The next day they arrived at Baltimore.  A morning paper contained a dispatch from Lacon.

The circus men had nearly killed half-a-dozen of the mob of roughs.  The police had restored order, but fire and riot had put the show out of business.

Miss Starr wired to the town in Delaware where the Big Show was playing.  Luke had gone on to join it.  By noon she received a satisfactory reply.  Then she telegraphed to Lacon about their traps, directing the manager where to send them.

That evening, after a long talk over their prospects, the four refugees took the train for Dover.

The next morning Miss Starr, Billy, Midget and Andy went to the headquarters of The Biggest Show on Earth.

Andy had a chance to inspect it while waiting for Bob Sanderson, the assistant manager, who was a distant relative of Miss Stella Starr.

Its mammoth proportions fairly staggered him.  Its details were bewildering in their system and perfection.  Alongside of it, the circus he had recently belonged to was merely a side show.

Sanderson was a brisk, business-like fellow.  He soon settled on an engagement for Miss Starr and Billy and Midget for the rest of the season.

“I don’t think I can use the boy, though,” he said, glancing at Andy.

“Then you can’t have us,” said the equestrienne promptly.  “Bob, you and I are old friends, but not better ones than myself and Andy Wildwood.  He stood by us through thick and thin, he makes a good showing in the ring.  Why, before the Benares Brothers left us, they were training him for one of the best acts ever done on the trapeze.”

“Is that so?” spoke Sanderson, looking interested.  “The Benares Brothers joined us only last week.  Here, give me five minutes.”

“Miss Starr, you mustn’t let me stand in your way of a good engagement,” said Andy, as the assistant manager left the tent.

“It’s the four of us, or none,” asserted the determined little lady.

Sanderson came bustling in at the end of five minutes.

“All right,” he announced brusquely, “I’ll take the boy on.”

“You’ll never regret it,” declared Stella Starr positively.

CHAPTER XXXI

CONCLUSION

“Bravo!”

“Clever!”

Amid deafening applause, old Benares and Thacher retired from the sawdust ring, bowing profusely with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.

Between them, hands joined in the group of three, Andy Wildwood imitated their graceful acknowledgment of the plaudits of the vast concourse in the great metropolitan amphitheatre.

“Wildwood,” declared Thacher, as they backed towards the performers’ room, “you’ve made a hit.”

“It is so!” cried old Benares, with sparkling eyes.  “We are a three now—­The Three Benares Brothers.”