"Leo, Mr. Lambert wants to see you," said Barton Reeve, after the
excitement of the arrest was over.
"What about?" questioned the young gymnast.
"Oh, he wants to see you, that's all," added Reeve, with a peculiar wink
of his eye.
The circus manager was at the main ticket wagon, as usual. As Leo
entered, he held out his hand.
"Dunbar, I did you a great wrong, and I am sorry for it," he said
frankly.
"I am glad that my name is cleared, Mr. Lambert," said Leo, as he took
the extended hand.
"We owe you something for what you have done for the show," went on the
manager. "You did what the detectives failed to do, and I feel I ought
to pay you a reward."
"You can reward me well enough by taking me back, Mr. Lambert--that is,
if you will take my present side partner, too," Leo added, for he did
not intend to desert Carl, who had done so much for him.
"I don't understand. Who is your partner?"
"Carl Ross, a magician and juggler. He is very clever, and I think would
make a hit with the show. We have been traveling around giving private
exhibitions."
"In that case, I will be pleased to see what your partner can do. Can he
come around to the dressing-tent just before the evening performance
begins?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well then. Have him bring what apparatus he possesses with him.
And remember, your old place is open whenever you care to step into it
again."
"I'll be on hand as soon as you settle with Carl Ross," smiled Leo.
He lost no time in hunting up Carl, who was close at hand, having heard
of the arrest of the ticket thieves at the hotel.
"The manager of the circus says my old position is open for me," said
Leo.
"Are you going to leave me, Leo?" asked Carl, with an anxious look on
his face.
"No. I said I would rejoin if he would give you an opening too."
"Oh!"
"He wants you to show what you can do at the dressing tent a little
before seven o'clock." And Leo went into a few particulars. "Do your
best, Carl, and you are sure of a steady place at a good salary."
"That would certainly be far better than knocking around, as we have
been doing, on an uncertainty."
That evening Carl presented himself, in company with Leo, and gave an
exhibition of his finest tricks and of his most dexterous juggling. Mr.
Lambert was greatly pleased.
"You'll do first rate," he said, when Carl had concluded. "If you wish,
you can join us, and I'll pay you the same wages that I was paying
Dunbar."
Carl accepted on the spot, and the next day found him and Leo traveling
with the other performers of the "Greatest Show on Earth."
Leo's friends were glad to see him back, and doubly glad that they had
gotten rid of Snipper.
"I never want to see that man again," declared Natalie Sparks, and
nobody blamed her.
The next two weeks were busy ones for Leo. Not only had he to practice
up himself in his old acts, but he had also to instruct a new gymnast
who came to take Snipper's place.
The newcomer was named Harry Ray. He was a first-class fellow, and soon
he and Leo and Carl became warm friends.
The "Greatest Show on Earth" moved nearly every day. Its course was
westward, something which did not suit the young gymnast, but which was
also something he could not help.
For during all his adventures he had not forgotten about the old life at
Hopsville, and how Barton Reeve had promised, when he got the chance, to
look up his monetary affairs for him. One day he spoke to Reeve about
it.
"I haven't forgotten, Leo, don't think that. But at present I can do
nothing."
"When will we move eastward again?"
"That I can't say either. It will depend to a great extent on how
matters pan out in the West. If we don't take in much money we'll turn
back again as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made."
"Well, I want the show to make all the money possible. But I want my
rights, too."
"And you shall get them; never fear of that," concluded Barton Reeve.
"I reckon Nathan Dobb is glad to get rid of the care of me," thought
Leo, as he walked away. "And yet, it seems to me he has been acting very
queerly."
Never for an instant did the young gymnast dream that Nathan Dobb had
placed Hank Griswold on his track to do him harm.
Why Griswold had not put in an appearance ere this will be related
later.