“I hope you do.”
As Professor Rosello was not going to give a show that evening, Joe was free. He went to the afternoon and evening circus performances, and he tried to tell himself that it was to watch the “human fish” and some other special acts. But though Benny’s act was interesting and startling, Joe paid more attention to the riding of Miss Helen Morton and the tricks of her horse, Rosebud, than he did to Benny. And the performance of Mademoiselle Mortonti was well worth watching. It was a beautiful exhibition of horsemanship on the part of a refined young girl, and it brought forth round after round of applause, in which Joe joined enthusiastically.
The circus moved out of town after the final performance, and Joe and the professor gave their show.
They did not draw as large crowds as they would have done had not the counter attraction of the circus operated against them, but they did fairly well.
Joe introduced a new trick, which made an instant hit. It was very simple, too.
When his turn came to occupy the stage he advanced with a candle and a box of matches in his hand.
“Fire is a mysterious element,” he stated. “It is a good servant but a bad master. Well controlled, fire and light are very useful. Now I have here a candle which is exceptionally well educated. That is it can be lighted, extinguished and lighted again by the mere movement of my wand.
“Now I don’t say every one can do this, for you have not all of you magic wands. But, lest some of you think the trick is easy, I am going to ask one of you to come up here and light this candle. Will you come?” and he indicated a young man in a front seat. After some hesitation the youth ascended the stage.
“Do you know which end of a match to light?” asked Joe. The youth grinningly admitted that he did. Joe then handed him a candle and bade him light it. When it was aglow Joe handed the youth the wand, and told him to point it at the candle.
“Just point it at the flame, and order it to go out—vamoose!” Joe ordered. The youth tried this, but the candle still burned on. “I guess you’ll have to speak louder,” observed Joe with a smile, “the candle may be deaf.”