He had walked out on the wire, stretched a hundred feet above the street, and rescued the cat.  The pet was now in the arms of the woman in black.

And then such a roar as went up in the crowd!  Men thumped one another on the back, and then shook hands, wondering at their foolishness and why there was such a queer lump in their throats.

“Oh!  Oh!” gasped the woman, as she hugged Peter to her.  “I can never thank you enough—­not in all my life.  It may be foolish to care so much for a cat.  But I can’t help it.  It isn’t all that.  I couldn’t have borne it to have seen him fall and be killed.”

“He’s all right now—­after he gets over being scared,” said Joe, as he stroked the cat in the arms of the woman in black.

“And now will you let me know to whom I am indebted?” she asked.  “Please come in, and I’ll pay you the reward.”

“Well, I’ll come in and put on my shoes,” said Joe, with a smile.  “I didn’t need the gloves,” he added.  “Peter was very gentle.”

“Oh, he’s a good cat!” said his mistress.  “And now,” she added, when Joe had resumed his shoes and coat, “will you please tell me your name and how you learned to walk wires and rescue cats?”

“I never rescued cats before,” Joe returned, smiling.  “It’s something new.  But walking wires is my trade—­or one of ’em.  I’m with the circus.  I do some tricks and—­”

“Oh, are you the man who gets out of the box?” she cried.  “I have read about that trick.”

“It is one of mine,” said Joe modestly.

“I’m so glad to know you!” exclaimed the woman.  She seemed less of a recluse than at first.  “I haven’t been to a circus for years—­not since I was a child,” she continued, half sadly, Joe thought.  “But I’m coming to-night!” she exclaimed.  “I’ll have the janitor look after my cats and dogs, and I’ll go to the circus.  I want to see you act.  It will bring back my lost youth—­or part of it,” she murmured.

“Allow me to make sure that you will be there,” said Joe.  “Here is a reserved ticket.  I will look for you.”

“And now let me give you the reward I promised,” begged the woman, as Joe was about to leave.  “I have the money here—­in cash,” she added quickly.  She went to a bureau, putting Peter down on a cushion.  The cat observed Joe intently.  The woman came back with a roll of bills.

“No, really, I couldn’t take it!” protested Joe.  “I didn’t save your cat for money.  I was glad enough to do it for the animal’s sake.”

“Please take it!” she urged.  “I—­I am well off, even if I live here,” she said hesitatingly.  “I shall feel better if you take it.”

“And I shall feel better if you give it to the Red Cross,” said Joe.  “That needs it, to help the stricken, more than I do.  I make pretty good money myself,” he added.  “And I didn’t do this for a reward.”

“But I promised it!”

“Well, then consider that I took it, and you, in my name, may pass it on to the Red Cross,” said Joe.  “And now, may I ask your name?”