the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第23章
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though。〃
〃No doubt of it。 But let's see； you have how many acts now？ There's
the flying rings； the elephant act and now es the bareback act〃
〃Yes； three；〃 nodded Phil。
〃That's too many。 You'll give out under all that； and now we're
talking about doubling you out in front。 I guess we will let the front of
the house take care of itself for the present。〃
Phil looked rather disappointed。
〃Of course； any time you wish you may e out； you know。〃
〃Thank you； I shall be glad to do that。 I can do a lot of little things to
help you as soon as I learn how you run the show。 I know something
about that already；〃 grinned the lad。
〃If you wish； I will double somebody up on your flying rings act。 What
do you say？〃
〃It isn't necessary； Mr。 Sparling。 I can handle all three without any
difficulty； only the bareback act es pretty close to the grand entry。 It
doesn't give me much time to change my costume。〃
〃That's right。 Tell you what we'll do。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃We'll set the bareback act forward one number； substituting the
leaping for it。 That will give you plenty of time to make a change； will it
not？〃
〃Plenty；〃 agreed Phil。
〃How about the flying rings。 They e sometime later； if I
remember correctly。〃
〃Yes； the third act after the riding； according to the new arrangement。
No trouble about that。〃
〃Very well； then I will notify the director and let him make the
necessary changes。 I want to go out now and see your young friend
make an exhibition of himself。〃
〃Teddy？〃
〃Yes。 He's going on the leaping act for the first time； you know。〃
〃That's so。 I had forgotten all about it。 I want to see that； too。 I'll
hurry and dress。〃
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〃And； Phil；〃 said the showman in a more kindly voice； even； than he
had used before。
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the lad； glancing up quickly。
〃You are going to be a great showman some of these days； both in the
ring and out of it。 Remember what I tell you。〃
〃Thank you； I hope so。 I am going to try to be at least a good one。〃
〃You're that already。 You've done a lot for the Sparling bined as
it is and I don't want you to think I do not appreciate it。 Shake hands！〃
Man and boy grasped each other's hand in a grip that meant more than
words。 Then Mr。 Sparling turned abruptly and hurried out into the big
top where the leaping act was in full cry。
Painted clowns were keeping the audience in a roar by their funny
leaps from the springboard to the mat； while the supple acrobats were
doing doubles and singles through the air； landing gracefully on the mat as
a round off。
The showman's first inquiring look was in search of Teddy Tucker。 He
soon made the lad out。 Teddy was made up as a fat boy with a low；
narrow…brimmed hat perched jauntily on one side of his head。 There was
drollery in Teddy's every movement。 His natural clownish movements
were sufficient to excite the laughter of the spectators without any attempt
on his part to be funny； while the lad kept up a constant flow of criticism
of his panions in the act。
But they had grown to know Teddy better； by this time； and none took
his taunts seriously。
〃That boy can leap； after all；〃 muttered Mr。 Sparling。 〃I thought he
would tumble around and make some fun for the audience； but I hadn't the
least idea he could do a turn。 Why； he's the funniest one in the bunch。〃
Teddy was doing funny twists in the air as he threw a somersault at
that moment。 In his enthusiasm he overshot the mat； and had there not
been a performer handy to catch him； the lad might have been seriously
hurt。
Mr。 Sparling shook his head。
〃Lucky if he doesn't break his neck！ But that kind seldom do；〃 the
owner said out loud。
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Now the helpers were bringing the elephants up。 Two were placed in
front of the springboard and over these a stream of gaudily attired clowns
dived； doing a turn in the air as they passed。 Teddy was among the
number。
Three elephants were lined up； then a fourth and a fifth。
〃I hope he isn't going to try that；〃 growled Mr。 Sparling； noting that the
lad was waiting his turn to get up on the springboard。 〃Not many of
them can get away with that number。 I suppose I ought to go over and
stop the boy。 But I guess he won't try to jump them。 He'll probably walk
across their backs； the same as he has seen the other clowns do。〃
