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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2478.txt b/2478.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..faf6fab --- /dev/null +++ b/2478.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8045 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext: The Circus Boys on the Plains, Or, The +Young Advance Agents Ahead of the Show, by Edgar B P Darlington + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Greg Berckes + + + +The Circus Boys on the Plains +Or +The Young Advance Agents Ahead of the Show + +By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I--ON THE OWNER'S PRIVATE CAR + +The English Fat Girl gets mired on the lot. Teddy Tucker +threatens to thrash the "Strongest Man on Earth." The hazards of +a circus life. Teddy would put the whole show out of business. +Phil and his chum assigned to Advance Car Number Three. + +CHAPTER II--OFF FOR NEW FIELDS + +"Boss Sparling seems in an awful hurry to get rid of us." +Circus Boys meet a cold reception. Phil is made a +"barn climber." Teddy threatens to wring the car manager's neck. +"Soak him, Phil!" yells the boy on the pile of railroad ties. + +CHAPTER III--COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING + +Phil gets into action. "I've had enough!" groans the +car manager. A telegram to the owner complains of the +Circus Boys. "Either you get off this car or I do." The advance +car is a bedlam. More trouble for the Circus Boys is in sight. + +CHAPTER IV-INTRODUCED TO THE CREW + +Circus Boys meet "Rosie the Pig" and other notables. The porter +tells how Phil worsted Mr. Snowden. What a "contract hotel" is. +Teddy decides to take bean soup. "Why didn't the contracting +agent sign us up with a livery stable?" + +CHAPTER V--THE MIDNIGHT ALARM + +How an advance car is operated. The "banner man" and his little +magnetic hammer. "You're a bird on the trapeze." The boys +exchange confidences on snoring. Circus Boys go to sleep on +beds of paper. Aroused by a great uproar. + +CHAPTER VI--ALMOST A TRAGEDY + +"He's fallen into the paste can headfirst!" Teddy Tucker has +a narrow escape from death. The manager gives Phil a ducking. +"Rain-in-the-Face" sees a great light. An irate car manager. +How Teddy took his revenge on Mr. Snowden. + +CHAPTER VII--THE FIRST DAY'S EXPERIENCE + +"He pulled me out of bed!" Great excitement on Car Three. +Snowden hopes Phil will fall off and break his neck. +Young Forrest pastes a poster on himself. "Young man, +you have a cast-iron nerve!" The Circus Boy "squares" +a hard-shell farmer. + +CHAPTER VIII--THE CIRCUS BOY WINS + +Phil gets a silo, and a hog pen for good measure. +Farmers witness a circus stunt not down on the bills. +A narrow escape. Taking a desperate chance. Phil "the champeen +of them all." Circus sheets that stood out like a fire on +the landscape. + +CHAPTER IX--TEDDY GETS INTO TROUBLE + +Blue jeans replace pink tights. When it rained paste. "I didn't +know you had your nose stuck in the paste pot when I turned on +the steam." Teddy sets himself the task of reforming a +"crazy man." The trouble maker is named "Spotted Horse." +"You're discharged!" + +CHAPTER X--A SURPRISE, INDEED! + +Billy Conley is up to tricks. Mr. Sparling takes a hand. +The car manager gets his deserts. "You will hear great +things of Phil Forrest one of these days." "I'm going to +thrash a man within an inch of his life!" Phil hears an +amazing thing. + +CHAPTER XI--THREE CHEERS AND A TIGER + +Phil Forrest, Car Manager. Dazed by an unexpected promotion. +Teddy graduates from the paste pot. How circus money is spent. +The Circus Boys win new laurels. Teddy becomes a press agent. +Phil makes a speech and is welcomed as "The Boss." + +CHAPTER XII--FACING AN EMERGENCY + +"Bad habit to go to bed on an empty stomach." Teddy Tucker +discovers a rival on a side track. "Here's trouble right from +the start!" The new car manager gets into rapid-fire action. +"We must beat the 'opposition.' Now, boys, it's up to you!" +The mine is laid. + +CHAPTER XIII--A BAFFLED CAR MANAGER + +"That fellow is playing a sharp trick." Phil breakfasts with his +rival and extracts information from him. "You ain't half as big +a fool as you look, are you?" Bob Tripp gets a great shock. +Farmers guard Phil Forrest's posters with shot guns. + +CHAPTER XIV--TEDDY WRITES A LETTER + +Circus Boys steal a second march on the "opposition." +Teddy Tucker whoops for joy. The new press agent begins work. +"Spotted Horse" has too many fingers for typing. A suggestion +for billposters. Circus Boys strike hard blows. + +CHAPTER XV--IN AN EXCITING RACE + +All surrounded in Kansas. Three "opposition" cars +discovered in the same yard with Phil Forrest. A race for +the country. Paste cans dance a jig. Rivals turned over +into a ditch. A case of give and take. + +CHAPTER XVI--A BATTLE OF WITS + +When money made a big noise. The canary car manager gets an +awful jolt. "Be on your way, my little man," urges Phil sweetly. +"Turn out every man in town! Run as if the Rhino of the Sparling +Circus were after you!" + +CHAPTER XVII--THE CHARGE OF THE PASTE BRIGADE + +The battle is on in earnest. Trouble is on the air. +"Paste them, fellows!" howls Teddy. "Look out! The police +are coming!" "I arrest you for disturbing the peace!" +Phil faces the officers of the law boldly and wins for his show. + +CHAPTER XVIII--THE MISSING SHOW CARS + +Congratulations from the show's owner. Four rival advance cars +go out on one train. Teddy sends the enemy's cars adrift. +Sleeping a sleep of innocence. Phil is puzzled over the mystery +of the missing cars. Teddy's expression arouses the suspicion of +his chum. + +CHAPTER XIX--PHIL'S DARING PLAN + +Teddy Tucker admits his guilt. Forrest reads "Spotted Horse" +a severe lecture. "Is the sermon over?" A lesson that bore +fruit for a day or so. Pat "smells a rat." "She's moving! +We're off!" The Circus Boys adrift on a runaway car. + +CHAPTER XX--ON A WILDCAT RUN + +A dizzy ride through the storm. "Don't bother me, I'm making +the next town!" A thrilling moment. Phil faces death with a +smile on his face. "Hold fast, we're going to sideswipe them!" +The agent at Salina gets a surprise. + +CHAPTER XXI--IN A PERILOUS POSITION + +Teddy throws out his chest and seeks publicity. "Spotted Horse" +has a daring plan. The Circus Boy a hundred feet in the air. +Teddy takes a desperate chance to earn Phil Forrest's fifty. +Overtaken by disaster as the Sparling banner floats to +the breeze. + +CHAPTER XXII--A DASH FOR LIBERTY + +"Help! I'm hung up!" Teddy is suspended, head downward, between +earth and sky. Phil hurries to the rescue. "I'm all tied up in +a knot!" wails the unhappy Tucker. Teddy takes a long drop, +landing on Billy's neck, and bowls over a policeman. + +CHAPTER XXIII--THE DESERTED VILLAGE + +A new trouble-plan in the making. Teddy is so happy that he +can't go to bed. The "opposition" is lost again. Phil makes +his chum tell how he tricked the rival car managers. How Phil +Forrest proved that he was a real manager. + +CHAPTER XXIV--CONCLUSION + +The manager of "The Greatest Show on Earth" wants Phil. +Setting out to "drive the other fellows off the map." "No more +meals at the Sign of the Tin Spoon." Circus Boys have a happy +windup to an exciting show season. + + + + +THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE PLAINS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ON THE OWNER'S PRIVATE CAR + +"Bates!" + +The voice of James Sparling rose above even the roar of +the storm. + +A uniformed attendant stepped into the little office tent +occupied by the owner of the Great Sparling Combined Shows. +Shaking the water from his dripping cap, he brought a hand +to his forehead in precise military salute. + +"How's the storm coming, Bates?" demanded the showman, with an +amused twinkle in his eyes as he noted the bedraggled condition +of his messenger. + +"She's coming wet, sir," was the comprehensive reply. + +And indeed "she" was. The gale was roaring over the circus lot, +momentarily threatening to wrench the billowing circus tents from +their fastenings, lift them high in the air preparatory to +distributing them over the surrounding country. Guy ropes were +straining at their anchorages, center and quarter poles were +beating a nervous tattoo on the sodden turf. The rain was +driving over the circus lot in blinding sheets. + +The night was not ideal for a circus performance. However, the +showmen uttered no protest, going about their business as +methodically as if the air were warm and balmy, the moon and +stars shining down over the scene complacently. + +Now and again, as the wind shifted for a moment toward the +showman's swaying office tent, the blare of the band off under +the big top told him the show was moving merrily on. + +"Bates, you are almost human at times. I had already observed +that the storm was coming wet," replied the showman. + +"Yes, sir." + +"I have reason to be aware of the fact that 'she is coming wet,' +as you so admirably put it. My feet are at this moment in a +puddle of water that is now three inches above my ankles. +Why shouldn't I know?" + +"Yes, sir," agreed the patient attendant. + +"What I want to know is how are the tents standing the blow?" + +"Very well, sir." + +"As long as there is a stitch of canvas over your head you take +it for granted that the tops are all right, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"The emergency gang is on duty, of course?" + +"They're out in the wet, sir." + +"Of course; that is where they belong on a night like this. +But what were you doing out there? You have no business that +calls you outside." + +"I was helping a lady, sir." + +"Helping a lady?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What lady?" + +"The English Fat Girl got mired on the lot, sir, and I was +helping to get her out," answered the attendant solemnly. + +"Pshaw!" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You will please attend to your own business after this. If the +English Fat Girl gets mired again we will have the elephant +trainer bring over one of the bulls and haul her out. She won't +be so anxious to get stalled after that, I'm thinking," snapped +the showman. + +"Yes, sir." + +"What act is on now under the big top?" + +"The ground tumblers are in the ring, sir." + +Mr. Sparling reflected briefly. + +"Has Mr. Forrest finished his work for the evening?" + +"I think so, sir. He should be off by this time." + +"Can you get to the dressing tent without finishing the job of +drowning at which you already have made such a good start?" +demanded the showman quizzically. + +"Yes, sir," grinned Bates. + +"Then, go there." + +The attendant started to leave the tent. + +"Come back here!" bellowed the showman. + +Bates turned patiently. He was not unused to the strange whims +of his employer. + +"What are you going to do when you get to the dressing tent?" + +"I don't know, sir." + +"I thought not. You are an intelligent animal, Bates. +Now listen!" + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. Sparling scowled, surveying his messenger with narrowed eyes. + +"Tell Mr. Philip Forrest that I wish to see him in my private car +at the 'runs,'"--meaning that part of the railroad yards where +the show had unloaded early that morning. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Wait! You seem anxious to get wet! Have the men strike my tent +at once. It is likely to strike itself if they do not get busy +pretty quick," added the showman, rising. + +The messenger saluted, then hurried out into the driving storm, +while Mr. Sparling methodically gathered up the papers he had +been studying, stuffing them in an inside coat pocket. + +"A fine, mellow night," he said to himself, peering out through +the flap as he drew on his oilskins. Pulling the brim of his +sombrero down over his eyes he stalked out into the storm. + +A quick glance up into the skies told his experienced eyes that +the worst of the storm had passed, and that there was now little +danger of a blow-down that night. He started off across the +circus lot, splashing through the mud and water, bound for his +comfortable private car that lay on a siding about half a mile +from the circus grounds. + +He found a scene of bustle and excitement in the railroad yards, +where a small army of men were rushing the work of loading the +menagerie wagons on the first section, for the train was going +out in three sections that night. + +"It is a peculiar fact," muttered the showman, "that the worse +the weather is, the louder the men seem called upon to yell. +However, if yelling makes them feel any the less wet, I don't +know why I should object." + +The showman quickly changed his wet clothes and settled himself +at the desk in his cosy office on board the private car. He had +been there something like half an hour when the buzzing of an +electric bell called the porter to the door of the car. + +A moment later and Phil Forrest appeared at the door of the car. + +"You sent for me, did you not, Mr. Sparling?" + +"Why, good evening, Phil," greeted the showman, looking up +quickly with a welcoming smile on his face. + +"I call it a very bad evening, sir." + +"Very well, we will revise our statement. Bad evening, Phil!" + +"Same to you, Mr. Sparling," laughed the lad. "Yes, I think that +fits the case very well indeed." + +"And now that we have observed the formalities, come in and +sit down. Are you wet?" + +"No; I went to my car and changed before coming in. I thought a +few minutes' delay would make no difference. Had you sent for me +on the lot I would have reported more promptly." + +"Quite right, my boy. No, there was nothing urgent. The storm +did not interfere much with the performance, did it?" + +"No. The audience was a little nervous at one time, but the +scare quickly passed off." + +"Where's your friend?" + +"Teddy Tucker?" + +"Yes." + +"He was having an argument with the Strongest Man on Earth +when I left the dressing tent," laughed Phil. "It was +becoming quite heated." + +"Over what?" + +"Oh, Teddy insisted on sitting on the strong man's trunk while he +took off his tights. There was a mud hole in front of Teddy's +trunk and he did not wish to get his feet wet and muddy." + +"So the Strongest Man on Earth had to wait, eh?" questioned the +showman with an amused smile. + +"Yes. Teddy was threatening to thrash him if he did not keep off +until he got his shoes on." + +Mr. Sparling leaned back, laughing heartily. + +"Your friend Teddy is getting to be a very belligerent young man, +I fear." + +"_Getting_ to be?" + +"Yes." + +"It is my opinion that he always has been. Teddy can stir up +more trouble, and with less provocation, than anyone I ever knew. +But, you had something you wished to say to me, did you not?" + +"To be sure I had. Something quite important. Have you had +your lunch?" + +"No; I came directly to the train from the lot." + +"I am glad of that. I thought you would, so I ordered supper +for two spread in the dining compartment. It must be ready +by this time. Come. We will talk and eat at the same time. +We have no need to hurry." + +The showman and the Circus Boy made their way to the dining +compartment, where a small table had been spread for them, which, +with its pretty china, cut glass and brightly polished silver, +made a very attractive appearance. + +"This looks good to me," smiled Phil appreciatively. + +"Especially on a night like this," answered Mr. Sparling. +"Be seated, and we will talk while we are waiting for supper +to be served." + +Readers of the preceding volumes of this series will need +no introduction to Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker. They well +remember how the Circus Boys so unexpectedly made their entry +into the sawdust arena in "THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS" +after Phil by his quick wit had prevented a serious accident +to the lion cage and perhaps the escape of the dangerous +beast itself. Both boys had quickly worked their way into +the arena, and after many thrilling experiences became +full-fledged circus performers. + +Again in "THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT," the lads won new +laurels on the tanbark. It will be recalled, too, how Phil +Forrest at the imminent risk of his own life trailed down and +captured a desperate man, one of the circus employees who, having +been discharged, had followed the Sparling Show, seeking to +revenge himself upon it. It will be remembered that in order to +capture the fellow, the Circus Boy was obliged to leap from a +rapidly moving train and plunge down a high embankment. + +But their exciting experiences were by no means at an end. +The life of the showman is full of excitement and it seemed +as if Teddy and Phil Forrest met with more than their share in +"THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND." Phil Forrest, while performing +a mission for his employer, was caught by a rival circus owner, +held captive for some days, then forced to perform in the rival's +circus ring, leaping through rings of fire in a bareback +riding act. The details of Phil's exciting escape from his +captors are well remembered, as will be his long, weary journey +over the railroad ties in his ring costume. It was in this +story that the battle of the elephants was described, all due +to the shrewd planning of Phil Forrest. + +The following season found the Great Sparling Shows following a +new route. In "THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI," the lads +embarked with the circus, on boats, which carried them from town +to town along the big river. It was on this trip that Phil +Forrest met with the most thrilling experience of his life, and +it was only his own pluck and endurance that saved him from a +watery grave at the bottom of the Mississippi. + +And now, for the fifth season, the Circus Boys are found under +canvas again, headed for the far west. + +"How are things going with you?" questioned Mr. Sparling +after the two had seated themselves at the table in the +dining compartment. + +"Rather slowly, Mr. Sparling." + +"How is that?" + +"I haven't enough to do this season. I am afraid I shall get +lazy, unless you give me something else to do." + +"Let me see; how many acts have you this season?" + +"I am on the flying trapeze, then I do a single bareback +riding act and a double with Little Dimples, the same as I +did last season." + +The showman nodded reflectively. + +"Besides which, you attend to numerous business details for me, +manage the side shows, keep an eye on the candy butchers, make +yourself responsible for the menagerie tent and other things too +numerous to mention. Yes; you should have a few more things to +do," grinned the showman. "I could run this show with a dozen +men like you, Phil. In all my circus experience I never saw +your equal." + +Phil flushed. He did not like to be complimented. He did his +work because he loved it, not wholly for the handsome salary that +he was now drawing from the little red ticket wagon every week. +Phil was ambitious; he hoped, as has been said before, to have a +show of his own someday, and he let no day pass that he did not +add to his store of knowledge regarding the circus business. + +In this ambition Mr. Sparling encouraged him, in fact did +everything possible to aid the lad in acquiring a far-reaching +knowledge of the vocation he had chosen for his lifework. + +"Thank you, Mr. Sparling. Let's talk about something else." + +"We will eat first. You probably will enjoy that more than you +do my compliments." + +"I am sure of it," answered the lad with a twinkle in his eyes. + +"I have been thinking of giving you some additional work." + +Phil glanced up at his employer with quickened interest. + +"Yes, I am thinking of closing you." + +"You mean you are thinking of dropping me from the show?" asked +the lad, gazing at the showman with steady, inquiring eyes. + +"Well, I should hardly say that. I am afraid the Sparling Show +could not get along without you. I am thinking very seriously of +transferring you." + +"Transferring me?" wondered Phil. + +"Yes. By the way, do you know much about the advance work, the +work ahead of the show?" + +"Very little. I might say nothing at all, except what I have +picked up by reading the reports of the car managers, together +with the letters you write to these men." + +"That is all right, as far as it goes, but there is a deal more +to the advertising department of a show than you will ever learn +from reports and correspondence." + +"So I should imagine." + +"Yes; the success, the very existence of a circus is dependent +upon the work of the men ahead of it. Let that work be +neglected and you would see how soon business would drop off +and the gate receipts dwindle, until, one day, the show would +find itself stranded." + +"Nothing could strand the Sparling Show," interposed Phil. + +"You are mistaken. Bad management would put this show out of +business in two months' time. That is a point that I cannot +impress upon you too strongly. Any business will fail if not +properly attended to, but a circus is the most hazardous of +them all." + +"But the risk is worth taking," remarked Phil. + +"It is. For instance, when a show has a business of sixteen or +eighteen thousand dollars a day for several weeks, it rather +repays one for all the trouble and worry he has gone through." + +"I should say it does," answered Phil, his eyes lighting +up appreciatively. + +"And now we come to the point I have been getting at." + +"Yes; what is it you have in mind for me?" + +"I am going to ask you to join the advance for the rest of the +season, Phil." + +"I, join the advance?" questioned the lad in a surprised tone. + +"Yes." + +"And leave the show?" + +"That will be a necessity, much as I regret to have you do so." + +Phil's face took on a solemn expression. + +"How would you like that?" + +"I do not know, Mr. Sparling. I am afraid I should not know +what to do with myself away from the glitter and the excitement +of the big show." + +"Excitement? My dear boy, you will find all the excitement +you want ahead of the show. As for work, the work ahead is +never finished. There is always plenty to do after you +have finished your day's work. Besides, this branch of the +business you must familiarize yourself with, if you are to +go later into the executive branch of the circus business." + +"I am ready to go wherever you may wish to send me, +Mr. Sparling," said the young man in a quiet tone. + +"I knew you would be," smiled the showman. + +"Where will you send me, and what am I to do?" asked Phil, +now growing interested in the prospect of the change. + +"I have decided to send you out on Advertising Car Number Three. +That is the busiest car of the three in advance of the show. +You ask what you are to do. I will answer--_everything!_" + +"Car Three," mused the Circus Boy. + +"Yes; it is in charge of Mr. Snowden," continued the showman with +a twinkle in his eyes, but which Phil in his preoccupation failed +to observe. "I am thinking that Snowden will give you all you +want to do, and perhaps a little more." + +"When do you wish me to join?" + +"At once." + +"Now?" + +"You may start as soon as you are ready." + +"I am ready, now," replied the lad promptly. + +"I did not mean for you to leave in quite such a hurry as that," +laughed Mr. Sparling. "Besides, this is rather a bad night to +make a change. Take your time, get your things in shape, and +leave when you get ready." + +"Does Mr. Snowden know I am to join him?" + +"Yes; I have already written him to that effect--that is, I told +him you probably would join at an early day." + +"Where is Car Three now?" + +Mr. Sparling consulted his route card. + +"It is in Madison, Wisconsin, today. This car keeps about +four weeks ahead of the show, you know. We are in Flint, +Michigan, today. Do you think you can get away tomorrow?" + +"Certainly. Where do we show tomorrow?" + +"Saginaw." + +"It will be an easy jump from there to Madison." + +"Yes; but you will not catch the car at Madison. I think you had +better plan to join them at St. Paul the day after tomorrow. +Will that suit you?" + +"Yes. I suppose my dressing-room trunk will be carried right +along with the show?" + +"Of course. You will close your season before the show itself +does; then you can return to us, though I shall not expect you +to perform. You no doubt will be a little rusty by that time." + +"I should say I would be. But, Mr. Sparling--" added the boy, a +sudden thought coming to him. + +"Yes?" + +"What about Teddy? Does he remain with the show?" + +"Teddy? I had forgotten all about that little rascal. Yes, he-- +but wait a moment. Upon reflection I think perhaps he had better +go along with you. He wants to own a show one of these days, +doesn't he?" + +"I believe he does," smiled Phil. + +"Then this will be a good experience for him. Besides, I should +be afraid to trust him around this outfit if you were not here to +look after him. He would put the whole show out of business +first thing I knew. Yes, he had better go with you. And another +thing--salaries in the advance are not the same, you know." + +"I am aware of the fact, sir." + +"You will draw the same salaries that other employees of Number +Three do, and in addition to this I shall send you both my +personal checks, so that you will be drawing the same money you +now are." + +"It is not necessary," protested Phil. + +Mr. Sparling waved the objection aside. + +"It is my plan. Go to your car and tell your friend to get +ready now, and report to me in the morning at Saginaw for +further instructions." + +Phil rose. His face was flushed. He was now full of +anticipation for the new life before him. And it was to be +a new life indeed--a life full of astonishing experiences +and adventures. + +Phil bade his employer good night, and hurried away to his own +car to tell the news to Teddy. + + + +CHAPTER II + +OFF FOR NEW FIELDS + +"Teddy, Teddy, wake up!" commanded Phil, hauling his companion +from his berth in the sleeping car. + +Teddy scrambled out into the aisle of the car and promptly +showed fight. + +"Here, what are you doing, waking me up this time of the night?" +he demanded. + +"I have great news." + +"News?" questioned the boy, showing some slight signs of interest +in the announcement. + +"Yes, news, and good news, too." + +"All right, I'm easy. What is it?" + +"We are to join the advance." + +"Advance of what?" + +"The advance of the Sparling Shows, of course," glowed Phil. + +Teddy grew thoughtful. + +"What, and leave the show?" + +"Certainly." + +"Not for mine!" + +"Oh, yes, you will! You know, we wish to learn all we can, and +neither of us knows anything about that end of the business. +It is a splendid opportunity, and we should be very grateful to +Mr. Sparling for giving us the chance. Besides, it will be a +very pleasant life. We shall be traveling in a private car, +with no responsibilities beyond our work. Will it not be fine?" + +"I--I don't know. I shall have to try it first. I decline to +commit myself in advance. When do we go?" + +"Tomorrow." + +"Pshaw! Boss Sparling seems to be in an awful hurry to get +rid of us. All right, I'll go. I need a rest, anyway--for +my health. I've been working too hard so far this season." + +"Too bad about you," scoffed Phil. "We leave from Saginaw as +early tomorrow as we can get away. We shall have to get a few +things from our dressing-tent trunks, then pack up the things +we do not need, sending them on with the show." + +"Do I take my donkey?" questioned Teddy, half humorously. + +"Your mule? The idea! Now, what would you do with a donkey +on an advance car, I should like to know?" + +"He might make things interesting for the rest of the crowd." + +"I should say he would! But, from what little I know of the +advance, you will have plenty to interest you without having an +ill-tempered donkey along. Good night, Teddy. This is our last +night with the show for a long time to come." + +Phil made his way to his own berth, where he promptly went to +sleep, putting from his mind until the morrow all thought of what +lay before him. + +Early the next morning both lads were awake; by the time their +section pulled in at Saginaw they had nearly completed the +packing of their personal baggage. + +The rest was quickly accomplished, after they had eaten their +breakfast under the cook tent. All preparations made, a final +interview with Mr. Sparling had, and good-byes said, the Circus +Boys boarded a train just as the strains of the circus band were +borne to their ears. + +"The parade is on," said Phil as their train moved out. + +"And we are not there to ride in it. We'll have to get up +some sort of a parade for Car Number Three, I'm thinking," +smiled Teddy. + +Late that afternoon the boys reached St. Paul. +After considerable searching about they finally found Car +Number Three. Mr. Snowden was not on board, so, telling the +porter who they were, the lads made themselves comfortable in +the office of the car, a roomy compartment, nicely furnished, +equipped with two folding berths, a desk, easy chairs and +other conveniences. + +"This is pretty soft, I'm thinking," decided Teddy. + +"It is very nice, if that is what you mean," corrected Phil. + +"That's what I mean. Do we live in here?" + +"No; I should imagine we are to berth at the other end of +the car." + +"Let's go look at it." + +The other end of the car comprised one long apartment with +folding berths and benches for laying out the lithographs. +At the far end was a steam boiler, used in making paste with +which to post the bills. That compartment had nothing either +of elegance or comfort. + +"Do the men sleep on those shelves up there?" questioned Teddy of +the porter. + +"Shelves, sir? Hi calls them berths, sir," answered the porter, +who was an Englishman. + +"Humph!" + +"What do you think of our new home, Teddy?" smiled Phil. + +"I've seen better," grumbled the Circus Boy. "I think I prefer +the stateroom. Where's the boss?" + +"He's out just now looking over the work." + +Teddy, with a scowl on his face, went outside to take a look +at the car from the outside. The car was a bright red, with +the name of the Sparling Shows spread over its sides in +gilded letters. + +"If the inside were half as good-looking as the outside, it would +be some car," was Teddy's conclusion, after walking all around +the car. "I think I'll go back and join the show." + +"Oh, be sensible, Teddy," chided Phil. "We shall be very +comfortable after we once get settled. Here comes Mr. Snowden, +I think." + +Approaching them, the boys saw a thin, nervous-appearing man of +perhaps forty-five years of age. + +"Are you Mr. Snowden?" asked Phil, politely. + +"Yes; what do you want?" + +"I am Phil Forrest, and this is my friend, Teddy Tucker. We have +come on to join the car." + +Mr. Snowden looked the lads over critically. + +"Humph!" he said. "Come inside." + +Whether or not his survey of them had been satisfactory neither +lad knew. + +"Now, what are you going to do on this car?" demanded the car +manager sharply, when they had seated themselves in his office. + +"That is for you to say, sir. We are at your disposal," +replied Phil. + +"What can you do?" + +"We do not know. This is entirely new work for us. We have been +performers back with the show, you know." + +"Humph! Nice bunch to ring in on an advertising car!" grunted +the manager. "Either of you know how to put up paper?" + +"I think not." + +"What do you mean by paper?" interposed Teddy. + +The manager groaned. + +"You don't know what paper is?" + +"No, sir." + +"Paper is advertising matter, any kind of show bills that are +posted on billboards, barns or any other old place where we get +the chance. Everything is paper on an advertising car. +Forrest, I think I'll send you out on a country route tomorrow. +Know what a country route is?" + +"I think so." + +"Well, in case you do not, I will tell you. Every day we +send out men to post bills through the country. The routes +are laid out by the contracting agent long before we get to +a town. You go out in a livery rig, and you will have to +drive from thirty to forty miles a day. You are an aerial +performer, are you not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then you will be able to climb barns all right. We will call +you Car Number Three's barn-climber. We'll see how good a +performer you really are. For the first few days I will send you +out with one of the billposters; after that you will have to go +it alone. If you are no good, back you go. Understand?" + +"I think so. I shall do the best I can." + +"And what do I do?" demanded Teddy. + +The car manager eyed him disapprovingly. + +"What do you do?" + +"Yes." + +"I have a nice gentlemanly job laid out for you. You will +operate the steam boiler and make up the paste for the next day. +You'll wish you had stayed back with the show before I get +through with you." + +"And I'll go there, too, if you talk like that to me," retorted +Teddy, flushing angrily. + +"What's that? What's that?" snapped the manager. "See here, +young man, I am in charge of this car. You will do as I tell +you, and if you get noisy about it I'll show you how we do things +on an advertising car. Get out of here before I throw you out." + +"See here, you, I won't be talked to like that. I'll wring your +neck for you, some fine day, first thing you know!" bellowed +Teddy, now thoroughly aroused. + +The manager grabbed the lad by the shoulders and shot him through +the screen doors before Teddy had an opportunity to object. + +Teddy, red-faced and boiling with rage, was about to project +himself into the stateroom again when Phil motioned him to +go away. Teddy did so reluctantly. + +"Where do we sleep, Mr. Snowden?" inquired Phil, hoping to get +the car manager in a more gentle frame of mind by changing +the subject. + +"Sleep on the roof, sleep in the cellar! I don't care where +you sleep! You get out of here, too, unless you want me to +throw you out!" + +"I think you had better not do that, sir." Phil's voice was cool +and pleasant. + +"What's that! What's that! You dare to talk back to me. +I'll--" + +"Wait a moment, Mr. Snowden. We might as well understand each +other at the beginning." + +The car manager's words seemed to stick in his throat. He gazed +at the slender young fellow before him in amazement. Mr. Snowden +was unused to having a man in his employ talk back to him, and +for the moment it looked as though trouble were brewing in the +stateroom of Car Number Three. + +"Say it!" he exploded. + +"I have very little to say, sir. But what I have to say will +be to the point. I am well aware that discipline must be +preserved here as well as back with the show. I shall always +look up to you as my superior, and treat you in a gentlemanly +and respectful manner. I shall hope that you, also, will treat +me in a gentlemanly manner as long as I deserve it, at least." + +"You--you threaten me, you young cub--you--" + +"No; I do not threaten you. I am simply seeking to come to a +friendly understanding with you." + +"And--and if--if I decide to treat you as I do the rest of my +men--what then?" sneered the manager. + +"That depends. I can answer that question when I see how you do +treat them. From what I have seen, I should imagine they do not +lead a very happy existence," continued the Circus Boy with a +pleasant smile. + +"If I keep you on this car I'll use you as I please, and the +quicker you understand that the better. Now, what do you propose +to do?" + +"I propose," said Phil, still preserving an even tone, "to do my +duty and at the same time keep my self-respect. I propose, if +you persist in directing insulting language at me, to give you a +thrashing that will last you all the rest of the season." + +Teddy, who had sat down on a pile of railroad ties beside +the tracks, could see and hear all that was going on in +the stateroom. + +"Soak him, Phil!" howled the boy on the tie pile. + +Snowden's eyes blazed and his fingers opened and +closed convulsively. + +With an angry growl he hurled himself straight at Phil Forrest. + + + +CHAPTER III + +COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING + +"Be careful, Mr. Snowden!" warned the Circus Boy, stepping out +of harm's way. "I am not looking for trouble, but I shall +defend myself." + +"I'll teach you to talk back to me. I'll--" + +Just then the car manager stumbled over a chair and went down +with a crash, smashing the chair to splinters. + +"Mr. Sparling will not tolerate anything of this sort, I am +sure," added Phil. + +By this time, the manager was once more on his feet. His rage +was past all control. With a roar of rage Snowden grabbed up a +rung of the broken chair and charged his slender +young antagonist. + +A faint flush leaped into the face of Phil Forrest. His eyes +narrowed a little, but in no other way did he show that his +temper was in the least ruffled. + +The chair rung was brought down with a vicious sweep, but to +Snowden's surprise the weapon failed to reach the head of the +smiling Circus Boy. + +Then Phil got into action. + +Like a flash he leaped forward, and the car manager found his +wrists clasped in a vise-like grip. + +"Let go of me!" he roared, struggling with all his might to free +himself, failing in which he began to kick. + +Phil gave the wrists a skillful twist, which brought another howl +from Snowden, this time a howl of pain. + +"I am not looking for trouble, sir. Will you listen to reason?" +urged the lad. + +"I'll--I'll--" + +Snowden did not finish what he had started to say. Instead he +moaned with pain, writhing helplessly in the iron grip of +Phil Forrest. + +"Do you give up? Have you had enough?" + +"_No!