Part 25 (2/2)
Sully grinned and winked an eye.
”See anything green in my eye?”
”No. It's all red. I guess you see red most of the time.”
”If you'll give me a promise, I'll let you sleep in a berth in this car tonight.”
”What promise?” asked Phil, though he knew pretty well what the showman would demand.
”That you won't try to escape.”
”I'll make no such promise.”
”Then it's the linen closet for your.”
”All right; I will sleep in the linen closet. I suppose you will want me to ride again tomorrow?”
”Sure thing!”
”Then don't forget the twenty-five dollars in advance.”
”Say, that's more money than I'll pay for that act, good as it is,” protested the showman.
”Very well; then I will stay in the closet and you can cut your bareback out. You do not have to pay it unless you want to.”
Sully growled and handed out the money.
Phil put it in his pocket with a smile and half audible chuckle that did not tend to make Sully feel any the less irritable.
”Perhaps it is a good thing that I am a prisoner if I have got to stay with this outfit.”
”Why?” snapped the showman.
”Because some of your light-fingered gentlemen would be dipping into my pocket, when I wasn't looking, and take the money away from me. That's the way you would get it back.”
”That will be about all for you, boy,” growled the showman.
”That is, unless you are willing to tell me what you are here for?”
The Circus Boy laughed lightly.
”I have nothing new to say to that question.”
”You've done your part well. You must have got busy pretty quick to have tipped off Sparling before we caught you.”
”Tipped him off to what?” inquired Phil.
”Well, never mind what. You know and so do I.”
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