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shaking with laughter； but Teddy did not happen to observe him； nor had
he noticed that the head clown had had no part in the conversation。
〃The human football？〃 questioned Teddy dubiously。
〃Yes。〃
〃What's that？〃
〃Oh； you dress up in funny makeup so you look like a huge ball。〃
〃But what do I do after I have bee a football？〃
〃Oh； you roll around in the arena； falling all over yourself and
everybody who happens to get in your way； you bounce up and down and
make all sorts of funny〃
〃Oh； I know；〃 cried Teddy enthusiastically。 〃I saw a fellow do that in
a show once。 He would fall on the ground on his back； then bounce up
into the air several feet。〃
〃You've hit it；〃 replied a clown dryly。
〃I remember how all the people laughed and shouted。 I'll bet I'd
make a hit doing that。〃
〃You would！〃 shouted the performers in chorus。
The show was playing in Batavia； New York； on a rainy night； with
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rather a small house expected； so no better time could have been chosen
for Teddy's first appearance as a clown。
〃Had I better speak to Mr。 Sparling about it？〃
〃Well； what do you think； fellows？〃
〃Oh； no； no！ The old man won't care。 If you make them laugh； he'll
be tickled half to death。〃
〃What do you say？ Is it a go； Tucker？〃
〃Well； I'll think about it。〃
Teddy strolled out in the paddock； where he walked up and down a
few times in the rain。 But the more he thought about the proposition； the
more enthusiastic he grew。 He could see himself the center of attraction；
and he could almost hear the howls of delight of the multitude。
〃They'll be surprised。 But I don't believe I had better go on without
first speaking to Mr。 Sparling。 He might discharge me。 He's had his eye
on me ever since the mule tore up the dressing tent。 But I won't tell Phil。
I'll just give him a surprise。 How he'll laugh when he sees me and finds
out who I am。〃
Thus deciding； the lad ran through the tents out to the front door；
where he asked for Mr。 Sparling； knowing that by this time the owner's
tent had been taken down and packed for shipment； even if it were not
already under way on the flying squadron。
He learned that Mr。 Sparling was somewhere in the menagerie tent。
Hurrying back there； Teddy soon came upon the object of his search。 At
that moment he was standing in front of the cage of Wallace； the biggest
lion in captivity； gazing at that shaggy beast thoughtfully。
〃Mr。 Sparling；〃 called Teddy。
The showman turned； shooting a sharp glance at the flushed face of the
Circus Boy。
〃Well； what's wrong？〃
〃Nothing is wrong； sir。〃
〃e to kick about feed in the cook tent？〃
〃Oh； no； no； sir！ Nothing like that。 I've e to ask a favor of
you。〃
〃Humph！ I thought as much。 Well； what is it？〃
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〃II think I'd like to be a clown； sir。〃
〃A clown？〃 asked the showman； with elevated eyebrows。
〃Yes； sir。〃
Mr。 Sparling laughed heartily。
〃Why； you're that already。 You are a clown； though you may not
know it。 You've been a clown ever since you wore long dresses； I'll
wager。〃
〃But I want to be a real one；〃 urged Teddy。
〃What kind of clown？〃
〃I thought I'd like to be a human football。〃 This time Mr。 Sparling
glanced at the boy in genuine surprise。
〃A human football？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃What put that idea into your head？〃
〃Some of the fellows suggested it。〃
〃Ah！ I thought so；〃 twinkled Mr。 Sparling。 〃Who； may I ask？〃
〃Well； I guess most all of them did。〃
〃I know； but who suggested it first？〃
〃I think the Iron…Jawed Man was the first to say that I ought to be a
clown。 He thought I would make a great hit。〃
〃No doubt； no doubt；〃 snapped the showman in a tone that led Teddy
to believe he was angry about something。
〃May I？〃
Mr。 Sparling reflected a moment； raised his eyes and gazed at the
dripping roof of the menagerie tent。
〃When is this first appearance to be made； if I may ask？〃
〃Oh； tonight。 The fellows said it would be a good time； as there
would not be a very big house。〃
〃Oh； they did； eh？ Well； go ahead。 But remember you do it at your
own risk。〃
〃Thank you。〃
Teddy was off for the dressing room on a run。
〃I'm It；〃 he cried； bursting in upon them。
〃Get the suit；〃 manded a voice。 〃He's It。〃
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Somebody hurried to the property room； returning with a full rubber
suit； helmet and all。 As yet it was merely a bundle。 They bade Teddy get
into it； all hands crowding about him； offering suggestions and lending
their assistance。
〃My； I didn't know I was so popular here；〃 thought the lad； pleased
with these unusual attentions。 〃They must think I'm the real thing。 I'll
show them I am； too。〃
〃Get the pump；〃 directed the Iron…Jawed Man。
A bicycle pump was quickly produced； and； opening a valve； one of
