"Thank you; I hardly think that will be necessary. I feel fit
enough for work right now."

"Such is youth and enthusiasm," mused the showman, passing on out
of the cook tent, once more to go over his arrangements, for
there were many details to be looked after on this the first day
of the show's season on the road.

Phil called on Mrs. Sparling after breakfast, receiving from the
showman's wife a most hospitable welcome. She asked him all
about how he had spent the winter, and seemed particularly
interested in Mrs. Cahill, who was now the legal guardian of
both the boys. Mrs. Sparling already had a letter in her pocket,
with the check for one hundred dollars which the showman had
drawn for Phil. It was going to Mrs. Cahill to be deposited to
the lad's credit, but he would know nothing of this until the
close of the season. After he had gone home he would find
himself a hundred dollars richer than he thought.

His call finished, Phil went out and rejoined Teddy. Together
they
started back toward the dressing tent to set their trunks in
order
and get out such of their costumes as they would need that
afternoon and evening. Then again, the dressing tent was really
the most attractive part of the show to all the performers. It
was
here that they talked of their work and life, occasionally
practiced