"Pull the bell rope? Huh! There isn't any bell."
"I know that, but you can hear the rope slap the top of the platform roof when I pull it. Now, get back there. Don't call out to me, but attend to your business. I'll pull the cord when I am ready for you to release the brake. We must get away from here in a hurry."
Teddy hopped from the platform and ran to the rear, where he awaited the signal.
Phil's plan was a daring one. For twenty-five miles the road fell away at a sharp downgrade of sixty feet to the mile and in some places even greater. In one spot, as has already been stated, there was a sharp up-grade for a short distance.
It was Phil's purpose to coast the twenty-five miles in order to reach the next stand in time for the day's work. It was a risky undertaking. Besides the danger of a possible collision with an extra sent over the road, there was the added danger of the car getting beyond their control and toppling over into a ditch.
The Circus Boy had weighed all these chances well before starting on his undertaking.
"I guess we will be moving now," he said, giving the bell cord a pull, then throwing off the brake, Teddy performing the same service at the other end of the car.
Car Number Three did not start at once.
Phil and Billy jumped up and down on the platform in excitement.
"She's moving," exulted Phil. "We're off."
A faint "yee—ow!" from the rear platform was evidence that TeddyTucker also had discovered this fact.
"That boy!" grumbled Phil.
At first the show car moved slowly; then little by little it began to gather headway. Rattling over switches, past lines of box cars, on past rows of houses that backed up against the railroad's right of way, they rumbled. A few moments later Car Three shot out into the open country at a lively rate of speed.
"This is great!" cried Billy.
Phil Forrest, however, was keeping his eyes steadily onthe shining rails ahead. All at once the storm broke.The lightning seemed to rend the heavens before them.Then the rain came down in a deluge.
So heavy was the rainfall that the young pilot could see only a few car lengths ahead of him. Instinctively he tightened the brakes slightly. The car was swaying giddily, not having a train with it to steady it.
"We ought to be near that grade the section man told us about," said Conley.
"Yes; I was just thinking of that. I guess I had better let her out, so we shall be sure to make it."
Phil threw off the brake wheel and Car Three shot ahead like a great projectile, rocking from side to side, moving at such high speed that the joints in the rails gave off a steady purring sound under the wheels.
The wildcat car struck the grade with a lurch and a bang, climbing it at a tremendous pace.
The two men on the front platform were compelled to hold on with their full strength, in order to keep from being hurled into the ditch beside the track.
"I hope Teddy is all right," shouted Phil.
Billy leaned out over the side looking back. Teddy, who was also leaning out, peering ahead regardless of the driving rain, waved a hand at him.
"Yes; you can't hurtthatboy—"
Just then the car plunged over the crest of the hill and went thundering away down the steep grade.
By this time the men in the car had, one by one, been shaken awake by the car's terrific pace, and one by one they tumbled from their berths, quickly raising the curtains for a look outside.
What they saw was a driving storm and the landscape slipping past them at a higher speed than they ever had known before. Three of the men bolted to the front platform.
"What's the matter? Are we running away?" shouted a voice inPhil's car.
"Go back, fellows, and shut the door. Don't bother me.I'm making the next town."
The men retired to the car, sat down and looked at each other in blank amazement.
"Well, did you ever?" gasped Rosie.
"Never," answered the Missing Link, shaking his head helplessly."He'll be the death of us yet."
"At least we'll be going some if we stay on this car."
"Wearegoing some. We've been going some ever since the newBoss took hold of this car. I hope we don't hit anything.It'll be a year of Sundays for us, if we do."
"A good many years of 'em," muttered Rosie.
"I hear a train whistle!" shouted Billy, leaning toward Phil.
"I heard it," answered the boy calmly, beginning to tug at the brake wheel.
"Want any help?" asked Conley anxiously.
"No; you can't help me any." Phil had ceased twisting the wheel.
"What's the matter?"
"The wheels are slipping. The brakes will not hold them. If we are going to meet anything we might as well meet it properly," answered Phil calmly, whereupon he kicked the ratchet loose and spun the brake wheel about.
The car seemed to take a sudden leap forward.
Just then there came a rift in the clouds.
"Look!" cried Billy.
Phil leaned over the rail, peering into the mist.
The track, just a little way ahead of them, took a sudden bend around a high point of land. And on beyond the hill they saw the smoke of an engine belching up into the air like so many explosions.
"I guess that settles it," said the boy. His face was, perhaps, a little more pale than usual, but in no other way did he show any emotion.
"Shall we tell the men to jump, then go over ourselves?"
"No; we should all be killed. We will stay and see it through.The men are better off inside the car."
A yell from Teddy, sounding faint and far away, caused Billy to lean out and look back.
"Turn on your sand! Turn on your sand! She's slipping!" howled Teddy.
"We haven't any sand. D'you think this is a trolley car?"
