CHAPTER XXIII
THE DESERTED VILLAGE
But Teddy had distinguished himself. When the town awakenednext morning there were loud clamorings for the arrest of theshowman who had dared to unfurl a circus advertisement from thetop of the city's flag pole. The showmen guilty of the deedwere many, many miles away by that time, engaged in othersimilar occupations.
At McAlister, a booming western town, the opposition were stillhard on the heels of Car Three. Try as he would Phil Forrest wasable to shake them off no longer than a few hours at a time.
A new plan occurred to him, and immediately upon his arrival atMcAlister he wired Mr. Sparling to send a brigade into the nexttown ahead, to bill the place, in order that Car Three might makea jump and get away from its rivals.
A brigade, it should be known, is a crew of men that does nottravel on a special car. They go by regular train, traveling asother passengers do, dropping off and billing a town here andthere, as directed by wire.
The answer came back that the brigade would relieve him at thenext stand.
While this had been going on young Tucker had been listening to amost interesting tale of a deserted town some twenty miles beyondwhere they were then working. The deserted town was known asOwls' Valley. It had been a prosperous little city up to withintwo months previous, when, for reasons that Teddy did not learn,the inhabitants had taken a sudden leave.
This information set Teddy Tucker to thinking.A deserted village? He wished that he might see it.He had heard of deserted villages, and this one was ofmore than ordinary interest, because, the moment heheard of it, a plan presented itself to his fertile mind.
"I'll bet they will not only nibble at the bait, but will swallowit whole," he decided exultingly after he had thoroughly goneover the plan, sitting off by himself on a pile of railroad iron."I'll take Billy into my confidence. Billy will spread the word,and then we shall see what will happen."
When Billy came in Teddy called him aside and outlined his plan.
Billy returned from the conference grinning broadly, but Teddywas serious and thoughtful.
However, he decided not to tell Phil what he had done.Perhaps Phil might not approve of it. Phil was so peculiarthat he might visit the rival cars and tell them thatcertain information they had obtained was not correct.
Be that as it may, a few hours later three car managers visitedthe station, leaving orders that their cars were to be switchedoff at Owls' Valley.
"That fellow, Forrest, thought he would play a smart trick on usand slip into a town not down on his route, where he was going tohave all the billing to himself," said the manager of the yellowcar, late that evening.
"Where is Owls' Valley?" asked one of his men.
"About twenty miles west of here. It will be a short run.He will be a very much surprised young man when he wakes upin the morning and finds us lying on the siding with him."
The train to which the cars were to be attached was not to leaveuntil sometime after midnight. When it finally came in all theadvertising car crews were in bed and asleep. Teddy Tucker,however, was not only wide awake, but outside at that.
"Couple us up next to your rear car, and put the other fellows onthe rear if you will," he said to the conductor. "They are goingto Owls' Valley, but we are going through. Please say nothing tothem about what I have told you. Here's a pass forthe circus."
The rest was easy. Soon the train was rumbling away, with Teddythe happiest mortal on it. But he did not go to bed. Not Teddy!He sat up to make sure that his plans did not miscarry.Owls' Valley was reached in due time, and the Circus Boy wasoutside to make sure that no mistake was made. He did notpropose that Car Three should, by any slip, be sidetrackedat the deserted village.
Very shortly afterwards they were again on their way, and Teddywent to bed well satisfied with his night's work. When the menwoke up early next morning a new train crew was in charge, forthe advertising car was making a long run.
Phil was the first to awaken. As was customary with him hestepped to the window and peered out.
"Why, we seem to be the last car on the train. There werethree opposition cars behind us when we started out last night.I wonder what that means?"
Quickly dressing, he went out on the platform. Leaning over helooked ahead. Car Three was the only show car on the train.
"That is queer. I do not understand it at all."
Hurrying in to the main part of the car Phil called to the men.
"Do any of you know what has become of the opposition?" he asked.
"Why, aren't they on behind?"
"No one is on behind. We are the last car. Those fellows havestolen a march on us somewhere. I can't imagine where theydropped off, though; can you?"
"Maybe they have switched off on another road," suggesteda voice.
"No other road they could switch off on. There is somethingmore to this than appears on the surface. I'll go forward andask the conductor."
Phil did so, but the conductor could give him no information.Car Three was the only show car on the train when the presentconductor had taken charge.
