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〃No。 It's all red。 I guess you see red most of the time。〃
〃If you'll give me a promise； I'll let you sleep in a berth in this car
tonight。〃
〃What promise？〃 asked Phil； though he knew pretty well what the
showman would demand。
〃That you won't try to escape。〃
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〃I'll make no such promise。〃
〃Then it's the linen closet for your。〃
〃All right； I will sleep in the linen closet。 I suppose you will want me
to ride again tomorrow？〃
〃Sure thing！〃
〃Then don't forget the twenty…five dollars in advance。〃
〃Say； that's more money than I'll pay for that act； good as it is；〃
protested the showman。
〃Very well； then I will stay in the closet and you can cut your bareback
out。 You do not have to pay it unless you want to。〃
Sully growled and handed out the money。
Phil put it in his pocket with a smile and half audible chuckle that did
not tend to make Sully feel any the less irritable。
〃Perhaps it is a good thing that I am a prisoner if I have got to stay
with this outfit。〃
〃Why？〃 snapped the showman。
〃Because some of your light…fingered gentlemen would be dipping
into my pocket； when I wasn't looking； and take the money away from me。
That's the way you would get it back。〃
〃That will be about all for you； boy；〃 growled the showman。 〃That is；
unless you are willing to tell me what you are here for？〃
The Circus Boy laughed lightly。
〃I have nothing new to say to that question。〃
〃You've done your part well。 You must have got busy pretty quick to
have tipped off Sparling before we caught you。〃
〃Tipped him off to what？〃 inquired Phil。
〃Well； never mind what。 You know and so do I。〃
After that the lad was sent to his closet to spend the night。 The next
day was a repetition of the previous one； except that Phil rode better than
ever； if that were possible。 But as he was riding under the name of the
performer who had been injured； he could not make himself known。
Saturday came along； with the lad apparently as far from making his
escape as ever。 But what he had hoped would come to pass had done so
in a measure。 That is； the owner of the show had become a little careless
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in watching the boy。
Instead of accompanying Phil into the ring； Sully satisfied himself
with standing by the entrance to the paddock； next to the bandstand。
This left Phil free to do pretty much as he chose； but he was almost as
closely confined as if he were in the owner's private car； so far as getting
away was concerned。 But the boy's mind was working actively。
As he sat on the back of the broad…backed ring horse that afternoon；
his eyes were looking over the tent questioningly。
〃I believe I can do it；〃 mused Phil。 〃If conditions are the same
tonight that they are this afternoon I am going to try it。〃
Just then the band struck up and the lad rose gracefully to his feet
ready to go through his act for the edification of the great audience。
Phil was making more money than ever before in his circus career； and
he now had only one act instead of several。 But he cared little for this。
It was merely a means to an end。
At night he accompanied Sully to the lot as usual。 Phil might have
appealed to a policeman； or to one of the many people about him。 It will
be remembered； however； that he had given his word that he would do
nothing of the sort； and Phil Forrest was not the boy to break his word
after once having given it。 He proposed to get away by his own efforts or
else wait until rescued by the Sparling show。
As had been the case with the afternoon show Sully remained over by
the bandstand while Phil went through his act。
〃I'll finish my performance；〃 decided the lad。 〃I want to give him his
money's worth whether he deserves such treatment or not； and then I'll
make my try。 I can do it； I believe。〃
Nothing of what was passing in the mind of the Circus Boy； of course；
was suspected by the owner of the show。 Phil had just rounded off his
act by a backward somersault and the attendant had slipped the bridle over
the head of the ring horse preparatory to leading the animal back to the
paddock and horse tent。
〃You run along。 I will ride him back；〃 directed Phil innocently。
〃Why？〃
〃Because I prefer to。〃
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〃Very well；〃 answered the groom； turning away and walking slowly
toward the paddock； while Phil； who had in the meantime slipped off to
the ring； was quickly drawing on his slippers。
By this time Mr。 Sully was looking at him； wondering why Phil did not
get out of the ring； for another act was coming on； the performers for
which already were moving down the concourse。
All at once the Circus Boy threw himself to the back of his mount；
landing astride。
Phil brought his riding whip down on the back of the surprised animal
with a force that sent the horse forward with a snort。 They bounded out of
the ring。 Instead； however； of turning toward the paddock exit； Phil
headed straight for the other end of the tent。 There an exit led into the
menagerie tent； or where that tent had been； for by this time it had been
taken down and carted away to the train。 A canvas flap hung loosely
over the entrance； but it was not fastened down； as Phil well knew； being
left free so people could pass in and out at will。
〃Stop him！〃
It was the voice of Sully and might have been heard in every part of
the big top； though the people did not know what the command meant。
For the moment the circus attendants did not understand either。 They
had not noticed Phil riding away in the wrong direction。
〃Stop him； I say！〃
An attendant discovered what was going on and started on a run for
Phil； who brought his whip down on the flanks of the ring horse again and
again； driving the animal straight at the attendant。 The result was tha