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〃I did； but I might have known you wouldn't have had sense enough to
sit where you ought to。〃
〃Where's that？〃
〃On the floor。〃
〃I am not in the habit of being received that way；〃 taunted Phil；
making no move to vacate the chair。
Sully； with a grunt of disapproval； sat down in another chair； placing
himself so the light would fall fully on Phil's face。
〃Now； what's your name？〃
〃You'll have to guess that；〃 smiled Phil。
〃That's where you're wrong。 I know it。〃
〃What is my name？〃
〃Forrest。 You're a bareback rider in the Sparling outfit。 You thought
you would not be known； but you see you are。 You can't fool a man in the
show business so easily。 After you have grown older in the business you
will learn a few things。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃I am learning fast；〃 laughed the lad。 〃I am learning a lot of things
that I wish I did not have to learn。〃
〃What； for instance？〃
〃That there are such men as you in the show business。〃
〃Be careful； boy。 You will go too far； the first thing you know。 Now；
what are you doing here？〃
〃If you know so much I don't see why you should have to ask that
question。〃
〃I'm asking。〃
〃And I'm not telling。 I'll answer none of your questions； unless it is
about something that I can tell you without getting others into trouble。〃
〃You already have admitted that you are with the Sparling show。 You
have made several slips of the tongue since I got hold of you。〃
〃I haven't denied that I am with the Sparling show； neither have I
admitted it。 I decline to lie or to give you any information of any nature
whatever。〃
〃When is the Sparling show coming here？〃
〃I was not aware that it was coming here。 Is it？〃
〃No； I didn't mean that。 I mean when are they going to show in
Corinto？〃
Phil was silent。
〃You might as well make a clean breast of the whole business； young
man。 I've caught you red…handed； snooping about the lot for two days
quizzing everybody。 Now what's the game？〃
〃There is no game。〃
〃What is Sparling trying to find out？〃
〃You will have to ask him； I guess。〃
Sully surveyed the lad in silence for a minute or two。
〃I couldn't understand； at first； why he should send a kid like you to
spy upon us； but I begin to see that you are a sharp little monkey〃
Just then the showman was interrupted by the entrance of the foreman
of the stake and chain gang。
〃Bob； I want you to tell me exactly what questions this cub asked you
yesterday？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃I thought he was some curious town fellow； so I didn't pay much
attention to his questions。 When I saw him on the lot； again today； and
heard him asking other folks； kind of careless like； I began to smell a rat。〃
〃What did he want to know； I'm asking you？〃
The foreman related as well as he could remember； just what
conversation had taken place between himself and Phil Forrest； omitting；
however； the fact that he had furnished any information。 It would have
ended his connection with the show right there； had he let the owner know
how much he really had told。
Phil grinned appreciatively； but it was not for him to get the foreman
into trouble。
〃Hm…m！〃 mused Sully。 〃You found out a lot； I presume？〃
〃I can truthfully say that I found out that what I had heard about the
show is true。〃
〃And what's that； if I may ask？〃
〃Thieves。 I happen to know that they travel right along with the
show； and I shouldn't be surprised if you got part of their stealings； either；〃
Phil boldly flung at the showman。
Sully's face went redder than ever； while his fingers clenched and
unclenched。 It was evident that the man feared to let his anger get the
better of him。
〃If he ever lets go at me； I'm a goner；〃 thought Phil understanding that；
besides an almost ungovernable temper； the man possessed great physical
strength。 〃I guess he won't do anything of the sort； unless I goad him to
it。 I believe that I have said about enough。〃
〃Watch him a minute； Bob；〃 directed Sully； rising and stepping to the
other end of the car。 He returned a minute later。
〃Young man；〃 he said； 〃if you had been more civil you might have
gotten away with your bluff〃
〃I have not tried to bluff you；〃 interjected Phil。
〃As it is； I think I'll lock you up until morning； and； if you are ready
then to make a clean breast of the whole affair； perhaps I shall let you go
back with a message to your bossa message that he won't like； I reckon。〃
〃You won't send any such message by me；〃 retorted Phil。 〃Carry your
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
own messages。 Where you going to lock me up？〃
〃In a place where you will be safe。 But I shouldn't advise you to get
red…headed about it。 There will be someone nearby to take all the howl
out of you if you try it。〃
〃You had better not！〃
〃What do you think； Bob？ Is it safe to let this fellow go？〃
〃Well； I suppose you've got to let him go sometime。 He'll be getting
us into trouble if you keep him。〃
〃I'll take the chance of that。 We can drop him just before crossing the
line back into the United States。〃
〃That's a good game。〃
〃Then the United States authorities can't take any action on an offense
committed across the border。 I don't believe they would； anyway。 It is
all a part of the show game。 I'd like to drop the spy over the Falls when
we get to Niagara；〃 added Sully。
〃I might get wet if you did that；〃 grinned Phil。
〃You'll be lucky if you don't get worse； which you will unless you
keep a more civil tongue in your head。 Yes； I guess that will be the best
plan； Bob。〃
〃Youyou don't mean that you will drop him over the Falls？〃 gasped
the foreman。
〃No；〃 laughed Sully。 〃Not that； much as I'd like to。 But it would
serve him right。 I'm going to lock him up； that's what I mean。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Here