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his wife and the members of Mr。 Sparling's staff。
For once Teddy went through a meal with great dignity； as befitted one
who was in the hero class。
〃What happened to cause the wreck last night？〃 asked Phil； turning to
his host of the morning at the first opportunity。
〃The car went off over a blind switch that had been opened。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃Ah； that's the question。〃
〃Perhaps one of the railroad men opened it by mistake；〃 suggested
Teddy。 〃Nobody else would have a key。〃
〃You'll find no railroad man made that blunder；〃 replied Phil。
〃No！ While the railroad is responsible for the damages； I hardly
think they are for the wreck。 No key was used to open the switch。〃
〃No key？〃
〃No。〃
〃How； then？〃
〃The lock was wrenched off with an iron bar and the switch wedged
fast； so there could be no doubt about what would happen。 It might have
happened to some other car not belonging to us； though it was a pretty safe
gamble that it would catch one of ours。〃
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〃I thought as much；〃 nodded Phil。 〃But perhaps its just as well。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 questioned the showman sharply。
〃That the railroad folks will do what the police are too lazy to do。〃
〃What？〃
〃Get after the fellow who did it；〃 suggested Phil wisely。
〃That's so！ That's so！ I hadn't thought of it in that light before。
You've got a long head； my boy。 You always have had； for that matter as
long as I have known you； so it stands to reason that you must always have
been that way。〃
Teddy； having finished his breakfast； excused himself and strolled off
to another part of the tent where he might find more excitement。 He sat
down in his own place near the freak table and began talking shop with
some of the performers； while Phil and Mr。 Sparling continued their
conversation。
〃I haven't given up hopes of catching him myself； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃You came pretty close to it Saturday night。〃
〃And I wasn't so far from it last night either；〃 laughed the boy。 〃Going
to be able to save the acmodation car？〃
〃No； it's a hopeless wreck。〃
〃You probably will not put on another this season then？〃
〃What would you suggest？〃
〃I should not think it would be advisable。 Most of the people go
downtown； anyway； to get their lunch after the show。〃
〃Exactly。 That's the way it appeared to me； but I wanted to get your
point of view。〃 It was not that the owner had not made up his mind； but
that he wanted to get Phil Forrest's mind working from the point of view
of the manager and owner of a circus； seeing in Phil； as he did； the making
of a future great showman。
All at once their conversation was disturbed by a great uproar at the
further end of the tent； near where Teddy sat。
Two midgets； arguing the question as to which of them was the
Smallest Man in the World； had bee so heated that they fell to
pummeling each other with their tiny fists。
Instantly the tent was in confusion； and with one accord the performers
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and freaks gathered around to watch the miniature battle。
A waiter in his excitement； stepped in a woodchuck hole； spilling a
bowl of steaming hot soup down the Fat Woman's neck。
〃Help！ Help！ I'm on fire！〃 she shrieked。
Teddy； now that he had bee a hero； felt called upon to hurry to the
rescue。 Seizing a pitcher of ice water； he leaped over a bench and
dumped the contents of the pitcher over the head of the Fattest Woman on
Earth。 Several chunks of ice； along with a liberal quantity of the water；
slid down her neck。
This was more than human flesh could stand。 The Fat Woman
staggered to her feet uttering a series of screams that might have been
heard all over the lot； while those on the outside came rushing in to assist
in what they believed to be a serious disturbance。
Mr。 Sparling pushed his way through the crowd； roaring out mand
after mand； but somehow； the ring about the Fat Woman and the
fighting midgets did not give way readily。 The show people were too
much engrossed in the funny spectacle of the midgets to wish to be
disturbed。
Not so Teddy Tucker。
Having quenched the fire that was consuming the Fat Woman； he
pushed his way through the crowd； with the stern mand； 〃Stand aside
here！〃 and fell upon the Lilliputian gladiators。
〃Break away！〃 roared Teddy； grasping each by the collar and giving
him a violent tug。
What was his surprise when both the little men suddenly turned upon
him and started pushing and beating him。
Taken unawares； Teddy began to back up； to the acpaniment of the
jeers of the spectators。
The crowd howled its appreciation of the turn affairs had taken； Teddy
steadily giving ground before the enraged Lilliputians。
As it chanced a washtub filled with pink lemonade that had been
