Pant’s eyelid. Such things had been done. Yet, all this was speculation. Johnny shook his mind free from it. Speculation is always futile.

He was about to rise and return to the wreck, which was even now assuming the appearance of a train again, when he heard footsteps approaching.

It was Gwen. Johnny rose to meet her as she came toward him.

“Sit down, Mr. Clown,” she smiled. “I want to talk.”

“You’re a good old clown,” she smiled again, as they seated themselves, “even if you did come near breaking your neck.”

“Somebody fired the balloons with arrows shot from an air rifle.”

“What!”

“Sure. I thought it was Tom Stick, but it wasn’t. He saved my life last night. Guess someone must have stolen his air rifle to pull the trick.”

“As I was about to say,” continued Gwen, “you’re a good old clown, and just for that I want to give you something. So, ‘open your mouth and shut your eyes, and I’ll give you something to make you wise.’”

“Steady there,” warned Johnny, as he cupped his hands solidly together. “If it’s of any value don’t drop it. I’ve lost one secret in the river already.”

“It’s valuable, all right.”

Johnny felt something touch his hand. The instant his fingers closed upon it, he knew what it was.

“The ring!” he exclaimed.

“Yes; that’s it,” she laughed. “The twins told me all about it last night. Of course we didn’t know it was yours, or we wouldn’t have kept it. When we first found it, we three girls thought it was glass. When we discovered it was a real diamond, we were already in Chicago and didn’t know what to do, so we just kept it, and took turns wearing it. But Johnny, when you had it in your hands that day, why didn’t you keep it?”

“That’s what I don’t know,” smiled Johnny. “I guess you were such a good sport I hated to lose you as a friend, and I hoped a better time would come.”

“It has come, Johnny; but something tells me I am the one to lose a pal. You’ll leave the circus?”

“Yes,” Johnny admitted reluctantly. “I guess I’m going to do that.”

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