_" gritted the car manager. + +The Circus Boy tightened his grip ever so little. + +"How about it?" + +"Give him an extra twist for me," shouted Teddy. + +"I give in! Let go quick! You'll break my wrists!" + +"You promise to carry this thing no further if I release you?" + +"I said I have had enough," cried Snowden angrily. + +"That won't do. Will you agree to let me alone, if I release +you now?" persisted Phil. + +"Yes, yes! I've had all I want. This joke has gone far enough." + +"Joke?" + +"Yes." + +"You have a queer idea of jokes," smiled Phil, releasing his man +and stepping back, but keeping a wary eye on the car manager, +as the latter settled back into a chair, rubbing his wrists. +They still pained him severely. + +"I am sorry if I hurt you, Mr. Snowden. But I had to defend +myself in some way. I could have been much more violent, but I +did not wish to be unnecessarily so." + +"You were rough enough. I've got no use for a fellow who can't +take a joke without getting all riled up over it. Get out +of here!" + +"What are you doing at this end of the car?" snarled the manager +to Henry, the English porter, who had been peering into the +office, wide-eyed. He had been a witness to the disturbance, +but at the manager's command he hastily withdrew to his own end +of the car. + +"Shall we shake hands and be friends now, Mr. Snowden?" +asked Phil. + +"Shake hands?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"No. I'll not shake hands with you. I want nothing further to +do with you. Either you get off this car, or I do. We can't +both live on it at the same time." + +"So far as I am concerned, we can do so easily," answered the +Circus Boy. + +"I said either you or I would have to get off, and I mean exactly +what I said." + +The manager wheeled his chair about, facing his desk, and wrote +the following telegram: + +Mr. James Sparling, + + Saginaw, Michigan. + +I demand that you call back the two boys who joined my car today. +Either they close or I do. They're a couple of young ruffians. +If they remain another day I'll not be responsible for what I do +to them. + + Snowden. + +The car manager handed the message to Phil. "Read it," +he snapped. + +Phil glanced through the message, smiling broadly as he returned +it to the manager. + +"That certainly is plain and to the point." + +"I'm glad you think so. Take that message to the telegraph +office, and send it at once." + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. Snowden had expected a refusal, but Phil rose obediently and +left the car. He took the message to a telegraph office, Teddy +accompanying him. + +"Why didn't you finish him while you were about it, Phil?" +demanded Teddy. "You had him just to rights." + +"I did quite enough as it was, Teddy. I am very sorry for what +I did, but it had to come." + +"It did. If you hadn't done it I should have had to," nodded +Teddy rather pompously. "But I shouldn't have let him off as +easily as you did. I certainly would have given him +a rough-and-tumble." + +"It is a bad enough beginning as it is. Now, Teddy, I want you +to behave yourself and not stir up any trouble--" + +"Stir up trouble? Well, I like that. Who's been stirring up +trouble around here, I'd like to know. Answer me that!" + +"I accept the rebuke," laughed Phil. "I am the guilty one this +time, and I'm heartily ashamed to admit it at that." + +"What do you think Mr. Sparling will do?" + +"I don't know. I can't help but think he had some purpose in +sending us on to join this car, other than that which he told us. +However, time will tell. We are in for an unpleasant season, but +we must make the best of our opportunity and learn all we can +about this end of the business." + +"I've learned enough this afternoon to last me for a whole +season," answered Teddy grimly. + +By the time they returned to the car the men had come in from the +country routes, as had the lithographers who had been placing +bills in store windows about the town. + +"He's at it again," grinned Teddy, as the voice of the manager +was heard roaring at the men. Snowden was charging up and down +the car venting his wrath on the men, threatening, browbeating, +expressing his opinion of all billposters in language more +picturesque than elegant. Not a man replied to his tirade. + +"Evidently they are used to that sort of treatment," nodded Phil. +"Well it doesn't go with me at all. Come on; let's go in and see +what it's all about." + + + +CHAPTER IV + +INTRODUCED TO THE CREW + +"And the next man who puts up only two hundred sheets in a day +gets off this car!" concluded Snowden with a wave of the hand +that took in every man in the car. "Get in your reports, and get +them in quick, or I'll fire the whole bunch of you now!" he +roared, turning and striding to his office, where he jerked the +sliding door shut with a bang that shook the car. + +"Well, the boss has 'em bad tonight, for sure," exclaimed Billy +Conley who bore the title of assistant car manager, but who was +no more manager than was Henry, the English porter. + +"Hello, who are you?" demanded one of the men, as Phil and Teddy +stepped in through the rear door of the coach. + +"Good evening, boys," greeted Phil easily. + +All eyes were turned on the newcomers. + +"Howdy, fellows," said Teddy good-naturedly. +"Fine, large evening." + +Everybody laughed. + +"Are you the boys who joined out today, from back with the show?" +asked Conley. + +"Yes. Let me introduce myself. I am Phil Forrest and this, my +companion, is Teddy Tucker. We're green as grass, and we shall +have to impose upon your good nature to set us straight." + +The Circus Boys had won the good opinion of the men of Car Three +at the outset. + +"That's the talk," agreed Billy. "Line up here and I'll +introduce you to the bunch. The skinny fellow over there by +the boiler is Chief Rain-in-the-Face. The one next to him +is Slivers. The freakish looking gentleman standing at my +right is Krao, the Missing Link. On my left is Baby Egawa--" + +"Otherwise known as Rosie the Pig," added a voice. + +"Everybody on an advance car has a nickname, you know. +You'll forget your real names, if you stay on an advance +car long enough. I couldn't remember mine if I didn't get +a letter occasionally to remind me of it, and sometimes I +almost feel as if I was opening another fellow's letters +when I open my own." + +"Glad to know you, boys," smiled Phil. "Do you know where we are +to sleep?" + +"See that pile of paper up there?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, it's that or the floor for yours. All the rest of the +berths are occupied, unless the Boss is going to let you sleep +in the office with him." + +"I rather think he will not invite us. He seems to be in a huff +about something tonight," answered Phil dryly, at which there was +a loud laugh. + +"What's this Johnnie Bull tells me about a roughhouse in the +office this afternoon?" demanded Conley suddenly. + +"I would rather not talk about that," replied Phil, coloring. + +"Come here, you Englishman, and tell us all about it. Our friend +is too modest." + +The porter did not respond quickly enough to suit the men so they +pounced upon him and tossed him to the top of a pile of paper. + +"Now, talk up, or its the paste can for yours," they demanded. + +Henry rather haltingly described what he had seen in the +stateroom that afternoon, describing in detail how Phil had +worsted the manager of the car. + +When the recital had been concluded, all hands turned and +surveyed Phil curiously. + +"Well, who would have thought it?" wondered Rosie, in an +awed voice. + +Krao, the Missing Link, and Baby Egawa sidled up to Phil and +gingerly felt his arm muscles. + +"Woof!" exclaimed the Baby. "Bad medicine! Heap big muscle!" + +"That's so. I had forgotten you boys were performers back with +the show," nodded Billy. "What are you up here for--learning +this end of the business?" + +"Yes; that is what we are here for," answered Phil. +"Mr. Sparling wished us to do so." + +"You have come to a good place to learn it," emphasized Conley. +"But you'll have to fight your way through. You have done a +mighty good job in downing the Boss, but look out for him. +He'll never forget it. If he doesn't get you fired, he will get +even with you in some other way." + +Phil laughed. + +"I'll do my duty. But I am not afraid of him. Are all car +managers like Mr. Snowden?" + +"Most of them. Some better, some worse. They think they are not +doing their duty, earning their meal-tickets, unless they are +Roaring Jakes. But Snowden is the worst ever. He has the +meanest disposition of any man I ever knew. This is his first +season on Number Three, and I shouldn't be surprised if it were +his last. I hear Boss Sparling doesn't take to him. +Know anything about that?" + +Phil shook his head. + +"Why do you let him treat you as he does?" + +"Let him? Well, I'll tell you confidentially. Most of us have +families to support. Some of us have wives; others mothers and +sisters to look after. It's put up with the roast or get out. +And let me tell you, the Boss isn't slow about closing out a +fellow he doesn't like. He'll fire you at the drop of the hat." + +"I'm hungry; where do we eat?" interrupted Teddy. + +"Eat?" + +"Sure! Don't you fellows in advance eat?" + +"Well, we go through the motions. That's about all I can say +for it. This living at contract hotels isn't eating; it isn't +even feeding. You folks back with the show don't have to put +up with contract hotels; you eat under the cook tent and you +get real food." + +"What's a contract hotel?" asked Teddy. + +Phil looked at his companion in disgust. + +"Teddy Tucker, haven't you been in the show business long enough +to know what a contract hotel is?" + +Teddy shook his head. + +"I'll tell you, I'll explain what a contract hotel is," +said Billy. "The contracting agent goes over the route in +the spring and makes the arrangements for the show. He engages +the livery rigs to take the men out on the country routes, and +when he gets through with the livery stable business he hunts up +all the almost food places in town until he finds one that will +feed the advance car men for five or ten cents a meal. Then he +signs a contract and goes off to a real hotel for his own meal. +Oh, no, Mr. Contracting Agent doesn't get his meals there. +Well, we're booked to eat at one of those almost food places +in every town we make. And some of them are not even 'almost.' +We are going to one of the kind now. Want to come along?" + +"Sure," replied Teddy. + +"You won't be so anxious after you have had a week or so +of them." + +All hands started for the hotel. + +"What about your reports? I thought Mr. Snowden told you to get +them in at once," asked Phil after they had left the car. + +"Let him wait," growled Billy. + +"But he will raise a row when you get back, will he not?" + +"He'll roar anyway, so what's the odds? We're used to that." + +"A queer business, this advance car work," said +Phil thoughtfully. "I never had any idea that it +was like this. If ever I own or run a show it will +be different--I mean the advance cars will be run +on a different principle from this one." + +"I hope you do, and that I am working for you," grinned Conley. +"Here we are." + +Billy's description of a contract hotel Phil decided had not +been overdrawn. All hands filed into the dining room, and Phil +had lost most of his appetite before reaching his chair. + +A waiter who looked as if he might have been a prizefighter at +one time shambled up to them with a soiled napkin thrown over +one arm. As it chanced, he approached Teddy first. + +"Bean soup! What'll you have," he demanded with a suddenness +that startled the Circus Boy. + +Teddy surveyed the waiter with large eyes, then permitted +his gaze to wander about the table to the faces of the +grinning billposters. + +"Bean soup. What'll I have?" reflected the lad soberly. +"Now isn't it funny that I can't think what kind of soup +I want. Bean soup; what'll I have?" + +The waiter shifted his weight to the other foot, flopped the +napkin to the other arm and stuck out his chin belligerently. + +"Bean soup! What'll you have?" he demanded, with a rising +inflection in his voice. + +"Let me think. Why, I guess I'll take bean soup if it's all the +same to you," decided Tucker, solemn as an owl. + +The billposters broke out into a roar of laughter. They fairly +howled with delight at Teddy's droll manner, but the Circus Boy +did not even smile. He looked at them with a hurt expression in +his eyes until the men were on the point of apologizing to him. + +They did not know young Tucker. + +The rest of the meal passed off without incident. + +"Well, what did you think of the contract hotel?" questioned +Conley, as they were strolling back to the car. + +"I think I shall starve to death in a week, if I have to eat +in that sort of a place," answered Teddy. "Why didn't the +contracting agent sign us up with a livery stable? I'd a +sight rather feed there than at a contract hotel if they are +all like this." + +"Yes, the food is at least clean in a livery stable," +laughed Phil. "But we shall get along all right. If we get +too hungry we can go out and buy our own meals now and then. +Do you ever do that, Mr. Conley?" + +"I should say we do. We have to, or we shouldn't have any +stomachs left. Now, you want to know something about this car +work, don't you?" + +"I should like to very much, if you can spare the time to tell me +about it." + +"Wait till I get my report made out, then we'll have a nice long +talk, and I will tell you all about it." + +"There is Mr. Snowden waiting for you." + +"Never mind him. His bite isn't half so bad as his bark." + +The men piled into the car, whereupon Manager Snowden unloosed +the vials of his wrath because their reports were not in. To his +tirade no one gave the slightest heed. The men went methodically +to work, writing out their reports to which they signed their +names, folded the papers, and tossed them on the manager's desk +without a word of explanation. + +For a few moments there was silence in the office while the +manager was going over the reports. All at once there was +a roar. + +"Pig! Come here!" + +Rosie got down from the pile of paper on which he had been +sitting, taking his time about doing so, and, wearing a broad +grin, strolled to the office at the other end of the car. + +"What's the trouble now?" demanded Rosie. + +"Trouble? Trouble? That's the word. It's trouble all the time. +Where are your brains?" + +"In my head, I suppose," grinned Rosie. + +"No!" thundered the manager. "They're in your feet. All you +know how to do is to kick. You're a woodenhead; you're +no good." + +Rosie accepted the tirade with a quiet smile. + +"If you will tell me what it is all about I may be able +to explain." + +"Look at those billboard tickets!" + +"What's the matter with them?" + +"Matter? Matter?" + +"Yes, that's what I asked." + +"They're torn off crooked." + +"Well, what of that?" + +"What of that? Why, you woodenhead, when those tickets are +presented at the door when the show comes around, the ticket +takers won't accept them. Then there will be a howl that you can +hear all across the state of Minnesota. How many times have I +told you to be careful?" + +"The tickets are all right," growled Rosie, now a little nettled. + +"What! What! You dare contradict me? I'll fire you +Saturday night! I'd fire you now only I am short of money. +Get out of here! Come back!" + +Rosie turned dutifully, but with a weary expression on his face. + +"I fine you eleven dollars and fifty cents. That's about what +the tickets will come to. Now go. Send Rain-in-the-Face here!" + +The interview with Rain-in-the-Face sounded not unlike a series +of explosions to those out in the main compartment of the car. +Every face wore a grin, and each man expected it would be his +turn next. + +"Come on, let's go outside and talk," said Conley. + +"I should think you _would_ want to get away from it all," +answered Phil. "I don't know; whether I can stand this +sort of thing or not." + +"You'll get used to it after awhile." + +"Something's going to happen," croaked the Missing Link, +dismally, as the two left the car by the rear door. + +"I guess the freak is right," nodded Billy Conley. "There is +going to be an explosion here that will shake the state." + +There was, but not exactly in the way he imagined. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE MIDNIGHT ALARM + +"Now tell me, if you will, what the routine of the work on an +advance car is," said Phil after he and Billy had sat down beside +the tracks. + +"It would take all night to do that, but I'll give you a few +pointers and the rest you will have to pick up for yourself. +In the first place an advertising car includes billposters, +lithographers, banner men and at least one programmer." + +"Sounds all right, but it doesn't mean much of anything to me," +laughed Phil. + +"The billposters post the large bills on the billboards, and +anywhere else that they can get a chance, mostly out in the +country and in the country towns. In places where there is a +regular billposter, he does that work for us. Any boards not +owned by a billposter, or a barn or a pigpen or a henhouse on the +road is called a 'daub.' At least two tickets are given for every +place we put a piece of paper on. These tickets are numbered +and signed. Now, if a fellow out in Kankakee, we will say, +should chance to tear down the bill, when he presented his ticket +at the gate on the day of the show, it would be refused. +He'd pay or stay out." + +"But how would they know he had taken down the poster," +questioned Phil. + +"Checkers follow along at intervals and check up every piece of +paper we put up. We send the record of our work to the car back +of us and they in turn send our and their reports to the car +behind them." + +"It is a wonderful system, indeed," marveled Phil. + +"Yes. To go back a little I will say that this is a 'scout car' +or what is known among showmen as 'the opposition car.' It goes +only where there is trouble, where there is opposition. +For instance, more than half a dozen shows are coming into +this territory, this season, and it is up to us to cover +every available space with our paper before their cars get +on the ground." + +"But will they not paste their bills over yours, over those you +have already put up?" + +"They seldom do. It is an unwritten law in the show business +that this is not to be done." + +Teddy had come up to them in time to hear the last remark. + +"I thought there wasn't any law, written or unwritten, in this +business," he said. + +"You will find there is, young man. Then, to come to the +lithographers, as I think I already have told you, these men +place small bills in store and shop windows, giving tickets +for the privilege the same as do the billposters. One man +goes ahead of them and does what we call 'the squaring,' +meaning that he enters the stores and asks the privilege of +putting up the lithographs. In most cases the owners of the +places object, and he has to convince them that it is to +their advantage to have the paper in their windows." + +"I didn't think there was so much to it, but I think I should +like that work. I'll be a squarer," decided Teddy. + +"The banner men put up what are called 'banners,' cloth signs. +These are tacked up in high places and the banner men have to be +good climbers. They fill their mouths with tacks, points in, +heads out. They use magnetic hammers." + +"What's this, a joke?" interrupted Teddy. + +"It is not a joke. The head of each hammer so used is a magnet, +and is used to pick the tacks from the mouth of the banner man. +The tack sticks to the head of the hammer and is thus ready to +be driven. An expert banner man will drive tacks almost as +rapidly as you could fire a self-acting revolver." + +"That is odd. What does the fellow called the programmer do?" + +"He takes the small printed matter around, and drops it on +doorsteps and in stores. When we are making a day run with the +car he drops the printed matter off at stations and crossroads, +or wherever he sees a man. Following us come route-riders." + +"What are they?" + +"Men who ride over the country routes to see whether the +billposters have put up the paper indicated on their reports, or +thrown the stuff in a ditch somewhere. After them come checkers, +one after the other. This is Car Three, as you know. Car Two +follows about two weeks behind us, and Car One comes along a week +ahead of the show. What are you going to do?" + +"Mr. Snowden said I was to go out with one of the men on a +country route." + +"Then you come along with me, unless he directs you differently. +I can give you pointers that would take you a long time to learn +were you left to pick them up yourself. Don't say anything to +him about it unless he speaks to you, but prepare to go out with +me early in the morning. I have a big drive tomorrow, some fifty +miles, and you will get all you want for one day's work." + +"Yes; that will be fine." + +"What is your friend here to do?" + +"I am the paste-maker," answered Teddy with a sheepish grin. +"I make the stickum stuff for this outfit." + +"A nice job," jeered the assistant manager. "You will get all +you want of that work in about thirty minutes. The Boss must +certainly have a grudge against you. You will be hanging around +the car all day, however, and if the Boss is away any you will +have a chance to get forty winks of sleep in the stateroom now +and then." + +"No; Teddy is not here to sleep. He is here to work." + +"Yes; everybody works around here but Father." + +"Is the work the same on the advance cars of all shows?" + +"All circuses, yes. We do things just the same as the fellows +did them forty years ago. Nobody seems to have head enough to +do things differently, and goodness knows some modern methods +are necessary." + +"How long have you been on this car?" + +"Four years; this is my fifth season here." + +"Why, that is exactly the time we have been with the +Sparling Shows." + +Billy nodded. + +"I saw you work last season. You are a bird on the trapeze, +and ride--whew, but you can beat anything I ever saw on bareback! +I knew I had seen you before when you came in this evening, but I +couldn't place you. I remembered after a little. Say, Phil, I'm +glad you handed it out to the Boss this afternoon." + +"And I am very sorry. I don't know what Mr. Sparling will think +of it. Still, I had to do something. I saw right away that he +had made up his mind to treat us badly. What time do we pull +out tonight?" + +"Twelve o'clock, I think. And speaking of that, it is time +to turn in." + +The three entered the car. Mr. Snowden already had turned +in, his end of the car being dark and silent. Most of the +billposters also had climbed to their berths near the roof +of the car, and some of them were snoring heavily. + +"Do they do this all night long?" questioned Teddy. + +"Do what?" + +"Roll logs!" + +"Well, yes," laughed Billy; "they are pretty good snorers, +all of them. Do you snore?" + +"I might, on a pinch. I don't know whether I do or not. I am +usually asleep when I snore. How about it, Phil, do I snore?" + +"Not when I am within punching distance of you." + +The boys undressed, got into their pajamas, and after +considerable effort managed to climb to the top of the pile +of paper, where their blankets had been spread for them by +the porter. + +"Not much of a bed, is it Teddy?" laughed Phil. + +"The worst ever!" agreed Teddy. "How I'm going to stick in that +bed when the car gets under motion I don't know. I wish I was +back with the show." + +"Never mind, old chap. We have had things pretty easy for the +last four years. A little hardship will not hurt either of us. +And I know we are going to like this life, after we get more used +to it. What time do we get up; do you know?" + +"No, I don't know anything about it. I guess in time for late +breakfast," answered Teddy grimly. "Good night." + +In a few minutes the Circus Boys were sound asleep. They did not +even awaken when, about midnight, a switch engine hooked to their +car, and after racing them up and down the railroad yards a few +times, coupled them to the rear of the passenger train that was +to pull them to their next stand, some seventy-five miles away. +A few minutes later and they were rolling away. The road was a +crooked one and the car swayed dizzily, but they were too used to +the sensation to be in the least disturbed by it. + +An hour or two had passed when, all at once, every man in the car +was suddenly startled by a blood-curdling yell and a wild +commotion somewhere in the darkness of the car. + +"What is it?" + +"Are we wrecked?" + +"What did we hit?" + +This and other exclamations were shouted in loud tones, as the +men came tumbling from their berths, some sprawling over the +floor, where a lurch of the car had hurled them. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ALMOST A TRAGEDY + +"Strike a light!" + +"Are we off the rails?" + +"No, you idiot. Don't you feel the car going just the same +as before? And he's wheeling her a mile a minute at that. +Hurry with that light, somebody!" commanded Billy. + +At this moment they heard the sliding door of the manager's +stateroom come open with a crash. + +"Now, here's trouble for certain!" muttered the Missing Link. +"The Boss is on deck." + +"I guess my friend Teddy has got into trouble," said Phil +Forrest, slipping quickly from his bed on top of a pile of gaudy +circus posters. "Ted! Ted, where are you?" + +There was no answer. + +"What is all this row about?" thundered the manager, stalking +down the car, clad only in his pajamas. + +"We do not know, sir. We are trying to find out. I am afraid my +friend has fallen out of bed and hurt himself," answered Phil. + +"I hope it killed him!" bellowed Mr. Snowden. "The idea of +waking up the whole car at this time of the night! This nonsense +has got to stop, and right quick at that. Where's that light?" + +Phil was groping about the floor, trying hurriedly to +locate Teddy. But no Teddy was to be found. + +Finally a match flickered; after lurching about the car the man +with the match finally succeeded in locating the bracket lamp +near the end of the car. + +Anxious eyes peered about them in the dim light. + +"Look!" howled Rosie the Pig. + +A pair of wildly kicking legs were seen protruding from one of +the big paste cans, these cans being made like the big garbage +cans that one sees in backyards in the city. + +"It's Teddy! There he is!" cried Phil, springing forward. + +"He's gone in the paste can head first!" yelled another of +the crew. + +"Help me get him out; he has stuck fast!" shouted Phil, tugging +desperately at his companion's heels. + +The car set up a roar of laughter at the ludicrous sight. +To Phil, however, it was no laughing matter. The paste can +was nearly full of paste and of about the same consistency +as dough in a bread pan. It was thick and wickedly blue, +for it had been mixed with bluestone to preserve it until +required by the billposters. + +"Pull him out, you idiots!" bellowed the car manager. "If he +isn't dead now, he can't be killed. Pull him out and throw +him overboard!" + +Phil flashed an indignant look at Mr. Snowden. + +By this time others had come to his assistance. It required +their united efforts to rescue Teddy from his +perilous predicament. + +They hauled him out and laid him on the door. + +"Teddy, Teddy!" cried Phil, but Tucker made no reply. In the +first place his mouth was so full of paste that he could not +utter a sound. Again, he was half unconscious, nearly smothered +and still unable to breathe freely. + +Phil grabbed off the jacket of his own pajamas and began wiping +the blue paste from the unfortunate lad's mouth, eyes and nose. + +A happy thought appeared to strike the car manager. He dashed to +the sink, and, quickly filling a pail of water, ran back to the +spot where Teddy was lying. + +Snowden turned the pail bottom side up, apparently intending to +douse the water into Tucker's face. + +Instead, the contents of the pail landed on Phil Forrest's head, +spreading itself over his bare back, and trickled down in +rivulets over Teddy's face. + +The water was almost ice cold. + +"Wow!" howled Phil, springing to his feet. "Who did that?" + +"I did, and I'll do it again," jeered the car manager. + +"Get me another pail, but I'll do the spilling this time. +Don't you dare duck me again, or I'll settle with you after +I get through with my friend." + +One of the crew grabbed up the pail to run for water. This time +the pail was handed to Phil who instantly began mopping the face +of young Tucker. + +In a moment or so Teddy began to gasp. His dive had nearly been +the end of him. + +"Get a net," he murmured as he slowly came to, whereat everyone +save the car manager laughed loudly. "Wha--what happened? +Did we run off the track?" + +"No, you took a high dive into a can of paste," jeered Billy. +"You're the champion high diver of Car Three." + +Mr. Snowden, stooping over, grabbed the luckless Teddy by the +collar and jerked him to his feet. + +"Get up, you lummox!" he commanded. + +Teddy blinked very fast. Mr. Snowden began to shake him. +Phil stepped forward quickly and pushed the car manager away. + +"Wha--what!" growled Snowden, an angry light leaping into +his eyes. + +"You let the boy alone," commanded Phil. "Because he has had an +accident is no reason why you should punish him!" + +"You--you--you--" + +Phil paid no heed to him, but led the unsteady Teddy to the far +end of the compartment. + +"You get off this car, both of you!" yelled the manager. + +"What, with the train running sixty miles an hour?" questioned +Phil, turning slowly. + +"Yes; I don't care if it kills you both. Good riddance--good job +if it did." + +"I think you have another guess coming, Mr. Car Manager," replied +Phil calmly. + +Snowden glared at the Circus Boy who had thus defied him; then +turning sharply on his bare heel he strode back to his stateroom. + +A broad grin appeared on the faces of the car crew. + +"I guess that will be about all for this evening," +announced Rain-in-the-Face. + +"Is there a rope on this car?" asked Phil. + +"Yes; what do you want a rope for?" replied Billy. + +"He's going to complete the job by hanging the Boss from a brake +beam," spoke up Rosie. + +"Not quite as bad as that, I guess," laughed Phil. "I am going +to tie my friend Teddy in his bed. There is no telling what may +happen to him, if I do not. Teddy, had we happened to be sound +sleepers you would in all probability be dead by this time." + +Tucker shivered. + +"That would please Mr. Snowden too much, you know." + +"Then tie me in. I don't want to please him. Did he duck me +while I was asleep?" + +"He tried to. As it chanced my bare back got most of the +ducking," answered Phil with a short laugh, for he believed the +car manager had purposely poured the water on him. + +"But he shook me," protested Teddy. + +"He did that," chorused the crew. "What are you going to do +about it?" + +"Well," reflected Tucker; "I think he and I will fight a duel +tomorrow at sunrise." + +Once more all hands turned in, Phil humorously making a pretense +of tying his companion to his "berth." As a matter of fact, Phil +did tie the rope about Teddy's wrist, wrapping the free end about +his own arm, and thus the boys went to sleep once more. + +It seemed as if they had been asleep only a few minutes when they +were suddenly startled into wakefulness by a loud noise. + +This time, however, it was not a yell, but a roar. + +Phil sat up suddenly, rubbing his eyes sleepily. + +"Get up, you lazy good-for-nothings!" bellowed the car manager, +dancing up and down the aisle, still in his pajamas, his hair +standing up, his eyes wild and menacing. + +"Is that all?" muttered Teddy, sinking back into a sound +sleep again. + +Phil sprang from the pile of papers on which he had been +sleeping, landing lightly on the floor in his bare feet. + +"Good morning, Mr. Snowden. I hope you had a good night's +sleep," greeted the Circus Boy. + +Snowden glared at the lad, as if trying to make up his mind +whether or not Phil was making sport of him. But there was +only pleasantness in the face of Phil Forrest. + +"Huh!" grunted the manager. Then he once more began racing up +and down the car, roaring at his men, threatening and expressing +his opinion of them in the way with which Phil already had +become familiar. + +Teddy lay curled up, with one foot protruding from beneath +the covers. Whether or not he had done this purposely, it +was difficult to decide. Be that as it may, Mr. Snowden +caught sight of the pink foot. He rose to the bait like a +bass to a fly. + +In another second he had pounced upon the foot. Grabbing it +with both hands he gave it a violent tug. Tucker responded. +He came slipping from the "berth," throwing the quilts before +him as he did so. The quilts landed over the car manager's head. +Then came Teddy Tucker. + +Ted landed, full on Mr. Snowden's head, with a wild yell. + +Down went the manager and the Circus Boy, with the latter on top, +in a writhing, howling, confused heap. