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his logical conclusion。
The first thing to be done now was to get off the lot； which Phil did as
quickly as possible。 Clad in the soiled； well…worn garments with his coat
buttoned tightly about his neck； the lad attracted no special attention。
Getting well away from the circus grounds； he halted to consider what his
next move should he。
〃I guess I'll go over to the station and get some information；〃 he
decided。 This he did； but the lights looked so bright in the station that he
did not consider it prudent to enter。 So Phil waited about until he saw
one of the railroad switchmen coming in from the yards。
〃How far is it to Corinto； please？〃 he asked。
〃Fifty miles。〃
〃Whew！ So far as that？〃
〃Yes。 Belong to the show？〃
〃Well； not exactly。 I'm with them； but I can't say that I belong to the
outfit； and I'm glad I don't。〃
〃Should think you would be glad；〃 growled the switchman； who
evidently held the Sully combination in no high regard。
〃Which way do the trains go for Corinto？〃
〃That way。 That track runs right through without a break。 It's a single
track road all the way。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃Going to hit the ties？〃
〃I'm likely to before I get there；〃 laughed Phil； again thanking his
informant and starting away； for he saw some people approaching whom
he thought belonged to the show。
Leaning up against a freight car the lad considered what he had better
do。 At first he was inclined to try to steal a ride on the circus train； but
after thinking the matter over he concluded that this would be dangerous。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃If they catch me again they surely will handle me pretty roughly； and
they may throw me off the train。 A few knocks more or less might not
make much difference； but I am not anxious to be thrown from a rapidly
moving circus train。 I guess I'll walk。 Let me see； tomorrow will be
Sunday； and it is fifty miles to Corinto。 I should be able to make the
town by tomorrow night sometime。 Yes； I'll try it。〃
Having formed this resolve； Phil started manfully off for his long walk
to Corinto。 He did not stop to consider that he would be hungry before
he got there。
He left the yards； for these were now full of employees busily engaged
in loading the cars。 Off near the outskirts of the town he turned back to
the tracks。
For two hours he plodded along cheerfully； but by this time the rough
traveling over the ties so hurt his feet； clad as they were in light slippers；
that he could scarcely walk。 Phil took off the slippers and trotted about
in the damp grass at the side of the railroad track； until getting some relief；
then started on again。
An hour later the first of the circus trains thundered by him。 He could
see the dim lights in the sleepers； and now and then he made out the figure
of a man stretched out under a cage on a flat car。
〃Anyway； I would rather be walking than locked up in that narrow
linen closet；〃 decided the Circus Boy philosophically； once more taking up
his weary journey。
At sunrise Phil found that he was too tired to go much further without
taking a rest； so； as soon as he found a wooded place； he climbed a fence
and lay down in the shade of the trees； where he quickly went to sleep。
The afternoon was well along when finally he awakened； sore and stiff
in every joint。
〃If I should try to ride a bareback horse now I should fall off for sure；〃
he moaned； rubbing his lame spots vigorously。 〃My； but I am hungry！ I
wonder how far I am from Corinto？〃
A mile post a little further along told him that he had covered just
twenty miles of his journey。 He still had thirty miles to goa long
distance for one in his condition。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
All during the rest of the day Phil was obliged to take frequent rests。
Whenever he came to a stream he would halt and thrusting his feet into the
cooling water； keep them there for some time。 This helped him
considerably； for his feet were swollen and feverish。 The sun beating
down on his head made him dizzy and faint； which was made the more
disturbing because of his empty stomach。
He managed； just before sunset； to get a sandwich at a farmhouse；
though he was looked upon with suspicion by the housewife who gave
him the food。 Phil offered to do something to pay for the slender meal；
but the woman refused and bade him be on his way。
〃I don't blame her。 I must be a tough looking customer；〃 grinned the
boy； again climbing the fence and starting along the track。 He fought shy
of villages during daylight； fearing that he might be arrested for vagrancy
and locked up。 That would defeat his plans。
〃I simply must get to Corinto and warn Mr。 Sparling；〃 he gritted。 〃He
doesn't know the plans these people have to harm him。 If it were not for
that I wouldn't try to go any further today。 I could get somebody to help
me out for a day or so； until I could write to Mr。 Sparling。〃
Now and then he met a tramp or two； but none that he thought looked
any more disreputable than he himself did。 He passed the time of day
pleasantly； with such； and continued on his way。
Late in the evening he once more lay down for a rest。 But Phil did
not permit himself to sleep long。 He feared he should not be able to
wake up until morning if he did； and then he never would reach the show
town in time to warn Mr。 Sparling of the impending danger。
At daylight he was still ten miles from his destination。
〃I must make it。 I shall make it！〃 he breathed； starting on a run；
having found a path at the side of the track。
However； he could not keep this up for long； and was soon obliged to
settle back into his former slow pace。
At last Phil came in sight of the church spires of a town。
〃I believe that is Corinto；〃 he said； shading his eyes and peering off at
the distant town。 〃At any rate I can't be far from it now。〃
The knowledge was almost as good as a meal。 Its effect on Phil