That day, while Toby performed his arduous labors, his heart was
very light, for the evidences which the skeleton and his wife had
given of their regard for him were very gratifying. He determined
that he would do his very best to please so long as he was with
the circus, and then, when he got a chance to run away, he would
do so, but not until he had said goodby to Mr. and Mrs. Treat and
thanked them again for their interest in him.
When he had finished his work in the tent that night Mr. Lord said
to him, as he patted him on the back in the most fatherly fashion,
and as if he had never spoken a harsh word to him, "You can't come
in here to sell candy now that you are one of the performers, my
boy; an' if I can find another boy tomorrow you won't have to work
in the booth any longer, an' your salary of a dollar a week will
go on just the same, even if you don't have anything to do but to
ride."
This was a bit of news that was as welcome to Toby as it was
unexpected, and he felt more happy then than he had for the ten
weeks that he had been traveling under Mr. Lord's cruel mastership.
But there was one thing that night that rather damped his joy, and
that was that he noticed that Mr. Lord was unusually careful to
watch him, not even allowing him to go outside the tent without
following. He saw at once that, if he was to have a more easy time,
his chances for running away were greatly diminished, and no number
of beautiful costumes would have made him content to stay with the
circus one moment longer than was absolutely necessary.
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