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE FIRST DAY'S EXPERIENCE + +"Give it to him, Teddy!" howled the crew. + +Tucker, as soon as he could right himself, sat down on the +manager's head, at the same time holding Mr. Snowden's hands +pinioned to the floor. + +The muffled voice under the quilts waxed louder and more angry as +the seconds passed. Phil, who had gone to the wash room to make +his toilet, hurried back at sound of the row. + +"Teddy Tucker, what are you doing?" demanded Phil, for the moment +puzzled at the scene before him. + +"I'm sitting on the Boss," answered Teddy triumphantly. "Shall I +give him one for you?" + +"Yes--give him two for each of us," shouted the billposters. + +Phil strode to his companion, grabbed the lad by the collar +of his pajamas and jerked him from the helpless man under +the quilts. + +"Now, you behave yourself, young man, or you will have to reckon +with me," he commanded, pushing Teddy aside. + +"You let me alone. This is my inning. I guess I can sit on the +Boss, if I want to, without your interfering with the fun." + +Giving no heed to the words, Phil quickly hauled the quilts off +and assisted Mr. Snowden to rise. + +"I guess Teddy must have fallen on you, sir," suggested +Phil solemnly. + +"He did it on purpose! He did it on purpose!" + +"You pulled him out of bed, did you not, sir?" + +"Yes; and next time I'll pull him so he'll know it. Get out of +here, every man of you, and get your breakfasts; then get off on +your routes. Things are coming to a fine pass on this car. +Young man, I will talk to you later." + +The manager, with red face and angry eye, strode to his +stateroom, while the grinning billposters made haste to get into +their clothes. A few minutes later, and all hands were on their +way to breakfast. + +This meal at the new hotel was a slight improvement over the +dinner they had eaten the night before. Besides, all hands were +in good humor, for they had had more real excitement on Car +Three, since the advent of the Circus Boys, than at any time +during the season. + +By the time they reached the car again six livery teams were in +waiting for the men who were to go out on the country routes. + +All was instantly bustle and excitement. Paste cans were loaded +into the wagons, brushes and pails, together with the paper that +had been carefully laid out and counted, the night before, for +each billposter. A record of this was kept on the car. + +Phil lent a hand at loading the stuff, and they found that +the slim lad was stronger than any of them. It was an easy +matter for him to lift one of the big cans of paste to a +wagon without assistance. Teddy, however, stood by with +hands thrust in pockets, an amused grin on his face. +The baleful eye of the car manager was upon him. + +"Have you heard from Mr. Sparling this morning?" asked Phil. + +"Yes," answered Mr. Snowden shortly. + +"What did he say?" + +"That is none of your business, young man." + +"You are right. I accept the rebuke. While I am interested, it +really is none of my business," answered the lad with a smile. + +"Where are you going?" + +"You told me to go out on one of the country routes." + +"Oh! What route are you going on, if I may ask?" + +"I had thought of going with Mr. Conley." + +"You will do nothing of the sort. You will go where I tell +you to. I--" + +"I suggested that he go with me, Mr. Snowden," interposed Billy. +"I have a hard route to work today and I shall need some help if +I get over it before dark." + +"Very well; go on. I hope he falls off a barn or something. +If he does, leave him." + +"For your sake, I shall try to take care of myself," answered +Phil with an encouraging smile. + +"Tucker!" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Start a fire under that boiler. Henry, you show him how to +manage the boiler and mix the paste. I don't imagine he even +knows dough when he sees it." + +"I know a dough-head when I see one," spoke up Teddy promptly, +after delivering himself of which sentiment he strolled away with +hands in his pockets, whistling merrily. + +The drive to the country in the fresh morning air was a most +delightful one to Phil. + +After leaving the town they soon came in sight of a +deserted house. It evidently had been abandoned, for +it was in a bad state of dilapidation. + +"There's a dandy daub!" exclaimed Billy. "We'll plaster it with +paper until the neighbors won't know it. When we get there, hop +off and bring some pails of water, will you?" + +"Sure," answered Phil. While he was doing this, the billposter +was spreading his paper out on the ground, deciding on the layout +that he would post. + +A few minutes later and the gaudy bills were going up like magic +on the road side of the house and the two ends, so that the +pictures might be seen from every point of view from the highway. +The house had been transformed into a blaze of color. + +"All right," sang out Billy. "Good job, too." + +Phil had learned something. He had noted every movement of +the billposter. + +"How long does it take to learn to post, Billy?" he asked. + +"Some fellows never learn. Others get fairly expert after a few +weeks puttering around." + +"May I try one today?" + +"Sure thing. If the next one is easy I will give you a chance +at it." + +The next daub proved to be a small hay barn a little way back in +a field. + +"There's your chance, my boy," he said. + +Phil jumped out before the wagon had come to a stop and, with +paper and brush under his arms, ran across the field. With more +skill than might have been expected with his limited experience +he smeared the paper with paste, then sought to raise it up to +the side of the building as he had seen Billy Conley do. + +This was where Phil came to grief. A gust of wind doubled the +paper up, the pasted side smearing the bright colors of the face +of the picture, until the colors were one hopeless daub. To cap +the climax the whole thing came down over Phil's head, wrapping +him in its slimy folds. + +"Hey, help!" he shouted. "I'm posting myself instead of +the barn." + +Billy sat down on the ground, laughing until the tears ran down +his cheeks. + +"If it hadn't been for that unexpected gust of wind I should have +made it nicely," explained Phil with a sickly grin. "Oh, pshaw, +I'm not as much of a billposters as I thought I was. I guess +there is more to this game than I had any idea of." + +"You will learn. You took a pretty big contract when you tried +to put up that eight-sheet." + +"We will let you try a one-sheet on the farther end of the barn. +A one-sheet is a small, twenty-eight inch piece of paper, +you know." + +Phil nodded. + +"I'll try it," he said. "I guess a one-sheet is about as big a +piece of paper as I am fit to handle just yet." + +He managed the one-sheet without the least trouble, and did a +very good job, so much so that Billy complimented him highly. + +"You will make a billposter yet. One good thing about you is +that you are willing to learn, and you are quick to admit that +you do not know it all. Most fellows, when they start, have +ideas of their own--at least they think they have." + +After that Phil did the small work, thinned the paste and made +himself generally useful. + +"Oh, look at that!" he cried, pointing off ahead of them. + +"What is it, Phil?" + +"See that building standing up on that high piece of ground. +Wouldn't that be a dandy place on which to post some paper?" + +The building he had indicated was a tall circular structure, +painted a dark red, with a small cupola effect crowning its top. + +"That is a silo. You wouldn't be able to get permission to post +a bill on there, even if you could get up there to do it," +said Conley. + +"Why not?" + +"Why not? Why that farmer, I'll wager, sets as much store by +that building as he does his newly-painted house." + +"I'll go ask him. You don't mind if I 'square' him, do you?" +questioned the lad with a twinkle in his eyes. + +"Ask him, for sure. But we couldn't post up there. We have +no ladders that would reach; in fact we have no ladders +at all. I mean the farmer has no ladders long enough." + +"Never mind; I'll figure out a way," replied the Circus Boy, +whose active mind already had decided upon a method by which +he thought he might accomplish the feat, providing the farmer +was willing. + +Reaching the farm, Phil jumped out and ran up to the house. + +"Do you own this place, sir?" he asked of the farmer who answered +his ring at the bell. + +"I do." + +"It's a beautiful place. I am representing the Sparling Circus, +and we thought we would like to make a display on your silo." + +The farmer gazed at him in amazement. + +"Young man, you have a cast-iron nerve even to ask such a thing." + +"I know the mere matter of tickets to the show will be no +inducement to a man of your position. But I am going to make you +a present of a box for six people at the circus. You will take +your whole family and be my guest. I will not only give you an +order for it, but will write a personal letter to the owner, who +is my very good friend. He will show you all there is to be +seen, and I will see to it that you take dinner with him in the +circus tent. No; there is no obligation. All the farmers--all +your neighbors will be envious. I want you to come. We won't +speak of the silo. I don't expect you to let me post that; but, +if you will permit me to put a three-sheet on your hog pen back +there, I shall be greatly obliged." + +Despite the farmer's protestations, Phil wrote out the order for +the box, then scribbled a few lines to Mr. Sparling, which he +enclosed in an envelope borrowed from the farmer. + +"Thank you so much," beamed the Circus Boy, handing over the +letter to the farmer, accompanied by the pass and order for +the arena box at the circus. "It is a pleasure to meet a man +like you. I come from a country town myself, and have worked +some on my uncle's farm." + +"You with the circus, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Looks to me like you was a pretty young fellow to be a +circus man." + +"Oh no, not very. I belong back with the show. I am a +performer, you know. I am out with the advertising car to learn +the business." + +"A performer?" wondered the farmer, looking over the trim figure +and bright boyish face. "What do you perform?" + +"I perform on the flying trapeze and do a bareback riding act." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you know, young fellow, I never got such a close squint at a +circus fellow before in my life. But, come to size you up, I +reckon you can do all them things you've been telling me about. +Yes, sir, I'll go to the circus. Will you be there to cut up in +the ring?" + +"I cannot say. It is doubtful, as I probably shall be ahead of +the show for the rest of the season. Well, thank you very much. +We will decorate the hog pen," added the lad, touching his cap +and turning away. + +An arena box, value twelve dollars, was a pretty high price to +pay for a three-sheet on a hog pen, but Phil Forrest knew what he +was doing. At least he thought he did, and he did not walk very +fast on his way to the road. + +"Hey, come back here," called the farmer. + +"Yes, sir," answered Phil turning inquiringly. + +"Come here." + +He walked back to where the farmer was standing fingering the +pass and the letter. + +"I--I reckon you needn't stick them bills on the hog pen." + +The Circus Boy's heart took a sudden drop. + +"Very well, sir; just as you say. I do not wish to do anything +to displease you." + +"But I reckon you can plaster that silo full of them circus +pictures from top to bottom, if you want to," was the +unexpected announcement. + +Phil Forrest's heart bounded back into position again. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CIRCUS BOY WINS + +"Oh, thank you, thank you ever so much!" answered the lad, his +eyes glowing. + +"You're a square kid and I like you." + +"I appreciate your kindness, I assure you, and I will write a +letter to the owner of the show about you this evening when I get +back to the car. Have you any ladders that we can borrow, and a +long rope?" + +"I reckon you'll find all them things in the hay barn. +Help yourself. I've got to run up to the back farm, but +maybe I'll be back before you get through your job. +So long." + +Phil hurried back to the road, where Billy and the wagon +were waiting. The lad's feet felt lighter than usual. + +"Well, what luck?" demanded Billy. + +"I may be a poor apology as a billposter, but as a diplomat I'm a +winner, Billy." + +"You--you don't mean you got the silo?" gasped Conley. + +"I got the silo, and I can have the hog pen too, if I want it, +and perhaps the farmer's house thrown in for good measure," +answered Phil, his face flushed from his first triumph as a +publicity showman. + +"Well, of all the nerve!" + +"That's what the farmer said," laughed Phil. "But he changed +his mind." + +"What do you think of that?" demanded Billy, turning to +the driver. + +"The kid is all right." + +"You're right; he is. The next question, now that you have got +the silo, is what are you going to do with it?" + +"Post it," answered Phil promptly. + +"You can never do it." + +"I'll show you what a circus man can do." + +"Come along and unload your truck. Help me get some ladders out +of the barn." + +Wonderingly, Billy did as he was bid, and the driver, now grown +interested, hitched his horses to the fence and followed them. + +The silo was empty. Phil measured the distance to the top with +his eyes. + +"About forty feet I should say," he decided. "We shall have to +do some climbing." + +The ladders were far too short, but by splicing two of them +together, they reached up to an opening in the silo some ten feet +from the top. + +Phil hunted about until he found a long plank; then setting the +spliced ladders up inside the silo he mounted to the opening, +carrying one end of a coil of rope with him. Upon reaching the +opening he directed Billy to tie the other end of the rope to +the plank. This being done, Phil hauled the board up to where +he was sitting perched on the frame of the opening. + +"I'd like to know what you're going to do?" + +"If you will come up here I will show you." + +"Not on your life," replied Billy promptly. "I know when I'm +well off, and if you don't look out, Boss Snowden will get +his wish." + +"What wish was that?" + +"That you might fall off a barn and break your neck." + +The Circus Boy's merry laugh floated down to them as he worked in +an effort to get the plank into position. By tying the rope to +one end of the plank to support it he gradually worked the plank +out through the opening, after a time managing to shove the end +nearest to him under a beam. + +"There, I'd like to see you turn a trick like that, Billy +Conley," he shouted. + +"_I_ wouldn't," retorted Billy. "What's the next move?" + +"In a minute. Watch me!" + +The lad made a large loop in the rope in the shape of a +slip knot. All preparations being made he boldly walked out +on the plank which, secured at one end like a springboard, +bent and trembled beneath his weight. + +The men down below gasped. + +The farmer, having changed his mind, had come out to watch the +operation rather than visit the back farm. Two neighbors had by +this time joined him. + +"Who's the fellow up there?" asked one. + +"He is a performer in a circus." + +"A performer? Shucks! He's no more performer than I am." + +"Watch him and perhaps you may change your mind," answered Billy, +who had overheard the remark. "That boy is one of the finest +circus performers in this country. Do you think he could stand +out on that plank, more than thirty feet above the ground, if he +were not a performer? Why, I wouldn't be up there for a million +dollars, and you wouldn't, either." + +"That's right," answered the farmer himself. "That beats all the +circus performances I ever saw. What is the kid going to do?" + +"I don't know," confessed Billy. "He knows and that's enough." + +Phil, having tested the plank to his satisfaction and studied +his balance, now cast his eyes up to the little cupola on top +of the silo. Then he began slowly swinging the loop of the +rope over his head, after the fashion of a cowboy about to make +a cast. + +They were at a loss to understand what he was trying to do, but +every man there was sure in his own mind what Phil Forrest would +do--fall off. + +Suddenly he let go of the loop. It soared upward. Then they +began to understand. He was trying to rope the cupola. + +The rope fell short by about three feet, as nearly as he was able +to judge. + +"Oh, pshaw!" muttered Phil. "That was a clumsy throw. I would +make just about as good a cowboy as I am a billposters. +Well, here goes for another try." + +He put all his strength into the throw this time. + +The rope sped true, dropping as neatly over the peak of the +cupola as if the thrower had been standing directly over +the projection. + +A cheer rose from the men below. + +It died on their lips. + +"He's falling!" they cried with one voice. + +The farmers stood gaping. But Billy, with the quick instincts of +a showman, darted beneath the plank hoping to catch and break the +lad's fall. + +Phil had leaned too far backward in making his cast. He had lost +his balance and toppled over. Here his training in aerial work +served him in good stead. As he felt himself going he turned +quickly facing toward the outer end of the plank. + +Like a flash both hands shot out. They closed about the end of +the plank by a desperately narrow margin. + +The plank bent until it seemed as if it must snap under +his weight. Then it shot upward, carrying the boy with +it, he kicking his feet together as he was lifted and +laughing out of pure bravado. + +Phil knew he was safe now. The drop had tested the plank, so +that there was now slight danger of its breaking. + +On the second rebound he swung himself to the upper side of it +and stood up. + +"Hurrah!" he shouted. + +Billy was pale and trembling. + +"If you do that again I'll have an attack of heart disease, +Phil!" he called. "Now, what are you going to do? The rope is +hanging seven or eight feet away from you." + +"Hello, that's so. I hadn't observed that before. I should +not have let go of it. Never mind, I'll get it unless +something breaks. See here, Billy, you get from under there." + +"Is the plank likely to fall?" asked Billy innocently. + +"The plank? No. I am likely to take a tumble," answered +Phil, with a short laugh. All at once he grew serious +and still. "I think I can make it," he decided. + +His resolution formed, the lad crouched low, so as not to throw +so great a leverage on the plank that it would slip from under +him when he leaped. He prepared for the spring. + +"Don't do it!" howled Billy, now thoroughly frightened. +"Don't you see what he's up to? He's going to jump off +the plank and try to catch hold of the rope hanging from +the cupola. He'll never make it. He'll miss it sure as +he's a foot high. This is awful!" + +"Don't bother me, Billy. Mr. Farmer, is that cupola strong +enough to bear my weight on a sudden jolt?" + +"It ought to hold a ton, dead weight." + +"Then I guess it will hold me. Don't talk to me down there. +Here goes!" + +It seemed a foolhardy thing to do. To the average person it +would have meant almost sure death. It must be remembered, +however, that Phil Forrest was a circus performer, that he felt +as thoroughly at home far above the ground as he did when +standing directly on it. + +He leaped out into the air, cleared the intervening space between +the plank and the rope, his fingers closing over the latter with +a sureness born of long experience. + +His body swung far over toward the other side of the silo, +settling down with a sickening jolt, as the loop over the cupola +slipped down tight. + +"Hooray!" cried Phil, twisting the rope about one leg and waving +a hand to those below him. + +They drew a long, relieved sigh. The farmers, one after the +other, took off their hats and mopped their foreheads. + +"Warm, isn't it?" grinned the owner of the silo. + +"Now, pass up your brush and paste on this rope." Phil had +brought a small rope with him for this very purpose. + +Billy got busy at once and in a few minutes Phil had the brush +and paste in his hands, with which he proceeded to smear as much +of the side of the silo as was within reach. It will be +remembered that he was hanging on the rope by one leg, around +which the rope was twisted as only showmen know how to do. + +"Now, the paper," called Phil. + +This was passed up to him in the same way. In a few moments he +had pasted on a great sheet, having first pulled himself up to +the eaves to secure the top of the sheet just under them. + +"Now that you have one sheet on, how are you going to get around +to the other side to put others on?" demanded Conley. + +"Oh, I'll show you. Be patient down there. I have got to change +a leg; this one is getting numb." + +"I should think it would," muttered Billy. + +Phil changed legs, as he termed it; then, grasping the eaves with +both hands, he pulled himself along, the slip-noose over the +cupola turning about on its pivot without a hitch. + +This done Phil called for more paper, which was put up in +short order. Thus he continued with his work until he had put +a plaster, as Bill Conley characterized it, all the way around +the farmer's silo. It might have been seen nearly ten miles +away in all directions. No such billing had ever before been +done in that part of the country, nor perhaps anywhere else. + +"There! I'd like to see the Ringlings, or Hagenbecks or +Barnum and Bailey or any of the other big ones, beat that. +They're welcome to cover this paper if they can, eh, Billy?" +laughed Phil, pushing himself away from the side of the silo +and leaning far back to get a better view of it. "I call +that pretty fine. How about it?" + +"The greatest ever," agreed Billy. His vocabulary was too +limited to express his thoughts fully, but he did fairly well +with what he had. + +Having satisfied himself that his work was well done, Phil let +himself down slowly, not using his hands at all, in doing so, +but taking a spiral course downward. + +"H-u-m-m, I'm a little stiff," he said when his feet touched +the ground. "Am I a billposter or am I not a billposter, Billy?" + +"You are the champeen of 'em all! I take off my hat to you." +Which Conley did, then and there. + +"I am afraid I shall not be able to get that rope down, sir," +said Phil politely to the farmer. "I am sorry. I had not +figured on that before. If you will be good enough to tell me +how much the rope is worth I shall be glad to pay you for it. +I can cut it off up near the little door there, so it will not +look quite so bad. Shall I do it?" + +"No. You needn't bother. As for paying for the rope I won't +take a cent. I've had more fun than the price of a dozen +ropes could buy. Why, young man, do you know I never seen +anything in a circus that could touch the outside edge of the +performance you've been giving us this afternoon? You boys +had your dinners?" + +"No," confessed the Circus Boy. "I guess we had forgotten +all about eating." + +"Then come right in the house. My wife will get you +something, and I want to introduce her to a real live +circus man--that's you." + +"Thank you." + +Phil's eyes were bright. He was happy in the accomplishment of a +piece of work that was not done every day. In fact, this one was +destined to go down in show history as a remarkable achievement. + +They sat down to a fine dinner, and Phil entertained the family +for an hour relating his experiences in the show world. + +When the hour came for leaving, the farmer urged them to remain, +but the men had work to do and a long drive ahead of them. + +They drove away, Phil waving his hat and the farmer and his wife +waving hat and apron respectively. + +As the rig reached a hill, some three miles away, Phil and Billy +turned to survey their work. + +"Looks like a fire, doesn't it, Billy?" + +"It sure does. It would call out the fire department if there +was one here." + +"And the best of it is, that posting will be up there when the +show comes this way next season. It is a standing advertisement +for the Great Sparling Shows. But I suppose Mr. Snowden would +say it wasn't much of a job." + + + +CHAPTER IX + +TEDDY GETS INTO TROUBLE + +"Get those paste cans outside! Step lively there!" + +"Say, you talk to me as if I were one of the hired help," +objected Teddy, his face flushing. + +"Well, that is exactly what you are. You'll soon learn that you +are hired help if you remain on this car. I'll take all the +freshness out of you. The flour is in the cellar." + +"In the cellar?" + +"That's what I said. Go down and get it out. You will require +about a sack and a half for each can. That will be about right +for a can of paste. Henry will show you how much bluestone to +put in. But be careful of that boiler. I don't want the car +blown up." + +The manager strode away to his office, while Teddy, red and +perspiring, went about his work. He was much more meek than +usual, and this very fact, had the manager known him better, +would have impressed Mr. Snowden as a suspicious circumstance. + +Instead of the usual pink tights with spangled trunks, Teddy +Tucker was now clad in a pair of blue jeans, held up by pieces of +string reaching up over his shoulders. His was now a far +different figure from that presented by him in the ring of the +Sparling Shows. + +After dumping the flour into the cans, in doing which Teddy took +his time, he attached a hose pipe to the boiler, under the +direction of Henry. Next he filled the cans with water and was +then ready to turn on the steam to boil the paste. + +Teddy was about to do this when Mr. Snowden appeared on +the scene. He looked over the cans critically, but observing +nothing that he could find fault with, he got a stick and +began poking in the bottom of one of the cans, thinking he had +discovered that more flour had been used than was necessary. + +All at once Teddy, who was now inside the car, turned a full head +of steam through the hose pipe. There being one hundred and +forty pounds of steam on the boiler something happened. + +The full force of the steam shot into the bottom of the can over +which Mr. Snowden was bending. The contents of that can leaped +up into the air, water, flour, bluestone and all, and for the +next few seconds Manager Snowden was the central figure in the +little drama. It rained uncooked paste for nearly half a minute. +Such of it as had not smitten him squarely in the face went up in +the air and then came down, showering on his head. + +The force of the miniature explosion had bowled the manager over. +Choking, sputtering, blinded for the moment by the stuff that had +got into his eyes, he wallowed in the dust by the side of +the car. + +Teddy shut off the steam, went out on the platform and sat down. + +"What happened?" he demanded innocently. Perhaps he did not know +and perhaps he did. + +Mr. Snowden did not answer, for the very good reason that he +could not. His clothes were ruined. + +"It looks like a storm," muttered the lad. In this he was +not mistaken. + +A happy thought came to him. Springing up he hurried into the +car, and, drawing a pail of water from the tap, ran out with it. +Mr. Snowden had just scrambled to his feet. + +"This will do you good," said Teddy, dashing the pail of water +over the manager's head. "That's the way you brought me back +when I got pasted up last night." + +The Circus Boy ducked back to the platform and sat down to +await developments. They were not long in arriving. The instant +Snowden got the flour out of his eyes sufficiently to enable him +to see he began blinking in all directions. + +Finally his eyes rested on Teddy Tucker, who was perched on a +brake wheel observing the manager's discomfiture. + +"You!" exploded the manager. Grabbing up the paddle used for the +purpose of stirring paste he started for the Circus Boy. + +Teddy promptly slid from the brake wheel and quickly got to the +other side of the car. Snowden was after him with an angry roar, +brandishing the paddle above his head. + +"I knew it would blow up a storm pretty soon," muttered the lad, +making a lively sprint as the manager came rushing around the end +of the car. The chase was on, but Teddy Tucker was much more +fleet of foot than was his pursuer, besides which his years of +training in the circus ring had put him in condition for a +long race. + +Around and around the car they ran, the porter watching them, +big-eyed and apprehensive, but Teddy kept his pursuer at a +distance without great effort. + +After a short time the lad varied his tactics. Increasing his +speed, he leaped to the rear platform of the car, and sprang up +on the platform railing. Here, grasping the edge, he pulled +himself to the roof, where he sat down with his feet dangling +over, grinning defiantly. + +"Come down from there!" roared the manager. "I'll teach you +to play your miserable pranks on me!" The roof of the car was +beyond the ability of Mr. Snowden to reach. + +"I'm sorry. I didn't know you had your nose stuck in the paste +pot when I turned on the steam," murmured Teddy. + +This served only to increase the anger of the man on the ground. + +"You did it on purpose; you know you did!" roared Mr. Snowden. +"Come down, I tell you." + +"You come up. It's fine up here!" + +The manager, now angered past all control, uttered a growl. +Hastily gathering up a handful of coal he began heaving the +pieces at Teddy. But Tucker was prepared for just such +an emergency. + +>From his pockets he drew several chunks of coal, that he had +picked up during his sprinting match around the car. He let +these drive at Mr. Snowden, one after the other, not, however, +throwing with sufficient force to do much damage. He did not +wish to harm his superior, but he did want to drive him off. + +Mr. Snowden soon got enough of the bombardment, for he was +getting the worst of it all the time. + +"I'll turn the hose on you!" he bellowed, making a dash for the +interior of the car, where it was his intention to turn on the +boiling hot water and steam. + +"I guess it's time to leave," decided Teddy. Quickly hopping +down he ran and hid behind a