prepared for the thirsty crowds stood directly in the lad's path。 If anyone
observed it； he did not so inform Teddy。
All at once the Circus Boy sat down in the tub of pink lemonade with a
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loud splash； pink fluid spurting up in a veritable fountain over such parts
of him as were not already in the tub。
Teddy howled for help； while the show people shrieked with delight；
the lad in his efforts to get out of the tub； falling back each time； until
finally rescued from his unfortable position by the owner of the show
himself。
〃That's what you get for meddling with other peoples' affairs；〃 chided
Phil； laughing immoderately as he observed the rueful countenance of his
friend。
〃If I hadn't meddled with you last night； you'd have been a dead one
today；〃 retorted the lad。 〃Anyway； I've made a loud splash this morning。〃
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CHAPTER XXIII
SEARCHING THE TRAIN
Salt Lake City proved an unusual attraction to the Circus Boys； they
having read so much of it in story and textbooks。
Here they visited the great Mormon Temple。 During their two day
stand they made a trip out to the Great Salt Lake where Teddy Tucker
insisted in going in swimming。 His surprise was great when he found
that he could not swim at all in the thick； salty water。 The trip over the
mountains； through the wonderful scenery of the Rockies and the deep
canyons where the sunlight seldom reaches was one of unending interest
to them。
Most of the show people had been over this same ground with other
circuses many times before； for there are few corners of the civilized
world that the seasoned showman has not visited at least once in his life。
It was all new to the Circus Boys； however； and in the long day trips
over mountain and plain； they found themselves fully occupied with the
new； entrancing scenes。
By this time both lads had bee really finished performers in their
various acts； and they had gone on through the greater part of the season
without serious accident in their work。 Of course they had had tumbles；
as all showmen do； but somehow they managed to e off with whole
skins。
For a time after the wreck of the acmodation car the show had no
further trouble that could be laid at the door of Red Larry or his partner。
However； after a few days； the reports of burglaries in towns where the
show exhibited became even more numerous。
〃We can't furnish police protection to the places we visit；〃 answered
Mr。 Sparling； when spoken to about this。 〃But； if ever I get my hands on
that red head； the fur will fly！〃
Passing out of the state of Utah； a few stands were made in Nevada；
but the jumps were now long and it was all the circus trains could do to get
from stand to stand in time。 As it was； they were not always able to give
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the parade； but the manager made up for this by getting up a free show out
in front of the big top just before the afternoon and evening performances
began。
Reno was the last town played in Nevada； and everyone breathed a
sigh of relief as the tents were struck and the show moved across the line
into California。 The difficulty of getting water for man and beast had
proved a most serious one。 At Reno； however； a most serious thing had
occurred； one that disturbed the owner of the show very greatly。 Many of
the guy ropes holding the big top； had been cut while the performance was
going on and most of the canvasmen and laborers were engaged in taking
down and loading the menagerie outfit。
A wind storm was ing up； but fortunately it veered off before
reaching Reno。 The severed ropes were not discovered until after the
show was over and the tent was being struck。 Mr。 Sparling had been
quickly summoned。 After a careful examination of the ropes he
understood what had happened。 Phil； too； had discovered one cut rope
and the others； on his way from the dressing tent to the front； after
finishing his performance。
But there was nothing now that required his looking up Mr。 Sparling；
in view of the fact that the canvas was already ing down。 Yet after
getting his usual night lunch in the town； the lad strolled over to the
railroad yards intending to visit the manager as soon as the latter should
have returned from the lot。
The two met just outside the owner's private car； a short time after the
loading had been pleted。
〃Oh； I want to see you； Mr。 Sparling； if you have the time。〃
〃I've always time for that。 I was in hopes I would get a chance to
have a chat with you before we got started。 Will you e in？〃
〃Yes； thank you。〃
Entering the private car Mr。 Sparling took off his coat and threw
himself into a chair in front of his roll…top desk。
〃Phil； there's deviltry going on in this outfit again；〃 he said fixing a
stern eye on the little Circus Boy。
Phil nodded。
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