"
"Who are they?" questioned Teddy.
"Trapeze performers. They're great--the 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 acts. But the public does," sighed the old circus man.
"The really difficult feats, that require years of practice,
patrons don't seem to give a rap for. But let somebody do a
stunt in which he is in danger of suddenly ending his life, then
you'll see the people howl with delight. I sometimes think they
would be half tickled to death to see some of us break our necks.
There's a friend of yours, Phil."
"Who?"
"Emperor, the old elephant that you rode last year. They are
taking him to the menagerie tent."
"Whistle to him, Phil," suggested Teddy.
Phil uttered a low, peculiar whistle.
The big elephant's ears flapped. The procession that he was
leading came to a sudden stop and Emperor trumpeted shrilly.
"He hasn't forgotten me," breathed Phil happily. "Dear old
Emperor!"
"Pipe him up again," urged Teddy.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51