Miss Starr, Billy Blow the clown, Midget, old Benares, Thacher, Luke
Belding and Mark Hadley were his guests of honor.
Andy had found a starting place in the circus for Mark, whose ambition was to become a great magician.
They were a merry, friendly party. They jollied one another. They saw nothing but sunshine in the sawdust pathway before them.
"You are a grand genius!" declared old Benares to Andy. "My friends, one thought: in six weeks up from Andy the school boy, to Andy the acrobat."
"Hold on now, Mr. Benares," cried Andy, smilingly. "That was because of my royal, good friends like you."
"And your own grit," said Marco. "You assuredly deserve your success."
And the other circus people agreed with Marco.
For the time being Andy heard nothing more of Tapp, Murdock and Daley. The days passed pleasantly enough. He did his work faithfully, constantly adding to his fame as an acrobat.
Between Andy and Luke Belding a warm friendship sprang up. Luke had much to tell about himself. As time passed the lad who loved animals had many adventures, but what these were I must reserve for another volume, to be named, "Luke the Lion Tamer; or, On the Road with a Great Menagerie," In that we shall not only follow brave-hearted Luke but also Andy, and see what the future held in store for the boy acrobat.
"Andy, are you glad you joined the circus?" questioned Luke, one day, after a particularly brilliant performance in the ring.