Phil was more puzzled than ever. He consulted his route list, tomake sure that he himself had not made a mistake and skipped atown that he should have billed. No; there was only one town hehad missed, and that was the one the brigade was to work.
About this time Teddy sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"What's up?" he inquired, noting that his companion was troubled.
"That is what I should like to know," answered Phil absently.
"Tell me about it. Anything gone wrong?"
"I don't know. The opposition has disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes; they disappeared during the night, and I cannot imaginewhere they have gone. They must have dropped in on some townthat we should have made, and I am worried."
Teddy pulled up a window shade and studied the landscape forseveral minutes.
"Curious, isn't it?" he mumbled.
"Yes."
"I might make a guess where they went, Phil."
"You might guess?"
"That's what I said."
"Where do you think they have gone?"
"If I were to make a long-range guess, I should say that perhapsthe cars of the opposition were sidetracked at Owls' Valley."
"Where is that? I never heard of the place."
"That, my dear sir, is the deserted village. Lonesome Town, theyought to call it."
"Where is it?"
"About twenty miles from the last stand; and, if they are there,they will be likely to stay there for sometime to come."
Phil had wheeled about, studying his companion keenly.
"You seem to know a great deal about the movements of the enemy.How does it happen that you are so well posted, Teddy Tucker?"
"I was hanging around the station when they gave the order tohave their cars dropped off there," answered Teddy, avoiding thekeen gaze of his companion and superior.
"Did you know the place was deserted?"
Teddy nodded.
"Did _they?_"
Teddy shook his head.
"How did they happen to order their cars dropped off there?"
"I--I guess somebody must have told them that--I guess maybe theythought we were going there."
"Thought we were going there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Oh, because."
A light was beginning to dawn upon the young car manager.He surveyed Teddy from beneath half closed eyelids.Tucker grew restless under the critical examination.
"Say, stop your looking at me that way."
"Why?"
"You make me nervous. Stop it, I say!"
"Tell me all about it, Teddy," urged Phil, trying hard to makehis tone stern.
"Tell you about what?"
"Why the opposition happened to think we were going toOwls' Valley."
"Maybe they just imagined it."
"And maybe they did not. You are mixed up in this, in some way,and I want to know all about it, Teddy Tucker. I hope you havedone nothing dishonorable. Of course I am glad the other fellowsare out of our way, but I want to know how. Come, be frankwith me. You are avoiding the question. Remember I am themanager of this car; I am responsible for all that is done on it.Out with it!"
Teddy fidgeted.
"Well, it was this way. Somebody told them--"
"Well, told them what?" urged Phil.
"Told them they heard we were going to bill Owls' Valley."
"So, that's it, eh?"
Teddy nodded again.
"Did you give out any such information as that?"
Teddy shook his head.
"Who did?"
"I won't tell. You can't make me tell," retorted theCircus Boy belligerently.
"But you were responsible for the rumor getting out?"
Teddy did not answer.
"And those poor fellows are lying there on the siding,twenty miles from the nearest telegraph office?"
"I guess so." Tucker grinned broadly.
"And how are they going to get out?"
"Walk!"
Phil broke out into a roar of laughter.
"Oh, Teddy, what am I going to do with you? Do you know you havedone very wrong?"
"No, I don't. The trouble with you is that you don't appreciatea good thing when you get it. You were wishing you could get ridof the opposition cars, weren't you?"
"Yes, but--"
"Well, you're rid of them, aren't you?"
"Yes, but--"
"And I got rid of them for you."
"Yes, but as I was saying--"
"Then what have you got to raise such a row about? You gotyour wish."
Teddy curled up and began studying the landscape again.
"I admire your zeal young man, but your methods are open tosevere criticism. First you imperil the lives of three carloadsof men by cutting them loose from the train; then you climb aflag pole, nearly losing your own life in the attempt, and nowyou have lured three carloads of men to a deserted village, whereyou have lost them. Oh, I've got to laugh--I can't help it!"And Phil did laugh, disturbed as he was over Teddy Tucker'srepeated violation of what Phil believed to be the right andhonorable way of doing business.
"Billy!" called Phil.
Mr. Conley responded promptly.
"I am not asking any questions. I do not want to know any morethan I do about this business. I already know more than I wishI knew. I want to say, however, that when any more plans aremade, any schemes hatched for outwitting our rivals, I shallappreciate being made acquainted with such plans before theyare put into practice."
