"And I thought you would tell me when you wished me to know," answered the boy.
"It was not because I did not wish you to know our route, Phil.
I rather thought I should like to give you a surprise."
"Yes, sir."
"We are going to surprise the show world at the same time, so you see you are not the only one who will be surprised."
"You arouse my curiosity, Mr. Sparling."
"Still you refuse to ask where we are going," replied the showman, laughing heartily. "I have made my arrangements with the utmost secrecy because I did not wish any of the opposition shows to get a line on my plans. Not one of them has done so thus far. Tomorrow they will know. Or at least by the day after tomorrow. I am not going to let you in on my little secret today either. Do you think you can possess your soul in patience until then?"
"I think there will be no trouble about that. If I have restrained my curiosity so far I surely can control it until tomorrow. We show at Milledgeville tomorrow, do we not?"
"That's what the route card says and I guess the route card is right."
"Small town, is it not?"
"Yes, one of the little river towns. Do you know much about the river?"