Joe Strong on the Trapeze or The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer   By: Vance Barnum

JOE STRONG

ON THE TRAPEZE

OR

THE DARING FEATS OF A YOUNG

CIRCUS PERFORMER

BY

VANCE BARNUM

Author of "Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard," "Joe Strong, the Boy Fish," "Joe Strong on the High Wire," etc.

WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO.

RACINE, WISCONSIN

BOOKS FOR BOYS

BY

VANCE BARNUM

THE JOE STRONG SERIES

JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed

JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer

JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank

JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE Or, Motor Cycle Perils of the Air

JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds

JOE STRONG HIS BOX OF MYSTERY Or, The Ten Thousand Dollar Prize Trick

JOE STRONG, THE BOY FIRE EATER Or, The Most Dangerous Performance on Record

COPYRIGHT, 1916

GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY

Printed by

WESTERN PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO.

Racine, Wisconsin

Printed in U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE FIRE TRICK II. JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY III. ANOTHER OFFER IV. A CHANCE ENCOUNTER V. OFF TO THE CIRCUS VI. JOE MAKES A HIT VII. JOE TURNS A TRICK VIII. HELEN'S LETTER IX. BILL WATSON'S IDEA X. IN THE TANK XI. HELEN'S DISCOVERY XII. JUST IN TIME XIII. A BAD BLOW XIV. HELEN'S INHERITANCE XV. A WARNING XVI. THE STRIKE XVII. IN BEDFORD XVIII. HELEN'S MONEY XIX. JOE IS SUSPICIOUS XX. A FALL XXI. JOE HEARS SOMETHING XXII. BAD NEWS XXIII. HELEN GOES XXIV. JOE FOLLOWS XXV. THE LAST PERFORMANCE

JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE

CHAPTER I

THE FIRE TRICK

"Better put on your pigeon omelet trick now, Joe."

"All right. That ought to go well. And you are getting ready for "

"The fire trick," interrupted Professor Alonzo Rosello, as he and his young assistant, Joe Strong, stood bowing and smiling in response to the applause of the crowd that had gathered in the theatre to witness the feats of "Black Art, Magic, Illusion, Legerdemain, Prestidigitation and Allied Sciences." That was what the program called it, anyhow.

"The fire trick!" repeated Joe. "Do you think it will work all right now?"

"I think it will. I've had the apparatus overhauled, and you know we can depend on the electric current here. It isn't likely to fail just at the wrong moment."

"No, that's so, still "

Again Joe had to bow, as did Professor Rosello, for the applause continued. They were both sharing it, for both had taken part in a novel trick, and it had been successfully performed.

Joe had taken his place in a chair on the stage, and, after having been covered by a black cloth by the professor, had, when the cloth was removed a moment later, totally disappeared. Then he was seen walking down the aisle of the theatre, coming in from the lobby.

There was much wonder as to how the trick was it done, especially since the chair had been placed over a sheet of paper on the stage, and, before and after the trick, the professor had exhibited the sheet the front page of a local paper apparently unbroken. (This trick is explained in detail in the first volume of this series, entitled, "Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard.")

"The audience seems to be in good humor to night," observed the professor to Joe, as they bowed again. The two could carry on a low voiced conversation while "taking" their applause.

"Yes, I'm glad to see them that way," answered the youth. "It's not much fun playing to a frosty house."

"I should say not! Well, Joe, get ready for your pigeon omelet trick, and I'll prepare the fire apparatus."

The professor, with a final bow, made an exit to one side of the stage, which was fitted up with Oriental splendor. As he went off, and as Joe Strong picked up some apparatus from a table near him, a disturbed look came over the face of the boy wizard.