the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第16节
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the moon's on a strike。 Get in there。〃
Phil was thrust into the closed carriage； which the showman used for
driving back and forth between the train and the lot。
Quick as a flash Phil Forrest dived through the open coach window on
the other side； and with equal quickness he was pounced upon by the
driver； who had gotten off on that side； probably at a signal from Sully。
Had Sully not run around to the other side of the wagon Phil would
have quickly disposed of the driver； strong as was the latter。
With an enraged cry Sully sprang upon Phil； and raised his hand to
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
strike。
〃If you attempt to do that you'll serve the rest of the season in jail；〃
dared Phil； taking a bold course。 〃You know they don't trifle with brutes
like you up here in Canada？〃
Sully growled an unintelligible reply； but that he recognized the truth
of the lad's words was evident when he slowly dropped his clenched fist to
his side。
〃I'll see that you don't get away this time；〃 he said once more thrusting
Phil into the carriage； this time； however； keeping a firm grip on the lad's
arm。
The driver whipped up the horse and the carriage rumbled away； soon
reaching the village street and turning sharply off into a side street。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XI
ON SULLY'S PRIVATE CAR
〃Where are you taking me？〃 Phil demanded。
〃You'll see in a minute。〃
〃And so will you。 There are laws to punish such high…handed
methods as yours； and I'll see that you are punished； and well punished；
too。 If I can't do it； there are others who willwho will see that you get
what you deserve。〃
〃Keep on talking。 It will be my turn pretty soon；〃 answered Sully。
In a short time Phil discovered that they were driving along by the
railroad tracks。 He knew that the yards where the circus train was
standing were only a short distance beyond。
〃I guess he's going to take me to the train； for some reason or other；〃
decided Phil； but he could not understand what the showman's motive
might be。
The Circus Boy was not afraid； but he was thoroughly angry。 His grit
and stubbornness had been aroused and he was ready to take any desperate
chance。 However； he felt that； after all； this capture might be the means
of giving him the further information of which he was in search。 He
might possibly be able to draw some admission from Sully。
They drew up beside the tracks and the carriage halted。
〃Now； not a sound！〃 warned the showman。 〃If you raise your voice；
or so much as speak to anyone you see； I'll forget that you are a kid and〃
〃I am not afraid of your threats；〃 interrupted Phil。 〃I know you are
brute enough to do what you say you will； but it won't be good for you if
you do。 Go on。 I'll follow till I get a chance to escape。〃
〃You'll not get the chance；〃 retorted Sully； taking firm hold of the boy's
arm。
They made their way through the yards； avoiding the gasoline torches
that flared familiarly here and there among the mass of cars； then turned
toward the station。 As the lights of the latter came into view； the
showman halted； looked up and down the tracks； then led Phil to the
platform of a car which the boy recognized as being one of the show's
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
sleepers。
〃That's what I thought he was up to；〃 muttered Phil； watching for an
opportunity to leap off the other side and lose himself among the cars。
No such opportunity was offered to him； however； and a moment later
the door of the sleeper had been opened； and he was pushed roughly inside；
Mr。 Sully following in quickly； slamming and locking the door behind
them。
〃Get in there and sit down！〃
〃Where？〃
〃In the private office there。〃
〃So this is your private car； is it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hm…m…m！〃
〃You seem to know a lot about the show business。〃
Phil made no reply； but dropped into the owner's chair at the latter's
desk。
〃Get out of that chair！〃
〃I thought you invited me to sit down？〃
〃I did； but I might have known you wouldn't have had sense enough to
sit where you ought to。〃
〃Where's that？〃
〃On the floor。〃
〃I am not in the habit of being received that way；〃 taunted Phil；
making no move to vacate the chair。
Sully； with a grunt of disapproval； sat down in another chair； placing
himself so the light would fall fully on Phil's face。
〃Now； what's your name？〃
〃You'll have to guess that；〃 smiled Phil。
〃That's where you're wrong。 I know it。〃
〃What is my name？〃
〃Forrest。 You're a bareback rider in the Sparling outfit。 You thought
you would not be known； but you see you are。 You can't fool a man in the
show business so easily。 After you have grown older in the business you
will learn a few things。〃
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〃I am learning fast；〃 laughed the lad。 〃I am learning a lot of things
that I wish I did not have to learn。〃
〃What； for instance？〃
〃That there are such men as you in the show business。〃
〃Be careful； boy。 You will go too far； the first thing you know。 Now；
what are you doing here？〃
〃If you know so much I don't see why you should have to ask that
question。〃
〃I'm asking。〃
〃And I'm not telling。 I'll answer none of your questions； unless it is
about something that I can tell you without getting others into trouble。〃
〃You already have admitted that you are with the Sparling show。 You
have made several slips of the tongue since I got hold of you。〃
〃I haven't denied that I am with the Sparling show； neither have I
admitted it。 I decline to lie or to give you any information of any nature
whatever。〃
〃When is the Sparling show coming here？〃
〃I was not aware that it was coming here。 Is it？〃
〃No； I didn't mean that。 I mean when are they going to show in
Corinto？〃
Phil was silent。
〃You might as well make a clean breast of the whole business； young
man。 I've caught you red…handed； snooping about the lot for two days
quizzing everybody。 Now what's the game？〃
〃There is no game。〃
〃What is Sparling trying to find out？〃
〃You will have to ask him； I guess。〃
Sully surveyed the lad in silence for a minute or two。
〃I couldn't understand； at first； why he should send a kid like you to
spy upon us； but I begin to see that you are a sharp little monkey〃
Just then the showman was interrupted by the entrance of the foreman
of the stake and chain gang。
〃Bob； I want you to tell me exactly what questions this cub asked you
yesterday？〃
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〃I thought he was some curious town fellow； so I didn't pay much
attention to his questions。 When I saw him on the lot； again today； and
heard him asking other folks； kind of careless like； I began to smell a rat。〃
〃What did he want to know； I'm asking you？〃
The foreman related as well as he could remember； just what
conversation had taken place between himself and Phil Forrest； omitting；
however； the fact that he had furnished any information。 It would have
ended his connection with the show right there； had he let the owner know
how much he really had told。
Phil grinned appreciatively； but it was not for him to get the foreman
into trouble。
〃Hm…m！〃 mused Sully。 〃You found out a lot； I presume？〃
〃I can truthfully say that I found out that what I had heard about the
show is true。〃
〃And
