"Oh, I suppose you're going to use one of the new, pretty girls," snapped Helen.
Joe looked at her quietly.
"No," he said, "I am not. But I am not going to put on either trick. I thought you'd like to know, so if you want to introduce any of your extras you'll have a chance."
"Thank you!" she said coldly, and passed on.
Joe smiled as he looked after her.
With a blare of trumpets, a boom and ruffle of drums, the gay procession started around the circus arena. The stately elephants, the hideous camels and the beautiful horses went around to be looked at, wondered at, and admired. Then, when the last of the cavalcade had passed out, the various acts began. Helen had a new costume for her bareback act, and as she started it she looked over to where Joe was busy on his stage. She saw the young men and women around him. They wore fancy costumes and seemed a part of the circus. Helen wondered what act they were going to appear in, since none including them had been announced.
She danced about on the back of Rosebud, and thought bitterly that Joe had never noticed her new dress. She was wearing it for the first time, too.
The whistle blew. All acts stopped and Jim Tracy advanced toward Joe's platform.
"A most marvelous and striking act!" he cried, not stating what it was to be.
All eyes, even those of Helen Morton, turned in the direction of Joe Strong.