the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第13节
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！
turn it in to you when I get back。 Where do you wish me to join you？〃
〃Corinto； unless you think best to come back in the meantime。 That is；
if you get sufficient information。 You know what I want without my
going into details； don't you？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Now； look out for yourself。〃
〃I'll try to。〃
〃You have not mentioned to anyone what you are going to do； of
course？〃
〃Certainly not。 Not even to Teddy。 Perhaps if you will； you might
make the explanation to him；〃 suggested Phil。
〃Yes； I'll do that as soon as you have gotten away。 He'll be raising
the roof off the big top when he misses you。〃
50
… Page 51…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil extended his hand to his employer； then turned and hurried from
the tent。 First； the boy proceeded to the sleeping car in which he berthed；
for his bag。 Securing this he had just time to reach the station before the
five o'clock train rumbled in。
The lad boarded a sleeping car and settled himself for the long ride
before him； passing the time by reading the current magazines with which
he provided himself when the train agent came through。 Late in the
evening the lad turned in。 Riding in a sleeping car was no novelty to him；
and he dropped asleep almost instantly； not to awaken again until the
porter shook him gently by the shoulder。
〃What is it？〃 questioned Phil； starting up。
〃St。 Catharines。〃
The lad pulled the curtains of his berth aside。 Day was just breaking
as he peered out。
〃There they are；〃 he muttered； catching sight of a switch full of
gaudily painted cars bearing the name of the Sully Hippodrome Circus。
〃They have just got in；〃 he decided from certain familiar signs of which he
took quick mental note。 〃Looks like a cheap outfit at that。 But you never
can tell。〃
Phil Forrest dressed himself quickly and grasping his bag hurried from
the car； anxious to be at his task； which； to tell the truth； he approached
with keen zest。 He was beginning to enter into the spirit of the work to
which he had been assigned； and which was to provide him with much
more excitement than he at that moment dreamed。
51
… Page 52…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER IX
PHIL MAKES A DISCOVERY
〃I guess I'll leave my bag in the station and go over to the lot；〃 decided
the lad。
〃The stake and chain gang will just about be on the job by this time。〃
It is a well known fact in the circus world that there is no better place
to get information than from the stake and chain gang； the men who hurry
to the lot the moment their train gets in and survey it； driving stakes to
show where the tents are to be pitched； and it is a familiar answer； when
one is unable to answer a question to say： 〃Ask the stake and chain gang。〃
That was exactly what Phil Forrest had in mind to do。
He followed a show wagon to the circus lot； where he found the men
already at work measuring off the ground with their surveyor's chains； in
the faint morning light。
〃Morning；〃 smiled Phil； sauntering over to where he observed the
foreman watching the work of his men。
〃Morning；〃 growled the showman。 Phil knew he would growl
because the fellow had not yet had his breakfast。
〃Seems to me the circuses are coming this way pretty fast？〃 suggested
the lad。
〃What d'ye mean？〃
〃I hear that there are to be two over in Corinto within two daysyours
andand。 What's the name of the other one？〃
〃Sparling's；〃 grunted the foreman。
Phil grinned appreciatively。 He had drawn his man out on the first
round。
〃That's it。 That's the name。 I shouldn't think he'd want to show in
the same place the day after you had been there？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃 'Cause the folks will all spend their money going to your show。〃
The foreman threw back his head and laughed。
〃That's exactly what they will do； kid。 That's what we want them to
do。 We'll make that Sparling outfit get off the earth before we get
52
… Page 53…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
through with them。 The boss has his axe out for that outfit。〃
〃Indeed？〃 cooed Phil。
〃Yes。 He's going； between you and me； to keep a day ahead of them
all the way over this circuit。〃
〃Smart； very smart；〃 laughed Phil； slapping his thigh as if he
appreciated the joke fully。 〃Have an orange。 I always carry some about
with me when I'm going to visit a circus。〃
〃Thanks； that will taste good at this time of the morning。 It will keep
me going until the cook tent is ready。 The cook tent is where we get our
meals； you understand。 'Course you don't know about those things。〃
〃No indeed！〃
〃Outsiders never do；〃 replied the man。
〃I was wondering something a moment ago； when you told me about
getting ahead of the other fellow。〃
〃Wondering？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What？〃
〃Wondering how you know where the other fellow is going？〃
〃That's a dark secret； kid；〃 answered the stake and chain foreman； with
a very knowing wink。
〃But if you know where he is going he must know where you are
billed for at the same time；〃 urged Phil。
〃He don't。〃
〃But why not？〃
〃In the first place we bill ourselves only a few days ahead。 And； in the
second； we have a way of finding out where Sparling is going for the next
month or so ahead。 Sometimes further than that。〃
〃Well； well； that's interesting〃 The foreman hurried off to give some
directions to his men； slowly returning a few minutes later。
〃I should like to know how you do it？〃
〃Say kid； there's tricks in the show business just the same as in any
other。 Mebby there's somebody with the Sparling outfit who keeps us
posted。 Mind you； I ain't saying there is； but that there might be。〃
〃Oh； I see；〃 muttered Phil； suddenly enlightened。 〃Then someone in
53
… Page 54…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the other show is giving away his employer's secrets。 Fine for you； but
pretty rough on the other fellow。〃
〃Let the other fellow take care of himself； the same way we do；〃
growled the foreman； following it with a threatening command to one of
his men。
〃That hardly seems fair；〃 objected Phil。
〃All is fair in war and the circus business。 You seem a good deal
interested in this competition business？〃 snapped the man with sudden
suspicion in voice and face。
〃I am。 But where is thisthis Sparling show going todo you know
what towns they are going to play for the next month？ Can you tell that；
too？〃
〃I can come pretty close to it；〃 grinned the showman； whereupon he
named the towns on Phil's route list without so much as missing one of
them。 But the stake and chain foreman did not stop here； he went on and
gave a further list that Phil only knew of as having heard mentioned by Mr。
Sparling in his various conversations with the circus lad。
Phil was amazed。
〃Then they must be going west。 I see；〃 nodded the boy。
〃No； you don't see。 You only think you do。〃
〃No？〃
〃No。 If you was a showman and knew your business you'd know that
the Sparling outfit was going to make a sudden turn after a little； and head
for Dixie Land。〃
〃Down south；〃 exclaimed Phil。
〃Sure。 Why not？ You see you lubbers don't know any more about
the show business than〃
〃And you are going to follow them？〃
〃Follow them？ No。 We're going to lead them。 They'll follow us。〃
〃You're like a wildcat train then？〃
〃Something of the sort。〃
〃Where's the boss？〃
〃There he comes now。 I'll have to hustle the men； or he'll scorch
