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clambered aboard； their school panions set up a mighty shout； with
three cheers for the Circus Boys。
〃Don't stick your head in the lion's mouth； Teddy！〃 was the parting
salute Phil and Teddy received from the boys as the train drew out。
〃Well； Teddy； we're headed for the Golden Gate at last！〃 glowed Phil。
〃You bet！〃 agreed Teddy with more force than elegance。
〃I wonder if old Emperor will remember me； Teddy？〃
〃Sure thing！ But； do you think that 'fool mule；' as Mr。 Sparling calls
him； will remember me？ Or will he want to kick me full of holes before
the season has really opened？〃
〃I shouldn't place too much dependence on a mule；〃 laughed Phil。
〃e on； let's go inside and sit down。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER II
ON THE ROAD ONCE MORE
All was bustle and excitement。
Men were rushing here and there； shouting out hoarse mands。
Elephants were trumpeting shrilly； horses neighing； while； from many a
canvas…wrapped wagon savage beasts of the jungle were emitting roar
upon roar； all voicing their angry protest at being removed from the winter
quarters where they had been at rest for the past six months。
The Great Sparling bined Shows were moving out for their long
summer's journey。 The long trains were being rapidly loaded when Phil
Forrest and Teddy Tucker arrived on the scene late in the afternoon。
It was all new and strange to them； unused as they were to the ways of
a railroad show。 Their baggage had been sent on ahead of them； so they
did not have that to bother with。 Each carried a suitcase； however； and
the boys were now trying to find someone in authority to ask where they
should go and what they should do。
〃Hello； Phil； old boy！〃 howled a familiar voice。
〃Who's that？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Why； it's Rod Palmer； our working mate on the rings！〃 cried Phil；
dropping his bag and darting across the tracks； where he had espied a
shock of very red hair that he knew could belong only to Rodney Palmer。
Teddy strolled over with rather more dignity。
〃Howdy？〃 he greeted just as Phil and the red…haired boy were
wringing each other's hands。 〃Anybody'd think you two were long lost
brothers。〃
〃We are； aren't we； Rod？〃 glowed Phil。
〃And we have been； ever since you boys showed me the brook where I
could wash my face back in that tank town where you two lived。 That was
last summer。 Seems like it was yesterday。〃
〃Yes； and we work together again； I hear？ I'm glad of that。 I guess
you've been doing something this winter；〃 decided Rodney； after a critical
survey of the lads。 〃You sure are both in fine condition。 Quite a little
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
lighter than you were last season； aren't you； Phil？〃
〃No； I weigh ten pounds more。〃
〃Then you must be mighty hard。〃
〃Hard as a keg of nails； but I hope not quite so stiff；〃 laughed Phil。
〃What you been working at？〃
〃Rings； mostly。 We've done some practicing on the trapeze。 What did
you do all winter？〃
〃Me？ Oh； I joined a team that was playing vaudeville houses。 I was
the second man in a ring act。 Made good money and saved most of it。
Why didn't you join out for the vaudeville？〃
〃We spent our winter at school；〃 answered Phil。
〃That's a good stunt at that。 In the tank town； I suppose？〃 grinned the
red…haired boy。
〃You might call it that； but it's a pretty good town； just the same；〃
replied Phil。 〃I saw many worse ones while we were out last season。〃
〃And you'll see a lot more this season。 Wait till we get to playing
some of those way…back western towns。 I was out there with a show
once； and I know what I'm talking about。 Where are you berthed？〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered Phil。 〃Where are you？〃
〃Car number fourteen。 Haven't seen the old man； then？〃
〃Mr。 Sparling？ No。 And I want to see him at once。 Where shall I
find him？〃
〃He was here half an hour ago。 Maybe he's in his office。〃
〃Where is that？〃
〃Private car number one。 Yes； the old man has his own elegant car
this season。 He's living high； I tell you。 No more sleeping out in an old
wagon that has no springs。 It will be great to get into a real bed every
night； won't it？〃
Teddy shook his head doubtfully。
〃I don't know 'bout that。〃
〃I should think it would be pretty warm on a hot night；〃 nodded Phil。
〃And what about the rainy nights？〃 laughed Rodney。 〃Taking it
altogether； I guess I'll take the Pullman for mine〃
〃There goes Mr。 Sparling now；〃 interjected Teddy。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Where？〃
〃Just climbing aboard a car。 See him？〃
〃That's number one；〃 advised Rodney。 〃Better skip； if you want to
catch him。 He's hard to land today。 There's a lot for him to look after。〃
〃Yes； e on； Teddy。 Get your grip；〃 said Phil； hurrying over to
where he had dropped his suitcase。
〃But it's going to be a great show；〃 called