"You sent for me, did you not, Mr. Sparling?"

"Why, good evening, Phil," greeted the showman, looking up
quickly with a welcoming smile on his face.

"I call it a very bad evening, sir."

"Very well, we will revise our statement. Bad evening, Phil!"

"Same to you, Mr. Sparling," laughed the lad. "Yes, I think that
fits the case very well indeed."

"And now that we have observed the formalities, come in and
sit down. Are you wet?"

"No; I went to my car and changed before coming in. I thought a
few minutes' delay would make no difference. Had you sent for me
on the lot I would have reported more promptly."

"Quite right, my boy. No, there was nothing urgent. The storm
did not interfere much with the performance, did it?"

"No. The audience was a little nervous at one time, but the
scare quickly passed off."

"Where's your friend?"

"Teddy Tucker?"