the performers began pumping air into the suit。
〃Here； what are you doing？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Blowing you up〃
〃Here； I don't want to be blown up。〃
〃With a bicycle pump；〃 added the performer； grinning through the
powder and grease paint on his face。
〃Say； you ought to use that on the press agent！〃
The performers howled at this sally。
Teddy began to swell out of all proportion to his natural size； as the
bicycle pump inflated his costume。 In a few moments he had grown so
large that he could not see his own feet； while the hood about his head left
only a small portion of his face visible。
〃Monster！〃 hissed a clown； shaking a fist in Teddy's face。
〃I guess I am。 I'd make a hit as the Fattest Boy on Earth in this rig；
wouldn't I？ I'll bet the Living Skeleton will be jealous when he sees me。〃
〃There； I guess he's pumped up；〃 announced the operator of the
bicycle pump。
〃Try it and see；〃 suggested a voice。
〃All right。〃
Teddy got a resounding blow that flattened him on the ground。 But
before he could raise his voice in protest he had bounded to his feet； and
someone caught him； preventing his going right on over the other way。
The performers howled with delight。
〃He'll do。 He'll do；〃 they shouted。
〃Don't you do that again；〃 warned the boy； a little dazed。
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The time was at hand for the clowns to make their own grand entry。
〃e on； that's our cue！〃 shouted one； as the band struck up a new
tune。
〃II can't run。 I'm too fat。〃
〃We'll help you。〃
And they did。 With a clown on either side of him； Teddy was rushed
through the silk curtains and out past the bandstand； his feet scarcely
touching the ground。 Part of the time the clowns were half dragging him；
and at other times carrying him。
At first the audience did not catch the significance of it。 Straight for
ring No。 1 Tucker's associates rushed him。 But just as they reached the
ring they let go of him。
Of course Teddy fell over the wooden ring curbing； and went rolling
and bouncing into the center of the sawdust arena。 Phil had made his
change in the menagerie tent after finishing his elephant act； and was just
entering the big top as Teddy made his sensational entrance。 He caught
sight of his panion at once。
〃Who's that？〃 he asked of Mr。 Sparling； who was standing at the
entrance with a broad grin on his face。
〃That； my dear Phil； is your very good friend； Mr。 Teddy Tucker。〃
〃Teddy？ You don't mean it？〃
〃Yes； he has decided to be a clown； and I guess he is on the way。 The
people are kicking on the seats and howling。〃
〃I should judge； from appearances； that the other clowns were getting
even more entertainment out of his act than is the audience。〃
〃It certainly looks that way。 But let them go。 It will do Master
Teddy a whole lot of good。〃
A clown jumped to the ring curbing and made a speech about the
wonderful human football； announcing at the same time that the
championship game was about to be played。
Then they began to play in earnest。 Some had slapsticks； others light
barrel staves； and with these they began to belabor the human football；
each blow being so loud that it could be heard all over the tent。 Of
course the blows did not hurt Teddy at all； but the bouncing and buffeting
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that he got aroused his anger。
One clown would pick the lad up and throw him to a panion； who；
in turn； would drop him。 Then the audience would yell with delight as
the ball bounced to an upright position again。 This the clowns kept up until
Teddy did not know whether he were standing on his feet or his head。
The perspiration was rolling down his face； getting into his eyes and
blinding him。
〃Quit it！〃 he howled。
〃Maybe you'll ride the educated mule through the dressing tent again？〃
jeered a clown。
〃Bring the mule out and let him knock the wind out of the rubber
man！〃 suggested another。
〃How do you like being a clown？〃
This and other taunts were shouted at the rubber man； Teddy
meanwhile expressing himself with unusual vehemence。
Mr。 Sparling had in the meantime sent a message back to the paddock。
He was holding his sides with laughter； while Phil himself was leaning
against a quarter pole shouting with merriment。
Suddenly there came the sound of a clanging gong； interspersed with
shouts from the far end of the tent。
The spectators quickly glanced in that direction； and they saw ing
at a rapid rate the little patrol wagon drawn by four diminutive ponies； the
outfit so familiar to the boys who attend the circus。
The clowns were surprised when they observed it； knowing that the
patrol was not scheduled to enter at this time。 Their surprise was even
greater when the wagon dashed up and stopped where they were playing
their game of football。 Three mock policemen leaped out and rushe