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had been last year。
He placed Phil in a folding easy chair； and sat down to his desk where
he began writing。
After finishing； Mr。 Sparling looked up。
〃Phil；〃 he said in a more kindly tone than the lad had ever before heard
him use； 〃I was under a deep obligation to you last season。 I'm under a
greater one now。〃
〃I wish you wouldn't speak of it； sir。 What I have done is purely in
the line of duty。 It's a fellow's business to be looking out for his
employer's interests。 That's what I have always tried to do。〃
〃Not only tried； but have；〃 corrected Mr。 Sparling。 〃That's an old…
fashioned idea of yours。 It's a pity young men don't feel more that way；
these days。 But that wasn't what I wanted to say。 As a little expression of
how much I appreciate your interest； as well as the actual money loss you
have saved me； I want to make you a little present。〃
〃Oh； no no；〃 protested Phil。
〃Here is a check which I have made out for a hundred dollars。 That
will give you a little start on the season。 But it isn't all that I am going to
do for you〃
〃Please； Mr。 Sparling。 Believe me I do appreciate your kindness； but
I mustn't take the check。 I couldn't take the check。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because I haven't earned it。〃
〃Haven't earned it？ He hasn't earned it！〃
〃No； sir。〃
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The showman threw his hands above his head in a hopeless sort of a
way。
〃I should not feel that I was doing right。 I want to be independent；
Mr。 Sparling。 I have plenty of money。 I have not spent more than half
of what I earned last summer。 This season I hope to lay by a whole lot； so
that I shall be quite independent。〃
〃And so you shall； so you shall； my boy；〃 Sparling exclaimed； rising
and smiting Phil good naturedly with the flat of his hand。
Instead of tearing up the check； however； Mr。 Sparling put it in an
envelope which he directed and stamped； then thrust in his coat pocket。
〃II hope you understandhope you do not feel offended；〃 said Phil
hesitatingly。 〃I should not like to have you misunderstand me。〃
〃Not a bit of it； my lad。 I can't say that I have any higher opinion of
you because of your decision； but〃
Phil glanced up quickly。
〃I already have as high an opinion of you as it is possible for me to
have for any human being； and〃
〃Thank you。 You'll make me have a swelled head if you keep on that
way；〃 laughed Phil。
〃No danger。 You would have had one long ago； if that was your
makeup。 Have you seen Mrs。 Sparling yet？〃
〃No； and I should like to。 May I call on her in your car？〃
〃Not only may； but she has missioned me to ask you to。 I think we
had better be moving over to the cook tent； now； if we wish any breakfast。
I expect the hungry roustabouts have about cleaned the place out by this
time。〃
They soon arrived at the cook tent。 Here Phil left Mr。 Sparling while
he passed about among the tables； greeting such of his old acquaintances
as he had not yet seen that morning。 He was introduced to many of the
new ones； all of whom had heard pretty much everything about Phil's past
achievements before he reached their tables。 The people of a circus are
much like a big family； and everyone knows； or thinks he knows； the
whole family history of his associates。
Even Phil's plucky work in the big top； less than an hour before； had
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already traveled to the cook tent； and many curious glances were directed
to the slim； modest； boy as he passed among his friends quietly； giving
them his greetings。
Teddy； on the other hand； was not saying a word。 He was busy
eating。
〃How's your appetite this morning； Teddy？〃 questioned Phil； sinking
down on the bench beside his panion。
〃Pretty fair；〃 answered Teddy in a muffled voice。 〃I began at the top…
…〃
〃Top of what？〃
〃Top of the bill of fare。 I've cleaned up everything halfway down the
list； and I'm going through the whole bill； even if I have to get up and
shake myself down like the miller does a bag of meal。〃
〃Be careful； old chap。 Remember you and I have to begin our real
work today。 We shall want to be in the best of shape for our ring act。
You won't； if you fill up as you are doing now；〃 warned Phil。
〃Not going to work today。〃
〃What's that？〃
〃No flying rings today。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃No flying rings； I said。 Mr。 Sparling isn't going to put on our act
today。〃
〃How do you know？〃 asked Phil in some surprise。
〃Heard him say so。〃
〃When？〃
〃Just now。〃
〃Why； I came in with him myself less than ten minutes ago〃
〃I know。 He stopped right in front of my table here to speak to the
ringmaster。 Heard him say you were not to be allowed to go on till
tomorrow。 We don't have to go in the parade today if we don't want to；
either。 But you are to ride Emperor in the Grand Entry； and I'm to do my
stunt on the educated mule。〃
〃Pshaw； I can work today as well as I ever could；〃 said Phil in a
disappointed tone。 〃And I'm going on； too； unless Mr。 Sparling gives me
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distinct orders to the contrary。〃
Phil got the orders before he had finished his breakfast。
〃Believe me； Phil； I know best；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； noting the lad's
disappointment。 〃You have had a pretty severe strain this morning； and
to go on now with the excitement of the first day added to that； I fear
might be too much for you。 It might lay you up for some weeks； and we
cannot afford to have that happen； you know。 I need you altogether too
much for that。〃
〃Very well； sir； it shall be as you wish。 I suppose I may go on in the
Grand Entry as usual？〃
〃Oh； yes； if you wish。〃
〃I do。〃
〃Very well； then I'll let Mr。 Kennedy know。 You had bett