Walking to the outer fringe of the tent colony, Nancy saw several trailers. Perhaps Lolita lived in one of these!

"I'll just wander around among them and see what I can find out," Nancy decided.

Luck was with her. As she approached the first trailer, Nancy could hear two persons arguing heatedly.

"But, Father, I don't feel well enough to perform." It was the young aerialist speaking!

"You'll perform tonight and put on a good act, too!" the harsh voice of the ringmaster came to Nancy's ears.

"But I'm so afraid I'll fall again," Lolita said.

For the next two minutes, Kroon gave the aerialist a severe tongue-lashing. Nancy decided that the man was completely without reason. She was so incensed at him and so sorry for Lolita that she wanted to rush in at once and help the poor girl.

Suddenly the man thundered, "I'll give you exactly fifteen minutes to make up your mind, Lolita! Then I'll be back. You'd better decide to perform. If you don't, you'll be sorry. I'll discharge every single friend of yours in this circus!"

With that, he rushed out of the trailer and strode off. His face was livid and Nancy again wondered whether the man could be in his right mind.

When he was out of sight, she went to the door of the trailer. About to knock, she heard crying within. Nancy hesitated for several moments, wondering whether she should disturb the unhappy aerialist or not.

Her sympathy and desire to help got the better of Nancy. She tapped on the door. At first there was no response, then a tearful voice said:

"Come in."

Lolita was startled at seeing Nancy in the doorway and did not look pleased about it. Almost at once, though, she smiled, because Nancy's warm expression revealed that she wanted to be friendly. Without mentioning the fact that she knew Lolita had been crying or that she had overheard Kroon's threat, Nancy held up the beautiful charm bracelet.