the circus boys across the continent(´©Ô½´ó½µÄÂíÏ·ÍÅÄк¢)-µÚ12ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
but£»¡¡steadying¡¡his¡¡nerves£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡through¡¡the¡¡act¡¡without¡¡a¡¡hitch¡¡and¡¡amid¡¡
thunders¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡applause¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡previous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡season's¡¡¡¡¡¡act£»¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡Emperor¡¡
carried¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lad¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ring£»¡¡¡¡¡¡holding¡¡¡¡¡¡Phil¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡front¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡firmly¡¡
clasped¡¡in¡¡his¡¡trunk¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡similar¡¡¡¡¡¡act¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡a¡¡circus¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡
Phil¡¡and¡¡Emperor¡¡worked¡¡it¡¡out¡¡for¡¡themselves¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
features¡¡of¡¡the¡¡show¡¡last¡¡year£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡bade¡¡fair¡¡to¡¡be¡¡equally¡¡popular¡¡that¡¡
season¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Phil¡¡had¡¡added¡¡to¡¡it¡¡somewhat£»¡¡which¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡act¡¡much¡¡more¡¡
finish¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡good£»¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡approved¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sparling£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡elephant¡¡bore¡¡
the¡¡lad¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sparling¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡show¡¡with¡¡keen¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡order¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡decide¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡necessary¡¡¡¡¡¡changes¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨ing¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
watch¡¡the¡¡performance£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡miss¡¡that¡¡for¡¡anything¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡off¡¡his¡¡costume¡¡and¡¡gotten¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡
clothes£»¡¡he¡¡hurried¡¡into¡¡the¡¡big¡¡top£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Teddy£»¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not¡¡go¡¡
on¡¡in¡¡his¡¡bucking¡¡mule¡¡act¡¡until¡¡later¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How's¡¡the¡¡show£»¡¡Teddy£¿¡¨¡¡greeted¡¡Phil¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Great¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Greatest¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Did¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fellows¡¡¡¡¡¡jump¡¡
over¡¡the¡¡herd¡¡of¡¡elephants¡¡and¡¡horses£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Who¡¡were¡¡they£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡most¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crowd£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You£»¡¡Teddy£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡couldn't¡¡jump¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡¡¡¡¡elephants¡¡
and¡¡turn¡¡a¡¡somersault¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡would¡¡break¡¡your¡¡neck¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Miaco¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Says¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡build¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
thing£»¡¨¡¡protested¡¡the¡¡lad¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡then£»¡¡get¡¡him¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡we¡¡can't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡
do¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡business¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡learned¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡pays¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡47¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡48¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Circus¡¡Boys¡¡Across¡¡The¡¡Continent¡¡£¨Or¡¡Winning¡¡New¡¡Laurels¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Tanbark£©¡¡
know¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡everything¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Have¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡friends¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
mule¡¡since¡¡you¡¡got¡¡back£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡spooned¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡loved¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
brother¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Teddy¡¡paused¡¡reflectively¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡what£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡kick¡¡the¡¡daylight¡¡out¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡laughed¡¡¡¡¡¡Phil¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡¡¡glad¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡chose¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡elephant¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
friend£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡an¡¡educated¡¡mule¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
springboardbegin¡¡practicing£»¡¡I¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Miaco¡¡says¡¡he'll¡¡teach¡¡me¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡we¡¡get¡¡settled¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Settled£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡a¡¡show¡¡getting¡¡settledthat¡¡is£»¡¡not¡¡until¡¡the¡¡
season¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡ended¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡winter¡¡¡¡¡¡quarters¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡suppose¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
'settled'¡¡he¡¡means¡¡when¡¡everything¡¡gets¡¡to¡¡moving¡¡smoothly¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡guess¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡nodded¡¡Teddy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨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¡¡
ringm