Thus Joe did the trick, which was received very well, causing quite a sensation. Professor Rosello complimented him on its success.
It was toward the close of the performance. Joe was about to step down off the stage to pass through the audience with a vase for examination, when he looked to the back of the hall, and there, to his great surprise, he saw the vindictive face of his foster-father, Deacon Blackford. Joe gasped, and quickly turned back. Under pretense of arranging the trick with the professor, Joe whispered:
“My foster-father is out in the audience. He must have been following me and he has come here to arrest me. He thinks I stole that money, but I didn’t. I don’t want to be falsely arrested. What shall I do?”
The professor thought quickly.
“It was a narrow escape,” he said. “He almost caught you. He is probably waiting for you to come down in the crowd so he can grab you. Quick now. Go behind the scenes. I’ll hold the audience with some patter. Then you tell the boy to come out and help me with this trick. He can do it as well as you, as it is very simple. I’ll finish the rest of the show alone.”
“But what shall I do?” asked Joe.
“Slip out by the stage door, go to the hotel, get your things and take the first train for Seneca. We show there next. I’ll come on as soon as I can pack up after the show. We’ll fool the deacon. There is no need of being arrested if you are innocent, and it is evident he came here to take you into custody. It’s a good thing you saw him in time.”
Joe hurried back of the scenes, while Professor Rosello held the attention of the audience, including that of Deacon Blackford.
CHAPTER XXII
STRANGE NEWS
Because of what had happened and the trouble that might be caused to Joe should his foster-father cause his arrest, Professor Rosello made a change in the end of his show. He substituted some simple tricks for the more elaborate feats of magic in which he needed Joe’s help.