Part 2 (1/2)

The Great Sparling Co su rapidly loaded when Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker arrived on the scene late in the afternoon

It was all new and strange to them, unused as they were to the ways of a railroad show Their baggage had been sent on ahead of them, so they did not have that to bother with Each carried a suitcase, however, and the boys were now trying to find soo and what they should do

”hello, Phil, old boy!” howled a familiar voice

”Who's that?” deacross the tracks, where he had espied a shock of very red hair that he knew could belong only to Rodney Palnity

”Howdy?” he greeted just as Phil and the red-haired boy ringing each other's hands ”Anybody'd think you tere long lost brothers”

”We are, aren't we, Rod?” glowed Phil

”And we have been, ever since you boys showed me the brook where I could wash my face back in that tank tohere you two lived

That was last sumether again, I hear? I' this winter,” decided Rodney, after a critical survey of the lads ”You sure are both in fine condition Quite a little lighter than you were last season, aren't you, Phil?”

”No; I weigh ten pounds hty hard”

”Hard as a keg of nails, but I hope not quite so stiff,”

laughed Phil

”What you been working at?”

”Rings,on the trapeze

What did you do all winter?”

”Me? Oh, I joined a tea vaudeville houses

I was the second ood money and saved most of it Why didn't you join out for the vaudeville?”

”We spent our winter at school,” answered Phil

”That's a good stunt at that In the tank town, I suppose?”

grinned the red-haired boy

”You ood town, just the same,” replied Phil ”I saw many worse ones while ere out last season”

”And you'll see a lotsome of those way-back western towns I was out there with a show once, and I knohat I' about Where are you berthed?”

”I don't know,” answered Phil ”Where are you?”