"No! While the railroad is responsible for the damages, I hardly think they are for the wreck.No key was used to open the switch.""No key?"
"No."
"How, then?"
"The lock was wrenched off with an iron bar and the switch wedged fast, so there could be no doubt about what would happen.It might have happened to some other car not belonging to us, though it was a pretty safe gamble that it would catch one of ours.""I thought as much," nodded Phil."But perhaps its just as well." "What do you mean by that?" questioned the showman sharply."That the railroad folks will do what the police are too lazy to do." "What?""Get after the fellow who did it," suggested Phil wisely.
"That's so! That's so! I hadn't thought of it in that light before.You've got a long head, my boy.You always have had, for that matter as long as I have known you, so it stands to reason that you must always have been that way."Teddy, having finished his breakfast, excused himself and strolled off to another part of the tent where he might find more excitement.He sat down in his own place near the freak table and began talking shop with some of the performers, while Phil and Mr.Sparling continued their conversation.
"I haven't given up hopes of catching him myself, Mr.Sparling." "You came pretty close to it Saturday night.""And I wasn't so far from it last night either," laughed the boy."Going to be able to save the accommodation car?""No, it's a hopeless wreck."
"You probably will not put on another this season then?" "What would you suggest?""I should not think it would be advisable.Most of the people go downtown, anyway, to get their lunch after the show.""Exactly.That's the way it appeared to me, but I wanted to get your point of view." It was not that the owner had not made up his mind, but that he wanted to get Phil Forrest's mind working from the point of view of the manager and owner of a circus, seeing in Phil, as he did, the making of a future great showman.