BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.
VI.—THE CIRCUS (Concluded).
"Hullo," said Jimmieboy. "Back again?"
"Do I look it?" asked the Imp.
"Yes, I think you do," returned Jimmieboy. "Unless you are your twin brother; are you your twin brother?"
"No," laughed the Imp, "I am not. I am myself, and I am back again just as I appear to be, and I've had a real dull time of it since I went away from you."
"Doing what?" asked Jimmieboy.
"Well, first I had to tell your mother that the butcher couldn't send a ten-pound turkey, but had two six-pounders for her if she wanted them; and then I had to tell him for her that he could send mutton instead. After that I had to blow up the grocer for your father, whose cigars hadn't come, and then tell your father what wasn't so—that the cigars hadn't been ordered—for the grocer. After that, just as I was leaving, the cook came to the 'phone and asked me to tell your Aunt Susan's cook that her cousin in New York was very ill with a broken wheel on his truck, and that if she would meet her in town at eleven o'clock they could go to the matinée together, which she said she would do, and altogether it has been a very dull twenty minutes for me. Have you enjoyed yourself?"
"Hugely," said Jimmieboy, "and I hope now that you've come back I haven't got to stop enjoying myself in the same way. I'm right in the middle of the Fish Circus."
"Oh, are you," said the Imp, with a smile. "I rather enjoy that myself. How far have you got?"