_A CLUE._
Sam and Dan, who had worked at many fairs and been forced to sleep in
far less desirable places, thought it was a rare piece of good fortune
to get such comfortable quarters free; but the prospect of lying on the
ground all night was far from pleasing to Teddy.
He looked around for some spot softer than another; but there was no
choice, and he said to himself:
"There's one satisfaction about it, I'm better off on the ground than I
would have been if Uncle Nathan had succeeded in having me arrested and
put in jail."
This thought caused the interior of the tent to seem less disagreeable,
and he almost persuaded himself that it would be sport to stay all night
in a museum with a real contortionist as host.
Dan had thrown himself at full length on the ground where he could watch
the proprietor of this "enormous exhibition" cook his supper on an
oil-stove, and Sam, anxious about other people's affairs as usual,
devoted his entire time to asking questions regarding the business.
"How do you count on gettin' along when the crowds get here? You can't
sell tickets an' act too."
"I've got a barker an' a clown coming to-morrow; it was no use to pay
'em wages for layin' around when there was nothing to be done but put up
the tent."
"What's a 'barker?'" Sam asked, in surprise.
"Why, the man who stands outside an' does the talking, of course."
Then, his supper having been cooked and eaten, the host amused himself
and his guests by telling of his experience in the show business;
relating stories and talking of the different fakirs he had met.
"When I started out," he said, "I made up my mind that a fortune could
be made in one season. I bought a fine tent; had lots of performers,
about twenty animals, and a dozen cases of stuffed birds and other
curiosities. We struck hard luck from the sendoff, an' first the woman
with an iron jaw gave me the shake because she got tired of waiting for
the salary that never came. Two of the bears grew so disgusted with the
bad business that they died, and one after another of the people
skipped, till I was pretty nigh alone. A sheriff in Harmer seized the
cases, another levied on my live stock, and it has only taken two
seasons to bring the show down to where you see it."
This was not pleasing information for Teddy, who was obliged to make
such a large amount of money in order to free himself from debt, and he
asked:
"Isn't it possible to make money at every fair? I thought the fakirs got
rich in a little while."
"So did I before I went into the business. A fellow may make a big stake
this week and lose it all at the next stand. If you strike bad weather,
or a crowd that hasn't got any money, it's up-hill work to pull in the
entrance fee. Now, I have to pay a hundred dollars for this privilege,
because I've got a big tent, and it wouldn't be any more if I had a show
to compare with it in size. It'll take a good many ten-cent pieces to
make that up."
This plain statement of facts caused Teddy to figure how many nickels he
must receive before the capital invested and stolen would be returned,
and the result was far from gratifying.
"The eighteen dollars which must be given to Uncle Nathan, the thirty I
owe in Waterville, and ten I paid for the privilege of running the
boards makes eleven hundred and sixty five-cent pieces. I'll never see
so many customers as that, and Aunt Sarah was right when she called me a
fool for thinking of going into the business," he said to himself, as
his companions began to make their preparations for the night.
It is useless to "cry over spilled milk," however, and this he realized
in time to prevent himself from being plunged into the lowest depths of
despondency. It was barely possible business would be exceptionally
good, he argued mentally, and if hard work could accomplish the desired
result he must be successful.
Dan was already lying down with his head toward the side of the tent and
his feet near the oil-stove, which had been left burning because of the
dampness, and Teddy crawled over by the side of him. Sam had decided to
sleep by the side of his host, probably with the idea that he might
appear to be on terms of greater intimacy, and all hands gave themselves
up to slumber.
The excitement of the morning and subsequent labor had so tried Teddy
that, despite the hardness of his bed, he fell asleep in a very few
moments, and it was not yet nine o'clock when all the inmates of the
tent, save the goat, and possibly the alligator and snakes, were wrapped
in blissful unconsciousness.
Half an hour later a terrific yell from Sam caused the remainder of the
party to spring to their feet in alarm.
"What's the matter?" Dan cried.
"Somebody has got into the tent and been poundin' me with a club! I'm
pretty near killed."
The faint glow cast by the oil-stove was not sufficient to illumine any
portion of the tent, and the host made all haste to light a lantern,
after which Dan proceeded to search for the supposed intruder; but
before he had taken a dozen steps the proprietor of the museum burst
into a hearty laugh.
"Funny, ain't it?" Sam cried, angrily. "I s'pose you'd laugh if I'd been
killed in your old tent!"
This savage remark appeared to excite the man's mirth rather than check
it, and while he was thus enjoying himself Teddy and Dan stood gazing at
him in surprise.
