diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-8.txt | 7164 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 92187 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 179196 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-h/39454-h.htm | 7327 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 71034 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454-h/images/logo.png | bin | 0 -> 6604 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454.txt | 7164 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39454.zip | bin | 0 -> 92176 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 21671 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39454-8.txt b/39454-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b11698 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7164 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ahead of the Show, by Fred Thorpe + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ahead of the Show + The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent + + +Author: Fred Thorpe + + + +Release Date: April 14, 2012 [eBook #39454] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + http://books.google.com/books?vid=r08TAAAAYAAJ&id + + + + + +No. 77 +Bound-to-Win Library + +[Illustration: Cover.] + + +AHEAD OF THE SHOW + +Or + +The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent + +By + +FRED THORPE, + +Author of "Blind Luck," "The Boy in Black," +"Chris, the Comedian," "Git Up and Git," +"Walt, the Wonder Worker," etc.... + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +Street and Smith, Publishers +238 William Street, New York + +Copyright, 1897 +By Norman L. Munro + +Ahead of the Show + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. AL MAKES APPLICATION. 5 + II. AL TALKS BUSINESS. 12 + III. AL'S SCHEME. 17 + IV. AL TO THE RESCUE. 24 + V. AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD. 29 + VI. ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD. 35 + VII. THE DEBUT. 41 + VIII. A STARTLING SITUATION. 47 + IX. A CLOSE CALL. 53 + X. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. 61 + XI. IN PERIL. 67 + XII. INTERVIEWED. 73 + XIII. A STROKE OF LUCK. 80 + XIV. AL'S AD. 87 + XV. SAVED BY A SHADOW. 91 + XVI. A LESSON IN JOURNALISM. 97 + XVII. "I WANT YOU." 103 + XVIII. MR. MARMADUKE MERRY. 109 + XIX. A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 115 + XX. THE LOCKET. 121 + XXI. BROTHER AND SISTER. 127 + XXII. AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE. 133 + XXIII. AN EVENTFUL NIGHT. 139 + XXIV. A CLEW. 145 + XXV. ON THE TRACK. 151 + XXVI. "DR. FERGUSON." 157 + XXVII. AN UNLUCKY ERROR. 163 + XXVIII. AN EXCITING INTERVIEW. 169 + XXIX. A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD. 175 + XXX. HARD LUCK. 181 + XXXI. A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE. 187 + XXXII. AND LAST. 193 + + + + +AHEAD OF THE SHOW. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AL MAKES APPLICATION. + + +"If I had that fellow here I'd make him wish he'd never heard the name +of Augustus Wattles. And I'll do it some day, too." + +The manager and proprietor of Wattles' New York Comedy Company was very, +very "mad." His naturally florid face was redder than usual, and his +fists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow" +referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at +this precise moment. + +He stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with the +local manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share his +discomfiture and anger. + +A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing +at them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people +feel for members of the theatrical profession. + +"It's pretty tough," said Mr. Perley, "but it isn't my fault." + +"I know it isn't. Well, this is the last time that loafer will play that +trick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in the +past there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the +mistake of his life." + +"Of course, you will discharge him?" + +"You had better believe I will. A healthy sort of advance agent he is! +Think of my bringing my company to a town of the importance of +Boomville, to find that absolutely no advance work has been done, that +my advance agent, to whom I pay a fancy salary, has not even showed his +face in the town." + +"I suppose he has succumbed to his old complaint?" said Mr. Perley. + +"Of course; he is drunk beyond the shadow of a doubt, and may not show +up again for a week. Well, when he does, he'll meet with a warm +reception from me. We ought to have had an eight-hundred-dollar house +to-night, and now we'll be lucky if we take in half that amount." + +"I don't expect we'll do as well as that. It wouldn't have made so much +difference under ordinary circumstances, but, as luck will have it, +they've got the strongest attraction of the season at the other +house--the 'Crack of Doom' Company. You know that's a big puller +everywhere." + +"Sure. They have a railway collision, a tank of real water, a buzz saw +and two real lunatics in the insane asylum scene." + +"Yes, and their advance man has worked the show up in great shape here. +According to him, the leading lady lost nine thousand dollars' worth of +diamonds on her way here, and the soubrette is going to marry Chauncey +Depew. And they give souvenirs to-night in honor of the five hundredth +performance of the piece." + +"They've been giving that five hundredth performance in every town +they've played in for the last month; and their souvenirs are not worth +over fifty cents a gross." + +"All very true, but the public will have 'em. I hoped your advance man +would have some taking counter-attraction." + +"So he did have, but---- Oh, well, it's no use talking about that. +What's done can't be helped, but I won't be left in this way again. +Where is the nearest telegraph office?" + +"On the next block. What are you going to do?" + +"Wire to New York for a new advance agent. I happen to know of an A1 man +who is out of an engagement. There are two or three others after him, +but I guess I can make it worth his while to go with me. I won't get +left in this way again, you can bet your boots!" + +"That's all right," growled Mr. Perley, "but it doesn't help out the +present engagement any." + +"No, but we are joint sufferers in that, and we may as well grin and +bear it." + +And the irate manager of the New York Comedy Company started for the +telegraph office with fire in his eyes and a look of determination on +his face. + +Neither he nor Mr. Perley had observed the presence in the little group +of listeners to their conversation of a rather good-looking, +well-dressed boy of about eighteen. + +This lad did not lose a word of the excited discussion, and, as the +manager started to walk away, he muttered: + +"This is the chance I have been looking for; I won't let the opportunity +slip. It doesn't seem as if there would be much hope for me, but there's +no harm in trying, anyhow." + +He followed Mr. Wattles, and just before that gentleman reached the +telegraph office he tapped him on the shoulder. + +The manager turned quickly. When he saw the boy, he asked, impatiently: + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Can I speak with you a few minutes, sir?" + +"Not now, not now." + +Mr. Wattles was about to resume his walk, but the boy laid a detaining +hand on his arm. + +"I want to see you on business, sir." + +"You have business with me?" + +"Important business, sir." + +"Well, well, I'll see you in a few minutes; I've got to send an +important telegram now." + +"But I want to see you before you send that telegram." + +"Before I send the telegram? Why?" + +"Because I think I can prove to you that it is not necessary to wire to +New York at all." + +"Eh? Why, how did you know that I was going to wire to New York?" + +"I overheard what you said to Mr. Perley in front of the opera house +just now." + +"Humph! I was excited, and spoke a little louder than I ought. Well, +why do you think it will not be necessary for me to send the telegram?" + +"Because I am sure you can find just the person you want right here in +Boomville." + +"An advance agent to be picked up offhand in this place? That would be +too much luck. What is your man's name?" + +"Allen Allston." + +"I never heard of him. What company was he with last?" + +"He has never been with any company, sir, but----" + +Mr. Wattles surveyed the boy with a look of supreme disgust. + +"Do you suppose for one moment," he interrupted, "that I am going to +take an inexperienced jay from a town like this and send him ahead of an +organization like Wattles' New York Comedy Company? Well, hardly. I've +got to have an experienced man." + +"And you're going to telegraph for one now, sir?" + +"This minute." + +"But suppose you can't get the man you want--will you talk with me then, +sir?" + +"Er--yes, in that case you might send your friend to see me, though it +seems nonsense. But I shall get my man all right." + +"I suppose you are going to request an immediate answer to your +telegram, Mr. Wattles?" + +"I am; I shall get it within an hour, in all probability." + +"Where can I find you after you have received it?" + +"At the hotel next door. You are a persistent young rascal; your friend +has a good advocate in you." + +The boy smiled. + +"I am the best friend he has in the world," he said. + +"Well, if you are you had better advise him to stick to farming, or +whatever he is doing, and keep out of the theatrical business; we have +too many farmers in it already." + +"He wouldn't take the advice, sir." + +Mr. Wattles laughed as he entered the telegraph office. + +"If the boy's friend has got as much 'go' as he has," he muttered, "he +might do something in the business." + +In a few minutes the message had been sent. An hour and a half later a +messenger entered the lobby of the hotel with a telegram. + +"For me?" questioned the manager, who had been impatiently pacing the +floor for the last twenty minutes. + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. Wattles tore open the envelope. + +A muttered exclamation escaped his lips as he hurriedly perused the +message. + +"Well, sir?" said a voice at his elbow. + +Turning, he confronted the lad with whom he had had the brief interview +which we have recorded. + +"You here? Well, you do mean business." + +"Is your offer accepted, sir?" the boy asked. + +"Confound it, no! The man I wanted signed yesterday with another +manager. Well, send your friend round and I'll talk with him." + +"He is here, sir." + +"Where?" + +"I am Allen Allston." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AL TALKS BUSINESS. + + +Mr. Wattles stared at the boy a moment in speechless surprise, then +burst into a loud laugh. + +"You don't mean to say," he almost gasped, "that you made that +application for yourself?" + +"That's just what I mean to say, sir," replied the lad, quietly. + +"Why, you must be crazy!" + +"I don't think I am." + +"You are only a boy." + +"I'll get over that in time, Mr. Wattles; and besides, that fact is no +proof that I am crazy." + +"Oh, pshaw! I can't stand here bandying words with you." + +Al was not in the least taken aback. + +"That's just what I was thinking," he said. + +"What?" + +"That we had been standing up too long. Let's sit down." + +"Well," said the manager, "you have cheek enough, anyhow." + +"Cheek is necessary for an advance agent, isn't it, sir?" laughed the +boy. + +"Yes, but--oh, really, this is ridiculous, you know!" + +"What is ridiculous?" + +"Your applying for this position." + +"Why is it ridiculous?" + +"Who ever heard of a boy advance agent?" + +"That's just the point. Nobody ever did, and it will be a complete +novelty, and a big ad. for the show." + +Mr. Wattles gazed at the boy almost admiringly. + +"Well, you are a corker!" he exclaimed. + +"A good advance agent ought to be a corker, oughtn't he, sir?" + +"I suppose so--yes." + +"Shan't we sit down and talk the matter over?" + +"Yes." + +And the manager sank into a convenient chair, gazing at his youthful +companion with an expression indicative of bewilderment. + +"I've got him now sure," murmured the lad, but his companion did not +hear him; Al did not intend that he should. + +When they were both seated the boy said: + +"Now, sir, you want an advance agent, and I want a position. It is lucky +we met." + +"Yes," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "but what the mischief do you know about +the business of an advance agent?" + +"A lot," was the calm reply. + +"How did you learn it?" + +"By reading and observation." + +"Nonsense! You might as well talk about learning to swing on a trapeze +by reading and observation." + +"There's a big difference, sir." + +"Not much." + +"Well, I've always thought I should like to do work of that sort, and I +think I could do it well." + +"Stage-struck, eh?" + +"Not a bit of it, Mr. Wattles. Now, will you listen to me a few moments, +sir?" + +"Go ahead." + +And the manager assumed an air of resignation. + +"I generally keep my eyes open," began the boy, "and I have had a chance +to watch the movements of most of the theatrical people who come to this +town, particularly the advance agents." + +"Why the advance agents in particular?" interrupted Mr. Wattles. + +"Because I have been in the editorial office of the Boomville _Herald_, +and have had a chance to see how they work the press. Some of them are +very slick, but I think that if I had a little experience I should be as +slick as any of them." + +"Ah," said the manager, "that's the point. You haven't had experience." + +"Well, I've got to begin some time, sir. If all managers had talked like +you the race of advance agents would have been extinct long ago." + +"There's something in that," laughed Mr. Wattles. + +"There's lots in it." + +The manager of the New York Comedy Company surveyed his companion for a +few moments without speaking. + +"My boy, I rather like you," he said, at last. + +"Well, that's one point in my favor, sir," said Al. + +"I'd like to give you a chance, but I really do not see how I can." + +"Why can't you?" + +"You must remember that the New York Comedy Company is not a common, +fly-by-night organization, but a first-class enterprise. I have put a +good many dollars into the thing, and I can't afford to experiment. If +so much did not depend upon the result, if I were running a cheap side +show, I might give you the trial you ask, but----" + +"I wouldn't have anything to do with any such show," interrupted the +boy. "I don't intend to be that sort of advance agent. But I can +understand how you feel, sir." + +"Then you can also understand how impossible it is for me to engage your +services." + +"Oh, no, I can't understand that at all, Mr. Wattles. Now let me ask you +a question." + +"What is it?" + +"I heard you tell Mr. Perley that you did not expect there would be four +hundred dollars in the house to-night." + +"That's what I said. I shall be agreeably disappointed if there is as +much as that." + +"Yet the opera house will hold twelve hundred dollars." + +"I see you are posted, my boy." + +"I am. Now, Mr. Wattles, it is a little out of the line of an advance +agent's work, but, just to show you that I have a little snap and +business ability, I will guarantee to fill the opera house to its utmost +capacity to-night, if you will agree to give me a chance as advance +agent after that." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" + +And the manager stared in renewed amazement at the youth. + +"I do." + +"You will undertake to fill the house to-night, in spite of the +disadvantages under which we are laboring?" + +"The 'Standing Room Only' sign will be displayed before eight o'clock." + +"Well, what is your scheme?" + +"You will agree to follow my suggestions?" + +"Not until I hear them." + +"If you don't like them you will agree not to repeat anything I may say +to you?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then I'll give you my idea. I see you are getting ready to guy me, +sir," as a rather cynical smile appeared upon the manager's face. + +"Oh, no." + +"You don't think I can knock out such a strong opposition as the 'Crack +of Doom' Company, do you?" + +"I do not." + +"Well, I'll show you that I can, and get you not only a full house, but +the elite of the place." + +"Well, well," interrupted Mr. Wattles, impatiently, "have done with +preliminaries and let me know how you propose to accomplish all this." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AL'S SCHEME. + + +"Mr. Wattles," said Al, in a low tone, "I suppose you have in your time +met a few stage-struck amateurs--people who thought they knew it all, +and only needed a chance to show the world that they were the equal of +anyone who ever trod the boards?" + +The manager laughed. + +"I should say yes. The woods are full of them." + +"Well, we have one here." + +"Only one?" + +"There are others, but one whom it will be worth your while to know." + +"Who is she?--for it is a woman, of course." + +"Yes, sir, it is a woman; she is the wife of the mayor." + +"The wife of the mayor of Boomville stage-struck?" + +"In the worst way, Mr. Wattles; she believes herself the only legitimate +successor of Charlotte Cushman." + +"They all do. Well, what has all this to do with your scheme?" + +"A good deal. Mrs. Anderson--that is her name--is very anxious to appear +on the professional stage." + +"Of course." + +"Why can't you give her a chance?" + +"Eh? I? How?" + +"Send her word that one of your actresses has been taken suddenly ill, +and ask her to take her place. She'll do it, take my word for that, and +all Boomville will go to see her." + +"Well, you must be crazy, young man," said Mr. Wattles, in a tone of +disgust. "So that is your scheme, is it?" + +"That is part of it." + +"Well, it won't work." + +"Why not?" + +"For a dozen reasons. If I had two or three weeks to work up the thing +it would be different; then it would, perhaps, be a good scheme. But you +seem to forget that the performance takes place to-night." + +"There's plenty of time to work up business," said Al, calmly. "It is +not ten o'clock yet. See Mrs. Anderson, get her consent to play, and +I'll prove my executive ability by doing all the rest." + +"But, good gracious! how could the woman memorize a part between this +and night?" + +"Give her a short part--any old part. Two or three lines will do. What +she wants is a chance to show herself on the professional stage." + +"There is a small part," hesitated Mr. Wattles, "one that she could +learn in half an hour. But, no, it won't do. The woman might queer the +performance, and I should be the laughingstock of the profession for the +next year." + +"She's not as bad as all that," said Al. "She has appeared in amateur +performances here and made a success. Better see her, Mr. Wattles. I +know she'll be tickled to death with the idea. You'll be in plenty of +time to get a big ad. in this afternoon's _Herald_, and you'll have the +biggest house of the season." + +The manager brought his fist down on the table by his side, and said: + +"By jingo, boy, I will do it! Lots of money has been made out of +stage-struck society women, and perhaps I may come in for a little of +it." + +"You'll come in for a lot of it to-night, sir, if you just follow my +advice. And now I'll show you the way to the mayor's house." + +"Wait a minute. You said this amateur racket was only a part of your +scheme; what is the rest of it?" + +"Souvenirs. This town is wild on souvenirs. The 'Crack of Doom' Company +give hand-painted fans to-night. Why don't you go one better, and +announce that every lady attending your performance will receive a +heavily plated silver souvenir spoon?" + +"But where the mischief could I get the spoons?" + +"I'll provide them." + +"You?" + +"Certainly." + +"But where are you going to get them?" + +"I've got them. You see, sir, I am a sort of speculator. I attend +auction sales and that sort of thing, and if I see a big bargain I take +advantage of it. It's better than clerking at five dollars a week. A few +days ago I struck a bankrupt sale in New York, and bought a lot of +plated spoons at 'way below cost. I meant to sell them to the stores +here, but I'll let you have them at just what they cost me--you can +afford to give them away if you buy them at that price--and there will +be plenty to go round." + +Mr. Wattles surveyed his companion in amused wonder. + +"Well, you are a queer sort of lad," he said. "You seem to have a pretty +old head on those young shoulders of yours!" + +"I think I have enough to look out for number one, sir." + +"I should say you did. I should like to know more of you." + +"You will, sir, when I become your advance agent." + +"Well, we'll see all about that. And now I'd better be off for the home +of the stage-struck mayoress. Meet me in half an hour." + +"I'll be here, sir." + +As the manager walked away, he muttered: + +"I'm afraid I'm going on a fool's errand. Confound it! I believe that +young rascal has hypnotized me. But, after all, I can't afford to +neglect the chance. The treasury is pretty low, and if this scheme +doesn't work there may be trouble on salary day. I'll do my best to get +this woman to play, and I guess I shall succeed; people used to say that +Gus Wattles was the champion jollier, and I don't think he has lost his +powers yet." + +Al was doing a little soliloquizing, too. + +"I didn't think I had so much nerve," he mused. "I'm beginning to have a +little more confidence in myself. If to-night's performance is a success +I shall get the job sure--he can't refuse me. But if it isn't a +success, if Mrs. Anderson refuses to have anything to do with the +scheme--I won't let myself think of that." + +It was nearly an hour before Mr. Wattles returned. + +"Well, sir?" questioned the boy, breathlessly. + +"It's all right." + +"She will play?" + +"Not only that, but she is going to pay me for the chance. Oh, there are +no flies on Augustus Wattles, my boy! Yes, she is going to play, and she +is delighted because the part will give her a chance to exhibit herself +in a new costume which she has just imported from Paris. Now, then, my +lad, we must get up the ads. How much time have we before they must be +in the newspaper office?" + +"An hour at least. And you had better get out some posters announcing +Mrs. Anderson's appearance. They can be on the walls in two hours. Will +you leave that part to me?" + +"Yes; but first you can help me with the advertisement. Undoubtedly you +can give me some points." + +Al was able to do so. The manager was plainly delighted and surprised at +the aptitude he displayed. + +"I begin to think," he said, "that you were cut out for this business." + +"That is what I have thought for a long while, sir," replied the boy, +as, copy in hand, he started for the office of the _Herald_. + +Within a few hours everyone in Boomville knew that Mrs. Anderson, the +mayor's wife, was to assume a rôle in the drama, "Loved and Lost," at +the opera house that evening, and all the lady's friends, all her +enemies and almost everybody else who ever attended theatrical +performances at all had made up their minds to go and see her. + +Besides, the offer of a plated spoon as a souvenir was almost +irresistible; people who had more solid silver spoons than they had any +use for fell over each other in their frantic haste to secure seats for +the evening's performance and make sure of the coveted spoon. + +"We haven't had an advance sale like this since the house was built," +said the local manager to Mr. Wattles, a short time before the doors +were opened. "Why, there isn't a seat left in the house except in the +gallery, and they will be all filled as soon as the doors are thrown +open. And I understand that there is no sale at all at the other house. +I don't believe there'll be a baker's dozen there. It was a great idea +of yours to get Mrs. Anderson to appear." + +"I claim no credit for it at all," said Mr. Wattles. "It was all the +work of that bright young fellow." + +"Oh, by the way," interrupted Mr. Perley, taking an envelope from his +pocket, "here is something that came for you a few minutes ago; I had +nearly forgotten about it." + +Mr. Wattles tore open the note and ran his eyes over its contents. As he +did so the expression of his face underwent such a remarkable change +that his companion said, uneasily: + +"There's nothing the matter, is there?" + +"I should say there was," was the reply. "We're in a nice fix. Mrs. +Anderson won't play!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AL TO THE RESCUE. + + +"Mrs. Anderson won't play?" almost shrieked Mr. Perley. + +"That's what I said--Mrs. Anderson won't play," replied the manager of +the combination, with the calmness of despair. "Read this." + +The note which he handed his companion read as follows: + + "MR. A. WATTLES: + + "DEAR SIR: I deeply regret my inability to appear this + evening as I promised. My husband objects so strongly + that I have no alternative but to yield to his wishes. + Trusting that this will cause you no inconvenience, I + am, + + "Faithfully yours, + + "BLANCHE ANDERSON." + +"'Trusting that it will cause us no inconvenience,'" groaned Mr. Perley. +"Isn't that like a woman? Well, Wattles, we are in a nice little fix +now. Of course, we shall have to give three-fourths of the audience +their money back." + +"Yes; but that isn't the worst of it. Think of the roasting the papers +will give us!" + +"Don't speak of it. And it's all your fault; you would be fool enough to +listen to that kid." + +"Don't say any more, Perley. I must have been out of my head." + +"It isn't worth while to get excited, gentlemen," said a calm voice. + +And looking in the direction from which it proceeded, the two men saw Al +Allston standing in the doorway. + +"You young rascal----" began Mr. Wattles, but Al silenced him by a +gesture: + +"There is no time to waste, gentlemen," he said. "I told you that Mrs. +Anderson would appear to-night, and she will." + +"Do you mean to say," cried Mr. Wattles, "that you can make her do this +in defiance of her husband's will?" + +"Her husband will agree after he has had a short talk with me," was the +boy's reply. "Go right ahead with your preparations for the performance, +gentlemen; Mrs. Anderson will be here as per agreement." + +And, without waiting for a reply, Al left the room. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, drawing a long breath, "I never saw the equal +of that kid. Do you know, I think he will do what he has promised." + +Mr. Perley shook his head. + +"It's out of the question now," he said. "Mayor Anderson is one of the +stubbornest men in the world; if he has said that his wife shall not +appear, she will not. The boy was talking through his hat." + +"Well," said the manager of the New York Comedy Company, "all we can do +now is to trust to luck. Go ahead and let the people in, and we'll see +whether this confounded stage-struck female turns up or not. Somehow, I +believe the lad knew what he was talking about." + +Meantime Al had reached the mayor's house, a pretentious mansion on the +most fashionable thoroughfare in Boomville. + +In response to the rather supercilious "What is it?" from the servant +who opened the door, he presented his card and asked to see Mrs. +Anderson. + +"I don't think she'll see you," said the flunky, "but I'll give her your +card if you wish." + +"I do wish," said the boy. "Give her the card, and tell her that I wish +to see her on very important business that will admit of no delay." + +The man left with the card. In a few moments he returned, saying with a +grin: + +"She don't know you, and she won't see you." + +And with an impudent leer, he extended the card to the boy. + +Al took it and hurriedly wrote a few words on the back. Then he returned +it to the servant, saying: + +"Give it to Mrs. Anderson again; I think she will see me." + +The man hesitated, then said: + +"Well, I'll take it to her, but the chances are she'll give me orders to +kick you out." + +With this cheering assurance he again departed. + +"I didn't like to do it," murmured Al, "but there was no help for it." + +In a few moments the flunky returned, his manner completely changed. + +"Please be kind enough to step into the drawing room, sir," he said, +with the utmost politeness; "Mrs. Anderson will be down in one minute." + +A few minutes after Al Allston had left the theater a showily dressed, +red-faced man of about thirty sauntered into the manager's private +office where Mr. Wattles was seated alone. + +"So, Wattles, old man," he said, extending his hand, "we meet again." + +The manager started to his feet. + +"How dare you show your face here?" he cried, angrily. + +"Eh! What's all this?" said the newcomer, in real or feigned surprise. + +"I don't want to have anything more to do with you. A nice sort of +advance agent you are, aren't you?" + +"There's none better, so they say," replied the fellow, with a tipsy +leer. "What are you on your ear about?" + +"I have no time to bandy words with you. You are discharged." + +"What's that--I discharged? What ails you, Wattles?" + +"That's enough, Dick Farley. I told you after your last drunk that if +the same thing occurred again I should have nothing more to do with you, +and I meant it. Get out!" + +"But, Wattles, I haven't been on a booze. I have been drugged and +kidnaped. Listen and I'll tell you all about it; it's the queerest +affair you ever heard of." + +"I guess it is; I know your talent for inventing yarns. I don't want to +hear this one." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" + +And Farley's face reddened. + +"That would be impossible." + +"It would, eh? See here, Gus Wattles, do you mean to say that you are +going to throw me over and ruin my chances in the business?" + +"It is your own fault. I want to have nothing more to do with you." + +"Then I'm bounced?" + +"That is it, exactly." + +"Oh, it is? Well, I'll show you!" + +And the drink-maddened ruffian suddenly drew a knife and, brandishing it +above his head, sprang toward his companion. + +In another second the weapon would have descended but for a most +opportune interruption. + +"Stop!" + +Farley turned and glared in the direction from which the voice +proceeded. + +Al Allston stood in the doorway, in his hand a revolver, which was +leveled at the head of the would-be assassin. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD. + + +Al was bowed, by the now obsequious servant, into Mrs. Anderson's +elegantly furnished drawing room. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said the man, cringingly. "I didn't know that +you were a friend of the family, or I wouldn't have spoken as I did. You +see, sir, we're a good deal troubled by book agents and such like." + +"Wouldn't it be a good idea to be civil to everyone?" said Al. "It would +not cost you anything, and you'd be sure to make no mistake." + +"Yes, sir. You won't say anything to Mrs. Anderson, will you, sir? It +might cost me my place." + +"No, no!" returned Al, so impatient to see the mayor's wife that he +scarcely heard what the man said. + +"Thank you, sir." + +At this moment the sound of approaching footsteps was heard, and the +servant hastily bowed himself out. + +Scarcely had he gone when Mrs. Anderson entered the room, followed by +her husband. She was a tall, slender, rather good-looking woman of about +thirty; he a short, pompous man, at least ten years his wife's senior. + +The lady approached Al with outstretched hands. + +"My brave, noble boy," she cried, "how delighted I am to see you! And I +did not even know your name until I received your card just now. I am so +glad you did not allow yourself to be sent away. But why have you not +called before?" + +"Yes, why have you not called before?" echoed the mayor, seizing the +boy's hands, which his wife had just relinquished. + +Al, considerably embarrassed, murmured something about not wanting to +intrude. + +"Intrude!" cried the lady. "You are, like all heroes, modest to a fault. +You will always be a welcome guest here. But sit down; you must spend +the evening with us." + +"I cannot," began the boy. + +"Nonsense! I will take no refusal. He must stay, mustn't he, Mr. +Anderson?" + +"By all means," smiled the mayor. + +"And we will talk about his heroic deed," went on Mrs. Anderson. "It was +a fortnight ago, but the scene comes up before me as vividly as if it +had been only yesterday--the maddened horses, our child directly in +their path, her rescue by this noble boy at the imminent risk of his own +life. In another moment she would have been crushed under the feet of +the runaway animals had he not sprang forward and dragged her out of +danger." + +"It was a heroic act," said the mayor. + +"It was nothing more than almost anyone would have done, sir," said the +blushing lad. + +"It was more than anyone else did," returned Mr. Anderson, "and I +understand that the affair was witnessed by a dozen or more persons. But +why have you not called before? I understood my wife to say that she +asked you to come that afternoon. You did not come, and we tried in +every way to discover your identity, even going so far as to advertise +for you." + +"I saw the advertisements, sir," replied Al. + +"Ah! and that is why you are here?" + +"Oh, no, sir. The advertisements mentioned that you wanted to give me a +reward." + +"Of course we did. You don't mean to say that it was the fear of having +a reward forced upon you that kept you away?" + +"Well, sir," replied Al, "I confess that had something to do with it." + +The mayor laughed heartily. + +"This is really refreshing," he said. "My lad, I am interested in you +more than ever, now. Well, I promise you that, if you insist upon it, +the subject shall not be referred to this evening." + +"But I do not insist," said Al. "The fact is, Mr. Anderson, I came here +to-night to ask you to make your promise good." + +Both the mayor and his wife stared at the lad in surprise. + +"You mean," said the former, "that you are here to claim your reward?" + +"That is what I mean, sir." + +There was, perhaps, just a shade of disappointment on the face of Mr. +Anderson; it may be he was thinking that another idol had been rather +rudely shattered. But he only said: + +"I am glad you have changed your mind, my boy. What reward do you wish? +My little daughter's life is worth more to me than anything else on +earth, so you need not be too modest in your request. How much shall it +be? I will write a check for any reasonable amount you choose to name." + +Al's face flushed. + +"I don't want money, sir," he said. + +"No? Well, what can I do for you, then? Do you want me to find you a +position in my office? Perhaps I can do something for you in that way, +if you----" + +"Mr. Anderson," interrupted Al, desperately, "you would never guess what +I want if you tried until doomsday." + +The mayor, very naturally, looked surprised. + +"Eh?" he stammered. "Why, r-really, you are a most extraordinary youth. +Well, I will try to satisfy your demands, whatever they are. Out with +them now." + +"You will grant any request I make?" asked Al. + +"Anything in reason, my boy." + +"Well, sir, I can't explain now just why I ask this favor of you, but I +will when there is time; just now there isn't." + +"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Anderson. "Come to the point; +what is it you want me to do?" + +"I want you to let Mrs. Anderson appear at the opera house to-night, as +she promised." + +Both the mayor and his wife started from their seats, their faces +showing all the surprise they felt. + +"Why, what is it to you whether she appears or not?" asked Mr. Anderson. + +"It is everything." + +"I do not understand." + +"I cannot explain now; but, sir, I assure you that, perhaps, my whole +future depends upon whether you grant my request or not." + +"Really," gasped the mayor, "this is most extraordinary. Why cannot you +explain now?" + +"Because the curtain goes up in a good deal less than an hour, and Mrs. +Anderson ought to be at the theater now." + +Here the lady herself interposed. + +"Mr. Anderson," she said, beseechingly, "do let me go! You know I +promised, and that in itself is reason enough why I should appear." + +"I cannot understand this at all," said the mayor, petulantly. Then +turning to Al, he added: + +"Boy, I will write you my check for five thousand dollars, if you will +withdraw this absurd request." + +Five thousand dollars was a good deal more money than Al had ever had in +his possession, a good deal more than he was likely to earn as advance +agent for a long time to come; but his answer was prompt and positive. + +"Mr. Anderson, I don't want your money. I would not accept a penny of +it. I only request that you allow your wife to keep her promise and +appear to-night. I would not ask this if I thought there would be +anything disagreeable to her in fulfilling her promise, but----" + +Here Mrs. Anderson interrupted. + +"Why, of course there would not," she said. "You know, John, I am so +anxious to make my début on the professional stage. Now, do let me go, +won't you? You cannot refuse now!" + +After a moment's hesitation, the mayor said: + +"No, I cannot. You shall go." + +It was with difficulty that Al suppressed a sigh of relief. + +"There is not a moment to be lost," he reminded the would-be débutante. + +"I know it," cried Mrs. Anderson. "Oh, I am so glad you came! Now, don't +look so downcast, John; you will be very proud of me when you see me on +the stage." + +"Humph! Well, we shall see." + +Al rose to go. + +"You will not change your mind again, Mrs. Anderson?" he asked, a little +apprehensively. + +"No, no," laughed the lady. "I have never changed it at all. I shall be +there." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD. + + +Mr. Anderson accompanied Al to the door. + +"I would have granted almost any other request you might have made with +more willingness," he said. "I have a strongly rooted objection to my +wife appearing on the stage." + +"I am very sorry, sir," said Al. "But, perhaps, as Mrs. Anderson says, +you will feel differently when you see her." + +"I doubt it very much. Now, tell me, why did you insist upon this +sacrifice on my part? What is it to you whether my wife appears or not?" + +"I haven't time to tell you now, sir," the boy replied. "I must return +to the theater at once." + +"Can you call at my office, at the City Hall, to-morrow?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do so, then, at, say, ten in the morning. I should like to have a talk +with you; I want to know more of you." + +"I will be there, Mr. Anderson. Good-evening, sir." + +"Good-evening, my lad." + +As Al hurried along to take the good news to Mr. Wattles, he muttered: + +"Well, I didn't think I had so much cheek. I wouldn't have insisted upon +Mrs. Anderson's appearing if there had really been any harm in it, but +I'm sure it can't damage her or her husband much. Besides, she gave her +promise, and she ought to keep it." + +As the boy hurried through the long corridor leading to the manager's +office, his attention was attracted by the sound of loud and excited +voices, and, listening, he heard a portion of the conversation taking +place between Mr. Wattles and his ex-advance agent. As we have seen, he +reached the office just in time to see Farley standing over the manager +with uplifted knife, and to interfere. + +The advance agent proved himself a coward, for the weapon dropped from +his fingers, and, throwing up his hands, he cried: + +"Don't shoot! Mercy, mercy!" + +Mr. Wattles picked up the knife. + +"Allston," he said, "go for a policeman." + +As Al turned to leave the room, Farley cried, imploringly: + +"Wait! Wattles, old man, I didn't know what I was doing. The fact is, I +have been drinking pretty hard lately, but I shall be all right in a day +or two." + +"You don't expect to get back in my employ again, do you?" the manager +asked, sternly. + +"No, no, I don't. All I ask is that you will not utterly ruin all my +chances for life by having me arrested. Things look bad enough for me +without that." + +"Very well, Farley, I'll let you off this time, but I warn you to keep +out of my way in the future." + +"If I keep straight and show you that I am at my best we may do business +together again, eh, Wattles?" + +"No, sir; I shall never have anything more to do with you." + +"Perhaps you'll think better of that. You haven't had time to fill my +place yet." + +"I've got a better man for your place than you ever were," said the +manager. + +"Who is he?" demanded Farley. + +"There he stands;" and Mr. Wattles pointed to Al. + +"That kid?" gasped Farley. + +"That young gentleman," said the manager, with theatrical +impressiveness. + +Farley stared at the boy a few moments without speaking; then, with a +peculiar smile, he said: + +"So you are an advance agent, are you, bub?" + +"So it seems," replied Al, as coolly as he could. + +"Well, you won't remain one long; I will see to that. Take my advice and +quit the business before the temperature gets too high. See? Yes, I +think you do. I don't propose----" + +"Look here," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "I've had just about enough of +this. Are you going to get out or are you not?" + +Farley backed toward the door. + +"I am," he said. "Ta, ta, Wattles! Ta, ta, my young friend! But we shall +meet again, and don't you forget, either of you, to paste that fact in +your hat." + +And he swaggered out of the room. + +"The impudent scoundrel!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles. "I let him off too +easy. If I am not mistaken, we shall have more trouble with him." + +"Never mind about him," interrupted Al. "Do you know that it is almost +eight o'clock, Mr. Wattles?" + +"Good gracious! So it is! And Mrs. Anderson----" + +"It's all right." + +"She will appear?" + +"Sure." + +The manager grasped his companion's hand. + +"Allston," he said, "you are a wonder." + +"That's just what you want for an advance agent, isn't it?" the boy +asked, with a laugh. + +"Yes. Did she come with you?" + +"No, but she is probably here by this time." + +"How did you do it?" + +"I'll tell you some other time, sir." + +"That's right; we have no time to waste in talk now. I'll go and see if +she has arrived. I should be in a nice fix if she changed her mind +again." + +"She won't, Mr. Wattles." + +Scarcely hearing the last words, the manager rushed from the room. + +"Well," mused Al, "if Mr. Wattles is a man of his word I am his advance +agent now. It will be my fault if I don't make the best of the +opportunity. But it's dollars to doughnuts that I shall have trouble +with that loafer, Farley. Well, I guess I can hold my own." + +He was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Mr. Wattles. + +"It's all right, my boy," laughed the manager. + +"You haven't seen her yet?" + +"No, but I've seen Perley, and he tells me she is here, and is dressing +for the part. He thinks that she is going to make a big hit." + +"Of course she will," laughed Al; "she is the leader of society here, +and it would be treason not to like her." + +The manager smiled. + +"You know something of the world," he said. + +"Not as much as I would like to. But, seriously, sir, Mrs. Anderson is +not such a bad actress, and I shouldn't wonder if she did make a hit." + +"She'll have to be a second Ristori, if she does in that part," grinned +Mr. Wattles. "There's nothing to it; but, for all that, the woman who +has been playing it is wild because I have taken it away from her for +one night." + +"Have you explained the circumstances to her?" + +"Have I? I've talked myself nearly deaf in doing so, but it was of no +use." + +"She must be very thick-headed if she can't see how you are placed." + +"My dear boy, a woman will never see anything she doesn't want to see. +But never mind about all that. I don't care particularly whether the +woman is suited or not; I can fill her place at a few hours' notice. And +now I must go and see how things are going. I have a good stage manager, +but I have to do a lot of the work myself, for all that. And I must +acknowledge that I do feel a little nervous at letting an untrained +amateur appear in the piece without a rehearsal. Come with me, and we'll +see if everything is going smoothly." + +Al followed the manager through the long passage way and out into a +damp, dingy court, on the opposite side of which was a door bearing the +inscription: "Stage Door. No Admittance." + +Passing through the sacred portals, Mr. Wattles and Al stepped upon the +stage. + +Al had been "behind the scenes" before; the scene that met his eyes was +not an entirely unfamiliar one, and he trod the boards with the +nonchalant air of a veteran. + +"Well, Sparkley, how does everything go?" asked the manager of an +anxious-looking elderly man, whom the boy rightly guessed to be the +stage manager. + +"Badly enough," was the reply. "There's been a big row, and your society +amateur refuses to appear." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE DEBUT. + + +Mr. Wattles sank into a convenient chair. + +"Well," he said, with an air of stony resignation, "there's no use in +fighting against fate. I give it up. We'll return the people their money +and shut up the house." + +"What's the matter?" asked Al. + +"Why," replied Sparkley, "Miss Hollingsworth, who has been playing the +part that Mrs. Anderson is billed for, has been here, and has had an +interview with her successor, and got her so worked up that she +absolutely refuses to appear." + +"Why, I told the woman that she needn't come at all to-night!" cried Mr. +Wattles. + +"Well, she's here as large as life." + +"Why did you let her in, Sparkley?" + +"I couldn't very well refuse her admittance; she is a member of the +company." + +"That's so." + +"Besides, I had no idea that she was going to raise a row. I think that +Farley was at the bottom of the business; I saw him talking to her +outside just before she came in." + +"You did? That explains the whole thing. Well, I'm just going to let +things take their course." + +At this moment Mrs. Anderson came rushing toward them, evidently +greatly excited. She was closely followed by a young woman, quite as +much agitated as herself. + +Both women began talking at once, and it was two or three minutes before +Mr. Wattles could make himself heard. When at last he succeeded in doing +so, he said: + +"Now, ladies, if you will speak one at a time, and talk slow, I will try +to straighten things out. What is the trouble, Mrs. Anderson?" + +"That woman," sobbed the society belle, indicating the actress, "has +grossly insulted me. I cannot, I will not play." + +"Have you forgotten your promise to me, Mrs. Anderson?" interposed Al. + +"No, I have not, and I am very sorry that I cannot fulfill it. But it is +impossible." + +"I only told her," snapped Miss Hollingsworth, a fiery-looking, +dark-haired, black-eyed woman, "that she was a rank amateur, and so she +is. Why, it is an insult to give such a woman my part!" + +"Yes, that's what she said," cried Mrs. Anderson, in a high-pitched +voice. "I would never play the part unless she was discharged." + +The manager's face lighted up. + +"Will you play," he asked, "if I discharge her?" + +"Yes." + +"That settles it. Miss Hollingsworth, you are discharged." + +"Wha-a-t?" screamed the actress. + +"You heard what I said. You are given the usual two weeks' notice." + +"I am discharged, I, Olga Hollingsworth, on account of this woman?" + +"No, you are discharged because these exhibitions of bad temper on your +part have tired me out. And now, madam," turning to Mrs. Anderson and +speaking with the utmost politeness, "will you kindly return to your +dressing room and complete your preparations for your appearance? You +will have to go on in less than fifteen minutes." + +"I will do so, sir." + +And with a withering glance at the actress, the mayor's wife swept away. + +"You shan't forget this evening's work in a hurry, Mr. Gus Wattles!" +hissed the enraged Miss Hollingsworth. "You'll rue the day when you made +Dick Farley and me your enemies!" + +"So Farley is at the bottom of all this, is he?" said the manager. "I +thought so." + +"Never mind whether he is or not," was the actress' reply. "I wish you +good-evening, Wattles. I don't want your two weeks' notice. I wouldn't +play in your company again for ten times the miserable salary you paid +me. Find some one else to play the part to-morrow night or shut up the +house." + +With these words and a vindictive glance, the woman left the theater, +slamming the stage door violently behind her. + +Mr. Wattles drew a long breath of relief. + +"I'm glad to get rid of her," he said. "This isn't the first time she +and I have had words. I'll have another woman here to play the part +to-morrow night, or I'll cut it out altogether; it isn't of any +importance, anyhow. And, I say, I believe that Mrs. Anderson has the +making of an actress in her, after all. She's as good a kicker as if she +had been in the business all her life. No danger of her suffering from +stage fright; she has too good an opinion of herself. Well, I must go +around to the front now. Come with me and see how things look." + +The house was, as Al had predicted, packed to the doors; even standing +room was at a premium. Such an audience had never been seen in the opera +house before. + +The souvenir spoons had proved a great success; everyone was extolling +the liberality of the management. + +"This is immense," chuckled Mr. Wattles, rubbing his hands. "Allston, +you are a trump. I wish you could do this in every town we visit." + +"Well, I'll do my best to repeat the success," smiled Al. "What can't be +done in one way can in another." + +"And you're the lad who can do it. But the curtain is going up. I hope +Mrs. Anderson will be all right. She comes on in less than five minutes. +Come up to the manager's box now; it's the only place in the house where +we can get a seat." + +The two elbowed their way through the crowd; and, not without some +difficulty, reached the box in question. They had hardly taken their +seats when Mrs. Anderson stepped upon the stage. Her appearance was the +signal for a perfect whirlwind of applause. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, as the lady stood bowing and smiling, "she is +a good-looker, anyway. She's as well made up as if she'd been in the +profesh for years; and, by Jove! she's as cool as a veteran! What a +reception! Irving himself couldn't ask for a better one." + +In fact, it was nearly or quite three minutes before the débutante could +go on with her part. By this time the stage was half filled with "floral +tributes," one huge piece being from the board of aldermen. When the +mayor, who was seated in an opposite box, saw this, his face, which had +until then worn a rather gloomy expression, lighted up, and he began to +manifest some signs of interest in the performance. + +As Mr. Wattles had said, the part that had been assigned to Mrs. +Anderson was one of very little importance. It would have been difficult +to make a failure of it. The lady recited her lines well, and when she +left the stage she was furiously applauded. + +"That shows what the public appreciation of the drama amounts to," +remarked Mr. Wattles, sarcastically, although he had applauded Mrs. +Anderson as loudly as anyone. "You can't hear yourself think for the +noise they make about this society woman; yet, on the same stage there +is a little girl who has real talent. But they ignore her." + +"You mean the young lady who plays the part of _Ethel Darlington_?" +questioned Al. + +"Yes, of course I do. I see that you, at least, know good acting when +you see it; but here comes Mrs. Anderson again. Ah! that old fellow in +the box over there is going to make a speech." + +Al recognized in the "old fellow" referred to one of Boomville's +prominent citizens--a certain Maj. Duncan. + +The major, who enjoyed nothing in life more than hearing himself talk in +public or in private, had risen in his seat and was signaling for +silence. + +In a few moments the house was so still that the fall of the traditional +pin would have startled the more nervous portion of the audience. + +The major, standing at the edge of the box, delivered, in a sonorous +voice, a fulsome speech of praise, addressed to Mrs. Anderson, ending by +presenting her with a wreath of laurels. + +The lady, not in the least embarrassed, made a brief reply, and was +about to resume her part, when Maj. Duncan, who had remained standing, +said: + +"But this is not all. There is here to-night a young fellow townsman of +ours of whom Boomville should be proud. I refer to the gentleman seated +in the proscenium box on the other side." + +And the orator fixed his eyes on Al's face. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A STARTLING SITUATION. + + +Everyone in the house stared at Al, and Mr. Wattles whispered in his +ear: + +"Why, he means you! What have you been up to? I tell you, this is a +great night for Boomville." + +Evidently Maj. Duncan expected some acknowledgment of his compliment +from Al, for after a moment's silence he added: + +"I repeat, I refer to the young gentleman yonder, Mr. Allen Allston." + +"Get up and bow," whispered the manager, in our hero's ear. + +Scarcely knowing what he was doing, Al obeyed. + +The entire audience applauded, although there were not three persons +among them who knew why they did it. + +"Will the young gentleman kindly step upon the stage?" went on the +major. + +Without speaking, Mr. Wattles seized the boy by the arm, and fairly +dragged him through a narrow door in the rear of the box. + +"This is the easiest way of getting on the stage," he said. "I wonder +what they have got on foot. They ought to have told us. In a case like +this it is always the proper caper to have a witty impromptu speech +ready, and they ought to have given you a chance to prepare one at your +leisure--they really ought. But this is not New York. Now, then, my boy, +step out on the stage. Don't you hear them shouting for you?" + +But Al held back. + +"I don't understand all this," he said. "What do they want with me?" + +"Go and find out." + +"But----" + +"Allston! Allston!" came from all parts of the theater. + +"Go on!" + +And Mr. Wattles fairly pushed his companion upon the stage. + +It is not necessary to say that Al was greatly embarrassed as he +confronted the sea of faces. His appearance was greeted with wild +cheers, though the audience did not know what they were cheering about. + +In a few moments silence was again restored through the efforts of Maj. +Duncan, who then cleared his throat and began: + +"It may not be known to many of you that we have a hero, a genuine hero, +among us, but it is a fact. And that hero now stands blushingly upon the +stage before us. Ladies and gentlemen, picture to yourselves this +scene--a team of maddened horses rushing at a terrible rate of speed +directly for a spot where a defenseless child has fallen on the highway. +Apparently the little girl is doomed to a horrible death. The spectators +stand spellbound--all save one, a youth. He rushes forward and, at the +risk of his own life, saves the child from the fate that a moment +before seemed inevitable. That youth, ladies and gentlemen, was Allen +Allston; the little girl he rescued was the child of our mayor." + +The major's rather theatrical speech was here interrupted by frantic +applause, much to the orator's gratification and Al's embarrassment. + +When silence once more reigned the major went on: + +"It is not necessary that I enlarge upon the heroism displayed by this +noble youth; it is evident to all of you, and the performance has +already, perhaps, been delayed too long. I will close by requesting the +acceptance by Mr. Allston of this token of esteem and appreciation from +Mayor Anderson, who has delegated to me the most agreeable duty of +making the presentation speech. Take it, my young friend; and always +wear it in remembrance of those whom you have placed under so heavy a +debt of gratitude." + +As he spoke Maj. Duncan extended a diamond ring to the boy. + +Al was obliged to cross the stage to receive it. By this time he had +partially regained his usual self-possession. He took the ring with a +graceful bow, and attempted to speak. + +But the effort proved a total failure. The words stuck in his throat; he +could only give utterance to an inaudible murmur. + +"Speech, speech!" cried a dozen or more persons, but Al was unable to +gratify their wishes. In great confusion he retired to the comparative +seclusion of the stage, where Mr. Wattles met him and grasped his hand. + +"I had no idea you were a hero," he said. "But why didn't you make a +speech? Oh, I understand--stage fright. Well, never mind, you're the +hero of the hour, anyway. Isn't that ring a sparkler! Just completes +your outfit as advance agent; they always wear a diamond ring, you know. +Well, this is a great night, and no mistake." + +By this time the performance had been resumed. It was brought to a +successful conclusion two hours later, Mrs. Anderson having been called +before the curtain no less than ten times. + +"I'm glad everything went off so well," said Mr. Wattles to Al, when the +audience had dispersed. "I was a little afraid that fellow, Farley, +would try to make some trouble for us. He's just about crazy enough from +drink to do something desperate if the idea occurred to him. Look out +for him, Allston." + +"I'm not afraid of him," said Al. + +"Nevertheless, be on your guard. Well, didn't everything go off in great +shape? That presentation alone will be worth a good many dollars to the +show. Accounts of it will be published all over the country." + +"I wish they had given me the ring in private," said Al. + +"You do? Well, I don't! You must get over some of that modesty of yours; +you won't need it in your career as advance agent. Going now? Well, +good-night. You'll be ready to start for the next town at noon +to-morrow?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Good. Look out for Farley on your way home." + +"I'm not worrying about him," laughed Al. "I guess you're more afraid of +him than I am, sir. Good-night." + +Al lived a little way out of the town. To get home it was necessary for +him to ride for half an hour in a horse car, and then to walk some +distance along a lonely country road. + +Singular to say, the subject that engrossed his thoughts during the ride +was not the events of the day, not the new career that he was about to +begin. One face was constantly before his mental vision, the face of the +beautiful young girl--Miss Gladys March, the bills called her--who had +played the part of _Ethel Darlington_. + +Why did her face haunt him so persistently? he asked himself. She was a +complete stranger to him, yet, somehow, he felt as if he had known her +all his life. + +His thoughts were still on her when he left the car and began his lonely +walk. + +So absorbed was he in meditation that he did not notice that from the +moment he alighted from the car he was followed at a short distance by a +man whose face was concealed by a high coat collar and a slouch hat. + +The full moon was shining brightly, but Al's pursuer lurked in the +shadows of the trees and shrubbery that lined the road on either side. + +For half an hour this pursuit of the boy continued; then the man gave a +shrill whistle. + +As Al turned, three masked men sprang from a clump of bushes on his +left and seized him. Before he could cry out a gag was thrust into his +mouth. A few moments later he was bound hand and foot. + +Then one of his assailants lifted him in his arms and bore him up a side +road, near which the assault had been committed. A covered wagon stood +in waiting here. Al was placed in it; then his captors and the man who +had followed him from the car, entered, and the vehicle was driven +rapidly away. + +At the expiration of, perhaps, half an hour the wagon was brought to a +standstill, and Al was lifted out. + +It was a strange sight that met his gaze. + +Half a dozen masked men were assembled under a tree, over one of the +boughs of which was flung a stout rope. + +One of the strange party stepped forward and removed the gag from the +boy's mouth, saying: + +"If you have any last remarks to make, make 'em now, and be quick about +it. We don't propose to fool away any time on this job." + +"What does all this mean?" gasped Al. "What are you going to do?" + +"We're going to string you up in just about two minutes at the outside," +was the reply; "so if you have anything to say you'd better hurry." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CLOSE CALL. + + +"You are going to murder me?" the boy cried. + +"Well, we don't put it just that way," was the cool reply of the man who +had spoken before. + +"How do you put it, then?" + +"We are going to execute you. In cases like yours the law is a little +too slow for us, so we have constituted ourselves judge, jury, +executioners and all the rest of it. Young fellow, you've stolen your +last horse." + +The truth flashed upon Al. + +For several weeks residents of the neighborhood of +Boomville--principally farmers--had been the victims of a clever horse +thief, who had, since he began operations, stolen a number of valuable +animals. The authorities seemed to be powerless in the matter, although +they professed to be using every possible means to bring the thief to +justice. Only one clew had been gained; one of the stolen horses had +been sold to a farmer in a village about fifty miles distant by a youth +of about sixteen, who had given a plausible reason to the simple-minded +purchaser for having the animal in his possession. The farmer had been +able to give a quite minute description of the boy. Al had read that +description, and now remembered, with a sinking of the heart, that it +would apply to him fully as well as to the thief for whom he was taken. + +"See here," he exclaimed, impetuously, "you are making a terrible +mistake! I am not the person you think me to be." + +"That's all right," was the sarcastic response of the spokesman of the +crowd. "I told you we were not going to waste any words on you, and we +are not." + +"String him up!" shouted another of the party. "Get the job done with! +We're taking big chances in delaying the thing." + +"That's right!" + +"H'ist the derned hoss thief, then!" + +"We've had enough chin music; let's get to work." + +These were a few of the comments of the would-be executioners. + +One man now stepped to the front. It was he who had followed Al from the +town. He had now donned a mask like the rest of the party. + +"I'll do the job," he said. "Will you leave it to me, gents?" + +Al started. Where had he heard that voice? Before any reply could be +made he said, in a loud, clear voice: + +"Gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime. My name is Allen Allston. I +live in Boomville. Hundreds of people there know me, and can tell you +what my reputation is. Why, I should not have the slightest trouble in +proving an alibi. If you murder me, you will all bitterly regret it some +day. You do not want to commit a murder; you want to do what you think +an act of justice. You are making an awful mistake; give me a chance, +and I will prove it." + +These words had a visible effect upon the desperate men. They began to +converse together in a low tone--all but the man who had followed Al; he +stood aloof from the rest. + +"See here," he presently said, in a voice that Al noticed trembled +slightly, "if you gents have any more time to fool away here I haven't. +I don't propose to get into any trouble through this thing. I have tried +to do you a service, but you don't seem to appreciate it." + +"We don't want to make any mistake," said the spokesman. + +"But you're not making any mistake. Don't I tell you I know the boy, +that he is the same one that sold me the horse last week?" + +Here Al interposed. + +"Do you claim," he asked, "that you are the farmer to whom the horse +thief sold one of the stolen animals last week?" + +"I do; and I recognize you as the person. It's no use, my fine fellow, +the jig's up. I've been shadowing you for some time, and I've got you +down fine." + +Al turned to the group of men, who had been listening in silence to the +brief dialogue. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "do any of you know the farmer who bought the +horse from the thief? Could any one of you swear to his identity?" + +The spokesman replied, this time using a gentler tone than before. + +"No, my lad," he said, "not one of us ever saw the man until to-night." + +"You don't see him now," said Al. "I do not believe that this is the man +at all. He is some enemy of mine, who has imposed upon you for his own +personal ends." + +"Bah!" interrupted the subject of discussion, "are we to stand here all +night listening to this sort of stuff? The young villain is only trying +to gain time. Of course, if he will steal, he will lie." + +"All I ask is a fair trial," said Al, "but I see I cannot get that here. +However, gentlemen, if you must kill some one, don't kill the wrong man. +It looks to me a good deal as if this fellow were the real thief, and +that he was trying to throw dust in your eyes. None of you ever saw him +before, you say. Now, perhaps I have seen him. Let me see his face; it +may be that I can identify him." + +"That's fair enough." + +"That's all right." + +"Off with your mask, stranger, and let the boy see your face." + +It was evident that the sentiment of the crowd was turning in Al's +favor. + +"Why should I show him my face?" said the boy's accuser. "All the rest +of you are masked." + +"We'll take off our masks if you take off yours," said the spokesman. +"Eh, boys?" + +"Ay! ay!" came from the others. + +Still the stranger hesitated. + +"It's risky for all of us," he said. "Have done with this nonsense. If +you are going to do away with the thief, get to work; if you're not, +why, let him go. We can't stand here all night chinning." + +"Off with your mask!" said the leader of the crowd, sternly. + +"All right," said the fellow, desperately; "I agree. Off with yours, +then, all of you." + +Several of the crowd removed their masks. The stranger raised his hand, +as if to take his off, but instead of doing so, he turned suddenly and +made a rush for a thick growth of wood near which the scene we have just +described had been enacted. In a few moments--before his companions +could recover from their astonishment--he had disappeared. + +"After him, Hammond and Thompson, and you, Porter!" shouted the leader. +"Don't let him get away from you." + +Then turning to Al, he added: + +"Boy, I believe we have made a mistake. That fellow is the real thief." + +"I don't know about that," said our hero, "but I do know I'm not." + +"If he isn't the thief, what motive could he have had in accusing an +innocent person?" + +"Perhaps it is some one who has a grudge against me." + +"It must be an awful grudge to induce him to lay such a plot as that +against you. Do you suspect anyone?" + +"I'd rather not mention any names," said Al. + +Here an old farmer, one of the three or four who had removed their +masks, stepped forward. + +"Don't let this here boy fule yer," he said. "I b'lieve he's one o' the +gang. Mark my word, it'll turn aout so." + +"You think so, do you, Mr. Chadwick?" said Al, quietly, looking the old +man full in the face. + +"Yeou know me, dew yeou?" + +"Yes, and you ought to know me. Have you forgotten Allen Allston?" + +The farmer gasped for breath. + +"I'll be derned ef it ain't Jack Allston's boy!" he exclaimed. "Why, o' +course I know yeou." + +"I told you my name before." + +"I wuz so 'xcited that I didn't take notice. I wuz so sure, yeou see, +thet we hed the right one. Boys"--turning to the others--"I'll swear +thet this here lad don't know no more 'baout who stole them hosses than +we do. I know all his folks, an' there ain't a dishonest hair in the +heads o' enny o' them. I'd ha' know'd him at fust, but I ain't seen him +fer a year or more, an' he's grow'd. An' besides, my eyesight ain't what +it used ter be. Boys, we've hed a narrer escape from committin' a +murder." The men now crowded round Al and shook his hands, and +apologized for their rough treatment of him. + +While they were thus engaged the three who had gone in pursuit of Al's +accuser returned. + +"Ain't you got him?" cried Farmer Chadwick. + +"No, he gave us the slip. The moon has gone under a cloud, and in the +darkness he got away. But we'll catch him yet." + +Then the man turned to Al. + +"Boy," he queried, "have you any suspicion as to who the fellow is?" + +Our hero hesitated, then he replied: + +"Yes, I have." + +"Who do you think he is?" cried two or three of the men together. + +"I would rather not say," replied the boy. + +"Why?" + +"Because I might be wronging an innocent man." + +"But we want to find the thief." + +"I cannot help you do that. If the man is the one I think he may be, he +did not steal the horses." + +"Why did he accuse you, then?" demanded one of the party. + +"Merely to satisfy a private grudge." + +"Then he ought to be found and punished; so why do you try to shield +him?" + +"Because it is my private affair," replied Al, quietly. "And because I +do not like your way of administering what you call justice. See how +near you came to making a mistake to-night. But how did you run across +the fellow who said I was the thief?" + +"I'll tell you," replied the spokesman, rather sheepishly. "A few of us +were in a saloon in Boomville the early part of the evening. We had +indulged in a few drinks, and we must have talked a little louder than +we realized, for this fellow overheard us telling how we were going to +start a search for the horse thief to-night and string him up if we +found him. He came and told us that he could lead us to him. Well, he +talked as if he knew what he was saying, and---- Well, you know the +rest." + +"So," said Al, "you took the word of a barroom loafer, or worse, on a +matter of so much importance as that." + +"We were excited and had drunk a little too much." + +"Well, it seems to me that you had better leave the future management of +the business to the proper authorities," suggested Al. + +"Maybe you're right," admitted the man he addressed. "Well, you won't +say anything about this night's affair to anyone?" + +"I shall say nothing that can harm you. The thing shall not be made +public through me." + +"We'll take your word for that. And now, get into the wagon, and you +shall be driven home." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. + + +Al's ride home after his queer adventure was an uneventful one. He was +glad enough to reach the solitude of his own room. Although his body was +tired, his mind seemed abnormally active, and for at least two hours he +lay tossing sleeplessly on his bed, reviewing not only the exciting +events of the day, but much of his past life. + +We have thus far said nothing of our hero's past, nor shall we now; we +will let him tell the story himself, as he did the next morning when he +visited the mayor's office. + +Ten o'clock was the time Mr. Anderson had appointed for their interview, +but Al was off hand a little before that hour. Mr. Wattles had told him +that he must leave Boomville for the next town at noon, and he knew he +had no time to waste. + +The mayor received him cordially. + +"I'm delighted to see you, my dear young friend," was his greeting, as +he grasped the boy's hand. "We had a grand success last night, did we +not? And it was all due to your efforts. If it had not been for your +persistency Mrs. Anderson would not have appeared." + +"Then you are not sorry that she played, sir?" questioned Al, somewhat +surprised at the mayor's enthusiasm. + +"Sorry? Not a bit of it! Why, it was one of the grandest triumphs in the +history of the American stage." + +Al had his own opinion on that point, but he did not express it; he only +said: + +"The audience seemed to be very much pleased with Mrs. Anderson's work." + +"Pleased! Of course they were pleased. How could they help it? As for +myself, I was as much delighted as I was surprised. I have given my +consent to Mrs. Anderson's second appearance to-night." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"Yes. Mr. Wattles came to me and, in the most respectful manner, asked +the favor. You see, the woman who has been playing the part was so +angered by my wife's success that she refused to appear. I could do +nothing but yield, especially as Mr. Wattles assures me that there was a +widespread feeling of disappointment on the part of those who were +unable to gain admission last night. Mr. Wattles, my lad, considers Mrs. +Anderson one of the greatest geniuses on the American stage; he told me +so this morning." + +Al could not help thinking that the "foxy" manager was overdoing the +thing a little; but he did not express any opinion. In fact, Mr. +Anderson did not give him a chance to do so, for he went on as soon as +he had caught his breath: + +"But never mind about all that now. Some day you will doubtless remember +with pride that you assisted at the début of Mrs. Anderson; but let us +now talk of yourself." + +"We might find a more interesting subject, sir," suggested Al. + +"It is like your modesty to say so, but I cannot agree with you. Now, my +lad, I have taken a great interest in you, and I am going to do what I +can to help you along in the world. What do you most need now, Mr. +Allston?" + +"Good health, sir," laughed Al; "or, rather, a continuance of it. I have +about everything else I want." + +"Well, I am about to offer you something that you haven't got." + +"What is that, sir?" + +"A position under the city government, a position with very little work +and a good salary. It has never been held by anyone as young as you +before, but I haven't the slightest doubt that you will be able to +discharge its duties satisfactorily. In fact, it is almost a sinecure." + +"You are very kind, sir," said Al, as the mayor paused, "but I cannot +accept the position." + +"Eh? You cannot? Why not?" + +"For two reasons, sir." + +"What are they?" + +"One is that the position you are kind enough to offer to me is not the +kind I am looking for. I am not looking for an easy berth. I want a +place where there will be plenty to do." + +The mayor stared at the boy incredulously. + +"Well," he said, "you are an original. And what is your other reason for +refusing?" + +"It is that I have a good place now, sir." + +"Ah, indeed? What is it?" + +"Mr. Wattles has engaged me as advance agent for his company." + +Mr. Anderson's face clouded. + +"And you would rather travel with a show than have an easy, respectable +position here at home?" + +"I would, sir." + +"Well, that is a matter of taste. I should prefer the berth I have just +offered you." + +"I hope you are not offended, Mr. Anderson?" said Al, a little +diffidently. + +"Offended! No, no, my boy; but I think you are making a mistake." + +"The end will show, sir." + +"Yes, yes, the end will show. Well, I can't help feeling an interest in +you, not only because you rescued my child, but because you seem to me +to be a rather unusual lad. Do you mind answering me a few questions? +Believe me, I shall not ask them out of mere idle curiosity." + +"Ask as many as you like, sir." + +"Do you live in Boomville?" + +"A little way out of the town, sir." + +"Are your parents living?" + +"Only my mother." + +"And your father--has he been dead long?" + +"He died before I was born, sir." + +"Can it be that your father was John Allston?" + +"That was his name, sir." + +"Why, good gracious!" exclaimed the mayor, with a new interest, "I knew +him. It was years ago, and we were never intimate, but I had a speaking +acquaintance with him. Let me see, was there not something peculiar +about the manner of his death? I remember hearing something said about +it at the time, but it was so long ago that I cannot remember just what +it was." + +"People said, sir," replied Al, "and I guess they were right, that my +father died of a broken heart." + +"I remember now!" interrupted Mr. Anderson. "His child, your sister, was +stolen. Her loss was such a blow to him that he only survived the shock +a few months." + +"Yes, sir; that is true." + +"It is a sad story. Was your sister never found?" + +"No, sir." + +"Nor any clew to the mystery gained?" + +"Nothing of any importance, sir. It was suspected that her nurse had +something to do with the affair, and she was shadowed for a long time. +But nothing was ever learned." + +"I can sympathize with your poor father and mother, my boy," said the +mayor, with more emotion than Al had seen him manifest before. "I can +understand his feelings. But the depth of a mother's love is something +we of the grosser sex cannot ever quite comprehend. I suppose your +mother has never entirely recovered from the blow." + +"She never has, Mr. Anderson; and it is in the hope that I may help her +to do so that I have taken this engagement with Mr. Wattles' company." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN PERIL. + + +The mayor stared at Al. + +"You have taken this engagement for your mother's sake?" he said. "I +don't understand." + +"I didn't say that," the boy replied. "I took it because I believed the +work was just the sort I could do well. At any rate, it was just the +sort I wanted to do. But I also thought that it might give me a good +chance to look for my sister. What can I ever do if I stay here in +Boomville? Nothing. I will go out into the world; and who knows----" + +He paused, perhaps a little offended, for the mayor was smiling. + +"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my boy," Mr. Anderson said, +straightening out his features, "but your hopefulness reminds me of my +own when I started out in life. Alas! those dreams!" + +"But you succeeded, sir." + +"Yes, I succeeded, but in a far different line from that I marked out +for myself. But"--in a changed tone--"it is later than I thought, and I +must reluctantly say good-by. I am sorry you will not take the position +I have offered you; but I cannot say that I respect you less for having +refused it. When do you leave town?" + +"At noon." + +"And it is nearly eleven now. Well, my boy, let me hear from you once in +a while; and be sure that you will always have a friend in John +Anderson." + +"Thank you, sir. Good-morning." + +And Al backed toward the door. + +"Wait a moment," the mayor cried, suddenly producing a sealed envelope +from his pocket. "I want you to take this. Open it at your leisure. I +trust the contents will prove acceptable to you. And now, good-day, +good-day." + +Al could not help thinking that the manner in which his companion almost +shoved him out of the room was due to a fear that he would open the +envelope before he got out. But he put it in his pocket, saying: + +"I am very much obliged to you for your kindness to me, sir." + +"The obligation is on the other side, Mr. Allston," was the reply. "But +good-day--and good luck to you." + +It was after eleven when Al reached Mr. Wattles' hotel. + +"I was beginning to be a little nervous about you," said the manager. +"But I said to myself: 'I don't believe he is one of the kind that go +back on an agreement.'" + +"And you were right, Mr. Wattles." + +"You know you must leave by the noon train." + +"I am all ready, sir." + +"Our next stand, as you are aware, is Rockton. It has the reputation of +being a bad show town, and if you can create a _furore_ there you will +do well." + +"I'll try, sir." + +"There is one morning paper there; do what you can with it." + +"I will. If you could only persuade Mrs. Anderson to go there! She was +born in Rockton, and the whole population would turn out to see her." + +"I thought of that, and tried it. But the mayor wouldn't hear of it. But +he is going to let his wife appear here again to-night, all the same." + +"So I have heard." + +"Eh? Are the bills out already?" + +"I guess not. I have just come from the mayor's office." + +"Ah! indeed? Well, that's right; it's policy to keep in with such +people." + +Al's face flushed. + +"I didn't go there as a matter of policy," he said, "but only because I +promised the mayor yesterday that I would." + +"Well, he ought to do something handsome for you in return for the great +service you did him." + +"I think he did quite enough in giving me that ring last night. My +mother says it must be worth at least five hundred dollars, and she +knows something about such things." + +"It is worth more than that. But Anderson ought to do more for you. Why +doesn't he get you a job under the city with a fat salary and nothing to +do?" + +"That's just what he offered me this morning," laughed Al. + +The manager's jaw fell. + +"Then I shall lose you before long, of course?" + +"Not on account of that political job." + +"Eh?" + +"I refused it." + +"You did?" + +"Of course. I want a job where there is something to do." + +"Well, you've got it with me," said Mr. Wattles, evidently gratified. +"But he might have given you a check." + +"Maybe he did," said Al, reminded of the envelope that the mayor had +handed him just before he left the office. + +He took it from his pocket, tore it open and drew from it a long, narrow +strip of paper. + +The manager, who was looking over the boy's shoulder, exclaimed: + +"Well, he has done the handsome thing, and no mistake." + +The check was for five thousand dollars. + +"I won't take it!" cried Al. + +"Yes, you will take it!" said Mr. Wattles, very emphatically. "To return +it would be to offend him very deeply." + +"But----" + +"But you must be starting for the train. Come, I'll walk to the depot +with you. I have a number of points to give you." + +When they parted, the manager was better pleased than ever with Al. His +"points" did not seem to be needed by the boy; a knowledge of and +adaptability to the business seemed to have been born in him. + +"You're all right," said Mr. Wattles, slapping his new advance agent on +the shoulder just before they parted. "I consider a big house in Rockton +a dead-sure thing." + +Al was not quite so confident, however. In Boomville circumstances had +favored him, but he could not hope for the same luck in Rockton; there +he would have to prove his fitness to be the advance agent of the New +York Comedy Company by tact and hard work. + +In conversation with a gentleman on the train, he learned a fact of +which Mr. Wattles had not informed him--that Barnum's circus was at +Rockton. + +"There won't be a corporal's guard at your show," said his informant, +unsympathetically. "Everybody for miles around has been saving up to go +to the circus. Other shows will be simply not in it." + +As if to add to Al's annoyance, the circus parade was going on when he +reached Rockton; at any other time he would have stopped and looked at +it, but he was not in the mood now. + +The sidewalks near the depot were crowded with eager sightseers. Al +forced his way through their ranks, and attempted to cross the street, +heedless of the warning cries of those who saw him. + +He had reached the middle of the street when he attracted the attention +of one of the elephants, an animal with a national reputation for +viciousness. The beast quickened its pace, reached the boy, seized him +in its trunk and raised him high in the air, with the evident intention +of dashing him to the pavement. + +A cry of horror rose from the crowd. Apparently Al was doomed to a +frightful death. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +INTERVIEWED. + + +The elephant that had seized Al was, as we have said, well known for his +viciousness. He had killed two keepers and injured half a score of +persons. One of his escapades had occurred quite recently, and was fresh +in the minds of most of the witnesses of his attack on the boy. + +There was an almost simultaneous cry from the onlookers, followed by a +dead silence. The animal's small eyes twinkled viciously. It was evident +enough that in crossing his path Al had excited his ire, and that it was +his intention to revenge himself in a characteristic manner. + +Suddenly a sharp cry broke the silence. It was the voice of the +elephant's keeper, who had been lagging a little behind, but who now +came rushing up, shouting a command to his charge in a language +unintelligible to most of his hearers. To all of them, perhaps, except +the animal; it was plain enough that he understood it. + +His manner changed. He held his captive poised in the air a moment, then +dropped him. + +Al fell heavily to the pavement directly under the feet of the beast. A +new plan of revenge evidently suggested itself to the elephant. He was +about to plant one of his huge feet on the boy's chest when the keeper +again gave utterance to the same cry of command. + +The warning had its effect; the animal stepped over his intended victim, +not touching him. + +In another moment Al had sprung out of harm's way. + +It was an exciting scene. Men were shouting, children crying and women +sobbing. + +One nervous, hysterical lady, whom the boy had never seen before in his +life, clasped him tightly in her arms, and wept convulsively on his +shoulder. + +Al was, perhaps, the coolest person in the crowd. Disengaging himself +from the embrace of his new-found friend, he said: + +"There's nothing to cry about, madam; I'm all right." + +"You're sure you're not hurt?" sobbed the lady, scarcely knowing what +she was saying. + +"Not in the least; not so much as scratched." + +"You've had a mighty narrow escape, all the same, young man," said the +elephant's keeper--the procession had come to a standstill, and many of +the employees had crowded around the boy. "This ought to be a lesson to +you not to try to cross a circus parade again." + +"It will be," said Al, with a smile. "At any rate, I shall be careful +not to get too near the elephants." + +Just then a nervous, bustling little man with a notebook in his hand +forced his way through the crowd to where Al was standing. + +"I represent the Rockton _Daily Banner_," he announced. "Please give me +your name, sir." + +"Certainly," replied the boy, with an eye to business. "I am the advance +agent of Wattles' New York Comedy Company, which plays here to-morrow +night, appearing in----" + +"That's all right," the reporter interrupted. "I know what it appears +in. But your name, please." + +"It is Allen Allston." + +"What! not the youth who so heroically saved the life of the child of +Mayor Anderson, of Boomville? Not the same who was presented with the +ring at the opera house last night?" + +By this time the circus parade had been resumed; but, in the immediate +vicinity of the scene of the adventure we have recorded, it excited less +interest than the interview between Al and the reporter. + +The boy colored and hesitated. + +"Yes," went on the _Banner_ man, "you must be the same. Why, there were +two columns about you in the paper this morning. You seem born for +adventure. You being the hero of the hour, your escape of this morning +will excite great interest. I can make at least a column of it. Here, +Mr. Allston, come with me. We must get out of this crowd; then we can +have a talk." + +Al resigned himself to the inevitable, and forced his way through the +crowd, arm in arm with the reporter. + +While he shrank from having his personal affairs made public, he also +had the interests of his employer at heart; he saw that the exciting +incident of the morning might be used as an advertisement for the show, +and he decided to sacrifice his feelings and let the ambitious and +energetic reporter have his own way. + +"We'll step in here," said the _Banner_ man, leading the way into the +lobby of a hotel. "Really, it is lucky for you that this thing happened; +it can't fail to boom your show. And it needs booming, too, let me tell +you, for the circus will be here to-morrow night, and is pretty sure to +gather in about all the surplus cash that will be left in the +neighborhood after to-day's performances." + +"Still," said Al, "my company is a strong attraction." + +"Under ordinary circumstances, yes; but not when the circus is in town. +Still, we'll see what can be done. I've heard a good deal about you +during the last twenty-four hours, and, honestly, I'd like to help you. +You give me all the most startling facts in your career, and I'll write +'em up in good style." + +"But," smiled Al, "there has never been anything startling in my +career." + +"Eh?" gasped the reporter. "What did you say?" + +Al repeated the statement. + +"An advance agent without a startling career!" said the _Banner_ man. +"Why, such a thing was never heard of before. As a rule we have to cut +out nine-tenths of the blood-curdling incidents in advance agents' +careers, and even then what is left sounds like an Arabian Nights +story." + +Al laughed. + +"Well," he said, "then I am a remarkable exception. Isn't that a +startling fact?" + +"That may help things out a little." + +"Besides, it is not myself that I want to boom, but the New York Comedy +Company." + +"Well, you are a _rara avis_! But by booming yourself you may at the +same time boom the show. Now, tell me all about yourself first. You see, +the public is more interested about you personally than about Mr. +Wattles' company. But I'll work in a good notice for the show, too. Now, +then, please tell me where you were born, when--and all the rest of it." + +Within ten minutes the reporter was in possession of most of the facts +of Al's "career"; and, as the boy had said, there was nothing very +startling in the story. But when the _Banner_ man had wormed the fact +out of the lad that his sister had been lost or stolen in infancy, he +exclaimed: + +"Why, that's just what I want. A romance in your life! Nothing could be +better. A long-lost sister! That will show up in great shape in the +heading." + +"But," interrupted Al, coloring, "I don't want anything said about it. +Please omit any reference to my family." + +"Well," said the reporter, "just as you say; but it is easy to see that +you have not been an advance agent very long. Why, my dear boy, the +article which I am going to write will be copied all over the country, +and might be the means of restoring your sister to you. But there, +there"--as Al was about to speak--"I'll consider your wishes in the +matter, and if I say anything about your sister it will only be a +passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms. And now, then, +what about the company? How many thousand dollars' worth of diamonds +has the leading lady lost during the last week? Which of the men of the +company is engaged to be married to one of Gould's daughters? Don't be +bashful; tell me all you have to tell, and I'll use all of the stuff I +can. You've given me an A1 interview, and I'm glad to have a chance to +do you a good turn." + +Al had a few alleged facts about certain members of the New York Comedy +Company, and he proceeded to retail them to his companion, who made +notes of them. + +"They're rather chestnutty," he said, as he returned his notebook to his +pocket, "but I'll fix them up in as good shape as I can, and they may +help you out a little. However, you mustn't expect a big house to-morrow +night, for you won't have it." + +With this cheering assurance the _Banner_ scribe took his leave. + +It had occurred to Al, too, that the notices which had been furnished +him by Mr. Wattles were somewhat "chestnutty." + +"Never mind," he said to himself, "somehow or other I'll fix things so +that we'll have a big house. But, judging from the way I have begun, my +first engagement as advance agent is not going to be much of a 'snap.'" + +Al was busy during the entire day seeing that the paper--that is, the +posters, window hangers, etc.--of the company was displayed to the best +advantage. + +This work had been done after a fashion some days before by the local +manager, but the way in which the duty had been performed did not suit +the young advance agent, and he kept men "hustling" all day. + +"What's the use?" said the manager of the theater, with a weary smile. +"It's sure to be a losing engagement, anyhow." + +"Maybe not," returned Al. "You'd better get the 'standing-room-only' +sign dusted off, in case we need it." + +"Rats!" was the response. "Young man, when you know this business and +this town as well as I do, you'll sing a different tune. We shall have +about two hundred people in the house to-morrow night--maybe not quite +so many." + +And he exhibited the advance sheet, which Al examined with a sinking +heart. Only half a dozen seats had been sold for the performance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A STROKE OF LUCK. + + +"Something has got to be done," said the young advance agent. + +"Everything possible has been done," returned the manager, pettishly. +"The amount of the thing is that we have struck an unlucky night, and +there's no help for it." + +"Maybe there is," said Al, quietly. "I mean to have a big house +to-morrow night somehow or other." + +The manager laughed sarcastically. + +"I've heard beginners like you talk before," he said. "You think you are +going to set the river on fire, but the river is not inflammable. I +admire your nerve. I've heard how you drummed up business in Boomville, +and you did well. But you can't do that sort of thing all the time. My +friend, Wattles, wrote and told me that you would work things so that +the house would be full when his company played, but he made a mistake +that time." + +"Did Mr. Wattles say that?" cried Al. + +"He did; and I was surprised at it, for Wattles is not usually a very +sanguine man." + +"If he said it, I'll do it," announced the boy. + +Again his companion laughed. + +"There's nothing like youthful enthusiasm," he said, "and I acknowledge +that it cuts lots of ice at times--but not every time. You might as well +try to square the circle as to get a crowd here to-morrow evening. It +can't be done." + +"We'll see," responded Al, with the most confident air he could assume. + +The task before him was a hard one, apparently an impossible one, but he +resolved that he would try to accomplish it. + +"Sail ahead, and do it if you can," said the manager, with something +very much like a sneer. "I shall watch your methods with interest." + +"It's a pity," said Al, "that you have only one morning paper here. Now +if----" + +"Oh," interrupted his companion, yawning, "we'll have another to-morrow +morning." + +"How is that?" + +"A young dude named Marcus, with more money than brains--and not very +much of either, by the way--is to issue the first number of a new daily +to-morrow morning. He is going to call it the _Bugle_, I believe." + +"It being the first issue," suggested Al, "it is likely to have a good +sale. Wouldn't it be a good scheme to spend a little extra in +advertising in it?" + +"My lad," said the manager, wearily, "your ideas are primitive in the +extreme. I have given them my usual size ad., and even if I wanted any +more space--which I don't--I couldn't get it, for the paper is about all +made up now. Oh, we can't do anything against the circus, and that +settles that matter." + +It did not settle the matter with Al, however. He returned to his +hotel, and spent what was left of the afternoon in trying to devise some +plan to arouse public interest in the performance of the New York Comedy +Company. + +He worked at the problem until his head ached, but the harder he thought +the farther he seemed to be from a solution. + +In the evening he went down to the restaurant connected with the hotel, +quite discouraged. + +There was no one in the room when he entered; but a few minutes later +two men, both of them evidently very much excited, came in and seated +themselves near him. + +After a glance at the boy and a hurried order to the waiter, they +resumed a conversation in which they had been engaged when they entered. + +Al could not help overhearing nearly every word they said, for in their +excitement they spoke louder than they thought. + +"I tell you, Marcus," he heard one of the men say, "it's a bad +knockout." + +Marcus! Al remembered that this was the name of the proprietor of the +new paper. He was, as the manager had said, a rather dudish-looking +young fellow, but his face was by no means indicative of a lack of +brains. + +"The worst of it is," added Mr. Marcus, "that the _Banner_ people will +have the grand laugh on us. They have been poking fun at the 'amateur +daily,' as they call it, ever since the _Bugle_ was announced; now they +will go for us." + +Al was now interested; for the time he forgot his own worries. What +could the trouble be in the office of the new paper? + +"They'll have a good chance," said Mr. Marcus' friend. "Really, my dear +sir, I can't see how you could have made such a break. The idea of +accepting a full-page ad. for 'Dr. Gurgles' Metallic Liver Pads,' only +to find that there is no such thing on the market, and that you have +been made the victim of a practical joker! I wish I had had charge of +the business end of the thing, this would not have happened." + +"I dare say not, but don't reproach me, for I'm too much broken up to +stand it. The question is, how are we going to fill up that page? I've +been boasting, right and left, about the phenomenal amount of bona-fide +ads. the first number of the _Bugle_ would contain, and now we are a +full page short. And I've told a number of people that we were to have a +page ad. from a well-known concern--something the _Banner_ never had." + +"Have you told anyone what the concern was?" + +"No." + +"Then perhaps you could get some firm in town to take the page." + +"I'd let 'em have it at any price. But, no, it wouldn't do; I should +have to own up how I had been victimized. Besides, it's too late now, +anyhow. Why, nearly the whole paper is in type, and one side is +printed." + +"Well, what are you going to do with that page?" + +"I give it up." + +Al rose from his seat and approached the table where the two gentlemen +were seated. + +"Perhaps I can help out, sir," he said. + +Mr. Marcus started from his chair, his face flushed with anger. + +"You've been listening, boy!" he exclaimed. + +"I have; I couldn't very well help it, for you spoke in a loud tone." + +"That's so, Marcus," added the other gentleman. "A public restaurant is +not just the place to talk over such a matter." + +"Well," said Marcus, glaring at Al, "I suppose you mean to go and tell +everyone in town what you have heard?" + +"I don't know anyone in town, and if I did I shouldn't repeat a word. As +I just said, I think I can help you out." + +"You! How?" + +"You said you'd let that page go at any price?" + +"I did." + +"Perhaps I will take it. I couldn't afford to do anything like regular +rates, but perhaps by helping you out I can get a lot of advertising +almost free. I tell you frankly that is my object, and I give you my +word that no one shall know anything about the transaction." + +Mr. Marcus and his companion stared at Al in amazement. + +"Well," said the former, "you are a queer youngster. Who the mischief +are you--another practical joker?" + +"No. I am Allen Allston, advance agent of Wattles' New York Comedy +Company, which plays here to-morrow night." + +"A lad like you occupying a position like that?" exclaimed Mr. Marcus. + +"Just so, sir. Now, what will you let us have that page for?" + +"Perhaps your employer would repudiate the bill." + +"I'll pay it myself, right here and now." + +"I'll take you up. You can have the page for one hundred dollars. When +can I have the copy?" + +"Not at all at that price," replied Al, coolly. "The page wouldn't be +worth that much to us. I'll give you fifty dollars, cash now, and the +copy in an hour or less." + +After a moment's hesitation, the proprietor of the _Bugle_ said: + +"Done! Give me the fifty dollars, and I'll give you a receipt for four +hundred. But mind, mum's the word about this deal." + +"You may depend upon me, sir." + +"But," asked Mr. Marcus, "how are you going to have a full page of copy +ready in an hour?" + +"I'll get it ready," replied Al. "Your foreman will have it on time." + +He handed the publisher the fifty dollars, and received a receipt for +four hundred. + +"Well," said Mr. Marcus, "you have a head for business, and no mistake." + +"I hope so," said Al, modestly; "but this transaction does not prove +it." + +"I think it does." + +"My overhearing your conversation was only blind luck." + +"Yes; but many a man would not have been smart and quick enough to take +advantage of it. The successful business man is he who seizes upon the +lucky accidents that others pass by, and turns them to his own +advantage. You'll get along, my boy." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AL'S AD. + + +Mr. Marcus' words haunted Al for some time after their parting. + +"I don't know but there is something in that," the boy said to himself: +"I'll look out for the lucky accidents after this." + +But the full-page advertisement had to be prepared in less than an hour, +and Al had to turn his attention to its preparation. + +When he went to his room he had not the slightest idea what sort of an +advertisement he was going to write; he only knew that it must be +something taking and brief. + +"Brevity is the soul of wit, anyhow," he reflected, "so I don't believe +I shall make any mistake on that point. But what shall I say in the ad.? +I wonder if I haven't bitten off a little more than I can chew?" + +In half an hour he had the advertisement ready, and a few minutes later +he presented himself with it at the office of the _Bugle_. + +Here everything was in confusion, but he found the foreman of the +composing room ready and waiting for him. + +"Have you got your copy all ready?" asked the man, nervously. "There is +no time to spare." + +"Here it is," said Al, producing a slip of paper from his vest pocket. + +"I thought you were to have a full page?" said the foreman. + +"So I am, according to contract," smiled the boy. + +"But there are only half a dozen lines here." + +"That's all." + +"Oh, you want a display ad.?" + +"No--at least not the kind you mean. I want those few lines repeated +over and over again until the entire space contracted for is filled." + +"You want it printed solid?" gasped the foreman. + +"That's it." + +"But I could give you a much more attractive ad. We can get up a +full-page display ad. that would be simply out of sight." + +"I don't doubt it, but I want another kind." + +"All right," said the foreman, with a pitying sigh; "you pay your money +and you take your choice." + +"That's the idea." + +The foreman carefully perused the advertisement. This is what he read: + +"See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, Manager. + +"See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.' + +"See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam. + +"See the real steam yacht. + +"See all this. + +"But---- + +"Please don't look at the queer old man in the third row of the +orchestra." + +The foreman stared at Al as if he thought him an escaped lunatic. + +"That's a strange ad.," he said. + +"Is it?" laughed the boy. + +"I never saw anything like it before." + +"Well?" + +"Well, do you want it to go in just as you have written it?" + +"I do." + +"Without any attempt at display?" + +"Without the slightest attempt at display." + +"That goes, then. Good-night; I must get the men at work on this at +once." + +"I've done all this on my own responsibility," reflected Al, as he left +the place. "If it turns out a fizzle, Mr. Wattles won't have so much +confidence in me in the future. Well, there's no use fretting now; the +thing is done. If it doesn't work I shall know enough not to repeat the +experiment." + +Still Al did fret a little after he got to his room. The apartment that +had been assigned to him was a large, gloomy room on one of the upper +floors of the building. It was about half filled with paintings not +hung, but standing against the wall. These, the hotel clerk had +explained, were the property of an impecunious artist who had formerly +boarded in the house, and were being held until his bill was paid. + +"We left them right there," explained the clerk, "not thinking that we +would need to put anyone in the room for some time. But on account of +the rush to the circus the house is full, and we must put you there." + +It made very little difference to Al where he slept, and he said so. He +was only going to spend one night in the house, and the room was +comfortable, if it was rather gloomy. + +Entering it after his visit to the _Bugle_ office, he threw himself into +a chair and fixed his eyes on a full-length picture of a man in modern +dress. He did not even take the trouble to light the gas. + +The rays of the moon dimly illumined the room and lighted up the +picture. The boy sat for nearly half an hour staring absently at the +portrait, thinking nothing about it, but trying to plan his work for the +next day or two. + +But soon he began to realize that he was very tired. He found himself +yawning, and his eyelids drooped in spite of himself. + +"It's no use," he said to himself, "I'll have to leave business until +to-morrow. I'll go to bed." + +But just as he rose from his chair--could he believe the evidence of his +senses?--the figure of the man stepped from the canvas and approached +him. + +It was no dream, for in an instant the boy was as wide awake as he had +ever been. + +Apparently the picture had come to life! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SAVED BY A SHADOW. + + +In a few seconds Al perceived that the picture had not been endowed with +life; the painted figure remained in its place; it was a being of flesh +and blood that was approaching him. + +The intruder had been standing in front of the picture; the dim light +and Al's preoccupation had conspired to render the boy unconscious of +his presence. + +"Who are you?" our hero exclaimed, as the man approached him. + +The next moment he recognized the fellow, and added in a startled voice: + +"Farley!" + +"Yes," said the ex-advance agent, "it's Farley, the man you knocked out. +You're a little surprised to see me, aren't you?" + +"What do you want?" demanded the boy. + +"I'll show you what I want." + +And he darted between Al and the door. + +"Get out of my way!" the lad exclaimed, attempting to push him aside. + +But Farley seized him by the throat and forced him to the floor. + +"You won't escape me this time," he hissed. + +Al struggled to release himself, but the grasp of the drink-maddened +brute was not to be shaken off. + +"No, you don't!" he said, in a fierce whisper. "I warned you that you +had not heard the last of me." + +Al tried to cry for help, but could only make an inarticulate sound. + +Farley dragged him in the direction of the window, saying: + +"You got away from me last night, but you won't this time." + +"So," Al managed to gasp, "you were the masked man who accused me of +being a horse thief?" + +"I was the man. You nearly turned the tables on me that time, but you +won't have the same luck twice in succession." + +As he spoke Farley relaxed his grasp on the boy's throat. + +"Youngster," he went on, "if it hadn't been for you I shouldn't have +lost my job with Gus Wattles. Its loss, under the circumstances, means +ruin for me. I can't catch up again, unless----" + +"Is that my fault?" interrupted Al, seeing that the man was crazed with +drink, and that the wisest policy was to attempt to conciliate him. "I +didn't take the position until Mr. Wattles had decided to discharge +you." + +"It's a lie!" + +"It's the truth." + +"If you had not been available he would have taken me back." + +"I don't know anything about that. Of course, I had no feeling against +you in the matter. I wanted the place, but I could not have obtained it +if your work had been satisfactory." + +"You used some underhanded method to oust me." + +"I did not." + +"You did. If you had not, how could you have gotten the place? There are +dozens--hundreds--of experienced men, who would have been glad to take +the position at half my salary. No, you did it for private reasons of +your own. You were hired to do it to separate me from her." + +"From whom?" + +"You know well enough who I mean." + +"I have not the slightest idea," replied Al. + +By this time Farley had permitted him to rise to his feet, but still +kept between him and the door. + +"I mean Gladys--as you know," said the drink-maddened man; "Gladys, for +whom I would give my very life." + +"Miss March?" + +It was with genuine surprise that Al asked this question. + +"Yes." + +"You think that I am in a conspiracy to separate you from her?" + +"I know it." + +"You are entirely mistaken. I know nothing at all about Miss March's +affairs; in fact, I have never even spoken to her." + +"It is a lie. But come, I have no more time to waste. This job must be +done." + +He again seized the boy by the throat, and dragged him toward the +window. Al was by no means a weakling, but he was absolutely powerless +in the grasp of his frenzied assailant. + +With one hand Farley held his intended victim, while with the other he +threw up the window sash. + +"No one in the street below," he hissed, "is looking, and if they were +they could not see us. When your body is found, your death will be +considered an accident." + +Al now lay on his back upon the sill; half his body was out of the +window. Apparently the villain's object was almost accomplished, and in +a few seconds the boy's mutilated body would be lying upon the pavement +below. + +"I never knew before," said Farley, "how sweet revenge was." + +"You won't know just yet," said Al, "if I can help it." + +As he spoke, realizing his extreme peril, he made one last, desperate +effort, exerting all his strength, and succeeded in regaining his +footing. + +The struggle was renewed, but it seemed certain that it must result in +the boy's defeat. + +Suddenly, however, Farley released his hold on Al and rushed to the +opposite side of the room, crying: + +"Interfere, will you?" + +At first our hero could not understand this action, but in a moment he +comprehended it. + +The villain had actually been frightened by his own shadow, which was +strongly outlined on the wall opposite. It might have been mistaken even +by a sober man for an intruder; and in his excited condition Farley was +certain that some one had come to the rescue of his intended victim. + +Of course, he quickly discovered his mistake, but Al had now time to +rush to the door, fling it open, and make his escape from the room. + +Outside the door stood one of the hotel clerks, who had evidently just +arrived upon the scene, and who demanded: + +"What's going on in there?" + +Before Al could reply Farley rushed out of the room and started for the +staircase. In a moment he had disappeared. + +Al started to follow him, but the clerk seized him by the collar, +shouting: + +"You won't get away quite as easily as all that, my fine fellow! Now, +what's your little game?" + +"Don't keep me standing here," cried the boy, trying to shake off the +man's detaining grasp. + +"That's all right," was the response of the zealous employee, who was +under the impression that he had captured a hotel thief. "You just keep +quiet. I've got you all right, and your pal won't get out of the house +as easily as he thinks." + +By the time Al had explained the situation so that the clerk understood +it, Farley had had ample time to make his escape. + +The man was somewhat crestfallen when he realized that he had made a +mistake. + +"No matter," he said, "the ruffian can't have gotten out. They'd be sure +to detain him downstairs." + +But, as they learned when they reached the office, Farley had eluded +them. He had walked leisurely out, lighting a cigar, apparently in a +perfectly easy, unconcerned frame of mind. + +Having notified the police of what had occurred, Al returned to his +room, and in a few minutes had retired for the night, having first +assured himself that there were no other unbidden guests in the +apartment. + +The next morning he found a note awaiting him in the office. It read as +follows: + + "You are a lucky youth, but your luck won't last + forever. You don't lead a charmed life. I am on my + mettle now, and I am going to settle you if I swing + for it." + +There was no signature, but of course Al knew well enough who the writer +of the precious communication was. + +He did not feel particularly worried; in fact, he had no time to worry +just then, for, as he put the note in his pocket, the morning papers +were placed in his hand by the clerk, with the remark: + +"Well, young man, you are a corker and no mistake." