CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION
Phil responded rather reluctantly. He would have much preferredto sit out in the paddock talking circus with Little Dimples.
He found Mr. Sparling striding up and down in front of theelephant enclosure.
"I hope nothing very serious happened, Mr. Sparling," greetedPhil, approaching him.
"If you mean damages, no. A few people knocked down, mostly dueto their own carelessness. I've got the claim-adjuster at worksettling with all we can get hold of. But we'll get it all backtonight, my boy. We'll have a turn-away this afternoon, too,unless I am greatly mistaken. Why, they're lining up outside thefront door now."
"I'm glad for both these things," smiled Phil. "Especially sobecause no one was killed."
"No. But one of our bareback riders was put out of business fora time."
"Is that so? Who?"
"Monsieur Liebman."
"Oh, that's too bad. What happened to him?"
"Someone ran him down. He was thrown and sprained his ankle.He won't ride for sometime, I reckon. But come over here andsit down. I want to have a little chat with you."
Mr. Sparling crossed the tent, sitting down on a bale of strawjust back of the monkey cage. The simians were chatteringloudly, as if discussing the exciting incidents of the morning.But as soon as they saw the showman they flocked to the back ofthe cage, hanging by the bars, watching him to find out what hewas going to do.
He made a place for Phil beside him.
"Sit down."
"Thank you."
"I was just running up in my mind, on my way back, that,in actual figures, you've saved me about ten thousand dollars.Perhaps it might be double that. But that's near enough for allpractical purposes."
"I saved you--" marveled Phil, flushing.
"Yes."
"How?"
"Well, you began last year, and you have started off at the sameold pace this season. Today you have gone and done it again.That was one of the nerviest things I ever saw. I wouldn'thave given a copper cent for your life, and I'll bet youwouldn't, either."
"N-o-o," reflected Phil slowly, "I thought I was a goner."
"While the rest of our crowd were hiking for cover, like a lot of'cold feet,' you were diving right into the heart of the trouble,picking up my principal equestrienne. Then you sent her away andstopped to face the herd of bulls. Jumping giraffes, but it wasa sight!"
By this time the monkeys had gone back to finish theiranimated discussion.
"I do not deserve any credit for that. I was caught and Ithought I might as well face the music."
"Bosh! I heard you calling for Emperor, and I knew right awaythat that little head of yours was working like the wheels ofa chariot in a Roman race. I knew what you were trying to do,but I'd have bet a thousand yards of canvas you never would.You did, though," and the showman sighed.
Phil was very much embarrassed and sat kicking his heels intothe soft turf, wishing that Mr. Sparling would talk aboutsomething else.
"The whole town is talking about it. I'm going to have the pressagent wire the story on ahead. I told him, just before I camein, that if he'd follow you he'd get 'copy' enough to last himall the rest of his natural life. All that crowd out there hascome because there was a young circus boy with the show, who hada head on his shoulders and the pluck to back his gray matter."
"Have you talked with Mr. Kennedy?" asked Phil, wishing to changethe personal trend of the conversation.
"Yes; why?"
"Did he say what he thought was the matter with Jupiter?"
"He didn't know. He knew only that Jupiter had been 'off' fornearly two days. Kennedy said something about a bad stomach.Why do you ask that question?" demanded the showman, with ashrewd glance at the boy.
"Because I have been wondering about Jupiter quite a littlesince morning. I've been thinking, Mr. Sparling."
"Now what are you driving at? You've got something in your head.Out with it!"
"It may sound foolish, but--"
"But what?"
"While Jupiter was bad, he showed none of the signs that comefrom a fit of purely bad temper--that is, before the stampede."
"That's right."
"Then what brought it on?" asked Phil looking Mr. Sparlingsquarely in the eyes.
For a few seconds man and boy looked at each other withouta word.
"What's your idea?" asked the showman quietly.
"It's my opinion that somebody doctored him--gave himsomething--"
The showman uttered a long, low whistle.
"You've hit it! You've hit it!" he exclaimed, bringing a handdown on the lad's knee with such force that Phil winced."It's one of those rascally canvasmen that I discharged. Oh, ifever I get my hands on him it will be a sorry day for him!You haven't seen him about, have you?"
