Edgar B. P. Darlington

“ Boss, the fellows have asked me to present to you a little expression of their good will—to the greatest advance agent that ever hit the iron trail. You've made us work like all possessed, but we love you almost to death, just the same. I present this gift to you with our compliments, Boss, and here also is a little remembrance for our friend, Spotted Horse, otherwise known as Teddy Tucker. ”

“ Teddy opened the door of Car Three softly, listened, then closed it again. Next he leaned out and looked along the tracks, which he could see fairly well, for the moon was now shining brightly.
"I guess there is no grade here." Stepping across to the platform of the car to the rear of him, the boy partially set the brake until he could feel it grinding on the wheels.
"Now, I think we are all ready," he muttered, as, stepping back to the platform of his own car, he grasped the coupling lever firmly with both hands, giving it a mighty tug. ”

“ Teddy, with a scowl on his face, went outside to take a look at the car from the outside. The car was a bright red, with the name of the Sparling Shows spread over its sides in gilded letters.
"If the inside were half as good-looking as the outside, it would be some car," was Teddy's conclusion, after walking all around the car. "I think I'll go back and join the show."
"Oh, be sensible, Teddy," chided Phil. "We shall be very comfortable after we once get settled. Here comes Mr. Snowden, I think." ”

“ Snowden's hands pinioned to the floor.
The muffled voice under the quilts waxed louder and more angry as the seconds passed. Phil, who had gone to the wash room to make his toilet, hurried back at sound of the row.
"Teddy Tucker, what are you doing?" demanded Phil, for the moment puzzled at the scene before him.
"I'm sitting on the Boss," answered Teddy triumphantly. "Shall I give him one for you?"
"Yes—give him two for each of us," shouted the billposters.
Phil strode to his companion, grabbed the lad by the collar of his pajamas and jerked him from the helpless man under the quilts. ”

“ In a moment they saw the flash of a policeman's shield.
"We're caught!" cried Conley. "Run for it!"
"Halt!" commanded the officer. He was almost upon them now. Phil was still up the pole, where he clung, awaiting the result of the surprise below.
"What does this mean?" demanded the bluecoat.
"It means you are it!" howled Teddy, bolting between the officer's legs, causing the bluecoat to fall flat upon the ground.
"Run! Run!" howled Teddy.
Phil sprang from the pole and all hands made a lively sprint for the car. ”

“ And now, for the fifth season, the Circus Boys are found under canvas again, headed for the far west.
"How are things going with you?" questioned Mr. Sparling after the two had seated themselves at the table in the dining compartment.
"Rather slowly, Mr. Sparling."
"How is that?"
"I haven't enough to do this season. I am afraid I shall get lazy, unless you give me something else to do."
"Let me see; how many acts have you this season?"
"I am on the flying trapeze, then I do a single bareback riding act and a double with Little Dimples, the same as I did last season." ”

“ The other end of the car comprised one long apartment with folding berths and benches for laying out the lithographs. At the far end was a steam boiler, used in making paste with which to post the bills. That compartment had nothing either of elegance or comfort.
"Do the men sleep on those shelves up there?" questioned Teddy of the porter.
"Shelves, sir? Hi calls them berths, sir," answered the porter, who was an Englishman.
"Humph!"
"What do you think of our new home, Teddy?" smiled Phil.
"I've seen better," grumbled the Circus Boy. "I think I prefer the stateroom. Where's the boss?" ”

“ First you imperil the lives of three carloads of men by cutting them loose from the train; then you climb a flag pole, nearly losing your own life in the attempt, and now you have lured three carloads of men to a deserted village, where you have lost them. Oh, I've got to laugh—I can't help it!" And Phil did laugh, disturbed as he was over Teddy Tucker's repeated violation of what Phil believed to be the right and honorable way of doing business. ”

“ Teddy was dancing up and down the line.
"Paste them, fellows!" he roared. "Paste them good and proper.
We'll stick them to the walls when we get them properly daubed!"
With a yell the Sparling crowd began wielding the paste brushes. They wielded them effectively, too. Every sweep of the brushes found a human mark.
Shouts of rage followed the onslaught, above which could be heard the voice of the manager of the canary car, urging the crowd on to violence.
Phil came dashing out.
"Drive them back!" he shouted. "But be careful that you do not hurt anybody. Keep your heads, men!" ”

