The Crimson Flash Part 11

Out on the sh.o.r.e of the lake he found Pant.

The latter stared at him for a moment in silence. He was looking at the three red lines drawn on Johnny's face by the bear.

"Say," he whispered at last, "give me those bonds!"

"I, I," Johnny stared, "I haven't got them!"

"Haven't got them? Where are they?"

"Sold 'em as you said to do."

"Sold them? When?"

"Half an hour ago."

"With that on your face?"

"Sure."

With a low whistle, Pant sank down upon the sand.

"Why, what's wrong?" demanded Johnny.

"Oh! Nothing much. One of those bonds was a counterfeit, that's all."

"Counterfeit?"

"I said it."

"And you sent me to sell it?"

"I suppose I should have told you. You'd have done it just the same.

Anyway, you would have, had I told you everything. But if I had told you, that would have made you nervous and spoiled everything. I'm a marked man. I couldn't go myself. How was I to know that you'd go and get branded in that fas.h.i.+on?

"Ho, well," he continued after a moment's reflection, "it's all right, I'm sure. The bond was perfect except for one trifling detail. It was a shade lighter print than those made by Uncle Sam, and, after all, that's really nothing. Who knows but the Government printer failed to ink his rollers well some morning? I know it was a counterfeit, though."

He bent over and wrote a name in the sand, then quickly erased it.

Johnny had read it. "Who's Black McCree?" he asked promptly.

"He," Pant whispered, "is the slickest forger that ever lived, and the worst crook. We're going to get him, you and I, Johnny. And he's with the circus."

"Did--did you ever see him?" Johnny demanded.

"I can't be sure. Perhaps. But we will, Johnny, we will!"

For a moment they sat there in silence; then Johnny arose and without a word, walked away.

CHAPTER VII NO BOX-A DA BEAR

There was one particular part of the show that afternoon which Johnny was anxious to see. So anxious was he, indeed, that even the danger and mystery connected with the sale of the counterfeit Liberty Bonds were crowded from his mind. So intent was he upon seeing it, that he half neglected his duties, and received for the first time, directly upon his cheek, a sharp cut from Millie's whip. Even that failed to make him angry. Once Millie's act was over, and he had rushed the dapple grays to their stable, he dashed out of the horse tent, through the a.s.sembly grounds, under the canvas wall of the big top and found himself at last beneath the bleachers in a very good position to see what was going on in the ring to the south of the center.

He breathed a sigh of satisfaction, as he saw the swarthy Italian bear boxer, dressed in his green suit, come marching pompously down the sawdust trail toward the ring. The lumbering silver tip bear was at his heels.

The first part of their performance, the ball rolling, the stilt walking and bicycle riding, went off very well. The expectant smile on Johnny's genial face was beginning to fade when finally boxing gloves were produced, and thrust upon the fore paws of the waiting bear.

Johnny's smile broadened. A wild look in the bear's eyes told him that something was about to happen.

It did happen, and that with lightninglike rapidity. No sooner had the bear felt the gloves upon his paws than, without waiting for signals, he let drive a tremendous right swing at the trainer's head. He missed by but a fraction of an inch.

"Zowie! What a wallop," whispered Johnny. "He hasn't forgotten. I thought he wouldn't."

Indeed, the bear had not forgotten the punishment he had received earlier in the day and, whether or not he had the intelligence to know that Allegretti was no match for him, he had at least resolved to demolish him as speedily as possible, for hardly had the Italian recovered from his surprise when a second blow aimed at his chest sent him sprawling.

Leaping to his feet, the trainer waved his arms in frantic signals. It was of no avail. The bear had known the taste of victory. He was not to be signaled.

Straight at his trainer he rushed. The Italian uttered a shout of terror, then, closely followed by the bear, bolted from the ring.

The spectators, thinking this was a part of the play, howled and screamed as they rocked with laughter.

To the Italian it was tragedy. Had not the bear grown fat in idleness, and so impaired his running power, the affair might have ended unfortunately for Allegretti.

As it was, having pursued his trainer halfway down the length of the tent, the bear paused, rose on his haunches, tore a glove from his paw and aimed it with such force and accuracy at the trainer's back that it sent him clawing in the dust.

With one more yell, Allegretti rose and continued his flight. The second glove missed its mark. With mouth open, seemingly in a broad grin, the bear's gaze swept the circle of delighted spectators, then, appearing to forget all about the incident, he dropped on all fours, and allowed an attendant to lead him quietly away.

Johnny ducked for the a.s.sembly enclosure. There he found the Italian waving his arms before the manager.

"No box-a da bear! No box-a da bear!" shouted Allegretti.

"No, I'd say you didn't," smiled the manager. "But you did better than that. You put on a scream; you made 'em laugh their heads off. Do that every day and I'll double your pay!"

"What!" demanded the outraged trainer. "Do dat again! Not for five time, not for ten time my pay. He want-a keel me, dat-a bear. No box-a da bear.

No more box-a dat-a bear."

No amount of argument could make Allegretti change his mind. He was scared white. Johnny and the bear had got his goat. He was through. He would never box the bear again.

"Well," said the manager, turning to Johnny, at last, "I guess it's up to you!"

"Up to me? How?" gasped Johnny.

"You crabbed the Italian's act by boxing the bear. Now you'll have to become a professional bear boxer, and box him yourself. See?"

"No, I don't see," said Johnny stoutly. "Why, I don't even know the signals."