"I think I've set things in train," thought Fitzgerald. "I will attend the circus this evening."
The two boy riders were taking their usual afternoon walk, when they met Carden. The canvas man frowned, but his face seemed also to wear an expression of triumphant malice, as if he could foresee some evil in store for Robert.
"Did you notice how Carden looked, Robert?" asked Charlie.
"Not very pleasant. He hasn't forgotten me for detecting him in his attempt to rob me."
"He looked as if he had heard of some bad luck for you."
"That must be your imagination, Charlie. I've had no bad luck."
"I wonder what makes Carden stay here now he is discharged from the circus," said Charlie, thoughtfully.
"I suppose he can stay here as cheap as anywhere," said Robert. "I don't trouble myself about him or his plans."
"He is your enemy, Rob. He may try to do you some harm."
"I will be on my guard, but I won't worry myself about it."
They came to an open field, where half a dozen boys were engaged in athletic sports. There was soon to be a picnic, and prizes had been offered for the best running, leaping and vaulting, and these boys were engaged in practising for the grand contest.
"Let us stop and look at them," said Charlie.
So they took up a position about fifty feet away and regarded the contestants with interest.
Their presence was noticed by the boys, who at once recognized them as circus riders.
"Let us invite them to join us," said Frank Perry, a boy of sixteen.
"I object," said Ronald Percy, stiffly. "My father wouldn't care to have me associate with circus performers."
Ronald was the son of a rich manufacturer, and was generally considered snobbish by his companions. At any rate he presumed greatly upon his "blue blood" and his father's wealth, and attempted to be very exclusive. It certainly was nothing to the discredit of his father that he had worked his way up to his present position from the position of a poor factory boy, but it might have led Ronald to reflect upon the folly of his personal pretensions. But his mother claimed to be of "genteel" family, and had imbued the boy with her own notions.
"What's the objection, if they are circus performers?" asked Sidney Grey, who might really have claimed aristocratic lineage if he had so desired.
