Part 47 (2/2)
”Perhaps I fell in,” answered the lad with a faint smile.
”Perhaps. But you have not said so. I want you to tell me how you did get in.”
”I think I was thrown in, Mr. Sparling,” answered the Circus Boy quickly.
”Thrown in!” exclaimed the showman, leaping to his feet, his face working convulsively in his effort to control his emotions.
”Phil Forrest, do you mean that?”
”I do.”
Mr. Sparling sat down helplessly.
”Is it possible?”
”I am sure of it, sir.”
”Had anyone but you told me that I should have laughed. I know I can depend upon what you say. Tell me more about it?”
”As I have already said, I was leaning on the rail and dropped off into a doze. How long I had been in that position I do not know. I could not have been there many minutes, or I should have gone so soundly asleep that I would have fallen over to the deck, you know.”
”Yes, yes.”
”All at once I felt myself being lifted. At first, as I remember it, the sensation was as if the deck were dropping from under me.
As I recalled the incident afterwards, I realized that I had been lifted. You know all that occurred after that.”
”Was there more than one who threw you overboard?”
”I am unable to say. I did not even see one,” said Phil with a half-smile. ”I felt myself being lifted--that's all. The next minute I was in the river, with the 'Marie' pounding away downstream at a lively clip.”
”Dastardly! Dastardly!” growled the showman. ”I shall send for a detective to meet us in Memphis tomorrow. This thing has gone far enough.”
”I think I agree with you, sir,” was Phil's half-humorous answer.
”But I had been in hopes of solving this mystery myself.”
”Yes, and you came near losing your life as the result.
No, sir! This thing must be cleared up at once. I shall wire to St. Louis now, and we will have a man with us sometime tomorrow.
Say nothing to anyone of my plan. The detective will join the show in some capacity or other, and have regular duties to perform. You will know him, but no one else will except myself. I think the Roman races are about due under the big top now. Suppose you go in and change your clothes, joining me at my table after you come out. We will talk these matters over at length this evening. When the officer reaches here I shall expect you to tell him freely all that you know as well as what you suspect. Keep nothing from him. Run along, Phil.
I want to think this matter over by myself for a few minutes.”
As Phil entered the big top the Roman races were just coming on.
The chariot drivers, with their prancing steeds, had entered the arena.
Phil paused to wait until the fast and furious races were over.
The leading woman chariot driver was trying out a new three-horse team; that is, two of the horses were new to the work, the third, being an old hand. The new animals were spirited, and after the first round of the arena, Phil saw that they were nervous.
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