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wager。〃
〃But I want to be a real one；〃 urged Teddy。
〃What kind of clown？〃
〃I thought I'd like to be a human football。〃 This time Mr。 Sparling
glanced at the boy in genuine surprise。
〃A human football？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃What put that idea into your head？〃
〃Some of the fellows suggested it。〃
〃Ah！ I thought so；〃 twinkled Mr。 Sparling。 〃Who； may I ask？〃
〃Well； I guess most all of them did。〃
〃I know； but who suggested it first？〃
〃I think the Iron…Jawed Man was the first to say that I ought to be a
clown。 He thought I would make a great hit。〃
〃No doubt； no doubt；〃 snapped the showman in a tone that led Teddy
to believe he was angry about something。
〃May I？〃
Mr。 Sparling reflected a moment； raised his eyes and gazed at the
dripping roof of the menagerie tent。
〃When is this first appearance to be made； if I may ask？〃
〃Oh； tonight。 The fellows said it would be a good time； as there
would not be a very big house。〃
〃Oh； they did； eh？ Well； go ahead。 But remember you do it at your
own risk。〃
〃Thank you。〃
Teddy was off for the dressing room on a run。
〃I'm It；〃 he cried； bursting in upon them。
〃Get the suit；〃 manded a voice。 〃He's It。〃
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Somebody hurried to the property room； returning with a full rubber
suit； helmet and all。 As yet it was merely a bundle。 They bade Teddy get
into it； all hands crowding about him； offering suggestions and lending
their assistance。
〃My； I didn't know I was so popular here；〃 thought the lad； pleased
with these unusual attentions。 〃They must think I'm the real thing。 I'll
show them I am； too。〃
〃Get the pump；〃 directed the Iron…Jawed Man。
A bicycle pump was quickly produced； and； opening a valve； one of
the performers began pumping air into the suit。
〃Here； what are you doing？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Blowing you up〃
〃Here； I don't want to be blown up。〃
〃With a bicycle pump；〃 added the performer； grinning through the
powder and grease paint on his face。
〃Say； you ought to use that on the press agent！〃
The performers howled at this sally。
Teddy began to swell out of all proportion to his natural size； as the
bicycle pump inflated his costume。 In a few moments he had grown so
large that he could not see his own feet； while the hood about his head left
only a small portion of his face visible。
〃Monster！〃 hissed a clown； shaking a fist in Teddy's face。
〃I guess I am。 I'd make a hit as the Fattest Boy on Earth in this rig；
wouldn't I？ I'll bet the Living Skeleton will be jealous when he sees me。〃
〃There； I guess he's pumped up；〃 announced the operator of the
bicycle pump。
〃Try it and see；〃 suggested a voice。
〃All right。〃
Teddy got a resounding blow that flattened him on the ground。 But
before he could raise his voice in protest he had bounded to his feet； and
someone caught him； preventing his going right on over the other way。
The performers howled with delight。
〃He'll do。 He'll do；〃 they shouted。
〃Don't you do that again；〃 warned the boy； a little dazed。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
The time was at hand for the clowns to make their own grand entry。
〃e on； that's our cue！〃 shouted one； as the band struck up a new
tune。
〃II can't run。 I'm too fat。〃
〃We'll help you。〃
And they did。 With a clown on either side of him； Teddy was rushed
through the silk curtains and out past the bandstand； his feet scarcely
touching the ground。 Part of the time the clowns were half dragging him；
and at other times carrying him。
At first the audience did not catch the significance of it。 Straight for
ring No。 1 Tucker's associates rushed him。 But just as they reached the
ring they let go of him。
Of course Teddy fell over the wooden ring curbing； and went rolling
and bouncing into the center of the sawdust arena。 Phil had made his
change in the menagerie tent after finishing his elephant act； and was just
entering the big top as Teddy made his sensational entrance。 He caught
sight of his panion at once。
〃Who's that？〃 he asked of Mr。 Sparling； who was standing at the
entrance with a broad grin on his face。
〃That； my dear Phil； is your very good friend； Mr。 Teddy Tucker。〃
〃Teddy？ You don't mean it？〃
〃Yes； he has decided to be a clown； and I guess he is on the way。 The
people are kicking on the seats and howling。〃
〃I should judge； from appearances； that the other clowns were getting
even more entertainment out of his act than is the audience。〃
〃It certainly looks that way。 But let them go。 It will do Master
Teddy a whole lot of good。〃
A clown jumped to the ring curbing and made a speech about the
wonderful human football； announcing at the same time that the
championship game was about to be played。
Then they began to play in earnest。 Some had slapsticks； others light
barrel staves； and with these they began to belabor the human football；
each blow being so loud that it could be heard all over the tent。 Of
course the blows did not hurt Teddy at all； but the bouncing and buffeting
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that he got aroused his anger。
One clown would pick the lad up and throw him to a panion； who；
in turn； would drop him。 Then the audience would yell with delight as
the ball bounced to an upright position again。 This the clowns kept up until
Teddy did not know whether he were standing on his feet or his head。
The perspiration was rolling down his face； getting into his eyes and
blinding him。
〃Quit it！〃 he howled。
〃Maybe you'll ride the educated mule through the dressing tent again？〃
jeered a clown。
〃Bring the mule out and let him knock the wind out of the rubber
man！〃 suggested another。
〃How do you like being a clown？〃
This and other taunts were shouted at the rubber man； Teddy
meanwhile expressing himself with unusual vehemence。
Mr。 Sparling had in the meantime sent a message back to the paddock。
He was holding his sides with laughter； while Phil himself was leaning
against a quarter pole shouting with merriment。
Suddenly there came the sound of a clanging gong； interspersed with
shouts from the far end of the tent。
The spectators quickly glanced in that direction； and they saw ing
at a rapid rate the little patrol wagon drawn by four diminutive ponies； the
outfit so familiar to the boys who attend the circus。
The clowns were surprised when they observed it； knowing that the
patrol was not scheduled to enter at this time。 Their surprise was even
greater when the wagon dashed up and stopped where they were playing
their game of footb