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act。 I can do that part of it now。 But I tell you I'm going to be a leaper；
Phil。〃
〃Good for you！ That's the way to talk。 Keep out of trouble； work
hard； don't talk too much； and you'll beat me yet；〃 declared Phil。 〃And
say！〃
〃What？〃
〃Be careful with that mule act tonight。 You know Mr。 Sparling will
be in there watching you。 It wouldn't take much more trouble to cause
him to cut that act out of the programme； and then you might not be
drawing so much salary。 Fifty dollars a week is pretty nice for each of us。
If we don't get swelled heads； but behave ourselves； we'll have a nice little
pile of money by the time the season closes。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Teddy。 〃I guess that's so； but we'll be losing a lot of
fun。〃
〃I don't agree with you；〃 laughed Phil。
The lads strolled into the menagerie tent on their way through to the
dressing tent。 The gasoline men were busy lighting their lamps and
hauling them on center and quarter pole； while the menagerie attendants
were turning the tongues of the cages about so that the horses could be
hitched on promptly after the show in the big top began。
Some of the animals were munching hay； others of the caged beasts
were lying with their noses poked through between the bars of their cages；
blinking drowsily。
〃I'd hate to be him；〃 announced Teddy with a prehensive wave of
the hand as they passed the giraffe； which stood silent in his roped
enclosure； his head far up in the shadows。
〃Why？〃
〃For two reasons。 Keeper tells me he can't make a sound。 Doesn't
bray； nor whinny； nor growl； nor bark； nor can't do anything。 I'd rather
be a lion or a tiger or something like that。 If I couldn't do anything else；
then； I could stand off and growl at folks。〃
Phil nodded and smiled。
〃And what's your other reason for being glad you are not a giraffe？〃
〃Becausebecausebecause when you had a sore throat think what a
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lot of neck you'd have to gargle！〃
Phil laughed outright； and as the giraffe lowered its head and peered
down into their faces； he thought； for the moment； that he could see the
animal grin。
After this they continued on to the dressing tent； where they remained
until time for the evening performance。 This passed off without incident；
Teddy and his mule doing nothing more sensational than kicking a rent in
the ringmaster's coat。
After the show was over； and the tents had begun to e down； Phil
announced his intention of going downtown for a lunch。
〃This fresh air makes me hungry。 You see； I am not used to it yet；〃 he
explained in an apologetic tone。
〃You do not have to go down for a lunch； unless you want to；〃 the
bandmaster informed him。
〃Why； is there a lunch place on the grounds？〃
〃No。 We have an acmodation car on our section。〃
〃What kind of car is that？〃
〃Lunch car。 You can't get a heavy meal there； but you will find a nice
satisfying lunch。 The boss has it served at cost。 He doesn't make any
money out of the deal。 You'll find it on our section。〃
〃Good！ e along Teddy。〃
〃Will I？ That's where I'll spend my money；〃 nodded Teddy； starting
away at a jog trot。
〃And your nights too； if they would let you；〃 laughed Phil； following
his panion at a more leisurely gait。
As they crossed the lot they passed 〃Red〃 Larry； as he had now been
nicknamed by the showmen。 Larry pretended not to see the boys； but
there was an ugly scowl on his face that told Phil he did； and after the lads
had gone on a piece Phil turned； casting a careless look back where the
torches were flaring and men working and shouting。
〃Red〃 Larry was not working now。 He was facing the boys； shaking
a clenched fist at them。
〃I am afraid we haven't heard the last of our friend； Larry；〃 said Phil。
〃Who's afraid？〃 growled Teddy。
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〃Neither of us。 But all the same we had better keep an eye on him
while we are in his vicinity。 We don't want to get into any more trouble
at least not； if we can possibly avoid it。〃
〃Not till Mr。 Sparling forgets about today？ Is that it？〃
〃I guess it is；〃 grinned Phil。
〃He might take it seriously？〃
〃He already has done that。 So be careful。〃
Teddy nodded。 But the lads had not yet heard the last of 〃Red〃 Larry。
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CHAPTER XII
THE HUMAN FOOTBALL
〃Ever try clowning； young man？〃 asked the Iron…Jawed Man。
Teddy Tucker shook his head。
〃Why don't you？〃
〃Nobody ever asked me。〃
〃Then you had better ask the boss to let you try it。 Tell him you want
to be a clown and that we will take you in and put you through your paces
until you are able to go it alone。〃
The show had been on the road for nearly two weeks now； and every
department was working like a piece of well…oiled machinery。 The usual
number of minor disasters had befallen the outfit during the first week； but
now everything was system and method。 The animals had bee used to
the constant moving； and to the crowds and the noise； so that their growls
of plaint were few。
In that time Teddy and Phil had been going through their act on the
flying rings daily； having shown great improvement since they closed with
the show the previous fall。 Their winter's work had proved of great
benefit； and Mr。 Sparling had plimented them several times lately。
Teddy was now devoting all his spare time to learning to somersault
and do the leaping act from the springboard。 He could； by this time； turn a
somersault from the board； though his landing was less certain。 Any part
of his anatomy was liable to sustain the impact of his fall； but he fell in so
many ludicrous positions that the other performers let it go at that； fo