Teddy looked up in amazement. He had not the remotest idea thatPhil even suspected who had been his accomplice. But the carmanager had no need to be told. He was too shrewd not to suspectat once who it was that had carried out Teddy's suggestions andsidetracked the opposition where they would not get out for atleast a whole day.
"Yes, sir," answered Billy meekly.
"I understand that the opposition are where they are likely tostay for sometime to come?"
"Yes, sir; so I understand."
"Oh, you do, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know all about it? Well, I thought as much. But I amsorry you have admitted it. That necessitates my reading youa severe lecture."
This Phil did, laying down the law as Conley never had supposedthe Circus Boy could do. Billy repeated the lecture to therest of the crew, later on, and all agreed that Phil Forrest,the young advance agent, had left nothing unsaid. Phil's stockrose correspondingly. A man who could "call down" his crewproperly was a real car manager.
While the Sparling Show profited by Teddy's ruse, Phil feltunhappy that his advantage had come by reason of the falsehoodthat Teddy had told; and that night Phil read his young frienda severe lecture.
"If I find you doing a trick like that again," concluded Phil,"you close there and then."
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
"Who is the man in charge of Sparling Advance Car Number Three?"demanded Mr. Starr, manager of "The Greatest Show on Earth."
"A young fellow named Forrest. That is all I know about him,"answered the treasurer of the show.
"He used to be a performer and a good one, too," spoke up theassistant manager.
This conversation took place in the office tent of the show thatPhil Forrest had been fighting almost ever since he took chargeof Car Three.
"He is one of the best bareback riders who ever entered theforty-two foot ring," continued the assistant manager.
"What has he ever done before? I never heard of him."
"He has been with Sparling, I think, about five years.I understand he never did any circus work before that."
"I want that young man," announced the generalmanager decisively.
"Probably money will get him," smiled the treasurer.
"I do not wish to do anything to offend Sparling, for he isan old friend, and one of the best showmen in the country.I'll write him today, and see what he has to say. That youngman, Forrest, or whatever his name may be, is giving us moretrouble than we ever had before. He is practically putting ourmen all out of business. We shall have to change our route, orclose, if he keeps on heading off our advance cars."
"It has come to a pretty pass, if a green boy with no previousexperience is to defeat us. What is the matter with our advancemen?" demanded the assistant manager.
"That is what I should like to know," answered Mr. Starr."I will write Sparling today about this matter."
Weeks had passed and Car Three had worked its way across theplains, on into the mountainous country. Car managers had againbeen changed on the yellow car; another car had been sent inahead of Phil, but to no better purpose than before.
Car Three moved on, making one brilliant dash after another,sometimes winning out by the narrowest margin and apparently bypure luck. Still, Phil Forrest and his loyal crew were nevercaught napping and were never headed off for more than a day ata time.
The season was drawing to a close. One day Phil received a wirefrom Mr. Sparling reading:
"Close at Deming, New Mexico, September fifteen."
"Boys, the end is in sight; and I, for one, shall be glad when weare through," announced Phil, appearing in the men's part of thecar, where he read the telegram from the owner of the show.
The men set up a cheer.
"Now let's drive the other fellows off the map during theseremaining two weeks."
How those men did work! No man on that car overslept during therest of the trip. Phil seemed not to know the meaning of theword "tired." All hours of the night found him on duty, eitherwatching the movements of his car or laying out work ahead,planning and scheming to outwit his rivals.
At last Car Three rolled into the station at Deming. It was awarm, balmy Fall day.
"Now burn the town up with your paper, boys," commanded Phil,after they had finished their breakfast. "Come in early tonight.I want all hands to drop paste pots and brushes tonight, and takedinner with me. It will not be at a contract hotel, either.Dinner at eight o'clock."
"Hooray!" exclaimed Teddy. "A real feed for once, fellows!No more meals at The Sign of the Tin Spoon this season!"
The crew of Car Three were not slow about getting in that night.Every man was on time. They dodged out of the car with bundlesunder their arms, got a refreshing bath, and spick and span intailor-made clothes and clean linen, they presented themselvesat the car just before eight o'clock.
"Hello! You boys do not look natural," hailed Phil, witha laugh. "But come along; I know you are hungry, and soam I."
