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candy and peanuts into the cage。
There was instant commotion aloft。 Such a chattering and scurrying
occurred up there as to cause the spectators to gaze in open…mouthed
wonder。 But still Phil kept up his weird chirping； continuing to toss
peanuts and candy into the cage。
〃As I live； they are coming down；〃 breathed Mr。 Sparling in
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
amazement； 〃never saw anything like it in my life！〃
〃I always told you that boy should have been a menagerie man instead
of a ring performer；〃 nodded Mr。 Kennedy； the elephant trainer。
〃He is everything at the same time；〃 answered Mr。 Sparling。 〃It is a
question as to whether or not he does one thing better than another。
There they come。 Everybody stand back。 I hope the people keep quiet
until he gets through there。 I am afraid the monkeys never will go back
into the cage； though。〃
There was no hesitancy on the part of the monkeys。 They began
leaping from rope to rope； swinging by their tails to facilitate their descent；
until finally the whole troop leaped to the top of the cage and swung
themselves down the bars to the ground。
Phil lowered his voice to a low； insistent chirp。 One monkey leaped
into the cage； the others following as fast as they could stretch up their
hands and grab the tail board of the wagon。 Instantly they began
scrambling for the nuts and candies that lay strewn over the floor。
The last one was inside。 Phil sprang to the rear of the cage and
slammed the door shut； throwing the padlock in place and snapping it。
〃There are your old monkeys；〃 he cried； turning to Mr。 Sparling with
flushed； triumphant face。
The audience broke out into a roar； shouting； howling and stamping on
the seats at the same time。
〃Now； you may go；〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling to the audience。 〃Phil； you
are a wonder。 I take off my hat to you；〃 and the showman； suiting the
action to the word； made a sweeping bow to the little Circus Boy。
Still the audience remained。
〃Well； why don't you go？〃
〃What about the kid up there near the top of the house？〃 questioned a
voice in the audience。
〃That's so。 I had forgotten all about him；〃 admitted the owner of the
show。
〃Oh； never mind me。 I'm only a human being；〃 jeered Tucker； from
his perch far up near the top of the tent。 This brought a roar of laughter
from everybody。
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〃We shall have to try to cast a rope up to him。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 answered Phil firmly。 Nevertheless the effort was
made； Teddy watching the attempts with lazy interest。
〃No； we shan't be able to reach him that way；〃 agreed Mr。 Sparling
finally。
〃Hey down there；〃 called Teddy。
〃Well； what is it？ Got something to suggest？〃
〃Maybemaybe if you'd throw some peanuts and candy in my cage I
might come down。〃
This brought a howl of laughter。
〃I don't see how we are going to make it；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； shaking
his head hopelessly。
〃I'll tell you how we can do it；〃 said Phil。
〃Yes； I was waiting for you to make a suggestion。 I thought it funny
if you didn't have some plan in that young head of yours。 What is it？〃
〃What's the matter with the balloon？〃
〃The balloon？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hurrah！ That's the very thing。〃
The balloon was a new act in the Sparling show that season。 A huge
balloon had been rigged； but in place of the usual basket； was a broad
platform。 Onto this； as the closing act of the show； a woman rode a horse；
then the balloon was allowed to rise slowly to the very dome of the big
tent； carrying the rider and horse with it。
The act was a decided novelty； and was almost as great a hit as had
been the somersaulting automobile of a season before。
The balloon stood swaying easily at its anchorage。
〃Give a hand here； men。 Let the bag up and the boy can get on the
platform； after which you can pull him down。〃
〃That won't do；〃 spoke up Phil。 〃He can't reach the platform。
Someone will have to go up and toss him a rope。 He can make the rope
fast and slide down it。〃
〃I guess you are right； at that。 Who will go up？〃
〃I will；〃 answered the Circus Boy。 〃Give me that coil of rope。〃
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Taking his place on the platform the lad rose slowly toward the top of
the tent as the men paid out the anchor rope。
〃Halt！〃 shouted Phil when he found himself directly opposite his
companion。
〃Think you can catch it； Teddy？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Well； here goes。〃
The rope shot over Teddy's head； landing in his outstretched arm。
〃Be sure you make it good and fast before you try to shin down it；〃
warned Phil。
〃I'll take care of that。 Don't you worry。 You might toss me a peanut
while I'm getting ready。 I'll go in my cage quicker。〃
Phil laughingly threw a handful toward his companion； three or four of
which Teddy caught； some in his mouth and some in his free hand； to the
great amusement of the spectators。
〃They ought to pay an admission for that；〃 grinned Phil。
〃For what？〃
〃For seeing the animals perform。 You are the funniest animal in the
show at the present minute。〃
〃Well； I like that！ How about yourself？〃 peered Teddy with well…
feigned indignation。
〃I guess I must be next as an attraction；〃 laughed the boy。
〃I guess； yes。〃
〃Haul away；〃 called Phil to the men below him； and they started to pull
the balloon down toward the ground again。
〃Get a net under Tucker there；〃 directed Mr。 Sparling。
〃I'm not going to dive。 What do you think？〃 retorted Teddy。
〃There is no telling what you may or may not do；〃 answered the
showman。 〃It is the unexpected that always happens with you。〃
Phil nodded his approval of the statement。
In the meantime Teddy had made fast the end of the rope to the aerial
bar； and grasping the rope firmly i