按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
much in charge of the show at that moment as if he had been the
proprietor himself。
Shortly after that Mr。 Kennedy came rushing in on one of the circus
ponies that he had taken from a parade rider。 Phil was delighted to see
that the keeper was uninjured。
〃Did you do this； Phil Forrest？〃 he shouted bursting in。
〃Yes。 But I'll have to do it all over again if you keep on yelling like
that。 What happened to you？〃
〃Jupiter threw me over a fence； into an excavation where they were
digging for a new building。 I thought I was dead； but after a little I came
to and crawled out。 It was all over but the shouting then。〃
〃Did you know I had them？〃
〃No； not until I got near the lot。 I followed their tracks you see。
Finally some people told me a kid was leading the herd back here。 I
knew that was you。 Phil Forrest； you are a dandy。 I can't talk now！ I'm
too winded。 I'll tell you later on what I think of your kind。 Now I'm
going to whale the daylights out of that Jupiter。〃
〃Please don't do anything of the sort；〃 begged Phil。 〃He is quiet now。
He has forgotten all about it。 I am afraid if you try to punish him you
will only make him worse。〃
〃Good elephant sense；〃 emphasized the keeper。 〃You ought to be on
the animals。〃
94
… Page 95…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃It seems to me that I have been pretty well on them today；〃 grinned
the lad。 〃Oh； was anybody killed？〃
〃I think not。 Don't believe anyone was very seriously hurt。 You see；
that open lot there gave the people plenty of chance to see what was
ing。 They had plenty of time to get away after that。〃
〃I'm so glad。 I hope no one was killed。〃
〃Reckon there would have been if you hadn't got busy when you did。〃
〃Have you seen Mrs。 Robinson？ I'm rather anxious about her。〃
〃There she is now。〃
Dimples had changed her torn white dress for a short riding skirt； and
when Phil turned about she was running toward him with outstretched
arms。 He braced himself and blushed violently。
〃Oh； you dear；〃 cried the impulsive little equestrienne； throwing both
arms about Phil's neck。 〃I wish my boy could have seen you do that！ It
was splendid。 You're a hero！ You'll see what a craze the people will
make of you〃
〃II think they are more likely to chase us out of town；〃 laughed Phil。
〃We must have smashed up things pretty thoroughly downtown。〃
〃Never mind； Mr。 Sparling will settle the damage。 The only trouble
will be that he won't have anyone to scold。 You saved the day； Phil； and
you saved me as well。 Of course I'm not much； but I value my precious
little life just as highly as the next oneI mean the next person。〃
〃The bay ran away with you； didn't he？〃
〃I suppose that's what some people would call it。 It would have been
a glorious ride if it hadn't been that I expected you were being trampled to
death back there。 The bay brought me right to the lot； then stopped； of
course。 Circus horses have a lot of sense。 I heard right away that you
were not injured and that you were bringing the bulls in。 Then I was
happy。 I'm happy now。 We'll have a lesson after the show。 You〃
〃When do you think I shall be fit to go in the ring？〃
〃Fit now！ You're ahead of a good many who have been working at it
for years； and I mean just what I'm saying。 There is Mr。 Sparling。
e on； run along back to the paddock with me。 I haven't finished
talking with you yet。〃
95
… Page 96…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Perhaps he may want me；〃 hesitated Phil。
〃Nothing very particular。 He'll want to have it out with Mr。 Kennedy
first。 Then； if he wants you； he can go back and hunt you up； or send for
you。 Mr。 Sparling knows how to send for people when he wants them；
doesn't he？〃 twinkled Dimples。
〃I should say he did；〃 grinned Phil。 〃He's not bashful。 Has my
friend Teddy got back yet？〃
〃Haven't seen him。 Why？ Worried about him？〃
〃Not particularly。 He has a habit of taking care of himself under most
circumstances。〃
Dimples laughed heartily。
〃It will take more than a stampede to upset him。 He'll make a
showman if he ever settles down to the work in earnest。〃
〃He has settled down； Mrs。 Robinson；〃 answered Phil with some
dignity。
〃My； my！ But you needn't growl about it。 I was paying him a
pliment。〃
Thus she chattered on until they reached the paddock。 They had been
there but a few moments before the expected summons for Phil was
brought。
96
… Page 97…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION
Phil responded rather reluctantly。 He would have much preferred to
sit out in the paddock talking circus with Little Dimples。
He found Mr。 Sparling striding up and down in front of the elephant
enclosure。
〃I hope nothing very serious happened； Mr。 Sparling；〃 greeted Phil；
approaching him。
〃If you mean damages； no。 A few people knocked down； mostly due
to their own carelessness。 I've got the claim…adjuster at work settling