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A LESSON IN JOURNALISM. + + +Al laughed. + +"What do you mean by that?" he asked. + +"Read that interview with you in the _Banner_, and you'll find out. If +you've been through half the startling adventures that the reporter says +you have it is a wonder you are alive now." + +Our hero opened the paper with a feeling of apprehension which proved to +be well grounded. + +Undoubtedly the interview would prove a good advertisement for the show, +but it embarrassed Al greatly; he would gladly have given a hundred +dollars to have been able to withdraw it. But it was too late for that +now; already it had, doubtless, been read by half Rockton. + +The reporter had not kept faith with him. + +"If I say anything about your sister," he had told him, "it will only be +a passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms." + +But instead of that he had headed the article: + + A BOY WONDER! + + AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER! A LONG-LOST SISTER! + +And there were other headlines that startled and dismayed Al. + +According to them he had been a lion hunter, a champion football and +baseball player, an exceptional sprinter, and the greatest boxer of his +age that the world had ever known. + +"You must have made yourself mighty solid with the _Banner_ man to get +an ad. like that," remarked the clerk. "It's simply great." + +"I wish I hadn't succeeded in making myself quite so solid," groaned Al. + +The clerk stared at him, asking in surprise: + +"Don't you like the notice?" + +"Hardly." + +"What's the matter with it?" + +"I'm not here to advertise myself but the New York Comedy Company." + +"You're the first advance agent I ever saw who wasn't trying to +advertise himself at the expense, if necessary, of his show." + +"That isn't my way of doing business." + +"Well, this article will boom the show, and don't you forget it. But if +you don't like the headlines what will you think of the interview?" + +Al sank into a chair and began a hasty perusal of the article. + +He was dismayed at the reporter's audacity; the information he had given +the man had been so altered and distorted that he could only dimly +recognize himself in the hero of the newspaper man's weird fancy. + +The interview was in the highest degree complimentary--at least from +its writer's standpoint; it was evident that the reporter had written it +in a friendly spirit, and with the intention of giving its subject a +good "send off." + +The portion that referred to his sister annoyed Al the most. It was near +the end of the two-column article, and read as follows: + + "But the life of the hero of this strange, though + strictly authentic, tale has not been entirely one of + adventurous pleasure. Deep in his heart he carries a + sorrow about which he was extremely reticent to speak + to the _Banner_ reporter. In referring to it this lad, + who has faced dangers from which many a stalwart man + would shrink appalled, wept like a child. Years ago he + lost an idolized sister. She was taken from the home + of which she was the pride, not by the hand of death, + but by that of a kidnaper. The story is a most + romantic one. The little child was playing one morning + on the sloping lawn in front of her father's palatial + country seat in Tarrytown, adjoining that of the late + Jay Gould. Her nurse was called away for a few + moments. During the woman's absence the child + disappeared. What became of it? Alas! to this day no + one save the ruthless destroyer of the happiness of + this once peaceful home knows. It was rumored that a + rejected suitor of the little girl's mother was the + villain, but nothing was ever proven against him. The + father of the child died of a broken heart, and his + wife would, without doubt, have soon followed him to + the grave had it not been for her boy--the subject of + this necessarily incomplete article. For his sake she + resolved to live. When he was but four years of age + she made him promise her that he would devote his life + to solving the mystery of his sister's fate." + +Al looked up from the paper, his face white with anger. + +"The villain!" he exclaimed. + +The clerk looked up in surprise. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +"Have you read this thing?" Al demanded. + +"Why, yes." + +"The part that speaks of my long-lost sister?" + +"All of it. Of course, it's a fake, but nine people in ten will swallow +it whole." + +"I don't want anyone to believe it." + +"You don't?" + +"Of course I don't." + +"Then why did you grant him the interview?" + +"Because he insisted, and because he promised me that everything should +be printed just as I gave it to him." + +The clerk laughed. + +"It's evident," he said, "that you have not enjoyed a very extensive +acquaintance with reporters." + +"I've known several, but none like this fellow." + +"He's considered one of the smartest men in his line in the State." + +"Well, I'd like to interview him just now." + +"What would you say?" + +"I'd at least give him my opinion of his methods." + +"You wouldn't have a chance." + +"Why wouldn't I?" + +"You have met him once, and you ought to know. Why, he wouldn't give you +an opportunity to get in a word edgewise. Anyhow, I don't see what you +are kicking about; you've got the best ad. of the season free of cost. +Hello! here comes your reporter now. If you want to go for him you have +your chance." + +While the clerk was speaking the little reporter of the _Banner_ who had +interviewed Al only a few hours before entered. + +The boy strode toward him. + +"You're just the man I want to see," he began. + +The scribe pretended not to notice the look of anger in his face. +Seizing his hand and holding it tightly, he said: + +"And you're just the person I want to see. There are one or two little +mistakes in that interview of ours, and I was looking for you to find +out whether the fault lies with you or me. But the article shows up +well, doesn't it?" + +"I----" + +"Don't say another word." + +"But----" + +"I know exactly what you are going to say, but it will be all right next +time. It was the fault of the compositor that your name was spelled +wrong." + +"I wasn't----" + +"I was going to ask you whether it was three men or only two that you +knocked out at that scrap referred to in the second column; I'm afraid I +got that wrong. But never mind, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, +anyhow. He! he! he!" + +"No such incident ever occurred, and I----" + +"Tut! tut!" interrupted the reporter, with a shocked look. "What made +you tell me the yarn, then?" + +"I----" + +"Never mind, we'll have to let it go now; and, after all, it doesn't +make much difference. But you ought to be more particular in talking to +reporters in the future, my dear young friend." + +"If I----" + +"Oh, that's all right---- No thanks. Hello! there goes a man I've got to +see right now. S'long!" + +And the scribe rushed out, leaving Al staring helplessly after him. + +"Isn't he a dandy?" said the hotel clerk, admiringly. "You'll never +catch him. The traditional Frenchman's flea was a graven image compared +with that fellow. In your line of business you can profit by the lesson +he has just given you. He is an artist in 'bluffing.'" + +Before Al could reply Mr. Wattles entered the office and approached him +with outstretched hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"I WANT YOU." + + +"I thought I should find you here," the manager said. "I want to offer +you my congratulations before I say another word." + +"Your congratulations upon what, Mr. Wattles?" asked Al. + +"Why, upon the way you have worked things here, of course. I heard about +it before I left Boomville this morning. That interview is out of +sight." + +"I wish it was," groaned Al. + +"Eh?" + +The boy expressed his opinion of the interview in very emphatic terms. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you're 'way off in your +ideas on that point. Why, the interview is great. I supposed you had +taken the reporter out and got him full." + +"The interview didn't cost me a cent." + +"That's so much the better. I'm mighty glad it appeared, and you ought +to be, too. It'll help biz; and how do you know but that through it you +may find your sister?" + +"That's not possible," said Al. "Why, the facts are all distorted. My +father never had any palatial country seat in Tarrytown; there was +never any talk of a rejected suitor of my mother's; there----" + +"Never mind," interrupted Mr. Wattles; "it's a good ad., anyway, and we +got it for nothing. You mustn't be so thin-skinned, my boy. You see +here"--in a changed tone--"that ad. of yours in the _Bugle_ must have +cost a young fortune. You ought to have consulted me by wire before you +did that. The idea is a good one, and everyone is talking about it, but +it will not be worth to us what it cost." + +"How much do you suppose I paid for it, sir?" + +"Oh, I don't know; three hundred at least, probably more." + +"It cost just fifty dollars; and if it is not worth that to you, I'll +pay it out of my own pocket." + +"Fif---- Is that straight?" + +"Certainly." + +"How did you do it?" + +Al explained. + +"Well, that was a mighty good transaction, and you deserve credit for +it, as well as for writing the ad. The new paper was selling like hot +cakes on the train this morning, and everyone was reading that ad. Al, +my boy, you're a genius!" + +"Not quite that, I guess," laughed the boy. + +"You are, I tell you. But who is the queer old man in the third row of +the orchestra?" + +"A myth, a creation of my imagination." + +"I supposed so, though I did not know but you had hired some one to play +the part." + +"No." + +"Well, there'll be lots of people out to see the old man. How did you +happen to strike the idea?" + +"I don't know. I had to get the copy ready in a hurry, and I wanted +something new and taking." + +"Well, you got it. I believe that ad. and the interview are going to +produce results." + +They did; though some of the results were quite different from those Mr. +Wattles and his advance agent expected. + +While Al went into the restaurant for breakfast, his employer hurried to +the theater to inquire about the advance sale. + +He returned an hour later, flushed and excited. + +"Well?" questioned the boy. + +"Well, we've caught 'em again. Half the house is already sold, and that +means a crowd to-night. The local manager says you're a corker." + +Al laughed. + +"He didn't think so yesterday." + +"He does now. He's going to try to get you to stay here under his +employ." + +"I shall not do it." + +"I told him you wouldn't, but he's going to make you an offer, anyhow. +Oh, by the way!" + +"What is it, sir?" + +"I nearly forgot that Miss Gladys March, who, with the rest of the +company, came with me this morning, is very anxious to have a talk with +you." + +"With me? Aren't you mistaken, Mr. Wattles?" + +"No; she asked me to tell you as soon as I saw you, but I did not think +of it." + +"What can she want of me?" + +"I give it up." + +"I don't know her; I never spoke to her in my life." + +"So I thought. Well, the best way to find out what she wants is to go +and ask her. You'll find her upstairs in her room." + +"I'll go at once." + +A few minutes later Al presented himself at the door of Miss March's +room and knocked rather timidly. + +"Come in," said a sweet voice, which the boy recognized as that of the +young actress. + +He entered the room. + +Miss March, who was seated by the window, rose to meet him. + +"I supposed that it was one of the servants," she said, with a sweet +smile, "or I should have welcomed you at the door. Please be seated." + +The young girl's perfect self-possession embarrassed Al a little. He +stammered out something about its being of no consequence, and seated +himself on the extreme edge of the sofa. + +Certainly Miss March was a very beautiful girl; unlike many actresses, +she looked prettier off the stage than on it. + +"I suppose," she began, "that you wonder why I have requested the favor +of this interview." + +"I am a little curious to know," Al admitted. + +"When I have told you, I suppose you will think me a very foolish girl; +probably I am. But I cannot leave a stone unturned." + +She paused, evidently agitated. What new mystery was this? Al asked +himself. + +"I have read the interview with you in this morning's Rockton _Banner_," +went on the young lady. + +"I'm sorry to hear that," said the boy, bluntly. + +"Why?" + +"Because there are scarcely ten words of truth in it." + +A genuine look of disappointment appeared upon Miss March's face. + +"I am very sorry to hear you say that," she said. + +Al stared at her in surprise. + +"You surely did not believe all that stuff, Miss March?" + +"Not all of it, of course," replied the girl, with a faint smile; "but +there was one part that I thought might be true." + +"What part?" + +"About your sister, who was stolen in infancy." + +"It is true," said Al, "that my sister was stolen." + +"Ah!" interrupted the young lady, with an appearance of agitation that +the boy could not understand. + +"But the facts were so twisted and distorted that the story is very +different from the truth." + +"What is the truth?" + +Al hesitated. + +"Believe me," said Miss March, "I do not ask from mere idle curiosity. I +have a most important reason for putting the question. Will you not tell +me the story?" + +Her agitation communicated itself to her companion; the boy's voice +trembled slightly as he replied: + +"Certainly, Miss March; for I feel that you have some strong motive for +desiring to hear it." + +"Believe me, I have. Go on, I beg of you." + +Al was about to speak when the door was thrown open and a rough-looking +man strode into the room. + +"I thought I should find you here," he said, addressing our hero. + +"Who are you, and what do you want?" demanded the boy. + +"I'm a deputy sheriff, and I want you. I have a warrant for your +arrest." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +MR. MARMADUKE MERRY. + + +"A warrant for my arrest?" gasped Al, half believing that the sudden +appearance of the stranger was only a joke. + +"That's what I said. Now, young fellow, don't you try to resist me, for +it won't work." + +"I'm not going to resist you if you really have a warrant," said Al. + +"Well, I have, and here it is." + +And the stranger produced a document from his pocket. + +"What am I accused of?" asked the boy. + +The deputy, who evidently felt the importance of his position, produced +a copy of the first number of the Rockton _Bugle_ from his pocket. + +Slowly unfolding it, he turned to Al's full-page advertisement, and +said: + +"You writ that, didn't you?" + +"I did," admitted our hero, promptly. + +"Well, that settles it. Come along." + +"But hold on," laughed Al. "It isn't a crime in these parts to advertise +a theatrical performance, is it?" + +"Yes," replied the deputy, without hesitation, "it is--the way you +advertise." + +"What is the matter with my advertisement?" asked the astonished boy. + +"You don't know, eh?" + +"I certainly do not." + +"Well, of course my business here is only to serve the warrant, but I'll +read the advertisement over to you." + +"Go ahead," said Al, thinking that there might be a misprint in the +page. + +The deputy sheriff read: + + "See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, + Manager. + + "See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.' + + "See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam. + + "See the real steam yacht. + + "See all this. + + "But-- + + "Please don't look at the queer old man in the third + row of the orchestra." + +The deputy laid the paper down and glared at his prisoner with a +triumphant air. + +"Well?" said Al, greatly puzzled. + +"Didn't you write that and cause it to be inserted in the _Bugle_?" + +"I did." + +"That settles it, then." + +"It may settle it for you, but it doesn't for me," said the boy. "What +is the matter with the ad.?" + +"You know well enough what the matter is with it." + +"I do not. Is it a crime in this town to try to boom a show by any +legitimate means?" + +"No; but it is a crime to try to boom it the way you have; it is a +crime here and everywhere else, as you will find out if you try the same +game again in another town." + +Here Miss March, who had listened in silence until this moment, +interposed. + +"What is the matter, sir?" she cried. "I read the advertisement, and I +am sure there was nothing in it that could offend anyone." + +The deputy, who until now had forgotten or neglected to doff his hat, +did so. + +"As far as you see, miss," he said, "the ad. is all right." + +"Well, what is there--what can there be--that I do not see?" the young +lady cried. + +"You are not acquainted in this town, are you, young lady?" the deputy +asked. + +"I am not." + +"That accounts for it, then. But this young fellow is acquainted here, +and he knew just what he was doing when he wrote that advertisement." + +"Yes, I think I did," interposed Al, "But will you please tell me right +now why you are here?" + +"I am here in my capacity of deputy sheriff of this county," replied the +official, with dignity, "and also as a personal friend of Mr. Marmaduke +Merry." + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" exclaimed Al. + +"Yes. No wonder you start and turn pale at the mere mention of that +name." + +"But I did not start or turn pale. Who is Mr. Marmaduke Merry?" + +"You pretend not to know?" + +"I pretend nothing at all; I do not know. I never heard the name of +Marmaduke Merry before in my life." + +"This subterfuge will avail you nothing," said the deputy, who was +becoming theatrical. "We know all." + +"All what?" + +Al could not help laughing, and this evidently angered the overzealous +deputy. + +"I am not here to bandy words with you, young man," he said; "I have +already spent too much time in talk." + +"That's what I think," smiled Al. + +"I'm glad we agree upon that point. Come along." + +"I am ready." + +"One moment," interposed Miss March. "Won't you please tell me, sir, of +what crime Mr. Allston is accused?" + +"I will," the deputy replied, with a look that was very evidently +intended to be languishing. "I can refuse you nothing, miss. He is +accused of holding one of Rockton's most respected citizens up to public +ridicule; and Mr. Marmaduke Merry is the man." + +"But," interrupted Al, more bewildered than ever, "haven't I told you +that I never heard of this man, Merry, before?" + +"You have told me so--yes." + +"Well, I told the truth." + +"You will have to convince the court of that." + +"But what has my ad. to do with Mr. Merry? His name is not mentioned in +it." + +"Ah, that is where your cunning comes in. But doesn't everyone in +Rockton know that for years and years Mr. Merry has always occupied a +seat in the third row of the orchestra at the first performance of a new +play?" + +At last Al grasped the situation. + +"Oh!" he exclaimed, "that's what you mean?" + +"That is what I mean." + +"And you think I meant Mr. Merry when I referred to the 'queer old +man'?" + +"Of course I do, and so does Mr. Merry." + +"Both of you are very much mistaken." + +"For your own sake, I hope you will be able to prove that statement." + +"Why, I never heard of Mr. Merry until you mentioned his name." + +"You have said so several times since I have been here, but I do not +believe you. However, I am not your judge. But if you did not mean Mr. +Merry, whom did you mean?" + +"Nobody at all; the old man was only a creation of my imagination." + +The deputy coughed, and had the audacity to wink knowingly at Miss +March. + +"This is a great tale," he said, "and will be believed, I don't think. +You have got yourself and the local management into a scrape, my lad. +But what could be expected?" + +At this moment there was a tap upon the door. "Come in," the actress +cried. + +A servant entered. + +"A card for you, Miss March." + +The young lady took the bit of pasteboard and glanced at it; then she +exclaimed: + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" echoed the deputy. + +"Show him up, please," the actress said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. + + +"He is here!" + +With this theatrical exclamation, a man pushed his way past the servant +and entered the room. + +"I am Mr. Marmaduke Merry," he announced. + +Both Al and Miss March gazed with considerable curiosity and interest at +the visitor. + +He was at least seventy years of age, but was dressed in the most +youthful fashion, and wore a light blond wig. Much below the medium +height, shrunken, shriveled and weazened, he presented a decidedly +ludicrous appearance as he stood, a huge bouquet in hand, bowing and +smiling at the young actress. + +Miss March could not help smiling herself; this evidently encouraged the +old gentleman. + +"You pardon the liberty I have taken, then?" he said. "I was sure you +would." + +"What is your business with me, sir?" the girl asked, composing her +features. + +"It is to offer a tribute to your art and beauty," replied Mr. Merry, +with a smirk. "But"--for the first time seeing the deputy and Al--"who +are these persons?" + +"Don't you know me, Mr. Merry?" asked the official. + +"Why, bless my soul!" ejaculated the old man, adjusting his glasses, +"it's Bullfinch!" + +"Yes, sir; it's me." + +"What are you doing here in Miss March's apartment?" + +"Attending to business, sir." + +"What business?" + +And the old man glared suspiciously at the cringing deputy. + +"Your business, Mr. Merry." + +"I didn't send you here." + +"You sent me to find the writer of that infamous advertisement in the +_Bugle_, didn't you, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I have found him." + +"Where is he? Who is he?" + +"There he stands." + +And Mr. Bullfinch pointed triumphantly at Al. + +"That boy?" gasped the old man. + +"Yes, sir." + +"You must be mistaken." + +"I am not. I went to the office of the _Bugle_ and asked who wrote the +advertisement. They told me it was the advance agent of the company, a +young man named Allston. I tracked him to this place, and was about to +drag him forth when you arrived." + +"You talk like a fool, Bullfinch," snapped Mr. Merry. + +"Sir, I----" + +"That will do. If this is the person who is responsible for that +advertisement take him away." + +"Yes, sir." + +And the deputy laid his hand on Al's shoulder. + +But Miss March interposed. + +"Wait a moment, Mr. Merry." + +"Certainly, my dear young lady. What is it?" + +"This gentleman, Mr. Allen Allston, never saw or heard of you before he +came to Rockton. It was not in a spirit of malice that he wrote that +advertisement. Don't you see, Mr. Merry, that by having him arrested you +will only subject yourself to ridicule? You acknowledge yourself to be a +'queer old man.' Why should you do that?" + +The old gentleman coughed. + +"Ahem! That aspect of the case had not occurred to me," he said. "You +assure me, Miss March, that the young man did not intend to hold me up +to ridicule?" + +"I am absolutely certain," interrupted the deputy, "that he did." + +"Shut up, Bullfinch!" + +"Mr. Merry," interrupted Al, "I give you my word of honor that I should +not have inserted that advertisement if I had for one moment supposed it +would injure the feelings of anyone. It was only a joke on the public." + +"A joke at my expense, young man!" + +"I have given you my word of honor, sir, that I did not intend to hurt +you or anyone else by that ad." + +"Your word of honor!" sneered Mr. Merry. "What is your word of honor +good for? Who are you?" + +Al colored. + +"You have heard my name from Miss March. I am Allen Allston." + +The old man started. + +"I did not catch the name before," he said. "Surely you are not Allen +Allston from Boomville?" + +"I am." + +"The noble young fellow who saved the life of my grandchild?" + +"Is Mayor Anderson's little girl your granddaughter, sir?" asked Al, a +little embarrassed. + +"Of course she is. My boy, I beg your pardon." + +And the old man grasped Al's hand and shook it warmly, adding: + +"The youth who performed such a heroic act could not be guilty of such a +crime as that of which you are accused. Bullfinch"--turning fiercely +upon the deputy--"you are a fool!" + +"Sir----" + +"What put it into your head that he could have had any malicious intent +in writing that advertisement?" + +"I only acted upon your instructions, sir," responded the deputy, very +humbly. + +"Nonsense! I thought you had a little common sense. Leave the room, sir. +Your presence is an insult to me and to my friends." + +"But the arrest, sir----" + +"There will be no arrest to-day; I withdraw the complaint." + +"But the warrant----" + +"Tear it up--do anything you like with it, only don't worry me any +further with your nonsensical remarks. Go, sir!" + +The deputy slunk out of the room. + +Mr. Merry turned to the actress. + +"I am extremely pained," he began, "that such a scene should have +occurred in your room. I am----" + +"Will you please state your business, sir?" interrupted Miss March. + +The old gentleman was a little disconcerted at first, but he quickly +recovered himself and said: + +"I come, as I remarked before, to pay a tribute to genius and beauty." + +"Well?" + +Al had not supposed the girl capable of assuming such a frigid air as +that with which she now confronted her aged admirer. + +"Will you accept these flowers?" stammered the old man. "They are a +tribute to----" + +"Thanks," interrupted the actress. "You may leave them on the table." + +"You are very kind. And now----" + +"And now you must excuse me; I have business of importance with Mr. +Allston." + +"Oh, certainly! May I call again?" + +"I am too much occupied to receive callers. Good-morning." + +And with perfect self-possession the young girl opened the door. + +Mumbling a few inaudible words, the aged admirer of the drama left the +room. + +"I am sorry to say," remarked Miss March, "that I have seen men like +him before. He means no harm, but I cannot endure such silliness. But +never mind about him; let us talk about ourselves. Sit down, please, and +I will try to commence where I left off. When we were interrupted I had +asked you to tell me the story of your sister's disappearance----" + +"And I was about to do so." + +"Exactly. Go on." + +Al hesitated. + +"Why do you want to hear the story, Miss March?" he asked. + +"Because--because----" + +"Well?" + +"Because I believe that I may be your sister!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE LOCKET. + + +Al started. Could Miss March seriously mean what she said? + +"You surely do not think," the girl said, earnestly, "that I would jest +on a subject so sacred?" + +"No, no," Al assured her, "but what ground have you for thinking that we +may be related?" + +"No logical ground, perhaps," the actress replied; "but from the moment +I first saw you--and I have seen you when you were not aware of my +presence--I was strangely attracted to you. You may laugh at this, you +may think it only the foolish fancy of a foolish girl, but it is true." + +"And I, too," said Al, thoughtfully, "have had the same feeling toward +you. I remember I could think of nothing but your face all the way home +on the night of your first performance in Boomville. Can it really be +that you are my sister, restored to me in this strange way? If she is +alive she must be about your age." + +"Tell me all you know about her," entreated the girl; "the circumstances +under which she was lost--all. But no"--with sudden change of manner--"I +will tell you my story first, if you will listen to it." + +"Go on, please, Miss March." + +"My first recollections are of a miserable home on the upper floor of a +tenement house in New York. I lived with a hard-featured woman who +called herself my aunt. Her name was Ann Thompson. Did you ever hear of +her?" + +And Miss March gazed anxiously into the boy's face. + +Al shook his head. + +"Never!" + +"Aunt Ann, as I used to call her," went on the actress, "was always more +or less under the influence of liquor. Gin was her favorite drink. She +would work until she had money enough for a debauch, and then--but I +cannot bear to recall my unhappy childhood." + +Miss March paused and turned away her face; her trembling voice showed +the emotion she felt. + +"I can imagine it all," said Al, sympathetically. "Go on, please, and +spare yourself unnecessary pain." + +"How kind you are!" the young girl said, gratefully. "I will, then, omit +many details which I am sure would be as painful for you to hear as for +me to relate. When under the influence of alcohol Aunt Ann was sometimes +very cruel to me. She would beat and otherwise ill-treat me; and to-day +I bear scars inflicted by her. But I bore all as patiently as I could, +and for what reason, do you suppose?" + +"I should think you would have left her," said Al, as the actress +paused. + +"I should have done so but for one thing." + +"And that was?" + +"Sometimes while intoxicated she would hint to me that in reality we +were not flesh and blood, that I was in no way akin to her, that there +was a secret in my life that she could reveal if she would, a secret the +publication of which would be greatly to my advantage. But she never +became so intoxicated that she told me the whole truth; I could only +guess it. Sometimes during her sober intervals I would tax her with what +she had said; but she would always reply by telling me that I must pay +no attention to anything she said when she was drunk--that she was at +such times out of her mind, and did not know what she was saying. Once, +when I persisted, she became greatly enraged, and gave me such a beating +that I was taken to a hospital and she was arrested and sentenced to a +term of imprisonment." + +At this point in her story Miss March burst into tears. + +"Postpone telling the rest of it until another time," said Al, to whom +the recital was almost as painful as to the girl. + +"No," said the actress, "I must go on. I was discharged from the +hospital on the day on which Aunt Ann was released from jail, and the +old life was renewed." + +"You went back to live with the woman?" cried Al. + +"Yes. I had no other home. Besides, I still hoped that I might be able +to learn from her the secret of my birth--for that there was a secret I +was now more firmly convinced than ever. At the time of which I have +just been telling you, I was about twelve years of age. Three years +later Aunt Ann, while under the influence of liquor, met with an +accident which terminated her miserable life in two days. When she was +told that she was really dying, she sent for a priest and confessed to +him. When the clergyman was gone she summoned me to her bedside, and +told me that at the suggestion of the good father she was about to tell +me at last the secret that I had been striving so long to learn." + +"And she said----" demanded the boy, breathlessly. + +"She began by telling me that she was not my aunt, that we were in no +way related. Years before she had been my nurse. My poor mother had in +some trivial way offended her, and under the influence of her +anger--and, I suppose, of alcohol--she determined to revenge herself by +kidnaping me. She carried this resolution into effect, and her guilt was +never proven, although it was suspected. 'My name is not Ann Thompson,' +she said to me, 'but you shall know now what it really is, and who your +parents are. Your father is dead, but your mother still lives. For years +she has mourned you unceasingly.' The woman then bade me unlock and open +a certain drawer in her bureau. I did so, and took from it at her +direction a small package. 'That bundle,' she said, 'contains proof of +your identity. Take it to your mother and show her what is in it. Tell +her what I have said, give her my real name, and she will acknowledge +you as her 'daughter.' 'What is your name?' I cried, breathlessly--'what +is mine?' The woman opened her lips to reply, but not a sound escaped +them. The next moment she fell back upon her pillow. I bent over her, +crying in an agony of suspense: 'Speak, speak!' But she could not, she +was dead!" + +"What did the package contain?" asked Al. + +"Only a few articles of infant's clothing and two pieces of jewelry. +Some time they may be of assistance to me in finding my parents, but +thus far they have proved of no value as a clew. Well, after Aunt Ann's +death I was adopted by a family in moderate circumstances. They had no +interest in my personal affairs, all they wanted of me was my services +as housemaid, and I served in that capacity for two years. Then came an +opportunity to adopt a stage career, and I eagerly seized it, against +the advice of all who were in any way interested. I must say that, so +far, I have had no reason to regret my decision in the matter. I find +that the stories of the temptations of stage life that I had heard were +gross exaggerations, and that a woman can be as good and pure on the +stage as off it. And now, my friend, you have heard my story; can you +help me find my mother? Do you think it possible that I am the sister +for whom you have been searching?" + +Al's voice trembled with emotion as he replied: + +"That question can very soon be decided. Have you the package of +infant's clothing that you spoke of?" + +"Yes; I always have it with me wherever I go." + +"May I see it?" + +"I am very anxious to show it to you." + +And the actress rose and opened her trunk, from which she took a small +parcel. + +Her face was very pale, her hands trembled as she unfastened the little +package. + +"Look!" she said. + +Al took the garments, yellowed with time, in his hands. + +"I have heard my mother describe the clothing that my little sister wore +when she disappeared," he said, "a thousand times. She would be able to +tell you if these are the ones, but I cannot. But the jewelry--where is +that?" + +"Here." + +And the girl handed him a box. + +The lad took from it a baby's ring and a chain, to which was attached a +locket. + +"My sister wore a chain and locket like these when she was lost," he +said, "In a moment I will tell you if this is the locket." + +"How can you?" the actress cried. + +"Because the locket contains my father's picture." + +"There is no picture in this," said Miss March, with a look of deep +disappointment. + +"You do not know whether there is or not," said Al. "There is a secret +spring and I can find it. Look!" + +As he spoke the locket flew open. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +BROTHER AND SISTER. + + +As Miss March bent over the locket she uttered an exclamation of wonder +and delight. + +The portrait revealed was that of a singularly handsome man in the prime +of life. The calm, thoughtful eyes and the sensitive mouth were those of +the young actress herself; the likeness was not only unmistakable, but +remarkable. + +"Is it possible that this picture has been here all these years, and I +have never known it?" the girl exclaimed. + +"You might never have discovered it," replied Al. "I should not have +known but for the fact that I have a locket precisely like it, which +opens in the same way." + +"Then there can be no doubt----" + +"That you are my sister." + +"Brother!" + +The next moment the singularly united couple were folded in each other's +arms. + +It was a moment that in all their after lives neither of them ever +forgot, a joy that no future sorrow had the power to efface from their +memories. + +When the first transports of emotion were over, the young girl said, +tremulously: + +"My mother--when shall I see her? Oh, I must go to her at once! I must, +I must!" + +"Of course, Mr. Wattles will give you leave of absence as soon as we +tell him what we have discovered." + +"I do not see how he can." + +"Why can't he?" + +"I have no understudy. No, I must remain; he has been very kind to me, +and I could not ask a favor that I knew it would be so very difficult +for him to grant." + +"That is right, sister. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll telegraph +to mother to come on here at once. She will arrive before the evening +performance." + +"Do so, brother---- Oh, how strange, yet how delightful, it is to utter +that sacred name! But do not tell her the truth until she comes." + +"No, indeed. Why, I think the shock would almost kill her. We must break +it to her gently." + +At this moment Mr. Wattles came bustling into the room. + +"The advance sale," he began, "is something unheard of in Rockton. +Why---- But what's the matter? Nothing wrong, is there?" + +"No, indeed," Al replied. "Everything is all right." + +And he proceeded to acquaint the manager in a few words with what had +happened. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you beat the deck, +young man. I'm going to write a romance about you when the season is +over. You're no sooner done with one startling adventure than you're +right in the midst of another. Why, you're almost equal to one of +Dumas' heroes! Well, I sincerely congratulate you both." + +After a hearty handshake the manager added: + +"And now I must be off to give this story to the papers." + +"No, no!" cried Miss March. + +"Not by any means," added Al. + +Mr. Wattles stared at them. + +"What do you mean?" he asked. + +"We mean," said Al, "that this is a private affair with which the papers +have nothing to do." + +"But, my dear boy, think--only think--what a grand ad. it would make for +the show!" + +"No matter; we don't want a word printed about it." + +"Of course not," said the actress. "I should think you would understand +our feelings in the matter, Mr. Wattles." + +"Well, I don't," returned the manager, evidently chagrined. "I cannot, +to save my life, see why you are willing to throw away such a chance for +a stunning free ad. Nor"--addressing Al--"can I understand your +scruples. By Jove! you are the queerest combination of impudence and +modesty that I ever met. But have it your own way, my children; throw +away the chance if you want to." + +As he was about to leave the room the old gentleman turned again, +saying: + +"I almost forgot that I had a letter for you, Miss March. Here it is, +and I think I know the handwriting." + +As the actress glanced at the superscription on the envelope she changed +color. + +"It is from that wretch, Farley!" she exclaimed. + +"So I thought," said Mr. Wattles. "You had better look out for that man, +my dear. He is, or thinks he is, desperately in love with you, and he +may give you some trouble yet. If you don't mind, I should like to know +the contents of that letter. Believe me, it is not from mere idle +curiosity that I ask you to let me read it." + +"I know that, Mr. Wattles," said Miss March. "Ever since I have been in +your company you have been like a father to me. You shall open the +letter yourself if you will." + +She handed the epistle to the manager, who tore it open. As he glanced +at its contents a frown appeared upon his usually cheerful countenance. + +"The scoundrel!" he muttered, crushing the letter in his hand; "if I +ever meet him again I will thrash him within an inch of his life--I +will, by Jove!" + +"What does he say?" the girl asked, anxiously. + +"It will do you no good to know the contents of this precious epistle," +replied Mr. Wattles. "You had better let me destroy it." + +But Miss March's feminine curiosity was now aroused, and she insisted +upon knowing what was in the letter. + +"Well, if you will have it," said the manager, resignedly, "I'll read it +to you. But if you don't sleep nights for the next week or two you +mustn't blame me." + +"Go on, go on!" + +The old gentleman read as follows: + + "GLADYS: This is to remind you that, although we are + separated, I am near you. Do you remember what I told + you the last time we met, that no power on earth could + make me give you up? I meant what I said, I mean it + still. I am not far away; you will see me sooner than + you think." + +"Is there no signature?" asked Miss March. + +"None, but there can be no doubt as to the identity of the writer." + +"Of course not." + +"I don't want to alarm you, my dear, but you ought to be very careful." + +"I shall be." + +Al laughed. + +"I don't think there is much danger," he said. "That letter sounds like +an extract from a sensational novel. A barking dog never bites, you +know." + +"I don't know anything of the sort," returned Mr. Wattles. "Some barking +dogs do bite; and this one, as you have reason to know yourself, has +sharp teeth. Well, just let me lay my hands on him and I'll settle him +in short order." + +"What will you do?" smiled Al. + +"First, as I said before, I'll give him a sound thrashing. Oh, you may +laugh, but I can do it, if I am not a boy. And then I'll hand him over +to the authorities. By Jove! I had no idea that the fellow was such a +scoundrel when he was in my employ, or I wouldn't have kept him an +hour. But now I really must be off. Do your best to-night, Miss March; +you'll have one of the biggest houses of the season--thanks to the +exertions of that sharp young brother of yours." + +And the manager rushed out of the room. + +"Brother!" the girl said, softly. "How sweet the name sounds. To think +that I have a brother! And a mother!" + +"Don't cry--please don't!" entreated Al, with a boy's horror of feminine +tears. + +"They are tears of joy, brother. And now you must go and send the +telegram." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE. + + +A telegram, carefully worded so that Mrs. Allston's maternal alarms +might not be aroused, was sent. In it Al requested her to come to +Rockton by a certain train, and promised to be at the depot to meet her. + +A reply came within an hour: + +"Yours received. Shall be there. Hope nothing has happened." + +"I should say something had happened," laughed Al, when he and his +new-found sister had read the message. + +"Poor mother!" sighed the girl. "She fears that you have met with some +accident." + +"In a very few hours that fear will be dispelled. What will she say when +she learns the truth?" + +"Ah, what?" responded Miss March. "I dread almost as much as I long for +the meeting." + +The anxious mother arrived on time. It is not our purpose to chronicle +the first meeting between the long-separated couple. Such scenes defy +the skill of the storyteller's pen or the artist's brush. Suffice it to +say that the proofs of her identity presented by the young girl were +perfectly satisfactory to Mrs. Allston, and that the reunion of mother +and daughter was all that the fancy of either had ever pictured it. + +True, the somewhat Puritanical old lady was a little shocked at finding +her daughter a member of the theatrical profession; she had always +regarded player folk as far beneath herself, both socially and morally, +and her own daughter was probably the first actress she had ever seen +off the stage. + +"I wish, my dear," she said, "that you would give up this dreadful +business and go home with me. To think of my child, my daughter, a play +actress! It is dreadful!" + +"Not quite as dreadful as you think, mother," the girl replied, quietly. +"I could not conscientiously leave Mr. Wattles until he had secured some +one else to play the part. Then, however, if you wish me to give up the +stage, I shall do so. We will talk it all over after the performance +to-night." + +"Yes, we will talk it over after the performance," echoed the mother. + +The house was crowded to the doors that night. Not a seat was to be had +at eight o'clock; even standing room was at a premium. + +Again Al had demonstrated his ability as a hustler. + +Everyone in town had read and re-read his strange advertisement; many +eyes were bent on the third row of the orchestra, in search of the +"queer old man." And Mr. Marmaduke Merry was there, too, not a whit +abashed, a huge bouquet in his withered hand. + +A good many people had heard of his attempt to have Al arrested in the +morning--such news travels fast--and he was the unconscious butt of many +a covert jest. + +Some one--it will never be known who, though there may be reason to +suspect Mr. Augustus Wattles--had caused the report to be spread that +the pretty actress, Miss Gladys March, was the long-lost sister of the +young press agent, Al Allston, and that they had been reunited through +the article in the _Banner_. That more than one person knew about it was +evident when Al made his appearance in a box, with his mother on his +arm; the applause that greeted him was as unexpected as it was +embarrassing. + +At first the boy did not realize that he was the object of these unusual +demonstrations. + +"What are they making all that noise about?" he said. + +"Why, they are applauding you," his mother said. + +"Nonsense!" + +"Don't you see that every eye is fixed on this box?" + +"I don't know but you are right," gasped Al, feeling symptoms of a +return of the "stage fright" with which he had been seized on the +occasion of the first performance in Boomville. + +"Of course I am." + +"Of course she is," added Mr. Wattles, suddenly appearing upon the +scene. "Bow, my boy, bow! And couldn't you make a little impromptu +speech?" + +"Not much!" replied Al, very emphatically. "I tell you, Mr. Wattles, if +I had had any idea that the duties of a press agent included so many +public appearances, I should not have gone into the business." + +He bowed; then some one--probably under the manager's direction--called +out: + +"Speech! speech!" + +But Al shook his head so emphatically that the audience saw he meant his +refusal, and the applause soon subsided. + +A few moments later the curtain rose. + +There was very little applause until Miss March made her entrance; her +appearance was the signal for another demonstration of enthusiasm. +Probably seven-eighths of the audience did not know why they were +applauding, but the other eighth did, and its enthusiasm was, as a +matter of course, contagious. The applause was literally deafening. In +its midst Mr. Merry hurled his bouquet upon the stage. It fell at the +feet of the young actress, who picked it up, smiling and blushing, to +the evident delight of the elderly "masher." + +Mrs. Allston shuddered. + +"This life of feverish excitement will kill my child," she said. "She +must abandon it." + +"Wait till you see her play, mother," said Al. + +"That will not alter my determination." + +"Wait," added the boy, quietly. + +He was not wrong in the conclusion he had reached. Miss March's part was +small, but it was a strong one. It was that of a persecuted young girl +who had been driven from home because of a misunderstanding. It was a +pathetic rôle, and before the actress had been on the stage five minutes +the entire female portion of the audience were in tears, and there was a +suspicious moisture in the eyes of more than one of the sterner sex. + +"Isn't she fine?" whispered Al in his mother's ear, as the girl left the +stage, after her first scene. + +"It is wonderful! I am amazed." + +"You did not think there was so much talent in the family, did you? Now, +wouldn't it be a pity to rob the stage of such an ornament?" + +"Yes." + +"I thought you would say so. I believe she has a great future. But let +us leave the decision to her." + +"We will do so, my boy." + +At this moment there came a shrill cry from the gallery. + +"Fire!" + +For one instant there was a dead silence; then three-quarters of the +audience sprang to their feet. + +Then came a mad rush for the exits. + +It was a scene of indescribable confusion. Women and children were +trampled beneath the feet of those who should have been their +protectors, but whose only thought now was to save their cowardly +selves. + +The shrieks of the terrified women, the groans of the injured, the +curses of the rougher element, who, though face to face with death, did +not fear to blaspheme--these added to the horror of the scene. + +It was evident that the alarm had not been a false one, for the house +was rapidly filling with smoke, and the crackling of flames could be +plainly heard. + +The doors soon became blocked. It seemed certain that many must perish +in the flames. + +Al quickly led his mother through the door that connected the box with +the stage, and conducted her in safety out of the building through the +stage entrance. + +As he passed Mr. Wattles at the door he uttered one word: + +"Gladys?" + +"She is safe," the manager replied. "She went out but a moment ago." + +"Thank Heaven! Mother, are you afraid to go back to the hotel alone?" + +"No, no; it is but a very short distance. But what are you going to do, +my boy?" + +"I think I can be of some assistance in getting the people out. Good-by! +I shall be with you again soon." + +And he rushed around to the front of the house, where the confusion was +greater than ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AN EVENTFUL NIGHT. + + +The Rockton police force were evidently not equal to the emergency--two +or three Hibernians in blue uniform were rushing wildly about, issuing +orders to which no one paid the slightest attention. + +Meanwhile nearly a thousand people were confined within the burning +building, most of them apparently doomed to a horrible death. + +At the doors--of which there were only two--men were fighting like +maniacs to escape, and actually retarding their own progress in their +mad excitement. + +What could one boy hope to do against this panic-stricken throng? + +This is the question that Al Allston asked himself. + +"I'm afraid I shan't accomplish much," he said to himself; "but I'm +going to try, anyhow." + +Assuming as cool an air as he could, he ran up to the entrance. