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THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT
THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I The Boys Hear Good News
II On The Road Once More
III Phil to Rescue
IV Renewing Old Acquaintances
V Doing a Man's Work
VI The Showman's Reward
VII Trying The Culprit
VIII Phil Makes a New Friend
IX The Mule Distinguishes Himself
X His First Bareback Lesson
XI Summoned Before The Manager
XII The Human Football
XIII Ducked by an Elephant
XIV In Dire Peril
XV Emperor to The Rescue
XVI An Unexpected Promotion
XVII The Circus Boys Win New Laurels
XVIII Doing a Double Somersault
XIX Marooned in a Freight Car
XX The Barnyard Circus
XXI When The Crash Came
XXII What Happened to a Pacemaker
XXIII Searching The Train
XXIV Conclusion
The Circus Boys Across the Continent
CHAPTER I
THE BOYS HEAR GOOD NEWS
"You never can guess it--you never can guess the news Teddy"
cried Phil Forrest rushing into the gymnasium his face flushed
with excitement.
Teddy Tucker clad in a pair of linen working trunks and a
ragged sleeveless shirt both garments much the worse for their
winter's wear was lazily swinging a pair of Indian clubs.
"What is it some kind of riddle Phil?" he questioned bringing
the clubs down to his sides.
"Do be serious for a minute won't you?"
"Me serious? Why I never cracked a smile. Isn't anything to
smile at. Besides do you know since I've been in the circus
business every time I want to laugh I check myself so suddenly
that it hurts?"
"How's that?"
"Because I think I've still got my makeup on and that I'll crack
it if I laugh."
"What your face?"
"My face? No! My makeup. By the time I remember that I haven't
any makeup on I've usually forgotten what it was I wanted to
laugh about. Then I don't laugh."
Teddy shied an Indian club at a rat that was scurrying across the
far end of their gymnasium missing him by half the width of
the building.
"If you don't care of course I shan't tell you. But it's good
news Teddy. You would say so if you knew it."
"What news? Haven't heard anything that sounds like news"
his eyes fixed on the hole into which the rat had disappeared.
"You can't guess where we are going this summer?"
"Going? Don't have to guess. I know" answered the lad with an
emphasizing nod.
"Where do you think?"
"We're going out with the Great Sparling Combined Shows
of course. Didn't we sign out for the season before we closed
with the show last fall?"
"Yes yes; but where?" urged Phil showing him the letter he
had just brought from the post office. "You couldn't guess if
you tried."
"No. Never was a good guesser. That letter from Mr. Sparling?"
he questioned as his eyes caught the familiar red and gold
heading used by the owner of the show.
"Yes."
"What's he want?"
"You know I wrote to him asking that we be allowed to skip the
rehearsals before the show starts out so that we could stay here
and take our school examinations?"
Teddy nodded.
"I'd rather join the show" he grumbled.
"Never did see anything about school to go crazy over."
"You'll thank me someday for keeping you at it" said Phil.
"See how well you have done this winter with your school work.
I'm proud of you. Why Teddy there are lots of the boys a long
way behind you. They can't say circus boys don't know anything
just because they perform in a circus ring."
"H-m-m-m!" mused Teddy. "You haven't told me yet where we are
going this summer. What's the route?"
"Mr. Sparling says that as we are going to continue our
last year's acts this season there will be no necessity
for rehearsals."
The announcement did not appear to have filled Teddy Tucker
with joy.
"We do the flying rings again then?"
"Yes. And we shall be able to give a performance that will
surprise Mr. Sparling. Our winter's practicing has done a lot
for us as has our winter at school."
"Oh I don't know."
"You probably will ride the educated mule again while I expect
to ride the elephant Emperor in the grand entry as I did before.
I'll be glad to get under the big top again with the noise and
the people the music of the band and all that. Won't you
Teddy?"
questioned Phil his eyes glowing at the picture he had drawn.
Teddy heaved a deep sigh.
"Quit it!"
"Why?"
" 'Cause you make me think I'm there now."
Phil laughed softly.
"I can see myself riding the educated mule this very minute
kicking up the dust of the ring making everybody get out of the
way and--"
"And falling off" laughed Phil. "You certainly are the
most finished artist in the show when it comes to getting
into trouble."
"Yes; I seem to keep things going" grinned the lad.
"But I haven't told you all that Mr. Sparling says in
the letter."
"What else does he say?"
"That the show is to start from its winter quarters just outside
of Germantown Pennsylvania on April twenty-second--"
"Let's see; just two weeks from today" nodded Teddy.
"Yes."
"I wish it was today."
"He says we are to report on the twenty-first as the show leaves
early in the evening."
"Where do we show first?"
"Atlantic City. Then we take in the Jersey Coast towns--"
"Do we go to New York?"
...
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