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"He must have come in under the side of the tent," said the Ringmaster. "I'll just go over and collect his money."
Bitsy was so busy watching the bareback riders that he did not see the Ringmaster until it was too late. He felt himself picked up by a large hand while a voice roared:
"You owe the circus a nickel."
"I am sorry but I have no money," said Bitsy, trying to breath in the tight grip.
"But you have seen the circus," roared the Ringmaster.
"I will be glad to work out the nickel," cried Bitsy.
"You are too small to water my elephants," said the Ringmaster. "What can you do?"
"Maybe, I could get a job in the bad," said Bitsy.
"Ah, just the thing..."
And the Ringmaster carried Bitsy over to the stand where the band was preparing for the next number.
The wires were studying their music, but their bodies were shaking so hard it was a wonder they could see the notes.
The Ringmaster sat Bitsy down in front of a big bass wire.
"Got anything for this fellow to do?"
"Had any experience?" asked the bass wire.
"No, sir," said Bitsy.
"Well, we might use you as a spare in case somebody snaps," said the bass wire. "Can you read music?"
"No, sir," said Bitsy.
"You young wires have no training at all," complained the bass wire.
Suddenly, a violent fit of shaking seized him, and for a minute it looked as if his teeth would fall out of his head.
"You can borrow my scarf if you are cold," said Bitsy.
All of the other wires began to shake a little harder as they began to laugh.
"He is not cold," explained one. "A music wire gets so used

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