Part 16 (1/2)

”Wait a moment I'll chain him up”

The keeper soon had E Phil ran lightly to the other tent and quickly rossed in the acts in the ring that they did not observe the boy particularly this time

”Did I make a show ofeyes

”You did not You were as handsome as a picture There isn't one of all those people that looks so handsoed the lad, blushi+ng violently ”Have you seen anything of otten all about him”

”That looks like hiainst that pole,” she pointed

Phil gazed in the direction indicated, and there, sure enough, was Teddy Tucker leaning carelessly against the center pole He had no right to be there, as Phil well knew, and he watched with amused interest for the moment when the other boy's presence would be discovered

It camaster fixed a cold eye on Teddy

”Hey, you!”

Teddy gave no heed to him

”Get out of there! Think you own this show?”

The ladwhip lash curled through the air, going off with a crack that sounded as if a pistol had been fired, and within an inch of Teddy's nose

Teddy sprang back, slapping a hand to his face, believing that he had been hit Then there followed a series of disconcerting snaps all around his head as the long lash began to work, but so skillfully was it wielded that the end of it did not touch hih He turned and ran for the seats

”Co iht beside us and there won't be any ringmaster to bother you”

Considerably crestfallen, the lad cli

”You o down there, you know, Teddy They don't allow outsiders in the ring while the perforet hurt--”

”They let you in,” bristled Teddy

”That was different They couldn't help themselves, and neither could I Emperor took me in whether I would or not; and, in fact, I didn't knoas going till I was halfway there”

Phil's companion surveyed hiure up on that elephant's head! I should have been afraid”

”There was nothing to be afraid of But let's watch the perfor on now”

For a few raceful bodies of the perfor out froht into the ar head down fro bar On the return sweep the first performer would catch his own bar and return to his perch