Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater / Or, The Most Dangerous Performance on Record

, with, here and there, the suggestion of a red blaze; the swaying excitement of the crowd; the yells of harassed policemen; the scene at th

len, as she moved back with the young acro

hat we've g

aze. Does he mean a professional 'fir

theater, or even in a circus. Sampson Brothers used to have one, I understand, from looki

ed out and the crackle of fire that now could be heard a

of the blaze. "Place ought to have been pulled down long ago. Git back

re injured. But quick work by an efficient department prevented the flames fr

tten under control, and then they departed just as th

policeman who had first spoken to the young circus performers. "The

live?" as

ing fire I'd starve," confided the policeman. "It must be some stunt

aid Joe, "though of course

ief troubles were about over with the departure of the ambulance and the knowl

ss," confessed Joe. "I never

is afternoon, and I went into the tent when you did that box act. Say, that's some s

et," said Joe, with a smile. "But it's

aid the officer, who appeared delighted th

end. If you tell how I do the trick you'll get the ten thousand. Only you'll have to post a hundred

e went on, accepting the passes Joe handed him. The policeman had allowed Jo

gerous trick that caused all the trouble?" ask

l, Miss. He's a bad

see him, and do something for him, Joe?" she asked solicitou

know," was th

rses will let you," said the policeman. "I know the hospital superinte

haps we will

to take her to the hospital whither the injured fire-eater had been removed. They found him swathed in bandages, n

aid Joe to the pathetic figure in the bed. "W

-eater?" slowly

"But I'm in the circ

partner of mine was with 'em fo

are you getting on? Can we be of any help to

as well as can be expected, the doctor says. And I'm not really in need of

happen?" a

put too much alcohol on the tow, and there was a draft from an open door, some draperies c

y didn't eat fi

s looked at one another and a semb

seum performer. "It's all a trick, same

lmost as much

but we're going to be,

trong alum solution in your mouth, just a dash of alcohol to make a blaze that flares up

. "I've read something of it. But,

e a lot of museum and circus stunts, and this always goes big. There

you'll go back to it,

e best thing I know. I'll be out in a week. I didn't sw

departed. Joe privately left a bill of substantial denomination with t

they were soon to give their evening

elen. "Are you thinking of t

r the show. That trapeze act, even the way I had to do it this afternoon, isn't

" aske

a fire-eater!" was