the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第11部分
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In the meantime the Great Sparling Combined Shows had moved
majestically along。 They had left the United States and were touring
Canada； playing in many of the quaint little French villages and larger
towns； where the Circus Boys found much to interest and amuse them。
Teddy and Shivers had made a great hit in their 〃brother〃 clown act；
which was daily added to and improved upon as the show worked its way
along the Canadian border。
One day Phil； who had been downtown after the parade； where he
went to read the papers when he got a chance； came back and sought out
Mr。 Sparling in the latter's private tent。
〃Well； Phil；〃 greeted the owner cordially； 〃what's on your mind？〃
〃Perhaps a good deal； but possibly nothing of any consequence。 You
will have to decide that。〃
〃What is it？〃 questioned Mr。 Sparling sharply。
〃Do we show in Corinto？〃
〃Yes； why？〃
〃I thought I had heard you mention that we were to do so。〃
〃Why do you ask that question？〃
〃I'll answer it by asking another；〃 smiled the Circus Boy。 〃When do we
make that stand？〃
The showman consulted his route book。
〃A week from next Tuesday；〃 he said。 〃Anything wrong about that？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What？〃
〃Nothing except that there is another show billed to play there the day
before。〃
〃What？〃
Mr。 Sparling bent a keen gaze on Phil's face； to make sure the lad was
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
not joking。
〃Yes； the Sully Hippodrome Circus is billed there for Monday。〃
〃Where did you find that out？〃
〃I read it in a St。 Catharines' paper down at the hotel this morning。 I
thought you would be interested in knowing of it。〃
〃Interested？ Why； boy； it will kill our business。 So Sully is cutting
in on us； is he？ I thought he was playing the eastern circuit。 He
threatened to get even with me。〃
〃Even？〃
〃Yes。 Sully was once a partner in this show； but he proved himself so
dishonest that I had to take legal measures to get him out。 He got money
from some source last season； and put a show of his own on the road。 He
has a twenty…five car show； I understand。 Not such a small outfit at that。
But I hear it is a graft show。〃
〃What's a graft show？ I must confess that I never heard of that
before。〃
〃A graft show； my boy； is a show that gets money in various ways。
They frequently carry a gang of thieves and confidence men with them；
who work among the spectators on the grounds before the show； robbing
them and getting a commission on their earnings。〃
〃Is it possible that there are such dishonest people in the show
business？〃 marveled the lad。
〃Not only possible； but an actual fact。 I am happy to say； however；
that there are few shows that will tolerate anything of that sort。〃
〃I'm glad I did not have the misfortune to get with one of them；〃
smiled Phil。 〃Are any of the big shows graft shows？〃
〃None of them。 But about this heading us off？〃
〃Yes； what will you do about it？〃
〃We'll be there on Monday； too；〃 decided the showman after a
moment's reflection。
〃On Monday？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Thenthen you intend to skip a date somewhere？〃
〃We shall have to。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Mr。 Sparling was a man of resource and quick action。 He made up
his mind in a minute as to what course to follow。
〃I'm going to detach you from the show for a few days； if you don't
mind； Phil；〃 decided Mr。 Sparling。
〃I am glad to serve you in any way that you think I can；〃 answered the
lad with a flash of surprise in his glance。
〃I know that。 What I want you to do is to join that show right away。〃
〃Join them？〃
〃I do not mean that exactly。 I want you to go to the town where they
are playing tomorrow； I will get the name of the town before the day is
over。 Follow the show right along from town to town until next Monday；
paying your way when you go in and keeping your eyes open for their
game。 You； with your shrewdness； ought to have no difficulty in getting
sufficient evidence to help me carry out my plans。〃
〃What sort of evidence do you wish me to get？〃
〃Make a mental note of everything you see that is not regular； and if
they have a route card get a copy of that。 It's perfectly regular； young
man；〃 hastened the showman； noting Phil's look of disapproval。 〃You are
not doing anything improper。 I do not ask you to pry into their private
affairs。 We have a right； however； to find out if we can； what their plans
are with relation to ourselves。 If they are playing Corinto the day before
we do； just by mere chance； then I shall make no further objections； but if
they are planning to move along ahead of us and kill our businesswell；
that's a different matter。〃
〃I see；〃 nodded Phil。 〃Who will take my place in the ring work
here？〃
〃We will get along without it； that's all。 It doesn't matter so much in
these small towns。 I don't care if you do not join out until we get to
Niagara Falls。 We'll be playing in the real country then。〃
〃And working south？〃
〃Yes。 As soon as the weather gets cooler we will head for the south
and stay there until the close of the season。 They are going to have a big
cotton crop in the south this fall； and there will be lots of money lying
around loose to be picked up by a show like ours。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃When do you want me to start？〃 asked Phil。
〃Just as soon as I can get an answer to a telegram that I'm going to
send now。 You will be off sometime this afternoon。 But perhaps you can
go on in your actsno； I guess you had better not。 You'll be missed at
night if you do。〃
〃Yes； that's so。〃
〃I shall have some further directions for you。 So long； for the
present。〃
Phil turned away thoughtfully。 Shortly after the afternoon
performance Mr。 Sparling sent for Phil again； the lad having in the
meantime packed a few necessary articles in his bag preparatory to the
journey that lay before him。
〃The other show will be at St。 Catharines tomorrow。 Are you ready？〃
〃Yes； sir。 What time can I get away？〃
〃Five o'clock。 You will be there in the morning in time to see them
set the tents。 Let me warn you that Sully is ugly and unscrupulous。 If
he were to know what you are there for it might get you into a mix…up； so
be careful。〃
〃I'll be careful。 Have you any further instructions？〃
〃I want to give you some money。 You can't travel without money。〃
〃I have plenty；〃 answered Phil。 〃I will keep my expense account and
turn it in to you when I get back。 Where do you wish me to join you？〃
〃Corinto； unless you think best to come back in the meantime。 That is；
if you get sufficient information。 You know what I want without my
going into details； don't you？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Now； look out for yourself。〃
〃I'll try to。〃
〃You have not mentioned to anyone what you are going to do； of
course？〃
〃Certainly not。 Not even to Teddy。 Perhaps if you will； you might
make the explanation to him；〃 suggested Phil。
〃Yes； I'll do that as soon as you have gotten away。 He'll be raising
the roof off the big top when he misses you。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil extended his hand to his employer； then turned and hurried from
the tent。 First； the boy proceeded to the sleeping car in which he berthed；
for his bag。 Securing this he had just time to reach the station before the
five o'clock train rumbled in。
The lad boarded a sleeping car and settled himself for the long ride
before him； passing the time by reading the current magazines with which
he provided himself when the train agent came through。 Late in the
evening the lad turned in。 Riding in a sleeping car was no novelty to him；
and he dropped asleep almost instantly； not to awaken again until the
porter shook him gently by the shoulder。
〃What is it？〃 questioned Phil； starting up。
〃St。 Catharines。〃
The lad pulled the curtains of his berth aside。 Day was just breaking
as he peered out。
〃There they are；〃 he muttered； catching sight of a switch full of
gaudily painted cars bearing the name of the Sully Hippodrome Circus。
〃They have just got in；〃 he decid
