“Maybe we could carry water for the elephants—after the show,” said Veve quickly. She had heard that children sometimes did that in order to see the circus free.
“Follow me,” directed Mr. Carsdale. “I know an easier way.”
Walking over to the ticket booth, he talked with the man in charge.
“Bill,” he said, “these girls are all my friends. They’re okay, so pass them right in.”
“Sure, if you say to do it,” the other man agreed.
From a cigar box he removed eight special tickets which bore the printed words: “Complimentary.” These he gave to Miss Gordon.
“Can’t I pay you for them later?” Miss Gordon asked the animal trainer. “I could bring the money tonight.”
“Forget it,” answered Mr. Carsdale. “I have a financial interest in this circus, so what I say goes. Too bad about your billfold. Did you lose very much?”
“Nearly twenty-five dollars. Except for a five dollar bill, it was money the Brownies had earned for a camping trip. My wrist watch was a special keepsake.”
“Marked in any particular way?”