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illogical advice。
〃How far are you going this year？〃 asked one of the boys。
〃I can't say。 I understand we are going southto Dixie Land for the
last half of the season。 I think we are headed for Canada； just now；
swinging around the circuit as it were。 Isn't it about time we were getting
back to the train； Teddy？〃
〃No； I guess not。 I haven't eaten up all the cookies yet。 Please pass
the cookies； you fellow up there at the head of the table。〃
〃We shall have our little entertainment before you fellows go to your
sleeper。 We reckon Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker ought to do some
stunts for us。 Isn't that so？〃 asked President Billy。
〃Yes；〃 shouted the boys。
〃What； after a meal like that？ I couldn't think of it；〃 laughed Phil。
〃Never perform on a full stomach unless you want to take chances。 It
might do you up for good。〃
〃Well； it won't hurt Teddy to be funny。 Do something funny； Teddy。〃
Teddy looked up soulfully as he munched a cookie。
〃Costs money to see me act funny；〃 he said。
〃Go on； go on！〃 urged the boys。 〃You never showed us any of your
tricks except what you did in the ring this evening。〃
〃Do you know； it's a funny thing； but I never can be funny unless there
is a crop of new…mown sawdust under my feet；〃 remarked Teddy。
〃Nothing very funny about that！〃 growled a voice at the further end of
the table。
Teddy fixed him with a reproving eye。
〃Very well； but you'll be sorry。 I will now present to you the giddiest；
gladdest； gayest； grandest； gyrating； glamorous and glittering galaxyas
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the press agent saysthat ever happened。〃
Teddy； who sat at the extreme end of the table； placed both hands
carelessly on the table； then drew his body up by slow degrees； until a
moment later as his body seemed to unfold； he was doing a hand stand
right on the end of the supper table。
The boys shouted with delight and Teddy kicked his feet in the air。
〃Go on！ Don't stop；〃 urged the lads。
〃You'll be wishing I had stopped before I began；〃 retorted the lad；
starting to walk on his hands right down the center of the table。
There were dishes in the way； but this did not disturb Tucker in the
least。 He merely pushed them aside； some rolling off on the floor and
breaking； others falling into the laps of the boys。
〃Here； here； what are you doing？〃 called Phil。
〃This is what I call the topsy…turvy walk。〃
Teddy paused when halfway down the table； to let his mouth down to
the table； where he had espied another cookie。 When he pulled himself
up； the cookie was between his lips； and the boys roared at the ludicrous
sight。
Then； the lad who was walking on his hands； continued right on。 He
was nearing the foot of the table when something occurred that changed
the current of their thoughts； sending the heart of every boy pounding in
his throat。
Crash！
It seemed as if the roof had been suddenly hurled down upon their
heads。
Teddy instantly fell off the table； tumbling into the laps of two of the
boys； the three going down to the floor in a heap； finally rolling under the
table。 The other boys sprang to their feet in sudden alarm。
〃It's a band；〃 cried Phil。 〃Don't be afraid。〃
Then the circus band； that had been waiting in the hall just outside the
dining place； marched in with horns blaring； drums beating； and took up
their position at the far end of the room。
〃It's the circus band；〃 cried the lads； now recovering from their fright。
〃How did they get here？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
By this time Teddy； his face red and resentful； was poking his head
from beneath the table。
〃Hey； Rube！〃 he shouted； then ducked back again。
Phil understood instantly that this was one of Mr。 Sparling's surprises。
But there were still other surprises to come。 No sooner had the band
taken up its position than there was again a commotion out in the hall。
The lads opened their eyes wide when a troop of painted clowns came
trotting in； followed by half a dozen acrobats； all in ring costume。 A mat
was quickly spread by some attendants that Mr。 Sparling had sent。
Then began the merriest hodge…podge of acrobatic nonsense that the
high school boys ever had seen。 The clowns； entering into the spirit of
the moment； grew wonderfully funny。 They sang songs and told stories；
while the acrobats hurled themselves into a mad whirl of somersaults；
cartwheels and Wild Dervish throws。
Thus far the boys were too amazed to speak。
All at once some of the performers began to form a pyramid； one
standing on the other's shoulders。
〃Here； I'm going to be the top…mounter！〃 cried Teddy； taking a running
start and beginning to clamber up the human column。 He was assisted up
and up until he was standing at the top； his head almost touching the high
ceiling in the room。
〃Speech！〃 howled the delighted high school boys。
〃Fellow citizens；〃 began Teddy。
Just then the human pyramid toppled over and Teddy had to leap to
save himself； striking the mat； doing a rolling tumble and coming up on
his feet。
When all the fun making in the hall was over one surprise proved yet
to be in the reserve。 The high school boys of Edmeston turned out with
lighted torches。 Forming in column of fours they escorted Phil and
Teddy to their car on the circus train。 It was not many minutes later that
the boys； tired out but happy； tumbled into their berths； where they were
asleep immediately； carrying on； even in their dreams； the joyous scenes
through which they had just passed。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER VII
SHIVERS AND HIS SHADOW
Half a hundred motley fools came trooping into the sawdust arena；
their voices raised in song and shout。
Mud c