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〃How would you like to e out front？〃
〃You mean？〃
〃To join my staff？ I need someone just like youa young man with
ideas； with the force to put them into execution after he has developed
them。 You are the one I want。〃
〃But； Mr。 Sparling〃
〃Wait till I get through。 You can continue with your acts if you wish；
just the same； and give your odd moments to me。〃
〃In what capacity？〃
〃Well； for the want of a better name we'll call it a sort of confidential
man。〃
〃I appreciate the offer more than I can tell you； Mr。 Sparling。 Butbut…
…〃
〃But what？〃
〃I want to go through the mill in the ring。 I want to learn to do
everything that almost anyone can do there。〃
The showman laughed。
〃Then you would be able to do what few men ever have succeeded in
doing。 You would be a wonder。 I'm not saying that you are not that
already； in your way。 But you would be a wonder among showmen。〃
〃I can do quite a lot of things now。〃
〃I know you can。 And you will。 What do you say？〃
〃It's funny； but since you told me of the accident to your bareback man；
I was going to ask you something。〃
〃What？〃
〃Rather； I was going to suggest〃
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〃Well； out with it！〃
〃I was going to suggest that you let me fill in his place until he is able
to work again。 It would save you the expense of getting a new performer
on； and would hold the job for the present man。〃
〃You； a bareback rider？〃
Phil nodded。
〃But you can't ride！〃
〃But I can；〃 smiled the lad。 〃I've been at it almost ever since we
started the season。 I've been working every day。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃No。 Mrs。 Robinson has been teaching me。 Of course； I am not
much of a rider； but I can manage to stick on somehow。〃
The manager was regarding him thoughtfully。
〃As I have intimated strongly before this； you beat anything I ever
have seen in all my circus experience。 You say you can ride bareback？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I should like to see what you can do。 Mind you； I'm not saying I'll
let you try it in public。 Just curious； you know； to see what you have
been doing。〃
〃Nowwill you see me ride now？〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded。
〃Then I'll run back and get ready。 I'll be out in a few minutes；〃
laughed the boy； as； with sparkling eyes and flushed face； he dashed back
to the dressing tent to convey the good news to Little Dimples。
〃I knew it；〃 she cried enthusiastically。 〃I knew you would be a rival
soon。 Now I've got to look out or I shall be out of a job in no time。
Hurry up and get your working clothes on。 I'll have the gray out by the
time you are ready。〃
Twenty minutes later Phil Forrest presented himself in the ring； with
Little Dimples following； leading the old gray ring horse。
〃e up to ring No。 2；〃 directed the owner。 〃They haven't leveled
No。 1 down yet。 How's this？ Don't you use the back pad to ride on？〃
questioned Mr。 Sparling in a surprised tone。
〃No； sir。 I haven't used the pad at all yet。〃
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〃Very well； I'm ready to see you fall off。〃
Phil sprang lightly to the back of the ring horse while Dimples； who
had brought a ringmaster's whip with her； cracked the whip and called
shrilly to her horse。 The old gray fell into its accustomed easy gallop；
Phil sitting lightly on the animal's hip； moving up and down with the easy
grace of a finished rider。
After they had swept twice around the ring； the boy sprang to his feet；
facing ahead； and holding his short crop in both hands； leaning slightly
toward the center of the ring； treading on fairy feet from one end of the
broad back to the other。
Next he varied his performance by standing on one foot； holding the
other up by one hand； doing the same graceful step that he had on both
feet a moment before。
Now he tried the same feats riding backwards； a most difficult
performance for any save a rider of long experience。
Mrs。 Robinson became so absorbed in his riding that she forgot to urge
the gray along or to crack the whip。 The result was that the old horse
stopped suddenly。
Phil went right on。 He was in a fair way to break his neck； as he was
plunging toward the turf head first。
〃Ball！〃 she cried； meaning to double oneself up into as near an
approach to a round ball as was possible。
But Phil already had begun to do this very thing。 And he did another
remarkable feat at the same time。 He turned his body in the air so that he
faced to the front； and the next instant landed lightly on his feet outside the
ring。
Phil blew a kiss to the amazed owner； turning back to the ring again。
By this time Mrs。 Robinson had placed the jumping board in the ring
a short piece of board； one end of which was built up about a foot from the
ground。 Then she started the ring horse galloping again。
Phil； measuring his distance； took a running start and vaulted； landing
on his feet on the animal's back； then； urging his mount on to a lively
gallop about the sawdust ring； he threw himself into a whirlwind of
graceful contortions and rapid movements； adding some of his own
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invention to those usually practiced by bareback riders。
Phil dropped to the hip of the gray； his face flushed with triumph； his
eyes sparkling。
〃How is it； Mr。 Sparling？〃 he called。
The showman was clapping his hands and clambering down the aisle
from his position near the top row of seats。
〃You don't mean to tell me you have never tried bareback riding before
this season？〃 he demanded。
〃No； sir； this is my first experience。〃
〃Then all I have to say is that you will make one of the finest bareback
riders in the world if you keep on。 It is marvelous； marvelous！〃
〃Thank you；〃 glowed the lad。