the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第14部分
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was sparring to keep his opponents off； found time to smile grimly。
The fellow he had first made captive now attacked Phil viciously； the
lad defending himself as best he could； while the people who had come to
attend the show got out of harm's way as rapidly as possible。 Phil could
hope for no assistance from that quarter。
〃I guess I have gotten myself into a worse scrape by calling the rest of
the gang；〃 he muttered； noting that he was being surrounded as some of
the first comers pointed him out to the others。
Suddenly they fell upon Phil with one accord。 He was jerked this
way and that； but succeeded pretty well in dodging the blows aimed at his
head； though his clothes were torn and he was pretty badly used。
Suddenly a voice roared out close behind him。
〃Stop it！〃
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Turning his head a little Phil recognized Sully； the owner of the show。
Sully's face was redder than ever。
〃Whatwhat's all this row about？ Haven't you fellows anything
more important to do than raising a roughhouse？ Get out of here； the
whole bunch of you！ What's he done？ Turn him over to the police and
go on about your business。〃
One of the men said something in a low tone to Sully。 The showman
shot a keen； inquiring glance at the lad。
〃Who are you？〃 he demanded。
〃I don't know that it makes any difference。 I saw a fellow robbing a
woman； and it was my duty to stop him。 I did it； then a lot of his
companions； who； I suppose； belong to your show pitched into me。〃
〃So； you are trying to run the whole show； are you？〃
〃I am not。〃
〃Well； you get off this lot as fast as you can hoof it。 If I find you
butting in again it will be the worse for you。〃
〃That's the fellow who was hanging around the lot at St。 Catharines
yesterday；〃 spoke up someone。
〃Yes； I remember now； he was asking me questions；〃 said another；
whose voice Phil recognized as belonging to the foreman of the stake and
chain gang。 〃I got to thinking about it afterwards； and realized that he
was a little too inquisitive for a greenhorn。 He's been on the lot all day
again。〃
Mr。 Sully surveyed Phil with an ugly scowl。
〃What are you doing around here； young man？〃
〃For one thing； I am trying to prevent one of your followers robbing a
woman；〃 answered Phil boldly。
〃Who are you？〃
〃That is my own affair。〃
〃I know him！ I know him！ I Know！〃 shouted another。
Sully turned to him inquiringly。
〃Who is he； if you know so much？〃
〃He's a fellow what was with the Sparling outfit last year。 He was
always butting in then； and I can tell you he ain't here for any good now；
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Boss。〃
〃So； that's the game is it？〃 sneered Sully。 〃You come with me。 I've
got a few questions I want to ask you。〃
〃I don't have to go with you；〃 replied Phil。
〃Oh； yes you do！ Bring him along and if he raises a row just hand
him one and put him to sleep。〃
Two men grabbed Phil roughly by his arms。
He jerked away and started to run when he was pounced upon and
borne to the ground。 Phil found himself grasped by the collar and jerked
violently to his feet； with the leering face of Sully thrust up close to his
own。
〃I'll see that you don't get away this time；〃 growled the showman。
Dragging the lad along by the collar further off on the lot； the
showman finally paused。
〃Get the carriage；〃 he commanded sharply。
〃What you going to do with me？〃 demanded Phil。
〃That depends。 I'm going to find out something about you first； and
decide what to do with you later。〃
〃And； when you get through； I shall have you arrested for assault。 It
will be my turn to act then；〃 retorted the Circus Boy。 〃I have done
nothing except to stop a miserable thief from plying his trade。 I
understand that's a game you〃
〃That will do； young man。 Here's the wagon。 Now； if you go
quietly you will have no trouble。 But just try to call for help； or raise any
sort of a ruction； and you'll see more stars than there are in the skies when
the moon's on a strike。 Get in there。〃
Phil was thrust into the closed carriage； which the showman used for
driving back and forth between the train and the lot。
Quick as a flash Phil Forrest dived through the open coach window on
the other side； and with equal quickness he was pounced upon by the
driver； who had gotten off on that side； probably at a signal from Sully。
Had Sully not run around to the other side of the wagon Phil would
have quickly disposed of the driver； strong as was the latter。
With an enraged cry Sully sprang upon Phil； and raised his hand to
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strike。
〃If you attempt to do that you'll serve the rest of the season in jail；〃
dared Phil； taking a bold course。 〃You know they don't trifle with brutes
like you up here in Canada？〃
Sully growled an unintelligible reply； but that he recognized the truth
of the lad's words was evident when he slowly dropped his clenched fist to
his side。
〃I'll see that you don't get away this time；〃 he said once more thrusting
Phil into the carriage； this time； however； keeping a firm grip on the lad's
arm。
The driver whipped up the horse and the carriage rumbled away； soon
reaching the village street and turning sharply off into a side street。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XI
ON SULLY'S PRIVATE CAR
〃Where are you taking me？〃 Phil demanded。
〃You'll see in a minute。〃
〃And so will you。 There are laws to punish such high…handed
methods as yours； and I'll see that you are punished； and well punished；
too。 If I can't do it； there are others who willwho will see that you get
what you deserve。〃
〃Keep on talking。 It will be my turn pretty soon；〃 answered Sully。
In a short time Phil discovered that they were driving along by the
railroad tracks。 He knew that the yards where the circus train was
standing were only a short distance beyond。
〃I guess he's going to take me to the train； for some reason or other；〃
decided Phil； but he could not understand what the showman's motive
might be。
The Circus Boy was not afraid； but he was thoroughly angry。 His grit
and stubbornness had been aroused and he was ready to take any desperate
chance。 However； he felt that； after all； this capture might be the means
of giving him the further information of which he was in search。 He
might possibly be able to draw some admission from Sully。
They drew up beside the tracks and the carriage halted。
〃Now； not a sound！〃 warned the showman。 〃If you raise your voice；
or so much as speak to anyone you see； I'll forget that you are a kid and〃
〃I am not afraid of your threats；〃 interrupted Phil。 〃I know you are
brute enough to do what you say you will； but it won't be good for you if
you do。 Go on。 I'll follow till I get a chance to escape。〃
〃You'll not get the chance；〃 retorted Sully； taking firm hold of the boy's
arm。
They made their way through the yards； avoiding the gasoline torches
that flared familiarly here and there among the mass of cars； then turned
toward the station。 As the lights of the latter came into view； the
showman halted； looked up and down the tracks； then led Phil to the
platform of a car which the boy recognized as being one of the show's
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sleepers。
〃That's what I thought he was up to；〃 muttered Phil； watching for an
opportunity to leap off the other side and lose himself among the cars。
No such opportunity was offered to him； however； and a moment later
the door of the sleeper had been opened； and he was pushed roughly inside；
Mr。 Sully following in quickly； slamming and locking the door behind
them。
〃Get in there and sit down！〃
〃Where？〃
〃In the private office there。〃
〃So this is your private car； is it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hm…m…m！〃
〃You seem to know a lot about the show business。〃
Phil made no reply； but dropped into the owner's chair at the latter's
desk。
〃Get out of that chair！〃
〃I thought you invited me to sit down？〃
〃I did； but I might have known you wouldn't have had sense enough to
sit where you ought to。〃
