Following, an agile youthful form shot down through space. Quick as lightning the Benares Brothers swung by their feet, joined hands in mid-air, and the descending form—Andy Wildwood—catching at the wrists of Thacher, was swung back in a twenty foot circle. Crash! again the orchestra. Andy was flung through space across to old Benares, a plaything in mid-air, Benares catching at the feet of Thacher, Andy tailing on in a graceful descent, thrilling the delighted audience.
The act was not so difficult, but it was neat, rapid, unique. Andy
Wildwood felt that at last he was a full-fledged acrobat.
The manager came back to compliment him. Billy Blow looked delighted.
Miss Stella Starr said:
"Andy, we are all proud of you."
The next morning's papers gave him special notice. Luke Belding whispered to him to demand double salary.
Andy walked from his boarding house the next morning feeling certain that he had made very substantial progress during his sixty days of circus life.
He was passing a row of houses on a side street when a cab drove up to the curb. Andy casually glanced at the passenger as he crossed the sidewalk. Then he gave a great start.
"It can't be!" he ejaculated. Then he added instantly: "Yes, I'd know him among a thousand—Sim Dewey."
The man entered an open doorway, and Andy ran after him. He heard the fellow ascend a pair of stairs and knock at a door.
"Oh, good morning, Mr. Vernon."