按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃That will be fine。〃
Dimples nodded； tossed her whip in the air and clucking to Cinders；
went bounding over the fence。 A moment more and she had taken her
place in the line and was moving along with the procession； bowing and
smiling。
〃That's what I call right fine；〃 glowed Mrs。 Cahill。 〃Did you say that
little thing was Mrs。 Robinson？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why； she looks like a young girl。〃
〃That's what I thought when I first saw her。 But she has a son as old
as I am。〃
〃Land sakes！〃 wondered Mrs。 Cahill。 〃You never can tell about these
circus folks； anyhow。〃
Phil laughed heartily； but Teddy was too much interested in what was
going on outside the fence to indulge in laughter。 The band was still
playing as if its very existence depended upon keeping up the noise； while
the white horses attached to the band wagon were frantically seeking to
get their heads down for a nibble of the fresh green grass at the side of the
road。
〃There come the bulls；〃 called Teddy。
〃Yes； I see them。〃
〃The bulls？〃 wondered Mrs。 Cahill。 〃I didn't know they had bulls in
the circus。〃
〃That's what the show people call the elephants；〃 laughed Phil。 〃Teddy
is talking show…talk now。 We have a language of our own。〃
〃I should say you do？〃 grumbled the widow。
〃What's the bull in front got on his trunk； Phil？〃
18
… Page 19…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil shaded his eyes and gazed off down the street。
〃That's my friend Emperor。 I don't know what it is he is carrying。
That's queer。 I never saw him carrying anything in parade before； did
you？〃
〃No。〃
For a moment both lads directed their attention to making out what it
was that Emperor was carrying along。
〃It looks to me like a basket of flowers；〃 finally decided Phil。
〃Has somebody been handing him a bouquet；〃 grunted Teddy。
〃It certainly looks that way。〃
〃Why； I really believe he is coming in here。〃
〃Coming herean elephant coming into my front yard？ Mercy me！〃
exclaimed Mrs。 Cahill； starting up。
〃Why； Mrs。 Cahill； Emperor wouldn't hurt a little baby。 I hope he
does come in。 Sit still。 Don't be afraid。〃
〃He'll spoil my flower bedshe'll trample them all down and after I've
worked four weeks getting〃
〃Yes； here he comes；〃 exulted Phil。
At that moment Emperor； with his trainer； Mr。 Kennedy； swung out of
line and entered the garden gate。 Turning to the left they headed directly
across the lawn。 The precious flower beds lay right in his path。
〃Oh； my flowers！ They're ruined；〃 moaned the widow。
〃Watch him and you'll see；〃 answered Phil； his face wreathed in
smiles。
She did； and her eyes opened wider when Emperor cautiously raised
one ponderous foot after another until he had stepped clear of the first bed
of flowers。 The same thing happened when he got to the second bed。
Not even the imprint of his footfalls was left on the fresh green grass of
the lawn。
Mrs。 Cahill's eyes were large and wondering。 A sudden impulse
stirred her to spring up and flee into the house。
Phil； noting it； laid a restraining hand lightly； on her arm。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 he reassured。 〃Emperor will not harm you。 You see
how careful he is of your lawn and your flower beds。 I think he is coming
19
… Page 20…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
here for some purpose。〃
Emperor and his trainer came to a half right in front of the porch； the
elephant's little eyes fixed upon the slender form of Phil Forrest。
〃Good boy； Emperor！〃 breathed Phil。 〃Did somebody present a
basket of flowers to you？〃
It was a big basket； and such a handsome collection of flowers did it
contain as to cause Mrs。 Cahill to open her eyes in wonder。 A card was
tied to the handle of the basket with a big pink ribbon。 Phil began to
understand the meaning of the scene； and he felt sure the name on the card
was that of Mrs。 Cahill。
A low spoken command from the trainer； and Emperor cautiously got
down on his knees； keeping those small eyes on Phil Forrest all the time。
〃Mrs。 Cahill； Emperor has been commissioned by the Great Sparling
Combined Shows to present a basket of flowers to you in the name of Mr。
Sparling himself； and the show people； too。 He has carried it all the way
from the lot this morning；〃 declared Mr。 Kennedy。
The people on the street were now pressing closer； in order to see what
was going to happen。 Phil was smiling broadly； while Teddy was
hugging himself with delight at Mrs。 Cahill's nervousness。
〃Emperor； give the flowers to the lady；〃 commanded the trainer。
Slowly； the big elephant's trunk stretched out； extending the basket
toward her inch by inch； while the widow instinctively shrank far back in
her chair。 At last the trunk reached her。
〃Take it；〃 said Phil。
She grasped the basket with a muttered； 〃thank you。〃
〃Say good…bye； Emperor；〃 directed the trainer。
Emperor curled his trunk on high； coughed mightily； then rising on his
hind legs until he stood almost as high as the widow's cottage； he uttered a
wild； weird trumpeting that fairly shook the house。
Mrs。 Cahill； in her fright； suddenly started back； her chair tipped over
and she landed in a heap on the ground at the end of the porch。
20
… Page 21…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER IV
A FRIENDLY AUDIENCE
The afternoon performance had passed without a hitch。 While there
were many town people there the greater part of the audience； which
nearly filled the big tent； was composed of visitors from the country。
Great applause greeted the performances of Phil Forrest and Teddy
Tucker； but the two Circus Boys were saving their best efforts for the
evening performance when all their friends would be present。
Mrs。 Cahill； after her tumble； had been picked up by the lads who
insisted that she shake the trunk of Emperor before he left the la