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before。
〃e up here！〃 cried the lad； to the lighter of the men。 〃I'll give you
a lesson。〃
The fellow protested； but his panions grabbed him and threw him
to old Joe's back。 Phil grabbed his pupil by the coat collar； jerking him to
his feet and started old Joe going at a lively clip。
You should have heard those farmers howl； at the ludicrous sight of
their panion sprawling all over the back of the black； with Phil； red…
faced； struggling with all his might to keep the fellow on； and at the same
time prevent himself taking a tumble！
At last the burden was too much for Phil； and his panion took an
inglorious tumble； head first into the straw at the foot of the stack； while
the farmers threw themselves down； rolling about and making a great din
with their howls of merriment。
〃There； I guess I have earned my breakfast；〃 decided the lad； dropping
off near the spot where he had cast his shoes。
〃You bet you have； little pardner。 You jest e over to the house
and fill up on salt pork and sauerkraut。 You kin stay all summer if you
want to。 Hungry？〃
〃So hungry that； if my collar were loose； it would be falling down over
my feet；〃 grinned the lad。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XXI
WHEN THE CRASH CAME
There was rejoicing on the part of his fellows； and relief in the heart of
Mr。 Sparling when； along toward noon next day； Phil Forrest came
strolling on the circus lot at St。 Joseph。
His friends； the farmers； had not only given him food and lodging； but
had advanced him enough money for his fare through to join the show。
His first duty was to get some money from Mr。 Sparling and send it back
to his benefactors。
This done； Phil repaired to the owner's tent where he knew Mr。
Sparling was anxiously waiting to hear what had happened to him。
Phil went over the circumstances in detail； while Mr。 Sparling listened
gravely at first； then with rising color as his anger increased。
〃It's Red Larry！〃 decided Mr。 Sparling； with an emphasizing blow of
his fist on the desk before him。
〃After I thought the matter over that was what I decidedI mean that
was the decision I came to。〃
〃Right。 Another season I'll have an officer with this show。 That's the
only way we can protect ourselves。〃
〃Do all the big shows carry an officer？〃 asked Phil。
〃Yes； they have a detective with themnot a tin badge detective； but a
real one。 Don't try to go out today。 Get your dinner and rest up for the
afternoon performance。 I think you had better go to the train in my
carriage tonight。 I'm not going to take any more such chances with you。〃
〃I'll look out for myself after this； Mr。 Sparling；〃 laughed Phil。 〃I think
it was only two days ago that I said I wasn't afraid of Larrythat he
couldn't get me。 But he did。〃
That afternoon； as Phil related his experiences to the dressing tent； he
included the barnyard circus； which set the performers in a roar。
Phil felt a little sore and stiff after his knockout and his long ride in the
freight car； but； after taking half an hour of bending exercises in the
paddock； he felt himself fit to go on with his ring and bareback acts。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Both his acts passed off successfully； as did the Grand Entry in which
he rode old Emperor。
That night； after the performance； Phil hurried to the train； but kept a
weather eye out that he might not be assaulted again。 He found himself
hungry； and； repairing to the acmodation car for a lunch； discovered
Teddy stowing away food at a great rate。
〃So you're here； are you？〃 laughed Phil。
〃Yep； I live here most of the time；〃 grinned Teddy。 〃They like to
have me eat here。 I'm a sort of nest egg； you know。 It makes the others
hungry to see me eat； and they file in in a perfect procession。 How's your
head？〃
〃Still a size too large；〃 answered Phil； sinking down on a stool and
ordering a sandwich。
As the lads ate and talked two or three other performers came in；
whereupon the conversation became more general。
All at once there came a bang as a switching engine bumped into the
rear of their car。 Teddy about to pass a cup of steaming coffee to his lips；
spilled most of it down his neck。
〃Ouch！〃 he yelled； springing up； dancing about the floor； holding his
clothes as far from his body as possible。 〃Here； you quit that！〃 he yelled；
poking his head out of a window。 〃If you do that again I'll trim you with
a pitcher of coffee and see how you like that。〃
Bang！
Once more the engine smashed into them； having failed to make the
coupling the first time。
Teddy sat down heavily in the middle of the car； just as Little Dimples
tripped in。 In one hand he held a sandwich half consumed； while with
the other he was still stretching his collar as far from his neck as it would
go。
〃Why； Teddy；〃 exclaimed Dimples； 〃what are you doing on the floor？〃
〃Eating my lunch。 Always eat it sitting on the floor； you know；〃
growled the boy； at which there was a roar from the others。
〃What are they trying to do out there？〃 questioned Phil。
〃Going to shift us about on