It was a merry little party that gathered later in the hotel room for Helen's supper. She sat at the head of the table, with Joe on one side and Bill Watson, the veteran clown, on the other. "Well, did you make out all right with your lawyer friend?" Joe asked. "Oh, yes, Joe, I never had so much money at one time in my life before." "What did you do with it?" "I kept out enough to pay for this supper, and the rest I put in the circus ticket wagon safe." "What, all your cash?" "Oh, I didn't take it all, Joe." "You didn't take it all?" "No. Mr. Sanford--he's the law clerk, you know--said I ought not to have so much money with me, so he offered to take care for me all I didn't want to use right away." "He's going to take care of it for you?" Joe repeated. "Yes. He says he can invest it for me. But eat your supper, Joe." Somehow or other Joe Strong did not feel much like eating. He had a sudden and undefinable suspicion of that law clerk. CHAPTER XX A FALL There were merry hearts at the little celebration given by Helen Morton--"Mademoiselle Mortonti"--in recognition of coming into her inheritance. That is, the hearts were all merry save that of Joe Strong. For a few seconds after Helen had made the statement about having left her money with the law clerk for investment, Joe could only stare at her. On her part the young circus rider seemed to think there was nothing unusual in what she had done. "Congratulations, Miss Morton!" called Bill Watson, as he waved his napkin in the air. "Congratulations!" "Why don't you call me Helen as you used to?" asked the girl. "Oh, you're quite a rich young lady now, and I didn't think you would want me to be so familiar," he replied with a laugh. "Goodness! I hope every one isn't going to get so formal all at once," she remarked, with a look at Joe. "I won't--not unless you want me to," he answered. "But why don't you eat?" she asked him. "You sit there as if you had no appetite. I'm as hungry as a bear--one of our own circus bears, too. Come, why don't you eat and be happy?" "I--I'm thinking," Joe remarked. "This isn't the time to think!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so glad I have a little money. I won't have to worry now if I shouldn't be able to go on with my circus act. I could take a vacation if I wanted to, couldn't I?" "Are you going to?" asked Joe. Somehow he felt a sudden sinking sensation in the region of his heart. At least he judged it was his heart that was affected. "No, not right away," Helen answered. "I'm going to stay with the show until it goes into winter quarters, anyhow." "And after that?" "Oh, I don't know." The little celebration went merrily on. Helen's health was proposed many times, being pledged in lemonade, grape juice and ginger ale. She blushed with pleasure as she sat between Joe and the veteran clown, for many nice things were said about her, as one after another of her guests congratulated her on her good fortune.