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

the circus season, he now resolved to watch the setting up of the big glass box. Joe wanted to learn all he could about the accessories of the

can, it may take even better than it has, and I can hold the public with me until

nery and to wear certain costumes, in other words the externa

simple room scene, with a table or chair. Then the actor depends

s and expensive costumes, and in this case, as a rule, the

oice carry in a big circus tent, and even an accomplished ring-master often fails in this respect. Of course in Joe'

om Benny's performance. He had it a little too plain. I don't know just wha

rade, for they had to get ready the special apparatus connected with their acts. In Joe's case, he had to look after his trapezes, and now, in addition, the tank, in order to make sure that all was in

f a wooden bar or on the firmness of a rope,

The worst would be that the water would escape and the act be spoiled. But Joe did not want that to happen, so he carefully watched

th the glass box. When the water was drained off it after the ni

ank and tighten up the rubber water-proof fittings. Then the sand was spread over the bottom, the steps, by which

t now," thought Joe as he saw the tank com

w Helen giving some orders about a few pieces o

rl, "you haven't caught a

y is enough. How is

going to give Ro

you. I'm going to se

the tank act? I thought I

to do a double turn-

luck t

it did not take him long to see that the bars, ropes and rings were in perfect condition, all fast

ith country visitors who had come in to see the circus, this being the center of a thriving farming community. Joe, going into a drug store to get an ice

laimed Joe, aloud. "Or

d gentleman, who was just coming o

r pardon. I just th

tleman passed on, while Joe, still th

suggestively, as Joe paus

ish sundae," said

llow! This isn't a joke shop," a

o say. "I mean a chocolate nut sundae.

k. "I thought you were trying to jol

thoughts were busy with the idea

ay so, and no great harm's done. I'll stand the expense myself. If I could get hold of the inheritance Bill Watson thinks ought to c

e was entitled to anything from his

m and went out, stopping to look at the goldfish

ts and birds were sold. He remained some little time in conversation with th

s," thought the boy fish, as he may now be called,

glass tank were hardly noticed. If any of the circus people saw him they probably believed he was just doing what Benny

and wagon outside the tent who had a big box for Joe, even that caused no comment, for it was alm

was standing, and saw a big canvas cover wrapped about th

idea, Joe?

tle experiment,

illed in this town, and we're likely to play to record-breaking audiences both this a

e act? Of c

nd the tank makes it look as

ve it to me, Jim. It will be all right, I'm sure. You go ahead and make the usual announcement, only don't pull any four-minut

n't quite

ll as on the public. Just give me a man to yank off the ca

ur affair, as long as yo

more, Jim Tracy.

ell as ever and did his usual hair-raising feats, this day he was a bit impa

the life net amid the plaudits of the crowd. Then Joe hurried t

squeezed himself into the garments. "I'm going to have another suit, different, a

place. Jim Tracy, standing near by on the ground, pointed up to

it is as easy for him to live, move and have his being under water,

who stood ready to pull a rope that would let fall