freight car a short distance from +the show car. When Mr. Snowden came out, grasping the hissing +hose, his victim was nowhere to be seen. + +Uttering angry imprecations and threats the manager returned +to his office, changed his clothes, then strode off up town +to a hotel to get a bath, of which he was very much in need +at the moment. + +"I guess he will be cooled off by the time he gets back," decided +Teddy, emerging from his hiding place. "I think I will go back +to work. I must earn my money somehow. That man is crazy, but I +have an idea he will be sane after I get through with him." + +Teddy returned to his paste-making. Henry, the porter, was +so frightened that he hardly dared talk to Teddy, for fear +the manager might catch him doing so and vent his wrath on +the Englishman. + +As the Circus Boy had surmised Mr. Snowden returned after a two +hours' absence, much chastened in spirit. He did not even look +at Teddy Tucker, though the latter was watching the manager out +of the corners of his eyes. Mr. Snowden went directly to his +stateroom where he locked himself in. + +"I guess the storm has blown over," decided young Tucker, +grinning to himself. "But won't Phil raise an awful row when he +hears about it!" + +The lad quickly learned the paste-making trick, and after dinner +he set to work in earnest. He found it hard work stirring the +stiff paste, and it seemed as if Teddy got the greater part of it +over his clothes and face. He was literally smeared with it, +great splashes of it disfiguring his face and matting his hair. + +When the men from the country routes drove in there was a howl +of merriment. The lad did present a ludicrous sight. + +"Hello, Spotted Horse!" shouted one of them. + +"Hello yourself," growled Teddy, in none too enviable a frame +of mind. + +"That's the name. That's the name that fits our friend Tucker!" +cried Missing Link. From that moment on, aboard Car Three, Teddy +Tucker lost his own name and became Spotted Horse. + +The men had no sooner unloaded their paste cans than the porter +had told them of the trouble that morning between Teddy and +the manager. + +The men howled in their delight. Mr. Snowden, off in his little +office, heard the sounds of merriment and knew that the laughter +was at his expense. His face was black and distorted with rage. + +"I'll show them they can't trifle with and insult me," +he gritted. + +At that moment he roared for Billy. + +"The regular evening seance is about to begin," announced Billy, +with a grimace, as he turned toward the office. + +"Bring the cub, Forrest, along!" shouted the manager. + +"Who?" called Conley. + +"Forrest and that fool friend of his." + +"He means Spotted Horse," suggested Rosie. "Run along, +Spotted Horse. Got your war paint on?" + +"I always have my war paint on," grinned Teddy, as he started +toward the private office, following Conley and Phil Forrest. + +The three ranged up before the car manager, who surveyed them +with glowering face. + +"What have you done today?" he demanded, fixing his gaze +on Billy. + +"We got up more than four hundred sheets of paper." + +"Four hundred sheets!" groaned Snowden. "What have you fellows +been doing? Sleeping by the roadside?" + +"No, sir, we have been working, and Mr. Forrest here pulled off +one of the cleverest hits that's ever been made. He plastered +a silo that stands out like a sore thumb on the landscape, and +which every farmer within ten or twenty miles about will go to +look at." + +"Humph, I don't believe it! What have the other men done?" + +Conley reported as to the number of sheets that the men had +posted, whereat the manager rose, pounded his desk and, in a +towering rage, expressed his opinion of the tribe of +billposters again. + +Billy smiled sarcastically, in which he was joined by Teddy, +but Phil's face was solemn. He was becoming rather tired of +this constant abuse. + +"If you have nothing to say to me, I will go back to my place +in the car," spoke up Phil. + +Snowden glared at him. + +"Did I tell you to leave this room?" + +"I believe you did not." + +"Then stand there until I tell you to go!" + +"Very well, sir." + +"Conley, I have called you in here to be a witness to what I am +about to say. Do you hear?" + +Billy nodded. + +"During the past two days I have been insulted and abused by +those two young cubs there, until it has come to a point where +I appear to be no longer manager of this car. Your men outside +have laughed at my discomfiture--yes, sir, actually made sport +of me." + +"I think you are mistaken. I--" + +"I am _not_. I am never mistaken. This morning, this fellow +Tucker not only defied me, but turned on the steam when I was +examining a paste pot, and soaked me from head to foot. Then he +ended up by throwing coal at me." + +"Yes, and you started the row," retorted Teddy. "The idea of a +big man like you pitching on to a boy. You ought to be ashamed +of yourself." + +"Stop it! I'll forget you are a boy if you goad me further. +But I have had enough of it. I'll stand it no longer. +Do you understand?" + +No one replied to the question. + +"This thing has gone far enough. Have you anything to say for +yourself or your friend here, Forrest?" + +"Yes, sir, I have." + +"Say it." + +"You are the most ill-tempered man it has ever been my experience +to know." + +"You're discharged! Both of you! Get off my car instantly! +Do you hear me?" + +"I could not very well help hearing you. I am sorry to +disobey you, but we were ordered to Number Three by Mr. Sparling. +We will try to do our duty, but we shall not leave this car +until Mr. Sparling orders us to do so," answered Phil steadily. + + + +CHAPTER X + +A SURPRISE, INDEED + +Phil had triumphed, but he felt little satisfaction in having +done so. + +The manager had ordered the two boys from his office after the +interview and the command to leave the car at once. But the +lads had stayed on, and had gone about their duties, Phil +working with all the force that was in him. He had even +stirred Teddy to a realization of his duty and the latter +had done very well, indeed. + +A week had passed and the car was now in South Dakota. +>From there they were to make a detour and drop down into +Kansas, whence their course would be laid across the +plains and on into the more mountainous country. + +Mr. Snowden had studiously avoided the boys; in fact he had not +spoken a word to them since the interview in the stateroom, but +he had bombarded Mr. James Sparling with messages and demands +that the Circus Boys be withdrawn from the car, renewing his +threats to leave in case his demand was not complied with. + +One bright Sunday morning the car rolled into the station at +Aberdeen, South Dakota, and as it came to a stop a messenger boy +boarded it with a message for Billy Conley. + +Billy looked surprised, and even more so after he had perused the +message itself. He quickly left the car, saying he would return +after breakfast, but instead of going directly to breakfast, he +proceeded to the best hotel in the place, where he called for a +certain man, at the desk. + +Billy spent some two hours with the man whom he had gone to see, +after which he returned to the car. There was a twinkle in his +eyes, as he looked at the Circus Boys, who were at that moment +getting ready to go to church, a duty that Phil never neglected. +He still remembered the time when he used to go to church on +Sunday mornings, holding to his mother's hand. Never a Sunday +passed that he did not think of it. + +"Will you go with us, Billy?" he asked, noting the gaze of the +assistant manager fixed upon him. + +"Not this morning. I expect company," answered Billy with +a grin. + +Teddy eyed him suspiciously. + +"Billy is up to some tricks this morning. I can see it in his +eyes," announced Tucker shrewdly. "I guess I will stay and see +what's going on." + +"No; you will come with me," replied Phil decisively. +So Teddy went. + +Shortly after their departure a gentleman boarded the car, at the +stateroom end, and walked boldly into the office. + +The man was James Sparling, owner of the Sparling Combined Shows. + +Mr. Snowden sprang up, surprise written all over his face. + +"Why, Mr. Sparling!" he greeted the caller. "I did not +expect you." + +"No; my visit is something of a surprise, but it is time I +came on. Where are the boys?" + +"You mean young Forrest and Tucker?" asked the manager, his +smile fading. + +"Yes." + +"The young cubs have gone to church. A likely pair they are! +What did you mean by turning loose a bunch like that on me?" + +There was a slight tightening of Mr. Sparling's lips. + +"What seems to be the trouble with them?" + +"Insubordination. They are the worst boys I ever came across in +all my experience." + +"Have you done as I requested, and helped them to learn +the business?" + +"I have not!" + +"May I inquire why not?" + +"My telegrams should be sufficient answer to that question. +Both of them are hopeless. I want nothing to do with either +of them. They have thoroughly disorganized this car, and +each of them has assaulted me. Had I followed the promptings +of my own inclinations I should have smashed their heads +before this. But I considered their youth." + +Mr. Sparling leaned back and laughed. + +"I am glad you did not try it." + +"Why?" demanded the manager suddenly. + +"Because you would have got the thrashing of your life. +Mr. Snowden, I am fully informed as to what has been +going on in this car." + +"So, that's it; those cubs have been spying on me and reporting +to you, eh? I might have known it." + +"You are mistaken," answered the owner calmly. "While they had +sufficient provocation to do so, not a murmur has come from +either of them. They have taken their medicine like men. I make +it a rule to keep posted on what is going on in every department +of my show. I therefore know, better than perhaps you yourself +could tell me, what has been going on on Car Three. And it is +going to stop right here and now." + +"What do you mean?" + +"In the first place, the work has been unsatisfactory. The men +have done as well as could be expected of them, but they have +been in such a constant state of rebellion because of your +attitude that the work was bound to suffer." + +"You are very frank, sir." + +"That's my way of doing business. You not only have neglected +the work but you have openly defied me and my orders." + +"That's exactly what these young cubs have done with me," +interposed the manager quickly. + +"My information is quite to the contrary. However, be that as it +may, I have decided to make a change." + +"Make a change?" + +"Yes." + +"I do not understand." + +"Then I will make it more plain. I'm through with you." + +"You mean you discharge me?" + +"You have guessed it." + +The manager smiled a superior sort of smile. + +"You forget I have a contract with you. You can't discharge me +until the end of the season." + +"And you forget that I have already done so. Here! You see, I +come prepared for your objections. Here is a check for your +salary to the end of the season. We are quits. I do not have to +do even that, but no one can say that James Sparling doesn't do +business on the square." + +The manager turned a shade paler. + +"I--I'm sorry. When--when do you wish me to leave?" + +"Now--this minute! I want you to get off this car, and if you +don't get off bag and baggage inside of five minutes, I shall +make it my personal business to throw you off," announced the +showman with rising color. He had contained himself as long as +he could. The indignities to which his Circus Boys had been +subjected, ever since they joined the car, had stirred the +showman profoundly. + +"It is now a quarter to twelve. At noon sharp, your baggage and +yourself will be outside of this car. I am in charge here now." + +The showman leaned back and watched his former car manager +hurriedly pack his belongings into a suitcase. + +"I'll get even with you for this," snarled Snowden as he walked +from the car, slamming the door after him. + +"And a good riddance!" muttered the showman rising. "This will +be a good time for me to look over the books and find out what +shape the car is in." + +Mr. Sparling pressed an electric button, and Henry, the porter, +responded to the summons. + +"Has Mr. Forrest returned yet?" + +"No, sir." + +"Is Mr. Conley out there?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Send him in." + +Billy entered the stateroom, a broad smile on his face. + +"Sit down, Billy. Well, our friend has gone. I suppose you +are sorry?" + +"On the contrary," replied Billy promptly, "I am tickled +half to death. Now we'll be able to do some real work! +We'll show you what we can do! By the way, Mr. Sparling, +are you intending to carry out the plan you told me about +this morning?" + +"Yes. You will have a chance next year." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Now, we will go over the books together. I shall have to ask +you some questions as we go along. Please first tell the porter +to send Phil and Teddy in when they return, but not to tell them +who is here." + +Billy went out and gave the showman's orders to the porter. +As it chanced there were none of the other men of the crew +on board the car at that time. They knew nothing about the +change that was taking place. + +Upon Billy's return he and his chief settled down to a busy few +minutes of going over books and reports. The chief found many +things that did not please him, and his anger grew apace at some +of them. + +"I guess I did a good job in getting rid of Snowden. What I +should have done was to have got rid of him before I joined him +out in the spring." + +"He was a bad one," agreed Billy. "I can work with most anybody, +but I never could work with the likes of him. The boys are +all right. He wouldn't have had any trouble with them if he'd +used them like human beings. They both put up with more than +I would have stood. But I tell you, that boy, Teddy--Spotted +Horse, the boys call him--did hand it out to the Boss. +If Snowden had stayed here much longer I'd been willing +to lay odds that Teddy would have run him off the car. +Did I tell you about how Phil posted the silo?" + +"No; what about it?" + +Billy began an enthusiastic narration of Phil's clever piece of +work, Mr. Sparling nodding as the story proceeded. + +"I am not surprised. He is a natural born showman. You will +hear great things from Phil Forrest some of these days, and his +friend, Teddy, will not be so far behind, either, when once he +gets settled down." + +"I guess they are coming now," spoke up Conley. "Somebody got on +the back platform just now. I'll go out and see." + +Billy met the Circus Boys coming in. + +"You are wanted in the stateroom," he said. + +"More trouble?" laughed Phil. + +Billy nodded. + +"Maybe, and maybe not, but I reckon the trouble is all over." + +Phil and Teddy started for the stateroom. At the door they +halted, scarcely able to believe their eyes. There sat +Mr. Sparling, smiling a welcome to them. + +"_Mr. Sparling!_" cried Phil dashing in, with Teddy close at +his heels. + +"Yes, I wanted to surprise you," laughed the showman, throwing +an arm about each boy. + +"I am so glad to see you," cried Phil, hugging his +employer delightedly. + +"And it does my heart good to set eyes on you two once more. +The Sparling organization has not been quite the same since +you left. And, Teddy, we haven't had any excitement since +you left." + +"How's the donkey?" + +"Kicking everything out of sight that comes near him. He has not +been in the ring since you left," laughed the showman. + +"I wish I was back there. I don't like this game for a +little bit." + +"You mean you do not like the work?" + +"Well, no, not exactly that. The work is all right, but--" + +"But what?" persisted Mr. Sparling. + +"Never mind, Teddy," interposed Phil. "No tales, you know." + +"I'm telling no tales. I said I didn't like it and that's +the truth. May I go back with you, Mr. Sparling?" + +"You may if you wish, of course, if you think you want to +leave Phil." + +"Is Phil going to stay?" + +"Certainly." + +Teddy drew a long sigh. + +"Then, I guess I'll stay, too, but there's going to be trouble on +this car before the season ends, sir." + +"Trouble?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What kind of trouble?" + +"I'm going to thrash a man within an inch of his life one of +these fine days." + +"I am astonished, Teddy. Who is the man?" + +"Oh, no matter. A certain party on this car," replied +Teddy airily. + +"I sincerely hope you will do nothing of the sort, for conditions +have changed somewhat on Number Three. Behave yourself, Teddy, +and learn all you can. You may be a car manager yourself one of +these times, and all this experience will prove useful to you," +advised Mr. Sparling. + +"Not the kind of experience I have been having; that won't be +useful to me," retorted Teddy. + +Mr. Sparling and Phil broke out into a hearty laugh, at which +Teddy looked very much grieved. + +"Have you seen Mr. Snowden?" questioned Phil, glancing keenly at +his employer. There was something about the situation that gave +the lad a sudden half-formed idea. + +"Yes, I have seen him," answered the showman, his face +sobering instantly. + +"Where is he?" + +"He has gone away. I might as well tell you, boys. Mr. Snowden +is no longer manager of this car. He is no longer connected with +the Sparling Show in any capacity, nor ever will be again," +announced Mr. Sparling decisively. + +The Circus Boys gazed at him, scarcely able to believe what they +had heard. + +"Not--not on this car any more?" questioned Phil. + +"Never again, young man." + +"Hip, hip, hooray!" shouted Teddy Tucker at the top of his voice, +hurling his hat up to the roof of the car, and beginning a +miniature war dance about the stateroom, until, for the sake of +saving the furniture, Phil grabbed his friend, threw him over on +the divan and sat down on him. + +"Now, Mr. Sparling, having disposed of Teddy, I should like to +hear all about it," laughed Phil. + +"He is the same old Teddy. I can imagine what a pleasant time +Snowden has had with Tucker on board the same car with him. +There is little more to say. I have been disappointed in Snowden +for sometime. I had about decided to remove him before you +joined the car. I wished, however, to send you boys on, knowing +full well that you would soon find out whether there was any +mistake in my estimate of the man. Then, too, I had other +reasons for sending you in the advance." + +"Well, sir, now that he has gone, I will say I am heartily glad +of it, though I am sincerely sorry for Mr. Snowden. He knew the +work; I wish I were half as familiar with it as he is; but I +wouldn't have his disposition--no, not for a million dollars." + +"I would," piped Teddy, whom Phil had permitted to get up. +"I'd be willing to be a raging lion for a million dollars." + +"Have you decided what you are going to do with Car Three now?" +inquired Phil. "You know I am interested now that I have cast +my lot with it." + +"Yes; I certainly have decided. Of course the car will go on +just the same." + +"I understand that, but have you made up your mind who you will +appoint as the agent--who will be manager of the car?" + +"I have." + +"I presume we shall have to get a man before we can go on?" + +"Yes." + +"Then we shall have to lie here a day, at least. Well, we +can busy ourselves. We are slighting a good many of these +bigger towns. They are not half-billed." + +"I am glad to hear you say that. It shows that you are already a +good publicity man. But you will not have to lie here any longer +than you wish," added the showman significantly. + +"Will you tell me who the new manager is, Mr. Sparling?" + +"Yes. You are the manager of Car Three!" was the +surprising reply. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THREE CHEERS AND A TIGER + +"Man--Manager of Car Three?" stammered Phil. + +"Yes." + +Teddy's eyes grew large. + +"_That_--manager of Car Three?" he said derisively. + +Mr. Sparling gave him a stern glance. + +"But, Mr. Sparling, I know so little about the work. Of course I +am proud and happy to be promoted to so responsible a position, +but almost, if not every man on the car, is better equipped for +this work than I am." + +"They may be more familiar with some of the details, but as a +whole I do not agree with your view. In two weeks' time you will +have grasped the details, and I will wager that there will not be +a better agent in the United States." + +The Circus Boy flushed happily. + +"You will have to be alive. But I do not need to say that. +You always are alive. You will have to fight the railroads +constantly, to get your car through on time; you will have +to combat innumerable elements that as yet you have not had +experience with. However, I have no fear. I know the stuff +you are made of. I ought to. I have known you for nearly +five years." + +"I will do my best, Mr. Sparling." + +There was no laughter in the eyes of the Circus Boy now. + +"Then again, you are going right into territory where you will +have the stiffest kind of opposition. At least five shows are +booked for our territory almost from now on." + +"Have any of them billed that territory?" + +"I think the Wild West Show has. The others are about due +there now." + +"It is going to be a hand-to-hand conflict, then?" + +"Something of that sort," smiled the showman. "I shall expect +you to beat them all out." + +"You are giving me a big contract." + +"I am well aware of that. We all have to do the impossible in +the show business. That is a part of the game, and the man who +is not equal to it is not a showman." + +Phil squared his shoulders a little. + +"Then I will be a showman," he said, in a quiet tone. + +"That is the talk. That sounds like Phil Forrest. It is usual +for shows to have a general agent who has charge of all the +advance work, and who directs the cars and the men from some +central point. Heretofore I have done all of this myself, but +our show is getting so large, and there is so much opposition in +the field, that I have been thinking of putting on a general +agent next season. However, we will talk that over later." + +"And so you are the car manager, eh," quizzed Teddy. + +"It seems so." + +"Won't I have a snap now?" chuckled the lad. + +"Yes; your work will be done with a snap or back you go to +Mr. Sparling, young man," laughed Phil. "There will be no +drones in this hive." + +"What have you been doing?" inquired the owner. + +"I'm the dough boy." + +"The dough boy?" + +"He has been making paste," Phil informed him. + +Mr. Sparling laughed heartily. + +"I guess we shall have to graduate you from the paste pot and +give you a diploma. I cannot afford to pay a man seventy-five +dollars a week to mix up flour and water." + +"And steam," corrected the irrepressible Teddy. + +"Should not some press work be done from this car?" asked Phil. + +"By all means. It is of vast importance. Hasn't it been done?" + +"No, sir; not since I have been on board. I would suggest that +we turn Teddy loose on that; let him call on the newspapers, +together with such other work as I may lay out for him. +Teddy is a good mixer and he will make friends of the +newspaper men easily." + +"A most excellent idea. I leave these matters all in your hands. +As to matters of detail, in regard to the outside work, I would +suggest that you consult Conley freely. He is a good, honest +fellow, and had he a better education he would advance rapidly. +I intend to promote him next season. Conley told me, this +morning, of your brilliant exploit in billing the silo." + +"Oh, you saw him this morning? Now I understand why he +hurried away and came back all smiles. You--you told him +I was to be manager?" + +"Yes." + +"What did he say?" + +"He was as pleased as a child with a new toy. He said you were a +winner in the advance game." + +"Will he tell the men?" + +"No. That will be left for you to do in your own way." + +Phil nodded reflectively. + +"And now let us go into the details. We will first look over +the railroad contracts, together with the livery, hotel and +other contracts. I am going to leave you five hundred dollars +in cash, and each week you will send in your payroll to the +treasurer, who will forward the money by express to cover it. +The five hundred is for current expenses. Spend money with a +lavish hand, where necessary to advance the interests of the +show, and pinch every penny like a miser where it is +not necessary. That is the way to run a show." + +Phil never forgot the advice. + +"And Teddy?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You may, in addition to your other duties, act as a sort of +office assistant and secretary to Phil. I shall make only one +request of you. Write to me every night, giving a full account +of the day's doings, with any suggestions or questions that Phil +may ask you to make, and enclose this with the report sheet. +You understand, Phil, that your regular detailed reports go +to the car behind you. The one that comes to me is a +brief summary." + +"I understand." + +"Have you the route?" + +"No, sir." + +"Perhaps it is in the desk. Yes; here it is. Now and then we +shall have to make changes in it, of which I shall advise you, +in most instances, by telegraph. Wire me every morning as to +your whereabouts so I may keep in touch with you." + +"You may depend upon me, sir." + +"I know it." + +For the next half hour Mr. Sparling and Phil were deeply engaged +in poring over the books, the contracts and the innumerable +details appertaining to the work of an advance car. + +"There, I guess we have touched upon most everything. Of course +emergencies will arise daily. Were it not for those anyone could +run a car. No two days are alike in any department of the +circus business. You will meet all emergencies and cope with +them nobly. Of that I am confident. And now, Mr. Philip +Forrest, I officially turn over to you Advertising Car Number +Three of the Sparling Shows. I wish you good luck and no +railroad wrecks. Come and have lunch with me; then I'll be +getting back to the show. The rest is up to you." + +"Mr. Sparling," said Phil with a slight quaver in his voice, "if +I succeed it will be because of the training you have given me. +I won't say I thank you, for I do not know whether I do or not. +I may make an awful mess of it. In that case I shall suffer a +sad fall in your estimation. But it is not my intention to make +a mess of it, just the same." + +"You won't. Come along, Teddy. We will have a meal, and it +won't be at a contract hotel, either," said the showman, with a +twinkle in his eyes. + +The three left the car. Several of the men had returned from +their lunch, and the word quickly spread through the car that +Mr. Sparling was there. Rumors of high words between the +showman and Snowden were rife, but none appeared to know +anything definite as to what had really occurred. + +Conley knew, but he preserved a discreet silence. + +"I reckon, if they wanted us to know what was going on they +would tell us," declared Rosie the Pig. "That's the trouble +with these cars. We ain't human. We ain't supposed to +know anything." + +"Rosie, don't talk. Someday you might make a mistake and really +say something worth listening to," advised Slivers. + +For some reason the men evinced no inclination to leave the car. +They hung about, perhaps waiting for something to turn up. +Each felt that there was something in the air, nor were +they mistaken. + +It was nearly three o'clock when Phil and Teddy returned to +the car. Mr. Sparling was not with them. The lads went direct +to the office, unlocked the door and entered. + +The men looked at each other and nodded as if to say, "I told you +so," but none ventured to speak. + +After what seemed a long wait Phil stepped from the office, +followed by Teddy. They heard the lads coming down the corridor. +Phil stopped when he reached the main part of the car. His face +was solemn. + +"Boys," he began, "I have some news for you. Mr. Sparling has +been here today, as you probably know." + +Some of the men nodded. + +"The next piece of news is that Mr. Snowden has closed with +the car. He is no longer manager." + +Phil paused, as if to accentuate his words. The men set up a +great shout. It was a full minute before they settled down to +listen to his further remarks. + +"What I am about to say further is the most difficult thing I +ever did in my life. I would prefer to turn, or to try to turn, +a triple somersault off a springboard. Mr. Sparling has +appointed me manager of Car Three. I suppose, instead of Phil +Forrest, I shall be referred to as The Boss after this." + +The whole crew sprang to their feet. + +"Three cheers for The Boss!" shouted the Missing Link. + +"Hip, hip, hooray! Tiger!" howled the crew, while Phil stood +blushing like a girl. Teddy was swelling with pride. + +"I'm it, too," he chimed in, tapping his chest significantly. + +"Boys," continued Phil, "I probably know less about the actual +work of the advance than any man here. Anyone of you can give +me points." + +"No, we can't," interrupted several voices at once. + +"I am also younger than any of you. I know a great deal about +the business back with the show, but not much of what should +be done ahead. But I am going to know all about it in a very +short time. While I shall be the Boss, I am going to be the +friend of every man here. You are not going to be abused. +Just so long as you do your work you will be all right. +The first man caught shirking his work closes then and there. +But I shall have to look to you for my own success. +I'll work _with_ you. I understand that we have strong +opposition ahead of us. Let's you and me take off our coats, +tighten our belts, sail in with our feet, our hands and our +heads--and beat the enemy to a standstill! Will you do it?" + +"We will, you bet!" shouted the crew. + +"We will beat them to a frazzle," added Rosie the Pig. + +"That will be about all from you, Rosie," rebuked the +Missing Link. + +"This car leaves at eight o'clock this evening. After we +get started, come in and I will give you all your assignments +for tomorrow. My friend, Teddy, has been promoted to the +position of press agent with the car, and a few other things +at the same time. Henry, you will attend to the paste-making, +beginning tomorrow. This being a billboard town, I am going +to skip it and get into the territory where the opposition +is stronger. I have arranged with the local billposters +to take care of the work here." + +"That is all I have to say just now, boys. When you have +anything to ask or to suggest, you know where the office is. +Mr. Conley, will you please come to the office now? We have +quite a lot to talk over." + +The men gave three rousing cheers. + +Phil Forrest had made his debut as a car manager in a most +auspicious manner, at the same time winning the loyalty of every +man on the car. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +FACING AN EMERGENCY + +"Well, this is what I call pretty soft," chuckled Teddy Tucker. + +Car Three was under motion again, bowling along for the next +stand, fifty miles away. The lads were sitting in their cosy +office, Teddy lounging back on the divan, Phil in an easy chair +at the roll-top desk. The lights shed a soft glow over the room; +the bell rope above their heads swayed, tapping its rings with +the regularity of the tick of a watch. + +"Who sleeps upstairs, you or I?" asked Teddy. + +"I will, if you prefer the lower berth." + +"I do. It has springs under it." + +"You will wish it had no springs, one of these nights, when you +get bounced out of bed to the floor. Do you know that Pullman +cars have no springs?" + +"No; is that so?" + +"That is the fact." + +"Why?" + +"Because, on rough or crooked roads, most of the passengers +would be sleeping in the aisle. All hands would be bounced out. +You are welcome to the lower berth." + +"Shall we turn in and try them?" + +"No; I am going to wait until we get to our destination. I want +to see that the car is properly placed, in view of the fact that +this is our first night in charge. I want to know how everything +is handled by the railroad. You may go to bed if you wish." + +"No; I guess I will sit up. I have a book to read. This is too +fine to spoil by going to bed. I could sit up all night looking +at the place. Why, this is just like being on a private car, +isn't it?" + +"It is a private car." + +There were delays along the route to the next stand, and the car +was laid over for more than an hour at a junction point, so that +it was well past midnight when they reached their destination. + +Phil and Teddy both went outside when the train entered the +yards, Tucker hopping off as they swung into the station. + +"Where are you going?" called Phil. + +"Going to see if I can find anything that looks like food," +answered Teddy, strolling away. "My stomach must have attention. +It's been hours since it had any material to work with. Will you +come along?" + +"No; I am going to bed as soon as we get placed." + +"Bad habit to go to bed on an empty stomach," called back the +irrepressible Teddy. + +The train that had drawn them uncoupled and started away; in a +few moments a switching engine backed down, hooked to the show +car and tore back and forth through the yards, finally placing +the car at the far side of the yard behind a long row of +freight cars. + +All the men on board were asleep, and now that the car would not +be disturbed before morning, Phil entered his stateroom and went +to bed. + +He had not been asleep long when he felt himself being +violently shaken. A hand, an insistent hand, was on +his shoulder. + +"Phil, wake up! Wake up!" + +The boy was out of bed instantly. + +"What is it? Oh, that you, Teddy? What did you wake me up for?" + +"You'll be glad I did wake you when you hear what I have to say." + +"Then hurry up and say it. I am so sleepy I can scarcely keep my +eyes open. What time is it?" + +"Half-past one." + +"Goodness, and we have to get up before five o'clock! What is it +you wanted to tell me? Nothing is wrong, I hope." + +"I don't know. But there is something doing." + +"Well, well, what is it?" + +"I think there is another show car in the yards." + +"A show car?" + +"Yes." + +"You don't say!" + +"I _do_ say." + +"Who's car is it?" + +"I didn't wait to look. I saw the engine shift it in." + +"Where is it?" + +"Way over the other side of the station, on the last track." + +Phil sprang for his trousers, getting into them in short order, +while Teddy looked on inquiringly. + +"Anybody would think you were a fireman the way you tear into +those pants. What's your rush?" + +"Rush? Teddy Tucker, we have business on hand." + +"Business?" + +"Yes, business. It's mighty lucky for us that your appetite +called you out. I shall never go to sleep again without knowing +who is in the yard, and where. Come and show me where they are." + +"I'm sorry I told you." + +"And I am mighty thankful. You see, something told me to leave +that last town and hurry on." + +"Something tells me to go to bed," growled Teddy. + +"You come along with me, and be quiet. Was the car dark?" + +"I guess so." + +The boys hurried from Car Three; that is, Phil did, Teddy +lagging behind. + +"Over that way," he directed. + +Phil crawled under a freight car to take a short cut, and ran +lightly across the railroad yards. The boys passed the station; +then, crossing several switches, they beheld a big, yellow car +looming up faintly under the lights of the station. + +"It is an advertising car," breathed Phil. "I wonder whose it +can be?" + +"You can search me," grumbled Teddy. "Guess I'll go back to +bed now." + +"You wait until I tell you to go back," commanded Phil. +"Keep quiet, now." + +The Circus Boy crept up to the car with great caution. The light +was so faint, however, that he was obliged to go close to it +before he could read the letters on the side of it. Even then he +had to take the letters one by one and follow along until he had +read the length of the line. + +"Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth," was what Phil +Forrest read, and on the end of the car a big figure "4." + +"Car Four," he muttered. "Here's trouble right from the start. +I am right in the thick of it from the word go." + +Phil walked back to where Teddy was awaiting him. + +"Find out whose car it is?" + +"Yes; Barnum & Bailey." + +"Humph! Let's go back to bed." + +"There will be no bed for us tonight, I fear. Wait; let +me think." + +Phil walked over and sat down on a truck on the station platform, +where he pondered deeply and rapidly. + +"All right; I have it figured out. We have our work cut out +for us. You wait here while I run back to the car." + +Teddy curled up on the truck, promptly going to sleep, while Phil +hurried to the car to get the address of the liveryman who had +the contract for running the country routes for the show. + +The lad came running back, and, darting into the station, found +a telephone. After some delay he succeeded in reaching the +livery stable. + +"This is Car Three of the Sparling Shows," he said. +"Yes, Car Three. I want those teams at our car at two o'clock +this morning. Not a minute later. Can't do it? You've got to +do it! Do you hear what I say? I want those teams there at +two o'clock. Very well; see that you _do!_" + +Out to the platform darted Phil in search of Teddy. The latter +was snoring industriously. + +Phil grabbed him by the collar and slammed him down on +the platform. + +"Ouch!" howled Teddy. + +"Get up, you sleepy-head!" + +"I'll friz you for that!" declared Tucker, squaring +off pugnaciously. + +"Don't be silly, Teddy. This is the first emergency we have had +to face. Don't let's act like a couple of children. We must +beat the opposition, and I'm going to beat them out, no matter +what the cost or the effort. Listen! I want you to go to the +contract livery stable. Here is the address. Go as fast as your +legs will carry you." + +"What, at this time of night?" + +"Yes." + +"Not I!" + +"You go, or you close right here, young man. Come now, Teddy, +old chap, remember the responsibility of this car rests on your +shoulders almost as much as on mine. Let's not have any hanging +back on your part." + +"I'm not hanging back. What is it you want me to do? I'm ready +for anything." + +"That's the talk. Hustle to the livery stable and camp right on +the trail. See that those teams are here at two o'clock, or by a +quarter after two, at the latest. Have the men drive up quietly, +and you show them the way. Don't you go to sleep at the stable. +Now, foot it!" + +Teddy was off at a dogtrot. His pride was aroused. + +"I guess we'll clean 'em up!" he growled as he hurried along. + +In the meantime, Phil hastened into the station and ran to the +lunch room. It was closed. + +"Pshaw!" he muttered. + +Phil now turned toward town on a brisk run. After searching +about, he found an all-night eating place that looked as if it +might be clean. + +"Put me up ten breakfasts. I have some men that I want to give +an early start. They haven't time to come here. Wrap up the +best breakfasts you can get together. Put in a jug of coffee and +a jug of milk. I will call for the food inside of half an hour. +Don't delay a minute longer than that. Hustle it!" + +Phil darted out and back to the car. Every nerve in his body +was centered on the work in hand. He ran to Conley's berth +and shook him. + +"What is it?" mumbled Billy sleepily. + +"Get up and come into the stateroom. There is business on hand." + +Billy hopped out of bed, wide awake instantly, and ran to +the stateroom. + +Phil briefly explained the situation and what he had planned +to do. After he had finished Billy eyed him approvingly. + +"You're a wonder," he said. "What about breakfast?" + +"I am having some prepared at a restaurant. But the men will not +have time to eat it. They may take it with them and eat it on +the road." + +"I'll rout out the crew," returned Billy, hurrying back into +the car. + +There was much grumbling and grunting, but as soon as the men +were thoroughly awake they were enthusiastic. Not a man of them +but that wanted to see this bright-faced, clean-cut young car +manager beat out his adversaries. + +By the time the men had washed and dressed the rigs began +to arrive. These were quickly loaded with brushes, paste +cans and paper, all with scarcely a sound, the men speaking +in subdued tones by Phil's direction. + +The darkness before the dawn was over everything. + +At last all was in readiness. + +Phil handed each man his route. + +"Now, boys, it is up to you. I look to you to put the Greatest +out of business, for one day at least. You should be out of town +and on the first daub inside of thirty minutes. I will go with +you and pick up the breakfasts; then you will go it alone. +Don't leave a piece of board as big as a postage stamp uncovered. +Wherever you strike a farmer, make him sign a brief agreement not +to let anyone cover our paper. Pay him something in addition +to the tickets you give him. Here is an agreement that you can +copy from. Make your route as quickly as you can and do it well; +then hurry back here. I may need you." + +"Hooray!" muttered Rosie the Pig. + +"Hold your tongue!" commanded Billy, "Think this is a Fourth of +July celebration?" + +"Go ahead!" + +Phil hopped into one of the wagons, and off they started. It was +but the work of a few minutes to load the packages of breakfast +into the wagons, after which the men drove quickly away. +Phil paid the bill. But he was not yet through with his early +morning work. He made his way to the livery stable. + +"Send another rig over to the car at once. I want you to bring +the day's work of lithographs and banners here, and my men will +work them out from your stables. I do not want the opposition +car to know what we are doing until it is nearly all done." + +"Whew, but you're a whirlwind!" grinned the livery stable man. + +The horse and wagon were made ready at once, Phil riding back to +the car with it. The banner-men and lithographers who were to +work in town had not been awakened. Phil wished them to get all +the sleep possible; so, with Teddy's help, he loaded the paper on +the wagon and sent the driver away with it. Then he awakened the +rest of the men. + +Phil briefly explained what had happened. + +"Now, I want all hands to turn out at once. Go to the restaurant +on the third street above here and get your breakfasts. Here is +the money. By daylight some of the business places will begin +to open. I want every man of you to spend the forenoon squaring +every place in town. Make an agreement that no other show is to +be allowed to place a bill in their windows. While you are +eating your breakfasts I will lay out the streets and assign you. +I have the principal part of the town in my mind, now, so I can +give you the most of your routes. Teddy, you will turn in and +help square. I will collect the addresses of the places you +have squared, early in the morning, and by that time I shall +have a squad of town fellows hired, to place the stuff. +Now, get going!" + +All hands hurried into their clothes; after locking the car, Phil +led them to the restaurant. But the Circus Boy did not take the +time to eat. Instead he busied himself laying out the routes for +the town men to work. + +By the time that they had finished their breakfast faint streaks +of dawn were appearing in the east. + +"Now, boys, do your prettiest!" urged Phil. + +"We will; don't you worry, Boss." + +The men hurried off, full of enthusiasm for the work before them, +while Phil started out to round up a squad of men to distribute +the lithographs after his own men had squared the places to +put them. + +In an hour he had all the men he wanted. This done, Phil took +his way slowly back to the railroad yards and stepped up to the +platform of his own car. The freight cars had been removed from +in front of him and the rival car stood out gaudily in the +morning light. All was quiet in the camp of the rival. Not a +man of its crew was awake. + +"I hope they sleep all day," muttered Phil, entering his own car +and pulling all the shades down, after which he took his position +at a window and watched from behind a shade. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A BAFFLED CAR MANAGER + +It was nearly seven in the morning when Phil's vigil was +rewarded by the sight of a man in his pajamas, emerging +from the rival car. The man stood on the rear platform and +stretched himself. All at once he caught sight of Car Three. + +The fellow instantly became very wide awake. Opening the car +door he called to someone within; then three or four men came out +and stared at the Sparling car. + +"They are pretty good sleepers over there, I guess," grinned the +rival car manager, for such he proved to be. + +The men dodged back, and there was a lively scene in the +rival car. The men realized that they had been remiss in +their duty in sleeping so late, but still they had not the +least doubt of their ability to outwit their rivals, for +the crew of Car Four was a picked lot who had never yet +been beaten in the publicity game. + +About this time Phil Forrest strolled out to the rear platform of +his car. He was fully dressed save for coat and vest and hat, +yet to all appearances he, too, had just risen. + +The manager of the rival car came out and hailed him. + +"Hello, young fellow!" he called. + +"Good morning," answered Phil sweetly. + +"Seems to me you sleep late over there." + +"So do you," laughed Phil. "There must be something in the air +up this way to induce sleep." + +"I guess that's right. Who are you?" inquired the rival manager. + +"I am one of the crowd." + +"You're the programmer, perhaps?" + +"I may be most anything." + +The manager of the rival car strolled toward Car Three, whereupon +Phil started, meeting him half-way. For reasons of his own he +did not wish his rival to get too close to the Sparling car. + +"I never saw you before," said the rival, eyeing Phil keenly. + +"Nor I you." + +"What's your name?" + +"Philip." + +"Glad to know you, Philip. How long have you been with the car?" + +"A few weeks only." + +"Who's your car manager?" + +"A fellow named Forrest." + +"Never heard of him. Is he in bed!" + +"No; he is out." + +"Humph! What time do you start your men on the country routes?" + +"Usually about seven to seven-thirty." + +"Well, you won't start them this morning at that time." + +"No; I think not." + +"I'll tell you what you do; you come and take breakfast with me. +We won't go to any contract hotel, either." + +"Thank you; I shall be delighted. Wait till I get my +clothes on." + +Phil hastened back to his own car. + +"That fellow is playing a sharp trick. He is trying to get me +away so he can get his men out ahead of mine. I will walk into +his trap. He knows I am the manager. I could see that by the +way he acted." + +Phil stepped out and joined his rival. + +"I believe you said you were the manager of that car, did you +not?" asked the rival. + +"I am, though I do not recollect having said so." + +"A kid like you manager of a car? I don't know what the show +business is coming to, with all due respect to you, young man." + +"Oh, that's all right," answered the Circus Boy with a frank, +innocent smile. "I am just learning the business, you know." + +"I thought so," nodded the rival. "My name's Tripp--Bob Tripp." + +"You been in the business long?" + +"Fifteen years, my boy. After you have been in it as long as I +have, you will know every crook and turn, every trick in the +whole show business," said the fellow proudly. "You are a +bright-faced young chap. I should like to have you on my car. +Don't want a job, do you?" + +"No, thank you. I am very well satisfied where I am. I can +learn on a Sparling car as well as anywhere else, you know." + +"Yes, of course." + +The couple stopped at the leading hotel of the town, where the +rival manager ordered a fine breakfast. Phil Forrest was quite +ready for it. He already had done a heavy day's work and he was +genuinely hungry. + +"Guess they don't feed you very well with your outfit," +smiled Tripp. + +"Contract hotels, you know," laughed Phil. "I do not get a +chance at a meal like this every day." + +"Do the way I do." + +"How is that?" + +"Feed at the good places and charge it up in your +expense account." + +"Oh, I couldn't do that. It would not be right." + +"That shows you are new in the business. Get all you can and +keep all you get. That's my way of doing things. I was just +like you when I began." + +They tarried unusually long over the meal, Tripp seeming to be in +no hurry. Phil was sure that he was in no hurry, either. And he +knew why there was no need for hurry. Bob, in the meantime, was +relating to the show boy his exploits as a manager. In fact he +was giving Phil more information about the work of his own car +than he realized at the time. + +Now and then the Circus Boy would slip in an innocent question, +which Bob would answer promptly. By the time the meal was +finished Phil had a pretty clear idea of the workings of his +rival's advance business, as well as their plans for the future, +so far as Tripp knew them. + +"By the way, how did you happen to get a berth like this, +young man?" questioned Tripp. "I thought a fellow by the +name of Snowden was running Car Three for old man Sparling." + +"He was." + +"Closed?" + +"Yes." + +"What for?" + +"I would rather not talk about that. You will have to ask +headquarters, or Snowden himself. You see, it is not my +business, and I make it a rule never to discuss another +fellow's affairs in public." + +"Nor your own, eh?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I think I have talked a good deal +this morning. But you and I had better get back to our +cars and get our men started, had we not? This is a +late morning all around." + +"No hurry, no hurry," urged Bob. "Why the men haven't got +back from their breakfast yet. Wait awhile. Have a smoke." + +"Thank you; I do not smoke." + +Tripp looked at him in amazement. + +"And you in the show business?" + +"Is that any reason why a man's habits should not be regular?" + +"N-n-n-o," admitted the rival slowly. + +"Well, I must be going, just the same. I have considerable work +to do in the car." + +Bob rose reluctantly and followed Phil from the dining room. +He had hoped to detain the young car manager longer, or until +his own men could get a good start on the work of the day. + +He looked for no difficulty, however, in outwitting his +young opponent. + +As they approached the railroad yards each car stood as they had +left it, shades pulled well down and no signs of life aboard. + +"Looks as if your crew was still asleep," smiled Tripp. + +"I might say the same of yours, did I not know to the contrary," +answered Phil suggestively. + +Bob shot a keen glance at him. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing much. Of course I did not think your men would be +asleep all this time. They are surely out to breakfast by +this time." + +"You ain't half as big a fool as you look, are you?" demanded the +rival manager. "Well, I will see you later." + +Each went to his little office and began the work of the day, but +there was a grim smile of satisfaction on the face of each. + +Fully an hour passed, and one of the lithographers from the rival +car went aboard with the information that they were unable to get +a piece of paper in any window in town thus far. + +"Why not?" demanded Tripp. + +"They say their windows are already contracted for," was +the answer. + +"Contracted for?" + +"Yes." + +"By whom?" + +"I don't know. That's all the information we can get." + +"Seen any other showmen about town this morning?" + +"No; not any that I know, nor any with paper and brush under +his arm." + +"H-m-m-m," mused the showman. "That's queer. It can't be that +the young man across the way has got the start of us. No; that +is not possible. He is too green for that. Have his men gone +out on the country routes yet, or are they still asleep?" + +"I don't know. Nobody has seen a living soul around that car +this morning, so far as I know." + +"I'll go over town and do a little squaring on my own hook. +I'll soon find out who has been heading us off, if anyone has." + +The manager hurried off with his assistant, but even he was +unable to get any information. + +He was baffled and perplexed. He did not understand it. +Tactics entirely new had been sprung on him. He was an expert +in the old methods of the game, but these were different. + +In the meantime, Phil Forrest, the young advance agent, sat +calmly in his stateroom, now and then receiving a report from +Teddy Tucker who sauntered in under cover of a string of freight +cars on the opposite side, then slipped out again. + +Teddy was Phil's blockade runner this day. + +At noon the party on the rival car all adjourned for luncheon, +and there they were joined by their manager, who discussed the +queer situation with them. This was the time for Phil Forrest. + +"Now for the surprise," he said, hurriedly going uptown, where he +got his own lithographers together, and the crew that he had +hired in town. Every man had been pledged to silence, as had the +livery stable man and his helpers. + +"Now, shoot the stuff out! Get every window full before those +fellows are through their dinner. A five-dollar bill for the man +who covers his route first. The banner locations we cannot fill +so quickly, but they are all secured, so our friend can't take +them away from us. Now get busy!" + +They did. The men of Car Three forgot that they were hungry. +Never before had the lithographers and banner men worked as they +did that day. With the extra help that Phil had put on he was +able to cover the ground with wonderful quickness. + +When the men of the rival crew emerged from the contract hotel, +and sat down in front to digest the contract meal, they suddenly +opened their eyes in amazement. + +In every window within sight of them there hung a gaudy Sparling +circus bill, some windows being plastered full of them. + +They called the manager hastily. + +"Look!" said his assistant. + +"What! We're tricked! But they haven't got far with their work. +They haven't had time. Don't you see, the lazy fellows have just +got to work. After them, men! Beat them out! You've got to out +bill this town!" + +As the men hurried out into the other streets the same unpleasant +sight met their eyes. Every available window bore a Sparling +bill; every wall obtainable had a Sparling banner tacked to it. +One could not look in any direction without his gaze resting on a +Sparling advertisement. + +Bob Tripp was mad all through. + +He had been outwitted. + +In his anger he started for Car Three. Reaching it he discovered +the young advance agent on the shady side of Car Three, lounging +in a rocking chair reading a book. + +Phil's idea of dramatic situations was an excellent one. + +"What do you mean, playing such a trick on me?" demanded the +irate rival. + +The Circus Boy looked up with an innocent expression on his face. + +"Why, Mr. Tripp, what is it?" + +"Is that the way you repay my hospitality?" he shouted. + +"Please explain." + +Phil's tone was mild and soothing. + +"You have grabbed every hit in this town. It's unprofessional. +It's a crooked piece of business. I'll get even with you +for that." + +"Why, Mr. Tripp, how can that be, I am green; I am only a +beginner, you know," answered the Circus Boy, with his most +winning smile. + +Bop Tripp gazed at him a moment, then with an angry exclamation +turned on his heel and strode back to his own car. + +Half an hour later Phil Forrest's men drove in from their +country routes. They had covered them quickly, having got +such an early start. + +Phil heard their reports. They had left nothing undone. +Phil then hurried over town to pay the bills he had +contracted, first leaving word that not a man was to +leave the car until his return. + +He was back in a short time. + +"We go out at two o'clock, boys," he announced upon his return. +"I am leaving the banner men here. They will take a late train +out tonight, and join us in the morning." + +An express train came thundering in, and before Bob Tripp knew +what was in the wind it had coupled on to Car Three. A few +moments later Phil Forrest and his crew were bowling away for +the next stand. His rivals would not be able to get another +train out until very late that night. + +Late in the afternoon Bob Tripp's country crew returned, tired, +disgusted and glum. + +"Well, what is it?" demanded the now thoroughly +irritated manager. + +"Not a dozen sheets of paper put up by the whole crew," was the +startling announcement. "That Sparling outfit has plastered +every spot as big as your hand for forty miles around here." + +"What! Why didn't you cover them?" shrieked the manager. + +"Cover them--nothing! They had every location cinched and +nailed down. Every farmer stood over the other fellow's paper +with a shot gun." + +"Sold! And by a kid at that!" groaned Bob Tripp settling down +despairingly into his office chair. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TEDDY WRITES A LETTER + +"I'm only a beginner," mused Phil Forrest, as his car spun along +at a sixty-mile gait. "And I'm green, and I have a whole lot to +learn, but if Bob Tripp catches up with Car Three, now, he will +have to travel some!" + +The next town was made quite early in the afternoon. +Phil, however, did not settle down to wait for another day. +He had wired the liveryman in the next town to meet his car, +so, immediately upon arrival, he bundled his billposters off on +the country routes. + +"Work as far as you can before dark, then find places to sleep +at a farmhouse. Do the best you can. We must be out of these +yards before noon tomorrow, and as much earlier as possible. +If you can post by moonlight do it, even if you have to wake +the farmers up along the line to get permission." + +The men were well-nigh exhausted, but they rose manfully to +the occasion. They realized that there was a master hand over +them, even if it were the hand of a boy inexperienced in their +line of work. + +No manager had ever reeled off work at such a dizzy pace as Phil +Forrest was doing. It challenged their admiration and made them +forget their weariness. + +The country routes started, Phil set his lithographers at work. +The men kept at it until nearly midnight. They had completed +their work in the town and in the meantime Phil and Teddy had +squared the hits, as they are called--the places where the +banners were to be tacked up--all ready for the banner men to +get to work when they arrived in town next morning, or late +that night. + +They arrived about midnight, but the other car did not come on +the train with them. They brought the information that the train +was a limited one, and would not carry the rival car. Bob Tripp +would not be able to get through until sometime the +next forenoon. + +Phil felt like throwing up his hat and shouting with delight, +but his dignity as a car manager would not permit him to do so. +No such limitations were imposed upon Teddy Tucker, however, +and Teddy whooped it up for all that was in him. + +All hands were weary when they turned in that night. At about +eleven o'clock the following morning, the country billposters +came in, having completed their routes. Phil had made his +arrangements to have his car hauled over the road by a special +engine, and shortly after noon Car Three was again on its way, +every man on board rejoicing over the drubbing they had given +their rival. + +Phil Forrest was a hero in their eyes. Not a man of that crew, +now, but who would go through fire for him, if need be! + +That afternoon the same plan was followed, Phil driving his men +out to their work. + +"I am sorry, boys," he said. "I don't like to drive you like +this, but we've simply got to shake off Tripp and his crew. +In a day or so we will be straightened around again so we can +settle down to our regular routine, unless, perhaps, we run +into more trouble. You have all done nobly. If it hadn't +been for you I should have been whipped to a standstill by +that other outfit." + +"Not you," growled the Missing Link. "They don't grow the kind +that can whip the likes of you," in which sentiment the entire +crew concurred. + +No more was seen of Bob Tripp and his men on that run. +Tripp heard from his general agent, however, with a call-down +that made his head ache. The general agent kept the telegraph +wires hot for twenty-four hours, and in the end, sent another +car ahead of Tripp into the territory that Phil Forrest and +his men were working. + +Phil, of course, was not aware of this at the time, but he found +it out before long. + +His car had slipped over into Kansas, by this time, and the crew +were now working their way over the prairies. + +"It seems to me that it is time you were attending to your press +work, Teddy Tucker," said Phil on the following day. "You have +not called at a newspaper office since we started under the +new arrangement." + +"Nope," admitted Teddy. + +"Why not?" + +"Why, do you think?" + +"I am sure I do not know." + +"Well, you ought to, seeing you have been keeping me running my +legs off twenty-four and a half hours out of every day." + +"You have been pretty busy, that is a fact. But you had better +start in today. You have plenty of time this afternoon to attend +to that work." + +"What shall I tell them?" + +"Oh, tell them a funny story. Make them laugh, and they will do +the rest." + +"But I don't know any funny stories." + +"Tell them the story of your life as a circus boy. That will be +funny enough to make a hyena laugh." + +"Ho, ho!" exploded Teddy. "It is a joke. He who laughs first +laughs last." + +"You mean 'he who laughs last laughs best,'" corrected Phil, +smiling broadly. + +"Well, maybe. Something of the sort," grinned the Circus Boy. + +"And look here, Teddy!" + +"Yes?" + +"Have you written to Mr. Sparling yet, as he requested you +to do?" + +"No." + +"And why not?" + +"Same reason." + +"You must write to him every day, no matter how busy you are. +Sit up a little later every night; go without a meal if +necessary, but follow his directions implicitly." + +"Implicitly," mocked Teddy. + +However, Mr. Sparling was not without news of what had been +going on on Car Three. Billy Conley had written fully of +Phil Forrest's brilliant exploits. After one of these letters, +Mr. Sparling wrote Conley, as follows: + +"Those boys will never tell me when they do anything worthwhile. +It isn't like Phil to talk about his own achievements. So you +write me anything of this sort you think I would like to know. +I do not mean you are to act as a spy, or anything of the sort. +Just write me the things you think they will not write about." + +Bill understood and faithfully followed out his +employer's directions. Mr. Sparling proudly showed +Conley's letters to all of his associates back with +the show, where there was much rejoicing, for everyone +liked Phil; not only liked but held him in sincere +admiration for his many good qualities. + +That evening, however, Teddy sat down at the typewriter and +laboriously hammered out a letter to his employer. + +"Hang the thing!" he growled. "I wish I had only one finger." + +"Why? That's a funny wish," laughed Phil. "Why do you +wish that?" + +"Because all the rest of them get in the way when I try to run +a typewriter." + +"I am afraid you never would make a piano player, Teddy." + +"I don't want to be one. I would rather ride the +educated donkey. It's better exercise." Teddy then +proceeded with his letter. This is what he wrote: + +"Dear Mr. Sparling:" + +"Nothing has happened since you were here." + +One of the lithographers had a fit in the dining room of the +contract hotel this morning (I don't blame him, do you?) and they +hauled him out by the feet. We run amuck with another advance +car, the other day, but nobody got into a fight. I thought rival +cars always--excuse the typewriter, it doesn't know any better-- +got into a fight when they met. + +"One of the billposters fell off a barn--it was a hay barn, +I think. I am not sure. I'll ask Phil before I finish +this letter. Let me see, what happened to him? Oh, yes, +I remember. He broke his arm off and we left him in a +hospital back at Aberdeen. Phil let one of the banner men +go this morning. The fellow had false teeth and couldn't +hold tacks in his mouth. I tell him it would be a good plan +to examine the teeth of all these banner men fellows before +he joins them out, just the same as you would when you're +buying a horse. Don't you think so?" + +"By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. We ran over a +switchman in the night last night. I don't think it hurt the +car any." + +"Well, good-bye. I'll write again when there is some news. +How's January? Wish I was back, riding him in the ring. +Expect I'll have an awful time with him when I start in again. +Don't feed him any oats, and keep him off the fresh grass. +I don't want him to get a fat stomach, because I can't get +my legs under him to hold on when he bucks." + +"Well, good-bye again. Love to all the boys." + +"Your friend," + +"Teddy Tucker." + +"P. S. Did I tell you we killed the switchman? Well, we did. +He's dead. He's switched off for keeps." + +"T. T." + +"P. S. Yes, Phil says it was a hay barn that the billposter fell +off from. Wouldn't it be a good plan to furnish those fellows +with nets? Billposters are scarce and we can't afford to lose +any good ones." + +"T. T." + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN AN EXCITING RACE + +"More trouble," announced Teddy, one morning a few days later, +when the boys awoke in Lawrence, Kansas. + +"What's the trouble now, Old Calamity?" demanded Phil, who was +washing his face and hands. + +Contrary to his usual practice, he had not looked +from his stateroom window immediately upon getting up. +Teddy had, however. His eyes grew a little larger as +he did so, but otherwise the sight that met them did +not disturb his equanimity in the least. + +"The usual." + +"What do you mean? Have we run over another man?" + +"Worse than that." + +"You are getting to be a regular calamity howler." + +"I'm a showman, I am. I keep my eyes open and I know what's +going on about me. That's more than you can say for some people +not more than a million miles away." + +"All right; I will take that for granted. But tell me what it is +that is disturbing you so early in the morning?" questioned Phil +with a short laugh. + +"We're all surrounded," answered Teddy grimly. + +"Surrounded?" + +"Yes." + +"I don't understand." + +"You will, pretty soon." + +"Surrounded by what?" + +"Opposition." + +"What!" + +"What's the matter, can't you hear this morning?" + +"I hear very well, but I don't understand what you mean when you +say we are surrounded by opposition. It strikes me we have been +surrounded by nothing else since we took charge of Car Three." + +Teddy nodded. + +"Yep, that's right. But this is different. On our left, if +you will observe closely, you will notice the canary yellow +of Car Three of the so-called Greatest Show on Earth. On your +right, if you still keep your eyes open and look hard, you will +discover the flaming red of the Wallace advance car. And--" + +"What!" + +"And, as I was saying, if that fails to make an