SEARCHING THE TRAIN
Salt Lake City proved an unusual attraction to the Circus Boys, they having read so much of it in story and textbooks.
Here they visited the great Mormon Temple.During their two day stand they made a trip out to the Great Salt Lake where Teddy Tucker insisted in going in swimming.His surprise was great when he found that he could not swim at all in the thick, salty water.The trip over the mountains, through the wonderful scenery of the Rockies and the deep canyons where the sunlight seldom reaches was one of unending interest to them.
Most of the show people had been over this same ground with other circuses many times before, for there are few corners of the civilized world that the seasoned showman has not visited at least once in his life.
It was all new to the Circus Boys, however, and in the long day trips over mountain and plain, they found themselves fully occupied with the new, entrancing scenes.
By this time both lads had become really finished performers in their various acts, and they had gone on through the greater part of the season without serious accident in their work.Of course they had had tumbles, as all showmen do, but somehow they managed to come off with whole skins.
For a time after the wreck of the accommodation car the show had no further trouble that could be laid at the door of Red Larry or his partner.However, after a few days, the reports of burglaries in towns where the show exhibited became even more numerous.
"We can't furnish police protection to the places we visit," answered Mr.Sparling, when spoken to about this."But, if ever I get my hands on that red head, the fur will fly!"Passing out of the state of Utah, a few stands were made in Nevada, but the jumps were now long and it was all the circus trains could do to get from stand to stand in time.As it was, they were not always able to givethe parade, but the manager made up for this by getting up a free show out in front of the big top just before the afternoon and evening performances began.
Reno was the last town played in Nevada, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the tents were struck and the show moved across the line into California.The difficulty of getting water for man and beast had proved a most serious one.At Reno, however, a most serious thing had occurred, one that disturbed the owner of the show very greatly.Many of the guy ropes holding the big top, had been cut while the performance was going on and most of the canvasmen and laborers were engaged in taking down and loading the menagerie outfit.
A wind storm was coming up, but fortunately it veered off before reaching Reno.The severed ropes were not discovered until after the show was over and the tent was being struck.Mr.Sparling had been quickly summoned.After a careful examination of the ropes he understood what had happened.Phil, too, had discovered one cut rope and the others, on his way from the dressing tent to the front, after finishing his performance.
But there was nothing now that required his looking up Mr.Sparling, in view of the fact that the canvas was already coming down.Yet after getting his usual night lunch in the town, the lad strolled over to the railroad yards intending to visit the manager as soon as the latter should have returned from the lot.
The two met just outside the owner's private car, a short time after the loading had been completed.
"Oh, I want to see you, Mr.Sparling, if you have the time.""I've always time for that.I was in hopes I would get a chance to have a chat with you before we got started.Will you come in?""Yes, thank you."
Entering the private car Mr.Sparling took off his coat and threw himself into a chair in front of his roll-top desk.
"Phil, there's deviltry going on in this outfit again," he said fixing a stern eye on the little Circus Boy.
Phil nodded.
"You don't seem to be very much surprised." "I'm not.I think I know what you mean." "You do?What for instance?""The cutting of those ropes tonight," smiled Phil."You know that?"The lad nodded again, but this time with more emphasis.
"Is there anything that goes on in this outfit that you do not know about?""Oh, I presume so.If I hadn't chanced to walk over a place where there should have been a guy rope I probably never should have discovered what had been done.""I'll bet you would," answered the owner, gazing at the lad admiringly."It is fortunate for us that we did not have a wind storm during theevening."