It was several minutes before the man could speak, and then he said, as
he pointed to the goat who stood a short distance away calmly munching
some potato parings:
"That's the fellow who has been beating your friend with a club. I
always let him loose at night, and he has walked over our dying boy."
Sam insisted that he had been beaten with a club; but on examining his
clothing two spots of fresh earth were found, showing where the animal
had stepped. A hoof-print on the sleeve and another directly on the
breast of his coat comprised the full amount of damage done.
The boy who had believed himself so dangerously wounded now grew angry,
and, leaping to his feet, declared he would not remain in the tent
another minute unless the goat was tied.
"There's nothing to prevent your bunking somewhere else," the owner of
the animal replied, quite sharply.
"Billy always has had the liberty of the tent at night, and I reckon he
won't lose it now."
Sam started toward the entrance; but before reaching it he realized that
he would be punishing no one but himself, and slowly turned back, saying
as he approached the stove:
"It's too late to hunt for lodgings now, an' I s'pose I'll have to make
the best of it."
"I guess you will," the host replied, quietly, and the angry Sam lay
down on the seat of the baggage wagon, to insure himself against another
visit from "Billy."
This incident had driven the desire for sleep from the eyelids of Teddy
and Dan, and they remained awake some time after the loud breathing of
their companions told that the visit from the goat had been temporarily
effaced from their minds.
Now Teddy discovered what a hard, uncomfortable bed the bare earth was,
and after tossing about for half an hour, he whispered to Dan:
"Do you suppose it would be any better in the wagon?"
"No; you'll get used to it in a little while, and the ground is softer
than a board."
Teddy was about to reply when the sound of voices from the outside
attracted his attention, and then came the crackle as of a match being
lighted.
Two or more men had halted near the canvas within a few feet of where
the boys were lying, evidently that they might be sheltered from the
wind while getting their pipes or cigars in working order.
A moment later both the listeners heard one of the newcomers say:
"I don't think it will be safe for you to show up very much while we
stay here."
"Why not? If them boys recognize me it will be an easy matter to
frighten 'em into holdin' their tongues, and there's goin' to be good
pickin's this week."
"But what's the use of runnin' any risk? We've made a fairly good haul
already, an' it's better to get safe off with that than stick our noses
where it'll be hard work to pull them back."
Teddy was in the highest possible excitement. In the tone of the second
speaker's voice he recognized the man who had stolen his money, and he
punched Dan with his elbow to assure himself that the latter was
listening.
"Keep quiet," Dan whispered, and then the conversation on the outside
was continued.
"I'll take good care to keep shady, an' you see what can be done
to-morrow."
[Illustration: The boys crept through the flap of the tent and followed
the two men.]
"Will you promise not to leave the house till after dark?"
"I thought you had more nerve; but so long as you haven't I reckon I'll
promise, for this is bound to be a fat thing, and I don't want to lose
the whole of it.
"When these country jays begin to send their stuff home I'll have ours
shipped, an' there's little danger it'll be overhauled, more especially
since the old man couldn't get a warrant for the only one he suspects.
It's a safe bet that Hazelton has a pretty good idea who did the job,
an' if they make trouble for him he'll most likely tell what he thinks."
"There's no call to be afraid of him after he has worked a couple of
days, for those he ropes in would do all they could to have him
arrested."
The last portion of this remark was almost indistinguishable, owing to
the fact that the men were walking away, and when the sound of their
footsteps could no longer be heard Teddy said:
"Those are the men who robbed Uncle Nathan's store, an' I'm certain one
of them got my money."
"Would you know their voices if you heard them again?"
"Sure; but why don't we find out where they are going? It wouldn't be a
hard job."
"Are you willin' to sneak after them?"
"Of course I am. Come on!"
The boys arose softly and crept through the flap of the tent without
awakening the sleepers.
The night was dark and cloudy, and it was impossible to see any very
great distance in either direction; but Dan had taken especial heed to
the course taken by the men, and he started off without hesitation.
"We ought to have a club or something to protect ourselves in case they
should see us," Teddy whispered.
"We won't get near enough to let them do much mischief. Do you see two
sparks over there? They are the lighted ends of cigars, an' our men are
behind them."
Dan quickened his pace; but he had failed to calculate the distance
correctly, and was much nearer the game than he had suspected.
"Be careful they don't see us," he said, in a low tone, and in another
instant the boys were directly in front of the men.
Teddy started back in alarm; but he was too late. In an instant the
sparks flashed before his eyes, and he fell to the ground unconscious
just as Dan succeeded in warding off the blow of a fist which was aimed
at him.