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "there is no danger. Take it easy; walk out just +as you would at any other time, and everything will be all right. Keep +cool." + +Probably not more than half a dozen persons heard the words, but the few +who did hear them were impressed by the calm, fearless demeanor of the +boy, which was in such striking contrast to that of everyone else in the +crowd. + +An example of this sort is contagious; word was passed from one man to +another that the danger was not as great as had been supposed. The +conduct of the throng changed almost immediately. + +"Walk out quietly," went on Al, who was now able to make himself heard. +"Those on the right-hand side go in the direction of Grand Street, and +those on the left in the direction of Market Street. Don't block the +sidewalk. Keep cool, and everyone will get out all right. There is +nothing to get excited about." + +These words had almost a magical effect. In reality, there was quite +enough in the situation to excite anyone, but Al's apparent calmness and +his assertion that the danger did not amount to anything produced just +the result he desired. + +The crowd became more rational, and to make a long story short, within +three minutes the building was emptied, even of the women and children +who had fainted or been injured. + +Five minutes later the roof of the building fell in, but there was every +reason to believe that not a single human life had been sacrificed. + +Al started for his hotel as quietly as if nothing unusual had happened. +But he had gone only a few steps when he was overtaken by Mr. Wattles. + +To his astonishment, the manager folded him in his arms, exclaiming: + +"By Jove! I wish you were my son!" + +"What's the matter now?" asked the boy, disengaging himself. + +"Matter? Why, the matter is that you have in all probability saved the +lives of several hundred people." + +"Nonsense!" + +"That's just what you have done, all the same. You have a cool head for +such a young fellow--I can tell you that. If it hadn't been for you--I +shudder to think of what might have happened. You are, as I have had +occasion to remark before, a wonder." + +"Nonsense, Mr. Wattles! But I must go now; mother is sure to be worrying +about me." + +"But there are a score of people waiting to be introduced to you, and I +have promised to bring you back with me." + +"I can't go, Mr. Wattles." + +"But----" + +"Tell them that I---- Oh, just tell them the plain truth." + +"That you have a morbid horror of being lionized?" + +"If you want to put it in that way; and that my mother is waiting for +me." + +"Well, well, I won't urge you--particularly as I know that you generally +mean what you say and stick to it. But, let me tell you, young man, you +will have to stand considerable lionizing before you leave this town, +whether you like it or not." + +"I don't think so," smiled Al. "There is an early train in the morning, +if I am not mistaken." + +"But you won't take it." + +"You will see. Well, good-night, Mr. Wattles. Oh, wait a moment!" + +"What is it?" + +"You are sure my sister got out all right?" + +"Oh, yes; everyone on the stage escaped within two minutes after the +first alarm. Don't you know I told you that I saw her go out? You will +find her with your mother when you get back to the hotel." + +Al said good-night once more, and walked away. + +"Well," muttered the manager, as he stood and watched the lad's slim +figure until it was lost to view, "that boy is a corker. I don't believe +he is afraid of anything on earth--except speech-making. I should like +to see him really agitated for once." + +Mr. Wattles had his wish in less than fifteen minutes. + +He had just lighted the gas in his hotel room when there was a quick +knock upon the door. + +Before he could say "Come in!" Al rushed into the room. + +One glance at his face showed the manager that something unusual must +have happened. Never before had he seen the boy so intensely excited; he +was panting for breath, and his face was ghastly pale. + +"What is the matter?" the old gentleman gasped. + +"Gladys--my sister----" the boy began. + +"Has anything happened to her?" + +"We cannot find her." + +"She has not returned to the hotel?" + +"No." + +"Oh, there can be no occasion for alarm. I told you she got out of the +theater all right." + +"But she may have returned." + +"What should she return for? But she did not; that I am sure of." + +"Where is she, then?" + +"Oh, don't worry, my boy; she will turn up all right. Perhaps she has +gone to visit friends." + +"Would she be likely to visit friends under such circumstances?" said +the boy, almost angrily. "She has no acquaintances in this place--she +told me so only this afternoon; and if she had, this is not the time she +would choose for making a social call." + +"No, of course not, my boy. Well, what do you think has become of her?" + +"I believe that she has been the victim of foul play. Have you forgotten +Farley's letter?" + +Mr. Wattles started. + +"It may be so." + +"I am sure it is." + +"But I have seen nothing of Farley." + +"He would not be likely to let you see anything of him if he could help +it." + +"True. Well, what shall we do? Command me, my boy; I am at your +service." + +Before Al could reply the door, which the boy had only partially closed, +was opened, and a man entered. + +Both our hero and the manager recognized him as one of the stage hands +in the Rockton Theater. + +When he saw Al he started, then he said: + +"Mr. Wattles, I came here on purpose to get this here young gentleman's +address." + +"My address?" cried Al. "What do you want that for?" + +"Is it true, sir," the man asked, "that the young lady as was on the +bills as Miss Gladys March is your sister?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, sir, I have some information for you." + +"Do you know where she is?" demanded the boy, breathlessly. + +"No, sir; but I know that she is in a trap, and that if you want to save +her you must act quick. I've come here, sir, to make a clean breast of +my part in the affair." + +Overcome by excitement, Al seized the fellow by the throat and forced +him to his knees. + +"Speak!" he hissed. "Tell the truth, or I will strangle you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A CLEW. + + +Mr. Wattles stepped forward and gently forced Al to relax his hold on +the man's throat. + +"Don't get excited, my boy," he said. "This is just the time when you +need a cool head." + +"That's so, sir," added the visitor. "I don't blame the young gent for +the way he feels, but if he expects to get the best of that villain, +Jack Farley, he has got to keep his wits about him." + +"Then," gasped Al, "it was Farley that enticed her away?" + +"It was him, sir." + +"And what had you to do with it?" + +"More than I wish I had. The truth is, sir, I did not realize what I was +doing at the time. I was not onto his game until it was too late, and +then I----" + +"Don't beat about the bush any longer," interrupted Mr. Wattles, +impatiently. "What was Farley's game?" + +"Where is my sister?" added Al, in an agony of suspense. + +"It's like this, gents," replied the man. "Just before the alarm of fire +was given a man came to the stage door, where I happened to be standing +at the time. His collar was turned up, and his hat was pulled down, and +at first I did not recognize him. 'I want you to do me a favor,' he +says. 'What is it?' says I, 'and who are you?' 'Don't you know me?' he +asks me. 'No, I don't,' I tells him, 'and I ain't got no time to stand +here fooling with you.' You see, I thought maybe he was a stage-door +masher, though he didn't look much like one, to tell the truth, for he +was dressed in a way that----" + +"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Wattles again. "Get to the point. +The man told you he was Farley?" + +"He did, sir." + +"Why were you any more willing to talk to him then? Had you ever met him +before?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"By your own admission you knew he was a villain. Why, then, were you +willing to do him a favor?" + +"He did me a great service once, sir, and I was glad of a chance to +repay him." + +"Even at the risk of a young girl's life happiness, perhaps her life +itself?" + +"I did not think it was as serious as all that then, sir. You see, all +he asked me was to tell Miss March that a friend bearing important news +was waiting just outside the stage door to see her, and that he would +not detain her more than a minute. He also told me not to say that it +was him if she should ask." + +"And you did this?" + +"I took the message to Miss March, and, as she had at least half an +hour's time before she had to go on again, she went with me to the door +without any hesitation." + +"And then?" cried Al, breathlessly. + +"There was no one else around at the moment. Miss March stepped out. I +was surprised to see that there was a carriage waiting in the alley. He +said something to her that I could not hear, and led her to the door of +the carriage. The next moment, to my surprise, he lifted her in his arms +and put her into the carriage. She didn't have time to make any +resistance at all. I am not sure, but I think there was another person +in the carriage." + +"And you made no attempt to interfere?" cried Mr. Wattles. + +"What could I do, sir?" + +"I am pretty sure that if I had been in your place I should have done +something," said the old gentleman, warmly. + +"The carriage drove off like mad as soon as the young lady was put into +it, sir." + +"Didn't Farley enter it, too?" + +"Oh, yes, he jumped right in after her. The driver seemed to know what +to do; anyway, he received no directions from Mr. Farley in my hearing. +I suppose it had all been arranged between them beforehand." + +"Of course. You might have given the alarm at once; why didn't you?" +demanded Al. + +"By that time, sir, the alarm of fire had been given, and there was a +terrible commotion in the theater. In the confusion I did not know what +to do." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, "better late than never. But what put it into +your head to come here at all?" + +"I don't know that I should have come, sir, but when I heard of the +heroic way in which this young gent behaved, and how he saved the lives +of maybe half the audience--when I heard all this, and was told that the +young lady, Miss March, was his sister, I made up my mind that I would +come here and make a clean breast of my part of the affair." + +"And you have really told us all you know?" + +"All, sir, so help me Heaven!" + +"I believe you, my man," said Mr. Wattles. + +"And so do I," added Al. "But we must not spend any more time in talk; +we have got to do something at once." + +"I will do anything in my power to help you, sir," said the man. + +"I don't see that you can do much more than you have done," said Al. +"You can give me a description of the carriage and the horse, though." + +"The carriage was an ordinary livery coach. There were two horses, both +of them gray. It was a livery turn-out--there can't be any doubt about +that--and not a first-class one, either." + +"You don't know what stable it came from?" + +"No, sir; but it won't be a very hard job to find that out, for there +are only three stables in town. Two of them are quite swell, but the +other isn't, and I guess it was from that one that the coach came." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, springing to his feet, "we can get to work +now. Come, my boy, this man shall take us to the stable at once, and we +will see what they have to tell us there." + +"I don't want to drag you out, Mr. Wattles," said Al. "I can manage this +business alone." + +"You can, eh?" said the manager, almost indignantly. "Well, maybe you +could, but you won't get the chance. I am going to be right in it with +you. Why, do you suppose I could sleep a wink to-night with this thing +on my mind? I tell you, my boy, I thought more of that girl than you +imagine, and if anything should happen to her----" + +Mr. Wattles choked and turned away his head. Al was surprised at this +exhibition of emotion; he had not given his employer credit for the +possession of so much feeling. + +He extended his hand. + +"Mr. Wattles," he said, "you are a good friend of mine and hers. Have it +your own way, then. Come!" + +The manager pressed the boy's hand. + +"I don't like scenes--off the stage," he said, rather shamefacedly. "I +dislike emotion, and am seldom betrayed into it. But--but---- Oh, well, +we mustn't stand here talking all night. Lead the way to the stable you +spoke of, my man." + +Ten minutes later the trio reached the stable. Here several delays +awaited them. In the first place, the man who had been on duty in the +office at the time the coach must have been hired, was asleep in a room +above the stable, and when awakened refused to get up. After some +persuasion, he agreed to do so, and came downstairs half dressed. He was +also half asleep, and for several minutes could not recall the event +about which his visitors were so anxious to be informed. It had been an +unusually busy evening, and he was not sure whether the coach had come +from that stable or not. + +At last, however, his memory having been stimulated by a five-dollar +bill, which Mr. Wattles slipped into his hands, he remembered having +rented the team to a man who answered Farley's description. + +"There was a lady with him, too," the man added. + +"What sort of a looking woman?" asked the manager. + +"Tall, dark, with very black eyes." + +"Miss Hollingsworth!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles. + +"Just the idea that occurred to me," added Al. + +"It was she, beyond the shadow of a doubt. She is in the scheme, too, +then. That woman is capable of anything. At last we have a clew, and a +strong one." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ON THE TRACK. + + +"But why," questioned Al, "should Miss Hollingsworth lend herself to +such a scheme?" + +"For several reasons," Mr. Wattles replied. "In the first place, she is +a woman who likes mischief for its own sake--there are such people, you +know. Then, she is under the influence of Farley; that is a fact that I +have known for a long time. That man can make her do almost anything he +wishes." + +"Is she in love with him?" + +"Sometimes I have thought so, and sometimes I have thought she almost +hated him. He seems to exercise a sort of hypnotic influence over her; +that is the only way in which I can explain it." + +"If she is in love with him," suggested Al, "it is rather strange, isn't +it, that she should help him to abduct a rival?" + +"Not when you consider everything. Remember that the woman has a grudge +against you. You haven't forgotten that episode at the Boomville Opera +House, have you? You were the indirect means of throwing her out of an +engagement." + +"That is so." + +"You can depend upon it," went on the manager, "that the woman in the +case--and in the carriage--was Miss Olga Hollingsworth. But we mustn't +stand talking here any longer." + +Mr. Wattles had observed that the stableman was listening to the +dialogue with considerable interest. + +"Where did the couple say they were going?" he added. + +"They said," was the reply, "that they wanted to catch a train, but that +they had to make a call first." + +"Did they say where they were going to call?" + +"They did not." + +"Did they say what train they wanted to catch?" + +"No, sir." + +"Where is the driver that took them out? Has he returned yet?" + +"He came back long ago, and has gone home." + +"Did he say where he took them?" questioned Al. + +"No, sir, he said nothing about the matter; all we were talking about +was the theater fire." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, with a wink at Al, "we are much obliged for +your information. Good-night." + +And he took the boy's arm and walked him rather unceremoniously out of +the place. + +"I wanted to ask a few more questions," said Al, when they were outside. + +"It wouldn't have done any good, my boy. The man told us all he knew +about the case." + +"I'm not so sure about that," demurred Al. "It seems rather queer to me +that the driver should say nothing at all about such a peculiar case +when he got back to the stable. According to the report of the stage +hand he must have been posted about Farley's intention. He was really a +party to the crime." + +"Exactly; and that, of course, is just the reason he said nothing when +he got back. But we can find out all that later on. Now, in my opinion, +they--Farley, Hollingsworth and their victim--did really take a train. +The question now is, what train?" + +"Perhaps we can learn that at the railway station." + +"Just what I was going to say. We will go to the station now and find +out what trains leave at about the time that our friends would have been +likely to reach the place." + +"Rockton is not a very big place; there are not many trains a day." + +"No; we shan't have any trouble in getting the information we want." + +They found the station agent at the depot. He was a small, shriveled-up +old man, and he glared suspiciously at them when they questioned him. + +It took them some minutes to elicit the information that two trains left +the station at nine-ten--about the hour that the carriage would have +reached the place if it had gone there direct from the theater. + +"And where do these two trains go?" asked Mr. Wattles. + +"One goes to New York." + +"And the other?" + +"The other is the Boston express." + +The manager then described the occupants of the carriage. + +"I remember them; what of it?" said the station agent, crustily. + +"What do you remember about them?" + +"I remember that one of the ladies--the smaller one--seemed to be sick; +at any rate, she had to be helped into the waiting room, where they all +three stayed till the train arrived." + +"Which of the two trains did they take?" cried Al. + +"That I don't know." + +"You don't know?" + +"That's what I said. Do you suppose I keep tabs on everyone that comes +into this place? Hardly." + +"The New York train and the Boston train were here at the same time?" + +"Yes." + +"And they might have taken either?" + +"They might." + +"It is of a good deal of importance to us," said Al, "to learn which of +those two trains they took." + +"I can't help that," was the reply. "I'm no clairvoyant or +fortune-teller." + +"Isn't there some one about the station who could give us some +information?" + +"I don't think there is. The ticket-seller that they bought their +tickets from might tell you something, but he's off now; there is +another man in his place." + +Al and Mr. Wattles stared at each other in perplexity. + +Just then a hang-dog looking young fellow of about Al's age came +slouching up. + +"Here, Smith," called out the station agent, "these folks want some +information; perhaps you can give it to 'em. Tell this chap what you +want, gents, and maybe he can help you out." + +Al explained the situation to the fellow, who said, readily enough: + +"Oh, yes; I remember that party." + +"And which of the two trains did they take?" + +"The one goin' to Boston." + +"At last," exclaimed Mr. Wattles, "we have a little information. Now, +then, my boy, what shall we do?" + +"I shall follow them," replied Al, promptly. + +"I wish I could go with you, but----" + +"I know it would be impossible, Mr. Wattles; and probably I shall get +along just as well alone." + +"Maybe; but I'd like to be with you to witness the discomfiture of that +arch-villain. Well, come along and get your ticket for Boston." + +They were now walking in the direction of the ticket office. + +"No," said Al, "I shall get a ticket for New York." + +"Eh?" + +The boy repeated the statement. + +"But that fellow said they went to Boston; you must have misunderstood +him." + +"Oh, no, I didn't." + +"He certainly said Boston." + +"I know he did." + +"And yet you are going to get a ticket for New York?" + +"I am." + +"I don't understand you." + +"I'll explain. You didn't see the wink he gave the station agent when he +told us the Boston train yarn, did you?" + +"No." + +"I did." + +"You think he was lying to us?" + +"I am sure of it. Farley probably paid him to put us off the track." + +"Allston, you are a smart young fellow, but there is such a thing as +being too smart. It may be that by going to New York you will lose +them." + +"I don't think so, Mr. Wattles; I am sure I am right. At any rate, I +will take the chances." + +Twenty minutes later Al was on his way to the metropolis. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"DR. FERGUSON." + + +As may be imagined, Al was very tired when he boarded the train for New +York. It had been a hard day for him; yet, though physically fatigued, +he was mentally alert. + +Next him sat a clerical-looking man of about fifty, who presently +remarked: + +"You got on at Rockton, young gentleman, did you not?" + +Al, glad of the chance to speak to anyone, replied in the affirmative. + +"I once had a charge there," went on the old man. + +Al did not understand him. + +"A charge?" he said, interrogatively. + +"Yes; I am a minister of the Gospel." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"Yes; I was pastor of the wealthiest church in Rockton. I left it to +accept a call to New York." + +As this statement possessed no especial interest to the boy, he made no +reply. + +There was a silence of some minutes' duration. Then the old gentleman +broke out with: + +"May I offer you my card?" + +At the same time he thrust a bit of pasteboard into Al's hand. + +Upon it was inscribed the name, David Ferguson, D. D. + +"I haven't a card with me, Dr. Ferguson," said the boy; "but my name is +Allen Allston." + +His traveling companion grasped his hand, and shook it with a remarkable +exhibition of warmth, considering their short acquaintance. + +"I am delighted to meet you, my young friend," he said. "Are you going +far?" + +"To New York, sir." + +"Indeed! Then we shall be traveling companions for nearly three hours. +How delightful!" + +The prospect did not seem quite so delightful to Al; for, although he +was glad to have some one to talk to, he began to fear that the Rev. Dr. +Ferguson might not prove a wholly congenial companion. + +"Are you a resident of Rockton?" went on the doctor. + +"No, sir." + +"Only a visitor there?" + +"That's all." + +"Rockton is a beautiful place." + +Al acquiesced. + +"And you don't live there?" continued Dr. Ferguson. + +"I do not." + +"You were visiting friends?" questioned the old man, whose bump of +curiosity seemed to be well developed. + +"I was not, sir; I was there on business." + +"On business! Really? You are quite young to be actively engaged in +business." + +As this was a point upon which Al was a little sore, he made no reply. +He was now quite willing to let the conversation end right there and +then. + +But Dr. Ferguson would not have it so. + +"What was the nature of your business, if I may ask?" he resumed. +"Pardon me, if I seem inquisitive." + +"Well," said Al, with a sigh, "I don't know that I have any reason to be +ashamed of my business." + +"I trust not, my dear young friend--I most sincerely trust that you have +not." + +"I am connected with Wattles' New York Comedy Company." + +Dr. Ferguson gasped for breath. + +"You are an actor--at your age?" he cried. + +Al laughed, a little sarcastically, it is to be feared. + +"It isn't quite as bad as that," he said. + +"Ah!" + +"I am only the advance agent." + +"And what, may I ask, is an advance agent?" + +Al explained. + +"It is not, then, quite as bad as I thought," said his companion. + +"It might be a heap worse," responded the boy, laconically. + +"But still," went on the reverend gentleman, "a position such as that +you hold may lead to something worse. You may in time--pardon me, if I +hurt your feelings--you may in time become an actor." + +"I guess not," said Al, who had some difficulty in repressing a smile. + +"You cannot tell, my dear young friend; one wrong step leads to another, +and once on the road to destruction, there is no knowing where or when +the end will come." + +"I hope I am not on the road to destruction yet," said Al, "and I feel +pretty sure that I am not." + +"Pride cometh before a fall, my dear young friend," said the doctor, +impressively. "The moment you begin to be too sure of yourself, you have +taken the first downward step. You may not be conscious of it, but it is +taken." + +Al began to shift about uneasily in his seat. + +"I know that what I say is not pleasant for you to hear," continued the +old gentleman, "but I speak for your own good." + +He then went on to deliver a long homily on the evils of theatrical +life, and actually succeeded in tiring Al to such an extent that he fell +asleep. + +He was awakened by a voice shouting in his ear: + +"This ain't a sleeping car, young man. All off!" + +Al leaped to his feet, only half awake. The car was empty of everyone +except himself and a brakeman. + +"Where are we?" he cried. + +"In New York," was the reply. "Say, young fellow, you are a pretty sound +sleeper." + +"Well, I'm awake now," said the boy. "I'm sorry to have given you any +trouble." + +"Oh, that's all right. But you haven't lost anything, have you?" + +"No. Why?" + +"I don't see your baggage anywhere?" + +"I didn't bring anything with me." + +"That's all right, then. I was afraid that duck in the seat with you +might have got away with your stuff." + +Al laughed. + +"That was a clergyman," he said--"the Rev. Dr. Ferguson." + +"Reverend nothing," grinned the brakeman. "Say, young man, you must be +from 'way back." + +"Why?" + +"Why, that fellow is one of the cleverest confidence men in the +country." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" asked the boy, in amazement. + +"You can bet I do. Oh, he has fooled sharper ones than you or I. You +didn't lend him anything, did you?" + +"I did not." + +"Nor invest in green goods or anything of that sort?" + +"No." + +"Well, you are one of the lucky ones, then. When I saw him giving you so +much chin music I thought he had you sure." + +"Well, he didn't." + +And Al left the car on very good terms with himself. + +"Now, then," he mused, "I'll start in on the business that brought me +here. I'll go to the nearest police station first. I don't know where it +is, so to save time I'll take a cab." + +As he thus ruminated, he mechanically felt in his pocket. + +The next moment he uttered an involuntary exclamation. + +His money was gone, and so were his watch, and the ring that had been +presented to him in Boomville. + +He had not, after all, escaped scot-free from the "Reverend David +Ferguson." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +AN UNLUCKY ERROR. + + +Al's self-esteem had suffered a severe shock. + +He had considered himself quite competent to look out for "Number One," +but this plausible swindler, the very first person he had met on the +train, had easily succeeded in swindling him out of all the valuables he +had about him. + +He had lost about a hundred and fifty dollars in cash, his watch, which +was worth at least another hundred, and the valuable diamond ring that +had been presented to him on the stage of the Boomville Opera House. + +He was alone and penniless in a great city at two o'clock in the +morning, with a mission to perform that would almost necessarily involve +the outlay of money. + +While he stood at the entrance of the Grand Central Depot the brakeman +who had addressed him on the car came along. Noticing the look of dismay +on the boy's face, he said: + +"There's nothing the matter, is there?" + +"I should say there was." + +"What is it? That bunco man didn't get the best of you, after all, did +he?" + +"Rather." + +And Al proceeded to inform the man of his loss. + +His companion uttered a low whistle. + +"Well, he did soak it to you, for fair," he said. "He don't generally +play that game; as a rule he works the thing in a more artistic way than +that. Well, he got the money, all the same. It was a pretty good haul, +too." + +"I don't see how he got that ring off my finger without waking me up," +said Al, ruefully. + +"Oh, he can do more than that," grinned the brakeman. "He'd manage to +rob you of your eyeteeth if he happened to take a fancy to them. He's a +daisy!" + +"I wish you had warned me when you saw him talking to me on the train." + +"I couldn't very well do that; but I kept an eye on you both, and if I +had seen him up to any funny business, I should have spoken. Hasn't he +left you any money at all?" + +"Not a cent." + +"Well, see here, I'll let you have a few dollars if you'll promise to +return 'em as soon as you get funds." + +"Of course I will, and I am very much obliged to you," said Al, +surprised at this unexpected offer. + +"Here you are, then." + +And the man handed him a small roll of bills. + +"Give me your address," said Al, "and I'll return this to you within a +day or two, with something to boot." + +"I don't want anything to boot. I'll write down my address, if you'll +lend me a pencil a minute." + +Al handed him a pencil. The man was about to write the address on the +back of an envelope, when, to his amazement, his companion made a rush +for a cab that stood at the curbstone, gave the driver a few hasty +directions in a low tone, and then leaped into the vehicle, which +immediately started off at a rapid pace. Before the brakeman could +recover from his astonishment, the cab had turned a corner and +disappeared. + +"Well," gasped the man, "if I haven't been buncoed myself, and by a kid +at that. I'll bet he and the other fellow were pals. And I never +suspected it! Well, I'll get my ten dollars back if it costs me a +hundred to do it. This is the last time I'll ever lend money to a +stranger. I wish I could hire some one to kick me round the block." + +The brakeman could scarcely be blamed for forming this opinion of Al, +erroneous though it was. Appearances were certainly against the boy, and +the reader is, perhaps, wondering if he had suddenly become insane or +developed into a kleptomaniac. + +The reason for our hero's strange action was this: Just as he handed the +brakeman the pencil a carriage was passing the depot, from the window of +which peered the face of the very man for whom Al was seeking--Jack +Farley. + +There was no time for explanations; the carriage was going at a rapid +rate. Al rushed out to the cab that stood at the entrance and said to +the driver: + +"Do you see that carriage yonder?--the one that is just about to turn +the corner? Follow it wherever it goes and I'll pay you well." + +"Enough said!" the man responded. + +As we have seen, the boy entered the cab, and was driven away. + +"That brakeman will think that I am a thief, too, I'm afraid," Al mused. +"Well, I can't help it; it will be all right to-morrow. But he is a good +fellow, and I don't like the idea of being misunderstood in that way by +him even for a few hours. There's no help for it, though; I couldn't +afford to let Farley get away from me!" + +The two vehicles kept at an even distance from each other until Tenth +Street was reached. At the corner of that thoroughfare and Fifth Avenue +the carriage in advance came to a sudden halt. + +Al's driver stopped almost at the same moment. + +"What shall I do now, sir?" he called out to his passenger. + +"Go right ahead," the boy directed. "When you get to the spot, stop, if +the other coach has not started again in the meantime; if it has, go on +as long as it does." + +In less than a minute later Al's carriage once more come to a +standstill. + +At the same moment a man leaped from the other carriage, advanced to the +cab and threw open the door. + +"What do you mean," he demanded, "by following my carriage? I have been +onto you ever since you started. Who are you, and what do you want?" + +The man was not Jack Farley; he did not resemble him in any way. + +He was an elderly man, fashionably dressed, and had the appearance of +one who was on his way home after a ball, or some other social +function, with just enough wine on board to make him quarrelsome. + +"What is your little game?" continued the man. "Come, out with it; I am +going to know." + +Al was decidedly embarrassed. + +"It is all a mistake," he stammered. + +"That's too thin," said the stranger. "I'm onto you; you are a +detective! Now, what are you shadowing me for?" + +Al could not help laughing. + +"I am no more a detective than you, sir," he said. "I told my driver to +follow a certain carriage, and he has made a mistake; that's all there +is to it." + +"I made no mistake," interposed the driver, surlily. "This is the +carriage you told me to follow." + +"You are wrong; the man in that carriage was not this gentleman. +Remember, it turned the corner before we left the depot, so you lost +sight of it for half a minute or so." + +"That's so," admitted cabby. + +"It had probably turned out of the street before we turned into it, and +you, seeing this gentleman's carriage, supposed it to be the same, and +followed it." + +"I guess that explains it." + +"Well, it doesn't explain it to me," said the aggrieved stranger. "I +consider this affair an outrage, and I am going to have it +investigated." + +"Go ahead and investigate, then," said Al, losing his patience. "You are +making a mountain of a mole hill." + +"I am, eh? Well, you'll see whether I am or not. Cabman, I have your +number." + +"That's all right; keep it," growled the jehu. + +"I shall keep it, and make good use of it, too. You will hear from me +again." + +And the man climbed back into his carriage, flushed almost as much with +anger as with wine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +AN EXCITING INTERVIEW. + + +As the carriage rolled away Al and the cabman stood and stared at each +other. Then the latter burst into a loud laugh. + +"Well, sir," he said, "this is the funniest job I have had for many a +long day." + +Al failed to appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"It does not strike me as being particularly funny," he said. + +"It doesn't?" + +"Decidedly not. Why did you lose sight of the other cab?" + +"Why, you explained that yourself just now. The two carriages looked +just alike; I believe they were the same." + +"No, they were not. The man I saw looking from the window of the +carriage that passed the Grand Central Depot was not the man we have +just been talking to." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Yes. You followed the wrong carriage; that is all there is to it." + +"Well," admitted the cabby, "I think you are right. Where shall I take +you now?" + +"Nowhere; I'll walk. How much do I owe you?" + +"Ten dollars," was the calm reply. + +"Ten what?" demanded Al. + +"Dollars." + +"Ten dollars for driving me that short distance?" + +"Do you call that a short distance?" + +"Yes; I could have walked it in a good deal less than half an hour." + +"Why didn't you, then?" + +"I----" + +"Now, see here," interrupted the cabman, with a threatening air, as he +put his face in very close proximity to Al's, "I don't want no muss with +you. See? But I get that ten dollars. Do you think I'm driving this here +thing for fun? Not on your life!" + +This was Al's first experience with one of the class known in New York +as "night-hawks," and for a moment he hesitated. Imagining that he had +gained an advantage, the man added: + +"Now, look lively! I've got something else to do besides standing here +chinning with you." + +"Yes," said the boy, quietly, "you have. On second thoughts, I'll keep +your cab a little longer. Drive me to the nearest police station." + +The man stared at him, then asked, rather uneasily: + +"What for?" + +"So that I can find out just what I ought to pay you. It won't take +either of us long to get the information." + +The night-hawk saw that he had, for once, met his match. + +"See here, young gent," he said, "I don't want no trouble with you." + +"If there is any trouble, you will bring it on yourself," responded the +boy. + +"I've got no time to waste. Give me a V and I'll call it square." + +"I'll give you nothing of the sort." + +"What will you pay, then?" + +"Two dollars is quite enough." + +"Make it three, boss." + +"I can't do it," said Al, who saw that he had by luck hit upon about the +right price. "Will you take two, or will you go with me to the nearest +police station and let them settle the matter there?" + +"Give me the two," said the man, sullenly. "I'll take it, but I'm losing +money on the job. If I'd stayed up at the station I might have picked +up----" + +"You might have picked up a bigger greenhorn than you did," added Al. +"Well, I'll wish you good-morning." + +He was about to turn away when a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, +and a familiar voice exclaimed: + +"Well, this is luck. I didn't expect to find you as easy as all this." + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" cried Al, recognizing the friendly brakeman who +had loaned him the money. "I'm mighty glad I ran across you." + +"You are, eh?" sneered the man. + +Al looked at him in surprise. + +"Yes, I was going to hunt you up." + +"Oh, you were?" + +"Of course I was. I wanted to explain to you why I left you so suddenly. +You must have thought----" + +"I thought the truth--that I had been made the victim of a swindler. I +made up my mind that I would hunt you up, but I didn't expect to find +you quite so soon; that was blind luck." + +"See here," said Al, his anger rising, "you are going a little too far. +I was, and am, much obliged to you for lending me that money, but I----" + +"Lending nothing," interrupted the cabman, who had been a silent +listener to the conversation. "Why, the young villain has just been +telling me how he euchered a brakeman up at the Grand Central out of a +wad." + +"It is a lie!" burst from the lips of the indignant boy, and he advanced +toward the treacherous fellow with clinched fists. + +But the cabman retreated and leaped upon his box. + +"If I didn't have my cab here," he said, as he gathered up the reins, +"I'd teach you to call me a liar. Boss"--to the brakeman--"you're in +luck to find the young rascal so easy. Don't let him off; I know him +well, and, in spite of his innocent looks, he is one of the toughest +youngsters in the city." + +With these words the rascal whipped up his horses and started up the +avenue at as rapid a pace as his steeds were capable of. + +"Do you believe that fellow's story?" demanded Al, looking his companion +squarely in the eyes. + +"You can bet I do," was the prompt reply. + +"You think I am a thief?" + +"Haven't I pretty good proof of it?" + +"I----" + +"Now, see here, young fellow," interrupted the indignant brakeman, "I am +not going to sit up till daylight to discuss this matter with you. You +can talk it over with the judge later. You buncoed me in a very neat +manner; I admit you did the job well, but luck happened to be on my +side, and the game is lost for you. But see here; just to avoid trouble, +if you hand me back my ten dollars, I'll let you off." + +"I'll give you all I have left of it," said Al; "and some day I'll prove +to you that I am not----" + +"That's all right," interrupted the uncompromising brakeman. "I don't +care what you are; all I want is my ten dollars, not what you have left, +but just what I gave you." + +"I have just paid that cabman two dollars," said Al, "and all I can give +you is eight. I am very sorry I accepted the loan at all." + +"You ain't as sorry as I am," sneered the brakeman. "But, see here, I'm +not going to fool any more time away with you. I've had a hard day, and +I've got to start in again at eleven o'clock. To save myself trouble, I +have offered to let you off if you would give me my money back. If you +won't, you will go with me to the station house, where I shall make a +formal complaint against you. Now, what do you say?" + +Before Al could reply a man suddenly turned the corner of Eleventh +Street. + +As he approached, the boy grasped his companion's arm. + +"Now," he said, "I'll prove to you that you have made a mistake." + +"How?" + +"Do you see this man coming?" + +The brakeman looked, then started. + +"It's your pal!" he exclaimed, recognizing the individual who had been +introduced to the reader as the "Rev. David Ferguson." + +"He's no more my pal than you are," said Al. "Just keep your eyes and +ears open, and I'll convince you on that point, at any rate." + +The alleged reverend gentleman was approaching rather slowly. His eyes +were on the pavement. He was smiling; evidently his thoughts were of an +agreeable nature. + +He did not observe Al and his companion until he was within a few feet +of them; then the boy suddenly stepped forward, saying: + +"Good-morning, Mr. Ferguson." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD. + + +The reverend gentleman started; a decidedly uneasy expression appeared +upon his face. + +"I don't know you, young gentleman," he said. + +"Oh, you can't have forgotten me, Mr. Ferguson," said Al. "My name is +Allston; don't you remember the interesting conversation we had on the +train this morning?" + +"Ahem! I think I do recognize you now." + +"I thought you would. Isn't this rather early for you to be out, Mr. +Ferguson?" + +"I have not yet returned to my home; I have been on an errand of mercy. +And now I must ask you to excuse me, for I am greatly fatigued." + +"Wait a minute." + +"Well, what is it?" + +"I suppose you have often heard it said that justice and mercy ought to +go hand in hand." + +"It is a very true saying, my lad." + +"Well, you say you have just been on an errand of mercy; suppose you now +perform an act of justice." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Mr. Ferguson, uneasily. + +"I guess you know. I mean that I want you to hand back the money and +jewelry that you stole from me." + +"Do you mean to insult me, or are you mad?" almost shouted the alleged +clergyman. "Do you dare accuse me, me, David Ferguson, of theft?" + +"That's about the size of it," replied Al, coolly. "And, remember, I +know now that your name is no more David Ferguson than mine is." + +"Do you dare----" began the fellow. + +"That'll do," interrupted Al. "Bluff will not work with me. Are you +going to return my property?" + +He had not uttered the last word when "Mr. Ferguson" abruptly turned on +his heel and started to run. + +He did not go far, however. Out went Al's foot, and the next moment the +adventurer lay sprawling on the pavement. He was helped to his feet by +Al and the brakeman, who both kept a tight hold on him. + +The sanctimonious expression had entirely vanished from the fellow's +face, which now wore a look of rage and fear. + +The transformation was wonderful; he did not seem the same man. + +"Well," he said, "what are you going to do about it?" + +"I'm going to hand you over to the police in short order if you don't +return my property." + +"If I give it all back," demanded the man, "will you agree not to make +any charge against me?" + +"Don't agree to anything of the sort," interrupted the belligerent +brakeman. + +But Al said: + +"I ought not to do it, but I have no time to attend to the case, so, if +you hand back what you took from me you can go." + +"Mr. Ferguson" fished the roll of bills from his pocket and handed it to +Al, who carefully counted it. + +"Now, the watch and ring," he said. + +The "crook" produced the timepiece and gave it to its owner. + +"I can't return the ring," he whined. + +"Why can't you?" + +"I've pawned it." + +"Give me the ticket, then." + +"I can't do that, either." + +"How is that?" + +"I've lost it." + +"Well," said Al, "that's unlucky--for you. Now, see here, my reverend +friend, I have no more time to waste. If your story is true, you'll come +along with me to the police station. If it is a lie, which I believe, +you had better hand over that ring in quick time." + +"I----" + +"I advise you to hurry, for here comes a policeman, and if the ring is +not on my finger by the time he gets here, I shall hand you over to him +as sure as I am standing here." + +The "crook" hesitated no longer. + +"Here you are, then," he said. + +As he spoke, he thrust the ring into Al's hand. + +"Now," he asked, in a voice that trembled with nervousness, "may I get +out?" + +"Skip," responded Al, laconically. + +In less than ten seconds the fellow had disappeared from view. + +The brakeman extended his hand to his companion. + +"I have wronged you," he said. + +"That's what I told you," replied Al, quietly, "but you wouldn't take my +word for it." + +"I hope you'll accept my apology." + +"Of course I will; and you must accept your money back." + +And the boy handed his companion a ten-dollar bill. + +"I hope you don't feel hard toward me?" persisted the man. + +"Not at all," Al responded, readily. "You were very kind to offer me the +money at the depot. I was a perfect stranger to you." + +"But I sized you up as a square lad." + +"It didn't take you long to change your mind, though." + +"You must admit that I had some reason to change it." + +"I do admit it. Appearances were very much against me, and if I had been +in your place I should, very likely, have thought just what you did." + +"Nevertheless, I'm sorry I was so hasty. Now, see here, young fellow, +I've taken a liking to you--honest, I have. I'd like to help you. Now, I +have an idea that you are in some sort of trouble." + +"You are not far out of the way there," admitted the boy. + +"Of course, it's none of my business, and I'm not one of the sort that +cares much about other people's affairs; but--but what is your trouble? +I only ask, thinking that I may be able to help you in some way." + +Al hesitated, then said: + +"I need help badly enough, but I don't see what you could do. However, I +will tell you why I am in New York." + +In a few words he told the story of his sister's abduction. When he +explained why he had left the depot so suddenly his companion +interrupted him. + +"Why," he cried, excitedly, "I saw the cab that you wanted to follow! I +can tell you just where you can find its driver, too." + +"You can?" + +"Yes. As it happens, he is an old friend of mine, and there isn't much +that he won't do for me. He drives for a stable up on Fifth Avenue, but +he ought to be home by this time. I can get a good deal more information +out of him than they would give you if you went up to the stables. Do +you want to go round to his house with me now and see if he is in?" + +"Is it far from here?" + +"Not ten minutes' walk." + +"Let us go, then. But, perhaps, we ought to go to a police station +first." + +"We shall pass one on our way there. Come on; I'll bet that you won't be +sorry you met me." + +Within five minutes Al had given a description of his sister to the +police, and an alarm was about to be sent out when he left the station. + +"Now, to see my friend, Tim Story," said the brakeman, "who, if I am not +mistaken, will be able to give us as much information in five minutes as +the police will gain in twenty-four hours." + +Tim Story's home proved to be a floor in a West-Side tenement. The +cabman had just returned home, and did not seem to be in a very +communicative mood. But in a few minutes Al's new friend had obtained +information from him that gave the boy a new hope. + +"We have found her!" he exclaimed. "How can I thank you?" + +"Don't thank me yet," was the reply. "Remember the old saying, 'There's +many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.' You have a dangerous job ahead +of you, my boy." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +HARD LUCK. + + +Among the passengers that arrived at the Grand Central Depot by a train +which reached the city about three hours before Al Allston's arrival, +were a trio who attracted some attention from their fellow passengers; +attention that was evidently unwelcome and annoying to at least two of +the three. + +There were two women and a man. One of the women, slight and heavily +veiled, was supported, almost carried, by her companions. She seemed to +be very ill. + +As she was lifted from the car, one of the passengers, an elderly +gentleman, overheard her say: + +"Where am I? Where are you taking me?" + +The gentleman stepped forward and asked: + +"Can I be of any assistance? The lady seems to be sick." + +His voice and manner showed very plainly that he suspected there was +something wrong, but the two persons he addressed either did not notice +this, or willfully ignored it. + +"You are very kind, sir," responded the male member of the party of +which the apparent invalid was one. "The lady is ill, and we are anxious +to get her to her home as soon as possible. Would you be kind enough to +call a carriage for us? I would not ask this of a stranger had you not +so kindly proffered your assistance." + +"I will do so with pleasure," replied the gentleman, evidently a little +surprised at the manner in which his offer was received. "But may I ask +what is the matter with the lady?" + +The man he addressed tapped his forehead significantly. + +"Brain disease?" questioned the gentleman. + +"Yes. Brought on by overwork at school. Poor girl! But we have hope that +in a few weeks she will be herself again." + +"It is very sad." + +"Very; and now, sir, if you will kindly call the carriage for me, I +shall be greatly indebted to you." + +"Certainly, sir." + +As the gentleman hurried away, the woman whom we have mentioned as the +third member of the party, a tall, showy-looking brunette, said: + +"What's your game, Jack? Why did you send that old fellow for a +carriage?" + +"It was the easiest way to get rid of him," was the reply. "Didn't you +see that he was very suspicious?" + +"Of course." + +"The way in which I accepted his offer took him off his guard, and, +perhaps, saved us some trouble." + +"Hush! here he comes." + +"I see him. Don't say a word. Leave all to me." + +"I have found a very good coach for you," announced the old gentleman, +hurrying toward them. "Come this way, please." + +Murmuring his thanks, Jack Farley, whom the reader has, perhaps, ere +this, recognized, hurried toward the entrance, supporting the alleged +invalid, who was now moaning piteously. + +A few moments later the three were ensconced in the carriage. + +"Where shall I tell the driver to go?" asked the gentleman. + +Farley gave an address. + +As the carriage started, Miss Hollingsworth asked: + +"Why did you give that address?" + +"You didn't suppose I was going to give the right one, did you?" said +Farley, petulantly. "When we are out of sight of the depot I'll tell the +driver where to go." + +As soon as the coach had turned a corner he leaned out of the window and +called out: + +"Driver, I've changed my mind." + +"Well, sir?" + +"Take us to this address." + +And he handed the man a card. + +"You think of everything," said Miss Hollingsworth. + +"I have to." + +"I was afraid that we were going to have some trouble with that old +man." + +"So was I at first, but it turned out all right. I tell you, Olga, it +takes a smart one to get the better of Jack Farley." + +Miss Hollingsworth gave a peculiar laugh. + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded Farley. "What have you got in your +head now?" + +"Oh, nothing." + +"Yes, you have. What is the matter with you, anyway? Your whole manner +to-night has been unnatural and peculiar." + +"That is only your imagination." + +"It is not. Olga, you are not thinking of rounding on me, are you?" + +"Of course not. What an idea!" + +"Because if you are, I warn you not to try it; if you do, I'll make you +wish you had never been born." + +"Why should I round on you, as you put it? Are not our interests one? Am +I not helping you in this affair? Am I not unquestioningly obeying you +in everything? Jack, you are nervous and excited." + +"Well, I guess that's so. What I need is a bottle of fizz; and, as soon +as I get the girl to your flat, I'll go down to Billy's and get it." + +"Don't do that," said Miss Hollingsworth, uneasily. + +"Why not?" + +"It is too late." + +"It's only a little after twelve o'clock." + +"But you will stay there gambling and drinking until morning, and I do +not want to be left alone with this girl." + +"I shan't stay more than an hour or so; as for the girl, give her +another dose of the stuff, and she'll be quiet enough." + +At this moment the carriage halted in front of a tall apartment house on +a fashionable thoroughfare within a stone's throw of Fifth Avenue. + +Farley alighted first, carrying the unconscious girl, and was followed +by Miss Hollingsworth. + +"Wait for me, driver," he ordered. "I shall need you again in a few +minutes." + +"All right, sir." + +Ten minutes later Farley emerged from the house. + +"Do you know Billy Rawlins' place?" he asked the cabman. + +It was a notorious gambling house, and the man knew it well, as did most +of his fraternity. + +"Take me there, and wait for me." + +Twenty minutes later the resort of vice was reached. Farley entered, and +did not emerge for more than an hour. When, at last, he did come out, +his face was flushed with wine, and wore a look of disgust and anger. + +"That's the last time I'll ever set foot in that place," he said, +addressing the sleepy driver. "I believe I've been hoodooed by some one. +I never have any luck in Billy's nowadays, anyway." + +"Luck against you to-night, sir?" asked the cabman, sympathetically. + +"I should say luck was against me. I went in there with two hundred +dollars, and all I have got left now is only a little more than enough +to pay you." + +"Hard luck," commented the man, evidently relieved by the latter part of +the sentence. + +"Home," ordered Farley, leaping into the carriage. + +As the vehicle passed the Grand Central Depot he happened to look out; +it was at the precise moment when Al Alston handed the brakeman the +pencil. + +"That boy here!" muttered Farley. "Well, he hasn't lost any time. I +believe he is my evil genius. Somehow or other the sight of him sends a +cold chill over me. I wonder if he saw me? I hope not. Pshaw! Why should +I bother my head about the kid? I'll try to dismiss him from my mind for +to-night." + +The task did not prove an easy one, however, though Farley stopped at +two saloons on the way; when the carriage reached its destination his +mind was still busy with the boy he hated. + +Having paid the driver with almost the last cent he possessed, he +entered the house and ascended to the second story. + +Unlocking a door at the head of the stairs, he entered a plainly +furnished flat. + +Miss Hollingsworth met him at the door. There was something in her face +that he did not like, as she said: + +"Back at last, are you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE. + + +Farley stared at her, scowling savagely, as he said: + +"What's the matter? Got one of your cranky fits? If so, you had best not +worry me, for I'm in no mood for nonsense." + +"Neither am I," was the quiet reply. "But I am going to talk a little +solid sense to you." + +"I won't listen to you. I'm tired, and want to sleep." + +"You will sleep soon, and soundly. Come into the drawing room." + +Farley followed her, asking: + +"How is the girl?" + +"Asleep, under the influence of another dose of the drug." + +"Good! Well, what have you to say?" + +And he threw himself into a chair. + +"I shall not detain you long. I see by your manner that you have lost +again to-night." + +"Nearly every cent I had with me." + +"As usual." + +"I shall never enter Billy's place again." + +"No, I don't think you will." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Farley, uneasily. "I don't understand you +to-night, Olga." + +"Don't you? Well, I will try to make myself understood." + +"Go on, then, and be quick about it. I'm dead tired." + +"I have stood by you for five years, have I not, Jack Farley?" demanded +the woman, fixing her large, dark eyes firmly on those of her companion. + +"Well, what of that?" growled the man. "It has been to your interest to +do so, hasn't it? Have you ever had a decent engagement that I have not +obtained for you? And haven't I stuck to you, too? See here, Olga, I am +in no mood for recriminations this morning, and you may as well quit +just where you are. I see you are going to have one of your tantrums; +well, you can have it all by yourself." + +Farley rose to leave the room, but his companion placed herself between +him and the door. + +"Wait," she said, in a strange, hard tone. + +"What's the matter with you to-night?" demanded Farley. "Have you gone +crazy?" + +"Perhaps. At any rate, I will compel you to listen to me." + +"You will compel me?" sneered the man. "And how do you propose to do +that?" + +"Do you see this?" + +And Miss Hollingsworth opened her hand, revealing a small cylindrical +object. + +"What is it?" asked Farley, curiously. + +"Dynamite." + +The man recoiled. + +"You're joking, Olga." + +"I am not. There is enough of the explosive here to tear this house to +pieces." + +"Where did you get it? What are you going to do with it?" + +"Never mind where I got it. As for what I am going to do with it, that +you will learn very soon. Now, Jack Farley, will you listen to me?" + +"Yes, yes; but give me that stuff, Olga." + +"Sit down." + +Farley obeyed, with a very pale face. + +"Well, what is it?" he asked. + +"We are going to have a settlement at last. You no longer love me, Jack +Farley." + +"Nonsense, Olga. You know----" + +"I know that I am speaking the truth. You have thought me merely the +creature of your will; I have let you think so, I have borne your +indignities patiently----" + +"What indignities?" interrupted Farley. "I don't know what you are +talking about." + +"Was it not an indignity to almost force me to assist you in abducting +my rival?" + +"Your rival! Nonsense!" + +"This girl has supplanted me in your affections." + +"This is folly. I only did what I have to revenge myself on that kid, +Allston, the girl's brother." + +"It is a lie, and I know it. But all will soon be over now." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Just what I say, Jack Farley." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Explode this dynamite, and end all at once. Jack, in two minutes you, +she and I will be in eternity!" + +"Are you stark, staring mad? Give me that stuff!" + +The woman laughed wildly. + +"No, the hour has come!" she cried. + +She lifted the cylinder above her head, with the evident intention of +hurling it to the hard wood floor. + +But at that instant her arm was seized and the dynamite forced from her +hand. + +"You have saved at least twenty lives!" gasped Farley, sinking, pale and +trembling, into a chair. + +"Where is my sister?" demanded Al Allston--for the newcomer was +he--paying no attention to his enemy's words. + +"She shall be restored to you," said Farley, who was thoroughly sobered +by the shock. + +"She shall not," cried the woman. "She shall not leave this house +alive!" + +It was plain to Al that Miss Hollingsworth was mentally deranged, and +not wholly responsible for her conduct and words. + +"Where is she?" he repeated. + +"She is asleep in yonder room," said Farley, pointing to a door at the +farther end of the drawing room. "Take her with you and go." + +The plotter seemed entirely unnerved; he was ready to surrender at once +and without protest all that for which he had schemed so long. + +The boy advanced toward the apartment designated. Miss Hollingsworth +made no attempt to detain him as he passed her; but there was a strange, +meaning smile on her face, the significance of which our hero did not +comprehend. + +He entered the adjoining room. His sister lay upon the bed, fully +dressed and apparently asleep. He was about to lift her in his arms when +there came from the other room a strange, wild peal of laughter. It was +immediately followed by a terrific explosion. + +Al was thrown to the floor, half stunned by the shock. + +In a few moments he had risen. The wall separating the two rooms was +partially destroyed; the drawing room was in flames, there was no +possibility of escape in that direction. + +The boy rushed to the window and threw it open. + +An exclamation burst from his lips; there was a fire escape outside. + +He lifted the still unconscious girl in his arms, and a moment later he +had begun the perilous descent of the frail iron ladder. + +It was made in safety; in a few moments Al had deposited the girl in a +carriage which had been in waiting for him. + +By this time, early as was the hour, the street was thronged with +people, attracted by the terrific explosion. + +The upper part of the house was in flames, the fire escape was now +crowded, and the half-dressed tenants of the building were rushing out, +panic-stricken, from the various exits. + +Al was fortunate enough to attract but little attention; five minutes +later he and his sister were in a place of safety. + +His sudden appearance on the scene may be briefly explained. + +The hack driver, Tim Story, had given him the card which he had received +from Farley, and Al had lost no time in going to the address given. + +In their excitement Farley and his companion had left the outer door of +their flat unfastened, and the boy had been able to effect an entrance +without difficulty. As had happened more than once before in his life, +his natural energy and push had been supplemented by good luck. + +A physician, whom Al at once summoned, gave it as his opinion that +Gladys was under the influence of an opiate, but that in all probability +there was no danger of serious results from the adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +AND LAST. + + +It was nearly ten o'clock that morning when the girl awoke from her +stupor; and, to Al's intense relief, she seemed none the worse for her +experience. + +All she could remember of the events of the previous night was that she +had been forced to enter the carriage at the stage door of the Rockton +Theater, and that as soon as she was inside the vehicle a handkerchief +saturated with some drug--chloroform, she believed--had been pressed to +her nostrils. Then she lost all consciousness of her surroundings. + +She had no recollection whatever of the journey to New York, or of any +of the subsequent events. + +The afternoon papers contained exciting accounts of the explosion. Al +had unreservedly given the police all the facts in the case; and in the +hands of the reporters the story lost nothing. + +The building had been saved from total destruction by the efforts of the +firemen, and it was known that no lives had been lost, except those of +Miss Hollingsworth and Jack Farley; it seemed certain that they must +have perished. It was found that the former had premeditated her +horrible crime, and had prepared for emergencies; she had, on the +previous day, supplied herself with no less than half a dozen of the +dynamite cylinders, so that the loss of the one which Al had taken from +her was no obstacle to the accomplishment of her plan. + +Once more Al was the hero of the hour. When he rejoined Mr. Wattles, two +days after the events we have just related, he was met at the station by +a crowd of citizens, who unhitched the horses from the carriage that was +in waiting for him and his sister, and insisted upon dragging the +vehicle to the hotel, much to the embarrassment of the two young people. + +Al suspected Mr. Wattles to be the instigator of this proceeding, and +accused him of having incited the populace to behave as they had. + +"What is the matter with you?" the old gentleman asked. "Such a tribute +of admiration would turn the head of almost anyone, but you kick about +it." + +"Didn't you work up the demonstration?" persisted Al. + +"Suppose I did?" + +"Well, don't do it again." + +"I shan't have to. I've set the ball rolling, and the chances are that +something of the sort will happen at every town we visit during the next +two weeks." + +Al groaned. + +"I believe I'll throw up the job," he said, half in jest, and half in +earnest. + +"Well, I believe you won't," said the manager, very much in earnest. +"You're just the sort of agent I want. Why, you can't help having +adventures and getting into the papers." + +"That sort of thing won't last forever." + +"I suppose not; but, when you cease to be a popular hero, I think I can +trust to your good judgment and business ability to manage things. Throw +up the job! I should say not! I couldn't get along without you. And, +besides, if you left me, your sister would go, too." + +"That need not necessarily follow." + +"She would go; and I tell you I could not get along without her, +either." + +Mr. Wattles always spoke of Miss March with an awkward, embarrassed air +that puzzled Al. + +"But, of course," he continued, hastily, "you do not mean what you said. +Remember, you promised me----" + +"I never went back on my word yet," interrupted Al, "and I shall not +now. But I wish these public demonstrations would cease. They seem to me +ridiculous, and they annoy me a good deal more than you seem to think." + +"Well, you are the queerest press agent I ever struck," said the +manager. "However, I guess you won't be much bothered--after to-night." + +"Eh?" cried Al. "After to-night? What do you mean by that? What is to be +done to-night?" + +"Oh, nothing in particular. I ought not to have mentioned it." + +"Yes, you ought. Come, out with it!" + +"Well, I suppose I may as well. The fact is, the citizens of this place +have decided to----" + +"Not another speech-making affair at the theater?" interrupted the boy, +in horrified accents. + +"Well," blurted out Mr. Wattles, "that's just it." + +"I shan't be here. You know I've got to go ahead to the next town this +afternoon." + +"Oh, no, you haven't," smiled the old gentleman. "The fact is, the sale +is so big that I have felt justified in canceling the next two towns, +and we are to stay here the remainder of the week. There's no getting +out of it, my boy; the thing has got to come off, and this time you will +have to make a speech." + +At first Al would not hear of this, and declared that he would start for +home. But he at last allowed his companion's eloquence to overcome his +objections, and agreed to remain. + +How he dreaded the ordeal no one but he ever knew, but he made up his +mind that, as he put it to himself, he would "see the thing through." He +prepared a brief speech, which he memorized, and which he hoped to be +able to deliver without breaking down. + +Evening came only too soon, and Al, arrayed in a new dress suit, awaited +the inevitable call for his appearance. Everything had been "cut and +dried," and he knew that there was no escape. + +At the end of the first act of the play there arose a shout, "Allston! +Allston!" + +"Go on, my boy," said Mr. Wattles, who, with his protégé stood upon the +stage, just behind the curtain. "What are you trembling for? This ought +to be the proudest moment of your life." + +With these words he fairly pushed the boy before the audience. + +Then arose a whirlwind of applause. When it had subsided, Al tried to +begin his speech. But to his utter consternation, he found that he had +forgotten every word of it. + +But he was not, after all, obliged to deliver it. As he stood, trying to +remember at least one word of the carefully prepared effort, a man +suddenly advanced from the rear of one of the proscenium boxes, leveled +a pistol at the boy's head and fired. + +The bullet whistled past Al's ear, but did not graze it. The next moment +the would-be assassin was struggling in the hands of the other occupants +of the box. He managed to free himself; then came another report, and +the next moment Jack Farley lay dead on the floor of the box, a suicide. + +How he had escaped from the doom with which he had been threatened on +the previous night, how he had succeeded in entering the theater without +attracting attention, will never be known. + +Al's speech was forgotten in the excitement, and he was not obliged to +make it, after all. + + * * * * * + +In a few weeks Al ceased to be a popular idol, but he was daily learning +new "points" and becoming more and more valuable to his employer; he was +already recognized as one of the brightest advance agents on the road. + +One morning, about two months after the tragedy that we have just +recorded, his sister came to him and said: + +"Al, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you grant it?" + +"I promise in advance," was the prompt reply. + +"Then congratulate me." + +"On what?" + +"I am going to be married." + +"Married!" gasped the boy. "To whom?" + +"To Mr. Wattles." + +"You're joking." + +"Indeed, I am not!" + +"Why, he is forty years your senior." + +"He is a good, true man, and I love him; that's enough for me." + +"Then it is enough for me, too, sister," was Al's quick reply, "and I do +heartily congratulate you." + +We need add but a few words. The marriage proved a most happy one, and +Mrs. Wattles--whose real name we should give, if we were permitted--is +now one of the most popular actresses and most estimable ladies on the +American stage. + +Al is now no longer an advance agent, but a manager. He is rapidly +making a fortune; and, what is better, has earned a reputation for +integrity and uprightness second to that of none in his business. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The original edition of this book did not contain a table of +contents. A table of contents has been created for this +electronic edition. + +The following typographical errors in the original edition were +corrected. + +In Chapter III, "would, perhaps, he a good scheme" was changed to +"would, perhaps, be a good scheme", and "his eyes over s contents" was +changed to "his eyes over its contents". + +In Chapter IV, "your prepartions for the performance" was changed to +"your preparations for the performance". + +In Chapter VI, "his attention was atrracted by the sound" was changed to +"his attention was attracted by the sound". + +In Chapter XI, "I want you take this" was changed to "I want you take to +this". + +In Chapter XXVI, "Where are ye?" was changed to "Where are we?" + +In Chapter XXVIII, "the boy grasped his ccompanion's arm" was changed to +"the boy grasped his companion's arm". + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW*** + + +******* This file should be named 39454-8.txt or 39454-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/5/39454 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/39454-8.zip b/39454-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..714e017 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-8.zip diff --git a/39454-h.zip b/39454-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cde5da0 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-h.zip diff --git a/39454-h/39454-h.htm b/39454-h/39454-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e08998 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-h/39454-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7327 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ahead of the Show, by Fred Thorpe</title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr.wide { width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.thin { width: 45%; margin-top: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1.25em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .center {text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .lowercase {text-transform: lowercase;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .bigtext {font-size: 120%;} + .smalltext {font-size: 80%;} + .smallertext {font-size: 60%;} + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align: center; + margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + .chapnum {text-align: right;} + .chapname {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps; + padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 3em;} + .chappage {text-align: right;} + .newchapter {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .chapterone {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .theend {text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .sig1 {text-align: right; padding-right: 5em; margin-bottom: 0em;} + .sig2 {text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em; margin-top: 0em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ahead of the Show, by Fred Thorpe</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Ahead of the Show</p> +<p> The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent</p> +<p>Author: Fred Thorpe</p> +<p>Release Date: April 14, 2012 [eBook #39454]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Steven desJardins<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by the<br /> + Google Books Library Project<br /> + (<a href="http://books.google.com">http://books.google.com</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=r08TAAAAYAAJ&id"> + http://books.google.com/books?vid=r08TAAAAYAAJ&id</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 392px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="392" height="600" alt="cover of Ahead of the Show, Bound-to-Win Library No. 77" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<h1>Ahead of the Show<br /> +<span class="smallertext">OR</span><br /> +<span class="smalltext">The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent</span></h1> + +<p class="center"><i>By</i> FRED THORPE, <i>author of "Blind Luck," "The<br /> +Boy in Black," "Chris, the Comedian," "Git Up and<br /> +Git," "Walt, the Wonder Worker," etc....</i></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 173px;"> +<img src="images/logo.png" width="173" height="180" alt="S&S logo" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center">STREET AND SMITH, PUBLISHERS<br /> +238 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK</p> + +<p class="center smalltext">Copyright, 1897<br /> +By Norman L. Munro</p> + +<p class="center smalltext">Ahead of the Show</p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table class="figcenter" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum smalltext">CHAPTER</td> +<td class="chapname smalltext"> </td> +<td class="chappage smalltext">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">I.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al Makes Application.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">5</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">II.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al Talks Business.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">III.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al's Scheme.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">IV.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al to the Rescue.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">V.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al Claims His Reward.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VI.</td> +<td class="chapname">Another Rock Ahead.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VII.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Debut.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VIII.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Startling Situation.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">IX.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Close Call.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">X.</td> +<td class="chapname">An Interview with the Mayor.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XI.</td> +<td class="chapname">In Peril.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XII.</td> +<td class="chapname">Interviewed.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">73</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIII.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Stroke of Luck.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIV.</td> +<td class="chapname">Al's Ad.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XV.</td> +<td class="chapname">Saved by a Shadow.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVI.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Lesson in Journalism.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVII.</td> +<td class="chapname">"I Want You."</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">103</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVIII.</td> +<td class="chapname">Mr. Marmaduke Merry.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">109</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIX.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Startling Acknowledgment.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XX.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Locket.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXI.</td> +<td class="chapname">Brother and Sister.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXII.</td> +<td class="chapname">An Awful Catastrophe.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIII.</td> +<td class="chapname">An Eventful Night.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">139</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIV.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Clew.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">145</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXV.</td> +<td class="chapname">On the Track.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVI.</td> +<td class="chapname">"Dr. Ferguson."</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">157</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVII.</td> +<td class="chapname">An Unlucky Error.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">163</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVIII.</td> +<td class="chapname">An Exciting Interview.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIX.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Dangerous Job Ahead.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXX.</td> +<td class="chapname">Hard Luck.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXXI.</td> +<td class="chapname">A Woman's Vengeance.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">187</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXXII.</td> +<td class="chapname">And Last.</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">193</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="AHEAD_OF_THE_SHOW" id="AHEAD_OF_THE_SHOW"></a>AHEAD OF THE SHOW.</h2> + + +<h2 class="chapterone"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL MAKES APPLICATION.</span></h2> + + +<p>"If I had that fellow here I'd make him wish he'd never heard the name +of Augustus Wattles. And I'll do it some day, too."</p> + +<p>The manager and proprietor of Wattles' New York Comedy Company was very, +very "mad." His naturally florid face was redder than usual, and his +fists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow" +referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at +this precise moment.</p> + +<p>He stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with the +local manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share his +discomfiture and anger.</p> + +<p>A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing +at them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people +feel for members of the theatrical profession.</p> + +<p>"It's pretty tough," said Mr. Perley, "but it isn't my fault."</p> + +<p>"I know it isn't. Well, this is the last time that loafer will play that +trick on me. He thinks that because I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> have been easy with him in the +past there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the +mistake of his life."</p> + +<p>"Of course, you will discharge him?"</p> + +<p>"You had better believe I will. A healthy sort of advance agent he is! +Think of my bringing my company to a town of the importance of +Boomville, to find that absolutely no advance work has been done, that +my advance agent, to whom I pay a fancy salary, has not even showed his +face in the town."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he has succumbed to his old complaint?" said Mr. Perley.</p> + +<p>"Of course; he is drunk beyond the shadow of a doubt, and may not show +up again for a week. Well, when he does, he'll meet with a warm +reception from me. We ought to have had an eight-hundred-dollar house +to-night, and now we'll be lucky if we take in half that amount."</p> + +<p>"I don't expect we'll do as well as that. It wouldn't have made so much +difference under ordinary circumstances, but, as luck will have it, +they've got the strongest attraction of the season at the other +house—the 'Crack of Doom' Company. You know that's a big puller +everywhere."</p> + +<p>"Sure. They have a railway collision, a tank of real water, a buzz saw +and two real lunatics in the insane asylum scene."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and their advance man has worked the show up in great shape here. +According to him, the leading lady lost nine thousand dollars' worth of +diamonds on her way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> here, and the soubrette is going to marry Chauncey +Depew. And they give souvenirs to-night in honor of the five hundredth +performance of the piece."</p> + +<p>"They've been giving that five hundredth performance in every town +they've played in for the last month; and their souvenirs are not worth +over fifty cents a gross."</p> + +<p>"All very true, but the public will have 'em. I hoped your advance man +would have some taking counter-attraction."</p> + +<p>"So he did have, but—— Oh, well, it's no use talking about that. +What's done can't be helped, but I won't be left in this way again. +Where is the nearest telegraph office?"</p> + +<p>"On the next block. What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Wire to New York for a new advance agent. I happen to know of an A1 man +who is out of an engagement. There are two or three others after him, +but I guess I can make it worth his while to go with me. I won't get +left in this way again, you can bet your boots!"</p> + +<p>"That's all right," growled Mr. Perley, "but it doesn't help out the +present engagement any."</p> + +<p>"No, but we are joint sufferers in that, and we may as well grin and +bear it."</p> + +<p>And the irate manager of the New York Comedy Company started for the +telegraph office with fire in his eyes and a look of determination on +his face.</p> + +<p>Neither he nor Mr. Perley had observed the presence in the little group +of listeners to their conversation of a rather good-looking, +well-dressed boy of about eighteen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>This lad did not lose a word of the excited discussion, and, as the +manager started to walk away, he muttered:</p> + +<p>"This is the chance I have been looking for; I won't let the opportunity +slip. It doesn't seem as if there would be much hope for me, but there's +no harm in trying, anyhow."</p> + +<p>He followed Mr. Wattles, and just before that gentleman reached the +telegraph office he tapped him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>The manager turned quickly. When he saw the boy, he asked, impatiently:</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Can I speak with you a few minutes, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not now, not now."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles was about to resume his walk, but the boy laid a detaining +hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you on business, sir."</p> + +<p>"You have business with me?"</p> + +<p>"Important business, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, I'll see you in a few minutes; I've got to send an +important telegram now."</p> + +<p>"But I want to see you before you send that telegram."</p> + +<p>"Before I send the telegram? Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I think I can prove to you that it is not necessary to wire to +New York at all."</p> + +<p>"Eh? Why, how did you know that I was going to wire to New York?"</p> + +<p>"I overheard what you said to Mr. Perley in front of the opera house +just now."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I was excited, and spoke a little louder than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> I ought. Well, +why do you think it will not be necessary for me to send the telegram?"</p> + +<p>"Because I am sure you can find just the person you want right here in +Boomville."</p> + +<p>"An advance agent to be picked up offhand in this place? That would be +too much luck. What is your man's name?"</p> + +<p>"Allen Allston."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of him. What company was he with last?"</p> + +<p>"He has never been with any company, sir, but——"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles surveyed the boy with a look of supreme disgust.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose for one moment," he interrupted, "that I am going to +take an inexperienced jay from a town like this and send him ahead of an +organization like Wattles' New York Comedy Company? Well, hardly. I've +got to have an experienced man."</p> + +<p>"And you're going to telegraph for one now, sir?"</p> + +<p>"This minute."</p> + +<p>"But suppose you can't get the man you want—will you talk with me then, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Er—yes, in that case you might send your friend to see me, though it +seems nonsense. But I shall get my man all right."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are going to request an immediate answer to your +telegram, Mr. Wattles?"</p> + +<p>"I am; I shall get it within an hour, in all probability."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>"Where can I find you after you have received it?"</p> + +<p>"At the hotel next door. You are a persistent young rascal; your friend +has a good advocate in you."</p> + +<p>The boy smiled.</p> + +<p>"I am the best friend he has in the world," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you are you had better advise him to stick to farming, or +whatever he is doing, and keep out of the theatrical business; we have +too many farmers in it already."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't take the advice, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles laughed as he entered the telegraph office.</p> + +<p>"If the boy's friend has got as much 'go' as he has," he muttered, "he +might do something in the business."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the message had been sent. An hour and a half later a +messenger entered the lobby of the hotel with a telegram.</p> + +<p>"For me?" questioned the manager, who had been impatiently pacing the +floor for the last twenty minutes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles tore open the envelope.</p> + +<p>A muttered exclamation escaped his lips as he hurriedly perused the +message.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?" said a voice at his elbow.</p> + +<p>Turning, he confronted the lad with whom he had had the brief interview +which we have recorded.</p> + +<p>"You here? Well, you do mean business."</p> + +<p>"Is your offer accepted, sir?" the boy asked.</p> + +<p>"Confound it, no! The man I wanted signed yesterday<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> with another +manager. Well, send your friend round and I'll talk with him."</p> + +<p>"He is here, sir."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"I am Allen Allston."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL TALKS BUSINESS.</span></h2> + + +<p>Mr. Wattles stared at the boy a moment in speechless surprise, then +burst into a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say," he almost gasped, "that you made that +application for yourself?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean to say, sir," replied the lad, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Why, you must be crazy!"</p> + +<p>"I don't think I am."</p> + +<p>"You are only a boy."</p> + +<p>"I'll get over that in time, Mr. Wattles; and besides, that fact is no +proof that I am crazy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! I can't stand here bandying words with you."</p> + +<p>Al was not in the least taken aback.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I was thinking," he said.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"That we had been standing up too long. Let's sit down."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the manager, "you have cheek enough, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Cheek is necessary for an advance agent, isn't it, sir?" laughed the +boy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but—oh, really, this is ridiculous, you know!"</p> + +<p>"What is ridiculous?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>"Your applying for this position."</p> + +<p>"Why is it ridiculous?"</p> + +<p>"Who ever heard of a boy advance agent?"</p> + +<p>"That's just the point. Nobody ever did, and it will be a complete +novelty, and a big ad. for the show."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles gazed at the boy almost admiringly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a corker!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"A good advance agent ought to be a corker, oughtn't he, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so—yes."</p> + +<p>"Shan't we sit down and talk the matter over?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>And the manager sank into a convenient chair, gazing at his youthful +companion with an expression indicative of bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"I've got him now sure," murmured the lad, but his companion did not +hear him; Al did not intend that he should.</p> + +<p>When they were both seated the boy said:</p> + +<p>"Now, sir, you want an advance agent, and I want a position. It is lucky +we met."</p> + +<p>"Yes," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "but what the mischief do you know about +the business of an advance agent?"</p> + +<p>"A lot," was the calm reply.</p> + +<p>"How did you learn it?"</p> + +<p>"By reading and observation."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! You might as well talk about learning to swing on a trapeze +by reading and observation."</p> + +<p>"There's a big difference, sir."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>"Not much."</p> + +<p>"Well, I've always thought I should like to do work of that sort, and I +think I could do it well."</p> + +<p>"Stage-struck, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, Mr. Wattles. Now, will you listen to me a few moments, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead."</p> + +<p>And the manager assumed an air of resignation.</p> + +<p>"I generally keep my eyes open," began the boy, "and I have had a chance +to watch the movements of most of the theatrical people who come to this +town, particularly the advance agents."</p> + +<p>"Why the advance agents in particular?" interrupted Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"Because I have been in the editorial office of the Boomville <i>Herald</i>, +and have had a chance to see how they work the press. Some of them are +very slick, but I think that if I had a little experience I should be as +slick as any of them."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the manager, "that's the point. You haven't had experience."</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got to begin some time, sir. If all managers had talked like +you the race of advance agents would have been extinct long ago."</p> + +<p>"There's something in that," laughed Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"There's lots in it."</p> + +<p>The manager of the New York Comedy Company surveyed his companion for a +few moments without speaking.</p> + +<p>"My boy, I rather like you," he said, at last.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>"Well, that's one point in my favor, sir," said Al.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to give you a chance, but I really do not see how I can."</p> + +<p>"Why can't you?"</p> + +<p>"You must remember that the New York Comedy Company is not a common, +fly-by-night organization, but a first-class enterprise. I have put a +good many dollars into the thing, and I can't afford to experiment. If +so much did not depend upon the result, if I were running a cheap side +show, I might give you the trial you ask, but——"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have anything to do with any such show," interrupted the +boy. "I don't intend to be that sort of advance agent. But I can +understand how you feel, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then you can also understand how impossible it is for me to engage your +services."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I can't understand that at all, Mr. Wattles. Now let me ask you +a question."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"I heard you tell Mr. Perley that you did not expect there would be four +hundred dollars in the house to-night."</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. I shall be agreeably disappointed if there is as +much as that."</p> + +<p>"Yet the opera house will hold twelve hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"I see you are posted, my boy."</p> + +<p>"I am. Now, Mr. Wattles, it is a little out of the line of an advance +agent's work, but, just to show you that I have a little snap and +business ability, I will guarantee to fill the opera house to its utmost +capacity to-night, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> you will agree to give me a chance as advance +agent after that."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you are talking about?"</p> + +<p>And the manager stared in renewed amazement at the youth.</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"You will undertake to fill the house to-night, in spite of the +disadvantages under which we are laboring?"</p> + +<p>"The 'Standing Room Only' sign will be displayed before eight o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is your scheme?"</p> + +<p>"You will agree to follow my suggestions?"</p> + +<p>"Not until I hear them."</p> + +<p>"If you don't like them you will agree not to repeat anything I may say +to you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll give you my idea. I see you are getting ready to guy me, +sir," as a rather cynical smile appeared upon the manager's face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"You don't think I can knock out such a strong opposition as the 'Crack +of Doom' Company, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I do not."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll show you that I can, and get you not only a full house, but +the elite of the place."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," interrupted Mr. Wattles, impatiently, "have done with +preliminaries and let me know how you propose to accomplish all this."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL'S SCHEME.</span></h2> + + +<p>"Mr. Wattles," said Al, in a low tone, "I suppose you have in your time +met a few stage-struck amateurs—people who thought they knew it all, +and only needed a chance to show the world that they were the equal of +anyone who ever trod the boards?"</p> + +<p>The manager laughed.</p> + +<p>"I should say yes. The woods are full of them."</p> + +<p>"Well, we have one here."</p> + +<p>"Only one?"</p> + +<p>"There are others, but one whom it will be worth your while to know."</p> + +<p>"Who is she?—for it is a woman, of course."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, it is a woman; she is the wife of the mayor."</p> + +<p>"The wife of the mayor of Boomville stage-struck?"</p> + +<p>"In the worst way, Mr. Wattles; she believes herself the only legitimate +successor of Charlotte Cushman."</p> + +<p>"They all do. Well, what has all this to do with your scheme?"</p> + +<p>"A good deal. Mrs. Anderson—that is her name—is very anxious to appear +on the professional stage."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"Why can't you give her a chance?"</p> + +<p>"Eh? I? How?"</p> + +<p>"Send her word that one of your actresses has been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> taken suddenly ill, +and ask her to take her place. She'll do it, take my word for that, and +all Boomville will go to see her."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must be crazy, young man," said Mr. Wattles, in a tone of +disgust. "So that is your scheme, is it?"</p> + +<p>"That is part of it."</p> + +<p>"Well, it won't work."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"For a dozen reasons. If I had two or three weeks to work up the thing +it would be different; then it would, perhaps, be a good scheme. But you +seem to forget that the performance takes place to-night."</p> + +<p>"There's plenty of time to work up business," said Al, calmly. "It is +not ten o'clock yet. See Mrs. Anderson, get her consent to play, and +I'll prove my executive ability by doing all the rest."</p> + +<p>"But, good gracious! how could the woman memorize a part between this +and night?"</p> + +<p>"Give her a short part—any old part. Two or three lines will do. What +she wants is a chance to show herself on the professional stage."</p> + +<p>"There is a small part," hesitated Mr. Wattles, "one that she could +learn in half an hour. But, no, it won't do. The woman might queer the +performance, and I should be the laughingstock of the profession for the +next year."</p> + +<p>"She's not as bad as all that," said Al. "She has appeared in amateur +performances here and made a success. Better see her, Mr. Wattles. I +know she'll be tickled to death with the idea. You'll be in plenty of +time to get a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> big ad. in this afternoon's <i>Herald</i>, and you'll have the +biggest house of the season."</p> + +<p>The manager brought his fist down on the table by his side, and said:</p> + +<p>"By jingo, boy, I will do it! Lots of money has been made out of +stage-struck society women, and perhaps I may come in for a little of +it."</p> + +<p>"You'll come in for a lot of it to-night, sir, if you just follow my +advice. And now I'll show you the way to the mayor's house."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute. You said this amateur racket was only a part of your +scheme; what is the rest of it?"</p> + +<p>"Souvenirs. This town is wild on souvenirs. The 'Crack of Doom' Company +give hand-painted fans to-night. Why don't you go one better, and +announce that every lady attending your performance will receive a +heavily plated silver souvenir spoon?"</p> + +<p>"But where the mischief could I get the spoons?"</p> + +<p>"I'll provide them."</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"But where are you going to get them?"</p> + +<p>"I've got them. You see, sir, I am a sort of speculator. I attend +auction sales and that sort of thing, and if I see a big bargain I take +advantage of it. It's better than clerking at five dollars a week. A few +days ago I struck a bankrupt sale in New York, and bought a lot of +plated spoons at 'way below cost. I meant to sell them to the stores +here, but I'll let you have them at just what they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> cost me—you can +afford to give them away if you buy them at that price—and there will +be plenty to go round."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles surveyed his companion in amused wonder.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a queer sort of lad," he said. "You seem to have a pretty +old head on those young shoulders of yours!"</p> + +<p>"I think I have enough to look out for number one, sir."</p> + +<p>"I should say you did. I should like to know more of you."</p> + +<p>"You will, sir, when I become your advance agent."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll see all about that. And now I'd better be off for the home +of the stage-struck mayoress. Meet me in half an hour."</p> + +<p>"I'll be here, sir."</p> + +<p>As the manager walked away, he muttered:</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I'm going on a fool's errand. Confound it! I believe that +young rascal has hypnotized me. But, after all, I can't afford to +neglect the chance. The treasury is pretty low, and if this scheme +doesn't work there may be trouble on salary day. I'll do my best to get +this woman to play, and I guess I shall succeed; people used to say that +Gus Wattles was the champion jollier, and I don't think he has lost his +powers yet."</p> + +<p>Al was doing a little soliloquizing, too.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think I had so much nerve," he mused. "I'm beginning to have a +little more confidence in myself. If to-night's performance is a success +I shall get the job<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> sure—he can't refuse me. But if it isn't a +success, if Mrs. Anderson refuses to have anything to do with the +scheme—I won't let myself think of that."</p> + +<p>It was nearly an hour before Mr. Wattles returned.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?" questioned the boy, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"It's all right."</p> + +<p>"She will play?"</p> + +<p>"Not only that, but she is going to pay me for the chance. Oh, there are +no flies on Augustus Wattles, my boy! Yes, she is going to play, and she +is delighted because the part will give her a chance to exhibit herself +in a new costume which she has just imported from Paris. Now, then, my +lad, we must get up the ads. How much time have we before they must be +in the newspaper office?"</p> + +<p>"An hour at least. And you had better get out some posters announcing +Mrs. Anderson's appearance. They can be on the walls in two hours. Will +you leave that part to me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but first you can help me with the advertisement. Undoubtedly you +can give me some points."</p> + +<p>Al was able to do so. The manager was plainly delighted and surprised at +the aptitude he displayed.</p> + +<p>"I begin to think," he said, "that you were cut out for this business."</p> + +<p>"That is what I have thought for a long while, sir," replied the boy, +as, copy in hand, he started for the office of the <i>Herald</i>.</p> + +<p>Within a few hours everyone in Boomville knew that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Mrs. Anderson, the +mayor's wife, was to assume a rôle in the drama, "Loved and Lost," at +the opera house that evening, and all the lady's friends, all her +enemies and almost everybody else who ever attended theatrical +performances at all had made up their minds to go and see her.</p> + +<p>Besides, the offer of a plated spoon as a souvenir was almost +irresistible; people who had more solid silver spoons than they had any +use for fell over each other in their frantic haste to secure seats for +the evening's performance and make sure of the coveted spoon.</p> + +<p>"We haven't had an advance sale like this since the house was built," +said the local manager to Mr. Wattles, a short time before the doors +were opened. "Why, there isn't a seat left in the house except in the +gallery, and they will be all filled as soon as the doors are thrown +open. And I understand that there is no sale at all at the other house. +I don't believe there'll be a baker's dozen there. It was a great idea +of yours to get Mrs. Anderson to appear."</p> + +<p>"I claim no credit for it at all," said Mr. Wattles. "It was all the +work of that bright young fellow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, by the way," interrupted Mr. Perley, taking an envelope from his +pocket, "here is something that came for you a few minutes ago; I had +nearly forgotten about it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles tore open the note and ran his eyes over its contents. As he +did so the expression of his face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> underwent such a remarkable change +that his companion said, uneasily:</p> + +<p>"There's nothing the matter, is there?"</p> + +<p>"I should say there was," was the reply. "We're in a nice fix. Mrs. +Anderson won't play!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL TO THE RESCUE.</span></h2> + + +<p>"Mrs. Anderson won't play?" almost shrieked Mr. Perley.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said—Mrs. Anderson won't play," replied the manager of +the combination, with the calmness of despair. "Read this."</p> + +<p>The note which he handed his companion read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Mr. A. Wattles</span>:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>: I deeply regret my inability to appear this +evening as I promised. My husband objects so strongly +that I have no alternative but to yield to his wishes. +Trusting that this will cause you no inconvenience, I +am,</p> + +<p class="sig1">"Faithfully yours,</p> + +<p class="sig2">"<span class="smcap">Blanche Anderson</span>."</p></div> + +<p>"'Trusting that it will cause us no inconvenience,'" groaned Mr. Perley. +"Isn't that like a woman? Well, Wattles, we are in a nice little fix +now. Of course, we shall have to give three-fourths of the audience +their money back."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but that isn't the worst of it. Think of the roasting the papers +will give us!"</p> + +<p>"Don't speak of it. And it's all your fault; you would be fool enough to +listen to that kid."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>"Don't say any more, Perley. I must have been out of my head."</p> + +<p>"It isn't worth while to get excited, gentlemen," said a calm voice.</p> + +<p>And looking in the direction from which it proceeded, the two men saw Al +Allston standing in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"You young rascal——" began Mr. Wattles, but Al silenced him by a +gesture:</p> + +<p>"There is no time to waste, gentlemen," he said. "I told you that Mrs. +Anderson would appear to-night, and she will."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," cried Mr. Wattles, "that you can make her do this +in defiance of her husband's will?"</p> + +<p>"Her husband will agree after he has had a short talk with me," was the +boy's reply. "Go right ahead with your preparations for the performance, +gentlemen; Mrs. Anderson will be here as per agreement."</p> + +<p>And, without waiting for a reply, Al left the room.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, drawing a long breath, "I never saw the equal +of that kid. Do you know, I think he will do what he has promised."</p> + +<p>Mr. Perley shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It's out of the question now," he said. "Mayor Anderson is one of the +stubbornest men in the world; if he has said that his wife shall not +appear, she will not. The boy was talking through his hat."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the manager of the New York Comedy Company, "all we can do +now is to trust to luck. Go ahead and let the people in, and we'll see +whether this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> confounded stage-struck female turns up or not. Somehow, I +believe the lad knew what he was talking about."</p> + +<p>Meantime Al had reached the mayor's house, a pretentious mansion on the +most fashionable thoroughfare in Boomville.</p> + +<p>In response to the rather supercilious "What is it?" from the servant +who opened the door, he presented his card and asked to see Mrs. +Anderson.</p> + +<p>"I don't think she'll see you," said the flunky, "but I'll give her your +card if you wish."</p> + +<p>"I do wish," said the boy. "Give her the card, and tell her that I wish +to see her on very important business that will admit of no delay."</p> + +<p>The man left with the card. In a few moments he returned, saying with a +grin:</p> + +<p>"She don't know you, and she won't see you."</p> + +<p>And with an impudent leer, he extended the card to the boy.</p> + +<p>Al took it and hurriedly wrote a few words on the back. Then he returned +it to the servant, saying:</p> + +<p>"Give it to Mrs. Anderson again; I think she will see me."</p> + +<p>The man hesitated, then said:</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll take it to her, but the chances are she'll give me orders to +kick you out."</p> + +<p>With this cheering assurance he again departed.</p> + +<p>"I didn't like to do it," murmured Al, "but there was no help for it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>In a few moments the flunky returned, his manner completely changed.</p> + +<p>"Please be kind enough to step into the drawing room, sir," he said, +with the utmost politeness; "Mrs. Anderson will be down in one minute."</p> + +<p>A few minutes after Al Allston had left the theater a showily dressed, +red-faced man of about thirty sauntered into the manager's private +office where Mr. Wattles was seated alone.</p> + +<p>"So, Wattles, old man," he said, extending his hand, "we meet again."</p> + +<p>The manager started to his feet.</p> + +<p>"How dare you show your face here?" he cried, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Eh! What's all this?" said the newcomer, in real or feigned surprise.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to have anything more to do with you. A nice sort of +advance agent you are, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"There's none better, so they say," replied the fellow, with a tipsy +leer. "What are you on your ear about?"</p> + +<p>"I have no time to bandy words with you. You are discharged."</p> + +<p>"What's that—I discharged? What ails you, Wattles?"</p> + +<p>"That's enough, Dick Farley. I told you after your last drunk that if +the same thing occurred again I should have nothing more to do with you, +and I meant it. Get out!"</p> + +<p>"But, Wattles, I haven't been on a booze. I have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> drugged and +kidnaped. Listen and I'll tell you all about it; it's the queerest +affair you ever heard of."</p> + +<p>"I guess it is; I know your talent for inventing yarns. I don't want to +hear this one."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to insult me?"</p> + +<p>And Farley's face reddened.</p> + +<p>"That would be impossible."</p> + +<p>"It would, eh? See here, Gus Wattles, do you mean to say that you are +going to throw me over and ruin my chances in the business?"</p> + +<p>"It is your own fault. I want to have nothing more to do with you."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm bounced?"</p> + +<p>"That is it, exactly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is? Well, I'll show you!"</p> + +<p>And the drink-maddened ruffian suddenly drew a knife and, brandishing it +above his head, sprang toward his companion.</p> + +<p>In another second the weapon would have descended but for a most +opportune interruption.</p> + +<p>"Stop!"</p> + +<p>Farley turned and glared in the direction from which the voice +proceeded.</p> + +<p>Al Allston stood in the doorway, in his hand a revolver, which was +leveled at the head of the would-be assassin.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD.</span></h2> + + +<p>Al was bowed, by the now obsequious servant, into Mrs. Anderson's +elegantly furnished drawing room.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," said the man, cringingly. "I didn't know that +you were a friend of the family, or I wouldn't have spoken as I did. You +see, sir, we're a good deal troubled by book agents and such like."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be a good idea to be civil to everyone?" said Al. "It would +not cost you anything, and you'd be sure to make no mistake."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. You won't say anything to Mrs. Anderson, will you, sir? It +might cost me my place."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" returned Al, so impatient to see the mayor's wife that he +scarcely heard what the man said.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>At this moment the sound of approaching footsteps was heard, and the +servant hastily bowed himself out.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he gone when Mrs. Anderson entered the room, followed by +her husband. She was a tall, slender, rather good-looking woman of about +thirty; he a short, pompous man, at least ten years his wife's senior.</p> + +<p>The lady approached Al with outstretched hands.</p> + +<p>"My brave, noble boy," she cried, "how delighted I am to see you! And I +did not even know your name until I received your card just now. I am so +glad you did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> allow yourself to be sent away. But why have you not +called before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, why have you not called before?" echoed the mayor, seizing the +boy's hands, which his wife had just relinquished.