Joe Strong, the Boy Fish / or Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank

t trumpeted or a lion gave a hungry roar. Gay banners fluttered, glistening spears flashed with points of light, gaily attired women and men sat on the backs of swaying,

the dressing tent from a preliminary survey of the audience. H

sin on the soles of his soft shoes, so they would not slip when he attempted some feat high

l have to do as they do in theatres, and hang out the S.R.O. sign if it keeps on. It looks as

s" with whom Joe Strong did more or less dangerous things on the high tra

on, who did a "strong man" act. "Still, we can

sharp notes on a bugle, and the strong man, who had been lyin

r," he remarked. "

"Here we are again gentlemen!" and he turned two or three somersaults on the grass of the dressing, tent. "Whoop-la-la!"

id Lascalla, the other me

is it?" asked Joe, who wa

es. Are you going to try the long sw

enough practice at it, even though this is the f

m ready

ure the life net is all right. The ring-atte

after it,"

ht, and, on the other hand, they must not be loose enough to give any play to the ankles. For in a great measure the

not over-muscled. But the muscles he had were powerful. One could see his biceps ripple under his tights as he bent his arm, and when he straightened up there were bunches back o

e first part of the program the three worked together as the "Lascalla Brothers," though there was no real relations

g performer. He strolled over toward the entrance to the main tent-the entrance used by the performers as they em

l rubbed his nose against Joe's hand. "No, I haven't any sugar now, Rosebud," said

promised Helen Morton, or "Mademoiselle Mor

hing go?" asked

better, and the crowd was certainl

eard some of it. Pret

l it s

performers to leave the rings and raised platforms, while others came bustling from th

others, that they might run into the ring together and stand posed for a m

rick horse, Rosebud; for Helen was a fancy rider, and, in a

re concerned, the quarters of many out-door shows being there. The performers had done as they pleased for the idle months when tent shows are out of

d in a few weeks on a theatrical circuit doing feats of magic. At this he was an

ircus in Bridgeport to get in some needed practice before starting out on the road. Now the show was in full swing

ed back to join his two partners. "Al

despondent answer of a frail-looking youth, who was attir

man fish," as Ben was known; for he did a diving act in a large glass tank filled with water, sta

at the matter is," Ben sai

r your wint

uch rest. I play

orgotten. But is it the same old tro

s head. "But don't say anything about it. Maybe it will wear off

n. Maybe if you were t

Joe. Never mind about

ee you again. Com

the ring. Benny Turton followed more slowly. He was to begin his act in a few minutes

as if something were going to happen. Oh, pshaw! I mustn't be such a

is the trapeze performers had inspected with unusual care, for it was the opening act of the season and, as Sid had said, some of the

lt acts, to get themselves warmed up, the La

les at one side of the tent. Sid Lascalla occupied a similar po

ady!" c

" answe

who, at a signal, let go, and turning over and over in the air reached out his hands at the proper moment a

ed himself about in a dizzying succession of somersaults, and then, straightening out with a jerk, he grasped the dangling leg

. It was dangerous even with the life-net below them, for had the men f

t Joe dropped into the net, then Sid and

saw Benny Turton leap off his platform to dive into the tank

ought Joe. "I guess he was jus

the water. Then there should have followed on Benny's par

aw a look of agony come over Ben's face. The boy seemed doub

ught Joe in a flash. "Benny's

done quietly so as not to alarm the audience. Joe glanced about. Near him was

Bill and whisp

in the tank! We've got to get hi