Just then Teddy caught sight of the smoke ahead of them.He pointed. His voice seemed to fail him all at once.
"It looks as if we would get all the publicity we want in about a minute, Billy," said Phil, smiling easily. "We shall not be likely to know anything about it, though," he added.
Car Three swept around the bend.
"There they are!" cried Conley.
"Coming head on!" commented Phil. He seemed not in the least disturbed, despite the fact that he believed himself to be facing certain death.
Billy let out a yell of joy.
"They are on another track. They are not on these irons at all!" he shouted.
Phil had observed this at about the same instant. He saw something else, too. The road on which the train was approaching crossed his track at right angles. The other was a double track railroad, and the train was a fast express train, tearing along at high speed.
"We're safe!" breathed Billy, heaving a great sigh of relief.
"No, we are not. We are going to smash right into them,broadside,unless we can check our car enough to clear them."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
Billy groaned. His joy had been short-lived.
"Give Teddy the signal to put on the brakes. We will make another attempt to check her."
Phil threw himself into the task of turning the wheel, which he did in quick, short, spasmodic jerks, rather than by a steady application of the brakes.
The car slackened somewhat—hardly enough to be noticed.
"Tell Teddy to keep it up. You had better send one of the men back to help him."
Billy bellowed his command to the men inside.
"They see us. They are whistling to us."
"Yes."
Shriek after shriek rang out from the whistle of the approaching express train, the engineer of which jerked his throttle wide open in hopes of clearing the oncoming wildcat car.
Phil was still tugging desperately, but without any apparent nervousness, at the brake wheel. He finally ceased his efforts.
"I can't do any more," he said; then calmly leaned his arms on the wheel awaiting results.
Billy did not utter a word. He, too, possessed strong nerves.
The man and the boy stood there calmly watching the train ahead of them. Nearer and nearer to it did they draw. They could see the engineer and fireman leaning from their cab, looking back. Phil waved a hand to them, to which the engine crew responded in kind.
"Now for the smash, Billy, old boy!" muttered Phil with the smile that no peril seemed able to banish from his face.
"Yes; it's going to be a close shave."
The last car of the express train was now abreast of them. They seemed to be right upon it. So close were they that Phil thought he could stretch out a hand and touch it.
Suddenly it was whisked from before them as if by magic.
The engineer had given his engine its final burst of speed.
"Hang on tight!" shouted Phil. "We're going to sideswipe them now!"
"Off brakes!"
Billy gave the bell rope a tug.
Then came a crash, a grinding, jolting sound. It seemed as if the red car were being torn from end to end. Car Three careened, rocked and swayed, threatening every second to plunge from the rails over the embankment at that point.
As suddenly as it had come, the strain seemed to have been removed from it. Once more Number Three was thundering along over the rails.
"Yee—ow!" howled Teddy from the rear platform.
The men inside the car were not saying anything. They were slowly picking themselves up from the floor, where they had been hurled by the sudden shock. The interior of the car looked as if it had been struck by a tornado. The contents were piled in a confused heap at one end of the car, paste pots overturned, bedding stripped clean from the berths, lamps smashed, and great piles of paper scattered all over the place.
"Hooray!" yelled Billy in the excess of his joy. "We're saved."
"Yes," answered Phil with a grin. "It was a close call, though. I hope no one in the car is hurt. You had better go in and find out. I am afraid our car has been damaged."
Billy leaned over the side, looking back.
"Yes, we got a beauty of a sideswipe," he said.
The coupling and rear platform of the rear car on the express train had cut a deep gash in the side of Car Three, along half of its length.
"Any windows left?"
"I don't see anything that looks like glass left in them," laughed Conley.
"You watch the wheel a minute. I will go inside," said Phil.
He hurried into the car.
Phil could not repress a laugh at the scene that met his gaze.
"Hello, boys; what's going on in here?" called Phil.
"Say, Boss," spoke up Rosie the Pig. "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll get out and walk the rest of the way."
"Are we on time?" howled Teddy, poking his head in at the rear door.
"Better straighten the car out, for we should reach our town in a few minutes now—"
"I should say we would, at this gait," interrupted a voice.
"Then all hands will have to hustle out to work. I want to be out of the next stand sometime tonight. We go out on another road, so we shall not have to wait, unless something unforeseen occurs. Came pretty near having a smash-up, didn't we?" suggested Phil.
"Near?" The Missing Link's emotion was too great to permit him to finish the sentence.
The car bowled merrily along. In a short time the two men on the front platform were able to make out the outlines of the town ahead of them. The skies were clearing now, and shortly afterwards the sun burst through the clouds.
"All is sunshine," laughed Phil. "For a time it looked as if there would be a total eclipse," he added, grimly.
Billy gazed at him wonderingly.
"If I had your nerve I'd be a millionaire," said Billy in a low tone.
