Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater | Page 7

on the death of the man who had been injured while doing it. But Joe
had been perfecting himself in it. He had had a new set of trapezes
made, and had ornamented them and the two platforms in a very
striking manner. In other words, the trick had a new "dress," and Joe, as
one of the circus proprietors, hoped it would go well and attract
attention.
This was from a business standpoint, and not only because Joe was
himself the performer. Of course it was natural that he should like
applause--all do, more or less. But Joe was one of the owners of the
circus--the chief owner, in fact--and he wanted to make a financial
success of it. Nor was this a purely selfish reason. Many persons owned
stock in the enterprise, and Joe felt it was only fair to them to see that
they received a good return for their investment. Any trick he could do
to draw crowds he was willing to attempt.
So, while the parade was being gotten ready, Joe went inside the main
top, which by this time was erected, to see about having his platforms
and trapeze put in place. In this he was always very careful, as is every
aerial performer. The least slip of a rope may cause disaster, and no
matter how careful the attendants are, the performers themselves
always give at least a casual look to their apparatus.
"All right, Harry?" asked Joe of one of the riggers who had charge of
putting up the platforms and the big swing.
"Sure, it's all right, Mr. Strong!" was the answer. "I should say so! I
don't make no mistakes when I'm putting up trapezes. You'll find
everything shipshape and proper. Going to have a big crowd to-day, I
guess."
Joe looked at Harry Loper closely. The young man had never talked so
much before, being, on the whole, rather close-mouthed. As the man
passed Joe, after giving a pull on the last rope, the young magician
became aware that Harry had been drinking--and something stronger
than pink lemonade.

"I'm sorry about that!" mused Joe, as the rope rigger passed on. "If
there's any place a man ought not to drink it's in a circus, and especially
when he has to rig up high flying apparatus for others. It was drink that
put Bill Carfax out of business. I didn't know Harry was that kind, I
never noticed it before. I'm sorry. And I'll take extra precautions that
my ropes won't slip. You can't trust a man who drinks."
Joe shook his head a bit sadly. He was thinking of Bill Carfax, and of
the fact that he had had to discharge the man because, while under the
influence of liquor, he had insulted Helen. Then Bill had tried to get
revenge on Joe.
"I hope it doesn't turn out this way with Harry Loper," mused Joe, as he
began climbing up a rope ladder that led to one of the high platforms.
And as Harry had to do with the placing of this ladder, Joe tested it
carefully before ascending.
"I don't want to fall and be laid up in the middle of the circus season,"
mused the young circus man, with a frown.
However, the ladder appeared to be perfectly secure, and as Joe went
up, finally reaching the high platform, he felt a sense of exhilaration.
Heights always affected him this way. He liked, more than anything
else, to soar aloft on his Wings of Steel. And he liked the sensation
when he leaped from one platform toward the swinging trapeze bar,
aiming to grasp it in his hands and swing in a great arc to the other little
elevated place, close under the top of the tent.
There was a thrill about it--a thrill not only to the performer but to the
audience as well--and Joe could hear the gasps that went up from
thousands of throats as he made his big swing.
But, for the time being, he gave his whole attention to the platform and
its fastenings. The platforms were not very likely to slip, being caught
on to the main tent poles, which themselves were well braced.
The real danger was in the long trapeze. Not only must the thin wire
ropes of this be strong enough to hold Joe's weight, but an added

pressure, caused by the momentum of his jump. And not only must the
cables be strong, but there must be no defect in the wooden bar and in
the place where the upper ends of the ropes were fastened to the top of
the tent.
"Well, this platform is all right," remarked Joe, as he looked it over.
"Now for the other and the trapeze."
He went down the rope ladder