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〃Make a mental note of everything you see that is not regular； and if
they have a route card get a copy of that。 It's perfectly regular； young
man；〃 hastened the showman； noting Phil's look of disapproval。 〃You are
not doing anything improper。 I do not ask you to pry into their private
affairs。 We have a right； however； to find out if we can； what their plans
are with relation to ourselves。 If they are playing Corinto the day before
we do； just by mere chance； then I shall make no further objections； but if
they are planning to move along ahead of us and kill our businesswell；
that's a different matter。〃
〃I see；〃 nodded Phil。 〃Who will take my place in the ring work
here？〃
〃We will get along without it； that's all。 It doesn't matter so much in
these small towns。 I don't care if you do not join out until we get to
Niagara Falls。 We'll be playing in the real country then。〃
〃And working south？〃
〃Yes。 As soon as the weather gets cooler we will head for the south
and stay there until the close of the season。 They are going to have a big
cotton crop in the south this fall； and there will be lots of money lying
around loose to be picked up by a show like ours。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃When do you want me to start？〃 asked Phil。
〃Just as soon as I can get an answer to a telegram that I'm going to
send now。 You will be off sometime this afternoon。 But perhaps you can
go on in your actsno； I guess you had better not。 You'll be missed at
night if you do。〃
〃Yes； that's so。〃
〃I shall have some further directions for you。 So long； for the
present。〃
Phil turned away thoughtfully。 Shortly after the afternoon
performance Mr。 Sparling sent for Phil again； the lad having in the
meantime packed a few necessary articles in his bag preparatory to the
journey that lay before him。
〃The other show will be at St。 Catharines tomorrow。 Are you ready？〃
〃Yes； sir。 What time can I get away？〃
〃Five o'clock。 You will be there in the morning in time to see them
set the tents。 Let me warn you that Sully is ugly and unscrupulous。 If
he were to know what you are there for it might get you into a mix…up； so
be careful。〃
〃I'll be careful。 Have you any further instructions？〃
〃I want to give you some money。 You can't travel without money。〃
〃I have plenty；〃 answered Phil。 〃I will keep my expense account and
turn it in to you when I get back。 Where do you wish me to join you？〃
〃Corinto； unless you think best to come back in the meantime。 That is；
if you get sufficient information。 You know what I want without my
going into details； don't you？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Now； look out for yourself。〃
〃I'll try to。〃
〃You have not mentioned to anyone what you are going to do； of
course？〃
〃Certainly not。 Not even to Teddy。 Perhaps if you will； you might
make the explanation to him；〃 suggested Phil。
〃Yes； I'll do that as soon as you have gotten away。 He'll be raising
the roof off the big top when he misses you。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil extended his hand to his employer； then turned and hurried from
the tent。 First； the boy proceeded to the sleeping car in which he berthed；
for his bag。 Securing this he had just time to reach the station before the
five o'clock train rumbled in。
The lad boarded a sleeping car and settled himself for the long ride
before him； passing the time by reading the current magazines with which
he provided himself when the train agent came through。 Late in the
evening the lad turned in。 Riding in a sleeping car was no novelty to him；
and he dropped asleep almost instantly； not to awaken again until the
porter shook him gently by the shoulder。
〃What is it？〃 questioned Phil； starting up。
〃St。 Catharines。〃
The lad pulled the curtains of his berth aside。 Day was just breaking
as he peered out。
〃There they are；〃 he muttered； catching sight of a switch full of
gaudily painted cars bearing the name of the Sully Hippodrome Circus。
〃They have just got in；〃 he decided from certain familiar signs of which he
took quick mental note。 〃Looks like a cheap outfit at that。 But you never
can tell。〃
Phil Forrest dressed himself quickly and grasping his bag hurried from
the car； anxious to be at his task； which； to tell the truth； he approached
with keen zest。 He was beginning to enter into the spirit of the work to
which he had been assigned； and which was to provide him with much
more excitement than he at that moment dreamed。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER IX
PHIL MAKES A DISCOVERY
〃I guess I'll leave my bag in the station and go over to the lot；〃 decided
the lad。
〃The stake and chain gang will just about be on the job by this time。〃
It is a well known fact in the circus world that there is no better place
to get information than from the stake and chain gang； the men who hurry
to the lot the moment their train gets in and survey it； driving stakes to
show where the tents are to be pitched； and it is a familiar answer； when
one is unable to answer a question to say： 〃Ask the stake and chain gang。〃
That was exactly what Phil Forrest had in mind to do。
He followed a show wagon to the circus lot； where he found the men
already at work measuring off the ground with their surveyor's chains； in
the faint morning light。
〃Morning；〃 smiled Phil； sauntering over to where he observed the
foreman watching the work of his men。
〃Morning；〃 growled the showman。 Phil knew he would growl
because the fellow had not yet had his breakfast。
〃Seems to me the circuses are coming this way pretty fast？〃 suggested
the lad。
〃What d'ye me