"I should think not."
"By the way, Teddy, there come the bareback riders. Don't you follow after their act?"
"My! That's so. I had forgotten all about that. Thought I was watching the show just like the rest of the folks."
"Better hustle, or you won't get into your makeup in time to go on. There'll be a row for certain if you are late."
But Teddy already had started on a run for the dressing tent, bowling over a clown at the entrance to the paddock and bringing down the wrath of that individual as he hustled for the dressing tent and began feverishly getting into his ring clothes. These consisted of a loose fitting pair of trousers, a slouch hat and a coat much the worse for wear. A "Rube" act, it was called in show parlance, and it was that in very truth, more because of Teddy's drollery than for the makeup that he wore.
Phil quickly forgot all about the lecture he had been reading to his companion as the bareback riders came trotting in. His eyes were fixed on a petite, smiling figure who tripped up to the curbing, where she turned toward the audience, and, kicking one foot out behind her, bowed and threw a kiss to the spectators.
Phil had walked over and sat down by the center pole right near the sawdust ring, so that he might get a better view of the riding.
The young woman who so attracted his attention was known on the show bills as "Little Miss Dimples, the Queen of the Sawdust Arena." Phil, as he gazed at her graceful little figure, agreed that the show bills did not exaggerate her charms at all.
Little Dimples, using the ringmaster's hand as a step, vaulted lightly to the back of the great gray ring horse, where she sat as the animal began a slow walk about the ring.
Phil wondered how she could stay on, for she appeared to be sitting right on the animal's sloping hip.