Joe Strong was the son of Professor Morretti, a famous magician, and Madame Hortense, an equally famous bareback circus rider. Unfortunately, Joe's parents died while he was still a child. He was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Blackford, who had not particularly high opinions of circus performers. Thus, ultimately, Joe decided to run away and become the assistant of the magician Professor Roselle, where he learns the art of magic. Mixed into the magic instructions are exciting stories of an exploding firework factory, daring rescues, burglaries, and police pursuits.
The unique feature of this adventure story for boys is that it includes a detailed description of several magic tricks. Although there are no illustrations included, the descriptions are not much different from how an instructional magic book around that time would have explained these magic tricks.
- CHAPTER I. Joe Solves A Puzzle
- CHAPTER II. A Fireworks Fire
- CHAPTER III. To The Rescue
- CHAPTER IV. Joe's Feat
- CHAPTER V. Joe's Ambition
- CHAPTER VI. A Family Jar
- CHAPTER VII. Mr. Blackford's Trouble
- CHAPTER VIII. The Runaway
- CHAPTER IX. The Overturned Lamp
- CHAPTER X. The Side-Door Pullman
- CHAPTER XI. A Surprised Deacon
- CHAPTER XII. The Professor's Assistant
- CHAPTER XIII. Joe's Help Needed
- CHAPTER XIV. Joe's Disappearance
- CHAPTER XV. Invoking The Law
- CHAPTER XVI. The Smashed Watch
- CHAPTER XVII. Joe Learns Something
- CHAPTER XVIII. The Magic Egg
- CHAPTER XIX. The Circus
- CHAPTER XX. Some Trapeze Tricks
- CHAPTER XXI. Almost Caught
- CHAPTER XXII. Strange News
- CHAPTER XXIII. "I've Got You!"
- CHAPTER XXIV. Caught
- CHAPTER XXV. Joe's Clever Trick