with all we can get hold of。 But we'll get it all back tonight； my boy。
We'll have a turn…away this afternoon； too； unless I am greatly mistaken。
Why； they're lining up outside the front door now。〃
〃I'm glad for both these things；〃 smiled Phil。 〃Especially so because
no one was killed。〃
〃No。 But one of our bareback riders was put out of business for a
time。〃
〃Is that so？ Who？〃
〃Monsieur Liebman。〃
〃Oh； that's too bad。 What happened to him？〃
〃Someone ran him down。 He was thrown and sprained his ankle。 He
won't ride for sometime； I reckon。 But e over here and sit down。 I
want to have a little chat with you。〃
Mr。 Sparling crossed the tent； sitting down on a bale of straw just back
of the monkey cage。 The simians were chattering loudly； as if discussing
the exciting incidents of the morning。 But as soon as they saw the
showman they flocked to the back of the cage； hanging by the bars；
watching him to find out what he was going to do。
He made a place for Phil beside him。
〃Sit down。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃I was just running up in my mind； on my way back； that； in actual
97
… Page 98…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
figures； you've saved me about ten thousand dollars。 Perhaps it might be
double that。 But that's near enough for all practical purposes。〃
〃I saved you〃 marveled Phil； flushing。
〃Yes。〃
〃How？〃
〃Well； you began last year； and you have started off at the same old
pace this season。 Today you have gone and done it again。 That was one
of the nerviest things I ever saw。 I wouldn't have given a copper cent for
your life； and I'll bet you wouldn't； either。〃
〃N…o…o；〃 reflected Phil slowly； 〃I thought I was a goner。〃
〃While the rest of our crowd were hiking for cover； like a lot of 'cold
feet；' you were diving right into the heart of the trouble； picking up my
principal equestrienne。 Then you sent her away and stopped to face the
herd of bulls。 Jumping giraffes； but it was a sight！〃
By this time the monkeys had gone back to finish their animated
discussion。
〃I do not deserve any credit for that。 I was caught and I thought I
might as well face the music。〃
〃Bosh！ I heard you calling for Emperor； and I knew right away that
that little head of yours was working like the wheels of a chariot in a
Roman race。 I knew what you were trying to do； but I'd have bet a
thousand yards of canvas you never would。 You did； though；〃 and the
showman sighed。
Phil was very much embarrassed and sat kicking his heels into the soft
turf； wishing that Mr。 Sparling would talk about something else。
〃The whole town is talking about it。 I'm going to have the press
agent wire the story on ahead。 I told him； just before I came in； that if
he'd follow you he'd get 'copy' enough to last him all the rest of his natural
life。 All that crowd out there has e because there was a young circus
boy with the show； who had a head on his shoulders and the pluck to back
his gray matter。〃
〃Have you talked with Mr。 Kennedy？〃 asked Phil； wishing to change
the personal trend of the conversation。
〃Yes； why？〃
98
… Page 99…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Did he say what he thought was the matter with Jupiter？〃
〃He didn't know。 He knew only that Jupiter had been 'off' for nearly
two days。 Kennedy said something about a bad stomach。 Why do you
ask that question？〃 demanded the showman； with a shrewd glance at the
boy。
〃Because I have been wondering about Jupiter quite a little since
morning。 I've been thinking； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃Now what are you driving at？ You've got something in your head。
Out with it！〃
〃It may sound foolish； but〃
〃But what？〃
〃While Jupiter was bad； he showed none of the signs that e from a
fit of purely bad temperthat is； before the stampede。〃
〃That's right。〃
〃Then what brought it on？〃 asked Phil looking Mr。 Sparling squarely
in the eyes。
For a few seconds man and boy looked at each other without a word。
〃What's your idea？〃 asked the showman quietly。
〃It's my opinion that somebody doctored himgave him something〃
The showman uttered a long； low whistle。
〃You've hit it！ You've hit it！〃 he exclaimed； bringing a hand down on
the lad's knee with such force that Phil winced。 〃It's one of those rascally
canvasmen that I discharged。 Oh； if ever I get my hands on him it will be
a sorry day for him！ You haven't seen him about； have you？〃
〃I thought I caught a glimpse of him on the street yesterday during the
parade； but he disappeared so quickly that I could not be sure。〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded reflectively。
〃You probably heard how Emperor ducked him and〃
〃Yes； you remember I came up just after the occurrence。 I'll tell you
what I want you to do。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I'll release you from the parade for tomorrow； and perhaps longer； and