The Circus Boy had arranged for a fine dinner at the leadinghotel of the city, where he had engaged a private dining roomfor the evening.
It was a jolly meal. Everyone was happy in the consciousness ofwork well done, in the knowledge that they had outrivaled everyopposition car tha
t had been sent into their field.
The dinner was nearing its close when Phil rose and rappedfor order.
"Boys," he said, "you have done great work. You have been loyal,and without your help I should have made a miserable failure ofthis work. You know how green I was, how little I really knowabout the advance work yet--"
Someone laughed.
"You need not laugh. I know it, whether you boys do or not.I asked you to dine with Teddy and myself here tonight, thatI might tell you these things and thank you. If ever I amsent in advance again I hope you boys will be with me, everyone of you."
"You bet we will!" shouted the men in chorus.
"And let me add that Mr. Sparling is not ungrateful for the workyou have done this season. He has asked me to present you with asmall expression of his appreciation. Teddy, will you pleasepass these envelopes to the boys? You will find their nameswritten on the envelopes."
Tucker quickly distributed the little brown envelopes.
The men shouted. Each envelope held a crisp, newfifty-dollar bill.
"Three cheers for Boss Sparling!" cried Rosie the Pig, springingto his feet, waving the bill above his head.
The cheers were given with a will.
"I will bid you good-bye tonight," continued Phil. "Teddy andmyself will take a late train for the East, after we get through.We are going back to join the show until it closes--"
"Wait a minute, Boss," interrupted Billy Conley, rising."This show isn't over yet."
"The Band Concert in the main tent is about to begin."
Phil glanced at him inquiringly.
"All the natural curiosities, including the Missing Link and theHuman Pig, will be on view. Take your seats in the center ring,immediately after the performance closes!"
Billy drew a package from his pocket and placed it on the tablebefore him.
"Boss, the fellows have asked me to present to you a littleexpression of their good will--to the greatest advance agent thatever hit the iron trail. You've made us work like all possessed,but we love you almost to death, just the same. I present thisgift to you with our compliments, Boss, and here also is a littleremembrance for our friend, Spotted Horse, otherwise known asTeddy Tucker."
Billy sat down, and Phil, rising, accepted the gift. Opening thepackage he found a handsome gold watch and chain, his initialsset in the back of the watch case in diamonds.
"Oh, boys, why did you do it?" gasped Phil, in an unsteady voice.
"I've got a diamond stick pin!" shouted Teddy triumphantly.
Phil's eyes were moist.
"Why--why did you--"
" 'Cause--'cause you're the best fellow that ever lived!Say, quit lookin' at me like that, or I'll blubber rightout," stammered Billy, hastily pushing back his chair andwalking over to the window.
"For he's a jolly good fellow!" struck up Rosie the Pig.All joined in the chorus, while Phil sat down helplessly,unable to say a word.
On the second morning thereafter the Circus Boys rejoined theGreat Sparling Shows, where they were welcomed right royally.Teddy insisted in going on with his mule act that same day.
Even the donkey was glad to see Teddy. January evinced hispleasure at having his young master with him again by promptlykicking young Tucker through the side wall of the pad room,nearly breaking the Circus Boy's neck.
That day a letter came to Phil from The Greatest Show on Earth.After reading it, Phil hastened to his employer.
"I have a letter offering us both a contract with The Greatestfor next season. What do you think of that, Mr. Sparling?" askedPhil with sparkling eyes.
Mr. Sparling did not appear to be surprised.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?"
"Refuse it, of course. I prefer to stay with you."
"And I prefer to have you."
"I thought you would."
"But I shall ask you to accept; in fact, I wish you to do so.You will find the experience valuable. When you finish yourseason with the big show I shall have something of greatimportance to communicate to you, if you wish to return to us."
"Wish to?"
"Yes; so wire on your acceptance right away, my boy, then you andI will have a long talk."
So it was left. Phil went on with the show during the remainingfour weeks, then the boys turned their faces homeward, where theyplanned to put in a busy winter practicing and studying.
Despite their reluctance to leave Mr. Sparling for a season, theywere looking forward to the coming Spring when they were to jointhe other show. Their experiences there will be related in afollowing volume, entitled, "THE CIRCUS BOYS AT THE TOP; Or,Bossing the Greatest Show of All."
The Circus Boys on the Plains; Or, The Young Advance Agents Ahead of the Show Page 24