</p> + +<p>Al, considerably embarrassed, murmured something about not wanting to +intrude.</p> + +<p>"Intrude!" cried the lady. "You are, like all heroes, modest to a fault. +You will always be a welcome guest here. But sit down; you must spend +the evening with us."</p> + +<p>"I cannot," began the boy.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! I will take no refusal. He must stay, mustn't he, Mr. +Anderson?"</p> + +<p>"By all means," smiled the mayor.</p> + +<p>"And we will talk about his heroic deed," went on Mrs. Anderson. "It was +a fortnight ago, but the scene comes up before me as vividly as if it +had been only yesterday—the maddened horses, our child directly in +their path, her rescue by this noble boy at the imminent risk of his own +life. In another moment she would have been crushed under the feet of +the runaway animals had he not sprang forward and dragged her out of +danger."</p> + +<p>"It was a heroic act," said the mayor.</p> + +<p>"It was nothing more than almost anyone would have done, sir," said the +blushing lad.</p> + +<p>"It was more than anyone else did," returned Mr. Anderson, "and I +understand that the affair was witnessed by a dozen or more persons. But +why have you not called before? I understood my wife to say that she +asked you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> to come that afternoon. You did not come, and we tried in +every way to discover your identity, even going so far as to advertise +for you."</p> + +<p>"I saw the advertisements, sir," replied Al.</p> + +<p>"Ah! and that is why you are here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir. The advertisements mentioned that you wanted to give me a +reward."</p> + +<p>"Of course we did. You don't mean to say that it was the fear of having +a reward forced upon you that kept you away?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," replied Al, "I confess that had something to do with it."</p> + +<p>The mayor laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"This is really refreshing," he said. "My lad, I am interested in you +more than ever, now. Well, I promise you that, if you insist upon it, +the subject shall not be referred to this evening."</p> + +<p>"But I do not insist," said Al. "The fact is, Mr. Anderson, I came here +to-night to ask you to make your promise good."</p> + +<p>Both the mayor and his wife stared at the lad in surprise.</p> + +<p>"You mean," said the former, "that you are here to claim your reward?"</p> + +<p>"That is what I mean, sir."</p> + +<p>There was, perhaps, just a shade of disappointment on the face of Mr. +Anderson; it may be he was thinking that another idol had been rather +rudely shattered. But he only said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>"I am glad you have changed your mind, my boy. What reward do you wish? +My little daughter's life is worth more to me than anything else on +earth, so you need not be too modest in your request. How much shall it +be? I will write a check for any reasonable amount you choose to name."</p> + +<p>Al's face flushed.</p> + +<p>"I don't want money, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>"No? Well, what can I do for you, then? Do you want me to find you a +position in my office? Perhaps I can do something for you in that way, +if you——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Anderson," interrupted Al, desperately, "you would never guess what +I want if you tried until doomsday."</p> + +<p>The mayor, very naturally, looked surprised.</p> + +<p>"Eh?" he stammered. "Why, r-really, you are a most extraordinary youth. +Well, I will try to satisfy your demands, whatever they are. Out with +them now."</p> + +<p>"You will grant any request I make?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"Anything in reason, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I can't explain now just why I ask this favor of you, but I +will when there is time; just now there isn't."</p> + +<p>"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Anderson. "Come to the point; +what is it you want me to do?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to let Mrs. Anderson appear at the opera house to-night, as +she promised."</p> + +<p>Both the mayor and his wife started from their seats, their faces +showing all the surprise they felt.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>"Why, what is it to you whether she appears or not?" asked Mr. Anderson.</p> + +<p>"It is everything."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"I cannot explain now; but, sir, I assure you that, perhaps, my whole +future depends upon whether you grant my request or not."</p> + +<p>"Really," gasped the mayor, "this is most extraordinary. Why cannot you +explain now?"</p> + +<p>"Because the curtain goes up in a good deal less than an hour, and Mrs. +Anderson ought to be at the theater now."</p> + +<p>Here the lady herself interposed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Anderson," she said, beseechingly, "do let me go! You know I +promised, and that in itself is reason enough why I should appear."</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand this at all," said the mayor, petulantly. Then +turning to Al, he added:</p> + +<p>"Boy, I will write you my check for five thousand dollars, if you will +withdraw this absurd request."</p> + +<p>Five thousand dollars was a good deal more money than Al had ever had in +his possession, a good deal more than he was likely to earn as advance +agent for a long time to come; but his answer was prompt and positive.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Anderson, I don't want your money. I would not accept a penny of +it. I only request that you allow your wife to keep her promise and +appear to-night. I would not ask this if I thought there would be +anything disagreeable to her in fulfilling her promise, but——"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>Here Mrs. Anderson interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course there would not," she said. "You know, John, I am so +anxious to make my début on the professional stage. Now, do let me go, +won't you? You cannot refuse now!"</p> + +<p>After a moment's hesitation, the mayor said:</p> + +<p>"No, I cannot. You shall go."</p> + +<p>It was with difficulty that Al suppressed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"There is not a moment to be lost," he reminded the would-be débutante.</p> + +<p>"I know it," cried Mrs. Anderson. "Oh, I am so glad you came! Now, don't +look so downcast, John; you will be very proud of me when you see me on +the stage."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Well, we shall see."</p> + +<p>Al rose to go.</p> + +<p>"You will not change your mind again, Mrs. Anderson?" he asked, a little +apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"No, no," laughed the lady. "I have never changed it at all. I shall be +there."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD.</span></h2> + + +<p>Mr. Anderson accompanied Al to the door.</p> + +<p>"I would have granted almost any other request you might have made with +more willingness," he said. "I have a strongly rooted objection to my +wife appearing on the stage."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, sir," said Al. "But, perhaps, as Mrs. Anderson says, +you will feel differently when you see her."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it very much. Now, tell me, why did you insist upon this +sacrifice on my part? What is it to you whether my wife appears or not?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't time to tell you now, sir," the boy replied. "I must return +to the theater at once."</p> + +<p>"Can you call at my office, at the City Hall, to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do so, then, at, say, ten in the morning. I should like to have a talk +with you; I want to know more of you."</p> + +<p>"I will be there, Mr. Anderson. Good-evening, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, my lad."</p> + +<p>As Al hurried along to take the good news to Mr. Wattles, he muttered:</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't think I had so much cheek. I wouldn't have insisted upon +Mrs. Anderson's appearing if there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> had really been any harm in it, but +I'm sure it can't damage her or her husband much. Besides, she gave her +promise, and she ought to keep it."</p> + +<p>As the boy hurried through the long corridor leading to the manager's +office, his attention was attracted by the sound of loud and excited +voices, and, listening, he heard a portion of the conversation taking +place between Mr. Wattles and his ex-advance agent. As we have seen, he +reached the office just in time to see Farley standing over the manager +with uplifted knife, and to interfere.</p> + +<p>The advance agent proved himself a coward, for the weapon dropped from +his fingers, and, throwing up his hands, he cried:</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot! Mercy, mercy!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles picked up the knife.</p> + +<p>"Allston," he said, "go for a policeman."</p> + +<p>As Al turned to leave the room, Farley cried, imploringly:</p> + +<p>"Wait! Wattles, old man, I didn't know what I was doing. The fact is, I +have been drinking pretty hard lately, but I shall be all right in a day +or two."</p> + +<p>"You don't expect to get back in my employ again, do you?" the manager +asked, sternly.</p> + +<p>"No, no, I don't. All I ask is that you will not utterly ruin all my +chances for life by having me arrested. Things look bad enough for me +without that."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Farley, I'll let you off this time, but I warn you to keep +out of my way in the future."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>"If I keep straight and show you that I am at my best we may do business +together again, eh, Wattles?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I shall never have anything more to do with you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll think better of that. You haven't had time to fill my +place yet."</p> + +<p>"I've got a better man for your place than you ever were," said the +manager.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" demanded Farley.</p> + +<p>"There he stands;" and Mr. Wattles pointed to Al.</p> + +<p>"That kid?" gasped Farley.</p> + +<p>"That young gentleman," said the manager, with theatrical +impressiveness.</p> + +<p>Farley stared at the boy a few moments without speaking; then, with a +peculiar smile, he said:</p> + +<p>"So you are an advance agent, are you, bub?"</p> + +<p>"So it seems," replied Al, as coolly as he could.</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't remain one long; I will see to that. Take my advice and +quit the business before the temperature gets too high. See? Yes, I +think you do. I don't propose——"</p> + +<p>"Look here," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "I've had just about enough of +this. Are you going to get out or are you not?"</p> + +<p>Farley backed toward the door.</p> + +<p>"I am," he said. "Ta, ta, Wattles! Ta, ta, my young friend! But we shall +meet again, and don't you forget, either of you, to paste that fact in +your hat."</p> + +<p>And he swaggered out of the room.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>"The impudent scoundrel!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles. "I let him off too +easy. If I am not mistaken, we shall have more trouble with him."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about him," interrupted Al. "Do you know that it is almost +eight o'clock, Mr. Wattles?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! So it is! And Mrs. Anderson——"</p> + +<p>"It's all right."</p> + +<p>"She will appear?"</p> + +<p>"Sure."</p> + +<p>The manager grasped his companion's hand.</p> + +<p>"Allston," he said, "you are a wonder."</p> + +<p>"That's just what you want for an advance agent, isn't it?" the boy +asked, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Did she come with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, but she is probably here by this time."</p> + +<p>"How did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you some other time, sir."</p> + +<p>"That's right; we have no time to waste in talk now. I'll go and see if +she has arrived. I should be in a nice fix if she changed her mind +again."</p> + +<p>"She won't, Mr. Wattles."</p> + +<p>Scarcely hearing the last words, the manager rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>"Well," mused Al, "if Mr. Wattles is a man of his word I am his advance +agent now. It will be my fault if I don't make the best of the +opportunity. But it's dollars to doughnuts that I shall have trouble +with that loafer, Farley. Well, I guess I can hold my own."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>He was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, my boy," laughed the manager.</p> + +<p>"You haven't seen her yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I've seen Perley, and he tells me she is here, and is dressing +for the part. He thinks that she is going to make a big hit."</p> + +<p>"Of course she will," laughed Al; "she is the leader of society here, +and it would be treason not to like her."</p> + +<p>The manager smiled.</p> + +<p>"You know something of the world," he said.</p> + +<p>"Not as much as I would like to. But, seriously, sir, Mrs. Anderson is +not such a bad actress, and I shouldn't wonder if she did make a hit."</p> + +<p>"She'll have to be a second Ristori, if she does in that part," grinned +Mr. Wattles. "There's nothing to it; but, for all that, the woman who +has been playing it is wild because I have taken it away from her for +one night."</p> + +<p>"Have you explained the circumstances to her?"</p> + +<p>"Have I? I've talked myself nearly deaf in doing so, but it was of no +use."</p> + +<p>"She must be very thick-headed if she can't see how you are placed."</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, a woman will never see anything she doesn't want to see. +But never mind about all that. I don't care particularly whether the +woman is suited or not; I can fill her place at a few hours' notice. And +now I must go and see how things are going. I have a good stage manager, +but I have to do a lot of the work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> myself, for all that. And I must +acknowledge that I do feel a little nervous at letting an untrained +amateur appear in the piece without a rehearsal. Come with me, and we'll +see if everything is going smoothly."</p> + +<p>Al followed the manager through the long passage way and out into a +damp, dingy court, on the opposite side of which was a door bearing the +inscription: "Stage Door. No Admittance."</p> + +<p>Passing through the sacred portals, Mr. Wattles and Al stepped upon the +stage.</p> + +<p>Al had been "behind the scenes" before; the scene that met his eyes was +not an entirely unfamiliar one, and he trod the boards with the +nonchalant air of a veteran.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sparkley, how does everything go?" asked the manager of an +anxious-looking elderly man, whom the boy rightly guessed to be the +stage manager.</p> + +<p>"Badly enough," was the reply. "There's been a big row, and your society +amateur refuses to appear."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE DEBUT.</span></h2> + + +<p>Mr. Wattles sank into a convenient chair.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, with an air of stony resignation, "there's no use in +fighting against fate. I give it up. We'll return the people their money +and shut up the house."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"Why," replied Sparkley, "Miss Hollingsworth, who has been playing the +part that Mrs. Anderson is billed for, has been here, and has had an +interview with her successor, and got her so worked up that she +absolutely refuses to appear."</p> + +<p>"Why, I told the woman that she needn't come at all to-night!" cried Mr. +Wattles.</p> + +<p>"Well, she's here as large as life."</p> + +<p>"Why did you let her in, Sparkley?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't very well refuse her admittance; she is a member of the +company."</p> + +<p>"That's so."</p> + +<p>"Besides, I had no idea that she was going to raise a row. I think that +Farley was at the bottom of the business; I saw him talking to her +outside just before she came in."</p> + +<p>"You did? That explains the whole thing. Well, I'm just going to let +things take their course."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mrs. Anderson came rushing toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> them, evidently +greatly excited. She was closely followed by a young woman, quite as +much agitated as herself.</p> + +<p>Both women began talking at once, and it was two or three minutes before +Mr. Wattles could make himself heard. When at last he succeeded in doing +so, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now, ladies, if you will speak one at a time, and talk slow, I will try +to straighten things out. What is the trouble, Mrs. Anderson?"</p> + +<p>"That woman," sobbed the society belle, indicating the actress, "has +grossly insulted me. I cannot, I will not play."</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten your promise to me, Mrs. Anderson?" interposed Al.</p> + +<p>"No, I have not, and I am very sorry that I cannot fulfill it. But it is +impossible."</p> + +<p>"I only told her," snapped Miss Hollingsworth, a fiery-looking, +dark-haired, black-eyed woman, "that she was a rank amateur, and so she +is. Why, it is an insult to give such a woman my part!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's what she said," cried Mrs. Anderson, in a high-pitched +voice. "I would never play the part unless she was discharged."</p> + +<p>The manager's face lighted up.</p> + +<p>"Will you play," he asked, "if I discharge her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"That settles it. Miss Hollingsworth, you are discharged."</p> + +<p>"Wha-a-t?" screamed the actress.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"You heard what I said. You are given the usual two weeks' notice."</p> + +<p>"I am discharged, I, Olga Hollingsworth, on account of this woman?"</p> + +<p>"No, you are discharged because these exhibitions of bad temper on your +part have tired me out. And now, madam," turning to Mrs. Anderson and +speaking with the utmost politeness, "will you kindly return to your +dressing room and complete your preparations for your appearance? You +will have to go on in less than fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>"I will do so, sir."</p> + +<p>And with a withering glance at the actress, the mayor's wife swept away.</p> + +<p>"You shan't forget this evening's work in a hurry, Mr. Gus Wattles!" +hissed the enraged Miss Hollingsworth. "You'll rue the day when you made +Dick Farley and me your enemies!"</p> + +<p>"So Farley is at the bottom of all this, is he?" said the manager. "I +thought so."</p> + +<p>"Never mind whether he is or not," was the actress' reply. "I wish you +good-evening, Wattles. I don't want your two weeks' notice. I wouldn't +play in your company again for ten times the miserable salary you paid +me. Find some one else to play the part to-morrow night or shut up the +house."</p> + +<p>With these words and a vindictive glance, the woman left the theater, +slamming the stage door violently behind her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>Mr. Wattles drew a long breath of relief.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to get rid of her," he said. "This isn't the first time she +and I have had words. I'll have another woman here to play the part +to-morrow night, or I'll cut it out altogether; it isn't of any +importance, anyhow. And, I say, I believe that Mrs. Anderson has the +making of an actress in her, after all. She's as good a kicker as if she +had been in the business all her life. No danger of her suffering from +stage fright; she has too good an opinion of herself. Well, I must go +around to the front now. Come with me and see how things look."</p> + +<p>The house was, as Al had predicted, packed to the doors; even standing +room was at a premium. Such an audience had never been seen in the opera +house before.</p> + +<p>The souvenir spoons had proved a great success; everyone was extolling +the liberality of the management.</p> + +<p>"This is immense," chuckled Mr. Wattles, rubbing his hands. "Allston, +you are a trump. I wish you could do this in every town we visit."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll do my best to repeat the success," smiled Al. "What can't be +done in one way can in another."</p> + +<p>"And you're the lad who can do it. But the curtain is going up. I hope +Mrs. Anderson will be all right. She comes on in less than five minutes. +Come up to the manager's box now; it's the only place in the house where +we can get a seat."</p> + +<p>The two elbowed their way through the crowd; and, not without some +difficulty, reached the box in question. They had hardly taken their +seats when Mrs. Anderson<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> stepped upon the stage. Her appearance was the +signal for a perfect whirlwind of applause.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, as the lady stood bowing and smiling, "she is +a good-looker, anyway. She's as well made up as if she'd been in the +profesh for years; and, by Jove! she's as cool as a veteran! What a +reception! Irving himself couldn't ask for a better one."</p> + +<p>In fact, it was nearly or quite three minutes before the débutante could +go on with her part. By this time the stage was half filled with "floral +tributes," one huge piece being from the board of aldermen. When the +mayor, who was seated in an opposite box, saw this, his face, which had +until then worn a rather gloomy expression, lighted up, and he began to +manifest some signs of interest in the performance.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Wattles had said, the part that had been assigned to Mrs. +Anderson was one of very little importance. It would have been difficult +to make a failure of it. The lady recited her lines well, and when she +left the stage she was furiously applauded.</p> + +<p>"That shows what the public appreciation of the drama amounts to," +remarked Mr. Wattles, sarcastically, although he had applauded Mrs. +Anderson as loudly as anyone. "You can't hear yourself think for the +noise they make about this society woman; yet, on the same stage there +is a little girl who has real talent. But they ignore her."</p> + +<p>"You mean the young lady who plays the part of <i>Ethel Darlington</i>?" +questioned Al.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>"Yes, of course I do. I see that you, at least, know good acting when +you see it; but here comes Mrs. Anderson again. Ah! that old fellow in +the box over there is going to make a speech."</p> + +<p>Al recognized in the "old fellow" referred to one of Boomville's +prominent citizens—a certain Maj. Duncan.</p> + +<p>The major, who enjoyed nothing in life more than hearing himself talk in +public or in private, had risen in his seat and was signaling for +silence.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the house was so still that the fall of the traditional +pin would have startled the more nervous portion of the audience.</p> + +<p>The major, standing at the edge of the box, delivered, in a sonorous +voice, a fulsome speech of praise, addressed to Mrs. Anderson, ending by +presenting her with a wreath of laurels.</p> + +<p>The lady, not in the least embarrassed, made a brief reply, and was +about to resume her part, when Maj. Duncan, who had remained standing, +said:</p> + +<p>"But this is not all. There is here to-night a young fellow townsman of +ours of whom Boomville should be proud. I refer to the gentleman seated +in the proscenium box on the other side."</p> + +<p>And the orator fixed his eyes on Al's face.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A STARTLING SITUATION.</span></h2> + + +<p>Everyone in the house stared at Al, and Mr. Wattles whispered in his +ear:</p> + +<p>"Why, he means you! What have you been up to? I tell you, this is a +great night for Boomville."</p> + +<p>Evidently Maj. Duncan expected some acknowledgment of his compliment +from Al, for after a moment's silence he added:</p> + +<p>"I repeat, I refer to the young gentleman yonder, Mr. Allen Allston."</p> + +<p>"Get up and bow," whispered the manager, in our hero's ear.</p> + +<p>Scarcely knowing what he was doing, Al obeyed.</p> + +<p>The entire audience applauded, although there were not three persons +among them who knew why they did it.</p> + +<p>"Will the young gentleman kindly step upon the stage?" went on the +major.</p> + +<p>Without speaking, Mr. Wattles seized the boy by the arm, and fairly +dragged him through a narrow door in the rear of the box.</p> + +<p>"This is the easiest way of getting on the stage," he said. "I wonder +what they have got on foot. They ought to have told us. In a case like +this it is always the proper caper to have a witty impromptu speech +ready, and they ought to have given you a chance to prepare one at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> your +leisure—they really ought. But this is not New York. Now, then, my boy, +step out on the stage. Don't you hear them shouting for you?"</p> + +<p>But Al held back.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand all this," he said. "What do they want with me?"</p> + +<p>"Go and find out."</p> + +<p>"But——"</p> + +<p>"Allston! Allston!" came from all parts of the theater.</p> + +<p>"Go on!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. Wattles fairly pushed his companion upon the stage.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary to say that Al was greatly embarrassed as he +confronted the sea of faces. His appearance was greeted with wild +cheers, though the audience did not know what they were cheering about.</p> + +<p>In a few moments silence was again restored through the efforts of Maj. +Duncan, who then cleared his throat and began:</p> + +<p>"It may not be known to many of you that we have a hero, a genuine hero, +among us, but it is a fact. And that hero now stands blushingly upon the +stage before us. Ladies and gentlemen, picture to yourselves this +scene—a team of maddened horses rushing at a terrible rate of speed +directly for a spot where a defenseless child has fallen on the highway. +Apparently the little girl is doomed to a horrible death. The spectators +stand spellbound—all save one, a youth. He rushes forward and, at the +risk of his own life, saves the child from the fate that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> a moment +before seemed inevitable. That youth, ladies and gentlemen, was Allen +Allston; the little girl he rescued was the child of our mayor."</p> + +<p>The major's rather theatrical speech was here interrupted by frantic +applause, much to the orator's gratification and Al's embarrassment.</p> + +<p>When silence once more reigned the major went on:</p> + +<p>"It is not necessary that I enlarge upon the heroism displayed by this +noble youth; it is evident to all of you, and the performance has +already, perhaps, been delayed too long. I will close by requesting the +acceptance by Mr. Allston of this token of esteem and appreciation from +Mayor Anderson, who has delegated to me the most agreeable duty of +making the presentation speech. Take it, my young friend; and always +wear it in remembrance of those whom you have placed under so heavy a +debt of gratitude."</p> + +<p>As he spoke Maj. Duncan extended a diamond ring to the boy.</p> + +<p>Al was obliged to cross the stage to receive it. By this time he had +partially regained his usual self-possession. He took the ring with a +graceful bow, and attempted to speak.</p> + +<p>But the effort proved a total failure. The words stuck in his throat; he +could only give utterance to an inaudible murmur.</p> + +<p>"Speech, speech!" cried a dozen or more persons, but Al was unable to +gratify their wishes. In great confu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>sion he retired to the comparative +seclusion of the stage, where Mr. Wattles met him and grasped his hand.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea you were a hero," he said. "But why didn't you make a +speech? Oh, I understand—stage fright. Well, never mind, you're the +hero of the hour, anyway. Isn't that ring a sparkler! Just completes +your outfit as advance agent; they always wear a diamond ring, you know. +Well, this is a great night, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>By this time the performance had been resumed. It was brought to a +successful conclusion two hours later, Mrs. Anderson having been called +before the curtain no less than ten times.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad everything went off so well," said Mr. Wattles to Al, when the +audience had dispersed. "I was a little afraid that fellow, Farley, +would try to make some trouble for us. He's just about crazy enough from +drink to do something desperate if the idea occurred to him. Look out +for him, Allston."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of him," said Al.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, be on your guard. Well, didn't everything go off in great +shape? That presentation alone will be worth a good many dollars to the +show. Accounts of it will be published all over the country."</p> + +<p>"I wish they had given me the ring in private," said Al.</p> + +<p>"You do? Well, I don't! You must get over some of that modesty of yours; +you won't need it in your career as advance agent. Going now? Well, +good-night. You'll be ready to start for the next town at noon +to-morrow?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good. Look out for Farley on your way home."</p> + +<p>"I'm not worrying about him," laughed Al. "I guess you're more afraid of +him than I am, sir. Good-night."</p> + +<p>Al lived a little way out of the town. To get home it was necessary for +him to ride for half an hour in a horse car, and then to walk some +distance along a lonely country road.</p> + +<p>Singular to say, the subject that engrossed his thoughts during the ride +was not the events of the day, not the new career that he was about to +begin. One face was constantly before his mental vision, the face of the +beautiful young girl—Miss Gladys March, the bills called her—who had +played the part of <i>Ethel Darlington</i>.</p> + +<p>Why did her face haunt him so persistently? he asked himself. She was a +complete stranger to him, yet, somehow, he felt as if he had known her +all his life.</p> + +<p>His thoughts were still on her when he left the car and began his lonely +walk.</p> + +<p>So absorbed was he in meditation that he did not notice that from the +moment he alighted from the car he was followed at a short distance by a +man whose face was concealed by a high coat collar and a slouch hat.</p> + +<p>The full moon was shining brightly, but Al's pursuer lurked in the +shadows of the trees and shrubbery that lined the road on either side.</p> + +<p>For half an hour this pursuit of the boy continued; then the man gave a +shrill whistle.</p> + +<p>As Al turned, three masked men sprang from a clump<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> of bushes on his +left and seized him. Before he could cry out a gag was thrust into his +mouth. A few moments later he was bound hand and foot.</p> + +<p>Then one of his assailants lifted him in his arms and bore him up a side +road, near which the assault had been committed. A covered wagon stood +in waiting here. Al was placed in it; then his captors and the man who +had followed him from the car, entered, and the vehicle was driven +rapidly away.</p> + +<p>At the expiration of, perhaps, half an hour the wagon was brought to a +standstill, and Al was lifted out.</p> + +<p>It was a strange sight that met his gaze.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen masked men were assembled under a tree, over one of the +boughs of which was flung a stout rope.</p> + +<p>One of the strange party stepped forward and removed the gag from the +boy's mouth, saying:</p> + +<p>"If you have any last remarks to make, make 'em now, and be quick about +it. We don't propose to fool away any time on this job."</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean?" gasped Al. "What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"We're going to string you up in just about two minutes at the outside," +was the reply; "so if you have anything to say you'd better hurry."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A CLOSE CALL.</span></h2> + + +<p>"You are going to murder me?" the boy cried.</p> + +<p>"Well, we don't put it just that way," was the cool reply of the man who +had spoken before.</p> + +<p>"How do you put it, then?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to execute you. In cases like yours the law is a little +too slow for us, so we have constituted ourselves judge, jury, +executioners and all the rest of it. Young fellow, you've stolen your +last horse."</p> + +<p>The truth flashed upon Al.</p> + +<p>For several weeks residents of the neighborhood of +Boomville—principally farmers—had been the victims of a clever horse +thief, who had, since he began operations, stolen a number of valuable +animals. The authorities seemed to be powerless in the matter, although +they professed to be using every possible means to bring the thief to +justice. Only one clew had been gained; one of the stolen horses had +been sold to a farmer in a village about fifty miles distant by a youth +of about sixteen, who had given a plausible reason to the simple-minded +purchaser for having the animal in his possession. The farmer had been +able to give a quite minute description of the boy. Al had read that +description, and now remembered, with a sinking of the heart, that it +would apply to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> him fully as well as to the thief for whom he was taken.</p> + +<p>"See here," he exclaimed, impetuously, "you are making a terrible +mistake! I am not the person you think me to be."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," was the sarcastic response of the spokesman of the +crowd. "I told you we were not going to waste any words on you, and we +are not."</p> + +<p>"String him up!" shouted another of the party. "Get the job done with! +We're taking big chances in delaying the thing."</p> + +<p>"That's right!"</p> + +<p>"H'ist the derned hoss thief, then!"</p> + +<p>"We've had enough chin music; let's get to work."</p> + +<p>These were a few of the comments of the would-be executioners.</p> + +<p>One man now stepped to the front. It was he who had followed Al from the +town. He had now donned a mask like the rest of the party.</p> + +<p>"I'll do the job," he said. "Will you leave it to me, gents?"</p> + +<p>Al started. Where had he heard that voice? Before any reply could be +made he said, in a loud, clear voice:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime. My name is Allen Allston. I +live in Boomville. Hundreds of people there know me, and can tell you +what my reputation is. Why, I should not have the slightest trouble in +proving an alibi. If you murder me, you will all bitterly regret it some +day. You do not want to commit a mur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>der; you want to do what you think +an act of justice. You are making an awful mistake; give me a chance, +and I will prove it."</p> + +<p>These words had a visible effect upon the desperate men. They began to +converse together in a low tone—all but the man who had followed Al; he +stood aloof from the rest.</p> + +<p>"See here," he presently said, in a voice that Al noticed trembled +slightly, "if you gents have any more time to fool away here I haven't. +I don't propose to get into any trouble through this thing. I have tried +to do you a service, but you don't seem to appreciate it."</p> + +<p>"We don't want to make any mistake," said the spokesman.</p> + +<p>"But you're not making any mistake. Don't I tell you I know the boy, +that he is the same one that sold me the horse last week?"</p> + +<p>Here Al interposed.</p> + +<p>"Do you claim," he asked, "that you are the farmer to whom the horse +thief sold one of the stolen animals last week?"</p> + +<p>"I do; and I recognize you as the person. It's no use, my fine fellow, +the jig's up. I've been shadowing you for some time, and I've got you +down fine."</p> + +<p>Al turned to the group of men, who had been listening in silence to the +brief dialogue.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said, "do any of you know the farmer who bought the +horse from the thief? Could any one of you swear to his identity?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>The spokesman replied, this time using a gentler tone than before.</p> + +<p>"No, my lad," he said, "not one of us ever saw the man until to-night."</p> + +<p>"You don't see him now," said Al. "I do not believe that this is the man +at all. He is some enemy of mine, who has imposed upon you for his own +personal ends."</p> + +<p>"Bah!" interrupted the subject of discussion, "are we to stand here all +night listening to this sort of stuff? The young villain is only trying +to gain time. Of course, if he will steal, he will lie."</p> + +<p>"All I ask is a fair trial," said Al, "but I see I cannot get that here. +However, gentlemen, if you must kill some one, don't kill the wrong man. +It looks to me a good deal as if this fellow were the real thief, and +that he was trying to throw dust in your eyes. None of you ever saw him +before, you say. Now, perhaps I have seen him. Let me see his face; it +may be that I can identify him."</p> + +<p>"That's fair enough."</p> + +<p>"That's all right."</p> + +<p>"Off with your mask, stranger, and let the boy see your face."</p> + +<p>It was evident that the sentiment of the crowd was turning in Al's +favor.</p> + +<p>"Why should I show him my face?" said the boy's accuser. "All the rest +of you are masked."</p> + +<p>"We'll take off our masks if you take off yours," said the spokesman. +"Eh, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Ay! ay!" came from the others.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>Still the stranger hesitated.</p> + +<p>"It's risky for all of us," he said. "Have done with this nonsense. If +you are going to do away with the thief, get to work; if you're not, +why, let him go. We can't stand here all night chinning."</p> + +<p>"Off with your mask!" said the leader of the crowd, sternly.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the fellow, desperately; "I agree. Off with yours, +then, all of you."</p> + +<p>Several of the crowd removed their masks. The stranger raised his hand, +as if to take his off, but instead of doing so, he turned suddenly and +made a rush for a thick growth of wood near which the scene we have just +described had been enacted. In a few moments—before his companions +could recover from their astonishment—he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"After him, Hammond and Thompson, and you, Porter!" shouted the leader. +"Don't let him get away from you."</p> + +<p>Then turning to Al, he added:</p> + +<p>"Boy, I believe we have made a mistake. That fellow is the real thief."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," said our hero, "but I do know I'm not."</p> + +<p>"If he isn't the thief, what motive could he have had in accusing an +innocent person?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is some one who has a grudge against me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>"It must be an awful grudge to induce him to lay such a plot as that +against you. Do you suspect anyone?"</p> + +<p>"I'd rather not mention any names," said Al.</p> + +<p>Here an old farmer, one of the three or four who had removed their +masks, stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Don't let this here boy fule yer," he said. "I b'lieve he's one o' the +gang. Mark my word, it'll turn aout so."</p> + +<p>"You think so, do you, Mr. Chadwick?" said Al, quietly, looking the old +man full in the face.</p> + +<p>"Yeou know me, dew yeou?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you ought to know me. Have you forgotten Allen Allston?"</p> + +<p>The farmer gasped for breath.</p> + +<p>"I'll be derned ef it ain't Jack Allston's boy!" he exclaimed. "Why, o' +course I know yeou."</p> + +<p>"I told you my name before."</p> + +<p>"I wuz so 'xcited that I didn't take notice. I wuz so sure, yeou see, +thet we hed the right one. Boys"—turning to the others—"I'll swear +thet this here lad don't know no more 'baout who stole them hosses than +we do. I know all his folks, an' there ain't a dishonest hair in the +heads o' enny o' them. I'd ha' know'd him at fust, but I ain't seen him +fer a year or more, an' he's grow'd. An' besides, my eyesight ain't what +it used ter be. Boys, we've hed a narrer escape from committin' a +murder." The men now crowded round Al and shook his hands, and +apologized for their rough treatment of him.</p> + +<p>While they were thus engaged the three who had gone in pursuit of Al's +accuser returned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>"Ain't you got him?" cried Farmer Chadwick.</p> + +<p>"No, he gave us the slip. The moon has gone under a cloud, and in the +darkness he got away. But we'll catch him yet."</p> + +<p>Then the man turned to Al.</p> + +<p>"Boy," he queried, "have you any suspicion as to who the fellow is?"</p> + +<p>Our hero hesitated, then he replied:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have."</p> + +<p>"Who do you think he is?" cried two or three of the men together.</p> + +<p>"I would rather not say," replied the boy.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I might be wronging an innocent man."</p> + +<p>"But we want to find the thief."</p> + +<p>"I cannot help you do that. If the man is the one I think he may be, he +did not steal the horses."</p> + +<p>"Why did he accuse you, then?" demanded one of the party.</p> + +<p>"Merely to satisfy a private grudge."</p> + +<p>"Then he ought to be found and punished; so why do you try to shield +him?"</p> + +<p>"Because it is my private affair," replied Al, quietly. "And because I +do not like your way of administering what you call justice. See how +near you came to making a mistake to-night. But how did you run across +the fellow who said I was the thief?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," replied the spokesman, rather sheepishly. "A few of us +were in a saloon in Boomville the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> early part of the evening. We had +indulged in a few drinks, and we must have talked a little louder than +we realized, for this fellow overheard us telling how we were going to +start a search for the horse thief to-night and string him up if we +found him. He came and told us that he could lead us to him. Well, he +talked as if he knew what he was saying, and—— Well, you know the +rest."</p> + +<p>"So," said Al, "you took the word of a barroom loafer, or worse, on a +matter of so much importance as that."</p> + +<p>"We were excited and had drunk a little too much."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems to me that you had better leave the future management of +the business to the proper authorities," suggested Al.</p> + +<p>"Maybe you're right," admitted the man he addressed. "Well, you won't +say anything about this night's affair to anyone?"</p> + +<p>"I shall say nothing that can harm you. The thing shall not be made +public through me."</p> + +<p>"We'll take your word for that. And now, get into the wagon, and you +shall be driven home."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR.</span></h2> + + +<p>Al's ride home after his queer adventure was an uneventful one. He was +glad enough to reach the solitude of his own room. Although his body was +tired, his mind seemed abnormally active, and for at least two hours he +lay tossing sleeplessly on his bed, reviewing not only the exciting +events of the day, but much of his past life.</p> + +<p>We have thus far said nothing of our hero's past, nor shall we now; we +will let him tell the story himself, as he did the next morning when he +visited the mayor's office.</p> + +<p>Ten o'clock was the time Mr. Anderson had appointed for their interview, +but Al was off hand a little before that hour. Mr. Wattles had told him +that he must leave Boomville for the next town at noon, and he knew he +had no time to waste.</p> + +<p>The mayor received him cordially.</p> + +<p>"I'm delighted to see you, my dear young friend," was his greeting, as +he grasped the boy's hand. "We had a grand success last night, did we +not? And it was all due to your efforts. If it had not been for your +persistency Mrs. Anderson would not have appeared."</p> + +<p>"Then you are not sorry that she played, sir?" questioned Al, somewhat +surprised at the mayor's enthusiasm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>"Sorry? Not a bit of it! Why, it was one of the grandest triumphs in the +history of the American stage."</p> + +<p>Al had his own opinion on that point, but he did not express it; he only +said:</p> + +<p>"The audience seemed to be very much pleased with Mrs. Anderson's work."</p> + +<p>"Pleased! Of course they were pleased. How could they help it? As for +myself, I was as much delighted as I was surprised. I have given my +consent to Mrs. Anderson's second appearance to-night."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Mr. Wattles came to me and, in the most respectful manner, asked +the favor. You see, the woman who has been playing the part was so +angered by my wife's success that she refused to appear. I could do +nothing but yield, especially as Mr. Wattles assures me that there was a +widespread feeling of disappointment on the part of those who were +unable to gain admission last night. Mr. Wattles, my lad, considers Mrs. +Anderson one of the greatest geniuses on the American stage; he told me +so this morning."</p> + +<p>Al could not help thinking that the "foxy" manager was overdoing the +thing a little; but he did not express any opinion. In fact, Mr. +Anderson did not give him a chance to do so, for he went on as soon as +he had caught his breath:</p> + +<p>"But never mind about all that now. Some day you will doubtless remember +with pride that you assisted at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> the début of Mrs. Anderson; but let us +now talk of yourself."</p> + +<p>"We might find a more interesting subject, sir," suggested Al.</p> + +<p>"It is like your modesty to say so, but I cannot agree with you. Now, my +lad, I have taken a great interest in you, and I am going to do what I +can to help you along in the world. What do you most need now, Mr. +Allston?"</p> + +<p>"Good health, sir," laughed Al; "or, rather, a continuance of it. I have +about everything else I want."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am about to offer you something that you haven't got."</p> + +<p>"What is that, sir?"</p> + +<p>"A position under the city government, a position with very little work +and a good salary. It has never been held by anyone as young as you +before, but I haven't the slightest doubt that you will be able to +discharge its duties satisfactorily. In fact, it is almost a sinecure."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, sir," said Al, as the mayor paused, "but I cannot +accept the position."</p> + +<p>"Eh? You cannot? Why not?"</p> + +<p>"For two reasons, sir."</p> + +<p>"What are they?"</p> + +<p>"One is that the position you are kind enough to offer to me is not the +kind I am looking for. I am not looking for an easy berth. I want a +place where there will be plenty to do."</p> + +<p>The mayor stared at the boy incredulously.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>"Well," he said, "you are an original. And what is your other reason for +refusing?"</p> + +<p>"It is that I have a good place now, sir."</p> + +<p>"Ah, indeed? What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wattles has engaged me as advance agent for his company."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson's face clouded.</p> + +<p>"And you would rather travel with a show than have an easy, respectable +position here at home?"</p> + +<p>"I would, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is a matter of taste. I should prefer the berth I have just +offered you."</p> + +<p>"I hope you are not offended, Mr. Anderson?" said Al, a little +diffidently.</p> + +<p>"Offended! No, no, my boy; but I think you are making a mistake."</p> + +<p>"The end will show, sir."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, the end will show. Well, I can't help feeling an interest in +you, not only because you rescued my child, but because you seem to me +to be a rather unusual lad. Do you mind answering me a few questions? +Believe me, I shall not ask them out of mere idle curiosity."</p> + +<p>"Ask as many as you like, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you live in Boomville?"</p> + +<p>"A little way out of the town, sir."</p> + +<p>"Are your parents living?"</p> + +<p>"Only my mother."</p> + +<p>"And your father—has he been dead long?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>"He died before I was born, sir."</p> + +<p>"Can it be that your father was John Allston?"</p> + +<p>"That was his name, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why, good gracious!" exclaimed the mayor, with a new interest, "I knew +him. It was years ago, and we were never intimate, but I had a speaking +acquaintance with him. Let me see, was there not something peculiar +about the manner of his death? I remember hearing something said about +it at the time, but it was so long ago that I cannot remember just what +it was."</p> + +<p>"People said, sir," replied Al, "and I guess they were right, that my +father died of a broken heart."</p> + +<p>"I remember now!" interrupted Mr. Anderson. "His child, your sister, was +stolen. Her loss was such a blow to him that he only survived the shock +a few months."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; that is true."</p> + +<p>"It is a sad story. Was your sister never found?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Nor any clew to the mystery gained?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing of any importance, sir. It was suspected that her nurse had +something to do with the affair, and she was shadowed for a long time. +But nothing was ever learned."</p> + +<p>"I can sympathize with your poor father and mother, my boy," said the +mayor, with more emotion than Al had seen him manifest before. "I can +understand his feelings. But the depth of a mother's love is something +we of the grosser sex cannot ever quite comprehend. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> suppose your +mother has never entirely recovered from the blow."</p> + +<p>"She never has, Mr. Anderson; and it is in the hope that I may help her +to do so that I have taken this engagement with Mr. Wattles' company."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">IN PERIL.</span></h2> + + +<p>The mayor stared at Al.</p> + +<p>"You have taken this engagement for your mother's sake?" he said. "I +don't understand."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say that," the boy replied. "I took it because I believed the +work was just the sort I could do well. At any rate, it was just the +sort I wanted to do. But I also thought that it might give me a good +chance to look for my sister. What can I ever do if I stay here in +Boomville? Nothing. I will go out into the world; and who knows——"</p> + +<p>He paused, perhaps a little offended, for the mayor was smiling.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my boy," Mr. Anderson said, +straightening out his features, "but your hopefulness reminds me of my +own when I started out in life. Alas! those dreams!"</p> + +<p>"But you succeeded, sir."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I succeeded, but in a far different line from that I marked out +for myself. But"—in a changed tone—"it is later than I thought, and I +must reluctantly say good-by. I am sorry you will not take the position +I have offered you; but I cannot say that I respect you less for having +refused it. When do you leave town?"</p> + +<p>"At noon."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>"And it is nearly eleven now. Well, my boy, let me hear from you once in +a while; and be sure that you will always have a friend in John +Anderson."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>And Al backed toward the door.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment," the mayor cried, suddenly producing a sealed envelope +from his pocket. "I want you to take this. Open it at your leisure. I +trust the contents will prove acceptable to you. And now, good-day, +good-day."</p> + +<p>Al could not help thinking that the manner in which his companion almost +shoved him out of the room was due to a fear that he would open the +envelope before he got out. But he put it in his pocket, saying:</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you for your kindness to me, sir."</p> + +<p>"The obligation is on the other side, Mr. Allston," was the reply. "But +good-day—and good luck to you."</p> + +<p>It was after eleven when Al reached Mr. Wattles' hotel.</p> + +<p>"I was beginning to be a little nervous about you," said the manager. +"But I said to myself: 'I don't believe he is one of the kind that go +back on an agreement.'"</p> + +<p>"And you were right, Mr. Wattles."</p> + +<p>"You know you must leave by the noon train."</p> + +<p>"I am all ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"Our next stand, as you are aware, is Rockton. It has the reputation of +being a bad show town, and if you can create a <i>furore</i> there you will +do well."</p> + +<p>"I'll try, sir."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>"There is one morning paper there; do what you can with it."</p> + +<p>"I will. If you could only persuade Mrs. Anderson to go there! She was +born in Rockton, and the whole population would turn out to see her."</p> + +<p>"I thought of that, and tried it. But the mayor wouldn't hear of it. But +he is going to let his wife appear here again to-night, all the same."