the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第17节
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〃I can truthfully say that I found out that what I had heard about the
show is true。〃
〃And what's that； if I may ask？〃
〃Thieves。 I happen to know that they travel right along with the
show； and I shouldn't be surprised if you got part of their stealings； either；〃
Phil boldly flung at the showman。
Sully's face went redder than ever； while his fingers clenched and
unclenched。 It was evident that the man feared to let his anger get the
better of him。
〃If he ever lets go at me； I'm a goner；〃 thought Phil understanding that；
besides an almost ungovernable temper； the man possessed great physical
strength。 〃I guess he won't do anything of the sort； unless I goad him to
it。 I believe that I have said about enough。〃
〃Watch him a minute； Bob；〃 directed Sully； rising and stepping to the
other end of the car。 He returned a minute later。
〃Young man；〃 he said； 〃if you had been more civil you might have
gotten away with your bluff〃
〃I have not tried to bluff you；〃 interjected Phil。
〃As it is； I think I'll lock you up until morning； and； if you are ready
then to make a clean breast of the whole affair； perhaps I shall let you go
back with a message to your bossa message that he won't like； I reckon。〃
〃You won't send any such message by me；〃 retorted Phil。 〃Carry your
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
own messages。 Where you going to lock me up？〃
〃In a place where you will be safe。 But I shouldn't advise you to get
red…headed about it。 There will be someone nearby to take all the howl
out of you if you try it。〃
〃You had better not！〃
〃What do you think； Bob？ Is it safe to let this fellow go？〃
〃Well； I suppose you've got to let him go sometime。 He'll be getting
us into trouble if you keep him。〃
〃I'll take the chance of that。 We can drop him just before crossing the
line back into the United States。〃
〃That's a good game。〃
〃Then the United States authorities can't take any action on an offense
committed across the border。 I don't believe they would； anyway。 It is
all a part of the show game。 I'd like to drop the spy over the Falls when
we get to Niagara；〃 added Sully。
〃I might get wet if you did that；〃 grinned Phil。
〃You'll be lucky if you don't get worse； which you will unless you
keep a more civil tongue in your head。 Yes； I guess that will be the best
plan； Bob。〃
〃Youyou don't mean that you will drop him over the Falls？〃 gasped
the foreman。
〃No；〃 laughed Sully。 〃Not that； much as I'd like to。 But it would
serve him right。 I'm going to lock him up； that's what I mean。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Here。〃
〃But he'll get out。〃
〃Not from where I put him。〃
The foreman looked about him a puzzled expression in his eyes。
〃What do you say to the linen closet？〃
〃The linen closet？〃
〃Yes。 I have just looked at it。 There will be room enough for him；
and there's no opening through which he can call to anyone on the outside。
If he does make an outcry some of us will be here to look after him。〃
〃That's a good game。 I hadn't thought of it before。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Come along； my fine young bareback rider。 You'll wish you'd stuck
to your own business before you get through with us！〃
Phil was led down the side passageway of the car and thrust into a
narrow compartment； about three sides of which were shelves loaded
down with the linen used on the car。
There was room for a chair in the compartment and he could stand
upright。 However； had he wished to lie down he would have been unable
to do so。
〃So this is the prison you have decided to lock me in； is it？〃 grinned
the lad。
〃It looks that way。 I guess it will bring you to your senses。 You'll talk
by tomorrow morning； I'll guarantee。〃
〃I guess you will have another guess coming；〃 warned Phil。
Without further parley Sully slammed the door and locked it； leaving
Phil in absolute darkness。
〃Now I am in a fix； for sure。 If Sully hadn't been quite so big I
should have taken a chance and pitched into him。 He is strong enough to
eat me alive。 I could handle the fellow； Bob； all right； but not Sully。 So
I have got to stay here all night？ Fine； fine！ I hope I don't smother。〃
The car soon settled down to quiet again。 Phil knew； however； that
he was not alonethat undoubtedly there was someone watching his
prison。 He examined the place as well as he could in the darkness； tried
the door； ran his hands over the sides and up among the piles of linen。
There was scant encouragement to be found； though Phil believed that if
he had room to take a running start he might break the door down。
He decided to remain quiet； and after his exciting experiences he was
quite willing to rest himself for a time。 The lad pulled a lot of the linen
down to the floor； and making a bed for himself； doubled up like a
jackknife and settled himself for the night。 It was not a comfortable
position； but Phil Forrest was used to roughing it。 In a few minutes he
was sound asleep。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XII
LOCKED IN THE LINEN CLOSET
Phil roused himself for a moment。
〃We're going；〃 he muttered； realizing that the train was in motion。
Then he dropped off to sleep again。
When next he awakened it was broad daylight； though the lad did not
know it until after he had struck a match and looked at his watch。
〃Eight 'clock in the morning；〃 he exclaimed。 〃My； how I must have
slept； and on such a bed too！〃
The lad was lame and sore from the cramped position in which he had
been obliged to lie all night； but he was just as cheerful as if he had
awakened in his own berth on sleeper number eleven on the Sparling train。
He began to feel hungry； though。
Phil tapped on the door。 There was no response； so he rapped again；
this time with more force。 Still failing to arouse anyone Phil delivered a
series of resounding kicks against the door。
〃If no one answers that I'll know there is nobody here and I'll see if I
can't break the door down。〃
There was someone there； however； as was made plain a moment later；
when the door was thrown suddenly open； revealing the grinning face of
Sully； the owner of the show。
〃Morning；〃 greeted Phil。 〃I thought maybe breakfast was being
served in the dining car； and I didn't want to miss it。〃
〃You're a cheerful idiot； aren't you？〃
〃So I have been told。 But about that breakfast？ If you'll kindly
conduct me to the wash room； so I can make myself beautiful and prepare
for breakfast； I shall be obliged to you。〃
〃Huh！〃 grunted the showman。
〃Where are we？〃
〃Brant。〃
〃Is this where we show today？〃
〃Yes； this is where we show today。 As if you didn't know that as well
as I do。〃
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〃I may have heard something to that effect。 I don't just remember for
the moment。 But； how about that breakfast？〃
〃How do you know you are going to get any breakfast？〃
〃Because I smelled it a few minutes ago。〃
〃That's my breakfast that your keen nose scented； young man。〃
〃Well； I guess I can stand it for once。〃
Sully was forced to smile at his young captive's good nature。 So he
took Phil by the arm and led him to the wash room； where the showman
remained until Phil had completed his preparations for breakfast。 Then
Sully led the way to a compartment at the rear of the car where a small
table had been set。
