“A little,” admitted Jack. “But I wanted to be ready in time. Then I guess I’ll practice some new stunts with my flying machine.”
“Humph! You can practice a good deal better in your regular clothes than you can in that suit,” remarked Sam.
But Jack gave no reason for his peculiar action. When he was all rigged out, ready to take his place on the wagon, or enter the ring, he ventured out of the tent.
“I wonder if the professor would know me if he saw me now,” he thought. “Guess I’ll walk about and see if I can catch sight of him. I’ll have to be cautious, though.”
He strolled about the circus grounds, attracting considerable attention from a number of small boys, for there were no other performers in sight so early in the morning. Jack walked about, keeping watch for the professor, and when he did not observe him he began to breathe easier. He was glad when the time came to get up on the wagon, and take his place among the clowns who played the odd musical instruments.
Just as the procession started from the circus grounds to parade through the streets, he caught sight of his guardian, hurrying along, and peering about anxiously through his big spectacles.
“He’s looking for me,” decided Jack. “Queer how he should be so vindictive. He must know I wouldn’t steal his old cup. I wish he’d go back home. It’s no fun to fear every minute that you’re going to be arrested.”
To better screen himself from the professor’s gaze, in case the elderly man should inspect the clown wagon too closely, our hero placed his trumpet to his lips, and began to blow. This was a signal for the other oddly attired performers to begin, and soon the wagon passed beyond where Mr. Klopper was standing.
“I’m safe for a while, anyhow,” mused Jack. “It was a good thing I thought of this trick.”
When the procession returned to the grounds most of the performers began to remove their suits, and the clowns washed the paint from their faces, as it would be some time before the afternoon performance would start.