But Benny had a happier look on his face when Joe went out, and the suffering boy put under his pillow a precious piece of paper.
CHAPTER VI
THE SHOW MOVES ON
"What's the news?" asked Jim Tracy, as Joe came back from the hospital.
"Not very good," was the reply. "Benny's worse."
"Then he won't be with us to-day?"
"No, and not for some days to come, I fancy."
"Will you do the act this afternoon and to-night then, Joe? You see we've billed it big here, and it's too late to make a change in this town. When we move on we can drop out that act without its being so noticeable. If necessary I can have that part of our bill poster advertising covered up with blank sheets, though I hate to. But that's all there is to be done if Benny can't act."
"No, he can't act," Joe said. "I'll go on to-day, of course. The Lascalla Brothers won't kick, will they?"
"I don't care if they do. You can do your principal stunts with them, and we'll shove the tank act back on the programme so as to give you a chance to make the change. I suppose, though, if you keep too much out of the Lascalla act they will be kicking."