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as it was； it sent the blood pounding to his temples until they showed red；
like blotches of rouge under powder。
〃D…a…d…d…yy…o…u…rZory got an awfulb…u…m…p。〃
Three harlequins who had been poising each on one knee； chins in
hands； gazing down into the face of the little performer； suddenly threw
backward somersaults in their joy。
〃Yes； Phil's quickness saved you；〃 spoke up the surgeon。 〃Had it not
been for him you would be dead now。〃
Teddy Tucker； the tears streaming down his cheeks； was hopping about
on one foot； vigorously kicking a shin with the other foot； trying to punish
himself for his tears。
〃I'm a fool！ I'm a fool！ ButbutI can't help it；〃 he sobbed；
wheeling suddenly and dashing into his own dressing tent。
〃Call for Shivers！〃 bellowed the voice of the callboy； thrusting his
head inside the entrance flap。 〃All the Joeys out for the round off！〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Coming！〃
Shivers gently laid the broken form of Zoraya back； pressed a hurried
kiss on her painted lips and bounded away to take his cue； the circus band
out there by the crimson curtains swinging brazenly into the enlivening
strains of 〃There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight！〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER VIII
A RIVAL IN THE FIELD
Zoraya was left behind。 She was sent to a hospital where she was
destined to remain many weeks； before she would be able to be moved to
her little home in Indiana。 She never performed again。
In the meantime the Great Sparling Combined Shows had moved
majestically along。 They had left the United States and were touring
Canada； playing in many of the quaint little French villages and larger
towns； where the Circus Boys found much to interest and amuse them。
Teddy and Shivers had made a great hit in their 〃brother〃 clown act；
which was daily added to and improved upon as the show worked its way
along the Canadian border。
One day Phil； who had been downtown after the parade； where he
went to read the papers when he got a chance； came back and sought out
Mr。 Sparling in the latter's private tent。
〃Well； Phil；〃 greeted the owner cordially； 〃what's on your mind？〃
〃Perhaps a good deal； but possibly nothing of any consequence。 You
will have to decide that。〃
〃What is it？〃 questioned Mr。 Sparling sharply。
〃Do we show in Corinto？〃
〃Yes； why？〃
〃I thought I had heard you mention that we were to do so。〃
〃Why do you ask that question？〃
〃I'll answer it by asking another；〃 smiled the Circus Boy。 〃When do we
make that stand？〃
The showman consulted his route book。
〃A week from next Tuesday；〃 he said。 〃Anything wrong about that？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What？〃
〃Nothing except that there is another show billed to play there the day
before。〃
〃What？〃
Mr。 Sparling bent a keen gaze on Phil's face； to make sure the lad was
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
not joking。
〃Yes； the Sully Hippodrome Circus is billed there for Monday。〃
〃Where did you find that out？〃
〃I read it in a St。 Catharines' paper down at the hotel this morning。 I
thought you would be interested in knowing of it。〃
〃Interested？ Why； boy； it will kill our business。 So Sully is cutting
in on us； is he？ I thought he was playing the eastern circuit。 He
threatened to get even with me。〃
〃Even？〃
〃Yes。 Sully was once a partner in this show； but he proved himself so
dishonest that I had to take legal measures to get him out。 He got money
from some source last season； and put a show of his own on the road。 He
has a twenty…five car show； I understand。 Not such a small outfit at that。
But I hear it is a graft show。〃
〃What's a graft show？ I must confess that I never heard of that
before。〃
〃A graft show； my boy； is a show that gets money in various ways。
They frequently carry a gang of thieves and confidence men with them；
who work among the spectators on the grounds before the show； robbing
them and getting a commission on their earnings。〃
〃Is it possible that there are such dishonest people in the show
business？〃 marveled the lad。
〃Not only possible； but an actual fact。 I am happy to say； however；
that there are few shows that will tolerate anything of that sort。〃
〃I'm glad I did not have the misfortune to get with one of them；〃
smiled Phil。 〃Are any of the big shows graft shows？〃
〃None of them。 But about this heading us off？〃
〃Yes； what will you do about it？〃
〃We'll be there on Monday； too；〃 decided the showman after a
moment's reflection。
〃On Monday？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Thenthen you intend to skip a date somewhere？〃
〃We shall have to。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Mr。 Sparling was a man of resource and quick action。 He made up
his mind in a minute as to what course to follow。
〃I'm going to detach you from the show for a few days； if you don't
mind； Phil；〃 decided Mr。 Sparling。
〃I am glad to serve you in any way that you think I can；〃 answered the
lad with a flash of surprise in his glance。
〃I know that。 What I want you to do is to join that show right away。〃
〃Join them？〃
〃I do not mean that exactly。 I want you to go to the town where they
are playing tomorrow； I will get the name of the town before the day is
over。 Follow the show right along from town to town until next Monday；
paying your way when you go in and keeping your eyes open for their
game。 You； with your shrewdness； ought to have no difficulty in getting
sufficient evidence to help me carry out my plans。〃
〃What sort of evidence do you wish me to get？〃
〃Make a mental note of everything you see that is not regular； and if
they have