impression on +you, a glance to the rear will discover to your feeble eyesight, +one John Robinson's publicity car." + +Having delivered himself of this monologue, Teddy calmly sat down +and began to draw on his trousers, yawning broadly as he did so. + +"Methinks, milord, that trouble is brewing in bucketfuls," +he added. + +Phil sprang to the car window, threw up the shade and peered out. +He stepped to the other side of the car, looking from the +window there. + +"You're right." + +"Of course I am right. I'm always right. How does it happen you +did not discover all this after we got in last night!" + +"They were not here then. They must have come in afterwards." + +Dashing out into the main part of the car Phil called the men. + +"Wake up, fellows!" + +"What's up," called a voice. + +"The yards are full of opposition. Three advertising cars are +here besides our own." + +No other urging was necessary to get the crew out of bed. +They came tumbling from their upper berths like as many +firemen upon a sudden alarm. All hands ran to the windows +and peered out. + +"Sure enough, they are all here," shouted Conley. "I reckon they +have caught us napping this time." + +"No; they are not awake yet. I hope they sleep as well as Bob +Tripp's crew did," answered Phil. "But we have a big job before +us today. You had better hustle through your breakfasts, boys. +I will call up the livery and get the country routes off at once. +Perhaps we can get ahead of the other fellows." + +Phil did so, but as his teams drove up another set swung over the +tracks, pulling up before the canary car. + +"Hustle it! Hustle it!" cried Phil. "You drivers, if you get +out ahead of the others and keep ahead, you'll get a bonus when +you come in tonight." + +Each side was now striving to get away first. The crew from the +canary car made the getaway ahead of Phil's men, but they had +less than a minute's headway. + +The Circus Boys had their coats off and were hustling cans of +paste over the side of the car into the wagons. Every move on +their part counted. There was not a particle of lost motion. + +Phil sprang into the first wagon to leave. + +"Come on, fellows! Never mind the horses. I can buy more, if +these break their necks." + +With a rattle and a bang both rigs smashed over the tracks, +and were on their way down the village street, each team on +a runaway gallop. Phil's team was gaining gradually. + +"Hang on to the cans!" shouted the Circus Boy. "We are coming to +a bad crosswalk!" + +People paused on the street, not understanding what the mad +pace meant. A policeman ran out and raised his stick. +Teddy, who had hopped on behind at the last minute, not wishing +to lose any of the fun, now stood up unsteadily, hanging to the +driver's coat collar and nearly pulling that worthy from +his seat. + +They overhauled the first wagon from the canary car and +passed it. + +"Ye--ow!" howled Teddy as their wagon swept by. "This is a Wild +West outfit!" + +The paste cans in the two wagons were dancing a jig by this time. +Teddy suddenly lost his grip on the driver's collar, sitting down +heavily on the nearest can. At that moment they struck the rough +crossing, whereat Teddy shot up into the air, landing in a heap +by the side of the road. + +"Whoa!" commanded Phil, at the same time jumping on the can to +keep it from following in the wake of Teddy. + +"Go on!" howled Teddy, partially righting himself. + +The driver urged his horses on and the team sprang away with +loud snorts. But the rival wagon had taken a fresh start, +and was drawing up on the Sparling outfit, the rear team, +with lowered heads, appearing to be running away. + +These horses struck the crosswalk with a mighty crash. The rear +wheels slewed. The big can of paste was catapulted over a fence, +narrowly missing Teddy Tucker's head as it shot over him. +He flattened himself on the ground, but was up like a flash, +sprinting out of harm's way. + +There was reason for his last action. Other things were coming +his way. As the wheels of the rival wagon slewed, they struck +a gutter. + +The wagon turned turtle, and men, paste brushes, paper and all +were scattered all over the place. + +"Oh, that's too bad!" muttered Phil. "But we can do nothing +for them if we stop. There are plenty back there to +lend assistance." + +His tender heart told him to go back, whether he could be of +service to his rival or not, but his duty lay plain before him. +He must outdistance the enemy. + +A second team came plunging down the road from the canary car, +close behind the unfortunate wagon. These horses, too, were +instantly mixed in the wreck. The wagon did not turn turtle as +the one before it had done, but one of the horses went down. + +Now came other wagons of the Sparling outfit. They were running +two abreast in the road. But the drivers saw the obstruction in +time, slowed down and dodged it. They were off at a tremendous +speed, and a few moments later branched off on different roads, +quickly disappearing in a cloud of dust. + +Phil's wagon crew discovered a farm barn just ahead of them. +They drove up to it on a run. All hands piled out. And how they +did work! In a few moments the old barn was a blaze of color. + +"First blood for the Sparling Combined Shows!" shouted the boy. +"Now hit the trail for all you are worth!" + +They were off again. A cloud of dust to their rear told them +that one of their rival's wagons was after them. At the next +stop the pursuing wagon rolled by them, the men +yelling derisively. + +"It is the Wallace Show's crowd!" shouted Phil. +"Get after them." + +The Wallace people went on half a mile further. As Phil drew +up on them he shouted to his driver to go on to the next stop. +When they made it finally, they were passed by the crew from +the canary advance car. + +It was give and take. Such billing never had been seen along the +Kansas highway before. But, up to the present moment, the +Sparling crew had much the best of it. + +"This won't do, boys; I have got to get back. I have no +business here. Keep this right up. Don't lag for an instant. +Is there a town near here?" + +The driver informed Phil that there was one about a mile ahead +of them. + +Phil rode on until he reached it. Here he jumped out, taking a +bundle of paper with him, ordering his men to drive on. With him +he carried a bucket of paste and a brush. + +Phil went to work like a seasoned billposter, plastering every +old stable and tight board fence in the village. By the time +the rival crews drove in there was little space left for them, +and such spots as were left were all on back or side streets. + +"I guess they will know we have been here," decided Phil. "Now I +must find a way to get back to the car." + +Inquiring at the post office he learned where he might be able to +hire a rig. + +Losing not a minute the boy hunted up the man who owned the +horse, and, by offering to pay him about twice what the service +was worth, got the fellow to take him back. + +The journey back to town was executed in almost as good time as +that which Phil had made in driving out. The rig rattled into +town at a gallop, and Phil was landed on his car again, safe and +sound after his exciting rides. + +"Did you beat them," cried Teddy, as Phil drove up. + +"We did and we didn't. But we have got the start of them on +the billing. Were any of the other men hurt?" + +"One of the canary bird crowd got a broken arm. The others were +pretty well bruised up, but they are still in the ring." + +"What is doing in the town?" + +"I sent our men out to square the locations. Told them not to +put up any paper, but to hustle the squaring." + +"Good for you, Teddy! You are a winner. Where did you learn +that trick?" + +"Oh, it's a little trick I picked up the other day. I'm a +professional publicity man, you know." + +"Are our opposition friends doing the same thing?" + +"I think not. I got the start of them by fully an hour. +Worked the same game on them that we did on Tripp the +other day. You remember?" + +Phil nodded. Indeed, he did remember. + +"The men were so excited over the race that they couldn't spend +time to attend to business. I got a pretty good bump, but I +thought it was a good time to get back in the town and hustle +our fellows, seeing that you had hit the long trail. I didn't +expect you back before the middle of next week, the rate you +were going." + +Phil laughed good-naturedly. + +"You remain here and watch the car, Teddy. I am going to run +over town. Had your breakfast?" + +"Say, I forgot all about that. I haven't had a thing." + +"Your appetite will keep. I must look around a little. +Something may be going on that needs attention from our side." + +Phil had reason, a few minutes later, to be thankful that his +instinct had prompted him to hurry over town. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A BATTLE OF WITS + +"The Robinson people, at least, have got to work," muttered the +Circus Boy as he made his way downtown. Here and there, at rare +intervals, he came across a window bill of the show mentioned. + +There were blocks of windows, however, with no billing in them. +Phil interpreted this to mean that his own men had secured the +requisite permission to place their own bills there. + +He smiled as he thought of the little trick. It was an idea +of his own to square locations ahead of the lithographers. +Ordinarily, the lithographer made his rounds with a bundle of +bills on his arm. Entering a store he would say, "May I place +this bill in your window?" Phil had adopted the plan of sending +the men around first. After they had obtained the signed +permission they would go back over the same ground and place +the bills. This took a little more time, but it had the merit +of fooling his rivals and getting many more places squared than +could have been done in the old way. + +Suddenly a great wall loomed ahead of him. + +Phil paused and surveyed it critically. + +"Wouldn't I like to fasten Sparling banners all over that +place, though. What a hit that would be. Why," he added +looking about him, "it could be seen pretty much all +over town." + +Phil started on, intending to find out who owned the building. +As he did so he saw a man from the canary-colored car entering +the building. The man was going into a store on the +ground floor. + +"I'll bet he is after that very wall. Oh, pshaw! Why didn't I +stay in town and attend to my business, as I should have done, +instead of racing over the country at that mad pace? I'm going +over to see what he is up to." + +The Circus Boy hurried along. Entering the store he saw the +man from the rival car, who proved to be the manager of it, +engaged in earnest conversation with a man whom Phil supposed +to be the proprietor. + +After a little the manager of the other car hurried out. +Phil stepped forward. + +"Are you the proprietor?" he asked politely. + +"Yes; what can I do for you?" + +"Do you own this building?" + +"No, but I am the agent for it." + +"Very good. You are the man I want to talk with. I am from the +Sparling Shows. I should like the privilege of fastening some +banners on that south wall there." + +"You're too late, young man. I just gave the other man +permission to do that." + +"Did he pay you?" asked Phil sweetly. + +"No." + +"Did you sign a contract with him?" + +"No." + +"May I ask how much he is to give you for the privilege?" + +"Twenty-five dollars." + +"He ought to be ashamed to offer you such a mean figure as that +for such a privilege." + +The proprietor grew interested. + +"Where has he gone?" + +"Said he had to talk with someone back with the show by long +distance telephone before he could close the bargain." + +Phil glanced apprehensively at the door. + +"I guess you had better sell the privilege to me while you have +the chance. He may not come back, you know; then you will be out +all around." + +"I couldn't think of it. I gave him the privilege of buying +the wall." + +"Money talks, doesn't it, sir?" + +"It does, young man. It always makes such a loud noise around me +that I can't hear much of anything else." + +Phil grinned. + +"Yes; it's pretty noisy stuff." + +The lad calmly drew a big roll of bills from his pocket, placing +it on the counter before the storekeeper. To the pile he added +his watch, a jackknife, a bunch of keys and a silver matchbox. + +"Help yourself," he begged calmly. + +"Wha--what?" gasped the storekeeper. + +"I said help yourself. I want that wall. I leave it to you to +say what is a reasonable price for it--a price fair to you and +to me. You admit that money talks. This money is addressing +its remarks to you direct, at this very moment." + +The proprietor hesitated, glanced at the money and other articles +that Phil had arrayed so temptingly before him, and turned +reflectively facing the rear of the store. + +"I will scribble off a little contract," said Phil softly. +"How much shall we make the consideration?" + +"What'll you give?" + +"I've got him!" was Phil Forrest's triumphant thought, but he +allowed none of his triumphant feeling to appear in his face. + +"Well, were I making the offer I should say the wall was worth +about forty dollars, no other bills to appear on it until +after my show has left town. But I told you to help yourself. +I'll stick to my word." + +"Count me out forty dollars and take it. I like your style. +Your way of doing business makes a hit with me." + +Phil inserted the agreed-upon price in the contract. + +"Just sign your name there, please," he said, still in that soft, +persuasive voice. + +The storekeeper read the brief contract through, nodded +approvingly, then affixed his signature with the fountain pen +that Phil had handed to him. + +This done, the lad counted out forty dollars, stowed the rest +away in his pockets, together with his other belongings, then +extended his hand cordially to the proprietor. + +"Thank you very much," murmured Phil, his face all aglow now. + +"You're welcome. When do you put up your bills?" + +"At once. We leave town tonight, and we have a lot of work to +do first." + +"Let's see; were you one of the fellows mixed up in that race +this morning?" + +Phil blushed. + +"I am afraid I was very much mixed up in it. +Well, good afternoon." + +The lad turned and started for the door. At that moment +someone entered. It was the manager of the canary car. + +"It's all right. I'll take the location," he announced, smiling +broadly, as he walked rapidly to where the proprietor was +standing, laying two tens and a five-dollar bill on the counter. + +"I--I'm sorry," stammered the storekeeper, flushing. "I have +just sold it to another party." + +"Sold it!" + +The manager's face went several shades paler. + +"Yes." + +"To--to whom?" + +"To that young gentleman there." + +The manager whirled and faced Phil. + +"Who--who are you?" + +"My name is Forrest," answered Phil, smiling easily. He could +well afford to smile. + +"And you--you have bought this location?" + +"I have." + +"Whom do you represent?" + +"The Sparling Combined Shows." + +The Circus Boy's rival flushed angrily. + +"I demand that the location be turned over to me instantly! +It belongs to me, and I'll have it if I have to fight for it. +Here's my money, Mr. Storekeeper. I command you to make out +a paper giving me the right to bill that wall." + +"I do not think he will do anything of the sort, my dear sir," +spoke up Phil. "I have bought and paid for the location and +I propose to hold it. You had no more right to it than any +other man. You did not have the nerve to put down your money +for it when you had the chance, and you lost your opportunity. +You will see the wall covered with Sparling banners in a very +short time." + +"I will not!" + +"Be on your way, my man. Let me tell you the Sparling banners +are going up." + +"There's my money!" shouted the manager of the canary +colored car. "The wall is _mine!_" + +He dashed out of the store and started for his car on the run. + +"If you let those other showmen banner the wall I'll have +the law on you!" announced Phil sternly. Then the Circus +Boy ran out of the store, starting off at a lively sprint +for his own car. He caught up with the rival manager in +a moment, passed him and bounded on. His rival already +was puffing and perspiring under the unusual effort. + +"Turn out every man in town!" he called, dashing into the car. +"Teddy, run to the main street and send everyone of our banner +men and lithographers to the Ward Building. You and Henry carry +over there at once all the banners you can scrape together. +Do not lose a minute. But wait! I'll telephone the liveryman +for a wagon to carry the paper, brushes and paste pots over. +You remain here, Henry, and go with the wagon. Teddy, you +hustle for the men. Run as if the Rhino from the Sparling +menagerie were charging you!" + +Teddy leaped from the car platform and was off, with Phil +sprinting after him in long strides. + +They passed the manager of the canary colored car just as they +were running across the switches in the railroad yard. He was +only then getting to his car. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE CHARGE OF THE PASTE BRIGADE + +Phil's plans were formed instantly. + +He ran to a place where he had seen a painter's sign earlier +in the day. Reaching there he ordered the painter to send out +to the Ward Building a gang of painters with their swinging +platform, tackle and full equipment, telling the man briefly +what was wanted of him after the apparatus reached the building +in question. + +"Now hurry it, and I'll double the price you ask if you get there +and do the work I am asking of you." + +The painter needed no further inducement. Once again money made +its announcement in unmistakable tones. + +Phil again started off on a run. Reaching the Ward Building he +found his banner men and lithographers gathering. A few moments +after his arrival the livery wagon with the paste, brushes and +paper, came dashing up with Henry, the porter, standing guard +over it. Teddy had thoughtfully turned out all the available men +in the livery stable and came charging down the street, driving +them before him, howling at every jump. That is, Teddy was +howling; as he did whenever the occasion presented itself. + +By this time quite a crowd had been attracted to the scene, +not understanding what all the excitement was about. None of +the rival posters had appeared as yet. Phil had got a very +good start. + +Telling off three of his banner men he sent them to the roof, +while the painter was preparing to swing his scaffold. + +"I am afraid I shall have to block your store for a short time, +Mr. Storekeeper," said Phil, entering the store. "Our friend is +going to try to take the place by storm, I think, and we shall +have to stand him off." + +"He had better not try it," growled the proprietor. + +"He will, just the same. But, with your permission, he will not +get upstairs to the roof while I am here." + +"Do whatever you like. I've got his money, but it's here for him +when he wants it." + +Phil, having arranged with the proprietor, went out and gave his +final instructions to his men. + +"You are not to let a man through here unless with my +permission," he said. "I am going up to the roof. If anything +occurs, call me at once. Teddy, I leave the front of the store +in your hands while I am away. There is trouble brewing. I feel +it in my bones." + +"Yes; trouble for the other fellow," grinned Teddy. + +In a very short time the painters had succeeded in swinging their +scaffold over the roof. An interested crowd was watching the +proceeding from the street. + +The banner men climbed down on the swinging platform, and, as if +by magic, the Sparling banners began appearing on the big wall. + +About this time shouting down in the street drew the attention of +Phil Forrest. Stepping to the edge of the roof he looked down. +A crowd was pressing his men back. + +In the lead was the manager of the canary car. + +"Drive them off!" roared Phil. "Don't let them get by you!" + +"We will!" shrieked Teddy Tucker, now in his element. + +Phil turned and hurried down the ladder to the upper floor, then +took the stairs in a series of jumps until he had reached the +ground floor. + +Teddy Tucker had proved himself a real general. He had armed his +forces with paste brushes, which he had first thoroughly soaked +in the sticky paste pots. + +Teddy was dancing up and down the line. + +"Paste them, fellows!" he roared. "Paste them good and proper. +We'll stick them to the walls when we get them properly daubed!" + +With a yell the Sparling crowd began wielding the paste brushes. +They wielded them effectively, too. Every sweep of the brushes +found a human mark. + +Shouts of rage followed the onslaught, above which could be heard +the voice of the manager of the canary car, urging the crowd on +to violence. + +Phil came dashing out. + +"Drive them back!" he shouted. "But be careful that you do not +hurt anybody. Keep your heads, men!" + +"Look out--the police are coming!" shouted a voice. + +"Never mind the police! Give it to them!" cried the rival. + +A squad of bluecoats came charging down the street. + +"Steady, fellows! Don't do anything that will cause the police +to take you in," cautioned Phil. + +The crowd in front gave way as the police charged in; and, as +they did so, the Circus Boy pushed his way to the front of his +own line. + +A sergeant made for him with upraised club, but Phil did +not flinch. + +"Wait a minute, officer!" he cautioned. + +"I arrest you for disturbing the peace!" was the stern reply. + +"You will do nothing of the sort, sir. We have not broken +the peace. We are within our rights, protecting our own +property and the property of this gentleman," pointing to +the proprietor of the store. + +"Arrest them! They are stealing my property!" came the cry from +the rival manager. + +"I guess you had better both come over to the police station, and +we will let the captain settle this," decided the sergeant. + +"Wait!" commanded the rival. "I have here an injunction +commanding this fellow to stop work. I have bought the right to +banner this location, and he has stepped in and taken it away +from me." + +"Is this right?" demanded the sergeant, appealing to the +storekeeper, whom he knew well. + +"No, it's all wrong. That man has bought nothing. He left +his money on my counter after I had sold my wall to this +young man here." + +"Is this right?" repeated the sergeant turning to Phil. + +"I am inclined to think it is. If that man has obtained an +injunction, he has done so by false representation. Here is my +contract, properly signed, giving us the right to put up our +banners, and that is exactly what we are going to do in spite of +all the police in the state. You can't stop us. You had better +not try." + +The sergeant glanced over the paper and scratched his head. +He was at a loss what to do. At that moment a lieutenant came +running up, demanding to know what the trouble was about. + +The sergeant explained, handing the contract to his superior. +After perusing it, the lieutenant passed the paper back to Phil. + +"You can't stop this man as long as he is not disturbing +the peace. That fellow's injunction is not worth the paper +it is written on. This is a contract as plain as the nose +on your face." + +"That is the way it strikes me," answered Phil, with a +pleasant smile. + +"Disperse the crowd. Keep half a dozen men on duty here, and, if +there is any further disturbance, lock them all up." + +"Thank you," said Phil, edging near the lieutenant. "And, now +that the matter is all settled, if you will call at the Sparling +advance car this afternoon, at five o'clock, I shall be happy to +furnish you with tickets for yourself and family. That is not a +bribe, because we have got the matter all straightened out." + +The lieutenant smiled. + +"I'll do it," he said. "Five o'clock, you say?" + +"Yes." + +"Now, get out of here, the whole crowd of you. And you, young +fellow," indicating the manager of the canary rival, "if you +create any further disturbance in this town, you'll go to the +cooler, and stay there. Do you understand?" + +The rival manager tried to protest, but the lieutenant started +for him. + +"I want my money!" he shouted. + +"Come and get it. I don't want your money." + +"I told you that before," called the storekeeper. + +"Go, get your money, and get out of here!" commanded +the lieutenant. + +Crestfallen and now thoroughly subdued, the manager of the canary +car made his way through the crowd; his money was thrust into his +hands; then, calling upon his men to follow him, he hurried away. + +"There, I guess we won't hear any more from our canary bird +friend today," decided Teddy, strutting about and throwing out +his chest. + +"Not today, perhaps," answered Phil Forrest; "but I am thinking +we have not heard the last of him yet. We shall have to look +pretty sharply, or he will get the best of us yet. This is +a game that one person cannot expect to win at every day. +Boys, you may go back to your lithographing now. The police +will see that we are protected until we have finished bannering +this building." + +Phil walked off half a block to survey the work going on high up +in the air. + +"That location is worth five hundred dollars to any show," +he mused. "And I got it for forty. Good job!" + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE MISSING SHOW CARS + +The work was completed late that afternoon. The Sparling crowd +had got the best of their rivals in the window work as well. +Sparling show bills were everywhere. + +But Phil was thoughtful. He did not like the methods he was +obliged to follow, yet he knew that it was a part of the +show business. He had the satisfaction, too, of knowing that +he had done nothing unfair. He had got the best of his rivals +by perfectly fair methods, and he would pursue no others, no +matter how badly he was beaten. + +After making a round of the town, during which he had twice +passed the scowling manager of the canary car, Phil returned +to his own car, as there were frequently matters arising there +that needed his attention. He found a telegram awaiting him +from Mr. Sparling. + +"The greatest work ever done by an advance car. I congratulate +you all. Keep it up," was what Phil read. + +Phil rubbed his forehead in perplexity. + +"Now, how in the world did he find out about this so soon, I +wonder?" questioned the boy. As a matter of fact, the manager of +the Robinson Show's car, who was a friend of Mr. Sparling, had +wired him of the day's doings. It was too good to keep, and then +again Mr. Sparling's friend was too delighted at the downfall of +Snowden, the man whom he thoroughly disliked, to be at all +jealous of Phil's triumph. + +Phil went over to the yardmaster to find out what train he would +be able to go out on that night. + +"We are going to send the whole bunch of you out on number 42," +was the reply. + +"What time does number 42 leave?" + +"Half-past eleven." + +"What do you mean by 'the bunch of us'?" + +"All you advance car fellows. I have got to do that. That is +the only train through tonight. You will have to go on that or +wait until tomorrow morning." + +"Very well; I do not know as I care whether my rivals go on the +same train or not. It would do me no good if I did object." + +That night the unusual sight of four advance cars hooked together +was presented to those who chanced to be in the railroad yards +when number 42 pulled out of the station. + +Car Three had been coupled up first, the others being hooked on +behind it, with the canary car at the rear. + +"I am afraid we shall not cut a very big slice tomorrow, Teddy," +said Phil after they had got under way. + +"Why not?" + +"What, with all those crews working against us? It will be a +case of three to one. Of course we shall do as much as any one +of them, and perhaps a little more, but we cannot expect any +great results." + +"Maybe I can think of something," mused Teddy. + +"I wish you might." + +"What would you say to ditching the other fellows?" asked +Teddy innocently. + +"Teddy Tucker, I am ashamed of you!" exclaimed Phil. + +"Sometimes I am ashamed of myself, I am so easy. If it wasn't +for my tender heart, Phil, I would have been a great showman by +this time." + +"Yes, it really is too bad about your tender heart. I--" + +His words were cut short by a jolt that nearly threw the lads +from their chairs. + +"Collision!" yelled Teddy. "Brace yourself!" + +"Don't get excited," laughed Phil. "They have forgotten or +neglected to couple the airbrake pipes up. Someday one of +these crews will wreck us all. I have talked until I am tired. +You see there is air on the front end of this train, but these +show cars have not been coupled up with the air pipes of the +regular train. It is very bad business. I'll report it when +we get in tomorrow." + +"Let me. I know how to do it up brown." + +"No, I will attend to it myself." + +"Say, Phil!" + +"Yes?" + +"If the air was coupled on and the train broke in two in the +middle what would happen?" + +"Why it would bring everything up standing. Breaking the air +circuit would set the brakes the entire length of the train." + +"And if the air was not coupled up, what then?" + +"In that event nothing would happen." + +"The train wouldn't stop?" + +"No." + +"H-m-m." + +"Why do you ask?" + +"For information. What do you suppose I am asking for unless I +want to know." + +Teddy relapsed into a moody silence. + +"Why don't you go to bed?" Teddy asked after awhile, looking +up suddenly. + +"I guess it would be a good idea," replied Phil. "We shall +have to get up rather early in the morning. I will set my +alarm for three o'clock. I have an idea some of the rival +crews will be up and out about that time. They won't be so +easily beaten tomorrow." + +"Oh, I don't know," answered Teddy. "Maybe so and maybe not. +You can't most always sometimes tell." + +"Aren't you going to turn in?" demanded Phil, beginning +to undress. + +"No, not yet. I am not very sleepy tonight." + +"You will be, in the morning, and you will not want to get up," +cautioned Phil. + +"I will take the chance." + +Teddy picked up a book and settled himself to read. + +Little conversation passed between them after that, and Phil, +tumbling into his berth, was soon asleep. + +Teddy eyed him narrowly. He waited until his companion was +sleeping soundly; then Teddy got up and strolled out to the +rear platform. It was deserted. The trainmen did not come +back that far, because the doors of the show cars were kept +locked so they could not. Show people do not like strangers +about them. + +Teddy lay down on the platform, peering down between the cars. + +"No, no air is coupled on. They ought to be ashamed of +themselves," he muttered. "I guess they must have fixed it up +for me on purpose." + +Teddy opened the door of Car Three softly, listened, then closed +it again. Next he leaned out and looked along the tracks, which +he could see fairly well, for the moon was now shining brightly. + +"I guess there is no grade here." Stepping across to the +platform of the car to the rear of him, the boy partially set +the brake until he could feel it grinding on the wheels. + +"Now, I think we are all ready," he muttered, as, stepping back +to the platform of his own car, he grasped the coupling lever +firmly with both hands, giving it a mighty tug. + +At first it would not budge. The drawheads of the couplers of +the two cars were straining because of the drag of the brake that +he had but just set. + +Teddy loosened the brake a little, then tried the coupling +lever again. + +This time it swung over with a bang. The lad lost his balance +for an instant, and nearly went overboard. + +"My, that was a close shave," he exclaimed, hanging desperately +to the platform railing, the wind blowing about him in a +perfect gale. + +"Hello, I wonder what has become of our friends?" laughed the +Circus Boy to himself. + +Teddy had uncoupled Car Three from the others in their rear, and +the cars of his rivals were dropping behind rapidly. He could +see the dim lights in the car nearest to him, but even these were +rapidly disappearing. A few minutes later as the train swept +around a bend, the rival advertising cars disappeared from sight. +Teddy knew that they would stop in a few minutes, and lie +there stalled. + +Teddy Tucker had done a very serious thing, but in his zeal he +thought he had accomplished a great feat. Well satisfied with +his efforts the lad entered his own car softly, undressed in the +corridor and crept quietly to bed. In a very short time he was +snoring, sleeping the sleep of peace and innocence. + +Teddy hardly moved again that night, until he was roused out by +Phil at three o'clock the next morning. + +The lad grumbled sleepily and finally tumbled out rubbing +his eyes. + +Phil stepped out to the rear platform before dressing, for a +breath of the fresh morning air. + +"Why, Teddy!" he called through the open door. + +"What?" + +"The opposition cars are not here. The other train must have +carried them on. I wonder if those fellows are stealing a march +on us?" + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes; come out and see for yourself." + +Teddy stumbled out to the platform, gazed about sleepily and +looked solemn. + +"No, not here," he said, turning back into the car. + +Phil was worried. He could not imagine exactly what the plans of +his rivals might be. + +"I will wire on to the next stand as soon as the telegraph office +opens, and find out if they are there," he decided. + +In the meantime Teddy was taking his time about dressing, while +the men of the crew were hurrying into their clothes. Phil did +the same, then dropped from the car and walked about the yards, +rather expecting to find the cars of his rivals hidden behind +freight cars. + +They were nowhere in sight. + +"Well, it cannot be helped, even if we are beaten into the +next stand. This is a small place, but an important one. +I cannot afford to skip it, no matter if the other +fellows have." + +Teddy went about his morning duties as usual, solemn faced +and silent, but there was a triumphant gleam in his eyes that +Phil Forrest as yet had failed to observe. + +Phil was pacing up and down on the platform station, waiting +uneasily for the operator to appear. After making ready, the +men went off to breakfast, Teddy hanging about the car, busying +himself with trifling matters. The car seemed to hold an unusual +interest for him that morning. + +At six o'clock the livery rigs drove up and the rural route men +were soon off for their day's work. Phil started the +lithographers and banner men out soon thereafter. + +About that time the operator arrived; Phil wrote a message to +the liveryman at the next town, inquiring if his rivals had +reached there. + +The answer came back that nothing had been seen of them. +They had not even passed through. The operator at the +other end said they were at Salina, where Phil's car was +at that moment. + +This was a puzzler. + +"I am afraid it will take a better railroad man than I am to +figure this problem out," mused Phil. "Hey, Teddy!" + +"Yep?" + +"What do you suppose could have become of those other cars?" + +"How should I know?" + +"They were on this train last night, when we started, and +they have not arrived at the next stand yet. They surely +are not here." + +"Maybe they got a hot journal and had to stop," suggested Teddy. + +"Nonsense! Something has happened to them. However, it is not +my business to worry about my rivals. As long as I know they are +not ahead of me I shall not disturb myself. It is up to me to +improve the opportunity and bill this town from one end to the +other," decided Phil, starting off over town. + +The work went on at a lively pace, Phil urging his men to greater +efforts, momentarily expecting to see the canary and red cars +come rolling into town. + +But no cars came. The next train from the direction Phil had +come was not due until nearly noon, the road being a branch road +with little traffic over it. + +After a time Phil strolled down to the railroad station. + +"Any news?" he asked. + +"Yes," answered the operator. "They have found the cars." + +"Where?" + +"It seems they broke away from the train during the night and lay +on the main track until morning. One of the crew walked back ten +miles to the next station to ask for an engine to pull them out. +They will be here on the next train." + +"Funny the train crew did not discover that when they put us on +the siding here. I do not quite understand it yet?" Phil walked +slowly back to his own car, thinking deeply. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PHIL'S DARING PLAN + +Teddy was sitting on the platform of Car Three narrowly watching +Phil as he approached. + +"Anything doing?" he asked. + +"Yes." + +"What is it--have you heard from the opposition?" + +"Yes. It seems their cars broke away from us during the night, +and lay all night on the main track miles from anywhere." + +"You don't say!" exclaimed Teddy, in well feigned surprise. + +"That is what happened. We are in luck this morning, +Teddy Tucker. I suppose I should be sorry for our rivals. +But it is the chance of war. We all have to take them in +the show business." + +"We do," answered Teddy sagely. "At least the other fellow does. +When are they coming in?" + +"About noon, I understand. I should think someone would lose his +job for that piece of carelessness. If it were my car that had +been laid out there would be trouble; I can assure you of that." + +"Yes; I wouldn't stand for a mean trick like that myself." + +Phil stroked his chin and surveyed Teddy thoughtfully. Light was +beginning to dawn upon him. All at once he recalled his +companion's questions about the air brake pipes the night before. + +He fixed his gaze upon Teddy Tucker's scowling face. + +"Young man, do you know anything about those cars breaking away?" +demanded Phil sternly. + +"I understand they broke away--don't you know that the train +broke in two?" + +"Yes," answered Phil dryly; "I have heard something to +that effect." + +Phil stepped over to examine the coupling of his own car, Teddy +watching him furtively. + +"What I want to know is how it happened," continued Phil. + +"Why don't you ask the train crew? They ought to know." + +"I'll ask you instead. You uncoupled those cars, didn't you?" + +Teddy nodded slowly, his eyes on the ground. + +"Is it possible that you did a thing like that?" + +Teddy nodded again, demanding sullenly: + +"Well, we beat 'em, didn't we?" + +"Yes; but do you know what would happen, were it known what you +have done?" + +"I'm easy. What would happen?" Teddy was rapidly assuming a +belligerent attitude. + +"You would be arrested, and nothing could keep you from state's +prison, Teddy Tucker." + +"Oh, fudge!" + +"You may scoff all you will. It is the truth, nevertheless. +I should not be surprised if there were an investigation over +this affair--" + +"And you'll go tell all you know, won't you?" + +"Not unless I am put under oath. If I am, and am asked, I shall +have to tell the truth. I ought to sail in and give you a good +thrashing here and now." + +"You can't do it!" + +"Perhaps not, but I could try." A smile struggled to dissipate +the clouds on Phil's face. "Listen to me! Do you know that you +might have imperilled a great many lives by that foolish act of +yours" + +"No. How?" + +"In the first place, being cut loose from our train as they were, +they might have continued on, provided we were on a down or up +grade and--" + +"We weren't. I looked to see," interjected Teddy. + +"Oh, then you admit the charge. I am glad that you +have confessed." + +"I haven't confessed!" shouted Teddy, his face growing very red. + +"If you said that on trial it would be jail for you for some +years to come. To return to the subject under discussion, all +the men were asleep in those cars, or at least they were supposed +to be. Had there been another train over the road, last night, +the chances are that it would have run into those show cars +and killed every man in them, besides wrecking the train itself +and killing a lot more people. I am willing to take long chances +in the line of duty, but I should hope I never would commit a +crime in so doing. Let this be a warning to you, Teddy Tucker. +Never do a thing like this again. We will beat our rivals by all +fair means and we will stop there." + +Phil paused, eyeing his companion sternly. + +Teddy glanced up inquiringly. + +"Is the sermon over?" he asked. + +"I have no more advice to offer at the present moment. I hope +for your sake that the inquiry in this matter will not extend +to us. If it does, I feel sorry for you." + +An inquiry did follow. It was stirred up most thoroughly by the +manager of the canary colored car. But, fortunately for Teddy +Tucker, no suspicion of the truth ever dawned upon the rival +manager, and the railroad got out of the scrape by disciplining +the train crew that had lost the three cars without knowing it. +However, the lesson was a wholesome one for Teddy, even though he +would not admit the fact. The lesson lasted him pretty nearly +all the rest of the season. + +The three rival cars came rolling into the yards early in +the afternoon of that day. All hands were angry and ready +for trouble. Phil passed the time of day pleasantly with +his opponent of the previous day, but the manager of the +yellow car did not deign to make any reply to his greeting. + +The hour was late before he was able to start his men out, and by +that time Phil's crew had pretty well covered the town and the +surrounding country, though the posters of the latter territory +had very long drives, and were not expected to return until very +long after dark. + +Phil chafed under this, fearing that he would be obliged to miss +the last train out that night, which would again put him on the +same train with his rivals next day. + +One of his men would have a thirty-five-mile drive back after he +had finished his day's work. That would bring the man "home," +as the return to the car is called, long after midnight in +all probability. + +Inquiry at the station and a wire to the division superintendent +failed to get a special engine to haul Car Three out that night. +But in his talk with the station agent Phil learned something +that set him thinking. He pondered over the information he had +obtained, for sometime. + +"I believe I can do it," he muttered. "Talk about Teddy taking +long chances, I am going to try to take some chances tonight that +are far more dangerous. But I must do something." + +Phil had seen a section gang go out in the morning. They had not +come in yet, so the Circus Boy strolled over toward the station +shortly after six o'clock waiting for the section gang to return. + +They did not come in until after seven o'clock. + +As the men were going by the station, having put their +handcar away, Phil motioned to the foreman of the gang, +a bright faced Irishman. + +"How are you?" greeted Phil smilingly. + +The foreman waved a hand, at which Phil beckoned the man to come +to him. + +"Are there any more trains over this division tonight?" + +"Only number forty-two going west." + +"She is due shortly after midnight, is she not?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you like to go to the circus, Pat?" + +"I do." + +"Have you a family?" + +"I have." + +"Will you do me a favor if I give you tickets to the show for +yourself and family?" + +"That I will. What show is yours?" + +"The Sparling Combined Shows." + +"That your car over there?" + +"Yes--Car Three." + +"You run it?" + +"I do." + +"Pretty young fellow to handle a car like that, aren't you?" + +"I guess you are right. However, I am running it just the same." + +"What is it you want me to do?" + +"In the first place I want you to keep a close mouth. I do not +want you to speak to a human being about my plans. There are +some fellows that would like to know them. They must not." + +The foreman grinned understandingly. + +"I'm your man." + +"I knew you were. You have a switch key of course?" + +"Sure." + +"Then I want you to bring your switch key here at half-past two +o'clock tomorrow morning. You have crowbars in the tool house, +have you not?" + +"Yes." + +"Bring two of them with you." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Never mind now. I'll tell you when you come around in +the morning. Do you think you can wake up in time?" + +"Sure, I can." + +"You may sleep on my car if you wish." + +"No; I have a bunk in the tool house. I will come back and sleep +there after supper." + +"Excellent. Do you want an alarm clock?" + +"No; I have one in the shanty. I often sleep there when I expect +a call to go out on the road during the night." + +"I am right, am I not, in my understanding that unless I get +away on forty-two I shall not be able to leave here before +noon tomorrow?" + +"That's right. You are not going on forty-two, then?" + +"I think not." + +"The other fellows going on forty-two?" + +"No; they will not be through billing here before +sometime tomorrow." + +The foreman grinned. + +"I smell a rat," he said. + +"Don't. It might not be healthful for you if you were to be +too wise. Be on time and say nothing. How far is it to the +next town?" + +"Nigh onto twenty-five miles." + +"All right. That's all. I will have your tickets ready for you +when you come on in the morning. Good night, if I don't see you +again until then." + +All hands save Phil and Teddy went to bed early that night and +the car was soon dark and silent. The late man from the country +route did not get in until half-past one o'clock in the morning. +He unloaded as quietly as possible, not knowing what plans of the +manager he might disturb were he to make his presence known. + +By this time every man of the crew was well aware that their +young manager seldom was without some shrewd plan for outwitting +his competitors, but these plans he ordinarily kept well to +himself until he was ready to carry them out. + +Phil busied himself during the night in posting his books, making +out the payroll for the car, and writing the report sheet for the +owner of the show. + +Right on the minute at the appointed hour there came a light tap +on the car window. Phil stepped out to the platform. + +"I am ready, sir." It was the section foreman. + +"Come inside," said Phil. "Do not make any noise, for the men +are all asleep. I will awaken two of them soon, but I do not +want those other car men to get awake, not for any price." + +"Now, what is it you want to do?" + +"You are sure there will be no more trains over this road in +either direction tonight?" asked Phil. + +"Not a train." + +"That's good. Now I will tell you what I want you to do. I want +you to open that switch to let us out on the main track." + +The foreman opened his eyes. + +"But how are you going to get out there?" + +"I'll show you after you get the switch open. There is no +grade up or down between here and the other side of the station, +is there?" + +"No; dead flat till you get ten rods beyond the station, then +she drops." + +Phil nodded thoughtfully. + +"Get the crowbars while I call a couple of the men." + +The Circus Boy went inside and gently awakened Billy Conley and +Rosie, telling them to dress and report to the office at once. + +The men made no protest. They knew their young manager was +planning some new ruse by which to outwit his rivals. When they +heard his plan they opened their eyes in wonder. + +"Come on, now, and not a word nor a sound out of you, fellows!" +commanded Phil. + +Once outside, Phil threw off the brakes and then the foreman of +the section gang brought his knowledge to bear on the situation. +He directed the men to get their crowbars under the rear wheels +of the coach. After several attempts they succeeded in prying +the car ahead a few inches. After repeated efforts they got the +car moving slowly. + +Now the foreman took a third crowbar; jumping from one side to +the other he relieved the men until the car was making very fair +progress under its human power. + +Teddy had been standing on the platform, rubbing his palms in +high glee. + +"Going to push her all the way to Marion like this?" he demanded. + +"You keep still up there unless you are looking for trouble," +warned Phil. "Get off the platform. Think we want to drag you +along, too?" + +Teddy hopped down, thrust his hands in his trousers pockets, and +watched the operation of moving the heavy car. + +It was slow work, but inch by inch Number Three crept nearer to +the station. + +"Let me know when we get right on the grade, so I can slap on the +brakes," ordered Phil. + +"I'll let you know. You'll know without my telling you, +I reckon." + +At last the car was at the desired point. Phil sprang to the +platform and set the brakes, while the section man ran back and +closed the switch. + +"Here are your tickets," said Phil when the man returned. +"And thank you very much." + +"You're welcome, but don't you let on that I have helped you out. +I will sure lose my job if you do." + +"You need not worry. I do not forget a favor so easily as that." + +"You better wait till daylight before you start," advised +the foreman. + +"Yes, I am going to. I do not want to take any more chances than +I have to. There are enough as it is." + +"Anything more I can do for you, sir?" + +"No, thank you." + +"Then, good night." + +"Good night," answered Phil. + +Teddy did not yet fully understand what his companion's plan +might be. Billy, on the contrary, understood it fully. + +"You beat anything I ever came across," Conley remarked in Phil's +car as the two were standing at the side of the track in front of +Number Three. + +"Wait! Don't throw any flowers at me too soon. We have not done +it yet. I understand there is a short up-grade about seven miles +below here. If we get stalled on that we will be in a fine fix +and likely to get smashed into ourselves. It looks to me like +a storm. What do you think?" + +"I think yes--thunderstorm. I saw the lightning a moment ago." +"Good! I hope it storms. It will be a good cover to get +away under." + +"Slippery rails will be bad for our business, though," +warned Billy. + +"We shall have to take the chance." + +They had not long to wait after that. Day soon dawned but the +skies were dark and forbidding. As soon as it was light enough +to see well, Phil began to make preparations for his unique trip. + +"Now what are you going to do?" demanded Teddy. + +"My dear boy, we are going to try to coast all the way to Marion. +We may land in the ditch or we may get stalled, but I am not +going to lie here and waste nearly a day. Let the other fellows +spend the time here if they wish. I reckon they will be +surprised in the morning, when they wake up and find Car Three +has dropped off the map." + +Teddy uttered a long whistle of surprise. + +"Don't you ever find fault with me again for doing a trick like +I played." + +"What trick was that?" questioned Billy. + +"Never mind. That's my secret. It isn't any of your affair," +grumbled Teddy. + +"Teddy, you get on the back platform. Keep your hand on the +brake wheel every second of the time. Keep your ears open. +When I jerk once sharply on the bell rope set the brakes tight. +If I jerk it twice, just apply them a little to steady the car." + +"Pull the bell rope? Huh! There isn't any bell." + +"I know that, but you can hear the rope slap the top of the +platform roof when I pull it. Now, get back there. Don't call +out to me, but attend to your business. I'll pull the cord when +I am ready for you to release the brake. We must get away from +here in a hurry." + +Teddy hopped from the platform and ran to the rear, where he +awaited the signal. + +Phil's plan was a daring one. For twenty-five miles the road +fell away at a sharp downgrade of sixty feet to the mile and in +some places even greater. In one spot, as has already been +stated, there was a sharp up-grade for a short distance. + +It was Phil's purpose to coast the twenty-five miles in order +to reach the next stand in time for the day's work. It was a +risky undertaking. Besides the danger of a possible collision +with an extra sent over the road, there was the added danger +of the car getting beyond their control and toppling over into +a ditch. + +The Circus Boy had weighed all these chances well before starting +on his undertaking. + +"I guess we will be moving now," he said, giving the bell cord a +pull, then throwing off the brake, Teddy performing the same +service at the other end of the car. + +Car Number Three did not start at once. + +Phil and Billy jumped up and down on the platform in excitement. + +"She's moving," exulted Phil. "We're off." + +A faint "yee--ow!" from the rear platform was evidence that Teddy +Tucker also had discovered this fact. + +"That boy!" grumbled Phil. + +At first the show car moved slowly; then little by little it +began to gather headway. Rattling over switches, past lines of +box cars, on past rows of houses that backed up against the +railroad's right of way, they rumbled. A few moments later Car +Three shot out into the open country at a lively rate of speed. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ON A WILDCAT RUN + +"This is great!" cried Billy. + +Phil Forrest, however, was keeping his eyes steadily on +the shining rails ahead. All at once the storm broke. +The lightning seemed to rend the heavens before them. +Then the rain came down in a deluge. + +So heavy was the rainfall that the young pilot could see only +a few car lengths ahead of him. Instinctively he tightened the +brakes slightly. The car was swaying giddily, not having a +train with it to steady it. + +"We ought to be near that grade the section man told us about," +said Conley. + +"Yes; I was just thinking of that. I guess I had better let her +out, so we shall be sure to make it." + +Phil threw off the brake wheel and Car Three shot ahead like a +great projectile, rocking from side to side, moving at such high +speed that the joints in the rails gave off a steady purring +sound under the wheels. + +The wildcat car struck the grade with a lurch and a bang, +climbing it at a tremendous pace. + +The two men on the front platform were compelled to hold on with +their full strength, in order to keep from being hurled into the +ditch beside the track. + +"I hope Teddy is all right," shouted Phil. + +Billy leaned out over the side looking back. Teddy, who was also +leaning out, peering ahead regardless of the driving rain, waved +a hand at him. + +"Yes; you can't hurt _that_ boy--" + +Just then the car plunged over the crest of the hill and went +thundering away down the steep grade. + +By this time the men in the car had, one by one, been +shaken awake by the car's terrific pace, and one by one +they tumbled from their berths, quickly raising the +curtains for a look outside. + +What they saw was a driving storm and the landscape slipping past +them at a higher speed than they ever had known before. Three of +the men bolted to the front platform. + +"What's the matter? Are we running away?" shouted a voice in +Phil's car. + +"Go back, fellows, and shut the door. Don't bother me. +I'm making the next town." + +The men retired to the car, sat down and looked at each other in +blank amazement. + +"Well, did you ever?" gasped Rosie. + +"Never," answered the Missing Link, shaking his head helplessly. +"He'll be the death of us yet." + +"At least we'll be going some if we stay on this car." + +"We _are_ going some. We've been going some ever since the new +Boss took hold of this car. I hope we don't hit anything. +It'll be a year of Sundays for us, if we do." + +"A good many years of 'em," muttered Rosie. + +"I hear a train whistle!" shouted Billy, leaning toward Phil. + +"I heard it," answered the boy calmly, beginning to tug at the +brake wheel. + +"Want any help?" asked Conley anxiously. + +"No; you can't help me any." Phil had ceased twisting the wheel. + +"What's the matter?" + +"The wheels are slipping. The brakes will not hold them. If we +are going to meet anything we might as well meet it properly," +answered Phil calmly, whereupon he kicked the ratchet loose and +spun the brake wheel about. + +The car seemed to take a sudden leap forward. + +Just then there came a rift in the clouds. + +"Look!" cried Billy. + +Phil leaned over the rail, peering into the mist. + +The track, just a little way ahead of them, took a sudden +bend around a high point of land. And on beyond the hill +they saw the smoke of an engine belching up into the air +like so many explosions. + +"I guess that settles it," said the boy. His face was, perhaps, +a little more pale than usual, but in no other way did he show +any emotion. + +"Shall we tell the men to jump, then go over ourselves?" + +"No; we should all be killed. We will stay and see it through. +The men are better off inside the car." + +A yell from Teddy, sounding faint and far away, caused Billy to +lean out and look back. + +"Turn on your sand! Turn on your sand! She's slipping!" +howled Teddy. + +"We haven't any sand. D'you think this is a trolley car?" + +Just then Teddy caught sight of the smoke ahead of them. +He pointed. His voice seemed to fail him all at once. + +"It looks as if we would get all the publicity we want in about +a minute, Billy," said Phil, smiling easily. "We shall not be +likely to know anything about it, though," he added. + +Car Three swept around the bend. + +"There they are!" cried Conley. + +"Coming head on!" commented Phil. He seemed not in the least +disturbed, despite the fact that he believed himself to be facing +certain death. + +Billy let out a yell of joy. + +"They are on another track. They are not on these irons at all!" +he shouted. + +Phil had observed this at about the same instant. He saw +something else, too. The road on which the train was approaching +crossed his track at right angles. The other was a double track +railroad, and the train was a fast express train, tearing along +at high speed. + +"We're safe!" breathed Billy, heaving a great sigh of relief. + +"No, we are not. We are going to smash right into them, +_broadside,_ unless we can check our car enough to clear them." + +"You think so?" + +"I know so." + +Billy groaned. His joy had been short-lived. + +"Give Teddy the signal to put on the brakes. We will make +another attempt to check her." + +Phil threw himself into the task of turning the wheel, which he +did in quick, short, spasmodic jerks, rather than by a steady +application of the brakes. + +The car slackened somewhat--hardly enough to be noticed. + +"Tell Teddy to keep it up. You had better send one of the men +back to help him." + +Billy bellowed his command to the men inside. + +"They see us. They are whistling to us." + +"Yes." + +Shriek after shriek rang out from the whistle of the approaching +express train, the engineer of which jerked his throttle wide +open in hopes of clearing the oncoming wildcat car. + +Phil was still tugging desperately, but without any apparent +nervousness, at the brake wheel. He finally ceased his efforts. + +"I can't do any more," he said; then calmly leaned his arms on +the wheel awaiting results. + +Billy did not utter a word. He, too, possessed strong nerves. + +The man and the boy stood there calmly watching the train ahead +of them. Nearer and nearer to it did they draw. They could see +the engineer and fireman leaning from their cab, looking back. +Phil waved a hand to them, to which the engine crew responded +in kind. + +"Now for the smash, Billy, old boy!" muttered Phil with the smile +that no peril seemed able to banish from his face. + +"Yes; it's going to be a close shave." + +The last car of the express train was now abreast of them. +They seemed to be right upon it. So close were they that Phil +thought he could stretch out a hand and touch it. + +Suddenly it was whisked from before them as if by magic. + +The engineer had given his engine its final burst of speed. + +"Hang on tight!" shouted Phil. "We're going to sideswipe +them now!" + +"Off brakes!" + +Billy gave the bell rope a tug. + +Then came a crash, a grinding, jolting sound. It seemed as if +the red car were being torn from end to end. Car Three careened, +rocked and swayed, threatening every second to plunge from the +rails over the embankment at that point. + +As suddenly as it had come, the strain seemed to have been +removed from it. Once more Number Three was thundering along +over the rails. + +"Yee--ow!" howled Teddy from the rear platform. + +The men inside the car were not saying anything. They were +slowly picking themselves up from the floor, where they had been +hurled by the sudden shock. The interior of the car looked as if +it had been struck by a tornado. The contents were piled in a +confused heap at one end of the car, paste pots overturned, +bedding stripped clean from the berths, lamps smashed, and great +piles of paper scattered all over the place. + +"Hooray!" yelled Billy in the excess of his joy. "We're saved." + +"Yes," answered Phil with a grin. "It was a close call, though. +I hope no one in the car is hurt. You had better go in and +find out. I am afraid our car has been damaged." + +Billy leaned over the side, looking back. + +"Yes, we got a beauty of a sideswipe," he said. + +The coupling and rear platform of the rear car on the express +train had cut a deep gash in the side of Car Three, along half of +its length. + +"Any windows left?" + +"I don't see anything that looks like glass left in them," +laughed Conley. + +"You watch the wheel a minute. I will go inside," said Phil. + +He hurried into the car. + +Phil could not repress a laugh at the scene that met his gaze. + +"Hello, boys; what's going on in here?" called Phil. + +"Say, Boss," spoke up Rosie the Pig. "If it's all the same to +you, I think I'll get out and walk the rest of the way." + +"Are we on time?" howled Teddy, poking his head in at the +rear door. + +"Better straighten the car out, for we should reach our town +in a few minutes now--" + +"I should say we would, at this gait," interrupted a voice. + +"Then all hands will have to hustle out to work. I want to +be out of the next stand sometime tonight. We go out on +another road, so we shall not have to wait, unless something +unforeseen occurs. Came pretty near having a smash-up, +didn't we?" suggested Phil. + +"Near?" The Missing Link's emotion was too great to permit him +to finish the sentence. + +The car bowled merrily along. In a short time the two men on the +front platform were able to make out the outlines of the town +ahead of them. The skies were clearing now, and shortly +afterwards the sun burst through the clouds. + +"All is sunshine," laughed Phil. "For a time it looked as if +there would be a total eclipse," he added, grimly. + +Billy gazed at him wonderingly. + +"If I had your nerve I'd be a millionaire," said Billy in a +low tone. + +"You probably would break your neck the first thing you did," +answered Phil with a short laugh. + +They were now moving along on a level stretch of track. Phil set +the brakes a little, and the car slowed down. In this way they +glided easily into the station, where the Circus Boy brought the +car to a stop directly in front of the telegraph office. + +The station agent came out to see what it was that had come in +so unexpectedly. + +His amazement was great. + +"Well, we are here," called Phil, stepping down from +the platform. "I guess we are on time." + +"Any orders?" shouted Teddy Tucker, dropping from the +rear platform. + +"Where--where did you fellows come from?" + +"Salina." + +"Where's your engine?" + +"I'm the engine," spoke up Teddy. "Wasn't I behind, pushing Car +Three all the way over?" + +All hands set up a shout of laughter. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN A PERILOUS POSITION + +The story of Phil Forrest's brilliant and perilous dash quickly +spread about the town. By six o'clock a great crowd had gathered +about the station to get a look at the car and at the Circus Boy +who had piloted her. + +Phil was hustling about in search of an engine crew from the +other road. He wanted his car moved from the main track, +before some other train should come along and run into him, +thus completing the wrecking that he already had so +successfully begun. + +In the meantime Teddy placed himself on view, parading up and +down, looking wise and pompous. He always was willing to +be admired. As soon as the newspaper offices were open he made +haste to visit them, and the afternoon papers printed the story +of Car Three's great wildcat dash, displaying the account under +big, black headlines. The Sparling Shows got a full measure of +publicity that day. + +Teddy marked and wrapped copies of the papers containing the +notice, mailing them back to the show for Mr. Sparling to read. +On the margin of one of the papers so sent, Teddy wrote with a +lead pencil, "no news today." + +What the Circus Boy's idea of news really was it would be +difficult to say. + +Car Three had a fair field for most of the day. By the time the +rivals got in there were few choice locations for billing left in +the town. + +The manager of the yellow car tried to induce the railroad +authorities to proceed against Phil for the boy's action in +taking his car over the division without authority. The road, +however, refused to accede to the demand, and nothing ever was +done about it. Perhaps Mr. Sparling had something to do with +this, for telegrams were exchanged that day between the owner of +the show and the division superintendent. In the meantime Phil +did not trouble himself over the matter. He had too many other +things to think of. + +The next stand was to be in Oklahoma. Phil hoped that, by the +time they reached there, they would be far enough ahead of the +rival cars to shake them off entirely. + +That afternoon he and Teddy went over town to look over the work. +One of the first things to attract Phil's attention was a flag +pole towering high above everything else in the city. + +"Wouldn't I like to unfurl a Sparling banner from the top of that +pole," exclaimed Phil, gazing up at the top. "How high is that +pole?" he asked of a man standing near him. + +"One hundred feet." + +Teddy whistled softly. + +"I wonder if I could get the consent of the town authorities to +run some advertising matter up there?" + +"Couldn't do it, even if you got the permission," answered +the man. + +"Why not?" + +"There is no rope on the pole. It rotted off a year ago." + +"That is too bad. I had already set my heart on billing +the pole. It can be seen from all parts of the city, can +it not?" + +"Yes, and a long way out of the city at that." + +"Come on, Teddy; let's not look at it. It makes me feel sad to +think I cannot possess that pole." + +"I wonder if you will ever be satisfied?" grumbled Teddy. + +"Not as long as there is a spot on earth large enough for a +Sparling one-sheet left uncovered." + +"What will you give--what would you give, I mean, to have some +banners put on top of the flag pole?" + +"I would give fifty dollars and think I had got off +very cheaply." + +Teddy waxed thoughtful. Several times, that afternoon, +he wandered over to the vicinity of the tall flag pole, +and, leaning against a building, surveyed it critically. + +After the fifth trip of this sort, the Circus Boy hurried back +to the car. No one was on board save the porter. Teddy began +rummaging about among the cloth banners, littering the floor +with all sorts of rubbish in his feverish efforts to get what +he wanted. + +After considerable trouble he succeeded in laying out a gaudy +assortment of banners. These he carefully stitched together +until he had a completed flag or banner about fifty feet long. + +"See here, Henry, don't you tell anybody what I have been doing, +for you don't know." + +"No, sir," agreed the porter. + +Next Teddy provided himself with a light, strong rope. All his +preparations completed, he once more strolled over town, where +he joined Phil in watching the work. But he confided to his +companion nothing of what he had been doing. Teddy Tucker's +face wore its usual innocent expression. + +That night, after supper, he called Billy Conley aside and +confided to the assistant car manager what he had in mind. + +"_Forget_ it!" advised Billy with emphasis. + +"I can't. I want to earn that fifty dollars." + +"But if you break your neck what good will the fifty do you?" + +"If I don't it will do me fifty dollars' worth of good," was the +quick reply. + +"How do you expect to do it?" + +"I'll show you tonight. But we shall have to wait till most of +the people are off the streets. You get away about ten o'clock, +and don't let either Phil or any of the crew know where you +are going. I will meet you on the other side of the station at +ten o'clock sharp, provided I can get away from Phil." + +"I don't like it, but I guess I am just enough of a good fellow +to be willing to help you break your neck. Have you any family +that you wish me to notify?" + +"No one, unless it is January." + +"Who's he?" + +"My educated donkey." + +"Oh, pshaw!" grumbled Billy. + +At the appointed time Teddy made his exit from the car without +attracting the attention of any of the crew. Phil was busy over +his books, while the men were sitting on piles of paper, relating +their experiences on the road. + +Earlier in the evening Teddy had secreted his banners in what is +known as the cellar, the large boxlike compartment under the car +He now hastily gathered up his equipment and hurried to the +station platform. Billy was already awaiting him there. + +"You better give up this fool idea," warned Billy. "I don't want +anything to do with it. You can go alone if you want to, but +none of it for mine." + +"Billy!" + +"Well?" + +"If you back down now, do you know what I'll do?" + +"What will you do?" + +"I'll give you the worst walloping you ever had in your life." + +"You can't do it." + +Teddy whipped off his coat. + +"Come on; I'll show you." + +Conley burst out laughing. + +"The Boss says you are a hopeless case. I agree with him. +Come on. I'll help you to break your neck." + +They started off together. When they reached the pole, the pair +dodged into a convenient doorway where they waited to make sure +that they were not observed. + +"I guess it is all right," said Teddy. + +"How you going to get up there?" + +"I brought a pair of climbers that I found in the car yesterday-- +the kind those telephone linemen use to climb telephone +poles with. Won't I go up, I guess _yes!