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from the arena back to the sidewall。 This was the 〃color line。〃 On one
side of it sat the colored people； on the other the white people。
After all were seated； however； the line was taken down and colored
and white people sat elbow to elbow。 All were perfectly satisfied； for the
color line had been drawn。 The rest did not matter。
The show people entered into the spirit of the unusual exhibition with
the keenest zest； and the Sparling show had never given a better
entertainment than it did that afternoon。 The clowns； even though they
had not been successful as fishermen； where wholly so when they entered
the ring。 Teddy and his donkey； which he had named January； after the
manner of most clowns who own these animals； set the whole tent roaring；
while Shivers and his 〃shadow〃 made a hit from the moment they entered。
〃I've got the greatest bunch of people to be found in this country；〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
confided Mr。 Sparling proudly to the surgeon。
〃Especially those two boys； eh？〃
〃Yes。 They can't be beaten。 Neither can a lot of the others。〃
A fair…sized house had been brought over to see the show； and after the
performance was ended they were taken back to their homes in the pole
wagons； as they had been brought over。
〃I'll tell you what you ought to do；〃 said Teddy confidentially； just
before the show closed。
〃Well； what is it？〃 questioned Mr。 Sparling。
〃You ought to leave those folks here。〃
〃Leave them here？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What for？〃
〃Why； they couldn't get back； and they would have to go to the
evening performance again。 You'd get 'em going and coming then。 Do
you see？〃
The showman tipped back his head； laughing long and loud。
〃Yes； I see。〃
〃Then why not do it？〃
〃Young man； this show doesn't do things that way。 We do business
on the square； or we don't do it at all。 I admire your zeal； but not your
plan。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Phil； who stood near； 〃I sometimes think Teddy Tucker's
moral code does need bolstering up a bit。〃
〃What's that？〃 questioned Teddy。 〃What's a moral code？〃
〃I'll explain it to you some other time when we are not so busy；〃
replied Phil。
〃Nor so wet；〃 added Mr。 Sparling。 〃You see； we want to come to this
town to show again some other time。〃
〃I don't；〃 responded Teddy promptly。 〃I've had all I want of it for the
rest of my natural life。 I can get all the fun I want out of performing on
dry ground； instead of the edge of a lake that you are expecting every
minute to tumble into。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XX
DISASTER BEFALLS THE FAT LADY
〃Help； help！ Oh； help！〃
〃Coming；〃 shouted Teddy Tucker； leaping from the platform of the
sleeping car where he had been lounging in the morning sun。
The Fattest Woman on Earth was midway down the steep railroad
embankment with the treacherous cinders slowly giving way beneath her
feet； threatening every second to hurl her to the bottom of the embankment
and into the muddy waters of a swollen stream that had topped its banks as
the result of the storm that had disturbed the circus so much。
The Sparling shows did not succeed in getting fully away from the
island until the middle of the day following the events just narrated。
This made it necessary to skip the next stand； so the show ran past that
place； intent on making St。 Charles； Louisiana； sometime that night。
The train had been flagged on account of a washout some distance
ahead； and while it was lying on the main track many of the show people
took the opportunity to drop off and gather flowers out in the fields near
the tracks。
The Fat Woman was one of these。 She had found it a comparatively
easy thing to slide down the bank further up the tracks； after finding a spot
where she could do so without danger of going right on into the creek
below。
But the return journey was a different matter。 She had succeeded in
making her way halfway up the bank when； finding herself slipping
backward she uttered her appeal for help。
〃Stick your heels in and hold to it。 I'll be there in a minute；〃 shouted
Teddy； doing an imitation of shooting the chutes down the embankment；
digging in his own heels just in time to save himself from a ducking in the
stream。
〃There goes that Tucker boy； headed for more trouble；〃 nodded a
clown。 〃Watch him if you want to see some fun。 Fat Marie is in trouble
already； and she's going to get into more in about a minute。〃
Teddy picked himself up； and； running up behind the Fat Woman；
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braced his hands against her ample waist and began to push。
〃Start your feet！ Start your feet！ Make motions as if you were
walking！〃 shouted Teddy。
Marie did not move。
〃Oh； help！〃 she murmured。 〃Help； help！〃
〃Go on。 Go on！ Do you think I can stay in this position all day；
holding up your five hundred pounds？ My feet are slipping back already。
I'm treading water faster'n a race horse can run right this minute。〃
〃I guess he's started something for himself all right；〃 jeered the clown。
〃Told you so。 Hey； there goes the whistle！ The train will be starting。
We'd better be making for the sleeper。〃
All hands sought a more suitable climbing place； hurried up the
railroad embankment and ran for the train。 A crowd gathered on the rear
platform； where they jeered at Tucker and his burden。
〃Comecome down here and help us out；〃 howled Teddy。 〃You
you're a nice bunch； to run away when a lady is in trouble！ Come down
here； I say。〃
Just then the train started。
Phil； at that moment； was up forward in Mr。 Sparling's car； else he
would have trie