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of sight of the brakeman； then he straightened up and ran toward the rear
of the train as fast as his feet would carry him； while the railroad man
began climbing over the cars again； headed for the caboose at the rear。
Teddy had gained the rear of the train by this time； but he did not show
himself just yet。 He waited until the flagman had e in； and until the
fellow who had put him off had disappeared in the caboose。
At that； Teddy sprang up； and； swinging to the platform of the caboose；
quickly climbed the iron ladder that led to the roof of the little boxlike car。
He had no sooner flattened himself on the roof than the train began to
move again。
Only one more stop was made during the night and that for water。 Just
before daylight they rumbled into the yards at Atlantic City； and Teddy
scrambled from his unsteady perch； quickly clambering down so as to be
out of the way before the trainmen should discover his presence。
But quickly as he had acted； he had not been quick enough。 The
trainman who had put him off down the line collared the lad the minute his
feet touched the platform of the caboose。
〃You here again？〃 he demanded sternly。
Teddy grinned sheepishly。
〃I told you you couldn't put me off。〃
〃We'll see about that。 Here； officer。〃 He beckoned to a policeman。
〃This kid has been stealing a ride。 I put him off once。 I turn him over
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
to you now。〃
〃All right。 Young man； you e with me！〃
Teddy protested indignantly； but the officer； with a firm grip on his
arm； dragged the lad along with him。 They proceeded on up the tracks
toward the station； the lad insisting that he was with the show and that he
had a right to ride wherever he pleased。
〃Teddy！〃 shouted a voice； just as they stepped on the long platform
that led down to the street。
〃Phil！〃 howled the lad。 〃e and save me！ A policeman's got me
and he's taking me to jail。〃
Phil Forrest ran to them。
〃Here； here！ What's this boy done？〃 he demanded。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER IV
RENEWING OLD ACQUAINTANCES
〃Well； Teddy； I must say you have made a good start；〃 grinned Phil；
after necessary explanations had been made and the young Circus Boy had
been released by the policeman who had him in tow。〃 A few minutes
more and you would have been in a police station。 I can imagine how
pleased Mr。 Sparling would have been to hear that。〃
Teddy hung his head。
〃Your clothes are a sight； too。 How didwhat happened？ Did you
fall in a creek； or something of that sort？〃
The lad explained briefly how he had been captured by the two men
and ducked under the standpipe of the water tank。
〃But I soaked him； too；〃 Tucker added triumphantly。〃 And I'm going
to soak him again。 The first man I e across whose name is Larry is
going to get it from me；〃 threatened the lad； shaking his fist angrily。
〃You e over to the sleeper with me and get into some decent
looking clothes。 I'm ashamed of you； Teddy Tucker。〃
〃So am I；〃 grinned the boy as they turned to go； Phil leading the way
to the car number eleven； from which the performers were beginning to
straggle； rubbing their eyes and stretching themselves。
The change of clothing having been made； the lads started for the lot；
hoping that they might find the old coffee stand and have a cup before
breakfast。 To their surprise； upon arriving at the lot； they found the cook
tent up and the breakfast cooking。
〃Why； how did you ever get this tent here and up so quickly？〃 asked
Phil after they had greeted their old friend of the cook tent。
〃Came in on the flying squadron。 This is a railroad show now； you
know；〃 answered the head steward； after greeting the boys。
〃Flying squadron？ What's that？〃 demanded Teddy； interested at once。
〃The flying squadron is the train that goes out first。 It carries the cook
tent and other things that will be needed first。 We didn't have that last
year。 You'll find a lot of new things； and some that you won't like as well
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
as you did when we had the old road show。 What's your act this year？〃
〃Same as last。〃
〃Elephant？〃
〃Yes； and the rings。 My friend Teddy I expect will ride the educated
mule again。〃
While they were talking the steward was preparing a pot of steaming
coffee for them； which he soon handed over to the lads with a plate of
wafers； of which they disposed in short order。
It was broad daylight by this time； and the boys decided to go out and
watch the erection of the tents。 It was all new and full of interest to them。
As they caught the odor of trampled grass and the smell of the canvas their
old enthusiasm came back to them with added force。
〃It's great to be a circus man； isn't it； Phil？〃 breathed Teddy。
〃It is unless one is getting into trouble all the time； the way you do。 I
expect that； some of these days； you'll get something you don't want。〃
〃What？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 But I am sure it will be something quite serious。〃
〃You better look out for yourself；〃 growled Teddy。 〃I'll take care of
myself。〃
〃Yes； the way you did last night；〃 retorted Phil； with a hearty laugh。
〃e on； now； let's not quarrel。 I want to find some of our old friends。
Isn't that Mr。 Miaco over there by the dressing tent？〃
〃Sure。〃
Both lads ran toward their old friend； the head clown； with
outstretched hands； and Mr。 Miaco； seeing them ing； hastened forward
to greet them。
〃Well； well； boys！ How are you？〃
〃Oh； we're fine；〃 glowed Phil。 〃And we are glad to be back again； let
me tell you。〃
〃No more so than your old friends are to have you back。 Same old
act？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What have you boys been doing this winter？〃
〃Studying and exercising。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Yes； I knew； from your condition； that you have been keeping up your
work。 Got anything new？〃
〃Not much。 Trapeze。〃
〃Good！ I'll bet you will be in some of the flying…bar acts before the
season is over。 We have a lot of swell performers this season。〃
〃So I have heard。 Who are some of them？〃
〃Well； there's the Flying Four。〃
〃Who are they？〃 questioned Teddy。
〃Trapeze performers。 They're greatthe best in the business。 And
then there's The Limit。〃
〃Talk United States；〃 demanded Teddy。 〃The Limit？ Whoever
heard of that？〃
〃In other words； the Dip of Death。〃
Teddy shook his head helplessly。
〃That is the somersaulting automobile。 A pretty young woman rides
in it； and some fine day she won't。 I never did like those freak