the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第22部分
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He found Mr。 Sparling striding up and down in front of the elephant
enclosure。
〃I hope nothing very serious happened； Mr。 Sparling；〃 greeted Phil；
approaching him。
〃If you mean damages； no。 A few people knocked down； mostly due
to their own carelessness。 I've got the claim…adjuster at work settling
with all we can get hold of。 But we'll get it all back tonight； my boy。
We'll have a turn…away this afternoon； too； unless I am greatly mistaken。
Why； they're lining up outside the front door now。〃
〃I'm glad for both these things；〃 smiled Phil。 〃Especially so because
no one was killed。〃
〃No。 But one of our bareback riders was put out of business for a
time。〃
〃Is that so？ Who？〃
〃Monsieur Liebman。〃
〃Oh； that's too bad。 What happened to him？〃
〃Someone ran him down。 He was thrown and sprained his ankle。 He
won't ride for sometime； I reckon。 But e over here and sit down。 I
want to have a little chat with you。〃
Mr。 Sparling crossed the tent； sitting down on a bale of straw just back
of the monkey cage。 The simians were chattering loudly； as if discussing
the exciting incidents of the morning。 But as soon as they saw the
showman they flocked to the back of the cage； hanging by the bars；
watching him to find out what he was going to do。
He made a place for Phil beside him。
〃Sit down。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃I was just running up in my mind； on my way back； that； in actual
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figures； you've saved me about ten thousand dollars。 Perhaps it might be
double that。 But that's near enough for all practical purposes。〃
〃I saved you〃 marveled Phil； flushing。
〃Yes。〃
〃How？〃
〃Well； you began last year； and you have started off at the same old
pace this season。 Today you have gone and done it again。 That was one
of the nerviest things I ever saw。 I wouldn't have given a copper cent for
your life； and I'll bet you wouldn't； either。〃
〃N…o…o；〃 reflected Phil slowly； 〃I thought I was a goner。〃
〃While the rest of our crowd were hiking for cover； like a lot of 'cold
feet；' you were diving right into the heart of the trouble； picking up my
principal equestrienne。 Then you sent her away and stopped to face the
herd of bulls。 Jumping giraffes； but it was a sight！〃
By this time the monkeys had gone back to finish their animated
discussion。
〃I do not deserve any credit for that。 I was caught and I thought I
might as well face the music。〃
〃Bosh！ I heard you calling for Emperor； and I knew right away that
that little head of yours was working like the wheels of a chariot in a
Roman race。 I knew what you were trying to do； but I'd have bet a
thousand yards of canvas you never would。 You did； though；〃 and the
showman sighed。
Phil was very much embarrassed and sat kicking his heels into the soft
turf； wishing that Mr。 Sparling would talk about something else。
〃The whole town is talking about it。 I'm going to have the press
agent wire the story on ahead。 I told him； just before I came in； that if
he'd follow you he'd get 'copy' enough to last him all the rest of his natural
life。 All that crowd out there has e because there was a young circus
boy with the show； who had a head on his shoulders and the pluck to back
his gray matter。〃
〃Have you talked with Mr。 Kennedy？〃 asked Phil； wishing to change
the personal trend of the conversation。
〃Yes； why？〃
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〃Did he say what he thought was the matter with Jupiter？〃
〃He didn't know。 He knew only that Jupiter had been 'off' for nearly
two days。 Kennedy said something about a bad stomach。 Why do you
ask that question？〃 demanded the showman； with a shrewd glance at the
boy。
〃Because I have been wondering about Jupiter quite a little since
morning。 I've been thinking； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃Now what are you driving at？ You've got something in your head。
Out with it！〃
〃It may sound foolish； but〃
〃But what？〃
〃While Jupiter was bad； he showed none of the signs that e from a
fit of purely bad temperthat is； before the stampede。〃
〃That's right。〃
〃Then what brought it on？〃 asked Phil looking Mr。 Sparling squarely
in the eyes。
For a few seconds man and boy looked at each other without a word。
〃What's your idea？〃 asked the showman quietly。
〃It's my opinion that somebody doctored himgave him something〃
The showman uttered a long； low whistle。
〃You've hit it！ You've hit it！〃 he exclaimed； bringing a hand down on
the lad's knee with such force that Phil winced。 〃It's one of those rascally
canvasmen that I discharged。 Oh； if ever I get my hands on him it will be
a sorry day for him！ You haven't seen him about； have you？〃
〃I thought I caught a glimpse of him on the street yesterday during the
parade； but he disappeared so quickly that I could not be sure。〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded reflectively。
〃You probably heard how Emperor ducked him and〃
〃Yes； you remember I came up just after the occurrence。 I'll tell you
what I want you to do。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I'll release you from the parade for tomorrow； and perhaps longer； and
I want you to spend your time moving around among the downtown
crowds to see if you can spot him。 If you succeed； well you will know
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what to do。〃
〃Want me to act as a sort of detective？〃 grinned Phil。
〃Well； you might put it that way； but I don't。 You are serving me if〃
〃Yes； I know that。 I am glad to serve you in any way I can。〃
〃I don't have to take your word for that；〃 laughed Mr。 Sparling。 〃I
think you have shown me。 I have been thinking of another matter。 It
has been in my mind for several days。〃
Phil glanced up inquiringly。
〃How would you like to e out front？〃
〃You mean？〃
〃To join my staff？ I need someone just like youa young man with
ideas； with the force to put them into execution after he has developed
them。 You are the one I want。〃
〃But； Mr。 Sparling〃
〃Wait till I get through。 You can continue with your acts if you wish；
just the same； and give your odd moments to me。〃
〃In what capacity？〃
〃Well； for the want of a better name we'll call it a sort of confidential
man。〃
〃I appreciate the offer more than I can tell you； Mr。 Sparling。 Butbut…
…〃
〃But what？〃
〃I want to go through the mill in the ring。 I want to learn to do
everything that almost anyone can do there。〃
The showman laughed。
〃Then you would be able to do what few men ever have succeeded in
doing。 You would be a wonder。 I'm not saying that you are not that
already； in your way。 But you would be a wonder among showmen。〃
〃I can do quite a lot of things now。〃
〃I know you can。 And you will。 What do you say？〃
〃It's funny； but since you told me of the accident to your bareback man；
I was going to ask you something。〃
〃What？〃
〃Rather； I was going to suggest〃
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〃Well； out with it！〃
〃I was going to suggest that you let me fill in his place until he is able
to work again。 It would save you the expense of getting a new performer
on； and would hold the job for the present man。〃
〃You； a bareback rider？〃
Phil nodded。
〃But you can't ride！〃
〃But I can；〃 smiled the lad。 〃I've been at it almost ever since we
started the season。 I've been working every day。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃No。 Mrs。 Robinson has been teaching me。 Of course； I am not
much of a rider； but I can manage to stick on somehow。〃
The manager was regarding him thoughtfully。
〃As I have intimated strongly before this； you beat anything I ever
have seen in all my circus experience。 You say you can ride bareback？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I should like to see what you can do。 Mind you； I'm not saying I'll
let you try it in public。 Just curious； you know； to see what you have
been doing。〃
〃Nowwill you see me ride now？〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded。
〃Then I'll run back and get ready。 I'll be out in a few minutes；〃
laughed the boy； as； with sparkling eyes and flushed face； he dashed back
to the dressing tent to convey the good news to Little Dimples。
〃I knew it；〃 she cried enthusiastically。 〃I knew you would be a rival
soon。 Now I've got to look out or I shall be
