right! Go ahead!"
The speaker put himself in position. Kit gave a spring, and in an instant was upon his shoulders.
There was an exclamation of surprise from the second acrobat.
"Christopher!" he exclaimed. "The boy's got something in him, after all."
"Now what shall I do?" asked Kit, as with folded arms he stood on the acrobat's shoulders.
"Keep your place while I walk round the arena."
Kit maintained his position while the acrobat ran round the circle, increasing his pace on purpose to dislodge his young associate. But Kit was too well used to this act to be embarrassed. He held himself erect, and never swerved for an instant.
"Pretty good, kid!" said the acrobat. "Now reverse yourself and stand on my hands with your feet in the air."
Kit made the change skillfully, and to the equal surprise of Dan and the other acrobat, both of whom applauded without stint.
"Can you do anything else?" asked Alonzo Vincenti.
"Yes."
Kit went through a variety of other feats, and then descending from his elevated perch, was about to resume his coat and vest, when the circus performer asked him, "Can you tumble?"
Kit's answer was to roll over the arena in a succession of somersaults and hand springs.
"Well, I'm beat!" said the acrobat. "You're the smartest kid I ever met in my travels. Are you sure you're not a professional?"
"Quite sure," answered Kit, smiling.
"You never traveled with a show, then?"
Kit shook his head.
"Where on earth did you pick up all these acts?"
"I took lessons of Professor Donaldson."
"You did! Well, that explains it. I say, kid, you ought to join a circus. You'd command a fine salary."
"Would I? How much could I get?" asked Kit, with interest.
"Ten or twelve dollars a week and all expenses paid. That's pretty good pay for a kid, isn't it?"
"It's more than I ever earned yet," answered Kit, with a smile.
"I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Barlow would give you that now. If you ever make up your mind to join a show, come round and see him."
"Thank you," said Kit.
Soon after the boys left the circus lot and went home.
"Would you really join a circus, Kit?" asked Dan.
"It isn't the life I would choose," answered Kit, seriously, "but I may have to find some way of earning a living, and that very soon."
"I thought your father left you a fortune."
"So did I; but I hear that I am to be taken from boarding school, and possibly set to work. Ralph has given me a hint of it. I shall soon know, as my uncle intimates that he has a communication to make me."
"I hope it isn't as bad as you think, Kit."
"I hope so too, but I can tell you better to-morrow. We will meet to-night at the show."
CHAPTER IV.
A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS
Just before supper Kit was asked to an interview with his uncle.
"You wish to speak to me, Uncle Stephen?" he said.
"Yes; I have decided not to postpone the explanation for which you asked yesterday."
"I shall be glad to hear it, sir."
"Ever since your father's death I have supported you, not because I was morally or legally bound to do so, but because you were my nephew."
"But didn't my father leave any property?" asked Kit in amazement.
"He was supposed to have done so."
"This house and grounds are surely worth a good deal of money!"
"So they are," answered Stephen Watson, dryly, "but unfortunately they did not belong to your father."
"This is certainly a mistake," exclaimed Kit, indignantly.
"Wait till I have finished. These stood in your father's name, but there was a mortgage of two thousand dollars held by the Smyrna Savings Bank."
"Surely the place is worth far more than two thousand dollars!"
"Curb your impatience, and you will soon understand me. The place is worth far more than two thousand dollars. I consider it worth ten thousand."
"Then I don't see–"
"Your father left large debts, which of course had to be paid. I was therefore obliged to sell the estate, in order to realize the necessary funds."
"For how much did you sell the place?"
"For nine thousand dollars. I regarded that as a good price, considering that it was paid in cash or the equivalent."
"To whom did you sell?"
"I bought it in myself; I was not willing that the place which my brother had loved so well, should pass into the hands of strangers."
"May I ask who was my father's principal creditor?" asked Kit.
"Ahem! I was," answered Stephen Watson, in a tone of slight embarrassment.
"You!" exclaimed Kit, in fresh surprise.
"Yes; your father owed me twelve thousand dollars borrowed at various times."
"How could he have been obliged to borrow so much?" asked Kit. "He always seemed comfortably situated. I never once heard him complain of being pressed for money."
"Very likely; he was very reticent about his affairs. I would explain, but the matter is rather a delicate one."
"I think I am entitled to know all about it, Uncle Stephen," said Kit, firmly.
"Be it so! Perhaps you are right. Let me tell you in the briefest terms, then, that in his later years your father speculated in Wall Street—not heavily, for he had not the means, but heavily for one of his property. Of course he lost. Almost every one does, who ventures into the 'street.' His first losses, instead of deterring him from further speculation, led him on to rasher ventures. It was then that he came to me for money."
"Didn't you urge him to give up speculating?" asked Kit.
"Yes, but my words availed little. Perhaps you will think I ought to have refused him loans, but he assured me in the strongest terms that unless he obtained money from some source he would be ruined, and I yielded. I might have been weak—it was weak, for I stood a chance of losing all, having merely his notes of hand to show for the money I lent. But it is hard to refuse a brother. I think I should do the same again."
Kit
