The Circus Boys Across The Continent | Page 8

Everything about the car was new and fresh, the linen white and clean,
while the wash room, with its mahogany trimmings, plate glass mirrors
and upholstered seats, was quite the most elaborate thing that Teddy
had ever seen.
He called to Phil to come and look at it.
"Yes, it is very handsome. I am sure we shall get to be very fond of our
home on wheels before the season is ended. I'm going out now to see if
our trunks have arrived."
Phil, after some hunting about, succeeded in finding the baggage man
of the train, from whom he learned that the trunks had arrived and were
packed away in the baggage car.
By this time night had fallen. With it came even greater confusion,
while torches flared up here and there to light the scene of bustle and
excitement.
It was all very confusing to Phil, and he was in constant fear of being
run down by switching engines that were shunting cars back and forth
as fast as they were loaded, rapidly making up the circus train. The
Circus Boy wondered if he ever could get used to being with a railroad
show.
"I must be getting back or I shall not be able to find number eleven,"
decided Phil finally. "I really haven't the least idea where it is now."
The huge canvas-covered wagons stood up in the air like a procession
of wraiths of the night, muttered growls and guttural coughs issuing
from their interiors. All this was disturbing to one not used to it.
Phil started on a run across the tracks in search of his car.

In the meantime Teddy Tucker, finding himself alone, had sauntered
forth to watch the loading, and when he ventured abroad trouble
usually followed.
The lad soon became so interested in the progress of the work that he
was excitedly shouting out orders to the men, offering suggestions and
criticisms of the way they were doing that work.
Now, most of the men in the labor gang were new--that is, they had not
been with the Sparling show the previous season, and hence did not
know Teddy by sight. After a time they tired of his running fire of
comment. They had several times roughly warned him to go on about
his business. But Teddy did not heed their advice, and likewise forgot
all about that which Phil had given him earlier in the evening.
He kept right on telling the men how to load the circus, for, if there was
one thing in the world that Teddy Tucker loved more than another it
was to "boss" somebody.
All at once the lad felt himself suddenly seized from behind and lifted
off his feet. At the same time a rough hand was clapped over his mouth.
The Circus Boy tried to utter a yell, but he found it impossible for him
to do so. Teddy kicked and fought so vigorously that it was all his
captor could do to hold him.
"Come and help me. We'll fix the fresh kid this time," called the fellow
in whose grip the lad was struggling.
"What's the matter, Larry? Is he too much for you?" laughed the other
man.
"He's the biggest little man I ever got my fists on. Gimme a hand here."
"What are you going to do with him?"
"I'll show you in a minute."
"Maybe he's with the show. He's slippery enough to be a performer."

"No such thing. And I don't care if he is. I'll teach him not to interfere
with the men. Grab hold and help me carry him."
Together they lifted the kicking, squirming, fighting boy, carrying him
on down the tracks, not putting him down until they had reached the
standpipe of a nearby water tank, where the locomotives took on their
supply of fresh water.
"Jerk that spout around!" commanded Larry, sitting down on Tucker
with a force that made the lad gasp.
"Can't reach the chain."
"Then get a pike pole, and be quick about it. The foreman will be
looking for us first thing we know. If he finds us here he'll fire us
before we get started."
"See here, Larry, what are you going to do?" demanded the other
suspiciously.
"My eyes, but you're inquisitive! Going to wash the kid down. Next
time mebby he won't be so fresh."
And "wash" they did.
Suddenly the full stream from the standpipe spurted down. Larry
promptly let go of his captive. Teddy was right in the path of the
downpour, and the next instant he was struggling in the flood.
The showman dropped him and started to run.
Teddy let out a choking howl, grasping frantically for his tormentor. A
moment later the lad's hands closed over Larry's ankles, and before