"Fortunate for the audience, I should say.Nothing could have held the tent with those ropes gone.It showed that the cordage had been cut by someone very familiar with the canvas.Almost a breath of wind would have caused the whole big top to collapse, and then a lot of people might have been killed.Well, the season is almost at an end now.If we are lucky we shall soon be out of it.""All the more reason for getting the fellow at once," nodded Phil."Why?""After a few days we shall be closing, and then we shall not get an opportunity.""That's good logic.I agree with you.I shall be delighted to place these hands of mine right on that fiend's throat.But first, will you tell me how I am going to do it? Haven't we been trying to catch him ever since those two men were discharged? Both of them are in this thing.""I think you will find that there is only one now.I believe Larry is working alone.I haven't any particular reason for thinking this; it just sort of seems to me to be so.""Any suggestions, Phil?I'll confess that I am at my wits' end." "Yes, I have been thinking of a plan lately.""What is it?"
"Have the trains searched." "What?"
"You will remember my saying, sometime ago, that I believed the fellow was still traveling with us and--""But how--where could he ride that he would not be sure of discovery?" protested Mr.Sparling.
"He has friends with the show, that's how," answered Phil convincingly.
"You amaze me."
"All the same, I believe you will find that to be the case." "And you would suggest searching the trains?""Yes."
"When?"
"Now.No; I don't mean at this very minute.I should suggest that tomorrow morning, say at daybreak, you send men over this entire train.Don't let them miss a single corner where a man might hide.""Yes; but this isn't the only train in the show.""I know.At the first stop, or you might do it here before we start, wire ahead to your other train managers to do the same thing.Tell them who it is you suspect.You'll be able to catch the squadron before they get in, though I do not believe our man will be found anywhere on that train.""Why not?"
"The squadron went out before the guy ropes were cut.""Great head! Great head, Phil Forrest," glowed the manager."You're a bigger man than I am any day in the week.Then, according to your reasoning, the fellow ought either to be on this section or the one just ahead of it?""Yes.But don't laugh at me if I don't happen to be right.It's just an idea I have gotten into my head.""I most certainly shall not laugh, my boy.I am almost convinced that you are right.At least, the plan is well worth carrying out.I'll give the orders to the train managers before we start.""I would suggest that you tell them not to give the orders to the menuntil ready to begin the search in the morning." "Good!Fine!" glowed the showman.
"I'm going to turn out and help search this section myself," said Phil."You know I have some interest in it, seeing that it is my plan," he smiled.
"Better keep out of it," advised Mr.Sparling."You might fall off from the cars.You are not used to walking over the tops of them.""Oh, yes I am.I have done it a number of times this season just to help me to steady my nerves.I can walk a swaying box car in a gale of wind and not get dizzy."Mr.Sparling held up his hands protestingly.
"Don't tell me any more.I believe you.If you told me you could run the engine I'd believe you.If there be anything you don't know how to do, or at least know something about, I should be glad to know what that something is.""May I send your messages?" asked the lad."If you will write them now I'll take them over to the station.It must be nearly starting time.""Yes; it is.No; I'll call one of the men."Mr.Sparling threw up his desk and rapidly scribbled his directions to the train managers ahead.After that he sent forward for the manager of their particular section, to whom he confided Phil Forrest's plan, the lad taking part in the discussion that followed.The train manager laughed at the idea that anyone could steal a ride on his train persistently without being detected.
Mr.Sparling very emphatically told the manager that what he thought about it played no part in the matter at all.He was expected to make a thorough search of the train.""His search won't amount to anything" thought Phil shrewdly."I'll do the searching for this section and I'll find the fellow if he is on board.I hope I shall.I owe Red Larry something, and I'm anxious to pay the debt."The train soon started, Phil bidding his employer good night, went forward to No.1 which was the forward sleeper on the train, next to the box and flat cars.He peered into Teddy Tucker's berth, finding that lad sound asleep, after which he tumbled into his own bed.
But Phil was restless.He was so afraid that he would oversleep that he slept very little during the night.
At the first streak of dawn he tumbled quietly from his berth, and, putting on his clothes, stepped out to the front platform, where he took a long breath of the fresh morning air.
The train was climbing a long grade in the Sierra Nevadas and the car couplings were groaning under the weight put upon them.
Phil climbed to the top of the big stock car just ahead of him, and sat down on the brake wheel.
Far ahead he saw several men going over the cars.
"They have not only begun the search but they are almost through," muttered Phil."As I thought, they are not half doing it.I guess I'll take a hand."Phil stood up, caught his balance and began walking steadily over the top of the swaying car.At the other end of the car he opened the trap door which was used to push hay through for the animals, examining its interior carefully.There was no sign of a stranger inside, nor did he expect to find any there.
"He'll be in a place less likely to be looked into," muttered the lad starting on again and jumping down to a flat car just ahead.
