Part 15 (1/2)

The Circus Boy's h floated down to theet the plank into position By tying the rope to one end of the plank to support it he gradually worked the plank out through the opening, after a ti to shove the end nearest to him under a beam

”There, I'd like to see you turn a trick like that, Billy Conley,” he shouted

”_I_ wouldn't,” retorted Billy ”What's the next move?”

”In a e loop in the rope in the shape of a slip knot All preparations being made he boldly walked out on the plank which, secured at one end like a springboard, bent and treasped

The fared his mind, had come out to watch the operation rather than visit the back farhbors had by this time joined him

”Who's the fellow up there?” asked one

”He is a performer in a circus”

”A performer? Shucks! He's no more perfore your mind,” answered Billy, who had overheard the remark ”That boy is one of the finest circus performers in this country Do you think he could stand out on that plank, round, if he were not a performer? Why, I wouldn't be up there for a ht,” answered the farmer himself ”That beats all the circus perfor to do?”

”I don't know,” confessed Billy ”He knows and that's enough”

Phil, having tested the plank to his satisfaction and studied his balance, now cast his eyes up to the little cupola on top of the silo Then he began sloinging the loop of the rope over his head, after the fashi+on of a cowboy about to make a cast

They were at a loss to understand what he was trying to do, but every man there was sure in his own mind what Phil Forrest would do--fall off

Suddenly he let go of the loop It soared upward Then they began to understand He was trying to rope the cupola

The rope fell short by about three feet, as nearly as he was able to judge

”Oh, pshaw!” muttered Phil ”That was a cluood a cowboy as I aoes for another try”

He put all his strength into the throw this ti as neatly over the peak of the cupola as if the thrower had been standing directly over the projection

A cheer rose from the !” they cried with one voice

The far But Billy, with the quick instincts of a show to catch and break the lad's fall

Phil had leaned too far backward inhis cast He had lost his balance and toppled over Here his training in aerial work served hi he turned quickly facing toward the outer end of the plank

Like a flash both hands shot out They closed about the end of the plank by a desperately narrow in