the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第25部分
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approval of the sentiment。 He； too； had taken quite a fancy to Phil；
because of the lad's sunny disposition and natural brightness。 〃Get out the
coach some of you fellows。 Have my driver hook up and drive back into
the paddock here； and be mighty quick about it。 Here； doc； is a head of
lettuce （roll of money）。 If you need any more； you know where to reach
us。 Send me a telegram in the morning and another tomorrow night。
Keep me posted and pull that boy out of this scrape or you'll be
everlastingly out of a job with the Sparling Combined Shows。
Understand？〃 The surgeon nodded understandingly。 He had heard Mr。
Sparling bluster on other occasions； and it did not make any great
impression upon him。 The carriage was quickly at hand。 Circus people
were in the habit of obeying orders promptly。 A quick drive was made to
the hotel； where the circus boy was quickly undressed and put to bed。 All
during the night the surgeon worked faithfully over his little charge； and
just as the first streaks of daylight slanted through the window and across
the white counterpane； Phil opened his eyes。 For only a moment did they
remain open； then closed again。 The surgeon drew a long； deep breath。
〃Not a fracture；〃 he announced aloud。 〃I'm thankful for that。〃 He drew
the window shades down to shut out the light； as it was all important that
Phil should be kept quiet for a time。 But the surgeon did not sleep。 He
sat keen…eyed by the side of the bed； now and then noting the pulse of his
patient； touching the lad's cheeks with light fingers。 After a time the fresh
morning air； fragrant with the fields and flowers； drifted in； and the birds
in the trees took up their morning songs。 〃I guess the storm must be over；〃
muttered the medical man； rising softly and peering out from behind the
curtain。 The day was dawning bright and beautiful。 〃My； it feels good to
be in bed！〃 said a voice from the opposite side of the room。 〃Where am
I？〃 The surgeon wheeled sharply。 〃You are to keep very quiet。 You had a
tumble that shook you up considerably。〃 〃What time is it？〃 demanded Phil
sharply。 〃About five o'clock in the morning。〃 〃I must get up； I must get
up。〃 〃You will lie perfectly still。 The show will get along without you
today； I guess。〃 〃You don't mean they have gone on and left me？〃 〃Of
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course； they couldn't wait for you。〃 The boys eyes filled with tears。 〃I
knew it couldn't last。 I knew it。〃 〃See here； do you want to join the show
again？〃 〃Of course； I do。〃 〃Well； then； lie still。 The more quiet you keep
the sooner you will be able to get out。 Try to go to sleep。 I must go
downstairs and send a message to Mr。 Sparling； for he is very much
concerned about you。〃 〃Then he will take me back？〃 asked Phil eagerly。
〃Of course he will。〃 〃I'll go to sleep； doctor。〃 Phil turned over on his side
and a moment later was breathing naturally。 The doctor tip…toed from the
room and hastened down to the hotel office where he penned the following
message：
James Sparling； Sparling Combined Shows； Boyertown。
Forrest recovers consciousness。 Not a fracture。 Expect him to be all
right in a few days。 Will stay unless further orders。 Irvine。
〃I think I'll go upstairs and get a bit of a nap myself；〃 decided the
surgeon； after having directed the sleepy clerk to see to it that the message
was dispatched to its destination at once。 He found Phil sleeping soundly。
Throwing himself into a chair the surgeon； used to getting a catnap
whenever and wherever possible； was soon sleeping as soundly as was his
young patient。 Neither awakened until the day was nearly done。
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER XVIII
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
Phil's recovery was rapid； though four days passed before he was
permitted to leave his bed。 As soon as he was able to get downstairs and
sit out on the front porch of the hotel he found himself an object of interest
as well as curiosity。 The story of his accident had been talked of until it
had grown out of all proportion to the real facts in the case。 The boys of