"I thought I caught a glimpse of him on the street yesterdayduring the parade, but he disappeared so quickly that I could notbe sure."
Mr. Sparling nodded reflectively.
"You probably heard how Emperor ducked him and--"
"Yes; you remember I came up just after the occurrence.I'll tell you what I want you to do."
"Yes?"
"I'll release you from the parade for tomorrow, and perhapslonger, and I want you to spend your time moving around amongthe downtown crowds to see if you can spot him. If you succeed,well you will know what to do."
"Want me to act as a sort of detective?" grinned Phil.
"Well, you might put it that way, but I don't. You are servingme if--"
"Yes; I know that. I am glad to serve you in any way I can."
"I don't have to take your word for that," laughed Mr. Sparling."I think you have shown me. I have been thinking ofanother matter. It has been in my mind for several days."
Phil glanced up inquiringly.
"How would you like to come out front?"
"You mean?"
"To join my staff? I need someone just like you--a young manwith ideas, with the force to put them into execution after hehas developed them. You are the one I want."
"But, Mr. Sparling--"
"Wait till I get through. You can continue with your acts if youwish, just the same, and give your odd moments to me."
"In what capacity?"
"Well, for the want of a better name we'll call it a sort ofconfidential man."
"I appreciate the offer more than I can tell you, Mr. Sparling.But--but--"
"But what?"
"I want to go through the mill in the ring. I want to learn todo everything that almost anyone can do there."
The showman laughed.
"Then you would be able to do what few men ever have succeededin doing. You would be a wonder. I'm not saying that you arenot that already, in your way. But you would be a wonderamong showmen."
"I can do quite a lot of things now."
"I know you can. And you will. What do you say?"
"It's funny, but since you told me of the accident to yourbareback man, I was going to ask you something."
"What?"
"Rather, I was going to suggest--"
"Well, out with it!"
"I was going to suggest that you let me fill in his place untilhe is able to work again. It would save you the expense ofgetting a new performer on, and would hold the job for thepresent man."
"You, a bareback rider?"
Phil nodded.
"But you can't ride!"
"But I can," smiled the lad. "I've been at it almost ever sincewe started the season. I've been working every day."
"Alone?"
"No. Mrs. Robinson has been teaching me. Of course, I am notmuch of a rider, but I can manage to stick on somehow."
The manager was regarding him thoughtfully.
"As I have intimated strongly before this, you beat anything Iever have seen in all my circus experience. You say you canride bareback?"
"Yes."
"I should like to see what y
ou can do. Mind you, I'm not sayingI'll let you try it in public. Just curious, you know, to seewhat you have been doing."
"Now--will you see me ride now?"
Mr. Sparling nodded.
"Then I'll run back and get ready. I'll be out in a fewminutes,"laughed the boy, as, with sparkling eyes and flushed face,he dashed back to the dressing tent to convey the good newsto Little Dimples.
"I knew it," she cried enthusiastically. "I knew you would be arival soon. Now I've got to look out or I shall be out of a jobin no time. Hurry up and get your working clothes on. I'll havethe gray out by the time you are ready."
Twenty minutes later Phil Forrest presented himself in the ring,with Little Dimples following, leading the old gray ring horse.
"Come up to ring No. 2," directed the owner. "They haven'tleveled No. 1 down yet. How's this? Don't you use the back padto ride on?" questioned Mr. Sparling in a surprised tone.
"No, sir. I haven't used the pad at all yet."
"Very well; I'm ready to see you fall off."
Phil sprang lightly to the back of the ring horse while Dimples,who had brought a ringmaster's whip with her, cracked the whipand called shrilly to her horse. The old gray fell into itsaccustomed easy gallop, Phil sitting lightly on the animal's hip,moving up and down with the easy grace of a finished rider.
After they had swept twice around the ring, the boy sprang tohis feet, facing ahead, and holding his short crop in both hands,leaning slightly toward the center of the ring, treading on fairyfeet from one end of the broad back to the other.
Next he varied his performance by standing on one foot, holdingthe other up by one hand, doing the same graceful step that hehad on both feet a moment before.
Now he tried the same feats riding backwards, a most difficultperformance for any save a rider of long experience.
