rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第15部分
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become in his own investigation that he forgot for the moment that the
owner of the trunk might resent such curiosity。
All at once Phil glanced down at the clown。 He found the dark eyes
of Diaz fixed upon him； and the lad flushed in spite of himself。
Diaz slowly rose to his feet。 Thrusting his face close to that of the lad
he peered into the boy's face。
〃What you want？〃
〃Nothing； thank you。〃
〃You look for something in the trunk of Diaz； eh？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃What for you look？〃
〃Maybe I was looking for an egg。 Maybe I thought the clown Diaz
carried a supply of freshly laid eggs in his dressing…room trunk；〃 said Phil
in a tone too low for the others to catch； all the time holding the eyes of
the clown in a steady gaze。
The eyes of the clown expressed surprise； but there was so much
grease paint and powder on his face that the boy could not tell whether the
fellow had flushed or not。
That Diaz was angry； however； was clear。
〃What you mean？〃 demanded the clown； with a threatening gesture。
〃If you do not know； I don't believe I care to explain just now。〃
〃What you mean？〃 repeated the clown； his voice rising to a higher
pitch。 〃Youyou think I a thief？〃
〃If I thought so I might be too courteous to say so；〃 was the calm
retort。 〃What makes you imagine that I think you a thief？ You must
have some reasonyou must believe there is some truth in your self…
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accusation； or you would not be so quick to resent it。〃
〃II〃
〃Remember； I have not accused you of anything。 You have accused
yourself。〃
Perhaps there was method in Phil's naggingperhaps he was trying to
goad the Spaniard into an admission that could be used against him。 If
that were his purpose he had only partly succeeded。
Diaz； who had closed the cover of his trunk with a bang； now sprang
to the trunk again； jerking up the cover with such force as to nearly
wrench it from its hinges。
Two trays came out and were hurled to the ground as the owner dived
deeper and deeper into the chest。
〃What's the matter？ Have you gone crazy？〃 questioned Phil；
laughing in spite of himself。 〃Come on； now； don't lose your temper。 If
you will stop to consider； you will recall that I have said nothing at which
you might possibly take offence。〃
To this the clown made no reply。
All at once he straightened up with a snarl that reminded Phil of the
cough of the tiger out in the menagerie as the beast struck viciously at its
keeper when the latter chanced to step too close to the bars of the cage。
Diaz stood all a…quiver。
〃This looks like trouble of some sort；〃 muttered Phil Forrest。 〃But I
don't quite understand what he could have been hunting for in the trunk。〃
Phil's question was answered a few seconds later。
》From the folds of the clown's costume his hand suddenly shot
upward。 The hand held a knife。 The hand shook from rage as the knife
was brandished aloft。
〃Hello； so that's the game； is it？〃
The Circus Boy stood his ground unflinchingly。 He did not appear to
be disturbed in the least； though his situation at that moment was a critical
one。
〃Diaz！ Diaz！ Drop that knife！〃 ordered Phil sternly。
Instead of obeying the command the clown leaped upon him； or upon
the spot where Phil had been standing a second before。 The lad had
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sprung back far enough so that the descending knife cut only the empty
air。
Again the knife flashed up。 Just as it was being raised； the boy
leaped again。 This time he sprang toward the enraged clown； rather than
away from him。
Ere the knife could be brought down； Phil gripped the wrist holding
the weapon； giving the wrist a quick； sharp twist that brought a roar of
pain from Diaz。
The knife dropped to the ground。 Phil calmly stooped and picked it
up； while the clown was nursing his wrist and groaning。
Several performers； realizing that something out of the ordinary was
going on in that corner of the tent； hurried over。
〃What's the matter here？〃
〃Diaz was showing me his knife。 It's a beauty； isn't it？〃 answered
Phil； with a pleasant smile。 〃I think； however； it is a little too pretty for a
circus。 Were I in your place； Diaz； I should keep it in my trunk else
someone may steal it。〃
The lad coolly raised the lid of the trunk； dropping the knife in。 The
others； not noting that the clown was hurt； and that his wrist had been
twisted by the Circus Boy almost to the breaking point； turned back to
their own corners and continued their labors preparatory to entering the
ring。
〃Mr。 Diaz；〃 said Phil in a low voice； bending over the clown； 〃your
temper is going to get you into serious trouble one of these fine days。 I
am sorry I had to hurt you。 But let me tell you one thing。 If you attack
me again I shall be compelled to give you the worst licking you ever had
in your life。 Put that in one of your fool caps that you throw around the
arena； so you won't forget it。 Behave yourself and you will find that I am
a pretty good friend。〃
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CHAPTER XII
TRYING OUT A NEW ACT
〃Well； Dimples； I hope you and I do not make sad exhibitions of
ourselves this evening。〃
〃I hope not； Phil。 I am sure you will not； but I am not so sure of
myself。〃
The afternoon performance had passed off without incident； save that
the performers had given a much better show than usual。 Everyone felt
fresh and strong after his Sunday rest。
It was now evening。 The band was playing its loudest； the clowns
were fast and furious in their fun； and the animals out in the menagerie
tent were doing their part toward raising a din that might have been heard
at least half a mile away。
Phil Forrest had already been in for his trapeze act； and after changing
his costume had come out again for the bareback riding number； to which
he always looked forward with pleasurable anticipation。
At the same time Little Dimples； the star female bareback rider； had
come up and joined him and the two fell to talking； as they always did
whenever the opportunity presented itself。
Long ago the circus woman had constituted herself the 〃mother of the
Circus Boys；〃 as she expressed it。 She always insisted on doing their
sewing for them； helped them to plan their costumes and gave them
friendly advice on all occasions。
The act which they were entering the ring to perform on this particular
evening was a new one。 The two had been practicing it since the
beginning of the seasonpracticing in secret that they might put it on as a
surprise to Mr。 Sparling。
This was what is known as a 〃brother and sister act。〃 That is； the
strong man and woman proposed to perform on the back of the same horse；
and at the same time。
The brother and sister act was not a new act by any means； but they
had added ideas of their own to it until it had become novel。 They had
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essayed some daring and sensational features which were sure to create a
sensation with any audience before which the act was performed。
〃It is a small town；〃 said Dimples。 〃We don't care if we do fall off；
do we； Phil； my boy？〃
〃We most certainly do care。 At least； _I_ do。 Where's your
professional pride； Dimples？〃 demanded Phil； with an indulgent smile。
〃In my feet； I guess；〃 answered the woman； with a merry laugh。 〃I
am making my living with my feet。 Were they not so sure； enabling me
to stand on the slippery back of a ring horse； I should not be drawing the
fine salary that I now have。 Neither would you。〃
〃Here we are at the ring；〃 interrupted Phil。 〃The audience is
applauding us before we begin。 They must be expecting something out
of the ordinary。〃
As a matter of fact； the two riders made a very pleasing appearance as
they entered the ring。 Phil； slender； athletic； manly； Dimples exquisitely
dainty； looking almost as fragile as a piece of Dresden china； they were a
pair to attract attention anywhere。
The spectators did not even dream that Little Dimples was a married
woman； with a son almo
