Only one unpleasant incident had happened and that occurred at Franklin, Indiana. Phil and Teddy, while on their way to their car after the performance late at night, had been set upon by two men and quite severely beaten, though both lads had given a good account of themselves and finally driven off their assailants.
They did not report their experience to Mr. Sparling until the next morning, having gone directly to their car and put themselves to bed after having been fixed up with plasters and bandages by some of their companions. The next morning neither lad was particularly attractive to look at. However, bearing the taunts of the show people good-naturedly, they started for the cook tent just as they were in the habit of doing every day.
But Mr. Sparling had seen them as they passed his car on their way.
"Now, I wonder what those boys have been up to?" he scowled, watching their receding forms thoughtfully. "I'll find out."
And he did. He summoned the lads to his office in the tent soon after breakfast.
"I expected you would send for us," grinned Phil, as he walked in with Teddy.
"What about it? You are both sights!"
"Grease paint and powder will cover it up, I guess,
Mr. Sparling."
"I'll hear how it happened."
"I can't tell you much about it," said Phil. "We were on our way to the car when a couple of men suddenly jumped out from a fence corner and went at us hammer and tongs. That's when we got these beauty spots. If we had seen the fellows coming we might not have been hit at all."