"Don't then!" laughed Joe, trying to make light of it. "Let's go down town and I'll buy you some ice cream."
"But you're not going to give up trying to find out who put acid on the trapeze, are you?"
"No, indeed!" declared the young performer. "I have two problems on my hands now—that and trying to learn how too many persons came to the circus this afternoon," and he told Helen about the extra tickets.
"That's queer!" she exclaimed. "Some jinx bug must be after us!"
"Don't get superstitious!" warned Joe. "Now we'll forget our troubles. They may not amount to anything after all."
But, though he spoke lightly, Joe was worried, and he was not going to let Helen know that. They went into an ice-cream parlor and "relaxed," as Helen called it.
The two were on their way back to the circus lot, intending to go to supper and prepare for the evening entertainment, when there was a sudden alarm down the street, and, in an instant, the fire engines and other apparatus dashed past.
"A fire!" cried Joe. "Come on, Helen! It's just down the street!"
They could see smoke pouring from a small building and a crowd rushing toward it. Thither, also, the fire apparatus was dashing. Joe and Helen were among the early arrivals.
"What is it?" asked Joe of an officer. "I mean what sort of place is that?" and he pointed to the building, which was now obscured by smoke.