Part 27 (2/2)

”Going to hit the ties?”

”I' his infor whoainst a freight car the lad considered what he had better do At first he was inclined to try to steal a ride on the circus train, but after thinking the erous

”If they catch hly, and they ht not make much difference, but I a circus train I guess I'll walk

Let me see, tomorroill be Sunday, and it is fifty miles to Corinto I should be able to ht so for walk to Corinto He did not stop to consider that he would be hungry before he got there

He left the yards, for these were now full of e the cars Off near the outskirts of the town he turned back to the tracks

For two hours he plodded along cheerfully, but by this ti over the ties so hurt his feet, clad as they were in light slippers, that he could scarcely walk Phil took off the slippers and trotted about in the da soain

An hour later the first of the circus trains thundered by hihts in the sleepers, and now and then he e on a flat car

”Anyway, I would rather be walking than locked up in that narrow linen closet,” decided the Circus Boy philosophically, onceup his weary journey

At sunrise Phil found that he was too tired to goa rest, so, as soon as he found a wooded place, he climbed a fence and lay down in the shade of the trees, where he quickly went to sleep

The afternoon ell along when finally he awakened, sore and stiff in every joint

”If I should try to ride a bareback horse now I should fall off for sure,” he orously

”My, but I ary! I wonder how far I a told him that he had covered just twentydistance for one in his condition

All during the rest of the day Phil was obliged to take frequent rests Whenever he ca his feet into the cooling water, keep them there for some time This helped him considerably, for his feet were swollen and feverish The sun beating down on his headbecause of his eet a sandwich at a farh he was looked upon with suspicion by the househo gave hi to pay for the slender meal, but the woman refused and bade hih looking custo along the track

He fought shy of villages during daylight, fearing that he rancy and locked up That would defeat his plans

”I siritted

”He doesn't know the plans these people have to haro any further today

I could get somebody to help ”

Now and then he ht looked any more disreputable than he himself did He passed the time of day pleasantly, with such, and continued on his way

Late in the evening he once more lay down for a rest But Phil did not per He feared he should not be able to wake up untilif he did, and then he never would reach the shon in tier

At daylight he was still ten miles from his destination