Andy felt that he had found some of the best friends in the world, and was a full-fledged acrobat at last as he left the circus tent.
CHAPTER XXII
AMONG THE CAGES
"Hi! Hello—stop, stop."
"Oh, it's you, Luke Belding?"
Andy, passing through the circus grounds, turned at an eager hail. The owner of the chicken that walked backwards came running after him. He caught Andy's arm and smiled genially into his face.
"Well," spoke Andy, surveying Luke in a pleased way. "You look prosperous."
In fact Luke did present signs of a betterment over his first forlorn appearance on the circus scene.
He wore a new jacket and a neat collar and necktie. His face had no trouble in it now. He presented the appearance of a person eminently satisfied with the present and full of hope and animation for the future.
"Prosperous?" he declaimed volubly—"I guess I am. Square meals, a sure berth for a week, jolly friends—and, oh, say! you're one of the true ones."