In looking over the advance booking list one day, Joe saw Bedford marked down. "Hello!" he cried. "I wonder if that's my town." It was, as he learned by consulting the press agent. "Are you glad?" asked Helen. "Well, rather, I guess!" Joe said. And one morning Joe awakened in his berth, and looked out to see the familiar scenes of the town where he had lived so long. "Bedford!" exclaimed Joe. "Well, I'm coming back in a very different way from the one I left it," and he chuckled as he thought of the "side-door Pullman," and the pursuing constables. CHAPTER XVIII HELEN'S MONEY After breakfast Joe, who did not take part in the parade, set out to see the sights of his "home town," or, rather, he hoped to meet some of his former friends, for there were not many sights to see. "The place hasn't changed much," Joe reflected as he passed along the familiar streets. "It seems only like yesterday that I went away. Well, Timothy Donnelly has painted his house at last, I see, and they have a new front on the drug store. Otherwise things are about the same. I wonder if I'd better go to call on the deacon. I guess I will--I don't have any hard feelings toward him. Yes, I'll go to see him and----" Joe's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that exclaimed: "Say! Look! There goes Joe Strong who used to live here!" The young circus performer turned and saw Willie Norman, a small boy who lived on the street where Joe formerly dwelt. "Hello, Willie," called Joe in greeting. "Hello," was the answer. "Say, is it true you're with the circus? Harry Martin said you were." "That's right--I am," Joe admitted. He had kept up a fitful correspondence with Harry and some of the other chums, and in one of his letters Joe had spoken of his change of work. "In a circus!" exclaimed Willie admiringly. "Do they let you feed the elephant?" he asked with awe. "No, I haven't gotten quite that far," laughed Joe. "I'm only a trapeze performer." "Say, I'd like to see you act," Willie went on, "but I ain't got a quarter." "Here's a free ticket," Joe said, giving his little admirer one. In anticipation of meeting some of his friends in Bedford that day, Joe had gotten a number of free admission tickets from the press agent, who was always well supplied with them. Willie's eyes glistened as he took the slip of pasteboard. "Geewillikens!" he exclaimed. "Say, you're all right, Joe! I'm going to the circus! I wish I could run away and join one." "Don't you dare try it!" Joe warned him. "You're too small." He went on, meeting many former acquaintances, who turned to stare at the boy whose story had created such a stir in the town. Joe was looked upon by some as a hero, and by others as a "lost sheep." It is needless to say that Deacon Blackford was one who held the latter opinion.