Part 39 (1/2)
”Go downtown and see if you can find some new clothes that will fit you. If not buy two suits and splice them together.”
”Yes, sir; thank you, sir.”
”Have the bill sent to me. Tucker, you do the same.
But remember, discipline must be maintained in this show,”
warned the owner sternly.
CHAPTER XXI
ON A FLYING TRAPEZE
The lesson lasted Teddy for a few hours; then he forgot all about it. But he was made the b.u.t.t of the jokes of the dressing tent for several days.
That afternoon Phil, while attending to some correspondence for Mr. Sparling, had occasion to write to a trapeze performer about booking with the Sparling show for the coming season.
”I have been thinking, Mr. Sparling,” said Phil, ”that I should like to perform on the flying trapeze next season. You know I have been practicing for sometime.”
Mr. Sparling glanced up from his papers.
”I'm not surprised. I guess that's the only thing you haven't done in the show thus far.”
”I haven't been a fat woman or a living skeleton yet,”
laughed Phil.
”What can you do on the bars?”
”I can do all that your performers do. Sometimes I think I might be able to do more. I can do pa.s.sing leaps, two-and-a-halfs, birds' nest and all that sort of thing.”
”Is it possible? I had no idea you had gotten that far along.”
”Yes. I have been wis.h.i.+ng for a chance to see how I could work before an audience.”
”Haven't you enough to do already?”
”Well, I suppose I have, but you know I want to get along.
The season is nearly closed now, and I shall not have another opportunity before next spring, possibly. As long as you are going to engage some other performers for next year I rather thought it might be a good plan to offer myself for the work.”
”Why, Phil, why didn't you tell me?”
”I didn't like to.”
”You can have anything in this show that you want. You know that, do you not?”
”Yes, sir,” answered the Circus Boy in a low tone. ”And I thank you very much.”
”When do you want to go on?”
”Any time you think best. Would you prefer to have me go through a rehearsal?”