Part 3 (1/2)
The next to feel the grip of his powerful hand was the clown, Diaz, and when Mr. Miaco discovered that the clown had Phil Forrest down, he could scarcely restrain himself from severely punis.h.i.+ng the fellow. However, Miaco satisfied himself with hauling Diaz from his victim with little ceremony. Then he jerked the angry clown to his feet.
”Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself?” demanded Miaco, gazing at the other sternly.
”This no business of yours,” growled Diaz.
”That remains to be seen. I'll decide whether it is any of my affair or not. Phil, what does this mean?”
”Just a little matter between ourselves. Thank you for helping me out.”
”Did he attack you, Phil?”
”He did, but he no doubt thought he had sufficient provocation.
Perhaps we should not be too hard on Mr. Diaz.”
”Then the best thing to do is to tell Mr. Sparling. I--”
”Please don't do anything of the sort,” begged Phil. ”In the first place, Diaz's anger was directed against Teddy, and I had to mix myself in their quarrel. Teddy did something to him a few weeks ago that made the clown very angry, and I don't blame Diaz.”
”Was there any excuse for his pitching into you in this manner?”
”Well,” laughed Phil, ”perhaps the situation did not demand exactly that sort of treatment.”
”How did you come to let him get you so easily?”
”I fell over something.”
”Oh, that's it?”
”Yes. I wasn't trying to hit him. I could have done so easily, but I felt that I was in the wrong.”
”Humph!” grunted the head clown. Then he turned to Diaz.
”See here, you fellow!”
”What you want?” demanded Diaz in a surly tone.
”I want to advise you to let those boys alone in the future.
They have been with this show a long time, and they are highly thought of by Mr. Sparling. Were he to hear what you have done tonight I rather think you would pack your trunk and quit right here. I shall not tell him. Next time I see you doing any such thing you will have to answer to me. I'm the head clown here, and I won't stand for one of my men pitching on a boy.”
Teddy was chuckling to himself over the severe rebuke that Miaco was administering to his clown.
”Do you boys intend going on tonight?” Miaco demanded suddenly, turning on Teddy.
”Certainly,” answered Phil.
”Then I should advise you to be getting into your makeups.”
”Why, what time is it?”
”A quarter to eight.”
”Whew! Come on, Teddy.”