Teddy； however； had a different plan in mind。 He had espied Mr。
Sparling looking at him from across the tent； and he proposed to let the
owner see what he really could do。
For a moment the lad poised at the top of the springboard； critically
measuring the distance across the backs of the assembled elephants。
〃Go on； go on！〃 manded the director。 〃Do you think this show
can wait on your motion all day？ Jump； or get off the board！〃
〃Say； who's doing this you or I？〃 demanded Teddy in well…feigned
indignation； and in a voice that was audible pretty much all over the tent。
This drew a loud laugh from the spectators； who were now in a frame
of mind to laugh at anything the Fat Boy did。
〃It doesn't look as if anyone were doing anything。 Somebody will be in
a minute； if I hear any more of your talk；〃 snapped the director。 〃Are you
going to jump； or are you going to get off the board？〃
〃Well；〃 shouted Teddy； 〃confidentially now； mind you。 e over
here。 I want to talk to you。 Confidentially； you know。 I'm going to
jump； if you'll stop asking questions long enough for me to get away。〃
Amid a roar of laughter from spectators； and broad grins on the part of
the performers； Teddy took a running start and shot up into the air。
〃He's turning too quick；〃 snapped Mr。 Sparling。
Teddy； however； evidently knew what he was about。 Turning a
beautiful somersault； he launched into a second one with the confidence of
a veteran。 All the circus people in the big top expected to see the lad
break his neck。 Instead； however； Tucker landed lightly and easily on his
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feet while the spectators shouted their approval。 But instead of landing
on the mat as he thought he was doing； Teddy was standing on the back of
the last elephant in the line。
His double somersault had made him dizzy and the boy did not realize
that he had not yet reached the mat on the ground。 Bowing and smiling to
the audience； the Fat Boy started to walk away。
Then Teddy fell off； landing in a heap on the hard ground。 He rose；
aching； but the onlookers on the boards took it all as a funny finish； and
gleefully roared their appreciation。
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CHAPTER XIX
MAROONED IN A FREIGHT CAR
〃Catch him！ Catch him！ Catch that man！〃
The parade was just passing when Phil shouted out the words that
attracted all eyes toward him。 It was to a policeman that he appealed。
The lad had discovered a shock of red hair above the heads of the
people； and was gradually working his way toward the owner of it； when
all at once Red Larry discovered him。
Red pushed his way through the crowd and disappeared down an
alleyway； the policeman to whom the boy had appealed making no effort
to catch the man。
〃What kind of a policeman are you； anyway？〃 cried Phil in disgust。
〃That fellow is a crook； and we have been on the lookout for him for the
last four weeks。〃
〃What's he done？〃
〃Done？ Tried to poison one of the elephants； and a lot of other
things。〃
〃The kid's crazy or else he belongs to the circus；〃 laughed a bystander。
Phil Forrest did not hear the speaker； however； for the boy had dashed
through the crowd and bounded into the alley where he had caught a
glimpse of a head of red hair a moment before。
But Larry was nowhere in sight。 He had disappeared utterly。
〃I was right；〃 decided Phil； after going the length of the alley and back。
〃He's been following this show right along； and before he gets through
he'll put us out of business if we don't look sharp。〃
Considerable damage already had been done。 Horses and other
animals fell ill； in some instances with every evidence of poisoning； guy
ropes were cut； and the cars had been tampered with in the railroad yards。
All this was beginning to get on the nerves of the owner of the show；
as well as on those of some of his people who knew about it。 Things had
e to a point where it was necessary to place more men on guard about
the lot to protect the show's property。
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At each stand of late efforts had been made to get the police to keep an
eye open for one Red Larry； but police officials do not； as a rule； give very
serious heed to the plaints of a circus； especially unless the entire
department has been pretty well supplied with tickets。 Mr。 Sparling was
a showman who did not give away many tickets unless there were some
very good reason for so doing。
Phil； in the meantime； had been at work in an effort to satisfy his own
