the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第1节
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
The Circus Boys In Dixie
Land
（Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Edgar B。 P。 Darlington
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER I
UNDER CANVAS AGAIN
〃I reckon the fellows will turn out to see us tomorrow night； Teddy。〃
〃I hope so； Phil。 We'll show them that we are real circus performers；
won't we？〃
Phil Forrest nodded happily。
〃They know that already； I think。 But we shall both feel proud to
perform in our home town again。 They haven't seen us in the ring since
the day we first joined the show two years ago； and then it was only a little
performance。〃
〃Remember the day I did a stunt in front of the circus billboard back
home？〃
〃And fell in the ditch； head first？ I remember it；〃 and Phil Forrest
laughed heartily。
〃You and I weren't circus men then； were we？〃
〃No。〃
〃But we are now。〃
〃I guess we are；〃 nodded Phil with emphasis。 〃Still； we have
something to learn yet。 We are a couple of lucky boys； you and I； Teddy
Tucker。 Had it not been for Mr。 Sparling we might still have been doing
chores for our board in Edmeston。〃
〃Instead； we are getting our envelopes with sixty dollars apiece in
them from the little red ticket wagon every Tuesday morning； eh？〃
〃Just so。〃
〃I never thought I'd be able to earn so much money as that in a whole
year；〃 reflected Teddy。
〃Nor I。〃
〃Do you think we'll get any more 'raises' this season？〃
〃I haven't the least idea that we shall。 You know our contracts are
signed for the season at sixty dollars a week。 That surely should be
enough to satisfy us。 We shall be able to save a whole lot of money； this
year； and； if we have good luck； in five years more we'll be able to have a
little show of our own。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Teddy agreed to this with a reflective nod。
〃What kind of show？〃
〃Well； that remains to be seen；〃 laughed Phil。 〃We shall be lucky to
have most any kind。〃
〃Do you know what sort I'd like to have？〃
〃No。 What kind？〃
〃Wild West show； a regular Buffalo Bill outfit； with wild Indians；
cowboys； bucking ponies and whoop！ whoop！ Hi…yi…yi！ You know？〃
Teddy's eyes were glowing with excitement； while a dull red glow
showed beneath the tan on his face。
〃I wouldn't get so excited about it；〃 answered Phil； highly amused。
〃How'd you like that kind？〃
〃Not at all。 It's too rough。 Give me the circus every time； with its
life； its color； it'soh； pshaw！ What's the use talking about it？ Is there
anything in the world more attractive than those tents over there； with the
flags of every nation flying from center and quarter poles？ Is there；
Teddy？〃
〃Well； no； I guess that's right。〃
For a moment the lads were silent。 They were sitting beneath a
spreading maple tree off； on the circus lot； a few rods from where the tents
were being erected。 A gentle breeze was stirring the flags； billowing the
white canvas of the tents in slow； undulating waves。
〃And to think that we belong to that！ Do you know； sometimes I
think it is all a dream； and I'm afraid I shall suddenly wake up to find
myself back in Edmeston with Uncle Abner Adams driving me out of the
house with a stick。〃
Phil's face grew solemn as those unhappy days under his uncle's roof
came back to him in a flood of disquieting memories。
〃Don't wake up； then；〃 replied Teddy。
〃I think perhaps we had better both wake up if we expect to get any
breakfast。 The red flag is flying on the cook tent； which means that
breakfast is readyin fact； breakfast must be pretty well over by this time。
First thing we know the blue flag will suddenly appear in its place； and
you and I will have to hustle downtown for something to eat。 It will be
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
parade time pretty soon； too。〃
〃Breakfast？ Say； Phil； I'd forgotten all about breakfast。〃
〃There must be something wrong with you； then； if you forget when
it's meal time。 As for myself； I have an appetite that would put the
Bengal tiger to shame。 Come along。〃
〃I'm with you。 I'll show you whether my appetite has a reef in it or
not。 I can eat more than the living skeleton can； and for a thin man he's
got anything stopped for appetite that I ever saw；〃 answered Teddy Tucker；
scrambling to his feet and starting for the cook tent。
Yes； Teddy Tucker and Phil Forrest are the same boys who； two
seasons before； began their circus career by joining a road show； each in a
humble capacity。 It will be remembered how in 〃THE CIRCUS BOYS
ON THE FLYING RINGS；〃 Teddy and Phil quickly rose to be performers
in the ring； how Phil； by his coolness and bravery； saved the life of one of
the performers at the imminent risk of losing his own； how he saved the
circus from a great pecuniary loss； as well as distinguishing himself in
various other ways。
In 〃THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT；〃 the lads won
new laurels in their chosen career； when Phil became a bareback rider；
scoring a great hit at his first performance。 It will be recalled too； how
the circus lad proved himself a real hero at the wreck of the dining car；
saving the lives of several persons； finally being himself rescued by his
companion； Teddy Tucker。
The Great Sparling Combined Shows had been on the road a week；
and by this time the various departments had gotten down to fairly good
working order； for； no matter how perfect such an organization may be； it
requires several days for the show people to become used to working
together。 This extends even to the canvasmen and roustabouts。 After
being a few weeks out they are able to set the tents in from half an hour to
an hour less time than it takes during the first two or three stands of the
season。
The next stand was to be Edmeston； the home of the two Circus Boys。
The lads were looking forward with keen expectation to the moment when；
clad in tights and spangles； they would appear before their old school
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
fellows in a series of daring aerial flights。
The lads had spent the winter at school and now only one year more
was lacking to complete their course at the high school that they had been
attending between circus seasons； practicing in their gymnasium after
school hours。
〃I'd like to invite all the boys of our class to come to the show on
passes。 Do you suppose Mr。 Sparling would let me？〃
〃I am afraid you had better not ask him；〃 laughed Phil。 〃If you were
running a store do you think you would ask the crowd to come over and
help themselves to whatever they wanted？〃
〃Well； no…o。〃
〃I thought not。〃
〃But this is different。〃
〃Not so much so。 It would be giving away seats that could be sold
and that probably will be sold。 No； I guess the boys had better pay for
their seats。〃
Teddy looked disappointed。
〃Don't you think it is worth fifty cents to see us perform？〃 queried
Phil。
Teddy grinned broadly。 The idea appealed to him in a new light。
〃That's so。 I guess it's worth more than fifty cents； at that。 I guess I
don't care if they do have to pay； but I want them to come to the show。
What do you suppose I've been working two years for； if it wasn't to show
off before the fellows？ Haven't you？〃
〃No。〃
〃What
