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rest； bringing a glint of pride to the eyes of Teddy Tucker。
〃I just love that steam music machine。〃
〃Well； I must say that I do not admire your taste；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's
the most hideous discord of noises I ever heard。 I never did like the
steam piano； but a circus wouldn't be a circus without it。〃
〃Nope；〃 agreed Teddy with emphasis。
Down the street a gorgeously colored rainbow slowly reached around a
bend and began straightening away toward the Cahill home。 The parade
was approaching。
As the gay procession drew nearer the boys began to evince some of
the enthusiasm that they had known before they themselves had become a
part of the big show。
〃Remember the parade two years ago； Phil？〃 asked Mrs。 Cahill。
〃I could not very well forget it。 That was a red letter day in my life；
the day when I fell into the show business。〃
〃And that wasn't all you fell in either；〃 added Teddy。
〃What else did I fall in？〃
〃In a ditch when you stopped the runaway pony。〃
Phil did not laugh。 He was thinking。
〃That was a lucky fall； too。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Why？〃
〃Because it was the means of giving you and me our start in the circus
business。〃
〃Hurrah！ Here they come。 Now see me make faces at them when
they go by；〃 said Teddy。
The Cahill home was near the outskirts of the village； and as the
golden chariot of the band； glistening in the bright morning sunlight；
approached； the lads could not repress an exclamation of delight。
〃I used to think the band wagon was solid gold；〃 breathed Teddy。
〃When did you find out differently？〃
〃That day； two years ago； when I scraped off some of the gold with my
knife and found it was nothing but wood；〃 grunted Teddy in a disgusted
tone。
〃What is that band wagon trying to do？〃 demanded Phil suddenly。
〃Guess they are going to turn around；〃 said Teddy。
The six white horses attached to the band wagon slowly drew out of
the line just before reaching the Cahill home； and pointed toward the
roadside fence。 The boys could not understand what the move meant。
An instant later the leaders straightened out and began moving along the
side of the road close to the fence。
They slowly drew up to the door yard； coming to a stop at the far end
of it。
〃Whawha〃 stammered Teddy。
〃They are going to serenade us；〃 cried Phil。 〃That's Mr。 Sparling all
over。 What do you think of that； Mrs。 Cahill？ You never were serenaded
by a circus band before； were you？〃
〃N…n…no；〃 answered the widow； a little tremulously。
The band wagon drew up a few feet further； coming to a stop again
just to the left of the dooryard gate； so as not to interfere with the party's
view of the parade。
〃There's Mr。 Sparling；〃 shouted Phil； as the owner in his handsome
carriage drawn by four black horses； came abreast of the yard。
Both boys sprang up and cheered him in their enthusiasm； to which the
showman responded by taking off his hat； while the band struck up
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Yankee Doodle。〃
It was a glorious moment for the Circus Boys； and they were even
more surprised and gratified by what followed a few moments later。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER III
THE CIRCUS MAKES A CALL
While the band played； the clown wagon came to a halt and the whole
body of funny men sang a song in front of Mrs。 Cahill's house； while the
widow and her two young guests applauded enthusiastically。
As the clown's wagon drew on； a horse ridden by a young woman was
seen dashing straight at the dooryard fence； which it took in a graceful
leap； causing the Widow Cahill to gasp her amazement。 The rider was
none other than Little Dimples； the star bareback rider of the Sparling
Shows； who had chosen this way to pay homage to her young associates
and to Mrs。 Cahill as well。
It was an unusual procedure in a circus parade； but though it had been
arranged by Mr。 Sparling out of the kindness of his heart； he shrewdly
reasoned that it would make good business for the show as well。 That
the people lined up along the street agreed with his reasoning was
evidenced by their shouts of applause。
〃Mrs。 Cahill； this is our very good friend； Mrs。 Robinson； otherwise
known as Little Dimples；〃 announced Phil proudly。
Mrs。 Cahill bowed and smiled； not the least bit embarrassed。
〃You haven't introduced my pony； Phil。 The pony is part of little me；
you know。〃
〃I beg pardon； Mrs。 Cahill； let me introduce to you Mrs。 Robinson's
pony； Cinders； who； though he cannot talk； comes pretty close to it；〃 said
Phil； with great dignity。 Cinders bowed and bowed； the bits rattling
against his teeth until it sounded to the little gathering as if he were trying
to chatter his pleasure at the introduction。
〃Now； shake hands with Mrs。 Cahill； Cinders；〃 directed Little
Dimples。
Cinders extended a hoof； which Mrs。 Cahill touched gingerly。 She was
not used to shaking hands with horses。 Teddy and Phil； however； each
grasped the pony's extended foot； giving it a good shake； after which Phil
thrust a lump of sugar into the waiting lips of Cinders。
〃Naughty boy！〃 chided Little Dimples； tapping the neck of her mount
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
with the little riding crop she carried。 〃You would spoil him in no time。
I must be going； now。 I hope we shall see you at the show this afternoon；
Mrs。 Cahill；〃 smiled Dimples； her face breaking out into dimples and
smiles。
The widow nodded。
〃This afternoon and tonight。 She is going to dine with us under the
cook tent this afternoon；〃 Phil informed the rider。
〃That will be fine。〃
Dimples nodded； tossed her whip in the air and clucking to Cinders；
went boun