“ Phil's face took on a solemn expression.
"How would you like that?"
"I do not know, Mr. Sparling. I am afraid I should not know what to do with myself away from the glitter and the excitement of the big show."
"Excitement? My dear boy, you will find all the excitement you want ahead of the show. As for work, the work ahead is never finished. There is always plenty to do after you have finished your day's work. Besides, this branch of the business you must familiarize yourself with, if you are to go later into the executive branch of the circus business." ”

“ At last Car Three rolled into the station at Deming. It was a warm, balmy Fall day.
"Now burn the town up with your paper, boys," commanded Phil, after they had finished their breakfast. "Come in early tonight. I want all hands to drop paste pots and brushes tonight, and take dinner with me. It will not be at a contract hotel, either. Dinner at eight o'clock."
"Hooray!" exclaimed Teddy. "A real feed for once, fellows!
No more meals at The Sign of the Tin Spoon this season!"
The crew of Car Three were not slow about getting in that night. Every man was on time. ”

“ I had forgotten you boys were performers back with the show," nodded Billy. "What are you up here for—learning this end of the business?"
"Yes; that is what we are here for," answered Phil.
"Mr. Sparling wished us to do so."
"You have come to a good place to learn it," emphasized Conley. "But you'll have to fight your way through. You have done a mighty good job in downing the Boss, but look out for him. He'll never forget it. If he doesn't get you fired, he will get even with you in some other way." ”

“ Phil, at the suggestion of the assistant manager, had brought a pair of climbers with him, Billy explaining, as they ran, the fix that the Circus Boy was in.
For a wonder, all the disturbance had attracted no attention on the street.
"Are you all right?" called Phil as he ran to the spot.
"N—no; I'm all wrong," came the answer from above. "All the blood in my body is in my head. I'm going to burst in a minute."
Phil wasted no words. Quickly strapping on his climbers, he began shinning up the pole, which he took much faster than Teddy had done, for the situation was critical. ”

“ This is a contract as plain as the nose on your face."
"That is the way it strikes me," answered Phil, with a pleasant smile.
"Disperse the crowd. Keep half a dozen men on duty here, and, if there is any further disturbance, lock them all up."
"Thank you," said Phil, edging near the lieutenant. "And, now that the matter is all settled, if you will call at the Sparling advance car this afternoon, at five o'clock, I shall be happy to furnish you with tickets for yourself and family. That is not a bribe, because we have got the matter all straightened out." ”

“ The life of the showman is full of excitement and it seemed as if Teddy and Phil Forrest met with more than their share in "THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND." Phil Forrest, while performing a mission for his employer, was caught by a rival circus owner, held captive for some days, then forced to perform in the rival's circus ring, leaping through rings of fire in a bareback riding act. The details of Phil's exciting escape from his captors are well remembered, as will be his long, weary journey over the railroad ties in his ring costume. ”

“ The Circus Boy flushed happily.
"You will have to be alive. But I do not need to say that. You always are alive. You will have to fight the railroads constantly, to get your car through on time; you will have to combat innumerable elements that as yet you have not had experience with. ”

“ Phil grabbed him by the collar and slammed him down on the platform.
"Ouch!" howled Teddy.
"Get up, you sleepy-head!"
"I'll friz you for that!" declared Tucker, squaring off pugnaciously.
"Don't be silly, Teddy. This is the first emergency we have had to face. Don't let's act like a couple of children. We must beat the opposition, and I'm going to beat them out, no matter what the cost or the effort. Listen! I want you to go to the contract livery stable. Here is the address. Go as fast as your legs will carry you." ”

“ Phil's team was gaining gradually.
"Hang on to the cans!" shouted the Circus Boy. "We are coming to a bad crosswalk!"
People paused on the street, not understanding what the mad pace meant. A policeman ran out and raised his stick. Teddy, who had hopped on behind at the last minute, not wishing to lose any of the fun, now stood up unsteadily, hanging to the driver's coat collar and nearly pulling that worthy from his seat.
They overhauled the first wagon from the canary car and passed it.
"Ye—ow!" howled Teddy as their wagon swept by. "This is a Wild
West outfit!" ”

