Joe heard occasionally from Professor Rosello, who had leased his show and was taking a much needed rest. He inquired as to Joe's progress, and was glad, he said, to hear our hero was doing well.
One day, when the circus was playing a large manufacturing city on a two days' date, Joe had another glimpse of the man he had supplanted. The young trapeze artist went out of the tent when his share in the afternoon performance was over, and as he paused to look at the crowd in front of the sideshow tent he heard some one addressing him.
"So you're the chap that took my place, are you?" a vindictive voice asked. "I've been wanting to see you!"
Joe turned to, behold Sim Dobley, who seemed worse off than when the young performer had first met him.
"Yes, I've been wanting to see you!" and there was a sneer in Sim's words.
Joe decided nothing could be gained by temporizing, or by showing that he was alarmed.
"Well, now you've seen me, what are you going to do about it?" he coolly asked.
"That's all right. You wait and you'll see!" was the threatening response. "Nobody can knock me out of an engagement and get away with it. You'll see!"
"Look here!" exclaimed Joe. "I didn't knock you out of your place. No one did except yourself, and you know it. And I'm not going to stand for any talk like that from you, either."
"That's right, give it to him!" said another voice, and Jim Tracy came up. "Don't let him bluff you, Joe. As for you, Dobley, I've told you to keep away from this circus, and I mean it! I heard you'd been following us. Rode on one of the canvas wagons last night, didn't you?"