Part 24 (1/2)

”Ho, ho, ho! I believe you would, at that.”

”I certainly shall.”

”Say, kid, don't it ever give you pain to be so awfully honest?”

”I'll confess that it does when I am doing business with a man like you.”

”Oh! That one landed. That was a knockout,” chuckled the showman, rising. ”I'll be back after you with the rig pretty soon. We've got to fix up some togs for you to ride in, but I guess we can do that all right. I'll have to put you back in your cage in the meantime.” It lacked an hour and a half of the time for the afternoon performance to begin when Sully called with his carriage for his new star. Phil was ready, as far as he was able to be, and really welcomed the opportunity to get out in the air again. But he was so stiff from the confinement in the narrow linen closet that he did not feel as if he should be able to ride at all.

The drive to the circus lot was without incident, and Phil embraced the opportunity to familiarize himself with the town and its surroundings as fully as was possible under the circ.u.mstances. He had tried to form some plan by which to make his escape, but had given it up and decided to trust to luck.

There was another reason for his having decided to ride in the Sully Hippodrome Show that day, and every day thereafter, providing he was not able to get away before leaving Corinto.

He hoped that Mr. Sparling might have sent someone on to find out what had become of him. This was sure to be done sooner or later, especially when the showman found that his letters were not being answered, but were being returned to him, as had been arranged for before Phil left his own show.

Reaching the lot they drove around to the paddock where Phil and his new employer entered the dressing tent. Even there the lad was given no chance to break away. It seemed to him that every person connected with the show had been set to watch him.

When he entered the dressing tent he was subjected to the curious gaze of the performers, most of whom understood that he was to ride that day in the place of the injured performer, but who knew nothing further about the matter.

Some difficulty was experienced in getting a pair of tights that would fit Phil, but after awhile this was arranged.

”You sit down here and wait now,” directed Mr. Sully.

”No; I've got something else to do. Bring the horse out in the paddock and let me see what I have to ride,” answered Phil.

While they were getting out the ring horse, the lad indulged in a series of bends and limbering exercises out in the paddock, working until the perspiration stood out in great beads.

This done Phil sprang up to the back of the ring horse, and while an attendant held the animal in a circle with a long leading strap, Phil rode the horse about the paddock a few times until he had become familiar with the motion and peculiarities of the animal.

”How is he in the ring, fast or slow?”

”Just steady. Been at it a long time,” the attendant informed him. ”He's steady. You can depend on him.”

”Yes; he acts so. I'll look at the ring when I go in.”

The owner of the show had been a keen observer of these preparations. He noted, too, Phil appeared entirely to have forgotten about his desire to escape.

”That kid acts to me as if he knew his business,” he reflected.

”If he rides the way I think he can, I'm going to get him away from Sparling if I have to double the wages he's drawing now.

And money talks!”

The band began to play in the big top. Phil glanced at the showman.

”When do I go on?”

”Second number.”

The lad nodded, and sat awaiting his turn to enter the arena. He did not have to ask when the moment had arrived.

The attendant started to lead the ring horse in and Phil quickly fell in behind, following them in.

Right behind the Circus Boy came Sully, the owner of the show, never taking his eyes off his captive for a moment. This amused the lad. He grinned broadly. It was a novel experience for him.