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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃You don't seem to be very much surprised。〃
〃I'm not。 I think I know what you mean。〃
〃You do？ What for instance？〃
〃The cutting of those ropes tonight；〃 smiled Phil。
〃You know that？〃
The lad nodded again； but this time with more emphasis。
〃Is there anything that goes on in this outfit that you do not know
about？〃
〃Oh； I presume so。 If I hadn't chanced to walk over a place where
there should have been a guy rope I probably never should have
discovered what had been done。〃
〃I'll bet you would；〃 answered the owner； gazing at the lad admiringly。
〃It is fortunate for us that we did not have a wind storm during the
evening。〃
〃Fortunate for the audience； I should say。 Nothing could have held
the tent with those ropes gone。 It showed that the cordage had been cut
by someone very familiar with the canvas。 Almost a breath of wind
would have caused the whole big top to collapse； and then a lot of people
might have been killed。 Well； the season is almost at an end now。 If we
are lucky we shall soon be out of it。〃
〃All the more reason for getting the fellow at once；〃 nodded Phil。
〃Why？〃
〃After a few days we shall be closing； and then we shall not get an
opportunity。〃
〃That's good logic。 I agree with you。 I shall be delighted to place
these hands of mine right on that fiend's throat。 But first； will you tell me
how I am going to do it？ Haven't we been trying to catch him ever since
those two men were discharged？ Both of them are in this thing。〃
〃I think you will find that there is only one now。 I believe Larry is
working alone。 I haven't any particular reason for thinking this； it just
sort of seems to me to be so。〃
〃Any suggestions； Phil？ I'll confess that I am at my wits' end。〃
〃Yes； I have been thinking of a plan lately。〃
〃What is it？〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Have the trains searched。〃
〃What？〃
〃You will remember my saying； sometime ago； that I believed the
fellow was still traveling with us and〃
〃But howwhere could he ride that he would not be sure of
discovery？〃 protested Mr。 Sparling。
〃He has friends with the show； that's how；〃 answered Phil
convincingly。
〃You amaze me。〃
〃All the same； I believe you will find that to be the case。〃
〃And you would suggest searching the trains？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃When？〃
〃Now。 No； I don't mean at this very minute。 I should suggest that
tomorrow morning； say at daybreak； you send men over this entire train。
Don't let them miss a single corner where a man might hide。〃
〃Yes； but this isn't the only train in the show。〃
〃I know。 At the first stop； or you might do it here before we start；
wire ahead to your other train managers to do the same thing。 Tell them
who it is you suspect。 You'll be able to catch the squadron before they
get in； though I do not believe our man will be found anywhere on that
train。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃The squadron went out before the guy ropes were cut。〃
〃Great head！ Great head； Phil Forrest；〃 glowed the manager。 〃You're
a bigger man than I am any day in the week。 Then； according to your
reasoning； the fellow ought either to be on this section or the one just
ahead of it？〃
〃Yes。 But don't laugh at me if I don't happen to be right。 It's just an
idea I have gotten into my head。〃
〃I most certainly shall not laugh； my boy。 I am almost convinced that
you are right。 At least； the plan is well worth carrying out。 I'll give the
orders to the train managers before we start。〃
〃I would suggest that you tell them not to give the orders to the men
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
until ready to begin the search in the morning。〃
〃Good！ Fine！〃 glowed the showman。
〃I'm going to turn out and help search this section myself；〃 said Phil。
〃You know I have some interest in it； seeing that it is my plan；〃 he smiled。
〃Better keep out of it；〃 advised Mr。 Sparling。 〃You might fall off
from the cars。 You are not used to walking over the tops of them。〃
〃Oh； yes I am。 I have done it a number of times this season just to
help me to steady my nerves。 I can walk a swaying box car in a gale of
wind and not get dizzy。〃
Mr。 Sparling held up his hands protestingly。
〃Don't tell me any more。 I believe you。 If you told me you could
run the engine I'd believe you。 If there be anything you don't know how
to do； or at least know something about； I should be glad to know what
that something is。〃
〃May I send your messages？〃 asked the lad。 〃If you will write them
now I'll take them over to the station。 It must be nearly starting time。〃
〃Yes； it is。 No； I'll call one of the men。〃
Mr。 Sparling threw up his desk and rapidly scribbled his directions to
the train managers ahead。 After that he sent forward for the manager of
their particular section； to whom he confided Phil Forrest's plan； the lad