"You'll find him hiding behind the hen house watching the parade go by.He won't dare show himself after the way the clowns had fun with him when the show was here before.""Poor Uncle Abner! I must go over and see him after we have called on Mrs.Cahill."Arriving at Mrs.Cahill's, they found her out in the yard, arrayed in her best dress in honor of their coming, and it was a joyful meeting between the three.In a short time, however, Teddy grew restless and decided that he would wander about town and call on his other friends.
"I'll tell you what let's do, Teddy," suggested Phil."What?""You come back before parade time and we three will sit on the front door step and watch the parade go by, just as we used to do before we went into the show business.I'll run over to see Uncle Abner in the meantime, and we will both be back here by half-past ten.The parade will not get along before then.""Yes, do, boys," urged Mrs.Cahill."I'll have a lunch for you after the parade.You will like that, will you not?""I should say we shall," laughed Phil."But, I had rather thought you might like to eat with us under the circus tent.""Oh, my, my!Eat with the circus?"
"Not with the animals, he doesn't mean," corrected Teddy."He means we should like to have you eat with we performers.""Yes, with the performers," grinned Phil.
"Can I eat there with you just as well after the afternoon performance?""Surely."
"Then we will have our noon meal here.I have some fresh molasses cookies already baked for you.""Cookies?"Teddy's eyes brightened."Yes; do you want some now?""I always want cookies.Never knew a time when I didn't.I want 'em when I'm awake, and I want 'em when I'm asleep."He got a double handful in short order."Well, I'm off!" announced Teddy.
"How about the parade?Will you come back and see it from here?" "Yes; I guess that would be some fun.I can make faces at the otherperformers who have to work.Yes; I'll come back.""Don't forget about the donkey," called Phil."When are you going to take him over to the horse tent?""I'm not going to give myself away by leading that fright through the streets.I've fixed it with one of the hostlers to smuggle him over to the stable tent," grinned Teddy.
"Taking him in this afternoon?"
"Not I.Saving that for a grand surprise tonight.What are you going to do to surprise the fellows?""I hadn't thought.Nothing quite so sensational as your feat will be, I guess," laughed Phil.
In the course of an hour both lads had returned to Mrs.Cahill's humble home.But while they were away from the show grounds, the owner of the show, without the knowledge of the lads, had paid a visit to the principal of the school and was back on the lot in time to head the parade when it finally started.
"Kinder wish I had gone in the parade," regretted Teddy.
"Why?"
