Joe did not know just what he would do. What he had overheard caused him to be vaguely uneasy. His old suspicions came back to him. CHAPTER XXII BAD NEWS Joe Strong waited until he had a chance to speak privately to the man who had admitted losing money in oil stocks. This hospital patient was a Mr. Anton Buchard, and his room was not far from Joe's. "Excuse me," began the young trapeze performer in opening the talk. "But a short time ago I happened to overhear what you were telling your friend about some oil stocks--the Circle City Syndicate. I didn't mean to listen, but I couldn't help hearing what you were saying." "Oh, don't let that part worry you," said Mr. Buchard. "It's no secret that I lost my money in that wild-cat speculation. But are you interested in it?" "To a certain extent I am," Joe answered. "I hope you didn't buy any of the worthless stock." "No, but a friend of mine was induced to. That is--er--she--she has some stock of the Circle City Oil Syndicate. It may not be the same as that you were speaking of." "No, that is true. There are many oil concerns in the market, and lots of them are legitimate, and are making money. But there are plenty of others which are frauds. And the one I invested in is that kind. "Of course, as you say, it may not be the same as that in which your friend holds stock, even if it has the same name. Would you know any of the officers or directors of the concern in which your friend holds stock?" "I'm afraid not," Joe replied. "I did not see her stock certificates. She bought them through a law clerk named Sanford." Mr. Buchard shook his head. "I don't recognize that name," he said. "But of course anybody could sell the stock. How did your friend ever come to be interested in this concern?" Thereupon Joe told of Helen's inheritance, mentioning the fact that he and she both were in the circus. "The circus, eh!" exclaimed the man. "Well, now that's interesting! I remember, when I was a boy, it was my great ambition to run away and join a circus. But I dare say it isn't such a life of roses as I imagined." "There's plenty of hard work," Joe told him, "and then something like this is likely to happen to you at any time--especially if you are on the trapeze," and he motioned to the bandages still around his neck and shoulders. "I'll tell you what I'll do," said Mr. Buchard, when Joe had finished telling of Helen's fortune. "I'm going out of here in a couple of days. I'm getting much better--that is until the next attack. I'll get out my worthless certificates of stock in the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and bring you one. You can then see the names of the officers and directors, and can compare them with the names on Miss Morton's stock. If they are the same it's pretty sure to be the same company." "And if it is," asked Joe, "would you advise her to sell out?"