The Crimson Flash Part 22

"We came from our grandfather's to join the circus," piped Marjory.

"Yes, and to think," Margaret fairly wailed, "we got here too late for the parade!"

Johnny looked at them for a moment, then laughed a good natured laugh.

"Got let down, didn't you?" he smiled. "Well, so did I a minute ago, mighty sudden, too. But perhaps we can get you into a part yet, since this is positively your first and last appearance."

"Oh, no, Johnny," exclaimed Marjory, "not the last! We've come to stay as long as you do."

"Then I don't stay long," laughed Johnny. "Circus is no place for millionaire twins. You wait right here. I'll be back."

By dint of much persuading, Johnny succeeded in getting the twins a place on the program. At the end of the races came a pony race. The ponies were ridden by monkeys. It was arranged that the two little girls, on their own ponies, were to race the monkeys on their circus mounts.

It was a wilder and more genuine race than is usually pulled off in the circus, for the twins were dead in earnest about winning it, and so were the monkeys. The monkeys and their ponies had played at racing so long, however, they were not able to get seriously down to business. When the twins were riding neck and neck, three lengths ahead of their nearest rivals, they delighted the throng by leaping upon their feet and riding in this manner around the last sweeping circle and out of sight.

"That's fine," exclaimed the manager, rubbing his hands. "Who are they, friends of yours? Can we book 'em for the rest of the season?" He was speaking to Johnny.

"Can't book them for another show," groaned Johnny. "And I'll get skinned alive for letting them in on this one. They're the daughters of Major MacDonald, the steel magnate. Ran away from their grandfather's, and they go back to-night."

The manager whistled. "Too bad to spoil perfectly good circus girls to make society belles," he smiled. "But seein' that's who they are, I guess it can't be helped."

"Oow-wee! That was grand!" exclaimed Marjory, who now came up with her sister. "Did we make good. Can we stay?"

"You made good, but you can't stay," smiled Johnny. "What do you suppose your grandparents are thinking of about now?"

"Oh, they won't know about it at all. We are supposed to be over here with friends who live down on Pine street. That's how they let us come at all. These friends are real old folks and don't go to circuses. When we got here, we called them up as if we were at home and told them we couldn't come; so you see it's all right. And, Johnny, if we can't stay and be circus folks, we can stay just one night, can't we, and have a real ride in a circus train?"

Johnny looked at the manager.

"Sure," grinned the good natured boss of the circus. "We'll put you in the care of Ma Kelly, the circus girls' matron, and you'll be safe as a bean in a bowl of soup."

"How far do we move?" asked Johnny, a bit anxiously.

"Only forty miles, and that leaves us less than thirty miles from their grandfather's place. They can make it back all right."

"I'll borrow one of the rough riders' ponies, and hoof it back with them," said Johnny. "But remember," he turned to the twins, "remember, this is the last. To-morrow morning you turn your faces toward home. And by thunder! I wish I could go along to stay!"

"Why? Why can't you?" cried Marjory. "We want you to. Indeed, we do."

"I can't tell you now. Maybe some time. You stay right here. I'll send Ma Kelly around. Then I've got to go box the bear."

Johnny rushed away, and that was the last they saw of him for some time.

CHAPTER XVI THE WRECK OF THE CIRCUS

That night, as Johnny listened to the chant of the negroes as they went about their tasks of breaking camp and loading, he fancied that there was a weird and restless tone to it, foretelling some catastrophe brooding over all.

The night was dark, with black, rainless clouds hurrying across the sky.

Johnny s.h.i.+vered as he walked toward his sleeping car. His hand was on the rail when someone touched his arm. It was Pant.

"Johnny," he whispered, "how'd you like to ride with me in the gondola to-night?"

"Oh, all right," Johnny answered, a note of impatience in his voice.

"If it's going to be a bother, don't come."

"I'll come along."

"Thought you might like to be in on something big."

"I've been in on something big twice to-day. The first came near to being my funeral, and the second will be, if I don't get those twins back to their grandfather's pretty quick."

Johnny told Pant of the day's experiences, as they made their way back to a tent car.

"Oh, you'll come out all right with the twins," said Pant. "I only hope we don't get into things that'll muss us up to-night, but we'll go careful."

"Of course," he whispered, as they settled down among the piles of canvas, "it's that Liberty bond business. I've been scouting 'round in the towns we've been in, and the way they've been spreading the 'queer'

about is nothing short of a super-crime.

"I've been running up a blind trail for a long time. Thought I had something on that conman with the ragged ear and two of his pals. I followed them down to the river in Chicago twice, and the second time came near catching them; would have, too, if it hadn't been for a rat that tried to eat my hand off. I got 'em the other night--outfit and everything, and it turned out to be only a mimeograph kit for making fake telegrams, announcing results of races, baseball games, and the like. I was sore when I found it was nothing; might have been a blind, at that.

But I had to start all over again, and last night when we were on the way, I made a mighty important discovery. There was a light in the rear end of one of the horse cars most of the night. That's as far as I got.

It was moonlight. They might see me if I came spying around. Besides, I wanted someone else along; someone with a strong arm. Didn't want to get pitched off the train just when I had my hand on the trick. Of course, it may be just an all night c.r.a.p game, but I don't think so. Anyway, we'll see. We'll let them get under way, then when we're clipping it up at a lively rate, and the moon's under, we'll have a look."

Pant fell silent, apparently lost in his intricate problem. Johnny yawned.

A quarter of an hour later Johnny was just dropping off into a doze, when Pant gripped his arm and whispered:

"C'mon. Let's go!"

Having climbed over two gondolas and the top of a one-time express car, they dropped cat-like from the roof of the express car to the platform of a second express car.

Here they stood silent, listening for fully two minutes. At first everything appeared dark, but presently Johnny caught a faint gleam of light that apparently came through a crack in a lower panel of the express car door.

"What'll we do if they come out at us. It's a rotten place," he whispered. Just then the car gave a lurch which almost threw him from the narrow platform.

"Duck and jump."

"Mighty risky."

"Only chance. Too many of 'em. Probably guns and everything."

"All right. Get busy."

Pant dropped on his knee and, bracing himself to avoid being thrown against the door by a sudden lurch, peered through the crack.