“How did you find out about him and the other man?”

“I’ll just have time to tell you before my first act,” said Joe.  “It was Harry Loper who gave me the first idea.  When he broke down it was because of what he had done, and on account of what Bill Carfax wanted him to do again.  It was Bill who got into the tent once and put acid on my trapeze wire.  And it was because he bribed poor Loper that he was able to do it.  Bill pretended it was only a trick to make me slip, because he wanted to get even with me for discharging him.  So poor, weak Harry let him sneak into the tent, disguised so none of our men would know him.  Bill climbed up, put acid on the wire, and the fiery stuff did the rest.

“Well, that preyed on Harry’s mind, but he kept putting it away.  But finally, knowing the hold he had on him, Bill came back and gave him a bottle of acid to work some further harm to me or my apparatus.  But Ham discovered that in time.

“Bill was provoked over his failure, and, when he wasn’t helping Inky Jed get out the bogus tickets, he followed the show and tried to prevail on Harry to play another trick on me.  Just what it was Harry doesn’t know.  He refused to do it, and then he came and confessed to me.  So much for Harry.  He’s a sorry boy, and I think he’ll turn over a new leaf.

“Now about Ham.  Just as I feared, he got to drinking again.  But it was because Bill met him when poor Ham’s nerves were on edge, and Bill induced him to take liquor.  Then Ham went all to pieces and started on a spree which lasted until now.  He managed to get from place to place, always under Bill’s eye, and at last he landed here, very weak and ill.  Mrs. Donlon looked after him.

“And it was here that Ham first heard Bill and his crony plotting about the bogus circus tickets.  The two counterfeiters planned to make a big strike here with the shipyard workers.  Then Ham sent the warning to me.  I called on him, learned the plans of Bill and Jed, and we sent for the detectives.  The latter, we learned, were about to make an arrest anyhow, but it was of the men who really printed the bogus tickets.  They hadn’t a clew, as yet, to Bill and Jed, who were the real backers of the game.  The detectives came on, disguised themselves with us, and we caught the scoundrels in the very act.  Now they’re locked up.”

“Oh, Joe, it’s wonderful!” exclaimed Helen.  “I’m so glad it’s all over.  And are you going to bring Ham back to the show?”

“Just as soon as he’s able to travel.  Micky Donlon wants to join too, and I may give him a chance later.  Well, our troubles seem to be over for a time, but I suppose there’ll be more.”

“Oh, look on the bright side!” exclaimed Helen.  “Why be a fire-eater if you can’t look on the bright side?” she laughed.

“That’s so,” agreed her admirer.  “Well, I’ve got to get ready to eat some fire right now.”