Part 24 (2/2)
They leaped gracefully and deliberately into the air, doubled their legs under them and performed one of the most graceful somersaults that had ever been seen in the Sparling shows, landing lightly and surely on the resined back of the old ring horse.
Dimples sat down, and Phil, dropping lightly to the ground, threw a kiss to the audience.
The spectators, fully appreciating what had been done, went fairly wild in their enthusiasm.
Mr. Sparling was no less so. In his excitement he forgot time and place and ran into the ring, where he threw an arm about Phil Forrest, giving him a fatherly hug.
Dimples pouted prettily.
”That's what I call partiality,” she complained.
Mr. Sparling promptly lifted her from the back of her horse, and stood the blus.h.i.+ng little performer on the sawdust by the side of Phil.
How the spectators did applaud, many standing up in their seats waving hats and handkerchiefs in their excitement and enthusiasm!
Mr. Sparling was always doing these little, intensely human things, not with any idea of winning applause, but out of sheer big-heartedness. They did much toward spreading the reputation of the Sparling show and popularizing it as well.
”Ladies and gentlemen,” announced the showman when quiet had once more been restored, ”you will pardon me for interrupting the performance, but as the owner of the show I want to say a few words on behalf of my star performers, Little Dimples and Master Phil Forrest.”
The audience interrupted him with a cheer.
”The act which you have just witnessed is as great a surprise to me as it could possibly have been to you. It is the first time these two performers ever attempted it in public. I might say, also, that it is the first time to my own knowledge that any performers in the world ever succeeded in getting away with a feat of that sort. I thank you for your approval.
The performance will now proceed.”
After the applause which this little speech elicited had died away the band once more began to play.
Phil and Dimples commenced a series of acts, jumping from and to the back of the horse whose speed was increased for the purpose.
In the next rest Dimples called the attention of her a.s.sociate to the clown Diaz, who was not far from them at the moment.
Dimples had been in the show business so long that her intuition had become very keen. Nothing of consequence happened under the big top, or beneath the low-roofed dressing tents, that she did not know of, or at least surmise. Especially keen was she in all matters relating to Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker, and her interest had in many instances served to save the lads from unpleasant consequence.
”I don't like that fellow, Phil,” Dimples remarked, referring to Diaz.
”Why not?”
”I think he is a bad man.”
”I hope not. He is impulsive and--”
”Revengeful and ugly,” finished Dimples.
”As I said, he is impulsive, like all of his race.”
”What has been going on with you lately, Phil?”
”I don't understand what you mean?”
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