_" + +Teddy first strapped the banners over his shoulders, in such a +way that they would not impede his progress; then he put on the +climbers, Billy watching disapprovingly. + +All was ready. With a final glance up and down the street Teddy +strode from his hiding place. + +He walked up the pole as if he were used to it. In a few +minutes the watcher below could barely make him out in the +faint moonlight. + +"Look out, when you get up higher. The pole may be rotten," +called Billy softly. + +"All right. I'm up to the splice." + +Here Teddy paused to rest, being now about halfway up the pole. +Before going higher the Circus Boy prudently wrapped the small +rope that he carried twice around the pole, forming a slip-noose. +He made the free end fast around his body in case he should lose +his footing. + +This done, Teddy felt secure from a fall. + +He worked his way slowly upward, creeping higher and higher, inch +by inch, cautious but not in the least afraid, for Teddy was used +to being high in the air. + +Now and then he would pause to call down to the anxious Billy. + +"Stand under to be ready to catch me if I fall," directed Tucker. + +"Not much. You hit ground if you fall," jeered Conley. + +Teddy's laugh floated down to him, carefree and happy. +The Circus Boy was in his element. + +Finally he managed to reach the top, or nearly to the top +of the pole without mishap. The slender top of the flag +pole swayed back and forth, like the mast of a ship in a +rolling sea. It seemed to Teddy as if each roll would be +his last. + +He felt a slight dizziness, but it passed off quickly. In fact, +he was too busy to give much heed to it. With nimble fingers he +unpacked his roll of banners; and, in a few minutes, he was +securing the long streamer to the pole, which he did by lacing it +to the pole with leather thongs, through eyelets that he had +sewed in the cloth. + +In a few minutes the great banner fluttered to the breeze. + +"Hurrah!" cried Teddy exultingly. "We're off!" + +As he called out Teddy suddenly felt his footing give way +beneath him. He had thrown too much weight on the climbers, +and they had lost their grip. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A DASH FOR LIBERTY + +"Help!" + +"What is it?" cried Billy in alarm. "I'm hung up--hung down, +I mean!" + +"What--what's the matter, are you in trouble?" + +"Yes, I'm hanging head down. I'm fast by the feet. +Help me down!" + +"Help you down? I can't help you. You will have to get out the +best way you can. Can't you crawl up and free your feet?" + +"No; go get Phil." + +"Can you hold on?" + +"I--I'll try. Go get Phil." + +Conley dashed away as fast as he could run. + +"I knew it, I knew it," he repeated at almost every bound. + +Teddy's climbers had lost their grip in the rotting wood. +Before he could recover himself he had tumbled backward. +Fortunately the rope had clung to the pole; he was held fast +but Teddy was hanging with his back against the pole, being +powerless to help himself in the slightest degree. Again, he +was afraid that, were he to stir about, the rope, which had +slipped down and drawn tight about his ankles, might suddenly +slide down the pole and dash him to his death. + +Not many minutes had elapsed before Phil and Conley came +running back. Phil, at the suggestion of the assistant +manager, had brought a pair of climbers with him, Billy +explaining, as they ran, the fix that the Circus Boy was in. + +For a wonder, all the disturbance had attracted no attention on +the street. + +"Are you all right?" called Phil as he ran to the spot. + +"N--no; I'm all wrong," came the answer from above. "All the +blood in my body is in my head. I'm going to burst in a minute." + +Phil wasted no words. Quickly strapping on his climbers, he +began shinning up the pole, which he took much faster than Teddy +had done, for the situation was critical. + +"Hurry up! Think I want to stay here all night?" + +"I'm coming. Hang on a few moments longer," panted Phil, for the +exertion was starting the perspiration all over his body. + +At last he reached the spot where Teddy was hanging head down. + +"Well, you have got yourself into a nice fix!" growled Phil. + +"I got the banners up," retorted Teddy. + +Phil cast his eyes aloft, and there, above his head, floated the +gaudy banners of the Sparling Show. + +"Great!" he muttered. "But you are lucky if it doesn't cost you +your life and perhaps mine, too. Now, when I place this rope in +your hands, you hang on to it for all you are worth. I will make +it fast above, and I think I shall have to cut the rope that +holds your feet. I see no other way to get you down." + +"What, and let me drop? No, you don't." + +"I shall not let you drop if I can help it. Can't you manage to +get a grip on the pole with your arms?" + +"If I were facing the other way, I might." + +"Twist yourself. Aren't you enough of a circus man to do a +contortion act as simple as that?" + +Teddy thought he was. At least, he was willing to try, and he +succeeded very well, throwing a firm grip about the pole. + +Phil cautiously climbed above his companion. None save a trained +aerial worker could have accomplished such a feat, but the Circus +Boy managed it without mishap. He then made fast a rope about +the pole above the place where Teddy's rope was secured, drawing +it tight above a slight projection on the pole itself, where part +of a knot had been left. + +Phil had not secured himself as Teddy had done, but he felt +no fear of falling as long as he had one arm about the pole. +He might slip, but even then the principal danger to be +apprehended was that he might carry Teddy down with him. + +"Pass the rope about your body," directed Phil. + +"Which rope?" + +"My rope--_this_ rope," answered Phil, raising and lowering the +rope that Teddy might make no mistake. "If you get the wrong one +you will take a fine tumble. Got it?" + +"Yes." + +"All right. When you have secured it about your body let +me know." + +"I've got it." + +"Have you also got a firm grip on the pole?" + +"Yes." + +"Then look out. I am going to cut your feet loose. +Are you ready?" + +"All ready!" + +Phil severed the rope that held Teddy's feet, and the boy did +a half turn in the air, his feet suddenly flopping over until +he found himself in an upright position. But the twist of the +body had given him a fearful wrench, drawing a loud "ouch!" +from Teddy. To add to his troubles Tucker found himself unable +to move. + +"I'm tied up in a hard knot," he wailed. + +"What's the trouble?" + +"I'm all twisted. I can't wiggle a toe." + +"Well, you don't have to wiggle your toes, do you?" + +Phil found the work of extricating his companion a more difficult +matter than he had expected, and to set Teddy free it was +necessary to cut the rope again. + +This time the cutting was followed instantly by a wild yell. + +Teddy shot down to the splice in the pole, where he struck the +crosspiece with a jolt that shook the pole from top to bottom; +but, fortunately, his arms were about the pole and the crosspiece +had kept him from plunging to the ground many feet below. + +"Are you all right?" called Phil. + +"No; I'm killed." + +"Lucky you didn't break the pole, at any rate." + +"Break the pole? Break the pole?" yelled Teddy, half +in anger, half in pain. "What do I care about the pole? +I've broken myself. I won't be able to sit down again +this season. Oh, why did I ever come with this outfit?" + +"Hurry and get down. We shall have the whole town awake +if you keep up that racket." + +Phil let himself down to where Teddy sat rubbing himself +and growling. + +"Go on down. You are not hurt," commanded Phil. + +"I am, I tell you." + +"Well, are you going to stay up here all night?" + +Teddy pulled himself together, preparing for the descent. + +"Can you get down alone? If not I will tie a rope to you to +protect you." + +"No; you keep away from me. I'll get down if you let me alone." + +"Teddy Tucker, you are an ungrateful boy." + +"I'm a sore boy; that's what I am. Don't speak to me till +I get down again. Then I'll talk with you and I'll have +something to say, too. I want that fifty dollars for +putting the banner up, too." + +"Well, wait till you get down, anyhow," retorted +Phil impatiently. + +Teddy made his way down, muttering and growling every foot of the +way, followed by Phil at a safe distance, the latter chuckling +and laughing at Teddy's rage. + +Young Tucker had nearly reached the base of the pole, when once +more he missed his footing. + +Billy Conley was just below him, ready to assist, when Teddy +landed on him, both going down together. + +Teddy uttered a yell that could have been heard more than a +block away. + +As the two struggled to get up, both Teddy and Billy +threatening each other, rapid footsteps were heard approaching +them down the street. In a moment they saw the flash of a +policeman's shield. + +"We're caught!" cried Conley. "Run for it!" + +"Halt!" commanded the officer. He was almost upon them now. +Phil was still up the pole, where he clung, awaiting the result +of the surprise below. + +"What does this mean?" demanded the bluecoat. + +"It means you are it!" howled Teddy, bolting between the +officer's legs, causing the bluecoat to fall flat upon +the ground. + +"Run! Run!" howled Teddy. + +Phil sprang from the pole and all hands made a lively sprint for +the car. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE DESERTED VILLAGE + +But Teddy had distinguished himself. When the town awakened +next morning there were loud clamorings for the arrest of the +showman who had dared to unfurl a circus advertisement from the +top of the city's flag pole. The showmen guilty of the deed +were many, many miles away by that time, engaged in other +similar occupations. + +At McAlister, a booming western town, the opposition were still +hard on the heels of Car Three. Try as he would Phil Forrest was +able to shake them off no longer than a few hours at a time. + +A new plan occurred to him, and immediately upon his arrival at +McAlister he wired Mr. Sparling to send a brigade into the next +town ahead, to bill the place, in order that Car Three might make +a jump and get away from its rivals. + +A brigade, it should be known, is a crew of men that does not +travel on a special car. They go by regular train, traveling as +other passengers do, dropping off and billing a town here and +there, as directed by wire. + +The answer came back that the brigade would relieve him at the +next stand. + +While this had been going on young Tucker had been listening to a +most interesting tale of a deserted town some twenty miles beyond +where they were then working. The deserted town was known as +Owls' Valley. It had been a prosperous little city up to within +two months previous, when, for reasons that Teddy did not learn, +the inhabitants had taken a sudden leave. + +This information set Teddy Tucker to thinking. +A deserted village? He wished that he might see it. +He had heard of deserted villages, and this one was of +more than ordinary interest, because, the moment he +heard of it, a plan presented itself to his fertile mind. + +"I'll bet they will not only nibble at the bait, but will swallow +it whole," he decided exultingly after he had thoroughly gone +over the plan, sitting off by himself on a pile of railroad iron. +"I'll take Billy into my confidence. Billy will spread the word, +and then we shall see what will happen." + +When Billy came in Teddy called him aside and outlined his plan. + +Billy returned from the conference grinning broadly, but Teddy +was serious and thoughtful. + +However, he decided not to tell Phil what he had done. +Perhaps Phil might not approve of it. Phil was so peculiar +that he might visit the rival cars and tell them that +certain information they had obtained was not correct. + +Be that as it may, a few hours later three car managers visited +the station, leaving orders that their cars were to be switched +off at Owls' Valley. + +"That fellow, Forrest, thought he would play a smart trick on us +and slip into a town not down on his route, where he was going to +have all the billing to himself," said the manager of the yellow +car, late that evening. + +"Where is Owls' Valley?" asked one of his men. + +"About twenty miles west of here. It will be a short run. +He will be a very much surprised young man when he wakes up +in the morning and finds us lying on the siding with him." + +The train to which the cars were to be attached was not to leave +until sometime after midnight. When it finally came in all the +advertising car crews were in bed and asleep. Teddy Tucker, +however, was not only wide awake, but outside at that. + +"Couple us up next to your rear car, and put the other fellows on +the rear if you will," he said to the conductor. "They are going +to Owls' Valley, but we are going through. Please say nothing to +them about what I have told you. Here's a pass for +the circus." + +The rest was easy. Soon the train was rumbling away, with Teddy +the happiest mortal on it. But he did not go to bed. Not Teddy! +He sat up to make sure that his plans did not miscarry. +Owls' Valley was reached in due time, and the Circus Boy was +outside to make sure that no mistake was made. He did not +propose that Car Three should, by any slip, be sidetracked +at the deserted village. + +Very shortly afterwards they were again on their way, and Teddy +went to bed well satisfied with his night's work. When the men +woke up early next morning a new train crew was in charge, for +the advertising car was making a long run. + +Phil was the first to awaken. As was customary with him he +stepped to the window and peered out. + +"Why, we seem to be the last car on the train. There were +three opposition cars behind us when we started out last night. +I wonder what that means?" + +Quickly dressing, he went out on the platform. Leaning over he +looked ahead. Car Three was the only show car on the train. + +"That is queer. I do not understand it at all." + +Hurrying in to the main part of the car Phil called to the men. + +"Do any of you know what has become of the opposition?" he asked. + +"Why, aren't they on behind?" + +"No one is on behind. We are the last car. Those fellows have +stolen a march on us somewhere. I can't imagine where they +dropped off, though; can you?" + +"Maybe they have switched off on another road," suggested +a voice. + +"No other road they could switch off on. There is something +more to this than appears on the surface. I'll go forward and +ask the conductor." + +Phil did so, but the conductor could give him no information. +Car Three was the only show car on the train when the present +conductor had taken charge. + +Phil was more puzzled than ever. He consulted his route list, to +make sure that he himself had not made a mistake and skipped a +town that he should have billed. No; there was only one town he +had missed, and that was the one the brigade was to work. + +About this time Teddy sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. + +"What's up?" he inquired, noting that his companion was troubled. + +"That is what I should like to know," answered Phil absently. + +"Tell me about it. Anything gone wrong?" + +"I don't know. The opposition has disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" + +"Yes; they disappeared during the night, and I cannot imagine +where they have gone. They must have dropped in on some town +that we should have made, and I am worried." + +Teddy pulled up a window shade and studied the landscape for +several minutes. + +"Curious, isn't it?" he mumbled. + +"Yes." + +"I might make a guess where they went, Phil." + +"You might guess?" + +"That's what I said." + +"Where do you think they have gone?" + +"If I were to make a long-range guess, I should say that perhaps +the cars of the opposition were sidetracked at Owls' Valley." + +"Where is that? I never heard of the place." + +"That, my dear sir, is the deserted village. Lonesome Town, they +ought to call it." + +"Where is it?" + +"About twenty miles from the last stand; and, if they are there, +they will be likely to stay there for sometime to come." + +Phil had wheeled about, studying his companion keenly. + +"You seem to know a great deal about the movements of the enemy. +How does it happen that you are so well posted, Teddy Tucker?" + +"I was hanging around the station when they gave the order to +have their cars dropped off there," answered Teddy, avoiding the +keen gaze of his companion and superior. + +"Did you know the place was deserted?" + +Teddy nodded. + +"Did _they?_" + +Teddy shook his head. + +"How did they happen to order their cars dropped off there?" + +"I--I guess somebody must have told them that--I guess maybe they +thought we were going there." + +"Thought we were going there?" + +"Yes." + +"Why?" + +"Oh, because." + +A light was beginning to dawn upon the young car manager. +He surveyed Teddy from beneath half closed eyelids. +Tucker grew restless under the critical examination. + +"Say, stop your looking at me that way." + +"Why?" + +"You make me nervous. Stop it, I say!" + +"Tell me all about it, Teddy," urged Phil, trying hard to make +his tone stern. + +"Tell you about what?" + +"Why the opposition happened to think we were going to +Owls' Valley." + +"Maybe they just imagined it." + +"And maybe they did not. You are mixed up in this, in some way, +and I want to know all about it, Teddy Tucker. I hope you have +done nothing dishonorable. Of course I am glad the other fellows +are out of our way, but I want to know how. Come, be frank +with me. You are avoiding the question. Remember I am the +manager of this car; I am responsible for all that is done on it. +Out with it!" + +Teddy fidgeted. + +"Well, it was this way. Somebody told them--" + +"Well, told them what?" urged Phil. + +"Told them they heard we were going to bill Owls' Valley." + +"So, that's it, eh?" + +Teddy nodded again. + +"Did you give out any such information as that?" + +Teddy shook his head. + +"Who did?" + +"I won't tell. You can't make me tell," retorted the +Circus Boy belligerently. + +"But you were responsible for the rumor getting out?" + +Teddy did not answer. + +"And those poor fellows are lying there on the siding, +twenty miles from the nearest telegraph office?" + +"I guess so." Tucker grinned broadly. + +"And how are they going to get out?" + +"Walk!" + +Phil broke out into a roar of laughter. + +"Oh, Teddy, what am I going to do with you? Do you know you have +done very wrong?" + +"No, I don't. The trouble with you is that you don't appreciate +a good thing when you get it. You were wishing you could get rid +of the opposition cars, weren't you?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"Well, you're rid of them, aren't you?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"And I got rid of them for you." + +"Yes, but as I was saying--" + +"Then what have you got to raise such a row about? You got +your wish." + +Teddy curled up and began studying the landscape again. + +"I admire your zeal young man, but your methods are open to +severe criticism. First you imperil the lives of three carloads +of men by cutting them loose from the train; then you climb a +flag pole, nearly losing your own life in the attempt, and now +you have lured three carloads of men to a deserted village, where +you have lost them. Oh, I've got to laugh--I can't help it!" +And Phil did laugh, disturbed as he was over Teddy Tucker's +repeated violation of what Phil believed to be the right and +honorable way of doing business. + +"Billy!" called Phil. + +Mr. Conley responded promptly. + +"I am not asking any questions. I do not want to know any more +than I do about this business. I already know more than I wish +I knew. I want to say, however, that when any more plans are +made, any schemes hatched for outwitting our rivals, I shall +appreciate being made acquainted with such plans before they +are put into practice." + +Teddy looked up in amazement. He had not the remotest idea that +Phil even suspected who had been his accomplice. But the car +manager had no need to be told. He was too shrewd not to suspect +at once who it was that had carried out Teddy's suggestions and +sidetracked the opposition where they would not get out for at +least a whole day. + +"Yes, sir," answered Billy meekly. + +"I understand that the opposition are where they are likely to +stay for sometime to come?" + +"Yes, sir; so I understand." + +"Oh, you do, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You know all about it? Well, I thought as much. But I am +sorry you have admitted it. That necessitates my reading you +a severe lecture." + +This Phil did, laying down the law as Conley never had supposed +the Circus Boy could do. Billy repeated the lecture to the +rest of the crew, later on, and all agreed that Phil Forrest, +the young advance agent, had left nothing unsaid. Phil's stock +rose correspondingly. A man who could "call down" his crew +properly was a real car manager. + +While the Sparling Show profited by Teddy's ruse, Phil felt +unhappy that his advantage had come by reason of the falsehood +that Teddy had told; and that night Phil read his young friend +a severe lecture. + +"If I find you doing a trick like that again," concluded Phil, +"you close there and then." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + +"Who is the man in charge of Sparling Advance Car Number Three?" +demanded Mr. Starr, manager of "The Greatest Show on Earth." + +"A young fellow named Forrest. That is all I know about him," +answered the treasurer of the show. + +"He used to be a performer and a good one, too," spoke up the +assistant manager. + +This conversation took place in the office tent of the show that +Phil Forrest had been fighting almost ever since he took charge +of Car Three. + +"He is one of the best bareback riders who ever entered the +forty-two foot ring," continued the assistant manager. + +"What has he ever done before? I never heard of him." + +"He has been with Sparling, I think, about five years. +I understand he never did any circus work before that." + +"I want that young man," announced the general +manager decisively. + +"Probably money will get him," smiled the treasurer. + +"I do not wish to do anything to offend Sparling, for he is +an old friend, and one of the best showmen in the country. +I'll write him today, and see what he has to say. That young +man, Forrest, or whatever his name may be, is giving us more +trouble than we ever had before. He is practically putting our +men all out of business. We shall have to change our route, or +close, if he keeps on heading off our advance cars." + +"It has come to a pretty pass, if a green boy with no previous +experience is to defeat us. What is the matter with our advance +men?" demanded the assistant manager. + +"That is what I should like to know," answered Mr. Starr. +"I will write Sparling today about this matter." + +Weeks had passed and Car Three had worked its way across the +plains, on into the mountainous country. Car managers had again +been changed on the yellow car; another car had been sent in +ahead of Phil, but to no better purpose than before. + +Car Three moved on, making one brilliant dash after another, +sometimes winning out by the narrowest margin and apparently by +pure luck. Still, Phil Forrest and his loyal crew were never +caught napping and were never headed off for more than a day at +a time. + +The season was drawing to a close. One day Phil received a wire +from Mr. Sparling reading: + +"Close at Deming, New Mexico, September fifteen." + +"Boys, the end is in sight; and I, for one, shall be glad when we +are through," announced Phil, appearing in the men's part of the +car, where he read the telegram from the owner of the show. + +The men set up a cheer. + +"Now let's drive the other fellows off the map during these +remaining two weeks." + +How those men did work! No man on that car overslept during the +rest of the trip. Phil seemed not to know the meaning of the +word "tired." All hours of the night found him on duty, either +watching the movements of his car or laying out work ahead, +planning and scheming to outwit his rivals. + +At last Car Three rolled into the station at Deming. It was a +warm, balmy Fall day. + +"Now burn the town up with your paper, boys," commanded Phil, +after they had finished their breakfast. "Come in early tonight. +I want all hands to drop paste pots and brushes tonight, and take +dinner with me. It will not be at a contract hotel, either. +Dinner at eight o'clock." + +"Hooray!" exclaimed Teddy. "A real feed for once, fellows! +No more meals at The Sign of the Tin Spoon this season!" + +The crew of Car Three were not slow about getting in that night. +Every man was on time. They dodged out of the car with bundles +under their arms, got a refreshing bath, and spick and span in +tailor-made clothes and clean linen, they presented themselves +at the car just before eight o'clock. + +"Hello! You boys do not look natural," hailed Phil, with +a laugh. "But come along; I know you are hungry, and so +am I." + +The Circus Boy had arranged for a fine dinner at the leading +hotel of the city, where he had engaged a private dining room +for the evening. + +It was a jolly meal. Everyone was happy in the consciousness of +work well done, in the knowledge that they had outrivaled every +opposition car that had been sent into their field. + +The dinner was nearing its close when Phil rose and rapped +for order. + +"Boys," he said, "you have done great work. You have been loyal, +and without your help I should have made a miserable failure of +this work. You know how green I was, how little I really know +about the advance work yet--" + +Someone laughed. + +"You need not laugh. I know it, whether you boys do or not. +I asked you to dine with Teddy and myself here tonight, that +I might tell you these things and thank you. If ever I am +sent in advance again I hope you boys will be with me, every +one of you." + +"You bet we will!" shouted the men in chorus. + +"And let me add that Mr. Sparling is not ungrateful for the work +you have done this season. He has asked me to present you with a +small expression of his appreciation. Teddy, will you please +pass these envelopes to the boys? You will find their names +written on the envelopes." + +Tucker quickly distributed the little brown envelopes. + +The men shouted. Each envelope held a crisp, new +fifty-dollar bill. + +"Three cheers for Boss Sparling!" cried Rosie the Pig, springing +to his feet, waving the bill above his head. + +The cheers were given with a will. + +"I will bid you good-bye tonight," continued Phil. "Teddy and +myself will take a late train for the East, after we get through. +We are going back to join the show until it closes--" + +"Wait a minute, Boss," interrupted Billy Conley, rising. +"This show isn't over yet." + +"The Band Concert in the main tent is about to begin." + +Phil glanced at him inquiringly. + +"All the natural curiosities, including the Missing Link and the +Human Pig, will be on view. Take your seats in the center ring, +immediately after the performance closes!" + +Billy drew a package from his pocket and placed it on the table +before him. + +"Boss, the fellows have asked me to present to you a little +expression of their good will--to the greatest advance agent that +ever hit the iron trail. You've made us work like all possessed, +but we love you almost to death, just the same. I present this +gift to you with our compliments, Boss, and here also is a little +remembrance for our friend, Spotted Horse, otherwise known as +Teddy Tucker." + +Billy sat down, and Phil, rising, accepted the gift. Opening the +package he found a handsome gold watch and chain, his initials +set in the back of the watch case in diamonds. + +"Oh, boys, why did you do it?" gasped Phil, in an unsteady voice. + +"I've got a diamond stick pin!" shouted Teddy triumphantly. + +Phil's eyes were moist. + +"Why--why did you--" + +" 'Cause--'cause you're the best fellow that ever lived! +Say, quit lookin' at me like that, or I'll blubber right +out," stammered Billy, hastily pushing back his chair and +walking over to the window. + +"For he's a jolly good fellow!" struck up Rosie the Pig. +All joined in the chorus, while Phil sat down helplessly, +unable to say a word. + +On the second morning thereafter the Circus Boys rejoined the +Great Sparling Shows, where they were welcomed right royally. +Teddy insisted in going on with his mule act that same day. + +Even the donkey was glad to see Teddy. January evinced his +pleasure at having his young master with him again by promptly +kicking young Tucker through the side wall of the pad room, +nearly breaking the Circus Boy's neck. + +That day a letter came to Phil from The Greatest Show on Earth. +After reading it, Phil hastened to his employer. + +"I have a letter offering us both a contract with The Greatest +for next season. What do you think of that, Mr. Sparling?" asked +Phil with sparkling eyes. + +Mr. Sparling did not appear to be surprised. + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" + +"Refuse it, of course. I prefer to stay with you." + +"And I prefer to have you." + +"I thought you would." + +"But I shall ask you to accept; in fact, I wish you to do so. +You will find the experience valuable. When you finish your +season with the big show I shall have something of great +importance to communicate to you, if you wish to return to us." + +"Wish to?" + +"Yes; so wire on your acceptance right away, my boy, then you and +I will have a long talk." + +So it was left. Phil went on with the show during the remaining +four weeks, then the boys turned their faces homeward, where they +planned to put in a busy winter practicing and studying. + +Despite their reluctance to leave Mr. Sparling for a season, they +were looking forward to the coming Spring when they were to join +the other show. Their experiences there will be related in a +following volume, entitled, "THE CIRCUS BOYS AT THE TOP; Or, +Bossing the Greatest Show of All." + + + + + +End of +Project Gutenberg Etext: The Circus Boys on the Plains, Or, The +Young Advance Agents Ahead of the Show, by Edgar B P Darlington + + + + + +This completes the Circus Boys series. + +In contradiction to the notice placed above in the text. + diff --git a/2478.zip b/2478.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7cb58b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/2478.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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