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thick a short distance beyond it。
With them proudly marched Teddy Tucker。
Mr。 Sparling； in the meantime； was patting Phil on the back。
〃I'm in a quandary； Phil；〃 he said。
〃What about？〃 smiled the lad； tugging away at his tights。
〃I want you out front and yet it would be almost a crime to take a
performer like you out of the ring。 Tell me honestly； where would you
prefer to be？〃
〃That's a difficult question to answer。 There is a terrible fascination
about the ring； and it's getting a stronger hold of me every day I am out。〃
〃Yes； I understand that。 It's so with all of them。 I was that way
myself at first。〃
〃Were you ever in the ring？〃
〃I clowned it。 But I wasn't much of a performer。 Just did a few
simple clown stunts and made faces at the audience。 Then I got some
money ahead and started out for myself。 If I'd had you then I would have
had a railroad show long before this season；〃 smiled the showman。
〃On the other hand；〃 continued Phil； 〃I am anxious to learn the front of
the house as well as the ring。 I think； maybe； that I could spend part of
my time in the office； if that is where you wish me。 If you can spare me
from the parade； I might put in that time to decided advantage doing things
on the lot for you；〃 mused Phil。
〃Spare you from the parade？ Well； I should say so。 You are
relieved from that already。 Of course； any time you wish to go out； you
have the privilege of doing so。 Sometimes it is a change； providing one
is not obliged to go；〃 smiled the showman。
〃Most of the performers would be glad if they did not have to；
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though。〃
〃No doubt of it。 But let's see； you have how many acts now？ There's
the flying rings； the elephant act and now es the bareback act〃
〃Yes； three；〃 nodded Phil。
〃That's too many。 You'll give out under all that； and now we're
talking about doubling you out in front。 I guess we will let the front of
the house take care of itself for the present。〃
Phil looked rather disappointed。
〃Of course； any time you wish you may e out； you know。〃
〃Thank you； I shall be glad to do that。 I can do a lot of little things to
help you as soon as I learn how you run the show。 I know something
about that already；〃 grinned the lad。
〃If you wish； I will double somebody up on your flying rings act。 What
do you say？〃
〃It isn't necessary； Mr。 Sparling。 I can handle all three without any
difficulty； only the bareback act es pretty close to the grand entry。 It
doesn't give me much time to change my costume。〃
〃That's right。 Tell you what we'll do。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃We'll set the bareback act forward one number； substituting the
leaping for it。 That will give you plenty of time to make a change； will it
not？〃
〃Plenty；〃 agreed Phil。
〃How about the flying rings。 They e sometime later； if I
remember correctly。〃
〃Yes； the third act after the riding； according to the new arrangement。
No trouble about that。〃
〃Very well； then I will notify the director and let him make the
necessary changes。 I want to go out now and see your young friend
make an exhibition of himself。〃
〃Teddy？〃
〃Yes。 He's going on the leaping act for the first time； you know。〃
〃That's so。 I had forgotten all about it。 I want to see that； too。 I'll
hurry and dress。〃
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〃And； Phil；〃 said the showman in a more kindly voice； even； than he
had used before。
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the lad； glancing up quickly。
〃You are going to be a great showman some of these days； both in the
ring and out of it。 Remember what I tell you。〃
〃Thank you； I hope so。 I am going to try to be at least a good one。〃
〃You're that already。 You've done a lot for the Sparling bined as
it is and I don't want you to think I do not appreciate it。 Shake hands！〃
Man and boy grasped each other's hand in a grip that meant more than
words。 Then Mr。 Sparling turned abruptly and hurried out into the big
top where the leaping act was in full cry。
Painted clowns were keeping the audience in a roar by their funny
leaps from the springboard to the mat； while the supple acrobats were
doing doubles and singles through the air； landing gracefully on the mat as
a round off。
The showman's first inquiring look was in search of Teddy Tucker。 He
soon made the lad out。 Teddy was made up as a fat boy with a low；
narrow…brimmed hat perched jauntily on one side of his head。 There was
drollery in Teddy's every movement。 His natural clownish movements
were sufficient to excite the laughter of the spectators without any attempt
on his part to be funny； while the lad kept up a constant flow of criticism
of his panions in the act。
But they had grown to know Teddy better； by this time； and none took
his taunts seriously。
〃That boy can leap； after all；〃 muttered Mr。 Sparling。 〃I thought he
would tumble around and make some fun for the audience； but I hadn't the
least idea he c