“Ha! Hum! Not so bad,” remarked the manager, though his voice was not very cordial. “That imitation flying was well done. That might be worked up. I think we can use another clown, as I’m one short. I’ll engage you, young man. You’ll get ten dollars a week, and your board, of course. Can you come right on the road?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ha! Hum! Well, perhaps we can work you into shape. You need some practice, but it’s not so bad; it’s not so bad. You can consider yourself engaged. Report to Sam Kyle.”
Jack could hardly believe his good luck. An hour before he had not known where his next meal was coming from. Now he was engaged as a clown in a large circus.
CHAPTER XIII
PLANNING AN ACT
“Say,” remarked Ike Landon, when Jack had made his way through the little ring of performers, “you did better than I thought you would. The old man—I mean the boss—is mighty hard to please. If you attend strictly to business now, there’s no reason why you can’t become a first-class performer.”
“I’m going to try,” said Jack. “I need the money for a particular purpose, for I’m determined to locate my folks if I can. I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll tell Sam to give you a few pointers. He knows the business from A to Z, backwards and forwards, and he isn’t jealous of a new performer like lots of ’em in this game. You stick to Sam and you’ll be all right.”
“Do you suppose I can perform to-night?” asked Jack.
“I don’t know. Maybe so. Ask Sam.”