ON SULLY'S PRIVATE CAR
"Where are you taking me?" Phil demanded."You'll see in a minute.""And so will you.There are laws to punish such high-handed methods as yours, and I'll see that you are punished, and well punished, too.If I can't do it, there are others who will--who will see that you get what you deserve.""Keep on talking.It will be my turn pretty soon," answered Sully.
In a short time Phil discovered that they were driving along by the railroad tracks.He knew that the yards where the circus train was standing were only a short distance beyond.
"I guess he's going to take me to the train, for some reason or other," decided Phil, but he could not understand what the showman's motive might be.
The Circus Boy was not afraid, but he was thoroughly angry.His grit and stubbornness had been aroused and he was ready to take any desperate chance.However, he felt that, after all, this capture might be the means of giving him the further information of which he was in search.He might possibly be able to draw some admission from Sully.
They drew up beside the tracks and the carriage halted.
"Now, not a sound!" warned the showman."If you raise your voice, or so much as speak to anyone you see, I'll forget that you are a kid and--""I am not afraid of your threats," interrupted Phil."I know you are brute enough to do what you say you will, but it won't be good for you if you do.Go on.I'll follow till I get a chance to escape.""You'll not get the chance," retorted Sully, taking firm hold of the boy's arm.
They made their way through the yards, avoiding the gasoline torches that flared familiarly here and there among the mass of cars, then turned toward the station.As the lights of the latter came into view, the showman halted, looked up and down the tracks, then led Phil to the platform of a car which the boy recognized as being one of the show'ssleepers.
"That's what I thought he was up to," muttered Phil, watching for an opportunity to leap off the other side and lose himself among the cars.
No such opportunity was offered to him, however, and a moment later the door of the sleeper had been opened, and he was pushed roughly inside, Mr.Sully following in quickly, slamming and locking the door behind them.
"Get in there and sit down!" "Where?"
"In the private office there."
"So this is your private car, is it?" "Yes.""Hm-m-m!"
"You seem to know a lot about the show business."Phil made no reply, but dropped into the owner's chair at the latter's desk.
"Get out of that chair!"
"I thought you invited me to sit down?"
"I did, but I might have known you wouldn't have had sense enough to sit where you ought to.""Where's that?" "On the floor."
"I am not in the habit of being received that way," taunted Phil, making no move to vacate the chair.
Sully, with a grunt of disapproval, sat down in another chair, placing himself so the light would fall fully on Phil's face.
"Now, what's your name?"
"You'll have to guess that," smiled Phil."That's where you're wrong.I know it." "What is my name?""Forrest.You're a bareback rider in the Sparling outfit.You thought you would not be known, but you see you are.You can't fool a man in the show business so easily.After you have grown older in the business you will learn a few things.""I am learning fast," laughed the lad."I am learning a lot of things that I wish I did not have to learn.""What, for instance?"
"That there are such men as you in the show business.""Be careful, boy.You will go too far, the first thing you know.Now, what are you doing here?""If you know so much I don't see why you should have to ask that question.""I'm asking."
"And I'm not telling.I'll answer none of your questions, unless it is about something that I can tell you without getting others into trouble.""You already have admitted that you are with the Sparling show.You have made several slips of the tongue since I got hold of you.""I haven't denied that I am with the Sparling show, neither have I admitted it.I decline to lie or to give you any information of any nature whatever.""When is the Sparling show coming here?"
"I was not aware that it was coming here.Is it?""No, I didn't mean that.I mean when are they going to show in Corinto?"Phil was silent.
"You might as well make a clean breast of the whole business, young man.I've caught you red-handed, snooping about the lot for two days quizzing everybody.Now what's the game?""There is no game."
"What is Sparling trying to find out?" "You will have to ask him, I guess."Sully surveyed the lad in silence for a minute or two.
"I couldn't understand, at first, why he should send a kid like you to spy upon us; but I begin to see that you are a sharp little monkey--"Just then the showman was interrupted by the entrance of the foreman of the stake and chain gang.