“ The Boss must certainly have a grudge against you. You will be hanging around the car all day, however, and if the Boss is away any you will have a chance to get forty winks of sleep in the stateroom now and then."
"No; Teddy is not here to sleep. He is here to work."
"Yes; everybody works around here but Father."
"Is the work the same on the advance cars of all shows?"
"All circuses, yes. We do things just the same as the fellows did them forty years ago. Nobody seems to have head enough to do things differently, and goodness knows some modern methods are necessary." ”

“ Sparling leaned back and laughed.
"I am glad you did not try it."
"Why?" demanded the manager suddenly.
"Because you would have got the thrashing of your life. Mr. Snowden, I am fully informed as to what has been going on in this car."
"So, that's it; those cubs have been spying on me and reporting to you, eh? I might have known it."
"You are mistaken," answered the owner calmly. "While they had sufficient provocation to do so, not a murmur has come from either of them. They have taken their medicine like men. I make it a rule to keep posted on what is going on in every department of my show. ”

“ The Circus Boys had won the good opinion of the men of Car Three at the outset.
"That's the talk," agreed Billy. "Line up here and I'll introduce you to the bunch. The skinny fellow over there by the boiler is Chief Rain-in-the-Face. The one next to him is Slivers. The freakish looking gentleman standing at my right is Krao, the Missing Link. On my left is Baby Egawa—"
"Otherwise known as Rosie the Pig," added a voice.
"Everybody on an advance car has a nickname, you know. You'll forget your real names, if you stay on an advance car long enough. ”

“ Come now, Teddy, old chap, remember the responsibility of this car rests on your shoulders almost as much as on mine. Let's not have any hanging back on your part."
"I'm not hanging back. What is it you want me to do? I'm ready for anything."
"That's the talk. Hustle to the livery stable and camp right on the trail. See that those teams are here at two o'clock, or by a quarter after two, at the latest. Have the men drive up quietly, and you show them the way. Don't you go to sleep at the stable. ”

“ Teddy did not yet fully understand what his companion's plan might be. Billy, on the contrary, understood it fully.
"You beat anything I ever came across," Conley remarked in Phil's car as the two were standing at the side of the track in front of Number Three.
"Wait! Don't throw any flowers at me too soon. We have not done it yet. I understand there is a short up-grade about seven miles below here. If we get stalled on that we will be in a fine fix and likely to get smashed into ourselves. It looks to me like a storm. What do you think?" ”

“ Had there been another train over the road, last night, the chances are that it would have run into those show cars and killed every man in them, besides wrecking the train itself and killing a lot more people. I am willing to take long chances in the line of duty, but I should hope I never would commit a crime in so doing. Let this be a warning to you, Teddy Tucker. Never do a thing like this again. We will beat our rivals by all fair means and we will stop there."
Phil paused, eyeing his companion sternly. ”

“ He started off across the circus lot, splashing through the mud and water, bound for his comfortable private car that lay on a siding about half a mile from the circus grounds.
He found a scene of bustle and excitement in the railroad yards, where a small army of men were rushing the work of loading the menagerie wagons on the first section, for the train was going out in three sections that night.
"It is a peculiar fact," muttered the showman, "that the worse the weather is, the louder the men seem called upon to yell. ”

“ Conley, as they were strolling back to the car.
"I think I shall starve to death in a week, if I have to eat in that sort of a place," answered Teddy. "Why didn't the contracting agent sign us up with a livery stable? I'd a sight rather feed there than at a contract hotel if they are all like this."
"Yes, the food is at least clean in a livery stable," laughed Phil. "But we shall get along all right. If we get too hungry we can go out and buy our own meals now and then. Do you ever do that, Mr. Conley?" ”

“ Phil had learned something. He had noted every movement of the billposter.
"How long does it take to learn to post, Billy?" he asked.
"Some fellows never learn. Others get fairly expert after a few weeks puttering around."
"May I try one today?"
"Sure thing. If the next one is easy I will give you a chance at it."
The next daub proved to be a small hay barn a little way back in a field.
"There's your chance, my boy," he said.
Phil jumped out before the wagon had come to a stop and, with paper and brush under his arms, ran across the field. ”