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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
though goodness knows you don't deserve any。 Bring me some peanuts；
will you please？〃
An attendant came running with a bag of them。 Phil met him
halfway； not wishing the man to approach too near。 With the bag in his
hand the boy walked slowly down the line； giving to each of his charges a
small handful。
This was the final act in subduing them。 They were all thoroughly at
home and perfectly contented now； and Phil had chained the last one down；
except the baby elephant； that usually was left free to do as it pleased；
providing it did not get too playful。
At this moment Phil heard a great shouting out on the lot。
〃Go out there and stop that noise！〃 the boy manded。 He was as
much in charge of the show at that moment as if he had been the
proprietor himself。
Shortly after that Mr。 Kennedy came rushing in on one of the circus
ponies that he had taken from a parade rider。 Phil was delighted to see
that the keeper was uninjured。
〃Did you do this； Phil Forrest？〃 he shouted bursting in。
〃Yes。 But I'll have to do it all over again if you keep on yelling like
that。 What happened to you？〃
〃Jupiter threw me over a fence； into an excavation where they were
digging for a new building。 I thought I was dead； but after a little I came
to and crawled out。 It was all over but the shouting then。〃
〃Did you know I had them？〃
〃No； not until I got near the lot。 I followed their tracks you see。
Finally some people told me a kid was leading the herd back here。 I
knew that was you。 Phil Forrest； you are a dandy。 I can't talk now！ I'm
too winded。 I'll tell you later on what I think of your kind。 Now I'm
going to whale the daylights out of that Jupiter。〃
〃Please don't do anything of the sort；〃 begged Phil。 〃He is quiet now。
He has forgotten all about it。 I am afraid if you try to punish him you
will only make him worse。〃
〃Good elephant sense；〃 emphasized the keeper。 〃You ought to be on
the animals。〃
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〃It seems to me that I have been pretty well on them today；〃 grinned
the lad。 〃Oh； was anybody killed？〃
〃I think not。 Don't believe anyone was very seriously hurt。 You see；
that open lot there gave the people plenty of chance to see what was
ing。 They had plenty of time to get away after that。〃
〃I'm so glad。 I hope no one was killed。〃
〃Reckon there would have been if you hadn't got busy when you did。〃
〃Have you seen Mrs。 Robinson？ I'm rather anxious about her。〃
〃There she is now。〃
Dimples had changed her torn white dress for a short riding skirt； and
when Phil turned about she was running toward him with outstretched
arms。 He braced himself and blushed violently。
〃Oh； you dear；〃 cried the impulsive little equestrienne； throwing both
arms about Phil's neck。 〃I wish my boy could have seen you do that！ It
was splendid。 You're a hero！ You'll see what a craze the people will
make of you〃
〃II think they are more likely to chase us out of town；〃 laughed Phil。
〃We must have smashed up things pretty thoroughly downtown。〃
〃Never mind； Mr。 Sparling will settle the damage。 The only trouble
will be that he won't have anyone to scold。 You saved the day； Phil； and
you saved me as well。 Of course I'm not much； but I value my precious
little life just as highly as the next oneI mean the next person。〃
〃The bay ran away with you； didn't he？〃
〃I suppose that's what some people would call it。 It would have been
a glorious ride if it hadn't been that I expected you were being trampled to
death back there。 The bay brought me right to the lot； then stopped； of
course。 Circus horses have a lot of sense。 I heard right away that you
were not injured and that you were bringing the bulls in。 Then I was
happy。 I'm happy now。 We'll have a lesson after the show。 You〃
〃When do you think I shall be fit to go in the ring？〃
〃Fit now！ You're ahead of a good many who have been working at it
for years； and I mean just what I'm saying。 There is Mr。 Sparling。
e on； run along back to the paddock with me。 I haven't finished
talking with you yet。〃
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〃Perhaps he may want me；〃 hesitated Phil。
〃Nothing very particular。 He'll want to have it out with Mr。 Kennedy
first。 Then； if he wants you； he can go back and hunt you up； or send for
you。 Mr。 Sparling knows how to send for people when he wants them；
doesn't he？〃 twinkled Dimples。
〃I should say he did；〃 grinned Phil。 〃He's not bashful。 Has my
friend Teddy got back yet？〃
〃Haven't seen him。 Why？ Worried about him？〃
〃Not particularly。 He has a habit of taking care of himself under most
circumstances。〃
Dimples laughed heartily。
〃It will take more than a stampede to upset him。 He'll make a
showman if he ever settles down to the work in earnest。〃
〃He has settled down； Mrs。 Robinson；〃 answered Phil with some
dignity。
〃My； my！ But you needn't growl about it。 I was paying him a
pliment。〃
Thus she chattered on until they reached the paddock。 They had been
there but a few moments before the expected summons for Phil was
brought。
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CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION
Phil responded rather reluctantly。 He would have much preferred to
sit out in the paddock talking circus with Little Dimples。
He found Mr。 Sparling striding up and down in front of the elephant
enclosure。
〃I hope nothing very serious happene