"You probably would break your neck the first thing you did," answered Phil with a short laugh.
They were now moving along on a level stretch of track. Phil set the brakes a little, and the car slowed down. In this way they glided easily into the station, where the Circus Boy brought the car to a stop directly in front of the telegraph office.
The station agent came out to see what it was that had come in so unexpectedly.
His amazement was great.
"Well, we are here," called Phil, stepping down from the platform. "I guess we are on time."
"Any orders?" shouted Teddy Tucker, dropping from the rear platform.
"Where—where did you fellows come from?"
"Salina."
"Where's your engine?"
"I'm the engine," spoke up Teddy. "Wasn't I behind, pushing CarThree all the way over?"
All hands set up a shout of laughter.
The story of Phil Forrest's brilliant and perilous dash quickly spread about the town. By six o'clock a great crowd had gathered about the station to get a look at the car and at the Circus Boy who had piloted her.
Phil was hustling about in search of an engine crew from the other road. He wanted his car moved from the main track, before some other train should come along and run into him, thus completing the wrecking that he already had so successfully begun.
In the meantime Teddy placed himself on view, parading up and down, looking wise and pompous. He always was willing to be admired. As soon as the newspaper offices were open he made haste to visit them, and the afternoon papers printed the story of Car Three's great wildcat dash, displaying the account under big, black headlines. The Sparling Shows got a full measure of publicity that day.
Teddy marked and wrapped copies of the papers containing the notice, mailing them back to the show for Mr. Sparling to read. On the margin of one of the papers so sent, Teddy wrote with a lead pencil, "no news today."
What the Circus Boy's idea of news really was it would be difficult to say.
Car Three had a fair field for most of the day. By the time the rivals got in there were few choice locations for billing left in the town.
The manager of the yellow car tried to induce the railroad authorities to proceed against Phil for the boy's action in taking his car over the division without authority. The road, however, refused to accede to the demand, and nothing ever was done about it. Perhaps Mr. Sparling had something to do with this, for telegrams were exchanged that day between the owner of the show and the division superintendent. In the meantime Phil did not trouble himself over the matter. He had too many other things to think of.
The next stand was to be in Oklahoma. Phil hoped that, by the time they reached there, they would be far enough ahead of the rival cars to shake them off entirely.
That afternoon he and Teddy went over town to look over the work. One of the first things to attract Phil's attention was a flag pole towering high above everything else in the city.
"Wouldn't I like to unfurl a Sparling banner from the top of that pole," exclaimed Phil, gazing up at the top. "How high is that pole?" he asked of a man standing near him.
"One hundred feet."
Teddy whistled softly.
"I wonder if I could get the consent of the town authorities to run some advertising matter up there?"
"Couldn't do it, even if you got the permission," answered the man.
"Why not?"
"There is no rope on the pole. It rotted off a year ago."
"That is too bad. I had already set my heart on billing the pole. It can be seen from all parts of the city, can it not?"
"Yes, and a long way out of the city at that."
"Come on, Teddy; let's not look at it. It makes me feel sad to think I cannot possess that pole."
"I wonder if you will ever be satisfied?" grumbled Teddy.
"Not as long as there is a spot on earth large enough for aSparling one-sheet left uncovered."
"What will you give—what would you give, I mean, to have some banners put on top of the flag pole?"
"I would give fifty dollars and think I had got off very cheaply."
Teddy waxed thoughtful. Several times, that afternoon, he wandered over to the vicinity of the tall flag pole, and, leaning against a building, surveyed it critically.
After the fifth trip of this sort, the Circus Boy hurried back to the car. No one was on board save the porter. Teddy began rummaging about among the cloth banners, littering the floor with all sorts of rubbish in his feverish efforts to get what he wanted.
After considerable trouble he succeeded in laying out a gaudy assortment of banners. These he carefully stitched together until he had a completed flag or banner about fifty feet long.
"See here, Henry, don't you tell anybody what I have been doing, for you don't know."
"No, sir," agreed the porter.
Next Teddy provided himself with a light, strong rope. All his preparations completed, he once more strolled over town, where he joined Phil in watching the work. But he confided to his companion nothing of what he had been doing. Teddy Tucker's face wore its usual innocent expression.
That night, after supper, he called Billy Conley aside and confided to the assistant car manager what he had in mind.
"Forgetit!" advised Billy with emphasis.
"I can't. I want to earn that fifty dollars."
"But if you break your neck what good will the fifty do you?"
"If I don't it will do me fifty dollars' worth of good," was the quick reply.
"How do you expect to do it?"
"I'll show you tonight. But we shall have to wait till most of the people are off the streets. You get away about ten o'clock, and don't let either Phil or any of the crew know where you are going. I will meet you on the other side of the station at ten o'clock sharp, provided I can get away from Phil."
"I don't like it, but I guess I am just enough of a good fellow to be willing to help you break your neck. Have you any family that you wish me to notify?"
"No one, unless it is January."
"Who's he?"
"My educated donkey."
"Oh, pshaw!" grumbled Billy.
At the appointed time Teddy made his exit from the car without attracting the attention of any of the crew. Phil was busy over his books, while the men were sitting on piles of paper, relating their experiences on the road.
Earlier in the evening Teddy had secreted his banners in what is known as the cellar, the large boxlike compartment under the car He now hastily gathered up his equipment and hurried to the station platform. Billy was already awaiting him there.
"You better give up this fool idea," warned Billy. "I don't want anything to do with it. You can go alone if you want to, but none of it for mine."
"Billy!"
"Well?"
"If you back down now, do you know what I'll do?"
"What will you do?"
"I'll give you the worst walloping you ever had in your life."
"You can't do it."
Teddy whipped off his coat.
"Come on; I'll show you."
Conley burst out laughing.
"The Boss says you are a hopeless case. I agree with him.Come on. I'll help you to break your neck."
They started off together. When they reached the pole, the pair dodged into a convenient doorway where they waited to make sure that they were not observed.
"I guess it is all right," said Teddy.
"How you going to get up there?"
"I brought a pair of climbers that I found in the car yesterday— the kind those telephone linemen use to climb telephone poles with. Won't I go up, I guessyes!"
Teddy first strapped the banners over his shoulders, in such a way that they would not impede his progress; then he put on the climbers, Billy watching disapprovingly.
All was ready. With a final glance up and down the street Teddy strode from his hiding place.
He walked up the pole as if he were used to it. In a few minutes the watcher below could barely make him out in the faint moonlight.
"Look out, when you get up higher. The pole may be rotten," called Billy softly.
"All right. I'm up to the splice."
Here Teddy paused to rest, being now about halfway up the pole. Before going higher the Circus Boy prudently wrapped the small rope that he carried twice around the pole, forming a slip-noose. He made the free end fast around his body in case he should lose his footing.
This done, Teddy felt secure from a fall.
He worked his way slowly upward, creeping higher and higher, inch by inch, cautious but not in the least afraid, for Teddy was used to being high in the air.
Now and then he would pause to call down to the anxious Billy.
"Stand under to be ready to catch me if I fall," directed Tucker.
"Not much. You hit ground if you fall," jeered Conley.
Teddy's laugh floated down to him, carefree and happy.The Circus Boy was in his element.
Finally he managed to reach the top, or nearly to the top of the pole without mishap. The slender top of the flag pole swayed back and forth, like the mast of a ship in a rolling sea. It seemed to Teddy as if each roll would be his last.
He felt a slight dizziness, but it passed off quickly. In fact, he was too busy to give much heed to it. With nimble fingers he unpacked his roll of banners; and, in a few minutes, he was securing the long streamer to the pole, which he did by lacing it to the pole with leather thongs, through eyelets that he had sewed in the cloth.
In a few minutes the great banner fluttered to the breeze.
"Hurrah!" cried Teddy exultingly. "We're off!"
As he called out Teddy suddenly felt his footing give way beneath him. He had thrown too much weight on the climbers, and they had lost their grip.
"Help!"
"What is it?" cried Billy in alarm. "I'm hung up—hung down,I mean!"
"What—what's the matter, are you in trouble?"
"Yes, I'm hanging head down. I'm fast by the feet.Help me down!"
"Help you down? I can't help you. You will have to get out the best way you can. Can't you crawl up and free your feet?"
"No; go get Phil."
"Can you hold on?"
"I—I'll try. Go get Phil."
Conley dashed away as fast as he could run.
"I knew it, I knew it," he repeated at almost every bound.
Teddy's climbers had lost their grip in the rotting wood. Before he could recover himself he had tumbled backward. Fortunately the rope had clung to the pole; he was held fast but Teddy was hanging with his back against the pole, being powerless to help himself in the slightest degree. Again, he was afraid that, were he to stir about, the rope, which had slipped down and drawn tight about his ankles, might suddenly slide down the pole and dash him to his death.
Not many minutes had elapsed before Phil and Conley came running back. 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.
"Hurry up! Think I want to stay here all night?"
"I'm coming. Hang on a few moments longer," panted Phil, for the exertion was starting the perspiration all over his body.
At last he reached the spot where Teddy was hanging head down.
"Well, you have got yourself into a nice fix!" growled Phil.
"I got the banners up," retorted Teddy.
Phil cast his eyes aloft, and there, above his head, floated the gaudy banners of the Sparling Show.
"Great!" he muttered. "But you are lucky if it doesn't cost you your life and perhaps mine, too. Now, when I place this rope in your hands, you hang on to it for all you are worth. I will make it fast above, and I think I shall have to cut the rope that holds your feet. I see no other way to get you down."
"What, and let me drop? No, you don't."
"I shall not let you drop if I can help it. Can't you manage to get a grip on the pole with your arms?"
"If I were facing the other way, I might."
"Twist yourself. Aren't you enough of a circus man to do a contortion act as simple as that?"
Teddy thought he was. At least, he was willing to try, and he succeeded very well, throwing a firm grip about the pole.
Phil cautiously climbed above his companion. None save a trained aerial worker could have accomplished such a feat, but the Circus Boy managed it without mishap. He then made fast a rope about the pole above the place where Teddy's rope was secured, drawing it tight above a slight projection on the pole itself, where part of a knot had been left.
Phil had not secured himself as Teddy had done, but he felt no fear of falling as long as he had one arm about the pole. He might slip, but even then the principal danger to be apprehended was that he might carry Teddy down with him.
"Pass the rope about your body," directed Phil.
"Which rope?"
"My rope—thisrope," answered Phil, raising and lowering the rope that Teddy might make no mistake. "If you get the wrong one you will take a fine tumble. Got it?"
"Yes."
"All right. When you have secured it about your body let me know."
"I've got it."
"Have you also got a firm grip on the pole?"
"Yes."
"Then look out. I am going to cut your feet loose.Are you ready?"
"All ready!"
Phil severed the rope that held Teddy's feet, and the boy did a half turn in the air, his feet suddenly flopping over until he found himself in an upright position. But the twist of the body had given him a fearful wrench, drawing a loud "ouch!" from Teddy. To add to his troubles Tucker found himself unable to move.
"I'm tied up in a hard knot," he wailed.
"What's the trouble?"
"I'm all twisted. I can't wiggle a toe."
"Well, you don't have to wiggle your toes, do you?"
Phil found the work of extricating his companion a more difficult matter than he had expected, and to set Teddy free it was necessary to cut the rope again.
This time the cutting was followed instantly by a wild yell.
Teddy shot down to the splice in the pole, where he struck the crosspiece with a jolt that shook the pole from top to bottom; but, fortunately, his arms were about the pole and the crosspiece had kept him from plunging to the ground many feet below.
"Are you all right?" called Phil.
"No; I'm killed."
"Lucky you didn't break the pole, at any rate."
"Break the pole? Break the pole?" yelled Teddy, half in anger, half in pain. "What do I care about the pole? I've broken myself. I won't be able to sit down again this season. Oh, why did I ever come with this outfit?"
"Hurry and get down. We shall have the whole town awake if you keep up that racket."
Phil let himself down to where Teddy sat rubbing himself and growling.
"Go on down. You are not hurt," commanded Phil.
"I am, I tell you."
"Well, are you going to stay up here all night?"
Teddy pulled himself together, preparing for the descent.
"Can you get down alone? If not I will tie a rope to you to protect you."
"No; you keep away from me. I'll get down if you let me alone."
"Teddy Tucker, you are an ungrateful boy."
"I'm a sore boy; that's what I am. Don't speak to me till I get down again. Then I'll talk with you and I'll have something to say, too. I want that fifty dollars for putting the banner up, too."
"Well, wait till you get down, anyhow," retortedPhil impatiently.
Teddy made his way down, muttering and growling every foot of the way, followed by Phil at a safe distance, the latter chuckling and laughing at Teddy's rage.
Young Tucker had nearly reached the base of the pole, when once more he missed his footing.
Billy Conley was just below him, ready to assist, when Teddy landed on him, both going down together.
Teddy uttered a yell that could have been heard more than a block away.
As the two struggled to get up, both Teddy and Billy threatening each other, rapid footsteps were heard approaching them down the street. 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.
But Teddy had distinguished himself. When the town awakened next morning there were loud clamorings for the arrest of the showman who had dared to unfurl a circus advertisement from the top of the city's flag pole. The showmen guilty of the deed were many, many miles away by that time, engaged in other similar occupations.
At McAlister, a booming western town, the opposition were still hard on the heels of Car Three. Try as he would Phil Forrest was able to shake them off no longer than a few hours at a time.
A new plan occurred to him, and immediately upon his arrival at McAlister he wired Mr. Sparling to send a brigade into the next town ahead, to bill the place, in order that Car Three might make a jump and get away from its rivals.
A brigade, it should be known, is a crew of men that does not travel on a special car. They go by regular train, traveling as other passengers do, dropping off and billing a town here and there, as directed by wire.
The answer came back that the brigade would relieve him at the next stand.
While this had been going on young Tucker had been listening to a most interesting tale of a deserted town some twenty miles beyond where they were then working. The deserted town was known as Owls' Valley. It had been a prosperous little city up to within two months previous, when, for reasons that Teddy did not learn, the inhabitants had taken a sudden leave.
This information set Teddy Tucker to thinking. A deserted village? He wished that he might see it. He had heard of deserted villages, and this one was of more than ordinary interest, because, the moment he heard of it, a plan presented itself to his fertile mind.
"I'll bet they will not only nibble at the bait, but will swallow it whole," he decided exultingly after he had thoroughly gone over the plan, sitting off by himself on a pile of railroad iron. "I'll take Billy into my confidence. Billy will spread the word, and then we shall see what will happen."
When Billy came in Teddy called him aside and outlined his plan.
Billy returned from the conference grinning broadly, but Teddy was serious and thoughtful.
However, he decided not to tell Phil what he had done. Perhaps Phil might not approve of it. Phil was so peculiar that he might visit the rival cars and tell them that certain information they had obtained was not correct.
Be that as it may, a few hours later three car managers visited the station, leaving orders that their cars were to be switched off at Owls' Valley.
"That fellow, Forrest, thought he would play a smart trick on us and slip into a town not down on his route, where he was going to have all the billing to himself," said the manager of the yellow car, late that evening.
"Where is Owls' Valley?" asked one of his men.
"About twenty miles west of here. It will be a short run. He will be a very much surprised young man when he wakes up in the morning and finds us lying on the siding with him."
The train to which the cars were to be attached was not to leave until sometime after midnight. When it finally came in all the advertising car crews were in bed and asleep. Teddy Tucker, however, was not only wide awake, but outside at that.
"Couple us up next to your rear car, and put the other fellows on the rear if you will," he said to the conductor. "They are going to Owls' Valley, but we are going through. Please say nothing to them about what I have told you. Here's a pass for the circus."
The rest was easy. Soon the train was rumbling away, with Teddy the happiest mortal on it. But he did not go to bed. Not Teddy! He sat up to make sure that his plans did not miscarry. Owls' Valley was reached in due time, and the Circus Boy was outside to make sure that no mistake was made. He did not propose that Car Three should, by any slip, be sidetracked at the deserted village.
Very shortly afterwards they were again on their way, and Teddy went to bed well satisfied with his night's work. When the men woke up early next morning a new train crew was in charge, for the advertising car was making a long run.
Phil was the first to awaken. As was customary with him he stepped to the window and peered out.
"Why, we seem to be the last car on the train. There were three opposition cars behind us when we started out last night. I wonder what that means?"
Quickly dressing, he went out on the platform. Leaning over he looked ahead. Car Three was the only show car on the train.
"That is queer. I do not understand it at all."
Hurrying in to the main part of the car Phil called to the men.
"Do any of you know what has become of the opposition?" he asked.
"Why, aren't they on behind?"
"No one is on behind. We are the last car. Those fellows have stolen a march on us somewhere. I can't imagine where they dropped off, though; can you?"
"Maybe they have switched off on another road," suggested a voice.
"No other road they could switch off on. There is something more to this than appears on the surface. I'll go forward and ask the conductor."
Phil did so, but the conductor could give him no information. Car Three was the only show car on the train when the present conductor had taken charge.
Phil was more puzzled than ever. He consulted his route list, to make sure that he himself had not made a mistake and skipped a town that he should have billed. No; there was only one town he had missed, and that was the one the brigade was to work.
About this time Teddy sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"What's up?" he inquired, noting that his companion was troubled.
"That is what I should like to know," answered Phil absently.
"Tell me about it. Anything gone wrong?"
"I don't know. The opposition has disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes; they disappeared during the night, and I cannot imagine where they have gone. They must have dropped in on some town that we should have made, and I am worried."
Teddy pulled up a window shade and studied the landscape for several minutes.
"Curious, isn't it?" he mumbled.
"Yes."
"I might make a guess where they went, Phil."
"You might guess?"
"That's what I said."
"Where do you think they have gone?"
"If I were to make a long-range guess, I should say that perhaps the cars of the opposition were sidetracked at Owls' Valley."
"Where is that? I never heard of the place."
"That, my dear sir, is the deserted village. Lonesome Town, they ought to call it."
"Where is it?"
"About twenty miles from the last stand; and, if they are there, they will be likely to stay there for sometime to come."
Phil had wheeled about, studying his companion keenly.
"You seem to know a great deal about the movements of the enemy.How does it happen that you are so well posted, Teddy Tucker?"
"I was hanging around the station when they gave the order to have their cars dropped off there," answered Teddy, avoiding the keen gaze of his companion and superior.
"Did you know the place was deserted?"
Teddy nodded.
"Didthey?"
Teddy shook his head.
"How did they happen to order their cars dropped off there?"
"I—I guess somebody must have told them that—I guess maybe they thought we were going there."
"Thought we were going there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Oh, because."
A light was beginning to dawn upon the young car manager.He surveyed Teddy from beneath half closed eyelids.Tucker grew restless under the critical examination.
"Say, stop your looking at me that way."
"Why?"
"You make me nervous. Stop it, I say!"
"Tell me all about it, Teddy," urged Phil, trying hard to make his tone stern.
"Tell you about what?"
"Why the opposition happened to think we were going toOwls' Valley."
"Maybe they just imagined it."
"And maybe they did not. You are mixed up in this, in some way, and I want to know all about it, Teddy Tucker. I hope you have done nothing dishonorable. Of course I am glad the other fellows are out of our way, but I want to know how. Come, be frank with me. You are avoiding the question. Remember I am the manager of this car; I am responsible for all that is done on it. Out with it!"
Teddy fidgeted.
"Well, it was this way. Somebody told them—"
"Well, told them what?" urged Phil.
"Told them they heard we were going to bill Owls' Valley."
"So, that's it, eh?"
Teddy nodded again.
"Did you give out any such information as that?"
Teddy shook his head.
"Who did?"
"I won't tell. You can't make me tell," retorted theCircus Boy belligerently.
"But you were responsible for the rumor getting out?"
Teddy did not answer.
"And those poor fellows are lying there on the siding, twenty miles from the nearest telegraph office?"
"I guess so." Tucker grinned broadly.
"And how are they going to get out?"
"Walk!"
Phil broke out into a roar of laughter.
"Oh, Teddy, what am I going to do with you? Do you know you have done very wrong?"
"No, I don't. The trouble with you is that you don't appreciate a good thing when you get it. You were wishing you could get rid of the opposition cars, weren't you?"
"Yes, but—"
"Well, you're rid of them, aren't you?"
"Yes, but—"
"And I got rid of them for you."
"Yes, but as I was saying—"
"Then what have you got to raise such a row about? You got your wish."
Teddy curled up and began studying the landscape again.
"I admire your zeal young man, but your methods are open to severe criticism. 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.
"Billy!" called Phil.
Mr. Conley responded promptly.
"I am not asking any questions. I do not want to know any more than I do about this business. I already know more than I wish I knew. I want to say, however, that when any more plans are made, any schemes hatched for outwitting our rivals, I shall appreciate being made acquainted with such plans before they are put into practice."
Teddy looked up in amazement. He had not the remotest idea that Phil even suspected who had been his accomplice. But the car manager had no need to be told. He was too shrewd not to suspect at once who it was that had carried out Teddy's suggestions and sidetracked the opposition where they would not get out for at least a whole day.
"Yes, sir," answered Billy meekly.
"I understand that the opposition are where they are likely to stay for sometime to come?"
"Yes, sir; so I understand."
"Oh, you do, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know all about it? Well, I thought as much. But I am sorry you have admitted it. That necessitates my reading you a severe lecture."
This Phil did, laying down the law as Conley never had supposed the Circus Boy could do. Billy repeated the lecture to the rest of the crew, later on, and all agreed that Phil Forrest, the young advance agent, had left nothing unsaid. Phil's stock rose correspondingly. A man who could "call down" his crew properly was a real car manager.
While the Sparling Show profited by Teddy's ruse, Phil felt unhappy that his advantage had come by reason of the falsehood that Teddy had told; and that night Phil read his young friend a severe lecture.
"If I find you doing a trick like that again," concluded Phil, "you close there and then."
"Who is the man in charge of Sparling Advance Car Number Three?" demanded Mr. Starr, manager of "The Greatest Show on Earth."
"A young fellow named Forrest. That is all I know about him," answered the treasurer of the show.
"He used to be a performer and a good one, too," spoke up the assistant manager.
This conversation took place in the office tent of the show that Phil Forrest had been fighting almost ever since he took charge of Car Three.
"He is one of the best bareback riders who ever entered the forty-two foot ring," continued the assistant manager.
"What has he ever done before? I never heard of him."
"He has been with Sparling, I think, about five years.I understand he never did any circus work before that."
"I want that young man," announced the general manager decisively.
"Probably money will get him," smiled the treasurer.
"I do not wish to do anything to offend Sparling, for he is an old friend, and one of the best showmen in the country. I'll write him today, and see what he has to say. That young man, Forrest, or whatever his name may be, is giving us more trouble than we ever had before. He is practically putting our men all out of business. We shall have to change our route, or close, if he keeps on heading off our advance cars."
"It has come to a pretty pass, if a green boy with no previous experience is to defeat us. What is the matter with our advance men?" demanded the assistant manager.
"That is what I should like to know," answered Mr. Starr."I will write Sparling today about this matter."
Weeks had passed and Car Three had worked its way across the plains, on into the mountainous country. Car managers had again been changed on the yellow car; another car had been sent in ahead of Phil, but to no better purpose than before.
Car Three moved on, making one brilliant dash after another, sometimes winning out by the narrowest margin and apparently by pure luck. Still, Phil Forrest and his loyal crew were never caught napping and were never headed off for more than a day at a time.
The season was drawing to a close. One day Phil received a wire from Mr. Sparling reading:
"Close at Deming, New Mexico, September fifteen."
"Boys, the end is in sight; and I, for one, shall be glad when we are through," announced Phil, appearing in the men's part of the car, where he read the telegram from the owner of the show.
The men set up a cheer.
"Now let's drive the other fellows off the map during these remaining two weeks."
How those men did work! No man on that car overslept during the rest of the trip. Phil seemed not to know the meaning of the word "tired." All hours of the night found him on duty, either watching the movements of his car or laying out work ahead, planning and scheming to outwit his rivals.
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. They dodged out of the car with bundles under their arms, got a refreshing bath, and spick and span in tailor-made clothes and clean linen, they presented themselves at the car just before eight o'clock.
"Hello! You boys do not look natural," hailed Phil, with a laugh. "But come along; I know you are hungry, and so am I."
The Circus Boy had arranged for a fine dinner at the leading hotel of the city, where he had engaged a private dining room for the evening.
It was a jolly meal. Everyone was happy in the consciousness of work well done, in the knowledge that they had outrivaled every opposition car that had been sent into their field.
The dinner was nearing its close when Phil rose and rapped for order.
"Boys," he said, "you have done great work. You have been loyal, and without your help I should have made a miserable failure of this work. You know how green I was, how little I really know about the advance work yet—"
Someone laughed.
"You need not laugh. I know it, whether you boys do or not. I asked you to dine with Teddy and myself here tonight, that I might tell you these things and thank you. If ever I am sent in advance again I hope you boys will be with me, every one of you."
"You bet we will!" shouted the men in chorus.
"And let me add that Mr. Sparling is not ungrateful for the work you have done this season. He has asked me to present you with a small expression of his appreciation. Teddy, will you please pass these envelopes to the boys? You will find their names written on the envelopes."
Tucker quickly distributed the little brown envelopes.
The men shouted. Each envelope held a crisp, new fifty-dollar bill.
"Three cheers for Boss Sparling!" cried Rosie the Pig, springing to his feet, waving the bill above his head.
The cheers were given with a will.
"I will bid you good-bye tonight," continued Phil. "Teddy and myself will take a late train for the East, after we get through. We are going back to join the show until it closes—"
"Wait a minute, Boss," interrupted Billy Conley, rising."This show isn't over yet."
"The Band Concert in the main tent is about to begin."
Phil glanced at him inquiringly.
"All the natural curiosities, including the Missing Link and the Human Pig, will be on view. Take your seats in the center ring, immediately after the performance closes!"
Billy drew a package from his pocket and placed it on the table before him.
"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."
Billy sat down, and Phil, rising, accepted the gift. Opening the package he found a handsome gold watch and chain, his initials set in the back of the watch case in diamonds.
"Oh, boys, why did you do it?" gasped Phil, in an unsteady voice.
"I've got a diamond stick pin!" shouted Teddy triumphantly.
Phil's eyes were moist.
"Why—why did you—"
" 'Cause—'cause you're the best fellow that ever lived! Say, quit lookin' at me like that, or I'll blubber right out," stammered Billy, hastily pushing back his chair and walking over to the window.
"For he's a jolly good fellow!" struck up Rosie the Pig. All joined in the chorus, while Phil sat down helplessly, unable to say a word.
On the second morning thereafter the Circus Boys rejoined theGreat Sparling Shows, where they were welcomed right royally.Teddy insisted in going on with his mule act that same day.
Even the donkey was glad to see Teddy. January evinced his pleasure at having his young master with him again by promptly kicking young Tucker through the side wall of the pad room, nearly breaking the Circus Boy's neck.
That day a letter came to Phil from The Greatest Show on Earth.After reading it, Phil hastened to his employer.
"I have a letter offering us both a contract with The Greatest for next season. What do you think of that, Mr. Sparling?" asked Phil with sparkling eyes.
Mr. Sparling did not appear to be surprised.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?"
"Refuse it, of course. I prefer to stay with you."
"And I prefer to have you."
"I thought you would."
"But I shall ask you to accept; in fact, I wish you to do so. You will find the experience valuable. When you finish your season with the big show I shall have something of great importance to communicate to you, if you wish to return to us."
"Wish to?"
"Yes; so wire on your acceptance right away, my boy, then you andI will have a long talk."
So it was left. Phil went on with the show during the remaining four weeks, then the boys turned their faces homeward, where they planned to put in a busy winter practicing and studying.
Despite their reluctance to leave Mr. Sparling for a season, they were looking forward to the coming Spring when they were to join the other show. Their experiences there will be related in a following volume, entitled, "THE CIRCUS BOYS AT THE TOP; Or, Bossing the Greatest Show of All."