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changing the subject。
Phil glanced at him apprehensively； for Teddy's ideas were frequently
attended by consequences of an unpleasant nature。
〃Along the usual line young man？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Well； no。〃
〃What is your idea？〃
〃I've been thinking that I should like to sign up as a dwarf for the rest
of the season and sit on the concert platform in the menagerie tent。 It
wouldn't interfere with my other performance；〃 said Teddy in apparent
seriousness。
Mr。 Sparling leaned back； laughing heartily。
〃Why； you are not a dwarf。〃
〃No…o…o。 But I might be。〃
〃How tall are you？〃
〃A little more than five feet；〃 answered the lad with a touch of pride in
his tone。
〃You are almost a man。 Why； Teddy； you are a full twenty inches
taller than the tallest dwarf in the show。〃
Teddy nodded。
〃Don't you see you could not possibly be a‘dwarf？〃
〃Oh； yes； I could。 All the more reason why I could。〃
〃What kind of a dwarf would you be； may I ask？〃
〃I could be the tallest dwarf on earth； couldn't I？〃 asked Teddy； gazing
at his employer innocently。
Everyone at the table broke out into a merry peal of laughter； while
Teddy Tucker eyed them sadly for a moment； then he too added his
laughter to theirs。
〃If you were not already getting a pretty big salary for a kid； I'd raise
your salary for that；〃 exploded Mr。 Sparling。
〃You can forget I'm getting so much； if you want to；〃 suggested Teddy
humorously。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER II
IN THEIR HOME TOWN
〃Hey； Phil！〃
〃What is it； Teddy？〃
〃Wake up！ We are in the old town again。〃
Phil Forrest pulled aside the curtain and peered out from his berth into
the railroad yards； the bright May sunshine flooding the old familiar
scenes at Edmeston。 Far off he could just make out the red brick
chimney of his Uncle Abner's home。
What recollections it brought back to Phil Forrestrecollections that
went back still further to a sweet face and laughing eyes his mother！
Phil dropped the curtain and lay face down in the pillow for a moment。
〃I say； Phil。〃
〃What is it？〃 demanded the lad in a muffled voice。
〃Guess who's out there？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃The gang's out there。〃
〃Who？〃
〃The gang。 The whole high school crowd。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃They're looking for us。 Lucky we're on the last section； for if it was
dark； we couldn't make much of a splurge getting off the train。 Aren't
you going to get up？〃
〃Yes。〃
Phil slowly pulled himself from his berth； then began drawing on his
clothes。 Teddy was already up and nearly dressed； full of expectation of
what was before him。 For Phil there was something that tinged his joy
with sadness； though he could not make up his mind why it should be so。
His reverie was broken in upon by the voice of Teddy Tucker。
〃Come； hurry up！〃
〃I am all ready now；〃 answered Phil。 〃Have you washed？〃
〃You bet。 I always wash the first thing in the morning。〃
Together the Circus Boys stepped out on the platform。 There； lined up
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
by the side of the track； were their companions and school fellows waiting
to welcome them。
The high school boys uttered a shout when they espied Phil and Teddy。
〃How'dy； fellows！〃 greeted Teddy； posing on the car platform for a
moment； that they might gaze upon him admiringly。
Phil was already on the ground； hurrying toward the boys with both
hands outstretched。 A moment more and the two lads had been grabbed
by their schoolmates and literally overwhelmed； while a crowd of villagers
stood off against a pile of lumber； laughing and calling out greetings to the
Circus Boys。
Phil and Teddy； as soon as they were able to get away； hurried to the
circus lot for their breakfast。 There they found a great crowd of people
whom they knew； and for a few minutes they were kept busy shaking
hands； after which the boys with faces wreathed in smiles； proudly entered
the cook tent。 Teddy glanced up quizzically when they got inside。
〃Well I guess we're some； eh； Phil？〃
〃I guess so。 I hope everything goes all right today。 I should die of
mortification if anything were to happen to our acts。 You want to keep
your mind right on your work today。 Don't pay any attention to the
audience。 Remember a whole lot of people are coming to this show
today just because they are interested in you and me。〃
〃I guess I know how to perform；〃 sputtered Teddy。
〃I haven't said you do not。 I know you do； but I don't want you to
forget that you do。〃
〃Look out for yourself。 I'll take care of myself；〃 growled Teddy。
〃I'm going to。〃
Having finished their breakfast the boys started for the village； to call
on Mrs。 Cahill； their guardian and the custodian of their earnings。 As
they were leaving the grounds； Phil paused suddenly。
〃Look there；〃 he said； pointing to Mr。 Sparling's office tent。
〃Well； if it isn't Billy Ford； the president of our class；〃 breathed Teddy。
〃I didn't see him at the train when we came in this morning； did you？〃
〃No。 He wasn't there。〃
〃Now； what do you suppose he is doing in Mr。 Sparling's tent？〃
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〃I haven't the least idea unless he is trying to find out where we are。
Hey； Billy！〃
Billy Ford paused at the sound of the familiar call； then the Circus
Boys hurried toward him。 Billy went suddenly red in the face as if he
were very much embarrassed。
〃What you doing in there？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Whywhyperhaps I was trying to join the show；〃 stammered Billy。
〃We wouldn't have you。 You and I couldn't travel in the same show。
They'd fire us both。〃
〃Why？〃 questioned Billy； n