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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃I wonder what he has up his sleeve；〃 mused Mr。 Sparling shrewdly；
suspecting that Phil was about to try something he had never done in the
ring before。 〃I hope he won't take any long chances； for I can't afford to
have anything happen to my little star performer。〃
As a matter of fact both Phil and Teddy Tucker had become star
performers； and were so featured on the circus bills； where their pictures
had been placed for this； their third season out。 The year before they had
appeared on the small bills in the shop windows； but now they had the
satisfaction of seeing themselves portrayed in life…size on the big boards。
Phil sent his ring horse forward at a lively gait； which grew faster and
faster； as he sat lightly on the animal's rump； urging it along。
All at once he bounded to his feet； poised an instant； then threw
himself into a succession of handsprings until he resembled a whirling
pink and gold wheel。
This was a new act in the circus world； and such of the other
performers as were under the big top at the moment paused to watch it。
No one was more surprised than Mr。 Sparling himself。 He knew
what a difficult feat it was that the Circus Boy had not only essayed； but
succeeded in doing。 Phil kept it up at such length； and with such
stubborn persistence； that the owner of the show feared lest the lad； in his
dizziness might get a bad fall。
Doing a series of such rapid handsprings on the level ground is
calculated to make a performer's head swim。 But how much more
difficult such an effort is on the slippery back of a moving horse may well
be imagined。
Finally； red of face； panting； breathless； Phil Forrest alighted on his
feet； well back on the ring horse's rump。
〃Be ready to catch me；〃 he gasped。
The ringmaster understood。
Phil urged his horse to a run about the sawdust arena。
〃Now； what's that fool boy going to do？〃 wondered Mr。 Sparling。
All at once Phil Forrest threw himself up into the air； his body
doubling like a ball as he did so。
Onetwothree times he whirled about in his marvelous backward
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
somersault。
〃Let go your tuck！〃 commanded the ringmaster； meaning that Phil was
to release the grip of his hands which were holding his legs doubled close
against his body。
The lad quickly straightened up； spreading his arms to steady himself
in his descent。 Fortunately he was dropping feet first； due to his instant
obedience of the ringmaster's order。
Perhaps that alone saved the Circus Boy from breaking his neck； for so
dizzy was he that he was unable to tell whether he was dropping feet or
head first。
He alighted on his feet and the ringmaster caught him deftly。
〃Stand steady a minute； till you get your bearings； Phil。〃
Phil needed that moment to steady himself； for the big top seemed to
be whirling about on a pivot。
Now he began dimly to hear the thunders of applause that greeted his
really wonderful performance。
〃Can you stand alone now？〃
〃I think so；〃 came the faint reply that was instantly drowned in the
great uproar。
But the lad wavered a little after the ringmaster had released his grip。
Steadying himself quickly； Phil pulled on his slippers and walked slowly
from the ring； dizzy； but happy with the shouts of his school fellows
ringing in his ears。
He heard the voice of Mr。 Sparling close by him； saying：
〃Great； great； my boy！ Finest exhibition ever seen in a sawdust
ring！〃
Phil tripped proudly past the grandstand seats； where the boys were
howling like a pack of wild Indians。
But just then something else occurred to attract their attention。
A donkey； long…eared； long…haired； dirty and unkempt trotted into the
ring and spun about like a top for a full minute。
On the ludicrous…looking beast's back sat a boy in the makeup of a
blackface clown。 In his mouth was a harmonica； that he played lustily； as
he sat facing to the rear with his back toward the donkey's head。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
At that moment something else was observable。 Instead of traveling
head first； as any self…respecting donkey is supposed to do； this particular
donkey was walking backwards。 Yes； he was galloping backwards。
The instant the audience noted that； their cheers changed to howls of
delight。 The clown was Teddy Tucker； and the donkey was the surprise
he had been storing up for this very occasion。 While the audience laughed
and jeered； Mr。 Sparling looked on in surprise not unmixed with
amazement。 Here was the very thing he had been looking for； but had
been unable thus far to find。
〃It's a winner！〃 he cried； as Teddy Tucker and his strange mount
ambled by him in a gait such as never had been seen in a sawdust arena
before。
Right around the arena traveled boy and donkey。 When opposite the
grandstand seats； where the high school students were sitting； Teddy
nearly drove them wild by drawing out the class colors which he had been
hiding under his coat。
In a shrill； high…pitched voice he gave utterance to the high school
class yell； which was instantly taken up by the class and eventually by the
spectators themselves； until all seemed near the verge of hysterics。
Phil； instead of proceeding directly to the dressing tent； had waited by
the bandstand to watch the new act of his companion； and he； with others
of the performers； was laughing heartily as he leaned against the
bandstand。 Teddy knew he made a funny appearance； but just how
ludicrous he could have little idea。
〃Whose donkey is that？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling； hurrying up just as
Phil and the other circus folks were congratulating the lad。
〃He's mine；〃 rejoined Teddy。
〃Where did you get him？〃
〃I bought him。 Think I stole him？ Been training him all