“An’ the el’funt knew him in a whole crowd of people,” Chris added, “an’ picked him up with its trunk.”

“The people thought the elephant was mad at first,” said Darn Darner, who had approached as close as he could get to the clown.

“The el’funt picked him up in its trunk?” gasped Celia Jane, her eyes growing bigger and bigger.

“An’ we’re all goin’ to the circus to-night!” Danny informed them.

“All of us!” Celia Jane got breath enough to utter.

“Me, too?” Nora asked.

“Yes, all of you!” laughed Jerry.  “And Kathleen, too.”

“I wanta see serka,” cried the baby.

“And so you shall,” said Whiteface, so close that Kathleen drew whimpering away from his white, chalky features.  “It’s all true, Mrs. Mullarkey.”

“Don’t be afraid of Whiteface, Kathleen,” called Jerry.  “He’s father.”

At last Mrs. Mullarkey found her voice, but at the queer, choking sound she made, Jerry looked up and saw tears running down her face.

“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you have found your father and mother, Jerry,” she said.  “Mr. Darner is here now and, after all, he was going to take you away—­this very day.  And Celia Jane—­” She couldn’t finish, but put Kathleen down and covered her face with her apron, rocking her body back and forth.

Jerry looked towards the house and saw at the living-room window the face of a man,—­a large, heavy face that seemed to scowl out at the crowd.

CHAPTER XIII

“—­AND ELEPHANTS TO RIDE UPON”

Jerry’s new-found mother went quickly to Mother ’Larkey and placed a comforting arm about her shoulder.

“I am Mrs. Bowe, Gary’s mother,” she said, “and oh, how can I ever thank you for loving him and giving him a home?  I never can repay you.”

“That we can’t, Mrs. Mullarkey,” Whiteface interposed.  “But what is this about taking Gary away?  And Celia Jane?”

“Let’s go into the house first,” suggested Mrs. Bowe.  “We have too big an audience here.”

She led the way, her arm still about Mrs. Mullarkey’s shoulder.  Jerry and his father followed, though Jerry turned at the door to have another look at Sultana and the admiring throng of children gathered about her.

Nora and Celia Jane, who had lapsed into tongue-tiedness after learning that they were all going to see the circus that night, now started slowly into the house, Kathleen clinging to Nora’s hand to keep from falling.  But their eyes were turned back towards Sultana until they passed through the door.

Danny and Chris were also of two minds whether to follow the great clown or remain outside with the elephant, but their mother’s statement that Mr. Darner had come to take Jerry away and was even then in the house finally drew them as a magnet, their eyes also directed towards Sultana until they stumbled through the door.