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berths。 Can you walk？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃How about you； Tucker；〃
〃I can creep all right。 I learned to do that when I was in long pants。〃
〃I guess you mean long dresses；〃 answered the showman。
〃I guess I do。〃
The boys were helped to the sleeper； where they were put to bed。 Phil
had been slightly burned on one hand while Teddy got what he called 〃a
free hair cut；〃 meaning that his hair had been pretty well singed。
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Otherwise they were none the worse for their experiences； save for the
slight cuts Phil had received by ing in contact with broken glass and
some burns from the coffee boiler。
They were quite ready to go to sleep soon after being put to bed；
neither awakening until they reached the next show town on the following
morning。
When the two lads pulled themselves up in their berths the sun was
well up； orders having been given not to disturb them。
〃Almost seven o'clock； Teddy；〃 cried Phil。
〃Don't care if it's seventeen o'clock；〃 growled Teddy。 〃Lemme sleep。〃
〃All right； but you will miss your breakfast。〃
That word 〃breakfast〃 acted almost magically on Tucker。 Instantly he
landed in the middle of the aisle on all fours； and； straightening up； began
groping sleepily for his clothes。
Phil laughed and chuckled。
〃How do you feel； Teddy？〃
〃Like a roast pig being served on a platter in the cook tent。 Do you
need a net this morning？〃
〃No； I think not。 I'm rather sore where I got cut； but I guess I am
pretty fit otherwise。〃
After washing and dressing the lads set out across the fields for the lot；
which they could see some distance to the west of the sidings； where their
sleepers had been shifted。 Both were hungry； for it is not an easy matter
to spoil a boy's appetite。 Railroad wrecks will not do it in every case； nor
did they in this。
But； before the morning ended； the cook tent had seen more
excitement than in many daysin fact more than at any time so far that
season。
The moment Phil and Teddy strolled in； each bearing the marks of the
wreck on face and head everybody； except the Legless Man； stood up。
Three rousing cheers and a tiger for the Circus Boys； were given with a
will； and then the lads found themselves the center of a throng of
performers； roustabouts and freaks all of whom showered their
congratulations on the boys for their heroism in saving other's lives at the
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risk of their own。
Little Dimples was not one whit behind the others。 She praised them
both； much to Phil's disfiture and Teddy's pleasure。
〃Teddy； you are a hero after all；〃 she beamed。
〃Me？ Me a hero？〃 he questioned； pointing to himself。
〃Yes； you。 I always knew you would be if you had half a chance。 Of
course Phil had proved before that he was。〃
Teddy threw out his chest； thrusting both hands in his trousers pockets。
〃Oh； I don't know。 It wasn't so much。 How'd you get out？〃
〃Your friend； Phil； here； is responsible for my not being in the freak
class this morning。 There's Mr。 Sparling beckoning to you。 I think he
wants you both。〃
The boys walked over as soon as they could get away from the others。
That morning they sat at the executive table with the owner of the show；
his wife and the members of Mr。 Sparling's staff。
For once Teddy went through a meal with great dignity； as befitted one
who was in the hero class。
〃What happened to cause the wreck last night？〃 asked Phil； turning to
his host of the morning at the first opportunity。
〃The car went off over a blind switch that had been opened。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃Ah； that's the question。〃
〃Perhaps one of the railroad men opened it by mistake；〃 suggested
Teddy。 〃Nobody else would have a key。〃
〃You'll find no railroad man made that blunder；〃 replied Phil。
〃No！ While the railroad is responsible for the damages； I hardly
think they are for the wreck。 No key was used to open the switch。〃
〃No key？〃
〃No。〃
〃How； then？〃
〃The lock was wrenched off with an iron bar and the switch wedged
fast； so there could be no doubt about what would happen。 It might have
happened to some other car not belonging to us； though it was a pretty safe
gamble that it would catch one of ours。〃
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〃I thought as much；〃 nodded Phil。 〃But perhaps its just as well。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 questioned the showman sharply。
〃That the railroad folks will do what the police are too lazy to do。〃
〃What？〃
〃Get after the fellow who did it；〃 suggested Phil wisely。
〃That's so！ That's so！ I hadn't thought of it in that light before。
You've got a long head； my boy。 You always have had； for that matter as
long as I have known you； so it stands to reason that you must always have
been that way。〃
Teddy； having finished his breakfast； excused himself and strolled off
to another part of the tent where he might find more excitement。 He sat
down in his own place near the freak table and began talking shop with
some of the performers； while Phil and Mr。 Sparling continued their
conversation。
〃I haven't given up hopes of catching him myself； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃You came pretty close to it Saturday night。〃
〃And I wasn't so far from it last night either；〃 laughed the boy。 〃Going
to be able to save the acmodation car？〃
〃No； it's a hopeless wreck。〃
〃You probably will not put on another this season then？〃
〃What would you suggest？〃
〃I should not think it would be advisable。 Most of the people go
downtown； anyway； to get their lunch after the show。〃
〃Exactly。 That's the way it appeared to me； but I wanted to get your
point of view。〃 It was not that the owner had not made up his mind； but
that he wanted to get Phil Forrest's mind working from the point of view
of the manager and owner of a circus； seeing in Phil； as he did； the making
of a future great showman。
All at once their conversation was disturbed by a great uproar at the
further end of the tent； near where Teddy sat。
Two midgets； arguing the question as to which of them was the
Smallest Man in the World； had bee so heated that they fell to
pummeling each other with their tiny fists。
Instantly the tent was in confusion； and with one accord the performers
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and freaks gathered around to watch the miniature battle。
A waiter in his excitement； stepped in a woodchuck hole； spilling a
bowl of steaming hot soup down the Fat Woman's neck。
〃Help！ Help！ I'm on fire！〃 she shrieked。
Teddy； now that he had bee a hero； felt called upon to hurry to the
rescue。 Seizing a pitcher of