"Hey, Phil!"
"What is it, Teddy?"
IN THEIR HOME TOWN
"Wake up!We are in the old town again."
Phil Forrest pulled aside the curtain and peered out from his berth into the railroad yards, the bright May sunshine flooding the old familiar scenes at Edmeston.Far off he could just make out the red brick chimney of his Uncle Abner's home.
What recollections it brought back to Phil Forrest--recollections that went back still further to a sweet face and laughing eyes his mother!
Phil dropped the curtain and lay face down in the pillow for a moment."I say, Phil.""What is it?" demanded the lad in a muffled voice."Guess who's out there?""I don't know."
"The gang's out there." "Who?"
"The gang.The whole high school crowd." "Oh!""They're looking for us.Lucky we're on the last section, for if it was dark, we couldn't make much of a splurge getting off the train.Aren't you going to get up?""Yes."
Phil slowly pulled himself from his berth, then began drawing on his clothes.Teddy was already up and nearly dressed, full of expectation of what was before him.For Phil there was something that tinged his joy with sadness, though he could not make up his mind why it should be so.His reverie was broken in upon by the voice of Teddy Tucker.
"Come, hurry up!"
"I am all ready now," answered Phil."Have you washed?" "You bet.I always wash the first thing in the morning."Together the Circus Boys stepped out on the platform.There, lined upby the side of the track, were their companions and school fellows waiting to welcome them.
The high school boys uttered a shout when they espied Phil and Teddy."How'dy, fellows!" greeted Teddy, posing on the car platform for amoment, that they might gaze upon him admiringly.
Phil was already on the ground, hurrying toward the boys with both hands outstretched.A moment more and the two lads had been grabbed by their schoolmates and literally overwhelmed, while a crowd of villagers stood off against a pile of lumber, laughing and calling out greetings to the Circus Boys.
Phil and Teddy, as soon as they were able to get away, hurried to the circus lot for their breakfast.There they found a great crowd of people whom they knew, and for a few minutes they were kept busy shaking hands, after which the boys with faces wreathed in smiles, proudly entered the cook tent.Teddy glanced up quizzically when they got inside.
"Well I guess we're some, eh, Phil?"
"I guess so.I hope everything goes all right today.I should die of mortification if anything were to happen to our acts.You want to keep your mind right on your work today.Don't pay any attention to the audience.Remember a whole lot of people are coming to this show today just because they are interested in you and me.""I guess I know how to perform," sputtered Teddy.
"I haven't said you do not.I know you do, but I don't want you to forget that you do.""Look out for yourself.I'll take care of myself," growled Teddy."I'm going to."Having finished their breakfast the boys started for the village, to call on Mrs.Cahill, their guardian and the custodian of their earnings.As they were leaving the grounds, Phil paused suddenly.
"Look there," he said, pointing to Mr.Sparling's office tent.
"Well, if it isn't Billy Ford, the president of our class," breathed Teddy."I didn't see him at the train when we came in this morning; did you?""No.He wasn't there."
"Now, what do you suppose he is doing in Mr.Sparling's tent?""I haven't the least idea unless he is trying to find out where we are.Hey, Billy!"Billy Ford paused at the sound of the familiar call; then the Circus Boys hurried toward him.Billy went suddenly red in the face as if he were very much embarrassed.
"What you doing in there?" demanded Teddy.
"Why--why--perhaps I was trying to join the show," stammered Billy."We wouldn't have you.You and I couldn't travel in the same show.
They'd fire us both."
"Why?" questioned Billy, now regaining his presence of mind." 'Cause, between us we'd put the show out of business.""I believe you would," nodded Phil."Where you going, boys?""Mrs.Cahill's."
"Then I'll walk down that way with you.What time do you get through at night?""We finish our last act about ten o'clock," answered Phil."Why?" "Oh, nothing much.I just wanted to know."Phil shot a swift, suspicious glance at the schoolboy, but Billy's face bore an expression as serene as the May morning of that very day.
Mr.Sparling hailed the lads as they were leaving the lot.
"You may be excused from parade today, both of you.You no doubt will want to spend all the time you can with your friends.""Thank you," smiled Phil."There's the finest man a fellow ever worked for.""Worked?Do you call performing in a circus work?" "Well, at least it is a pretty good imitation of work, Billy.""I used to think just like you do," added Teddy rather ruefully."Is it really work then?""Oh, no; it's just play.Come to the show and you will see us play." "By the way," inquired Phil, "the fellows are all coming this afternoon,I suppose?"
"Yes, but not this afternoon." "Evening?""Yes."
"That will be fine.We have a short run tonight, so the boss will not be in any hurry to move the show.You'll see it all.""Why, don't you always give it all?"
"No.Sometimes, when the weather is bad, or when we have a long run before us, Mr.Sparling cuts some of the acts out entirely, and shortens others.But, of course, the audience doesn't know this.""Is that so?" wondered the surprised Billy."Yes.Are you boys all going to sit together?""Yes.We'll be where we can see you.And the girls are going to be there, too.I reckon the whole school will be on hand.""How about Uncle Abner--will he go to the show, do you think?" "I know where you'll find him," spoke up Teddy.
"Where?"
