"That leather-faced tinhorn uncle of hers grabbed her and took her away the minute she dropped from the trapeze."
"She wasn't hurt, was she?"
"I didn't take any trouble to find out. She walked off spry enough."
McGlory was gruff to the point of incivility. It was evident to Matt that he had been mightily stirred.
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Matt.
"Wait till we get into the calliope tent, and out of this crowd and the dust—then I'll tell you."
"Didn't you discover the trick Boss Burton played on me with the help of Haidee and Le Bon, Joe?"
"Oh, speak to me about that!" snarled the cowboy. "Nary, I didn't, pard, until it was too everlastin'ly late to stop the run of the cards. Burton! We've got a bone to pick with him; and, after it's picked, I feel like cramming it down his throat. He was bound to have the girl go up, and he worked it in his sneaking, underhand way! I don't like this layout, Matt. You've had the closest call that's ever come your way since you took to flying. Sufferin' cats! Say, my heart was in my throat all the while I was looking on. I was expecting that any minute the fire would reach the gasoline, that both tanks would let go, and that you, and the girl, and the Comet would all be wiped out in a big noise and a splotch of flame."
By this time they had reached the calliope tent, and were able to duck inside and get away from the crowd.
The calliope was there, and filling the larger part of the interior. The big steam organ was shrouded in a canvas cover, and only the lower rims of the wagon wheels on which it was mounted were to be seen.