The Shubert brothers frowned. “I thought you could teach any elephant anything,” J. J. said.

“Not this one.” Helmut banged on the cage bars. “Stupid as they come.”

“He looks bright enough,” Lee Shubert observed.

“If it were me,” Helmut said, “I’d get rid of him.”

“We spent fifteen hundred dollars on this creature.” The two brothers exchanged glances. “We’re not accustomed to throwing away good money,” said J. J.

Jamie leaned the pitchfork against the wall and stepped forward. It hurt him something awful to hear Helmut speak ill of Baby that way. “Would you allow me to give it a go?” He tugged nervously at his cap.

Helmut snorted. “You?”

“I have an idea—” Jamie began.

“You are a no-good, worthless Irishman,” Helmut interrupted. “Fit only to shovel filthy hay.”

“I’m Irish, all right.” Jamie stood his ground. “But Baby and I understand each other. Both being orphans and all.”

“Get back to work.” Helmut grabbed the pitchfork and shoved it at Jamie.

“Hold up there.” Mr. J. J. Shubert stepped forward. “What harm is there in giving the lad a chance?”

“No harm at all,” said Mr. Lee Shubert, cutting off Helmut’s opportunity to respond. He nodded to Jamie. “What is your thought, boy?”

“Do you have a piece of paper I might use?” Jamie asked. “As a substitute for a program?”

Both brothers patted their pockets. “What about this?” J. J. pulled out a letter, unfolding it as he handed it over.

Jamie took it, then let himself into Baby’s cage. He slowly unfolded the letter while Baby’s trunk agitated back and forth. “This won’t hurt you.” Jamie’s voice was soft and kind. “I won’t hurt you.” He held the paper out. But Baby backed against the bars at the rear of the cage, uneasy with Helmut there as well as two men he didn’t know.

“See?” Helmut said. “Uncooperative.”

As if comforting an infant, Jamie began to sing “Hush Ye, My Bairnie.”

Baby snuffled, patted Jamie with his trunk.

“I think he likes it,” the plumper Shubert said, amazed.

Pat. Snuffle. Pat. Snuffle. Pat. Snuffle. Then with a clumsy rocking motion, Baby moved away from the bars, toward Jamie.

“Take a look at this.” Jamie held the piece of paper out again. When Baby tapped it with his trunk, Jamie instantly fed him a sugar cube. “Good boy!” Another tap. Another sugar cube. Soon, Baby was taking the paper from Jamie each time it was held out.

“That’s amazing!” Mr. Lee Shubert exclaimed.

“This animal looks perfectly cooperative to me,” said his brother.

Jamie glanced at Helmut’s face, wincing at the fury he saw there. “It was Helmut who laid the groundwork,” he said quickly. “I merely reaped the benefit of his skill.”

“Of course, of course.” The Shuberts shook Helmut’s hand. “Anyone can see that. Well done.”

“Come upstairs with us,” said Mr. J. J. Shubert. “There is a bonus in this for you.”

Without so much as a thank-you to Jamie, Helmut left with the Hippodrome’s owners.

“Well, now you’ll be their pet.” Jamie looked around for a bit of fresh fruit to toss to Baby and found nothing. “Okay. Okay.” He patted his pockets. His salary was being quickly devoured by Baby’s needs. “I’ll be right back.”

He tore up the stairs and out the door to the neighborhood pushcart vendor.

“Oh, my favorite klots,” the vendor said by way of greeting.

“I’m glad to see you, too,” Jamie replied, throwing coins at the man in exchange for armfuls of fruits and vegetables. He turned and ran back to the Hippodrome’s basement, so preoccupied that he wasn’t watching where he was going. He was stopped stone-cold when he crashed into someone.

A female someone.

“Sorry, miss!”

“No harm done.” The female someone smoothed her skirts, picking up a rutabaga that had gone flying out of Jamie’s pocket. “Are you one of those vegetarians?” The young woman held the vegetable in her hand, wearing a thoughtful expression. “How fascinating.”

Jamie counted four strings on various slim and ink-stained fingers while he pondered a reply. Was it possible that eyes could be such a shade of brown? He felt he could look at those eyes every day for the rest of his life and never tire of their color.

He shook his head to clear it. What was happening?

“Uh. Not me,” he said. “It’s my—it’s Baby.”

She paused. “Your baby?”

He paused, too. Could he trust her? “Would you like to come meet him?”

“Yes,” she answered decisively. “Yes, I would.”

She followed him down the steps and into the basement, never making one comment about the odors. He stopped in front of Baby’s cage.

A trunk snaked out, feeling around for food.

The young woman laughed, offering up the rutabaga. Baby took it, munching happily. “I’ve never fed an elephant before,” she said. “His skin feels like leather. So soft.”

As he fed Baby the rest of the vegetables, Jamie cast about in his brain for words of reply. There were none. It was as if he were a toddler who’d not yet learned to speak.

Again a smile. “Are you part of the show?” she inquired.

“The elephant is,” Jamie said. “I’m his assistant.” Flustered, he shook his head. “That’s not what I mean.”

The fabulous creature pushed her spectacles up on her nose. “But I think being an elephant’s assistant sounds like a fabulous job. Better than mine.”

Jamie found his tongue. “What’s yours, then?”

“Juggler.” The young woman mimed tossing balls.

Baby tapped her arm.

“I’m sorry, friend,” she said. “I don’t have anything else for you to eat.”

“He’s had plenty,” Jamie assured her. “Leave her be, you cheeky thing.”

“I’ll be late for rehearsal.” The young woman turned to go, and in that movement, Jamie’s heart nearly tore in two.

She paused. “Tell me, are they as intelligent as I’ve read they are?” A notebook appeared from her skirt pocket. A pencil appeared from elsewhere and was now poised over the paper.

Was she having him on? Jamie snuck an earnest glance at her lovely face, all lit up from the inside. He didn’t think so. “Whip smart,” he said, now doubly glad he’d read the books the other girl had given him. “And loving. They take care of one another.” His voice caught, overwhelmed by his memory of failing Kitty. His precious sister.

She peered over her notebook, catching his dismay. “I have been too nosy. I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I can’t help it. I am completely overcome with the need to gather knowledge. I know it is most unbecoming, but I can’t seem to stop myself. But if you do feel like sharing, I would be glad to listen.” She blinked those brown eyes at him.

And that was all it took. A dam broke inside, and all the sad Jamie had held within came flooding out: about Kitty and Baby and Helmut and the plan Audie had concocted.

“I see.” A smile as warm as a cozy fire spread across her face. “You’re a friend of Audacity’s?”

“Well, me and Baby,” he said, already regretting his confession. Oh, she’d have a good laugh over this with her friends later: a lowly orphan thinking he could be some kind of hero.

She grabbed Jamie’s hand and shook it, sending electric jolts up his arm and directly into his heart. “I’m her friend, too.” She leaned close, her peppermint breath whiskering against Jamie’s ear. “I’m helping Mr. Houdini to vanish one elephant. Perhaps I can be of assistance in vanishing this one, as well.” She put her fingers to her lips. “Don’t tell, will you?”

They could drag him through the East River and hang him by his toes from the el tracks; Jamie would never give up this creature’s secrets.

“I’d best be going now, miss.” Jamie was awobble with some emotion unfamiliar to him but which you, dear reader, would recognize as the first stirrings of true love.

“Soon, the city will be amazed at Harry Houdini, vanishing an elephant.” She pressed her hand to his arm. “But you and Audie will be the true magicians, Jamie Doolan. And it will be my great honor to be a part of your show.” With that, she was gone, leaving Jamie’s mouth hanging open wide enough for an elephant parade.