“The best thing in the world. My specialty is taking the part of animals, and I may say I’ve been quite successful. If you can get up a novel act, something that’s up-to-date, and which will hit the popular fancy, you’re all right.” Mr. Kyle spoke quite seriously, and it seemed rather odd to see him thus, when Jack remembered what a queer figure he had presented while in the ring, attired as a big rooster. “I was thinking of getting up some special act,” said Jack. “What was it?” asked Sam quickly. “You want to be careful of one thing,” he went on. “Don’t try to imitate any of the other clowns. If you do they’ll get down on you. Besides, one act of a kind is enough. What were you thinking of trying?” “I thought some stunt that had to do with a flying machine wouldn’t be bad,” replied Jack. “You know there’s so much of that going on now that the public is interested. I might get up something to look like an airship, pretend to fly in it, and come tumbling down. Do you think that would take?” “It might. At any rate, it wouldn’t be any harm to try.” “I was wondering how I could get a make-believe airship made.” “Why, Pete Delafield, the property man, will help you out if you ask him. He makes all the things the other clowns and I use in our acts. Of course you can’t get it for to-night, though.” “Oh, no, I don’t expect to. I’ll have to plan it out, and think up how I’m going to act. Where can I find Mr. Delafield?” “I’ll take you to him after we finish eating. You’ll go on to-night, won’t you?” “Mr. Paine didn’t say anything about it, but I’d like to, if you think I’m good enough.” “Well, it won’t much matter at night. You can go out in the ring when I go, and do your stunt. Even if the audience doesn’t laugh at you, you’ll gain confidence, so when you’re ready with your airship act you’ll not be afraid.” “That will be a good idea,” replied Jack. “I’m much obliged to you.” “That’s all right. I’ll go with you to Pete Delafield in a minute.” While Mr. Kyle was finishing his second cup of coffee, a stout man, whose manner at once proclaimed that he was inclined to be nervous and fussy, approached. “I say, Sam,” he began. “What do you think of this? ‘A Death-Defying Double Dive Down a Dangerous, Darksome, Decapitated Declivity.’ That’s to advertise the new bicycle ride down a broken incline, which we’re going to spring next week. How does that sound to you?” “I’d say ‘descent’ instead of ‘dive,’” suggested Mr. Kyle. “There’s no water in it, is there?” “No, but I might have ’em put a tank under it. But I guess you’re right. I’ll change it,” and he hurried away, writing as he went on a bit of paper, and murmuring to himself: “Death-Defying Descent Down,” etc. Jack looked at the head clown, as if asking who the man was. “That’s Nolan Waddleton, our adjective man,” said Mr. Kyle. “The adjective man?”