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！
may be。 I can see him hammering his desk and getting red in the face
when he reads this letter。〃
Phil was cautious enough not to mention the name of the Sully show in
his letter； and tried to couch it in such terms； that while Mr。 Sparling
would understand perfectly； another might not。
Phil took the letter to the post office； then went out on the sidewalk
where he stood leaning against a lamp post to watch the parade； which he
did with critical eyes。
〃A pretty good…sized show；〃 he mused。 〃But all their trappings are
second hand。 They have bought them up from some show that has
discarded them。 That's one thing the Sparling outfit never does。 All
their stuff is new nearly every season。 Sully may have some of our old
trappings； for all I know。〃
55
… Page 56…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
The parade was a long one； there were a good many cages； besides a
fair…sized herd of elephants。
〃Hm…m…m！ Three tuskers among the bulls；〃 muttered Phil。 〃Pretty
well up to our herd； but I wouldn't trade Emperor for any two of them； at
that。〃
After the parade had passed； Phil once more strolled over to the circus
lot and hung about until time for the afternoon performance to begin；
when he bought a ticket and entered； occupying a reserved seat where he
could see all that was going on。
The lad smiled at the thought of how his position had changed。 He was
so used to being over there in the ring that it did not seem quite right for
him to be occupying a chair in the audience。 He could scarcely resist the
impulse to hurry back to the dressing tent and prepare for the ring。
The grand entry came on； then his attention was centered on the
performance； which he watched with the keen eyes of an expert； noting the
work of every performer； completely forgetting the cheering audience in
his absorption。
It was really a fair performance。 He was forced to admit this；
especially of the aerial acts。 But the bareback riding he did not think
compared favorably with his own； especially so far as the men riders were
concerned。 One woman rider was very good； indeed。
Phil drew a long breath when the performance had come to an end。 A
circus performance； to him； was a matter of the keenest interest。 The fact
that he himself was a circus performer did not lessen that interest one whit；
but rather intensified it。 Yet the glamour of his youthful days had passed。
It was now a professional interest； rather than the wondering interest of a
boy who never had seen the inside of the dressing tent。
Phil did not hang about the grounds。 He went downtown； but was
once more on hand for the evening performance； where he noted that the
show was cut short fully half an hour； and this without apparent good
reason。
He had made the acquaintance of a 〃candy butcher〃 during the hour
before the show； and from him had learned some further details that were
of interest to him and his investigation。
56
… Page 57…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
The Circus Boy； after watching the striking of the tents； returned to the
railroad station and took a late train for the town where the circus was to
show next day。 It was not a long run； so he took a day coach。 In it he
saw several familiar facesfaces that he had noticed about the circus lot
that afternoon； and from their appearance he was forced to conclude that
these men belonged to the shows。
〃Those fellows are crooks； as sure as I am alive；〃 decided the lad； after
listening to the conversation of the couple just ahead of him。 〃That's
what Mr。 Sparling told me。 I could hardly believe it。 I'll spend part of
the time outside tomorrow and make sure。 I shall know those fellows
when I see them； if they are on the grounds。〃
It had not occurred to Phil Forrest that he might be recognized also；
though he knew full well that circus people had keen eyes； especially in an
outfit such as this。
The next morning he hunted up his friend the candy butcher； inviting
that worthy to take breakfast with him which the lad； a boy about his own
age； was glad to do。 From the 〃butcher〃 Phil learned a whole lot of
things that added to his store of knowledge； among them being the fact
that Sully's outfit was even worse than it had been painted。
Mingling with the crowds about the main entrance； before the doors
were opened that afternoon； Phil once more saw the same men he had
observed on the train the previous evening。 From their actions he was
more than ever satisfied that he had not been mistaken in his estimate of
them。
〃I shouldn't be surprised if they were looking for some pockets to
pick；〃 mused the lad； 〃but I do not see them doing anything yet。〃
As a matter of fact； the men were plying their trade； but his eyes had
not been quick enough to catch them at it。 Phil； however； was more
successful just before the evening show。
Standing among the people massed out in front he saw a man's hand
steal slowly toward the handbag of a well…dressed woman。 Phil traced the
hand back until he made out the owner； who was one of the same men that
had come through on the train with him。
A gasoline torch lighted the operation faintly； and Phil gazed with
57
… Page 58…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
fascinated eyes while the stealthy hand opened the bag quickly extracting
its contents。
Almost at the instant the woman looked down； perhaps attracted by the
tug at the bag。
〃I've been robbed！〃 she cried。
The words stirred Phil to instant action。
In another second the thief felt a vise…like grip about the wrist that held
the plunder。
〃Here's the man that did it； madam。 Call an officer；〃 said Phil calmly。
58
… Page 59…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER X