"Hurry up, Teddy!" "What for?"
TAKEN BY SURPRISE
"Billy Ford is waiting for us out in the paddock." "Oh, is that so?What does he want?""He's going to walk to the train with us, he says.""That's good.I wonder if any of the other fellows will be along?" "No; I think not.I asked him if he were alone, and he said he was." "We might give him a feed in the accommodation car," suggestedTeddy.
"No; you and I are going to bed right quick after we get back to the train.I, for one, am tired after this strenuous day.""It has been lively, hasn't it?"
"It has," answered Phil, laying special emphasis on the "has.""Say, young man, where did you get that freak donkey?" demanded Mr.Miaco, the head clown, approaching at that moment.
"Drew him in a prize package of chewing gum," called one of the performers.
"Where did you get him, anyway?" called another.
"You seem to know all about it, so what's the use of my telling you?" retorted Teddy.
The lads had finished their work for the day, and nothing now remained to be done except to disrobe, take a quick scrub down after their severe exercise, don their clothes and take their time in getting to the train.
There was plenty of time for this, as their sleeper being on the third and last section of the circus train, they would not leave for nearly two hours yet, at the earliest.
The baths of the Circus Boys were more severe than pleasant, and in taking them each one had to perform a service for the other.The bath consisted of the performer's standing still while his companion emptied several buckets of cold water over him, following it with a liberal smearing of soap and then some more pailfuls of water.
Once a week, over Sunday, the performers were allowed to sleep at hotels, providing the circus did not have an all day run.At such times they were able to enjoy the luxury of a hot bath, but at other times it was cold water--sometimes colder and more chilling than at others.Yet, they thrived under it, growing strong and healthy.
Having once more gotten into their street clothes, refreshed and rested to a degree that would be scarcely believed after their severe exercise, both lads repaired to the paddock, where they found the president of the high school class waiting for them, interestedly watching the scene of life and color always observable in the circus paddock, a canvas walled enclosure where performers and ring stock await the call to enter the ring.
"Here we are, Billy," greeted Phil."Oh, so quick?" Billy started guiltily.
"That's the way we always do things," answered Teddy."Have to do things on the jump, we circus men do.""So I see.What are you going to do now?"
"Going to the car, of course.We always go right to the sleeper after the show.Why?""Oh, nothing special.I thought maybe you might like to go downtown and visit with the boys for a while.""I should like to do so very much, but I do not think it will be best.We make it a rule to go straight home, as we call our car, and I've never broken over that rule yet, Billy.""Very well, Phil; then I will walk along with you.I guess you know the way.""That's more than I do every night," laughed Phil."It's a case of getting lost 'most every night, especially in the big towns, for the cars seldom are found at night where we left them in the morning.""I shouldn't like that," objected Billy."We don't.But we can't help ourselves.""Here, where you going?" demanded Teddy suddenly.
"Taking the path across the lot here.It is much shorter," replied Billy."Oh, all right.I had forgotten about the path.""I should think you would--"
Phil got no further in his remark.He was interrupted by President Billy, crying loudly:
"Here we are!"
Instantly fifteen or twenty shadowy forms sprang up from the grass and hurled themselves upon the Circus Boys.
