登陆注册
5161800000041

第41章

MAROONED IN A FREIGHT CAR

"Catch him!Catch him!Catch that man!"

The parade was just passing when Phil shouted out the words that attracted all eyes toward him.It was to a policeman that he appealed.

The lad had discovered a shock of red hair above the heads of the people, and was gradually working his way toward the owner of it, when all at once Red Larry discovered him.

Red pushed his way through the crowd and disappeared down an alleyway, the policeman to whom the boy had appealed making no effort to catch the man.

"What kind of a policeman are you, anyway?" cried Phil in disgust."That fellow is a crook, and we have been on the lookout for him for the last four weeks.""What's he done?"

"Done? Tried to poison one of the elephants, and a lot of other things.""The kid's crazy or else he belongs to the circus," laughed a bystander.

Phil Forrest did not hear the speaker, however, for the boy had dashed through the crowd and bounded into the alley where he had caught a glimpse of a head of red hair a moment before.

But Larry was nowhere in sight.He had disappeared utterly.

"I was right," decided Phil, after going the length of the alley and back."He's been following this show right along, and before he gets through he'll put us out of business if we don't look sharp."Considerable damage already had been done.Horses and other animals fell ill, in some instances with every evidence of poisoning; guy ropes were cut, and the cars had been tampered with in the railroad yards.

All this was beginning to get on the nerves of the owner of the show, as well as on those of some of his people who knew about it.Things had come to a point where it was necessary to place more men on guard about the lot to protect the show's property.

At each stand of late efforts had been made to get the police to keep an eye open for one Red Larry, but police officials do not, as a rule, give very serious heed to the complaints of a circus, especially unless the entire department has been pretty well supplied with tickets.Mr.Sparling was a showman who did not give away many tickets unless there were some very good reason for so doing.

Phil, in the meantime, had been at work in an effort to satisfy his own belief that Larry was responsible for their numerous troubles.Yet up to this moment the lad had not caught sight of Red; and now he had lost the scoundrel through the laxity of a policeman.

There was no use "crying over spilled milk," as Phil told himself.

The lad spent the next hour in tramping over the town where the circus was to show that day.He sought everywhere for Red, but not a sign of the fellow was to be found.

As soon as the parade was over Phil hastened back to the lot to acquaint Mr.Sparling with what he suspected.

"Do you know," said Phil, "I believe that fellow and his companion are riding on one of our trains every night?""What?" exclaimed the showman.

"You'll find I'm right when the truth is known.Then there's something else.There have been a lot of complaints about sneak thieves in the towns we have visited since Red left us.You can't tell.There may be some connection between these robberies and his following the show.I'm going to get Larry before I get through with this chase.""Be careful, Phil.He is a bad man.You know what to expect from him if he catches you again.""I am not afraid.I'll take care of myself if I see him coming.The trouble is that Red doesn't go after a fellow that way."Phil went on in his three acts as usual that afternoon, after having spent an hour at the front door taking tickets, to which task he had assigned himself soon after his talk with Mr.Sparling.

It was instructive; it gave the boy a chance to see the people and to get a new view of human nature.If there is one place in the world where all phases of human nature are to be found, that place is the front door of acircus.

The Circus Boys, by this time, had both fitted into their new acts as if they had been doing them for years--Phil doing the bareback riding and Teddy tumbling in the leaping act, both lads gaining the confidence and esteem more and more every day of their fellow performers and the owner of the show.

That night, after the performance was ended, Phil stood around for a time, watching the men at work pulling down the tent.He had another motive, too.He had thought that perchance he might see something of the man he was in search of, for no better time could be chosen to do damage to circus property than when the canvas was being struck.

Then everyone was too busy to pay any attention to anyone else.Teddy had gone on to pay his usual evening visit to the accommodation car and at the same time make miserable the existence of the worthy who presided over that particular car.

Phil waited until nearly twelve o'clock; then, deciding that it would be useless to remain there longer, turned his footsteps toward the railroad yards, for he was tired and wanted to get to bed as soon as possible.

He found the way readily, having been over to the car once during the morning while out looking for Red Larry.The night was very dark, however, and the yards, at the end from which he approached them, were enshrouded in deep shadows.

On down the tracks Phil could see the smoking torches where the men were at work running the heavy cages and canvas wagons up on the flat cars.Men were shouting and yelling, the usual accompaniment to this proceeding, while crowds of curious villagers were massed about the sides of the yard at that point, watching the operations.

同类推荐
  • 错误的喜剧

    错误的喜剧

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汉晋春秋

    汉晋春秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Golden Bowl

    The Golden Bowl

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净土五会念佛略法事仪赞

    净土五会念佛略法事仪赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 甲申战事记

    甲申战事记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 古今农事

    古今农事

    本书共分为九个部分,主要介绍农学研究的领域和方法,从农学的门类、动植物育种、病虫害防治、作物栽培、农业发展展望等方面,揭示农业科学的奥秘,使读者了解农学是一门什么样的学科。
  • 重生之天定帝女

