the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第16部分
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position； but Phil Forrest was used to roughing it。 In a few minutes he
was sound asleep。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XII
LOCKED IN THE LINEN CLOSET
Phil roused himself for a moment。
〃We're going；〃 he muttered； realizing that the train was in motion。
Then he dropped off to sleep again。
When next he awakened it was broad daylight； though the lad did not
know it until after he had struck a match and looked at his watch。
〃Eight 'clock in the morning；〃 he exclaimed。 〃My； how I must have
slept； and on such a bed too！〃
The lad was lame and sore from the cramped position in which he had
been obliged to lie all night； but he was just as cheerful as if he had
awakened in his own berth on sleeper number eleven on the Sparling train。
He began to feel hungry； though。
Phil tapped on the door。 There was no response； so he rapped again；
this time with more force。 Still failing to arouse anyone Phil delivered a
series of resounding kicks against the door。
〃If no one answers that I'll know there is nobody here and I'll see if I
can't break the door down。〃
There was someone there； however； as was made plain a moment later；
when the door was thrown suddenly open； revealing the grinning face of
Sully； the owner of the show。
〃Morning；〃 greeted Phil。 〃I thought maybe breakfast was being
served in the dining car； and I didn't want to miss it。〃
〃You're a cheerful idiot； aren't you？〃
〃So I have been told。 But about that breakfast？ If you'll kindly
conduct me to the wash room； so I can make myself beautiful and prepare
for breakfast； I shall be obliged to you。〃
〃Huh！〃 grunted the showman。
〃Where are we？〃
〃Brant。〃
〃Is this where we show today？〃
〃Yes； this is where we show today。 As if you didn't know that as well
as I do。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃I may have heard something to that effect。 I don't just remember for
the moment。 But； how about that breakfast？〃
〃How do you know you are going to get any breakfast？〃
〃Because I smelled it a few minutes ago。〃
〃That's my breakfast that your keen nose scented； young man。〃
〃Well； I guess I can stand it for once。〃
Sully was forced to smile at his young captive's good nature。 So he
took Phil by the arm and led him to the wash room； where the showman
remained until Phil had completed his preparations for breakfast。 Then
Sully led the way to a compartment at the rear of the car where a small
table had been set。
〃This looks good to me；〃 grinned Phil； rubbing his palms together。
〃You live high in this outfit； don't you？〃
The lad ate his breakfast with a will。
〃I hope I am not depriving you of your meal？〃 questioned Phil；
glancing up quickly。
〃I've had my breakfast。 If there had been only enough for one； you'd
have gone hungry。〃 〃You don't have to tell me that。 I know it。 That's
about your measure。〃
〃That will be about all from you；〃 snapped the showman。 〃The trouble
with you is that you can't appreciate decent treatment。 You're just like
your boss。〃
〃I'll not hear you say a word against Mr。 Sparling；〃 bristled Phil； then
suddenly checked himself。
〃So； I caught you that time； did I？〃 exclaimed Sully； slapping his
thighs and laughing uproariously； while Phil's face grew red with
mortification at the slip he had made。 〃You are not half as smart as you
think you are； young man。 I'll keep at you until I get out of you all the
information I want。〃
〃I'm afraid the show season isn't long enough for you to do that；〃 was
the boy's quick retort。
〃You'll find out whether it is or not。〃
〃I shall not be with you that long。 Now that I have admitted that I
have been connected with the Sparling show； what do you think my
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
employer will do when he finds I am missing？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃I rather guess he will do something。 Wait。〃
〃When does he expect you back？〃
Phil looked at the showman； laughing。
〃Did I mention that I was expected？ I said that when he missed me
there would be an inquiry； and there will。〃
〃Little good that will do him；〃 growled the showman。
〃Then you don't know James Sparling。〃
〃How'll he know you are here？〃
〃Trust him to find out； and thenwow！ There will be an explosion
that you can hear on the other side of the St。 Lawrence。 Do I take a walk
for my health after breakfast？〃
〃You do。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃To the other end of the car； to the linen closet； where you are to stay
until〃
〃Until what？〃 questioned Phil sharply。
〃Until you tell me what I want to know。〃
〃What is it that you wish to know？〃
〃Why were you sent to spy on my outfit？〃
〃Perhaps for the same reason that you keep a spy in his camp；〃 retorted
Phil； bending a keen gaze on the face of his jailer。
Sully's face went violently red。 Without another word he grasped
Phil roughly by the shoulder； jerked him from the table and hurried the lad
down the corridor。
〃Here； here； I haven't finished my breakfast yet；〃 protested the boy。
〃You have； but you don't know it。 You will know in a minute。〃
With that the showman thrust Phil into the linen closet again and
slammed the door。
〃My； I wouldn't have a temper like yours if you were to make me a
present of a six…pole circus！〃 called the Circus Boy。
He chuckled as Sully uttered a grunt of anger and strode off to the
other end of the car。
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〃He'll be going to the lot after a while； then I'll get busy；〃 muttered
Phil。 In the meantime there was nothing for him to do but to sit down
and make the best of his situation； which he did。 Once； during the morning；
Phil； believing himself to be alone； made several desperate attempts to
break the door down。
His efforts brought a threat from the corridor as to what would happen
if he tried that again。 Phil knew； then； that he was not to be left alone。
After a while the lad went to sleep； not awakening until late in the
afternoon。
He got no supper that night； nor did the showman come near him until
late on the following morning。 Phil was ravenously hungry； not having
had a thing to eat in twenty…four hours； but he had too much grit to utter a
word of complaint。
An excellent breakfast was served； but instead of Mr。 Sully one of his
men sat at the table while another stood out in the corridor ready to take a
hand in case the boy made an effort to escape。
Had there been an open window near him Phil would have tried a dive
through it； taking the chance of getting away。 The windows in the room
where the breakfast was served had been prudently shut； however。
He had just finished his breakfast when Sully came storming in。 The
lad could see that he was very angry about something。
〃Good morning； sir。 Aren't you feeling well this morning？〃
questioned Phil innocently。
〃Feelingfeeling〃 The words seemed to choke in the showman's
throat。
〃Yes； feeling。〃
〃Whywhywhy didn't you tell me that Sparling had changed his date
and was planning to make Corinto the same day we are billed there？〃
thundered Sully。
〃Is he？〃
〃Is he？ You know very well that he is； and it was your report that put
him up to doing this trick。 We've got you to thank for this piece of
business； and you're going to pay dear for your part in it。 Is he going to
follow us all around the countryis that what he's planning to do？〃
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〃I guess you had better ask Mr。 Sparling himself。 He hasn't seen fit to
tell me； as yet。〃
〃I'll show him that he can't trifle with me； and I'll show you； so you
won't forget it for the rest of your circus career。〃
〃I wouldn't make threats were I in your place； Mr。 Sully。 Wait until you
get over your mad fit； then you'll be glad you didn't say anything you
might have to take back later on；〃 advised Phil。
〃Take back？ Take back？〃
〃Yes。〃
For the moment the showman was too far overcome with emotion to
speak。 Then he uttered a roar and stamped out of the car。
〃Say； when is he going to let me out of here？〃
〃Not till we get to the border；〃 answered the attendant。
〃When will that be？〃
