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〃We wouldn't have you。 You and I couldn't travel in the same show。
They'd fire us both。〃
〃Why？〃 questioned Billy； now regaining his presence of mind。
〃 'Cause； between us we'd put the show out of business。〃
〃I believe you would；〃 nodded Phil。
〃Where you going； boys？〃
〃Mrs。 Cahill's。〃
〃Then I'll walk down that way with you。 What time do you get
through at night？〃
〃We finish our last act about ten o'clock；〃 answered Phil。 〃Why？〃
〃Oh； nothing much。 I just wanted to know。〃
Phil shot a swift； suspicious glance at the schoolboy； but Billy's face
bore an expression as serene as the May morning of that very day。
Mr。 Sparling hailed the lads as they were leaving the lot。
〃You may be excused from parade today； both of you。 You no doubt
will want to spend all the time you can with your friends。〃
〃Thank you；〃 smiled Phil。 〃There's the finest man a fellow ever
worked for。〃
〃Worked？ Do you call performing in a circus work？〃
〃Well； at least it is a pretty good imitation of work； Billy。〃
〃I used to think just like you do；〃 added Teddy rather ruefully。
〃Is it really work then？〃
〃Oh； no； it's just play。 Come to the show and you will see us play。〃
〃By the way；〃 inquired Phil； 〃the fellows are all coming this afternoon；
I suppose？〃
〃Yes； but not this afternoon。〃
〃Evening？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Yes。〃
〃That will be fine。 We have a short run tonight； so the boss will not
be in any hurry to move the show。 You'll see it all。〃
〃Why； don't you always give it all？〃
〃No。 Sometimes； when the weather is bad； or when we have a long
run before us； Mr。 Sparling cuts some of the acts out entirely； and shortens
others。 But； of course； the audience doesn't know this。〃
〃Is that so？〃 wondered the surprised Billy。
〃Yes。 Are you boys all going to sit together？〃
〃Yes。 We'll be where we can see you。 And the girls are going to be
there； too。 I reckon the whole school will be on hand。〃
〃How about Uncle Abnerwill he go to the show； do you think？〃
〃I know where you'll find him；〃 spoke up Teddy。
〃Where？〃
〃You'll find him hiding behind the hen house watching the parade go
by。 He won't dare show himself after the way the clowns had fun with
him when the show was here before。〃
〃Poor Uncle Abner！ I must go over and see him after we have called
on Mrs。 Cahill。〃
Arriving at Mrs。 Cahill's； they found her out in the yard； arrayed in her
best dress in honor of their coming； and it was a joyful meeting between
the three。 In a short time； however； Teddy grew restless and decided that
he would wander about town and call on his other friends。
〃I'll tell you what let's do； Teddy；〃 suggested Phil。
〃What？〃
〃You come back before parade time and we three will sit on the front
door step and watch the parade go by； just as we used to do before we
went into the show business。 I'll run over to see Uncle Abner in the
meantime； and we will both be back here by half…past ten。 The parade
will not get along before then。〃
〃Yes； do； boys；〃 urged Mrs。 Cahill。 〃I'll have a lunch for you after the
parade。 You will like that； will you not？〃
〃I should say we shall；〃 laughed Phil。 〃But； I had rather thought you
might like to eat with us under the circus tent。〃
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〃Oh； my； my！ Eat with the circus？〃
〃Not with the animals； he doesn't mean；〃 corrected Teddy。 〃He means
we should like to have you eat with we performers。〃
〃Yes； with the performers；〃 grinned Phil。
〃Can I eat there with you just as well after the afternoon
performance？〃
〃Surely。〃
〃Then we will have our noon meal here。 I have some fresh molasses
cookies already baked for you。〃
〃Cookies？〃 Teddy's eyes brightened。
〃Yes； do you want some now？〃
〃I always want cookies。 Never knew a time when I didn't。 I want
'em when I'm awake； and I want 'em when I'm asleep。〃
He got a double handful in short order。
〃Well； I'm off！〃 announced Teddy。
〃How about the parade？ Will you come back and see it from here？〃
〃Yes； I guess that would be some fun。 I can make faces at the other
performers who have to work。 Yes； I'll come back。〃
〃Don't forget about the donkey；〃 called Phil。 〃When are you going to
take him over to the horse tent？〃
〃I'm not going to give myself away by leading that fright through the
streets。 I've fixed it with one of the hostlers to smuggle him over to the
stable tent；〃 grinned Teddy。
〃Taking him in this afternoon？〃
〃Not I。 Saving that for a grand surprise tonight。 What are you
going to do to surprise the fellows？〃
〃I hadn't thought。 Nothing quite so sensational as your feat will be； I
guess；〃 laughed Phil。
In the course of an hour both lads had returned to Mrs。 Cahill's humble
home。 But while they were away from the show grounds； the owner of
the show； without the knowledge of the lads； had paid a visit to the
principal of the school and was back on the lot in time to head the parade
when it finally started。
〃Kinder wish I had gone in the parade；〃 regretted Teddy。
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〃Why？〃
〃Good place to show off。〃
〃You have a much better one。〃
〃Where？〃
〃In the ring。 Anybody can ride a horse in a parade； but not everyone
can perform on the flying rings and leap over elephants to boot。〃
Teddy instinctively threw out his chest。
〃You're right； at that。 Hark！〃
〃Yes； they are coming。 I can hear Billy English blow the big bass
horn。 You could hear him over three counties； I really believe。〃
Laughing and chatting； the boys settled themselves on Mrs。 Cahill's
hospitable doorstep to await the arrival of the parade which could be heard
far off on the other side of the village。
Now and then the high； metallic notes of the calliope rose above all the
rest； bringing a glint of pride to the eyes of Teddy Tuc