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slowly and majestically reaching for the paddock and dressing tent； where
the performers would hurry into their costumes for their various acts to
follow。
This left only the elephants in the ring。 The huge beasts now began
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
their evolutions； ponderous but graceful； eliciting great applause； as did
their trainer； Mr。 Kennedy。 Then came the round…off of the act。 This； it
will be remembered； was of Phil Forrest's own invention； the act in which
Phil； secreted in the elephant's bonnet； burst out at the close of the act； and；
by the aid of wires running over a pulley above him； was able to descend
gracefully to the sawdust arena。
He was just a little nervous in this； the first performance of the season；
but； steadying his nerves； he went through the act without a hitch and amid
thunders of applause。 As in the previous season's act； old Emperor
carried the lad from the ring； holding Phil out in front of him firmly
clasped in his trunk。 No similar act ever had been seen in a circus until
Phil and Emperor worked it out for themselves。 It had bee one of the
features of the show last year； and it bade fair to be equally popular that
season。 Phil had added to it somewhat； which gave the act much more
finish than before。
〃Very good； young man；〃 approved Mr。 Sparling； as the elephant bore
the lad out。 Mr。 Sparling was watching the show with keen eyes in order
to decide what necessary changes were to be made。 〃ing back to
watch the performance？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I wouldn't miss that for anything。〃
As soon as the lad had thrown off his costume and gotten back into his
clothes； he hurried into the big top； where he found Teddy； who did not go
on in his bucking mule act until later。
〃How's the show； Teddy？〃 greeted Phil。
〃Great。 Greatest thing I ever saw。 Did you see the fellows jump
over the herd of elephants and horses？〃
〃No。 Who were they？〃
〃Oh； most all of the crowd； I guess。 I'm going to do that。〃
〃You； Teddy？ Why； you couldn't jump over half a dozen elephants
and turn a somersault。 You would break your neck the first thing。〃
〃Mr。 Miaco says I could。 Says I'm just the build for that sort of
thing；〃 protested the lad。
〃Well； then； get him to teach you。 Of course we can't know how to
do too many things in this business。 We have learned that it pays to
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know how to do almost everything。 Have you made friends with the
mule since you got back？〃
〃Yes。 He spooned over me and made believe he loved me like a
brother。〃
Teddy paused reflectively。
〃Then what？〃
〃Well； then he tried to kick the daylight out of me。〃
〃I thought so；〃 laughed Phil。 〃I'm glad I chose an elephant for my
friend； instead of an educated mule。 When are you going to begin on the
springboardbegin practicing； I mean？〃
〃Mr。 Miaco says he'll teach me as soon as we get settled〃
〃Settled？ I never heard of a show getting settledthat is； not until the
season is ended and it is once more in winter quarters。 I suppose by
'settled' he means when everything gets to moving smoothly。〃
〃I guess so；〃 nodded Teddy。 〃What are you going to do？〃
〃The regular acts that I did last year。〃
〃No； I mean what are you going to learn new？〃
〃Oh！ Well； there are two things I'm crazy to be able to do。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃One is to be a fine trapeze performer；〃 announced Phil thoughtfully。
〃And the other？〃
〃To ride bareback。〃
〃Want to be the whole thing； don't you？〃 jeered Teddy。
〃No； not quite。 But I should like to be able to do those two things；
and to do them well。 There is nothing that catches the audiences as do
the trapezists and the bareback riders。 And it fascinates me as well。〃
〃Here； too；〃 agreed Teddy。
〃But there is one thing I want to talk with you aboutto read you a
lecture。〃
〃You needn't。〃
〃I shouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of an inquiry about the
row in the dressing tent。 You know Mr。 Sparling won't stand for anything
of that sort。〃
〃He doesn't know about it；〃 interposed Teddy。
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〃But we do。 Therefore； we are just as much to blame as if he did
know。 And I am not so sure that he doesn't。 You can't fool Mr。 Sparling。
You ought to know that by this time。 There isn't a thing goes on in this
show that he doesn't find out about； sooner or later； and he is going to find
out about this。〃
〃I didn't do anything。 You did； when you had a scrap with those two
fellows out on the lot。〃
〃You forget that you started the row by emptying a pail of water on
Larry's head。 Don't you call that starting doing anything？ I do。〃
Phil had to laugh at the ical expression on his panion's face。
〃Well； maybe。〃
〃And we haven't heard the last of those fellows yet。 They're mad all
through。 I am sorry I had to hit them。 But they would have used me
badly had I not done something to protect myself。 I should tell the whole
matter to Mr。 Sparling； were it not that I would get others into trouble。
That I wouldn't do。〃
〃I should think not。〃
〃By the way； Teddy； there e the bareback riders。 Don't you
follow after their act？〃
〃My！ That's so。 I had forgotten all about that。 Thought I was
watching the show just like the rest of the folks。〃
〃Better hustle； or you won't get into your makeup in time to go on。
There'll be a row for certain if you are late。〃
But Teddy already had started on a run for the dressing tent； bowling
over a clown at the entrance to the paddock and bringing down the wrath
of that individual as he hustled for the dressing tent and began feverishly
getting into his ring clothes。 These consisted of a loose fitting