They found the squire busy in his office, looking over some legal papers.

Without preliminaries Barton Reeve introduced himself. The squire listened in silence, at the same time scowling at Leo.

"Want to quit the farm and become a circus performer, eh?" said Dobb at last. "Can't let you do it. You'll have to go back to Daniel Hawkins'

farm."

"I never will!" returned Leo warmly. "I'll run away entirely first."

"We'll see," sniffed Squire Dobb.

Barton Reeve had sized up the lawyer at a glance. He saw that the man was a crafty villain, not to be trusted.

"Squire, would you mind showing me your authority over this boy?" he remarked firmly.

"Wh-what?" was the surprised exclamation.

"I would like to learn your legal authority over Leo."

"It's none of your business!"

"I shall make it my business."

"Going to pry into matters, eh?"

"Yes, unless you consent to release Leo. He has been misused on the Hawkins' place."

The face of Nathan Dobb was a study. If there was one thing he feared it was the exposure of the past. Why he feared this will be explained later.

"I'll have to see Hawkins first," he said at last.

"When will you see him?"

"To-day. But what is Leo to do?"

"He is going to travel with me and perform in the circus."

"He can't do anything."

"Never mind. I'll teach him a thing or two," replied Barton Reeve.

He was afraid if he told Squire Dobb what Leo could really do that the miserly lawyer would want money for the release.

After a little more talk Leo and Reeve left the squire's house.

On the next day Reeve got a short note from Dobb. It read:

"I have given up all claim to Leo Dunbar, and so has Daniel Hawkins."

Leo was much pleased. Barton Reeve smiled to himself.

"There is something in all this, Leo," he said. "Next week, when I get time, I'll look into your past and Squire Dobb's doings."

CHAPTER IX.-THE MAD ELEPHANT.

From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Gra.s.scannon.

At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the "Greatest Show on Earth."

These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

But the rules in the "Greatest Show on Earth" are very strict, and no intoxication is allowed.

After leaving Gra.s.scannon, the circus struck up through New York State, and at the end of the week arrived at Buffalo.

It was while at this place that Broxton tried to play a dangerous trick upon Leo.

He met the young gymnast on the street one night after the performance.

He was under the influence of liquor at the time, and in his pocket he carried what is known by the boys as a giant torpedo.

As Leo turned a corner he threw the torpedo at Leo's feet.

Luckily the torpedo failed to explode.

Had it gone off the young gymnast would have been sadly crippled.

"You rascal!" cried Leo, and he made for Broxton and landed him in the gutter.

Some of the other performers then came up.

"What's the row, Leo?"

"Look what Broxton threw at me," he replied, and handed the torpedo around for inspection.

While the explosive was being examined, Broxton sneaked off, and it was well for him that he did so, for otherwise the crowd would have pounced upon him and given him the greatest warming up of his life.

But that ended Broxton's hope of rejoining the circus. The story of his attempt on Leo circulated, and he did not dare to show his face anywhere around the dressing tents.

After leaving Buffalo the circus turned southward toward Pennsylvania.

One night they arrived at Harmony Falls.