</p> + +<p>"So I have heard."</p> + +<p>"Eh? Are the bills out already?"</p> + +<p>"I guess not. I have just come from the mayor's office."</p> + +<p>"Ah! indeed? Well, that's right; it's policy to keep in with such +people."</p> + +<p>Al's face flushed.</p> + +<p>"I didn't go there as a matter of policy," he said, "but only because I +promised the mayor yesterday that I would."</p> + +<p>"Well, he ought to do something handsome for you in return for the great +service you did him."</p> + +<p>"I think he did quite enough in giving me that ring last night. My +mother says it must be worth at least five hundred dollars, and she +knows something about such things."</p> + +<p>"It is worth more than that. But Anderson ought to do more for you. Why +doesn't he get you a job under the city with a fat salary and nothing to +do?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what he offered me this morning," laughed Al.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>The manager's jaw fell.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall lose you before long, of course?"</p> + +<p>"Not on account of that political job."</p> + +<p>"Eh?"</p> + +<p>"I refused it."</p> + +<p>"You did?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. I want a job where there is something to do."</p> + +<p>"Well, you've got it with me," said Mr. Wattles, evidently gratified. +"But he might have given you a check."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he did," said Al, reminded of the envelope that the mayor had +handed him just before he left the office.</p> + +<p>He took it from his pocket, tore it open and drew from it a long, narrow +strip of paper.</p> + +<p>The manager, who was looking over the boy's shoulder, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, he has done the handsome thing, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>The check was for five thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>"I won't take it!" cried Al.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will take it!" said Mr. Wattles, very emphatically. "To return +it would be to offend him very deeply."</p> + +<p>"But——"</p> + +<p>"But you must be starting for the train. Come, I'll walk to the depot +with you. I have a number of points to give you."</p> + +<p>When they parted, the manager was better pleased than ever with Al. His +"points" did not seem to be needed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> the boy; a knowledge of and +adaptability to the business seemed to have been born in him.</p> + +<p>"You're all right," said Mr. Wattles, slapping his new advance agent on +the shoulder just before they parted. "I consider a big house in Rockton +a dead-sure thing."</p> + +<p>Al was not quite so confident, however. In Boomville circumstances had +favored him, but he could not hope for the same luck in Rockton; there +he would have to prove his fitness to be the advance agent of the New +York Comedy Company by tact and hard work.</p> + +<p>In conversation with a gentleman on the train, he learned a fact of +which Mr. Wattles had not informed him—that Barnum's circus was at +Rockton.</p> + +<p>"There won't be a corporal's guard at your show," said his informant, +unsympathetically. "Everybody for miles around has been saving up to go +to the circus. Other shows will be simply not in it."</p> + +<p>As if to add to Al's annoyance, the circus parade was going on when he +reached Rockton; at any other time he would have stopped and looked at +it, but he was not in the mood now.</p> + +<p>The sidewalks near the depot were crowded with eager sightseers. Al +forced his way through their ranks, and attempted to cross the street, +heedless of the warning cries of those who saw him.</p> + +<p>He had reached the middle of the street when he attracted the attention +of one of the elephants, an animal with a national reputation for +viciousness. The beast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> quickened its pace, reached the boy, seized him +in its trunk and raised him high in the air, with the evident intention +of dashing him to the pavement.</p> + +<p>A cry of horror rose from the crowd. Apparently Al was doomed to a +frightful death.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">INTERVIEWED.</span></h2> + + +<p>The elephant that had seized Al was, as we have said, well known for his +viciousness. He had killed two keepers and injured half a score of +persons. One of his escapades had occurred quite recently, and was fresh +in the minds of most of the witnesses of his attack on the boy.</p> + +<p>There was an almost simultaneous cry from the onlookers, followed by a +dead silence. The animal's small eyes twinkled viciously. It was evident +enough that in crossing his path Al had excited his ire, and that it was +his intention to revenge himself in a characteristic manner.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a sharp cry broke the silence. It was the voice of the +elephant's keeper, who had been lagging a little behind, but who now +came rushing up, shouting a command to his charge in a language +unintelligible to most of his hearers. To all of them, perhaps, except +the animal; it was plain enough that he understood it.</p> + +<p>His manner changed. He held his captive poised in the air a moment, then +dropped him.</p> + +<p>Al fell heavily to the pavement directly under the feet of the beast. A +new plan of revenge evidently suggested itself to the elephant. He was +about to plant one of his huge feet on the boy's chest when the keeper +again gave utterance to the same cry of command.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>The warning had its effect; the animal stepped over his intended victim, +not touching him.</p> + +<p>In another moment Al had sprung out of harm's way.</p> + +<p>It was an exciting scene. Men were shouting, children crying and women +sobbing.</p> + +<p>One nervous, hysterical lady, whom the boy had never seen before in his +life, clasped him tightly in her arms, and wept convulsively on his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Al was, perhaps, the coolest person in the crowd. Disengaging himself +from the embrace of his new-found friend, he said:</p> + +<p>"There's nothing to cry about, madam; I'm all right."</p> + +<p>"You're sure you're not hurt?" sobbed the lady, scarcely knowing what +she was saying.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least; not so much as scratched."</p> + +<p>"You've had a mighty narrow escape, all the same, young man," said the +elephant's keeper—the procession had come to a standstill, and many of +the employees had crowded around the boy. "This ought to be a lesson to +you not to try to cross a circus parade again."</p> + +<p>"It will be," said Al, with a smile. "At any rate, I shall be careful +not to get too near the elephants."</p> + +<p>Just then a nervous, bustling little man with a notebook in his hand +forced his way through the crowd to where Al was standing.</p> + +<p>"I represent the Rockton <i>Daily Banner</i>," he announced. "Please give me +your name, sir."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the boy, with an eye to business. "I am the advance +agent of Wattles' New York Comedy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> Company, which plays here to-morrow +night, appearing in——"</p> + +<p>"That's all right," the reporter interrupted. "I know what it appears +in. But your name, please."</p> + +<p>"It is Allen Allston."</p> + +<p>"What! not the youth who so heroically saved the life of the child of +Mayor Anderson, of Boomville? Not the same who was presented with the +ring at the opera house last night?"</p> + +<p>By this time the circus parade had been resumed; but, in the immediate +vicinity of the scene of the adventure we have recorded, it excited less +interest than the interview between Al and the reporter.</p> + +<p>The boy colored and hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on the <i>Banner</i> man, "you must be the same. Why, there were +two columns about you in the paper this morning. You seem born for +adventure. You being the hero of the hour, your escape of this morning +will excite great interest. I can make at least a column of it. Here, +Mr. Allston, come with me. We must get out of this crowd; then we can +have a talk."</p> + +<p>Al resigned himself to the inevitable, and forced his way through the +crowd, arm in arm with the reporter.</p> + +<p>While he shrank from having his personal affairs made public, he also +had the interests of his employer at heart; he saw that the exciting +incident of the morning might be used as an advertisement for the show, +and he decided to sacrifice his feelings and let the ambitious and +energetic reporter have his own way.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>"We'll step in here," said the <i>Banner</i> man, leading the way into the +lobby of a hotel. "Really, it is lucky for you that this thing happened; +it can't fail to boom your show. And it needs booming, too, let me tell +you, for the circus will be here to-morrow night, and is pretty sure to +gather in about all the surplus cash that will be left in the +neighborhood after to-day's performances."</p> + +<p>"Still," said Al, "my company is a strong attraction."</p> + +<p>"Under ordinary circumstances, yes; but not when the circus is in town. +Still, we'll see what can be done. I've heard a good deal about you +during the last twenty-four hours, and, honestly, I'd like to help you. +You give me all the most startling facts in your career, and I'll write +'em up in good style."</p> + +<p>"But," smiled Al, "there has never been anything startling in my +career."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" gasped the reporter. "What did you say?"</p> + +<p>Al repeated the statement.</p> + +<p>"An advance agent without a startling career!" said the <i>Banner</i> man. +"Why, such a thing was never heard of before. As a rule we have to cut +out nine-tenths of the blood-curdling incidents in advance agents' +careers, and even then what is left sounds like an Arabian Nights +story."</p> + +<p>Al laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "then I am a remarkable exception. Isn't that a +startling fact?"</p> + +<p>"That may help things out a little."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>"Besides, it is not myself that I want to boom, but the New York Comedy +Company."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a <i>rara avis</i>! But by booming yourself you may at the +same time boom the show. Now, tell me all about yourself first. You see, +the public is more interested about you personally than about Mr. +Wattles' company. But I'll work in a good notice for the show, too. Now, +then, please tell me where you were born, when—and all the rest of it."</p> + +<p>Within ten minutes the reporter was in possession of most of the facts +of Al's "career"; and, as the boy had said, there was nothing very +startling in the story. But when the <i>Banner</i> man had wormed the fact +out of the lad that his sister had been lost or stolen in infancy, he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why, that's just what I want. A romance in your life! Nothing could be +better. A long-lost sister! That will show up in great shape in the +heading."</p> + +<p>"But," interrupted Al, coloring, "I don't want anything said about it. +Please omit any reference to my family."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the reporter, "just as you say; but it is easy to see that +you have not been an advance agent very long. Why, my dear boy, the +article which I am going to write will be copied all over the country, +and might be the means of restoring your sister to you. But there, +there"—as Al was about to speak—"I'll consider your wishes in the +matter, and if I say anything about your sister it will only be a +passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms. And now, then, +what about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> company? How many thousand dollars' worth of diamonds +has the leading lady lost during the last week? Which of the men of the +company is engaged to be married to one of Gould's daughters? Don't be +bashful; tell me all you have to tell, and I'll use all of the stuff I +can. You've given me an A1 interview, and I'm glad to have a chance to +do you a good turn."</p> + +<p>Al had a few alleged facts about certain members of the New York Comedy +Company, and he proceeded to retail them to his companion, who made +notes of them.</p> + +<p>"They're rather chestnutty," he said, as he returned his notebook to his +pocket, "but I'll fix them up in as good shape as I can, and they may +help you out a little. However, you mustn't expect a big house to-morrow +night, for you won't have it."</p> + +<p>With this cheering assurance the <i>Banner</i> scribe took his leave.</p> + +<p>It had occurred to Al, too, that the notices which had been furnished +him by Mr. Wattles were somewhat "chestnutty."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," he said to himself, "somehow or other I'll fix things so +that we'll have a big house. But, judging from the way I have begun, my +first engagement as advance agent is not going to be much of a 'snap.'"</p> + +<p>Al was busy during the entire day seeing that the paper—that is, the +posters, window hangers, etc.—of the company was displayed to the best +advantage.</p> + +<p>This work had been done after a fashion some days before by the local +manager, but the way in which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> duty had been performed did not suit +the young advance agent, and he kept men "hustling" all day.</p> + +<p>"What's the use?" said the manager of the theater, with a weary smile. +"It's sure to be a losing engagement, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Maybe not," returned Al. "You'd better get the 'standing-room-only' +sign dusted off, in case we need it."</p> + +<p>"Rats!" was the response. "Young man, when you know this business and +this town as well as I do, you'll sing a different tune. We shall have +about two hundred people in the house to-morrow night—maybe not quite +so many."</p> + +<p>And he exhibited the advance sheet, which Al examined with a sinking +heart. Only half a dozen seats had been sold for the performance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A STROKE OF LUCK.</span></h2> + + +<p>"Something has got to be done," said the young advance agent.</p> + +<p>"Everything possible has been done," returned the manager, pettishly. +"The amount of the thing is that we have struck an unlucky night, and +there's no help for it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe there is," said Al, quietly. "I mean to have a big house +to-morrow night somehow or other."</p> + +<p>The manager laughed sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"I've heard beginners like you talk before," he said. "You think you are +going to set the river on fire, but the river is not inflammable. I +admire your nerve. I've heard how you drummed up business in Boomville, +and you did well. But you can't do that sort of thing all the time. My +friend, Wattles, wrote and told me that you would work things so that +the house would be full when his company played, but he made a mistake +that time."</p> + +<p>"Did Mr. Wattles say that?" cried Al.</p> + +<p>"He did; and I was surprised at it, for Wattles is not usually a very +sanguine man."</p> + +<p>"If he said it, I'll do it," announced the boy.</p> + +<p>Again his companion laughed.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing like youthful enthusiasm," he said, "and I acknowledge +that it cuts lots of ice at times—but not every time. You might as well +try to square the circle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> as to get a crowd here to-morrow evening. It +can't be done."</p> + +<p>"We'll see," responded Al, with the most confident air he could assume.</p> + +<p>The task before him was a hard one, apparently an impossible one, but he +resolved that he would try to accomplish it.</p> + +<p>"Sail ahead, and do it if you can," said the manager, with something +very much like a sneer. "I shall watch your methods with interest."</p> + +<p>"It's a pity," said Al, "that you have only one morning paper here. Now +if——"</p> + +<p>"Oh," interrupted his companion, yawning, "we'll have another to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p>"How is that?"</p> + +<p>"A young dude named Marcus, with more money than brains—and not very +much of either, by the way—is to issue the first number of a new daily +to-morrow morning. He is going to call it the <i>Bugle</i>, I believe."</p> + +<p>"It being the first issue," suggested Al, "it is likely to have a good +sale. Wouldn't it be a good scheme to spend a little extra in +advertising in it?"</p> + +<p>"My lad," said the manager, wearily, "your ideas are primitive in the +extreme. I have given them my usual size ad., and even if I wanted any +more space—which I don't—I couldn't get it, for the paper is about all +made up now. Oh, we can't do anything against the circus, and that +settles that matter."</p> + +<p>It did not settle the matter with Al, however. He re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>turned to his +hotel, and spent what was left of the afternoon in trying to devise some +plan to arouse public interest in the performance of the New York Comedy +Company.</p> + +<p>He worked at the problem until his head ached, but the harder he thought +the farther he seemed to be from a solution.</p> + +<p>In the evening he went down to the restaurant connected with the hotel, +quite discouraged.</p> + +<p>There was no one in the room when he entered; but a few minutes later +two men, both of them evidently very much excited, came in and seated +themselves near him.</p> + +<p>After a glance at the boy and a hurried order to the waiter, they +resumed a conversation in which they had been engaged when they entered.</p> + +<p>Al could not help overhearing nearly every word they said, for in their +excitement they spoke louder than they thought.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Marcus," he heard one of the men say, "it's a bad +knockout."</p> + +<p>Marcus! Al remembered that this was the name of the proprietor of the +new paper. He was, as the manager had said, a rather dudish-looking +young fellow, but his face was by no means indicative of a lack of +brains.</p> + +<p>"The worst of it is," added Mr. Marcus, "that the <i>Banner</i> people will +have the grand laugh on us. They have been poking fun at the 'amateur +daily,' as they call it, ever since the <i>Bugle</i> was announced; now they +will go for us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>Al was now interested; for the time he forgot his own worries. What +could the trouble be in the office of the new paper?</p> + +<p>"They'll have a good chance," said Mr. Marcus' friend. "Really, my dear +sir, I can't see how you could have made such a break. The idea of +accepting a full-page ad. for 'Dr. Gurgles' Metallic Liver Pads,' only +to find that there is no such thing on the market, and that you have +been made the victim of a practical joker! I wish I had had charge of +the business end of the thing, this would not have happened."</p> + +<p>"I dare say not, but don't reproach me, for I'm too much broken up to +stand it. The question is, how are we going to fill up that page? I've +been boasting, right and left, about the phenomenal amount of bona-fide +ads. the first number of the <i>Bugle</i> would contain, and now we are a +full page short. And I've told a number of people that we were to have a +page ad. from a well-known concern—something the <i>Banner</i> never had."</p> + +<p>"Have you told anyone what the concern was?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps you could get some firm in town to take the page."</p> + +<p>"I'd let 'em have it at any price. But, no, it wouldn't do; I should +have to own up how I had been victimized. Besides, it's too late now, +anyhow. Why, nearly the whole paper is in type, and one side is +printed."</p> + +<p>"Well, what are you going to do with that page?"</p> + +<p>"I give it up."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>Al rose from his seat and approached the table where the two gentlemen +were seated.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can help out, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marcus started from his chair, his face flushed with anger.</p> + +<p>"You've been listening, boy!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I have; I couldn't very well help it, for you spoke in a loud tone."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Marcus," added the other gentleman. "A public restaurant is +not just the place to talk over such a matter."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Marcus, glaring at Al, "I suppose you mean to go and tell +everyone in town what you have heard?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know anyone in town, and if I did I shouldn't repeat a word. As +I just said, I think I can help you out."</p> + +<p>"You! How?"</p> + +<p>"You said you'd let that page go at any price?"</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I will take it. I couldn't afford to do anything like regular +rates, but perhaps by helping you out I can get a lot of advertising +almost free. I tell you frankly that is my object, and I give you my +word that no one shall know anything about the transaction."</p> + +<p>Mr. Marcus and his companion stared at Al in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the former, "you are a queer youngster. Who the mischief +are you—another practical joker?"</p> + +<p>"No. I am Allen Allston, advance agent of Wattles'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> New York Comedy +Company, which plays here to-morrow night."</p> + +<p>"A lad like you occupying a position like that?" exclaimed Mr. Marcus.</p> + +<p>"Just so, sir. Now, what will you let us have that page for?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps your employer would repudiate the bill."</p> + +<p>"I'll pay it myself, right here and now."</p> + +<p>"I'll take you up. You can have the page for one hundred dollars. When +can I have the copy?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all at that price," replied Al, coolly. "The page wouldn't be +worth that much to us. I'll give you fifty dollars, cash now, and the +copy in an hour or less."</p> + +<p>After a moment's hesitation, the proprietor of the <i>Bugle</i> said:</p> + +<p>"Done! Give me the fifty dollars, and I'll give you a receipt for four +hundred. But mind, mum's the word about this deal."</p> + +<p>"You may depend upon me, sir."</p> + +<p>"But," asked Mr. Marcus, "how are you going to have a full page of copy +ready in an hour?"</p> + +<p>"I'll get it ready," replied Al. "Your foreman will have it on time."</p> + +<p>He handed the publisher the fifty dollars, and received a receipt for +four hundred.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Marcus, "you have a head for business, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," said Al, modestly; "but this transaction does not prove +it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>"I think it does."</p> + +<p>"My overhearing your conversation was only blind luck."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but many a man would not have been smart and quick enough to take +advantage of it. The successful business man is he who seizes upon the +lucky accidents that others pass by, and turns them to his own +advantage. You'll get along, my boy."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AL'S AD.</span></h2> + + +<p>Mr. Marcus' words haunted Al for some time after their parting.</p> + +<p>"I don't know but there is something in that," the boy said to himself: +"I'll look out for the lucky accidents after this."</p> + +<p>But the full-page advertisement had to be prepared in less than an hour, +and Al had to turn his attention to its preparation.</p> + +<p>When he went to his room he had not the slightest idea what sort of an +advertisement he was going to write; he only knew that it must be +something taking and brief.</p> + +<p>"Brevity is the soul of wit, anyhow," he reflected, "so I don't believe +I shall make any mistake on that point. But what shall I say in the ad.? +I wonder if I haven't bitten off a little more than I can chew?"</p> + +<p>In half an hour he had the advertisement ready, and a few minutes later +he presented himself with it at the office of the <i>Bugle</i>.</p> + +<p>Here everything was in confusion, but he found the foreman of the +composing room ready and waiting for him.</p> + +<p>"Have you got your copy all ready?" asked the man, nervously. "There is +no time to spare."</p> + +<p>"Here it is," said Al, producing a slip of paper from his vest pocket.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>"I thought you were to have a full page?" said the foreman.</p> + +<p>"So I am, according to contract," smiled the boy.</p> + +<p>"But there are only half a dozen lines here."</p> + +<p>"That's all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you want a display ad.?"</p> + +<p>"No—at least not the kind you mean. I want those few lines repeated +over and over again until the entire space contracted for is filled."</p> + +<p>"You want it printed solid?" gasped the foreman.</p> + +<p>"That's it."</p> + +<p>"But I could give you a much more attractive ad. We can get up a +full-page display ad. that would be simply out of sight."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt it, but I want another kind."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the foreman, with a pitying sigh; "you pay your money +and you take your choice."</p> + +<p>"That's the idea."</p> + +<p>The foreman carefully perused the advertisement. This is what he read:</p> + +<p>"See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, Manager.</p> + +<p>"See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.'</p> + +<p>"See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam.</p> + +<p>"See the real steam yacht.</p> + +<p>"See all this.</p> + +<p>"But——</p> + +<p>"Please don't look at the queer old man in the third row of the +orchestra."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>The foreman stared at Al as if he thought him an escaped lunatic.</p> + +<p>"That's a strange ad.," he said.</p> + +<p>"Is it?" laughed the boy.</p> + +<p>"I never saw anything like it before."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Well, do you want it to go in just as you have written it?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"Without any attempt at display?"</p> + +<p>"Without the slightest attempt at display."</p> + +<p>"That goes, then. Good-night; I must get the men at work on this at +once."</p> + +<p>"I've done all this on my own responsibility," reflected Al, as he left +the place. "If it turns out a fizzle, Mr. Wattles won't have so much +confidence in me in the future. Well, there's no use fretting now; the +thing is done. If it doesn't work I shall know enough not to repeat the +experiment."</p> + +<p>Still Al did fret a little after he got to his room. The apartment that +had been assigned to him was a large, gloomy room on one of the upper +floors of the building. It was about half filled with paintings not +hung, but standing against the wall. These, the hotel clerk had +explained, were the property of an impecunious artist who had formerly +boarded in the house, and were being held until his bill was paid.</p> + +<p>"We left them right there," explained the clerk, "not thinking that we +would need to put anyone in the room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> for some time. But on account of +the rush to the circus the house is full, and we must put you there."</p> + +<p>It made very little difference to Al where he slept, and he said so. He +was only going to spend one night in the house, and the room was +comfortable, if it was rather gloomy.</p> + +<p>Entering it after his visit to the <i>Bugle</i> office, he threw himself into +a chair and fixed his eyes on a full-length picture of a man in modern +dress. He did not even take the trouble to light the gas.</p> + +<p>The rays of the moon dimly illumined the room and lighted up the +picture. The boy sat for nearly half an hour staring absently at the +portrait, thinking nothing about it, but trying to plan his work for the +next day or two.</p> + +<p>But soon he began to realize that he was very tired. He found himself +yawning, and his eyelids drooped in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," he said to himself, "I'll have to leave business until +to-morrow. I'll go to bed."</p> + +<p>But just as he rose from his chair—could he believe the evidence of his +senses?—the figure of the man stepped from the canvas and approached +him.</p> + +<p>It was no dream, for in an instant the boy was as wide awake as he had +ever been.</p> + +<p>Apparently the picture had come to life!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">SAVED BY A SHADOW.</span></h2> + + +<p>In a few seconds Al perceived that the picture had not been endowed with +life; the painted figure remained in its place; it was a being of flesh +and blood that was approaching him.</p> + +<p>The intruder had been standing in front of the picture; the dim light +and Al's preoccupation had conspired to render the boy unconscious of +his presence.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" our hero exclaimed, as the man approached him.</p> + +<p>The next moment he recognized the fellow, and added in a startled voice:</p> + +<p>"Farley!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the ex-advance agent, "it's Farley, the man you knocked out. +You're a little surprised to see me, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" demanded the boy.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you what I want."</p> + +<p>And he darted between Al and the door.</p> + +<p>"Get out of my way!" the lad exclaimed, attempting to push him aside.</p> + +<p>But Farley seized him by the throat and forced him to the floor.</p> + +<p>"You won't escape me this time," he hissed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>Al struggled to release himself, but the grasp of the drink-maddened +brute was not to be shaken off.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't!" he said, in a fierce whisper. "I warned you that you +had not heard the last of me."</p> + +<p>Al tried to cry for help, but could only make an inarticulate sound.</p> + +<p>Farley dragged him in the direction of the window, saying:</p> + +<p>"You got away from me last night, but you won't this time."</p> + +<p>"So," Al managed to gasp, "you were the masked man who accused me of +being a horse thief?"</p> + +<p>"I was the man. You nearly turned the tables on me that time, but you +won't have the same luck twice in succession."</p> + +<p>As he spoke Farley relaxed his grasp on the boy's throat.</p> + +<p>"Youngster," he went on, "if it hadn't been for you I shouldn't have +lost my job with Gus Wattles. Its loss, under the circumstances, means +ruin for me. I can't catch up again, unless——"</p> + +<p>"Is that my fault?" interrupted Al, seeing that the man was crazed with +drink, and that the wisest policy was to attempt to conciliate him. "I +didn't take the position until Mr. Wattles had decided to discharge +you."</p> + +<p>"It's a lie!"</p> + +<p>"It's the truth."</p> + +<p>"If you had not been available he would have taken me back."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about that. Of course, I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> no feeling against +you in the matter. I wanted the place, but I could not have obtained it +if your work had been satisfactory."</p> + +<p>"You used some underhanded method to oust me."</p> + +<p>"I did not."</p> + +<p>"You did. If you had not, how could you have gotten the place? There are +dozens—hundreds—of experienced men, who would have been glad to take +the position at half my salary. No, you did it for private reasons of +your own. You were hired to do it to separate me from her."</p> + +<p>"From whom?"</p> + +<p>"You know well enough who I mean."</p> + +<p>"I have not the slightest idea," replied Al.</p> + +<p>By this time Farley had permitted him to rise to his feet, but still +kept between him and the door.</p> + +<p>"I mean Gladys—as you know," said the drink-maddened man; "Gladys, for +whom I would give my very life."</p> + +<p>"Miss March?"</p> + +<p>It was with genuine surprise that Al asked this question.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You think that I am in a conspiracy to separate you from her?"</p> + +<p>"I know it."</p> + +<p>"You are entirely mistaken. I know nothing at all about Miss March's +affairs; in fact, I have never even spoken to her."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>"It is a lie. But come, I have no more time to waste. This job must be +done."</p> + +<p>He again seized the boy by the throat, and dragged him toward the +window. Al was by no means a weakling, but he was absolutely powerless +in the grasp of his frenzied assailant.</p> + +<p>With one hand Farley held his intended victim, while with the other he +threw up the window sash.</p> + +<p>"No one in the street below," he hissed, "is looking, and if they were +they could not see us. When your body is found, your death will be +considered an accident."</p> + +<p>Al now lay on his back upon the sill; half his body was out of the +window. Apparently the villain's object was almost accomplished, and in +a few seconds the boy's mutilated body would be lying upon the pavement +below.</p> + +<p>"I never knew before," said Farley, "how sweet revenge was."</p> + +<p>"You won't know just yet," said Al, "if I can help it."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, realizing his extreme peril, he made one last, desperate +effort, exerting all his strength, and succeeded in regaining his +footing.</p> + +<p>The struggle was renewed, but it seemed certain that it must result in +the boy's defeat.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, Farley released his hold on Al and rushed to the +opposite side of the room, crying:</p> + +<p>"Interfere, will you?"</p> + +<p>At first our hero could not understand this action, but in a moment he +comprehended it.</p> + +<p>The villain had actually been frightened by his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> shadow, which was +strongly outlined on the wall opposite. It might have been mistaken even +by a sober man for an intruder; and in his excited condition Farley was +certain that some one had come to the rescue of his intended victim.</p> + +<p>Of course, he quickly discovered his mistake, but Al had now time to +rush to the door, fling it open, and make his escape from the room.</p> + +<p>Outside the door stood one of the hotel clerks, who had evidently just +arrived upon the scene, and who demanded:</p> + +<p>"What's going on in there?"</p> + +<p>Before Al could reply Farley rushed out of the room and started for the +staircase. In a moment he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Al started to follow him, but the clerk seized him by the collar, +shouting:</p> + +<p>"You won't get away quite as easily as all that, my fine fellow! Now, +what's your little game?"</p> + +<p>"Don't keep me standing here," cried the boy, trying to shake off the +man's detaining grasp.</p> + +<p>"That's all right," was the response of the zealous employee, who was +under the impression that he had captured a hotel thief. "You just keep +quiet. I've got you all right, and your pal won't get out of the house +as easily as he thinks."</p> + +<p>By the time Al had explained the situation so that the clerk understood +it, Farley had had ample time to make his escape.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>The man was somewhat crestfallen when he realized that he had made a +mistake.</p> + +<p>"No matter," he said, "the ruffian can't have gotten out. They'd be sure +to detain him downstairs."</p> + +<p>But, as they learned when they reached the office, Farley had eluded +them. He had walked leisurely out, lighting a cigar, apparently in a +perfectly easy, unconcerned frame of mind.</p> + +<p>Having notified the police of what had occurred, Al returned to his +room, and in a few minutes had retired for the night, having first +assured himself that there were no other unbidden guests in the +apartment.</p> + +<p>The next morning he found a note awaiting him in the office. It read as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You are a lucky youth, but your luck won't last +forever. You don't lead a charmed life. I am on my +mettle now, and I am going to settle you if I swing +for it."</p></div> + +<p>There was no signature, but of course Al knew well enough who the writer +of the precious communication was.</p> + +<p>He did not feel particularly worried; in fact, he had no time to worry +just then, for, as he put the note in his pocket, the morning papers +were placed in his hand by the clerk, with the remark:</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, you are a corker and no mistake."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A LESSON IN JOURNALISM.</span></h2> + + +<p>Al laughed.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Read that interview with you in the <i>Banner</i>, and you'll find out. If +you've been through half the startling adventures that the reporter says +you have it is a wonder you are alive now."</p> + +<p>Our hero opened the paper with a feeling of apprehension which proved to +be well grounded.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly the interview would prove a good advertisement for the show, +but it embarrassed Al greatly; he would gladly have given a hundred +dollars to have been able to withdraw it. But it was too late for that +now; already it had, doubtless, been read by half Rockton.</p> + +<p>The reporter had not kept faith with him.</p> + +<p>"If I say anything about your sister," he had told him, "it will only be +a passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms."</p> + +<p>But instead of that he had headed the article:</p> + +<div class="center"><p>A BOY WONDER!</p> + +<p>AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER! A LONG-LOST SISTER!</p></div> + +<p>And there were other headlines that startled and dismayed Al.</p> + +<p>According to them he had been a lion hunter, a cham<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>pion football and +baseball player, an exceptional sprinter, and the greatest boxer of his +age that the world had ever known.</p> + +<p>"You must have made yourself mighty solid with the <i>Banner</i> man to get +an ad. like that," remarked the clerk. "It's simply great."</p> + +<p>"I wish I hadn't succeeded in making myself quite so solid," groaned Al.</p> + +<p>The clerk stared at him, asking in surprise:</p> + +<p>"Don't you like the notice?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not here to advertise myself but the New York Comedy Company."</p> + +<p>"You're the first advance agent I ever saw who wasn't trying to +advertise himself at the expense, if necessary, of his show."</p> + +<p>"That isn't my way of doing business."</p> + +<p>"Well, this article will boom the show, and don't you forget it. But if +you don't like the headlines what will you think of the interview?"</p> + +<p>Al sank into a chair and began a hasty perusal of the article.</p> + +<p>He was dismayed at the reporter's audacity; the information he had given +the man had been so altered and distorted that he could only dimly +recognize himself in the hero of the newspaper man's weird fancy.</p> + +<p>The interview was in the highest degree complimentary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>—at least from +its writer's standpoint; it was evident that the reporter had written it +in a friendly spirit, and with the intention of giving its subject a +good "send off."</p> + +<p>The portion that referred to his sister annoyed Al the most. It was near +the end of the two-column article, and read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But the life of the hero of this strange, though +strictly authentic, tale has not been entirely one of +adventurous pleasure. Deep in his heart he carries a +sorrow about which he was extremely reticent to speak +to the <i>Banner</i> reporter. In referring to it this lad, +who has faced dangers from which many a stalwart man +would shrink appalled, wept like a child. Years ago he +lost an idolized sister. She was taken from the home +of which she was the pride, not by the hand of death, +but by that of a kidnaper. The story is a most +romantic one. The little child was playing one morning +on the sloping lawn in front of her father's palatial +country seat in Tarrytown, adjoining that of the late +Jay Gould. Her nurse was called away for a few +moments. During the woman's absence the child +disappeared. What became of it? Alas! to this day no +one save the ruthless destroyer of the happiness of +this once peaceful home knows. It was rumored that a +rejected suitor of the little girl's mother was the +villain, but nothing was ever proven against him. The +father of the child died of a broken heart, and his +wife would, without doubt, have soon followed him to +the grave had it not been for her boy—the subject of +this necessarily incomplete article. For his sake she +resolved to live. When he was but four years of age +she made him promise her that he would devote his life +to solving the mystery of his sister's fate."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>Al looked up from the paper, his face white with anger.</p> + +<p>"The villain!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The clerk looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Have you read this thing?" Al demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes."</p> + +<p>"The part that speaks of my long-lost sister?"</p> + +<p>"All of it. Of course, it's a fake, but nine people in ten will swallow +it whole."</p> + +<p>"I don't want anyone to believe it."</p> + +<p>"You don't?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you grant him the interview?"</p> + +<p>"Because he insisted, and because he promised me that everything should +be printed just as I gave it to him."</p> + +<p>The clerk laughed.</p> + +<p>"It's evident," he said, "that you have not enjoyed a very extensive +acquaintance with reporters."</p> + +<p>"I've known several, but none like this fellow."</p> + +<p>"He's considered one of the smartest men in his line in the State."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd like to interview him just now."</p> + +<p>"What would you say?"</p> + +<p>"I'd at least give him my opinion of his methods."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't have a chance."</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't I?"</p> + +<p>"You have met him once, and you ought to know. Why, he wouldn't give you +an opportunity to get in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> word edgewise. Anyhow, I don't see what you +are kicking about; you've got the best ad. of the season free of cost. +Hello! here comes your reporter now. If you want to go for him you have +your chance."</p> + +<p>While the clerk was speaking the little reporter of the <i>Banner</i> who had +interviewed Al only a few hours before entered.</p> + +<p>The boy strode toward him.</p> + +<p>"You're just the man I want to see," he began.</p> + +<p>The scribe pretended not to notice the look of anger in his face. +Seizing his hand and holding it tightly, he said:</p> + +<p>"And you're just the person I want to see. There are one or two little +mistakes in that interview of ours, and I was looking for you to find +out whether the fault lies with you or me. But the article shows up +well, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"I——"</p> + +<p>"Don't say another word."</p> + +<p>"But——"</p> + +<p>"I know exactly what you are going to say, but it will be all right next +time. It was the fault of the compositor that your name was spelled +wrong."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't——"</p> + +<p>"I was going to ask you whether it was three men or only two that you +knocked out at that scrap referred to in the second column; I'm afraid I +got that wrong. But never mind, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, +anyhow. He! he! he!"</p> + +<p>"No such incident ever occurred, and I——"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>"Tut! tut!" interrupted the reporter, with a shocked look. "What made +you tell me the yarn, then?"</p> + +<p>"I——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, we'll have to let it go now; and, after all, it doesn't +make much difference. But you ought to be more particular in talking to +reporters in the future, my dear young friend."</p> + +<p>"If I——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right—— No thanks. Hello! there goes a man I've got to +see right now. S'long!"</p> + +<p>And the scribe rushed out, leaving Al staring helplessly after him.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a dandy?" said the hotel clerk, admiringly. "You'll never +catch him. The traditional Frenchman's flea was a graven image compared +with that fellow. In your line of business you can profit by the lesson +he has just given you. He is an artist in 'bluffing.'"</p> + +<p>Before Al could reply Mr. Wattles entered the office and approached him +with outstretched hand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">"I WANT YOU."</span></h2> + + +<p>"I thought I should find you here," the manager said. "I want to offer +you my congratulations before I say another word."</p> + +<p>"Your congratulations upon what, Mr. Wattles?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"Why, upon the way you have worked things here, of course. I heard about +it before I left Boomville this morning. That interview is out of +sight."</p> + +<p>"I wish it was," groaned Al.</p> + +<p>"Eh?"</p> + +<p>The boy expressed his opinion of the interview in very emphatic terms.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you're 'way off in your +ideas on that point. Why, the interview is great. I supposed you had +taken the reporter out and got him full."</p> + +<p>"The interview didn't cost me a cent."</p> + +<p>"That's so much the better. I'm mighty glad it appeared, and you ought +to be, too. It'll help biz; and how do you know but that through it you +may find your sister?"</p> + +<p>"That's not possible," said Al. "Why, the facts are all distorted. My +father never had any palatial country seat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> in Tarrytown; there was +never any talk of a rejected suitor of my mother's; there——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," interrupted Mr. Wattles; "it's a good ad., anyway, and we +got it for nothing. You mustn't be so thin-skinned, my boy. You see +here"—in a changed tone—"that ad. of yours in the <i>Bugle</i> must have +cost a young fortune. You ought to have consulted me by wire before you +did that. The idea is a good one, and everyone is talking about it, but +it will not be worth to us what it cost."</p> + +<p>"How much do you suppose I paid for it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know; three hundred at least, probably more."</p> + +<p>"It cost just fifty dollars; and if it is not worth that to you, I'll +pay it out of my own pocket."</p> + +<p>"Fif—— Is that straight?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"How did you do it?"</p> + +<p>Al explained.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was a mighty good transaction, and you deserve credit for +it, as well as for writing the ad. The new paper was selling like hot +cakes on the train this morning, and everyone was reading that ad. Al, +my boy, you're a genius!"</p> + +<p>"Not quite that, I guess," laughed the boy.</p> + +<p>"You are, I tell you. But who is the queer old man in the third row of +the orchestra?"</p> + +<p>"A myth, a creation of my imagination."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>"I supposed so, though I did not know but you had hired some one to play +the part."</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, there'll be lots of people out to see the old man. How did you +happen to strike the idea?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I had to get the copy ready in a hurry, and I wanted +something new and taking."</p> + +<p>"Well, you got it. I believe that ad. and the interview are going to +produce results."</p> + +<p>They did; though some of the results were quite different from those Mr. +Wattles and his advance agent expected.</p> + +<p>While Al went into the restaurant for breakfast, his employer hurried to +the theater to inquire about the advance sale.</p> + +<p>He returned an hour later, flushed and excited.</p> + +<p>"Well?" questioned the boy.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've caught 'em again. Half the house is already sold, and that +means a crowd to-night. The local manager says you're a corker."</p> + +<p>Al laughed.</p> + +<p>"He didn't think so yesterday."</p> + +<p>"He does now. He's going to try to get you to stay here under his +employ."</p> + +<p>"I shall not do it."</p> + +<p>"I told him you wouldn't, but he's going to make you an offer, anyhow. +Oh, by the way!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I nearly forgot that Miss Gladys March, who, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> the rest of the +company, came with me this morning, is very anxious to have a talk with +you."</p> + +<p>"With me? Aren't you mistaken, Mr. Wattles?"</p> + +<p>"No; she asked me to tell you as soon as I saw you, but I did not think +of it."</p> + +<p>"What can she want of me?"</p> + +<p>"I give it up."</p> + +<p>"I don't know her; I never spoke to her in my life."</p> + +<p>"So I thought. Well, the best way to find out what she wants is to go +and ask her. You'll find her upstairs in her room."</p> + +<p>"I'll go at once."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Al presented himself at the door of Miss March's +room and knocked rather timidly.</p> + +<p>"Come in," said a sweet voice, which the boy recognized as that of the +young actress.</p> + +<p>He entered the room.</p> + +<p>Miss March, who was seated by the window, rose to meet him.</p> + +<p>"I supposed that it was one of the servants," she said, with a sweet +smile, "or I should have welcomed you at the door. Please be seated."</p> + +<p>The young girl's perfect self-possession embarrassed Al a little. He +stammered out something about its being of no consequence, and seated +himself on the extreme edge of the sofa.</p> + +<p>Certainly Miss March was a very beautiful girl; unlike many actresses, +she looked prettier off the stage than on it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>"I suppose," she began, "that you wonder why I have requested the favor +of this interview."</p> + +<p>"I am a little curious to know," Al admitted.</p> + +<p>"When I have told you, I suppose you will think me a very foolish girl; +probably I am. But I cannot leave a stone unturned."</p> + +<p>She paused, evidently agitated. What new mystery was this? Al asked +himself.</p> + +<p>"I have read the interview with you in this morning's Rockton <i>Banner</i>," +went on the young lady.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to hear that," said the boy, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because there are scarcely ten words of truth in it."</p> + +<p>A genuine look of disappointment appeared upon Miss March's face.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry to hear you say that," she said.</p> + +<p>Al stared at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"You surely did not believe all that stuff, Miss March?"</p> + +<p>"Not all of it, of course," replied the girl, with a faint smile; "but +there was one part that I thought might be true."</p> + +<p>"What part?"</p> + +<p>"About your sister, who was stolen in infancy."</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Al, "that my sister was stolen."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" interrupted the young lady, with an appearance of agitation that +the boy could not understand.</p> + +<p>"But the facts were so twisted and distorted that the story is very +different from the truth."</p> + +<p>"What is the truth?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Al hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Believe me," said Miss March, "I do not ask from mere idle curiosity. I +have a most important reason for putting the question. Will you not tell +me the story?"</p> + +<p>Her agitation communicated itself to her companion; the boy's voice +trembled slightly as he replied:</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Miss March; for I feel that you have some strong motive for +desiring to hear it."</p> + +<p>"Believe me, I have. Go on, I beg of you."</p> + +<p>Al was about to speak when the door was thrown open and a rough-looking +man strode into the room.</p> + +<p>"I thought I should find you here," he said, addressing our hero.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and what do you want?" demanded the boy.</p> + +<p>"I'm a deputy sheriff, and I want you. I have a warrant for your +arrest."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">MR. MARMADUKE MERRY.</span></h2> + + +<p>"A warrant for my arrest?" gasped Al, half believing that the sudden +appearance of the stranger was only a joke.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. Now, young fellow, don't you try to resist me, for +it won't work."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to resist you if you really have a warrant," said Al.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have, and here it is."</p> + +<p>And the stranger produced a document from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"What am I accused of?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>The deputy, who evidently felt the importance of his position, produced +a copy of the first number of the Rockton <i>Bugle</i> from his pocket.</p> + +<p>Slowly unfolding it, he turned to Al's full-page advertisement, and +said:</p> + +<p>"You writ that, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"I did," admitted our hero, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that settles it. Come along."</p> + +<p>"But hold on," laughed Al. "It isn't a crime in these parts to advertise +a theatrical performance, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the deputy, without hesitation, "it is—the way you +advertise."