“You talk big,” grumbled Mr. Darner.  “Now to come down to brass tacks.  Who’s—­”

“As long as I have any money, Mr. County Overseer,” said Whiteface, “or as long as I have the power to make any, the Mullarkey household will not be broken up.”

“Of course it won’t, Robert,” chimed in Jerry’s mother in a crisp voice, as she raised Celia Jane from the floor and comforted her.  “You always know just what to do.”

Jerry’s father continued: 

“We are going to take Gary with us now, but we are going to try to repay Mrs. Mullarkey a little for all she has done and suffered for our boy.  I have some money saved up and make a good salary.  I want you to go to Mr. Burrows, one of the proprietors of the circus, and satisfy yourself on that point and that I am a man of my word.  While you are doing that we can arrange with Mrs. Mullarkey.  We want to be alone with her.  I’ll see you again before to-night’s performance.”

Mr. Darner stood up.

“I do not doubt your desire or ability in the matter,” he said, “and, as you wish it, I will consult Mr. Burrows.  Nobody can be gladder than I am that things have turned out this way.  I don’t like breaking up families and taking children out to the farm, though some people say that I do.  I have to do a lot of things that go against the grain.  I’ve wanted to do what was best for you, Mrs. Mullarkey.”

“We are sure you meant things for the best, Mr. Darner,” said Jerry’s mother.  “Good-by.”

Mrs. Mullarkey was looking so hard at Jerry’s parents that she did not return Mr. Darner’s “Good afternoon” as he left the house or seem even to have heard it.

“It can’t be true, what you just said,” she at length articulated in a choked voice.  “Such things don’t happen to us.”

“It is true,” Jerry’s mother assured her.

“We shall not forget what you have done for Gary,” said Whiteface.  “I calculate that I owe you at the least one thousand dollars for taking care of him—­”

“A thousand dollars!” gasped Danny.  “Why, that’s as much as father’s insurance!  I didn’t know anybody could get that much money unless they died!”

Mrs. Mullarkey said nothing; her lips were trying to smile though the tears still stood in her eyes.

“Besides which,” continued the clown, “Helen and I will help you look out for the children and we want you to call on us any time that you may be in trouble.”

“We do, indeed,” said Jerry’s mother.  “You cannot work so hard and take care of your children the way you want to.  If you only lived near us—­”

“Helen,” interrupted Jerry’s father, “I’ve been thinking, now that we are going to settle down in business, it would be a wise thing for Mrs. Mullarkey to sell her place here and move to Carroll with us.  Then we’ll know how they are getting on and can look after the children some.  I’ll help her dispose of the place here and buy one in Carroll, if she would like such an arrangement.”