按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃The regular acts that I did last year。〃
〃No； I mean what are you going to learn new？〃
〃Oh！ Well； there are two things I'm crazy to be able to do。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃One is to be a fine trapeze performer；〃 announced Phil thoughtfully。
〃And the other？〃
〃To ride bareback。〃
〃Want to be the whole thing； don't you？〃 jeered Teddy。
〃No； not quite。 But I should like to be able to do those two things；
and to do them well。 There is nothing that catches the audiences as do
the trapezists and the bareback riders。 And it fascinates me as well。〃
〃Here； too；〃 agreed Teddy。
〃But there is one thing I want to talk with you aboutto read you a
lecture。〃
〃You needn't。〃
〃I shouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of an inquiry about the
row in the dressing tent。 You know Mr。 Sparling won't stand for anything
of that sort。〃
〃He doesn't know about it；〃 interposed Teddy。
48
… Page 49…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃But we do。 Therefore； we are just as much to blame as if he did
know。 And I am not so sure that he doesn't。 You can't fool Mr。 Sparling。
You ought to know that by this time。 There isn't a thing goes on in this
show that he doesn't find out about； sooner or later； and he is going to find
out about this。〃
〃I didn't do anything。 You did； when you had a scrap with those two
fellows out on the lot。〃
〃You forget that you started the row by emptying a pail of water on
Larry's head。 Don't you call that starting doing anything？ I do。〃
Phil had to laugh at the ical expression on his panion's face。
〃Well； maybe。〃
〃And we haven't heard the last of those fellows yet。 They're mad all
through。 I am sorry I had to hit them。 But they would have used me
badly had I not done something to protect myself。 I should tell the whole
matter to Mr。 Sparling； were it not that I would get others into trouble。
That I wouldn't do。〃
〃I should think not。〃
〃By the way； Teddy； there e the bareback riders。 Don't you
follow after their act？〃
〃My！ That's so。 I had forgotten all about that。 Thought I was
watching the show just like the rest of the folks。〃
〃Better hustle； or you won't get into your makeup in time to go on。
There'll be a row for certain if you are late。〃
But Teddy already had started on a run for the dressing tent； bowling
over a clown at the entrance to the paddock and bringing down the wrath
of that individual as he hustled for the dressing tent and began feverishly
getting into his ring clothes。 These consisted of a loose fitting pair of
trousers； a slouch hat and a coat much the worse for wear。 A 〃Rube〃 act；
it was called in show parlance； and it was that in very truth； more because
of Teddy's drollery than for the makeup that he wore。
Phil quickly forgot all about the lecture he had been reading to his
panion as the bareback riders came trotting in。 His eyes were fixed
on a petite； smiling figure who tripped up to the curbing； where she turned
toward the audience； and； kicking one foot out behind her； bowed and
49
… Page 50…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
threw a kiss to the spectators。
Phil had walked over and sat down by the center pole right near the
sawdust ring； so that he might get a better view of the riding。
The young woman who so attracted his attention was known on the
show bills as 〃Little Miss Dimples； the Queen of the Sawdust Arena。〃
Phil； as he gazed at her graceful little figure； agreed that the show bills did
not exaggerate her charms at all。
Little Dimples； using the ringmaster's hand as a step； vaulted lightly to
the back of the great gray ring horse； where she sat as the animal began a
slow walk about the ring。
Phil wondered how she could stay on； for she appeared to be sitting
right on the animal's sloping hip。
The band struck up a lively tune； the gray horse began a slow；
methodical gallop。 The first rise of the horse bounded Little Dimples to
her knees； and the next to her feet。
With a merry little 〃yip！ yip！〃 she began executing a fairy…like dance；
keeping time with her whip； which she held grasped in both hands。
〃Beautiful！〃 cried Phil； bringing his hands together sharply。 In fact； he
had never seen such artistic riding。 The girl seemed to be treading on air；
so lightly did her feet touch the rosined back of the ring horse。
Little Dimples heard and understood。 She flashed a brilliant smile at
Phil and tossed her whip as a salute。 Phil had never met her； but they
both belonged to the same great family； and that was sufficient。
His face broke out into a pleased smile at her recognition and the lad
touched his hat lightly； settling back against the center pole to watch
Dimples' riding； which had only just begun。 It made him laugh outright to
see her big picture hat bobbing up and down with the motion of the horse。
〃Works just like an elephant's ear when the flies are thick；〃 was the
lad's somewhat inelegant parison。
But now Dimples removed the hat； sending it spinning to the
ringmaster； who； in tu