in the station and go over

ng will just about be o

gang, the men who hurry to the lot the moment their train gets in and survey it, driving stakes to show where the tents are

what Phil Forrest

und the men already at work measuring off the ground wi

over to where he observed the for

l knew he would growl because the f

are coming this way pretty

d'ye

in Corinto within two days-yours and-a

," grunted

ely. He had drawn his ma

t think he'd want to show in the same p

y n

l all spend their mone

rew back his h

to do. We'll make that Sparling outfit get off the earth before w

?" cooe

d me, to keep a day ahead of the

f he appreciated the joke fully. "Have an orange. I always

p me going until the cook tent is ready. The cook tent is where we get

inde

ever do," re

nt ago, when you told me about ge

deri

es

ha

know where the othe

nswered the stake and chain fo

he must know where you are billed

do

why

in the second, we have a way of finding out where Sparling is go

an hurried off to give some directions to h

ke to know h

y other. Mebby there's somebody with the Sparling outfit who keeps u

omeone in the other show is giving away his employer's se

same way we do," growled the foreman, following

seems fair,"

a good deal interested in this competition business?"

ng to-do you know what towns they are going to

much as missing one of them. But the stake and chain foreman did not stop here; he went on and gave a further lis

was a

going west. I see

see. You only

N

'd know that the Sparling outfit was going to make a

th," excl

lubbers don't know any more

e going to

re going to lead them

e a wildcat

ng of th

's the

hustle the men, or he'll scorch th

ssion was as repulsive as it was brutal. Sully wore a red vest and red necktie with a large diamond in it. He gave the Circus Boy a quick sharp look as he passed. "I'll bet he will know me the next t

hen again, he wanted to see the wagons brought on so he could count them and get a fair inventory of the show and what it possessed. He soo

Then he hastened downtown and got his dinner and breakfast all in one, after wh

to enable him to lay those plans he has in mind, whatever they may be. I can se

how in his letter, and tried to couch it in such terms, that wh

on the sidewalk where he stood leaning against a lamp p

hem up from some show that has discarded them. That's one thing the Sparling outfit never does. Al

were a good many cages, besides

d Phil. "Pretty well up to our herd, but I would

ng about until time for the afternoon performance to begin, when he bought a ticke

e in the ring that it did not seem quite right for him to be occupying a chair in the audience.

, which he watched with the keen eyes of an expert, noting the work of ever

l acts. But the bareback riding he did not think compared favorably with his own, espe

that he himself was a circus performer did not lessen that interest one whit, but rather intensified it. Yet the glamour of his youthful days

re on hand for the evening performance, where he noted that the show w

hour before the show, and from him had learned some further

he circus was to show next day. It was not a long run, so he took a day coach. In it he saw several familiar faces-faces that he had

couple just ahead of him. "That's what Mr. Sparling told me. I could hardly believe it. I'll spend part of th

cognized also, though he knew full well that circus peo

the lad, a boy about his own age, was glad to do. From the "butcher" Phil learned a whole lot of things that added

Phil once more saw the same men he had observed on the train the previous evening. From their

ng for some pockets to pick," mused the lad,

is eyes had not been quick enough to catch them at it. Phil

rd the handbag of a well-dressed woman. Phil traced the hand back until he made out

Phil gazed with fascinated eyes while the stealthy

man looked down, perhaps att

robbed!"

rred Phil to

elt a vise-like grip about th

t did it, madam. Ca

cal