    重生之天定帝女

    前世的风镜思,虽算不得是什么惊天地泣鬼神的大人物,但也好赖是人人称道的妙手神医,享誉天下美名。虽说这也是她自封医术之前了。于是,空有一身惊绝医术却不在救治他人的风镜思惨遭唾弃,令人记恨在心,某日月黑风高之时,被捅一刀,一命呜呼。重生后的风镜思,身份地位高了一层,但却成了一个十分新奇的角色,一个令人谈之色变,避之不及的帝女。此帝女名为容情安,据传从小坏事做尽,是个十足的小恶女。风镜思心道,这有什么,她自封了医术之后,也是人人喊打,出个门都能被扔一身臭鸡蛋。活了两辈子,她的命格永远像干了八辈子坏事,倒霉又凄惨。某日风镜思问起这具身体的命格。顾流端道:“你这个命格……”欲言又止,若有所思。风镜思蹙眉:“我这个命格如何?”传言道璟和国师无所不能,有通天本领,风镜思相信这些话不能是白说的。顾流端肃然:“容易招灾。”“何解?”“不必担心,只需一个温柔又大方的夫君来帮忙挡灾就好,”顾流端微笑,“比如我,就很合适。”风镜思面无表情。风镜思此人,不喜争名逐利,本想着平平淡淡替小恶女活完了这辈子,却发现总是事与愿违,小恶女身上藏着的秘密和阴谋,一旦发觉了,便是仿若一团迷雾,理不清也脱不开。所幸,她身边一直有一个人陪着她,无论历经多久,只要她一回头,便能看到爱她的,她所爱的那个人站在她身后。在别人眼里,顾流端冷漠,阴邪,自大,一旦招惹了他,他能报复到别人坟头上去。在风镜思眼里,他幼稚,别扭,自恋,缺点很多,但很可爱。和顾流端相遇,想来是她这两辈子最幸运的事了。【本文又名《唯一的技能被封印了该怎么办》、《美人国师,在线傲娇》、《帝女保命攻略》,萌新作者,简介无能,保证不坑,希望大家多多支持啦!】
  • 英雄联盟之末日之星

    英雄联盟之末日之星

    在无尽星空中,一个可怕的文明即将到来,为了应对这场危机,地球的守护者选出5位普通的地球人前往瓦罗兰大陆进行试炼,宇坤就是其中之一,看他如何在瓦罗兰大陆闯出一片天地,又是如何拯救地球于危难之中....
  • 本宫专治各种不服

    本宫专治各种不服

    赵平安深深觉得,老天让她先穿越后重生,还附赠了一份神秘大礼,肯定是想让她有不同的活法。所以上辈子腥风血雨,这一生干脆就过简(yin)单(xian)粗(jiao)暴(zha)吧。你有病吗?我有药啊。跟本公主对着干?呵呵,那就没药了。朗如星月的花三郎,长腿媚眼的楼大掌柜,还有某个黝黑健美小王子,上辈子我到底嫁给谁了?啊?还有别人!难道本公主还养了面首吗?都憋理我,让我静静……
  • 医说论语

    医说论语

    本书共分20个篇章,主要以人为本,从人文关怀的角度,合理、恰当地应用先进的诊疗技术,使中国百姓既能够享受传统人文关怀的和谐与温馨,又能够享受医学科学发展的最新成果。具体内容包括学而篇、公冶篇、乡党篇、子路篇、季氏篇等。该书可供各大专院校作为教材使用,也可供从事相关工作的人员作为参考用书使用。
  • 读史阅世

    读史阅世

    本书收录著名学者张元济先生的史学文章,出经入史,旁征博引,通畅中蕴含深奥,随意中透出匠心,以大手笔写小品文。
  • 这样说别人才会愿意听 这样做别人才会重视你

    这样说别人才会愿意听 这样做别人才会重视你

    谁都想让自己说的话有人听,都想让自己做的事情被人重视,那么如何去说、去做就是个需要认真考虑的问题。一个人是否具有良好的人缘,是否受到别人的欢迎,是否能够得到他人的大力支持,不仅受到其地位和出身的影响,更取决于他是否学会了说话做事的艺术。这也就是为什么在现实生活中,有些人虽然才华横溢,却总是四处碰壁,步履维艰;而有些人尽管资质平庸,却能够步步为营,无往不利。很多人为此困惑,迷茫,而本书就是为了解决这个问题。本书从说话的技巧和做事的诀窍入手,告诉人们说话做事如何才能有效率,以生动的例子和含义深刻的评述告诉读者说话有人愿意听,做事有人重视的奥秘所在。"
  • 夜间刑事部

    夜间刑事部

    “靠!为什么简历里不能自称老娘?老娘从十四岁上网二十二岁毕业从来没改过称呼,从来不用马甲一向使用本尊,ID都叫黑山老娘了,怎么可能不让老娘自称老娘?我靠!”一个穿着黑色连衣裙,蹬着一双莫约十公分的细跟高跟鞋的年轻女子夹着一大堆七零八落的材料怒气冲冲的挤出人山人海的招聘会现场……
  • 查理九世之碎裂友谊

    查理九世之碎裂友谊

    在一次阴谋之中,多多加入了暗夜帝国,与曾经的朋友为敌,这是怎么回事呢?
  • 叶霜传

    叶霜传

    武术少女误落湖中,穿越找到美男,可是却会消失。不敢面对少主的喜欢,一声哥哥凉透心。