登陆注册
14924900000037

第37章 CHAPTER XVIII

A STARTLING DISCOVERY

Phil's recovery was rapid, though four days passed before he was permitted to leave his bed. As soon as he was able to get downstairs and sit out on the front porch of the hotel he found himself an object of interest as well as curiosity. The story of his accident had been talked of until it had grown out of all proportion to the real facts in the case. The boys of the village hung over the porch rail and eyed him wonderingly and admiringly. It did not fall to their lot every day to get acquainted with a real circus boy. They asked him all manner of questions, which the lad answered gladly, for even though he had suffered a severe accident, he was not beyond enjoying the admiration of his fellows. "It must be great to be a circus boy," marveled one. "It is until you fall off and crack your head," laughed Phil. "It's not half so funny then." After returning to his room that day Phil pondered deeply over the accident. He could not understand it. "Nobody seems to know what really did happen," he mused. "Dr. Irvine says the wire broke. That doesn't seem possible." Off in the little dog tent of the owner of the show, Mr. James Sparling, on the day following the accident, was asking himself almost the same questions. He sent for Mr. Kennedy after having disposed of his early morning business. There was a scowl on the owner's face, but it had not been caused by the telegram which lay on the desk before him, informing him that Phil was not seriously hurt. That was a source of keen satisfaction to the showman, for he felt that he could not afford to lose the young circus boy. Teddy was so upset over it, however, that the boss had about made up his mind to let Phil's companion go back and join him. While the showman was thinking the matter over, Mr. Kennedy appeared at the opening of the dog tent. "Morning," he greeted, which was responded to by a muttered "Huh!" from James Sparling. "Come in. What are you standing out there for?" Kennedy was so used to this form of salutation that he paid no further attention to it than to obey the summons. He entered and stood waiting for his employer to speak. "I want you to tell me exactly whatoccurred last night, when young Forrest got hurt, Kennedy." "I can't tell you any more about it than you heard last night. He had started to make his dive before I noticed that anything was wrong. He didn't stop until he landed on his head. They said the wire snapped." "Did it?" "I guess so," grinned Kennedy. "Who is responsible for having picked out that wire?" "I guess I am." "And you have the face to stand there and tell me so?" "I usually tell the truth, don't I?" "Yes, yes; you do. That's what I like about you." "Heard from the kid this morning?" "Yes; he'll be all right in a few days. Concussion and general shaking up; that's all, but it's enough. How are the bulls this morning?" "Emperor is sour. Got a regular grouch on." "Misses that young rascal Phil, I suppose?" "Yes." "H-m-m-m!" "Didn't want to come through last night at all." "H-m-m-m. Guess we'd better fire you and let the boy handle the bulls; don't you think so?" The trainer grinned and nodded. "Kennedy, you've been making your brags that you always tell me the truth. I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to see if you can make that boast good." "Yes, sir." Perhaps the trainer understood something of what was in his employer's mind, for his lips closed sharply while his jaw took on a belligerent look. "How did that wire come to break, Kennedy?" The question came out with a snap, as if the showman already had made up his mind as to what the answer should be. "It was cut, sir," answered the trainer promptly. The lines in Mr. Sparling's face drew hard and tense. Instead of a violent outburst of temper, which Kennedy fully expected, the owner sat silently contemplating his trainer for a full minute. "Who did it?" "I couldn't guess." "I didn't ask you to guess. I can guess for myself. I asked who did it?" "I don't know. I haven't the least idea who would do a job like that in this show. I hope the mean hound will take French leave before I get him spotted, sir." Mr. Sparling nodded with emphasis. "I hope so, Kennedy. What makes you think the wire was cut?" With great deliberation the trainer drew a small package from his inside coat pocket, carefully unwrapped it, placing the contents on the table in front of Mr. Sparling. "What's this--what's this?" "That's the wire." "But there are two pieces here--" "Yes. I cut off a few feet on each side of where the break occurred. Those are the two." Mr. Sparling regarded them critically. "Howcan you tell that the wire has been cut, except where you cut it yourself?" "It was cut halfway through with a file, as you can see, sir. When Forrest threw his weight on it, of course the wire parted at the weakened point." "H-m-m-m." "If you will examine it, an inch or two above the cut, you will find two or three file marks, where the file started to cut, then was moved down. Probably slipped. Looks like it. Don't you think I'm right, sir?" Mr. Sparling nodded reflectively. "There can be no doubt of it. You think it was done between the two performances yesterday?" "Oh, yes. That cut wouldn't have held through one performance. It was cut during the afternoon." "Who was in the tent between the shows?" "Pretty much the whole crowd. But, if you will remember, the day was dark and stormy. There was a time late in the afternoon, before the torches were lighted, when the big top was almost in darkness. It's my idea that the job was done then. Anybody could have done it without being discovered. It's likely there wasn't anybody in the tent except himself at the time." "Kennedy, I want you to find out who did that. Understand?"

