Part 19 (2/2)
”If you know so much I don't see why you should have to ask that question.”
”I'm asking.”
”And I'm not telling. I'll answer none of your questions, unless it is about something that I can tell you without getting others into trouble.”
”You already have admitted that you are with the Sparling show.
You have made several slips of the tongue since I got hold of you.”
”I haven't denied that I am with the Sparling show, neither have I admitted it. I decline to lie or to give you any information of any nature whatever.”
”When is the Sparling show coming here?”
”I was not aware that it was coming here. Is it?”
”No, I didn't mean that. I mean when are they going to show in Corinto?”
Phil was silent.
”You might as well make a clean breast of the whole business, young man. I've caught you red-handed, snooping about the lot for two days quizzing everybody. Now what's the game?”
”There is no game.”
”What is Sparling trying to find out?”
”You will have to ask him, I guess.”
Sully surveyed the lad in silence for a minute or two.
”I couldn't understand, at first, why he should send a kid like you to spy upon us; but I begin to see that you are a sharp little monkey--”
Just then the showman was interrupted by the entrance of the foreman of the stake and chain gang.
”Bob, I want you to tell me exactly what questions this cub asked you yesterday?”
”I thought he was some curious town fellow, so I didn't pay much attention to his questions. When I saw him on the lot, again today, and heard him asking other folks, kind of careless like, I began to smell a rat.”
”What did he want to know, I'm asking you?”
The foreman related as well as he could remember, just what conversation had taken place between himself and Phil Forrest, omitting, however, the fact that he had furnished any information. It would have ended his connection with the show right there, had he let the owner know how much he really had told.
Phil grinned appreciatively, but it was not for him to get the foreman into trouble.
”Hm-m!” mused Sully. ”You found out a lot, I presume?”
”I can truthfully say that I found out that what I had heard about the show is true.”
”And what's that, if I may ask?”
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