Part 43 (1/2)

”I--I guess it was the baboon,” answered Teddy whimsically.

”Or else, maybe, it was the b.u.mp I got when I hit the deck of the 'Fat Marie.'”

Phil came up and joined them at that moment, waiting for his turn to go on in his trapeze act for the evening performance.

Mr. Sparling surveyed him keenly. He noted the trim, athletic figure, the poise of the head and the steady clear eyes that held one irresistibly.

”You are looking very handsome tonight, Phil,” said the owner.

”Thank you, sir. 'Handsome is as handsome does,' as the saying goes,” laughed the Circus Boy. ”Are you having the net watched, Mr. Sparling?”

”Yes, my lad. Two men are keeping close tab on the big spider web all the time, except in the afternoon, when no one would dare to tamper with it for fear of being detected.”

”I am not so sure of that. You see, I have a personal interest in that net, seeing that I have to risk my bones over it twice each day.”

”Don't worry. It will be well watched, Phil.”

”I take the first drop in it, you know, so if it should give way you would be minus Phil Forrest.”

”Teddy tells me you and he are thinking of buying out the Sparling shows, eh?”

”Why, Teddy, how could you say such a thing?” demanded Phil, reddening.

Teddy expostulated, explaining that it was merely a dream in his own mind, repeating that Phil knew nothing of it.

”I do intend to own a show, as I have told you before, Mr. Sparling, as soon as I have enough money. I am afraid, however, that that day is a long way off.”

”Perhaps not so far off as you think, Phil. Perhaps both of you may own a show much sooner than you even dream,” said the showman, significantly. ”Well, good night, boys if I do not see you again.”

”What do you think he meant by that?” questioned Teddy.

”I am sure I do not know. Perhaps he thinks we have a future before us and that we shall make rapid advances. I hope so, don't you, Teddy?”

”I think I would rather find my egg than have most anything else just now.”

”Oh, hang your egg! There goes my cue. I must get out, now.

Bye, bye. You are a lucky boy not to have to work on this hot night.”

Phil waved his hand and tripped out into the arena. A few minutes later he was soaring through the air with the gracefulness and ease of a bird on the wing.

The boys did not meet again until bedtime, for Phil had turned in immediately upon reaching the boat. Teddy, of course, was the last one to go to bed, but he was soon asleep after reaching there.

Phil, on the contrary, had lain awake for some hours, thinking.

He was still seeking a solution to the mystery that had been disturbing them almost from the beginning of the season.

Twice had an effort been made to do him serious injury at least.

Who could have taken so violent a dislike to him as to wish to cause his death? There seemed to be no answer to the question.

”I can think of no one, unless it is Diaz,” muttered the boy.

”Yet he surely was not one of those who were plotting out on the lot that night. He would not have had time to get back to the boat ahead of me. Then again, Teddy was sure that the clown had been back for more than an hour. He may have had something to do with laying the trap in the ring for Dimples and myself.”