“I fear we’ll never see the billfold again,” responded Miss Gordon. “Or the pickpocket.”
“Now we’ll miss the circus and not get to go to camp,” Jane said, fighting to keep back the tears. “After all the work we did!”
“I’ll make up the camp money,” Miss Gordon offered quietly.
“Oh, that wouldn’t be fair,” Connie protested.
The Brownie leader insisted that she alone had been to blame for the loss. “If I had any money with me, I’d buy circus tickets,” she added. “As it is, I don’t see how we can attend the afternoon show.”
All the Brownies except Veve had brought a little spending money, but not enough to pay for a circus ticket.
At the entrance to the big circus tent a barker now began to call in a loud voice:
“Right this way, folks! The show starts in five minutes!”
Inside the big top, a band had struck up. Hearing the lively music, the crowd deserted the side shows. Soon Miss Gordon and the Brownies were among the few who remained outside the main circus tent.
“I have an idea,” declared the troop leader, for she saw that some of the girls were on the verge of tears. “I’ll ask the ticket seller if he will take a personal check.”