the village hung over the porch rail and eyed him wonderingly and
admiringly。 It did not fall to their lot every day to get acquainted with a
real circus boy。 They asked him all manner of questions； which the lad
answered gladly； for even though he had suffered a severe accident； he
was not beyond enjoying the admiration of his fellows。 〃It must be great to
be a circus boy；〃 marveled one。 〃It is until you fall off and crack your
head；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's not half so funny then。〃 After returning to his
room that day Phil pondered deeply over the accident。 He could not
understand it。 〃Nobody seems to know what really did happen；〃 he mused。
〃Dr。 Irvine says the wire broke。 That doesn't seem possible。〃 Off in the
little dog tent of the owner of the show； Mr。 James Sparling； on the day
following the accident； was asking himself almost the same questions。 He
sent for Mr。 Kennedy after having disposed of his early morning business。
There was a scowl on the owner's face； but it had not been caused by the
telegram which lay on the desk before him； informing him that Phil was
not seriously hurt。 That was a source of keen satisfaction to the
showman； for he felt that he could not afford to lose the young circus boy。
Teddy was so upset over it； however； that the boss had about made up his
mind to let Phil's companion go back and join him。 While the showman
was thinking the matter over； Mr。 Kennedy appeared at the opening of the
dog tent。 〃Morning；〃 he greeted； which was responded to by a muttered
〃Huh！〃 from James Sparling。 〃Come in。 What are you standing out there
for？〃 Kennedy was so used to this form of salutation that he paid no
further attention to it than to obey the summons。 He entered and stood
waiting for his employer to speak。 〃I want you to tell me exactly what
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occurred last night； when young Forrest got hurt； Kennedy。〃 〃I can't tell
you any more about it than you heard last night。 He had started to make
his dive before I noticed that anything was wrong。 He didn't stop until he
landed on his head。 They said the wire snapped。〃 〃Did it？〃 〃I guess so；〃
grinned Kennedy。 〃Who is responsible for having picked out that wire？〃 〃I
guess I am。〃 〃And you have the face to stand there and tell me so？〃 〃I
usually tell the truth； don't I？〃 〃Yes； yes； you do。 That's what I like about
you。〃 〃Heard from the kid this morning？〃 〃Yes； he'll be all right in a few
days。 Concussion and general shaking up； that's all； but it's enough。
How are the bulls this morning？〃 〃Emperor is sour。 Got a regular grouch
on。〃 〃Misses that young rascal Phil； I suppose？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃H…m…m…m！〃
〃Didn't want to come through last night at all。〃 〃H…m…m…m。 Guess we'd
better fire you and let the boy handle the bulls； don't you think so？〃 The
trainer grinned and nodded。 〃Kennedy； you've been making your brags
that you always tell me the truth。 I am going to ask you a question； and I
want you to see if you can make that boast good。〃 〃Yes； sir。〃 Perhaps the
trainer understood something of what was in his employer's mind； for his
lips closed sharply while his jaw took on a belligerent look。 〃How did that
wire come to break； Kennedy？〃 The question came out with a snap； as if
the showman already had made up his mind as to what the answer should
be。 〃It was cut； sir；〃 answered the trainer promptly。 The lines in Mr。
Sparling's face drew hard and tense。 Instead of a violent outburst of
temper； which Kennedy fully expected； the owner sat silently
contemplating his trainer for a full minute。 〃Who did it？〃 〃I couldn't
guess。〃 〃I didn't ask you to guess。 I can guess for myself。 I asked who
did it？〃 〃I don't know。 I haven't the least idea who would do a job like
that in this show。 I hope the mean hound will take French leave before I
get him spotted； sir。〃 Mr。 Sparling nodded with emphasis。 〃I hope so；
Kennedy。 What makes you think the wire was cut？〃 With great
deliberation the trainer drew a small package from his inside coat pocket；
carefully unwrapped it； placing the contents on the table in front of Mr。
Sparling。 〃What's thiswhat's this？〃 〃That's the wire。〃 〃But there are two
