Little Dimples shook a small, brown fist at him.
"He knows how to turn a pretty compliment as well as he knows how
to ride, Mr. Sparling," bubbled Dimples. "You should just hear
the nice things he said to me back in the paddock," she teased.
Phil blushed furiously.
"Shall I ride again?" he asked.
"Not necessary," answered the owner. "But, by the way, you might
get up and do a somersault. Do a backward turn with the horse at
a gallop," suggested Mr. Sparling, with a suspicion of a smile at
the corners of his mouth.
"A somersault?" stammered Phil, somewhat taken back. "Why--I--
I--I guess I couldn't do that; I haven't learned to do that yet."
"Not learned to do it? I am surprised."
Phil looked crestfallen.
"I am surprised, indeed, that there is one thing in this show
that you are unable to do." The manager broke out into a roar of
laughter, in which Little Dimples joined merrily.
"May I go on?" asked the lad somewhat apprehensively.
"May you? May you? Why, I--"
At that moment Teddy Tucker came strolling lazily in with a long,
white feather tucked in the corner of his mouth.
The showman's eyes were upon it instantly.
"What have you there?" he demanded.
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