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〃He sure has；〃 agreed one of the men。 〃Somebody must a given him
an awful clout with a club。〃
〃What town is this； please？〃
〃Mexico； Missouri。〃
〃Mexico？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How far is it from St。 Joseph？〃
〃St。 Joseph？ Why； I reckon St。 Joe is nigh onto a hundred and fifty
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miles from here。〃
Phil groaned。
〃A hundred and fifty miles and not a cent in my pocket！ What shall I
do？ Can I send a telegram？ Where is the station？〃
〃Sunday。 Station closed。〃
〃Sunday？ That's so。〃
Phil walked up and down between the tracks rather unsteadily；
curiously observed by the villagers。 They had heard his groans in the
freight car on the siding as they passed； and had quickly liberated the lad。
〃Do you think I could borrow enough money somewhere here to get
me to St。 Joseph？ I would send it back by return mail。〃
The men laughed long and loud。
〃What are you in such a hurry to get to St。 Joe for？〃 demanded the
spokesman of the party。
〃Because I want to get back to the circus。〃
〃Circus？〃 they exclaimed in chorus。
〃Yes。 I belong with the Sparling bined Shows。 I was on my
way to my train； in the railroad yards； when I was knocked out and thrown
into that car。〃
〃You with a circus？〃 The men regarded him in a new light。
〃Yes； why not？〃
This caused them to laugh。 Plainly they did not believe him。 Nor did
Phil care much whether they did or not。
〃What time is it？〃 he asked。
〃Church time。〃
He knew that； for he could hear the bells ringing off in the village to
the east of them。
〃I'll tell you what； sirs； I have got to have some breakfast。 If any of
you will be good enough to give me a meal I shall be glad to do whatever
you may wish to pay for it。 Then； if I cannot find the telegraph operator；
I shall have to stay over until I do。〃
〃What do you want the telegraph man for？〃
〃I want to wire the show for some money to get back with。 I've got to
be there tomorrow； in time for the show。 I must do it； if I have to run all
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the way。〃
The men were impressed by his story in spite of themselves； yet they
were loath to believe that this slender lad； much the worse for wear； could
belong to the organization he had named。
〃What do you do in the show？〃
〃I perform on the flying rings； ride the elephant and ride bareback in
the ring。 What about it？ Will one of you put me up？〃
The villagers consulted for a moment； then the spokesman turned to
Phil。
〃I reckon； if you be a circus feller； you kin show us some tricks； eh？〃
〃Perform for you； you mean？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Well； I don't usually do anything like that on Sunday；〃 answered the
Circus Boy reflectively。
〃Eat on Sunday； don't you？〃
〃When I get a chance；〃 Phil grinned。 〃I guess your argument wins。
I've got to eat and I have offered to earn my meal。 What do you want me
to do？〃
〃Kin you do a flip？〃
Phil threw himself into a succession of cartwheels along the edge of
the railroad tracks； ending in a backward somersault。
〃And you ride a hoss without any saddle； standing up on his backyou
do that； too？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 laughed Phil； his face red from his exertion。
〃Then； e along。 e on； fellers！〃
Phil thought； of course； that he was being taken to the man's home just
outside the village； where he would get his breakfast。 He was considerably
surprised； therefore； when the men passed the house that his acquaintance
pointed out as belonging to himself； and took their way on toward a
collection of farm buildings some distance further up the road。
〃I wonder what they are going to do now？〃 marveled Phil。 〃This surely
doesn't look much like breakfast ing my way； and I'm almost
famished。〃
The leader of the party let down the bars of the farmyard； conducting
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his guests around behind a large hay barn； into an enclosed space； in the
center of which stood a straw stack； the stack and yard being surrounded
by barns and sheds。
〃Where are you fellows taking me？ Going to put me in the stable
with the live stock？〃 questioned Phil； laughingly。
〃You want some breakfast； eh？〃
〃Certainly I do； but I'm afraid I can't eat hay。〃
The men laughed uproariously at this bit of humor。
〃Must be a clown；〃 suggested one。
〃No； I am not a clown。 My little friend who performs with me； and
es from the same town I do； is one。 I wish he were here。 He would
make you laugh until you couldn't stand without leaning against
something。〃
〃Here； Joe！ Here； Joe！〃 their guide began calling in a loud voice；
alternating with loud whistling。
Phil heard a rustling over behind the straw stack； and then out trotted a
big； black draft horse； a heavy…footed； broad…backed Percheron； to his
astonishment。
〃My； that's a fine piece of horse flesh；〃 glowed the lad。 〃We have
several teams of those fellows for the heavy work with the show。 Of
course we don't use them in the ring。 Is this what you brought me here to
see？〃
〃Yep。 Git up there。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Git up and show us fellers if you're a real circus man。〃
〃You mean you want me to ride him？〃 said Phil。
〃Sure thing。〃
〃How？〃
〃Git on his back and do one of them bareback stunts you was telling us
about；〃 and the fellow winked covertly at his panions； as much as if to
say； 〃we've got him going this time。〃
〃What； here in this rough yard？〃
〃Yep。〃
Phil considered for a moment； stamping about on the straw…covered
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ground； then sizing up the horse critically。
〃All right。 Bring me a bridle and fasten a long enough rein to the bit
so I can get hold of it standing up。〃
He was really going