同类推荐
  • 太上救苦天尊说消愆灭罪经

    太上救苦天尊说消愆灭罪经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 万历野获编

    万历野获编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青原愚者智禅师语录

    青原愚者智禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 雅量

    雅量

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六根归道论

    六根归道论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 风云动至尊出

    风云动至尊出

    梦起缘落,一代枭雄的崛起之路!为了爱他与他爱的人们;为了掌控命运、获得长生。与天斗、与地斗、终成一代至尊
  • 宠婚无度:总裁放肆爱

    宠婚无度:总裁放肆爱

    某日,顾念在看小言书打发时间,书名:霸道总裁爱上我。顾念看完之后,回头把书扔给男人,“喂,你是不是该看看人家的总裁是怎么做的,好好检讨一下才是。”男人轻松把书接过,翻了翻,上前把人整个圈在怀里,轻轻的吻了吻她的发旋,声音宠溺,“我舍不得啊!”舍不得让你受委屈,舍不得让你难过,更舍不得把你的翅膀剪断,虽然,我是那样的想要把你整个人禁锢在这里。顾念依旧在翻小言书,没看到男人眼里潜藏着的暗涌,几乎要把她整个人吞没!我克制自己,只为更好的爱你。
  • 特战神兵

    特战神兵

    他是特战兵王,以一人之力,横冲敌营三十里,拒敌于千里之外。他是国之利刃,藏锋亮剑,谁敢犯我华夏,虽远必诛!
  • 天若有情,愿白手不分离

    天若有情,愿白手不分离

    那天雨下的很大,很大,我迷失在十字路口,很害怕,很害怕,我找不到你……
  • Barchester Towers

    Barchester Towers

    The death of old Dr Grantly, who had for many years filled the chair with meek authority, took place exactly as the ministry of Lord - was going to give place to that Lord.
  • 重生之鬼修仙途

    重生之鬼修仙途

    (本书无男主)她本是世家嫡女,修仙之才,何奈母亲软弱,庶姐不喜,亲爹遭嫌,从此,明珠蒙了尘,光芒渐暗,谁知遇到了他,心里灰暗的一角重新燃起的火焰和爱的深渊,为情覆灭,为爱惨死。一朝初醒,恍若黄粱一梦,却惊醒梦中人,从此明珠耀风尘,修仙步步来,女配不减当年风采。欺她无依无靠,没有本命法宝,更无师尊教导,她便告诉你什么叫真的的无依无靠,没有本命法宝,更无师尊教导!总之女配升级路漫漫,过程及其虐心,她会让你见识什么叫做实力!什么叫做倔强!什么叫做傲骨!
  • 快穿之男神都是我的

    快穿之男神都是我的

    宁菑恋是第一个走路不看路掉进下水道死亡的美(霉)女享年20.“什么系统,要帮你做任务一边玩去姑奶奶没兴趣”"有奖励可以重生,还很多美男OK这事我帮你了”姑奶奶我这事出自仗义绝对不是冲美男去的绝对不是。哈哈美男我来了。本人很懒所以很少更新。
  • 西顿写给孩子的林地故事

    西顿写给孩子的林地故事

    《西顿写给孩子的林地故事》是一部介绍林地动植物和风景的小百科书箱,内容丰富,包罗万象。作都将四季作为划分章节的标准,介绍了不同季节出现的不同动植物。
  • 转角即是光明

    转角即是光明

    在一生中遭遇的困境和不解,在当下或许是如此难以接受,但在过后某一时刻,会突然觉得这是最好的安排。一米阳光编著的《转角即是光明》中温暖人心的故事,贯穿着对人生、情感、事业的感悟,折射出生活的简单与复杂、高潮与低谷,学会在世间百态中领略禅意的美。
  • 悬崖下的星空

    悬崖下的星空

    前世的情人,今生今世的相遇,却为了来世的约定!清朝年间!不停的天灾,四处河水。家园被无情的摧残,在患难中!他们一见钟情。经历无数的磨难后,最终他们能走到一起吗?……