"And not mother, too?" asked the elephant-lady in a reproachful tone.

"And Mother!" cried Jerry, sliding out of his father's arms and running
to her. He climbed upon her lap and buried his face on her shoulder and
gave her neck a very hard hug, just to show how much he was going to
love her.

"Oh, you are my own darling, loving Gary!" she cried in a voice that was
tearful, but very joyful through the tearfulness, while she almost
squeezed the breath out of Jerry again. "And now we must go at once and
thank kind, good Mrs. Mullarkey for caring for our boy."

"Yes," said her husband. "The circus is out and we will have time before
the evening performance."

"Mother 'Larkey will be awful glad to see the circus," Jerry remarked.
"She ain't seen none since just after she was married. An' so will Nora
and Celia Jane."




CHAPTER XII

THE DIZZY SEAT OF GLORY


"You boys wait here while Helen and I get ready," said Whiteface, "and
then we'll pay our respects to Mrs. Mullarkey and Nora and Celia Jane