Mrs. Robinson became so absorbed in his riding that she forgot tourge the gray along or to crack the whip. The result was thatthe old horse stopped suddenly.
Phil went right on. He was in a fair way to break his neck,as he was plunging toward the turf head first.
"Ball!" she cried, meaning to double oneself up into as near anapproach to a round ball as was possible.
But Phil already had begun to do this very thing. And he didanother remarkable feat at the same time. He turned his bodyin the air so that he faced to the front, and the next instantlanded lightly on his feet outside the ring.
Phil blew a kiss to the amazed owner, turning back to thering again.
By this time Mrs. Robinson had placed the jumping board in thering--a short piece of board, one end of which was built upabout a foot from the ground. Then she started the ring horsegalloping again.
Phil, measuring his distance, took a running start and vaulted,landing on his feet on the animal's back, then, urging his mounton to a lively gallop about the sawdust ring, he threw himselfinto a whirlwind of graceful contortions and rapid movements,adding some of his own invention to those usually practiced bybareback riders.
Phil dropped to the hip of the gray, his face flushed withtriumph, his eyes sparkling.
"How is it, Mr. Sparling?" he called.
The showman was clapping his hands and clambering down the aislefrom his position near the top row of seats.
"You don't mean to tell me you have never tried bareback ridingbefore this season?" he demanded.
"No, sir; this is my first experience."
"Then all I have to say is that you will make one of thefinest bareback riders in the world if you keep on. It ismarvelous, marvelous!"
"Thank you," glowed the lad. "But if there is any creditcoming to anyone it is due to Mrs. Robinson. She taught mehow to do it," answered Phil gallantly.
Little Dimples shook a small, brown fist at him.
"He knows how to turn a pretty compliment as well as he knows howto ride, Mr. Sparling," bubbled Dimples. "You should just hearthe nice things he said to me back in the paddock," she teased.
Phil blushed furiously.
"Shall I ride again?" he asked.
"Not necessary," answered the owner. "But, by the way, you mightget up and do a somersault. Do a backward turn with the horse ata gallop," suggested Mr. Sparling, with a suspicion of a smile atthe corners of his mouth.
"A somersault?" stammered Phil, somewhat taken back. "Why--I--I--I guess I couldn't do that; I haven't learned to do that yet."
"Not learned to do it? I am surprised."
Phil looked crestfallen.
"I am surprised, indeed, that there is one thing in this showthat you are unable to do." The manager broke out into a roar oflaughter, in which Little Dimples joined merrily.
"May I go on?" asked the lad somewhat apprehensively.
"May you? May you? Why, I--"
At that moment Teddy Tucker came strolling lazily in with a long,white feather tucked in the corner of his mouth.
The showman's eyes were upon it instantly.
"What have you there?" he demanded.
"Feather," answered Teddy thickly.
"I see it. Where did you get it?"
"Pulled it out of the pelican's tail. Going to make a penof it to use when I write to the folks at Edmeston," answeredthe boy carelessly.
"You young rascal!" thundered Mr. Sparling. "What do youmean by destroying my property like that? I'll fine you!I'll teach you!"
"Oh, it didn't hurt the pelican any. Besides, he's got more tailthan he can use in his business, anyway."
"Get out of here!" thundered the manager in well-feigned anger."I'll forget myself and discharge you first thing you know.What do you want?"
"I was going to ask you something," answered Teddy slowly.
"You needn't. You needn't. It won't do you any good. What isit you were going to ask me?"
"I was going to ask you if I might go in the leaping act."
"The leaping act?"
"Yes, sir. The one where the fellows jump over theelephants and--"
"Ho, ho, ho! What do you think of that, Phil? What do you--"
"I can do it. You needn't laugh. I've done it every day forthree weeks. I can jump over four elephants and maybe five, now.I can--"
"Yes, I have seen him do it, Mr. Sparling," vouched Phil. "He isgoing to make a very fine leaper."
The showman removed his broad sombrero, wiped the perspirationfrom his brow, glancing from one to the other of the Circus Boys.
"May I?"
"Yes, yes. Go ahead. Do anything you want to. I'm only thehired man around here anyhow," snapped the showman, jamming hishat down over his head and striding away, followed by the merrylaughter of Little Dimples.