent, shook her gray head.
"I can't understand Joe Strong," murmured the clown's wife. "What has come over him?"
It was just before the opening of the evening performance that night when Joe, meeting Helen in the dressing tent, said:
"I shan't need you in the box trick, to-night, nor in the vanishing lady stunt, either."
"Oh, I suppose you're going to use one of the new, pretty girls," snapped Helen.
Joe looked at her quietly.
"No," he said, "I am not. But I am not going to put on either trick. I thought you'd like to know, so if you want to introduce any of your extras you'll have a chance."
"Thank you!" she said coldly, and passed on.
Joe smiled as he looked after her.
With a blare of trumpets, a boom and ruffle of drums, the gay procession started around the circus arena. The stately elephants, the hideous camels and the beautiful horses went around to be looked at, wondered at, and admired. Then, when the last of the cavalcade had passed out, the various acts began. Helen had a new costume for her bareback act, and as she started it she looked over to where Joe was busy on his stage. She saw the young men and women around him. They wore fancy costumes and seemed a part of the circus. Helen wondered what act they were going to appear in, since none including them had been announced.
She danced about on the back of Rosebud, and thought bitterly that Joe had never noticed her new dress. She was wearing it for the first time, too.
The whistle blew. All acts stopped and Jim Tracy advanced toward Joe's platform.
"A most marvelous and striking act!" he cried, not stating what it was to be.
All eyes, even those of Helen Morton, turned in the direction of Joe Strong.
He acted quickly. With a wave of his hand he invited the three pretty girls and the three well-appearing young men to be seated. They took their places around a table, with Joe acting as host. The table appeared to be well laden, and at first the act seemed to be only a rather elaborate meal being served in public.
"What is it all about?" mused Helen. "I can't see anything very wonderful in that."
But, even as she thus mused, something strange happened. The banquet table seemed to burst into flames. The dishes of food blazed up, and the audience gasped.
But the young men, the young women, and Joe Strong did not seem in the least surprised. They kept their seats and went right on eating.
And then, with a thrill of surprise, it was noticed that Joe Strong and his guests were devouring the blazing food itself! The girls and young men put portion after portion of the blazing viands into their mouths!