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with my advertisement?" asked the astonished boy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>"You don't know, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do not."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course my business here is only to serve the warrant, but I'll +read the advertisement over to you."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Al, thinking that there might be a misprint in the +page.</p> + +<p>The deputy sheriff read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, +Manager.</p> + +<p>"See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.'</p> + +<p>"See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam.</p> + +<p>"See the real steam yacht.</p> + +<p>"See all this.</p> + +<p>"But—</p> + +<p>"Please don't look at the queer old man in the third +row of the orchestra."</p></div> + +<p>The deputy laid the paper down and glared at his prisoner with a +triumphant air.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Al, greatly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you write that and cause it to be inserted in the <i>Bugle</i>?"</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"That settles it, then."</p> + +<p>"It may settle it for you, but it doesn't for me," said the boy. "What +is the matter with the ad.?"</p> + +<p>"You know well enough what the matter is with it."</p> + +<p>"I do not. Is it a crime in this town to try to boom a show by any +legitimate means?"</p> + +<p>"No; but it is a crime to try to boom it the way you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> have; it is a +crime here and everywhere else, as you will find out if you try the same +game again in another town."</p> + +<p>Here Miss March, who had listened in silence until this moment, +interposed.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, sir?" she cried. "I read the advertisement, and I +am sure there was nothing in it that could offend anyone."</p> + +<p>The deputy, who until now had forgotten or neglected to doff his hat, +did so.</p> + +<p>"As far as you see, miss," he said, "the ad. is all right."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is there—what can there be—that I do not see?" the young +lady cried.</p> + +<p>"You are not acquainted in this town, are you, young lady?" the deputy +asked.</p> + +<p>"I am not."</p> + +<p>"That accounts for it, then. But this young fellow is acquainted here, +and he knew just what he was doing when he wrote that advertisement."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think I did," interposed Al, "But will you please tell me right +now why you are here?"</p> + +<p>"I am here in my capacity of deputy sheriff of this county," replied the +official, with dignity, "and also as a personal friend of Mr. Marmaduke +Merry."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" exclaimed Al.</p> + +<p>"Yes. No wonder you start and turn pale at the mere mention of that +name."</p> + +<p>"But I did not start or turn pale. Who is Mr. Marmaduke Merry?"</p> + +<p>"You pretend not to know?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>"I pretend nothing at all; I do not know. I never heard the name of +Marmaduke Merry before in my life."</p> + +<p>"This subterfuge will avail you nothing," said the deputy, who was +becoming theatrical. "We know all."</p> + +<p>"All what?"</p> + +<p>Al could not help laughing, and this evidently angered the overzealous +deputy.</p> + +<p>"I am not here to bandy words with you, young man," he said; "I have +already spent too much time in talk."</p> + +<p>"That's what I think," smiled Al.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad we agree upon that point. Come along."</p> + +<p>"I am ready."</p> + +<p>"One moment," interposed Miss March. "Won't you please tell me, sir, of +what crime Mr. Allston is accused?"</p> + +<p>"I will," the deputy replied, with a look that was very evidently +intended to be languishing. "I can refuse you nothing, miss. He is +accused of holding one of Rockton's most respected citizens up to public +ridicule; and Mr. Marmaduke Merry is the man."</p> + +<p>"But," interrupted Al, more bewildered than ever, "haven't I told you +that I never heard of this man, Merry, before?"</p> + +<p>"You have told me so—yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, I told the truth."</p> + +<p>"You will have to convince the court of that."</p> + +<p>"But what has my ad. to do with Mr. Merry? His name is not mentioned in +it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is where your cunning comes in. But doesn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> everyone in +Rockton know that for years and years Mr. Merry has always occupied a +seat in the third row of the orchestra at the first performance of a new +play?"</p> + +<p>At last Al grasped the situation.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he exclaimed, "that's what you mean?"</p> + +<p>"That is what I mean."</p> + +<p>"And you think I meant Mr. Merry when I referred to the 'queer old +man'?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do, and so does Mr. Merry."</p> + +<p>"Both of you are very much mistaken."</p> + +<p>"For your own sake, I hope you will be able to prove that statement."</p> + +<p>"Why, I never heard of Mr. Merry until you mentioned his name."</p> + +<p>"You have said so several times since I have been here, but I do not +believe you. However, I am not your judge. But if you did not mean Mr. +Merry, whom did you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody at all; the old man was only a creation of my imagination."</p> + +<p>The deputy coughed, and had the audacity to wink knowingly at Miss +March.</p> + +<p>"This is a great tale," he said, "and will be believed, I don't think. +You have got yourself and the local management into a scrape, my lad. +But what could be expected?"</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a tap upon the door. "Come in," the actress +cried.</p> + +<p>A servant entered.</p> + +<p>"A card for you, Miss March."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>The young lady took the bit of pasteboard and glanced at it; then she +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" echoed the deputy.</p> + +<p>"Show him up, please," the actress said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT.</span></h2> + + +<p>"He is here!"</p> + +<p>With this theatrical exclamation, a man pushed his way past the servant +and entered the room.</p> + +<p>"I am Mr. Marmaduke Merry," he announced.</p> + +<p>Both Al and Miss March gazed with considerable curiosity and interest at +the visitor.</p> + +<p>He was at least seventy years of age, but was dressed in the most +youthful fashion, and wore a light blond wig. Much below the medium +height, shrunken, shriveled and weazened, he presented a decidedly +ludicrous appearance as he stood, a huge bouquet in hand, bowing and +smiling at the young actress.</p> + +<p>Miss March could not help smiling herself; this evidently encouraged the +old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"You pardon the liberty I have taken, then?" he said. "I was sure you +would."</p> + +<p>"What is your business with me, sir?" the girl asked, composing her +features.</p> + +<p>"It is to offer a tribute to your art and beauty," replied Mr. Merry, +with a smirk. "But"—for the first time seeing the deputy and Al—"who +are these persons?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know me, Mr. Merry?" asked the official.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my soul!" ejaculated the old man, adjusting his glasses, +"it's Bullfinch!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>"Yes, sir; it's me."</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here in Miss March's apartment?"</p> + +<p>"Attending to business, sir."</p> + +<p>"What business?"</p> + +<p>And the old man glared suspiciously at the cringing deputy.</p> + +<p>"Your business, Mr. Merry."</p> + +<p>"I didn't send you here."</p> + +<p>"You sent me to find the writer of that infamous advertisement in the +<i>Bugle</i>, didn't you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, I have found him."</p> + +<p>"Where is he? Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"There he stands."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Bullfinch pointed triumphantly at Al.</p> + +<p>"That boy?" gasped the old man.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You must be mistaken."</p> + +<p>"I am not. I went to the office of the <i>Bugle</i> and asked who wrote the +advertisement. They told me it was the advance agent of the company, a +young man named Allston. I tracked him to this place, and was about to +drag him forth when you arrived."</p> + +<p>"You talk like a fool, Bullfinch," snapped Mr. Merry.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I——"</p> + +<p>"That will do. If this is the person who is responsible for that +advertisement take him away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>And the deputy laid his hand on Al's shoulder.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>But Miss March interposed.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, Mr. Merry."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, my dear young lady. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"This gentleman, Mr. Allen Allston, never saw or heard of you before he +came to Rockton. It was not in a spirit of malice that he wrote that +advertisement. Don't you see, Mr. Merry, that by having him arrested you +will only subject yourself to ridicule? You acknowledge yourself to be a +'queer old man.' Why should you do that?"</p> + +<p>The old gentleman coughed.</p> + +<p>"Ahem! That aspect of the case had not occurred to me," he said. "You +assure me, Miss March, that the young man did not intend to hold me up +to ridicule?"</p> + +<p>"I am absolutely certain," interrupted the deputy, "that he did."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, Bullfinch!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merry," interrupted Al, "I give you my word of honor that I should +not have inserted that advertisement if I had for one moment supposed it +would injure the feelings of anyone. It was only a joke on the public."</p> + +<p>"A joke at my expense, young man!"</p> + +<p>"I have given you my word of honor, sir, that I did not intend to hurt +you or anyone else by that ad."</p> + +<p>"Your word of honor!" sneered Mr. Merry. "What is your word of honor +good for? Who are you?"</p> + +<p>Al colored.</p> + +<p>"You have heard my name from Miss March. I am Allen Allston."</p> + +<p>The old man started.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>"I did not catch the name before," he said. "Surely you are not Allen +Allston from Boomville?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"The noble young fellow who saved the life of my grandchild?"</p> + +<p>"Is Mayor Anderson's little girl your granddaughter, sir?" asked Al, a +little embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Of course she is. My boy, I beg your pardon."</p> + +<p>And the old man grasped Al's hand and shook it warmly, adding:</p> + +<p>"The youth who performed such a heroic act could not be guilty of such a +crime as that of which you are accused. Bullfinch"—turning fiercely +upon the deputy—"you are a fool!"</p> + +<p>"Sir——"</p> + +<p>"What put it into your head that he could have had any malicious intent +in writing that advertisement?"</p> + +<p>"I only acted upon your instructions, sir," responded the deputy, very +humbly.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! I thought you had a little common sense. Leave the room, sir. +Your presence is an insult to me and to my friends."</p> + +<p>"But the arrest, sir——"</p> + +<p>"There will be no arrest to-day; I withdraw the complaint."</p> + +<p>"But the warrant——"</p> + +<p>"Tear it up—do anything you like with it, only don't worry me any +further with your nonsensical remarks. Go, sir!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>The deputy slunk out of the room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Merry turned to the actress.</p> + +<p>"I am extremely pained," he began, "that such a scene should have +occurred in your room. I am——"</p> + +<p>"Will you please state your business, sir?" interrupted Miss March.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman was a little disconcerted at first, but he quickly +recovered himself and said:</p> + +<p>"I come, as I remarked before, to pay a tribute to genius and beauty."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>Al had not supposed the girl capable of assuming such a frigid air as +that with which she now confronted her aged admirer.</p> + +<p>"Will you accept these flowers?" stammered the old man. "They are a +tribute to——"</p> + +<p>"Thanks," interrupted the actress. "You may leave them on the table."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind. And now——"</p> + +<p>"And now you must excuse me; I have business of importance with Mr. +Allston."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly! May I call again?"</p> + +<p>"I am too much occupied to receive callers. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>And with perfect self-possession the young girl opened the door.</p> + +<p>Mumbling a few inaudible words, the aged admirer of the drama left the +room.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say," remarked Miss March, "that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> have seen men like +him before. He means no harm, but I cannot endure such silliness. But +never mind about him; let us talk about ourselves. Sit down, please, and +I will try to commence where I left off. When we were interrupted I had +asked you to tell me the story of your sister's disappearance——"</p> + +<p>"And I was about to do so."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Go on."</p> + +<p>Al hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to hear the story, Miss March?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Because—because——"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Because I believe that I may be your sister!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE LOCKET.</span></h2> + + +<p>Al started. Could Miss March seriously mean what she said?</p> + +<p>"You surely do not think," the girl said, earnestly, "that I would jest +on a subject so sacred?"</p> + +<p>"No, no," Al assured her, "but what ground have you for thinking that we +may be related?"</p> + +<p>"No logical ground, perhaps," the actress replied; "but from the moment +I first saw you—and I have seen you when you were not aware of my +presence—I was strangely attracted to you. You may laugh at this, you +may think it only the foolish fancy of a foolish girl, but it is true."</p> + +<p>"And I, too," said Al, thoughtfully, "have had the same feeling toward +you. I remember I could think of nothing but your face all the way home +on the night of your first performance in Boomville. Can it really be +that you are my sister, restored to me in this strange way? If she is +alive she must be about your age."</p> + +<p>"Tell me all you know about her," entreated the girl; "the circumstances +under which she was lost—all. But no"—with sudden change of manner—"I +will tell you my story first, if you will listen to it."</p> + +<p>"Go on, please, Miss March."</p> + +<p>"My first recollections are of a miserable home on the upper floor of a +tenement house in New York. I lived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> with a hard-featured woman who +called herself my aunt. Her name was Ann Thompson. Did you ever hear of +her?"</p> + +<p>And Miss March gazed anxiously into the boy's face.</p> + +<p>Al shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Never!"</p> + +<p>"Aunt Ann, as I used to call her," went on the actress, "was always more +or less under the influence of liquor. Gin was her favorite drink. She +would work until she had money enough for a debauch, and then—but I +cannot bear to recall my unhappy childhood."</p> + +<p>Miss March paused and turned away her face; her trembling voice showed +the emotion she felt.</p> + +<p>"I can imagine it all," said Al, sympathetically. "Go on, please, and +spare yourself unnecessary pain."</p> + +<p>"How kind you are!" the young girl said, gratefully. "I will, then, omit +many details which I am sure would be as painful for you to hear as for +me to relate. When under the influence of alcohol Aunt Ann was sometimes +very cruel to me. She would beat and otherwise ill-treat me; and to-day +I bear scars inflicted by her. But I bore all as patiently as I could, +and for what reason, do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I should think you would have left her," said Al, as the actress +paused.</p> + +<p>"I should have done so but for one thing."</p> + +<p>"And that was?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes while intoxicated she would hint to me that in reality we +were not flesh and blood, that I was in no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> way akin to her, that there +was a secret in my life that she could reveal if she would, a secret the +publication of which would be greatly to my advantage. But she never +became so intoxicated that she told me the whole truth; I could only +guess it. Sometimes during her sober intervals I would tax her with what +she had said; but she would always reply by telling me that I must pay +no attention to anything she said when she was drunk—that she was at +such times out of her mind, and did not know what she was saying. Once, +when I persisted, she became greatly enraged, and gave me such a beating +that I was taken to a hospital and she was arrested and sentenced to a +term of imprisonment."</p> + +<p>At this point in her story Miss March burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Postpone telling the rest of it until another time," said Al, to whom +the recital was almost as painful as to the girl.</p> + +<p>"No," said the actress, "I must go on. I was discharged from the +hospital on the day on which Aunt Ann was released from jail, and the +old life was renewed."</p> + +<p>"You went back to live with the woman?" cried Al.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I had no other home. Besides, I still hoped that I might be able +to learn from her the secret of my birth—for that there was a secret I +was now more firmly convinced than ever. At the time of which I have +just been telling you, I was about twelve years of age. Three years +later Aunt Ann, while under the influence of liquor, met with an +accident which terminated her miserable life in two days. When she was +told that she was really dying, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> sent for a priest and confessed to +him. When the clergyman was gone she summoned me to her bedside, and +told me that at the suggestion of the good father she was about to tell +me at last the secret that I had been striving so long to learn."</p> + +<p>"And she said——" demanded the boy, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"She began by telling me that she was not my aunt, that we were in no +way related. Years before she had been my nurse. My poor mother had in +some trivial way offended her, and under the influence of her +anger—and, I suppose, of alcohol—she determined to revenge herself by +kidnaping me. She carried this resolution into effect, and her guilt was +never proven, although it was suspected. 'My name is not Ann Thompson,' +she said to me, 'but you shall know now what it really is, and who your +parents are. Your father is dead, but your mother still lives. For years +she has mourned you unceasingly.' The woman then bade me unlock and open +a certain drawer in her bureau. I did so, and took from it at her +direction a small package. 'That bundle,' she said, 'contains proof of +your identity. Take it to your mother and show her what is in it. Tell +her what I have said, give her my real name, and she will acknowledge +you as her 'daughter.' 'What is your name?' I cried, breathlessly—'what +is mine?' The woman opened her lips to reply, but not a sound escaped +them. The next moment she fell back upon her pillow. I bent over her, +crying in an agony of suspense: 'Speak, speak!' But she could not, she +was dead!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>"What did the package contain?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"Only a few articles of infant's clothing and two pieces of jewelry. +Some time they may be of assistance to me in finding my parents, but +thus far they have proved of no value as a clew. Well, after Aunt Ann's +death I was adopted by a family in moderate circumstances. They had no +interest in my personal affairs, all they wanted of me was my services +as housemaid, and I served in that capacity for two years. Then came an +opportunity to adopt a stage career, and I eagerly seized it, against +the advice of all who were in any way interested. I must say that, so +far, I have had no reason to regret my decision in the matter. I find +that the stories of the temptations of stage life that I had heard were +gross exaggerations, and that a woman can be as good and pure on the +stage as off it. And now, my friend, you have heard my story; can you +help me find my mother? Do you think it possible that I am the sister +for whom you have been searching?"</p> + +<p>Al's voice trembled with emotion as he replied:</p> + +<p>"That question can very soon be decided. Have you the package of +infant's clothing that you spoke of?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I always have it with me wherever I go."</p> + +<p>"May I see it?"</p> + +<p>"I am very anxious to show it to you."</p> + +<p>And the actress rose and opened her trunk, from which she took a small +parcel.</p> + +<p>Her face was very pale, her hands trembled as she unfastened the little +package.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>Al took the garments, yellowed with time, in his hands.</p> + +<p>"I have heard my mother describe the clothing that my little sister wore +when she disappeared," he said, "a thousand times. She would be able to +tell you if these are the ones, but I cannot. But the jewelry—where is +that?"</p> + +<p>"Here."</p> + +<p>And the girl handed him a box.</p> + +<p>The lad took from it a baby's ring and a chain, to which was attached a +locket.</p> + +<p>"My sister wore a chain and locket like these when she was lost," he +said, "In a moment I will tell you if this is the locket."</p> + +<p>"How can you?" the actress cried.</p> + +<p>"Because the locket contains my father's picture."</p> + +<p>"There is no picture in this," said Miss March, with a look of deep +disappointment.</p> + +<p>"You do not know whether there is or not," said Al. "There is a secret +spring and I can find it. Look!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke the locket flew open.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">BROTHER AND SISTER.</span></h2> + + +<p>As Miss March bent over the locket she uttered an exclamation of wonder +and delight.</p> + +<p>The portrait revealed was that of a singularly handsome man in the prime +of life. The calm, thoughtful eyes and the sensitive mouth were those of +the young actress herself; the likeness was not only unmistakable, but +remarkable.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that this picture has been here all these years, and I +have never known it?" the girl exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You might never have discovered it," replied Al. "I should not have +known but for the fact that I have a locket precisely like it, which +opens in the same way."</p> + +<p>"Then there can be no doubt——"</p> + +<p>"That you are my sister."</p> + +<p>"Brother!"</p> + +<p>The next moment the singularly united couple were folded in each other's +arms.</p> + +<p>It was a moment that in all their after lives neither of them ever +forgot, a joy that no future sorrow had the power to efface from their +memories.</p> + +<p>When the first transports of emotion were over, the young girl said, +tremulously:</p> + +<p>"My mother—when shall I see her? Oh, I must go to her at once! I must, +I must!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>"Of course, Mr. Wattles will give you leave of absence as soon as we +tell him what we have discovered."</p> + +<p>"I do not see how he can."</p> + +<p>"Why can't he?"</p> + +<p>"I have no understudy. No, I must remain; he has been very kind to me, +and I could not ask a favor that I knew it would be so very difficult +for him to grant."</p> + +<p>"That is right, sister. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll telegraph +to mother to come on here at once. She will arrive before the evening +performance."</p> + +<p>"Do so, brother—— Oh, how strange, yet how delightful, it is to utter +that sacred name! But do not tell her the truth until she comes."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. Why, I think the shock would almost kill her. We must break +it to her gently."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Wattles came bustling into the room.</p> + +<p>"The advance sale," he began, "is something unheard of in Rockton. +Why—— But what's the matter? Nothing wrong, is there?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," Al replied. "Everything is all right."</p> + +<p>And he proceeded to acquaint the manager in a few words with what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you beat the deck, +young man. I'm going to write a romance about you when the season is +over. You're no sooner done with one startling adventure than you're +right in the midst of another. Why, you're almost equal to one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> of +Dumas' heroes! Well, I sincerely congratulate you both."</p> + +<p>After a hearty handshake the manager added:</p> + +<p>"And now I must be off to give this story to the papers."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Miss March.</p> + +<p>"Not by any means," added Al.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles stared at them.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We mean," said Al, "that this is a private affair with which the papers +have nothing to do."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear boy, think—only think—what a grand ad. it would make for +the show!"</p> + +<p>"No matter; we don't want a word printed about it."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said the actress. "I should think you would understand +our feelings in the matter, Mr. Wattles."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't," returned the manager, evidently chagrined. "I cannot, +to save my life, see why you are willing to throw away such a chance for +a stunning free ad. Nor"—addressing Al—"can I understand your +scruples. By Jove! you are the queerest combination of impudence and +modesty that I ever met. But have it your own way, my children; throw +away the chance if you want to."</p> + +<p>As he was about to leave the room the old gentleman turned again, +saying:</p> + +<p>"I almost forgot that I had a letter for you, Miss March. Here it is, +and I think I know the handwriting."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>As the actress glanced at the superscription on the envelope she changed +color.</p> + +<p>"It is from that wretch, Farley!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"So I thought," said Mr. Wattles. "You had better look out for that man, +my dear. He is, or thinks he is, desperately in love with you, and he +may give you some trouble yet. If you don't mind, I should like to know +the contents of that letter. Believe me, it is not from mere idle +curiosity that I ask you to let me read it."</p> + +<p>"I know that, Mr. Wattles," said Miss March. "Ever since I have been in +your company you have been like a father to me. You shall open the +letter yourself if you will."</p> + +<p>She handed the epistle to the manager, who tore it open. As he glanced +at its contents a frown appeared upon his usually cheerful countenance.</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel!" he muttered, crushing the letter in his hand; "if I +ever meet him again I will thrash him within an inch of his life—I +will, by Jove!"</p> + +<p>"What does he say?" the girl asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It will do you no good to know the contents of this precious epistle," +replied Mr. Wattles. "You had better let me destroy it."</p> + +<p>But Miss March's feminine curiosity was now aroused, and she insisted +upon knowing what was in the letter.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you will have it," said the manager, resignedly, "I'll read it +to you. But if you don't sleep nights for the next week or two you +mustn't blame me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>"Go on, go on!"</p> + +<p>The old gentleman read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Gladys</span>: This is to remind you that, although we are +separated, I am near you. Do you remember what I told +you the last time we met, that no power on earth could +make me give you up? I meant what I said, I mean it +still. I am not far away; you will see me sooner than +you think."</p></div> + +<p>"Is there no signature?" asked Miss March.</p> + +<p>"None, but there can be no doubt as to the identity of the writer."</p> + +<p>"Of course not."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to alarm you, my dear, but you ought to be very careful."</p> + +<p>"I shall be."</p> + +<p>Al laughed.</p> + +<p>"I don't think there is much danger," he said. "That letter sounds like +an extract from a sensational novel. A barking dog never bites, you +know."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything of the sort," returned Mr. Wattles. "Some barking +dogs do bite; and this one, as you have reason to know yourself, has +sharp teeth. Well, just let me lay my hands on him and I'll settle him +in short order."</p> + +<p>"What will you do?" smiled Al.</p> + +<p>"First, as I said before, I'll give him a sound thrashing. Oh, you may +laugh, but I can do it, if I am not a boy. And then I'll hand him over +to the authorities. By Jove! I had no idea that the fellow was such a +scoundrel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> when he was in my employ, or I wouldn't have kept him an +hour. But now I really must be off. Do your best to-night, Miss March; +you'll have one of the biggest houses of the season—thanks to the +exertions of that sharp young brother of yours."</p> + +<p>And the manager rushed out of the room.</p> + +<p>"Brother!" the girl said, softly. "How sweet the name sounds. To think +that I have a brother! And a mother!"</p> + +<p>"Don't cry—please don't!" entreated Al, with a boy's horror of feminine +tears.</p> + +<p>"They are tears of joy, brother. And now you must go and send the +telegram."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.</span></h2> + + +<p>A telegram, carefully worded so that Mrs. Allston's maternal alarms +might not be aroused, was sent. In it Al requested her to come to +Rockton by a certain train, and promised to be at the depot to meet her.</p> + +<p>A reply came within an hour:</p> + +<p>"Yours received. Shall be there. Hope nothing has happened."</p> + +<p>"I should say something had happened," laughed Al, when he and his +new-found sister had read the message.</p> + +<p>"Poor mother!" sighed the girl. "She fears that you have met with some +accident."</p> + +<p>"In a very few hours that fear will be dispelled. What will she say when +she learns the truth?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, what?" responded Miss March. "I dread almost as much as I long for +the meeting."</p> + +<p>The anxious mother arrived on time. It is not our purpose to chronicle +the first meeting between the long-separated couple. Such scenes defy +the skill of the storyteller's pen or the artist's brush. Suffice it to +say that the proofs of her identity presented by the young girl were +perfectly satisfactory to Mrs. Allston, and that the reunion of mother +and daughter was all that the fancy of either had ever pictured it.</p> + +<p>True, the somewhat Puritanical old lady was a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> shocked at finding +her daughter a member of the theatrical profession; she had always +regarded player folk as far beneath herself, both socially and morally, +and her own daughter was probably the first actress she had ever seen +off the stage.</p> + +<p>"I wish, my dear," she said, "that you would give up this dreadful +business and go home with me. To think of my child, my daughter, a play +actress! It is dreadful!"</p> + +<p>"Not quite as dreadful as you think, mother," the girl replied, quietly. +"I could not conscientiously leave Mr. Wattles until he had secured some +one else to play the part. Then, however, if you wish me to give up the +stage, I shall do so. We will talk it all over after the performance +to-night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will talk it over after the performance," echoed the mother.</p> + +<p>The house was crowded to the doors that night. Not a seat was to be had +at eight o'clock; even standing room was at a premium.</p> + +<p>Again Al had demonstrated his ability as a hustler.</p> + +<p>Everyone in town had read and re-read his strange advertisement; many +eyes were bent on the third row of the orchestra, in search of the +"queer old man." And Mr. Marmaduke Merry was there, too, not a whit +abashed, a huge bouquet in his withered hand.</p> + +<p>A good many people had heard of his attempt to have Al arrested in the +morning—such news travels fast—and he was the unconscious butt of many +a covert jest.</p> + +<p>Some one—it will never be known who, though there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> may be reason to +suspect Mr. Augustus Wattles—had caused the report to be spread that +the pretty actress, Miss Gladys March, was the long-lost sister of the +young press agent, Al Allston, and that they had been reunited through +the article in the <i>Banner</i>. That more than one person knew about it was +evident when Al made his appearance in a box, with his mother on his +arm; the applause that greeted him was as unexpected as it was +embarrassing.</p> + +<p>At first the boy did not realize that he was the object of these unusual +demonstrations.</p> + +<p>"What are they making all that noise about?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Why, they are applauding you," his mother said.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see that every eye is fixed on this box?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know but you are right," gasped Al, feeling symptoms of a +return of the "stage fright" with which he had been seized on the +occasion of the first performance in Boomville.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am."</p> + +<p>"Of course she is," added Mr. Wattles, suddenly appearing upon the +scene. "Bow, my boy, bow! And couldn't you make a little impromptu +speech?"</p> + +<p>"Not much!" replied Al, very emphatically. "I tell you, Mr. Wattles, if +I had had any idea that the duties of a press agent included so many +public appearances, I should not have gone into the business."</p> + +<p>He bowed; then some one—probably under the manager's direction—called +out:</p> + +<p>"Speech! speech!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>But Al shook his head so emphatically that the audience saw he meant his +refusal, and the applause soon subsided.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the curtain rose.</p> + +<p>There was very little applause until Miss March made her entrance; her +appearance was the signal for another demonstration of enthusiasm. +Probably seven-eighths of the audience did not know why they were +applauding, but the other eighth did, and its enthusiasm was, as a +matter of course, contagious. The applause was literally deafening. In +its midst Mr. Merry hurled his bouquet upon the stage. It fell at the +feet of the young actress, who picked it up, smiling and blushing, to +the evident delight of the elderly "masher."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Allston shuddered.</p> + +<p>"This life of feverish excitement will kill my child," she said. "She +must abandon it."</p> + +<p>"Wait till you see her play, mother," said Al.</p> + +<p>"That will not alter my determination."</p> + +<p>"Wait," added the boy, quietly.</p> + +<p>He was not wrong in the conclusion he had reached. Miss March's part was +small, but it was a strong one. It was that of a persecuted young girl +who had been driven from home because of a misunderstanding. It was a +pathetic rôle, and before the actress had been on the stage five minutes +the entire female portion of the audience were in tears, and there was a +suspicious moisture in the eyes of more than one of the sterner sex.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she fine?" whispered Al in his mother's ear, as the girl left the +stage, after her first scene.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>"It is wonderful! I am amazed."</p> + +<p>"You did not think there was so much talent in the family, did you? Now, +wouldn't it be a pity to rob the stage of such an ornament?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I thought you would say so. I believe she has a great future. But let +us leave the decision to her."</p> + +<p>"We will do so, my boy."</p> + +<p>At this moment there came a shrill cry from the gallery.</p> + +<p>"Fire!"</p> + +<p>For one instant there was a dead silence; then three-quarters of the +audience sprang to their feet.</p> + +<p>Then came a mad rush for the exits.</p> + +<p>It was a scene of indescribable confusion. Women and children were +trampled beneath the feet of those who should have been their +protectors, but whose only thought now was to save their cowardly +selves.</p> + +<p>The shrieks of the terrified women, the groans of the injured, the +curses of the rougher element, who, though face to face with death, did +not fear to blaspheme—these added to the horror of the scene.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the alarm had not been a false one, for the house +was rapidly filling with smoke, and the crackling of flames could be +plainly heard.</p> + +<p>The doors soon became blocked. It seemed certain that many must perish +in the flames.</p> + +<p>Al quickly led his mother through the door that connected the box with +the stage, and conducted her in safety out of the building through the +stage entrance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>As he passed Mr. Wattles at the door he uttered one word:</p> + +<p>"Gladys?"</p> + +<p>"She is safe," the manager replied. "She went out but a moment ago."</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven! Mother, are you afraid to go back to the hotel alone?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; it is but a very short distance. But what are you going to do, +my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can be of some assistance in getting the people out. Good-by! +I shall be with you again soon."</p> + +<p>And he rushed around to the front of the house, where the confusion was +greater than ever.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN EVENTFUL NIGHT.</span></h2> + + +<p>The Rockton police force were evidently not equal to the emergency—two +or three Hibernians in blue uniform were rushing wildly about, issuing +orders to which no one paid the slightest attention.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile nearly a thousand people were confined within the burning +building, most of them apparently doomed to a horrible death.</p> + +<p>At the doors—of which there were only two—men were fighting like +maniacs to escape, and actually retarding their own progress in their +mad excitement.</p> + +<p>What could one boy hope to do against this panic-stricken throng?</p> + +<p>This is the question that Al Allston asked himself.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I shan't accomplish much," he said to himself; "but I'm +going to try, anyhow."</p> + +<p>Assuming as cool an air as he could, he ran up to the entrance.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said, "there is no danger. Take it easy; walk out just +as you would at any other time, and everything will be all right. Keep +cool."</p> + +<p>Probably not more than half a dozen persons heard the words, but the few +who did hear them were impressed by the calm, fearless demeanor of the +boy, which was in such striking contrast to that of everyone else in the +crowd.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>An example of this sort is contagious; word was passed from one man to +another that the danger was not as great as had been supposed. The +conduct of the throng changed almost immediately.</p> + +<p>"Walk out quietly," went on Al, who was now able to make himself heard. +"Those on the right-hand side go in the direction of Grand Street, and +those on the left in the direction of Market Street. Don't block the +sidewalk. Keep cool, and everyone will get out all right. There is +nothing to get excited about."</p> + +<p>These words had almost a magical effect. In reality, there was quite +enough in the situation to excite anyone, but Al's apparent calmness and +his assertion that the danger did not amount to anything produced just +the result he desired.</p> + +<p>The crowd became more rational, and to make a long story short, within +three minutes the building was emptied, even of the women and children +who had fainted or been injured.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the roof of the building fell in, but there was every +reason to believe that not a single human life had been sacrificed.</p> + +<p>Al started for his hotel as quietly as if nothing unusual had happened. +But he had gone only a few steps when he was overtaken by Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>To his astonishment, the manager folded him in his arms, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"By Jove! I wish you were my son!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>"What's the matter now?" asked the boy, disengaging himself.</p> + +<p>"Matter? Why, the matter is that you have in all probability saved the +lives of several hundred people."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"That's just what you have done, all the same. You have a cool head for +such a young fellow—I can tell you that. If it hadn't been for you—I +shudder to think of what might have happened. You are, as I have had +occasion to remark before, a wonder."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Mr. Wattles! But I must go now; mother is sure to be worrying +about me."</p> + +<p>"But there are a score of people waiting to be introduced to you, and I +have promised to bring you back with me."</p> + +<p>"I can't go, Mr. Wattles."</p> + +<p>"But——"</p> + +<p>"Tell them that I—— Oh, just tell them the plain truth."</p> + +<p>"That you have a morbid horror of being lionized?"</p> + +<p>"If you want to put it in that way; and that my mother is waiting for +me."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, I won't urge you—particularly as I know that you generally +mean what you say and stick to it. But, let me tell you, young man, you +will have to stand considerable lionizing before you leave this town, +whether you like it or not."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," smiled Al. "There is an early train in the morning, +if I am not mistaken."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>"But you won't take it."</p> + +<p>"You will see. Well, good-night, Mr. Wattles. Oh, wait a moment!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You are sure my sister got out all right?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; everyone on the stage escaped within two minutes after the +first alarm. Don't you know I told you that I saw her go out? You will +find her with your mother when you get back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>Al said good-night once more, and walked away.</p> + +<p>"Well," muttered the manager, as he stood and watched the lad's slim +figure until it was lost to view, "that boy is a corker. I don't believe +he is afraid of anything on earth—except speech-making. I should like +to see him really agitated for once."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles had his wish in less than fifteen minutes.</p> + +<p>He had just lighted the gas in his hotel room when there was a quick +knock upon the door.</p> + +<p>Before he could say "Come in!" Al rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>One glance at his face showed the manager that something unusual must +have happened. Never before had he seen the boy so intensely excited; he +was panting for breath, and his face was ghastly pale.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" the old gentleman gasped.</p> + +<p>"Gladys—my sister——" the boy began.</p> + +<p>"Has anything happened to her?"</p> + +<p>"We cannot find her."</p> + +<p>"She has not returned to the hotel?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>"No."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there can be no occasion for alarm. I told you she got out of the +theater all right."</p> + +<p>"But she may have returned."</p> + +<p>"What should she return for? But she did not; that I am sure of."</p> + +<p>"Where is she, then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry, my boy; she will turn up all right. Perhaps she has +gone to visit friends."</p> + +<p>"Would she be likely to visit friends under such circumstances?" said +the boy, almost angrily. "She has no acquaintances in this place—she +told me so only this afternoon; and if she had, this is not the time she +would choose for making a social call."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not, my boy. Well, what do you think has become of her?"</p> + +<p>"I believe that she has been the victim of foul play. Have you forgotten +Farley's letter?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles started.</p> + +<p>"It may be so."</p> + +<p>"I am sure it is."</p> + +<p>"But I have seen nothing of Farley."</p> + +<p>"He would not be likely to let you see anything of him if he could help +it."</p> + +<p>"True. Well, what shall we do? Command me, my boy; I am at your +service."</p> + +<p>Before Al could reply the door, which the boy had only partially closed, +was opened, and a man entered.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>Both our hero and the manager recognized him as one of the stage hands +in the Rockton Theater.</p> + +<p>When he saw Al he started, then he said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wattles, I came here on purpose to get this here young gentleman's +address."</p> + +<p>"My address?" cried Al. "What do you want that for?"</p> + +<p>"Is it true, sir," the man asked, "that the young lady as was on the +bills as Miss Gladys March is your sister?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, I have some information for you."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where she is?" demanded the boy, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but I know that she is in a trap, and that if you want to save +her you must act quick. I've come here, sir, to make a clean breast of +my part in the affair."</p> + +<p>Overcome by excitement, Al seized the fellow by the throat and forced +him to his knees.</p> + +<p>"Speak!" he hissed. "Tell the truth, or I will strangle you!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A CLEW.</span></h2> + + +<p>Mr. Wattles stepped forward and gently forced Al to relax his hold on +the man's throat.</p> + +<p>"Don't get excited, my boy," he said. "This is just the time when you +need a cool head."</p> + +<p>"That's so, sir," added the visitor. "I don't blame the young gent for +the way he feels, but if he expects to get the best of that villain, +Jack Farley, he has got to keep his wits about him."</p> + +<p>"Then," gasped Al, "it was Farley that enticed her away?"</p> + +<p>"It was him, sir."</p> + +<p>"And what had you to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"More than I wish I had. The truth is, sir, I did not realize what I was +doing at the time. I was not onto his game until it was too late, and +then I——"</p> + +<p>"Don't beat about the bush any longer," interrupted Mr. Wattles, +impatiently. "What was Farley's game?"</p> + +<p>"Where is my sister?" added Al, in an agony of suspense.</p> + +<p>"It's like this, gents," replied the man. "Just before the alarm of fire +was given a man came to the stage door, where I happened to be standing +at the time. His collar was turned up, and his hat was pulled down, and +at first I did not recognize him. 'I want you to do me a favor,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> he +says. 'What is it?' says I, 'and who are you?' 'Don't you know me?' he +asks me. 'No, I don't,' I tells him, 'and I ain't got no time to stand +here fooling with you.' You see, I thought maybe he was a stage-door +masher, though he didn't look much like one, to tell the truth, for he +was dressed in a way that——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Wattles again. "Get to the point. +The man told you he was Farley?"</p> + +<p>"He did, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why were you any more willing to talk to him then? Had you ever met him +before?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"By your own admission you knew he was a villain. Why, then, were you +willing to do him a favor?"</p> + +<p>"He did me a great service once, sir, and I was glad of a chance to +repay him."</p> + +<p>"Even at the risk of a young girl's life happiness, perhaps her life +itself?"</p> + +<p>"I did not think it was as serious as all that then, sir. You see, all +he asked me was to tell Miss March that a friend bearing important news +was waiting just outside the stage door to see her, and that he would +not detain her more than a minute. He also told me not to say that it +was him if she should ask."</p> + +<p>"And you did this?"</p> + +<p>"I took the message to Miss March, and, as she had at least half an +hour's time before she had to go on again, she went with me to the door +without any hesitation."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>"And then?" cried Al, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"There was no one else around at the moment. Miss March stepped out. I +was surprised to see that there was a carriage waiting in the alley. He +said something to her that I could not hear, and led her to the door of +the carriage. The next moment, to my surprise, he lifted her in his arms +and put her into the carriage. She didn't have time to make any +resistance at all. I am not sure, but I think there was another person +in the carriage."</p> + +<p>"And you made no attempt to interfere?" cried Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"What could I do, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I am pretty sure that if I had been in your place I should have done +something," said the old gentleman, warmly.</p> + +<p>"The carriage drove off like mad as soon as the young lady was put into +it, sir."</p> + +<p>"Didn't Farley enter it, too?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, he jumped right in after her. The driver seemed to know what +to do; anyway, he received no directions from Mr. Farley in my hearing. +I suppose it had all been arranged between them beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Of course. You might have given the alarm at once; why didn't you?" +demanded Al.</p> + +<p>"By that time, sir, the alarm of fire had been given, and there was a +terrible commotion in the theater. In the confusion I did not know what +to do."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, "better late than never. But what put it into +your head to come here at all?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>"I don't know that I should have come, sir, but when I heard of the +heroic way in which this young gent behaved, and how he saved the lives +of maybe half the audience—when I heard all this, and was told that the +young lady, Miss March, was his sister, I made up my mind that I would +come here and make a clean breast of my part of the affair."</p> + +<p>"And you have really told us all you know?"</p> + +<p>"All, sir, so help me Heaven!"</p> + +<p>"I believe you, my man," said Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"And so do I," added Al. "But we must not spend any more time in talk; +we have got to do something at once."</p> + +<p>"I will do anything in my power to help you, sir," said the man.</p> + +<p>"I don't see that you can do much more than you have done," said Al. +"You can give me a description of the carriage and the horse, though."</p> + +<p>"The carriage was an ordinary livery coach. There were two horses, both +of them gray. It was a livery turn-out—there can't be any doubt about +that—and not a first-class one, either."</p> + +<p>"You don't know what stable it came from?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but it won't be a very hard job to find that out, for there +are only three stables in town. Two of them are quite swell, but the +other isn't, and I guess it was from that one that the coach came."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, springing to his feet, "we can get to work +now. Come, my boy, this man shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> take us to the stable at once, and we +will see what they have to tell us there."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to drag you out, Mr. Wattles," said Al. "I can manage this +business alone."</p> + +<p>"You can, eh?" said the manager, almost indignantly. "Well, maybe you +could, but you won't get the chance. I am going to be right in it with +you. Why, do you suppose I could sleep a wink to-night with this thing +on my mind? I tell you, my boy, I thought more of that girl than you +imagine, and if anything should happen to her——"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles choked and turned away his head. Al was surprised at this +exhibition of emotion; he had not given his employer credit for the +possession of so much feeling.</p> + +<p>He extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wattles," he said, "you are a good friend of mine and hers. Have it +your own way, then. Come!"</p> + +<p>The manager pressed the boy's hand.</p> + +<p>"I don't like scenes—off the stage," he said, rather shamefacedly. "I +dislike emotion, and am seldom betrayed into it. But—but—— Oh, well, +we mustn't stand here talking all night. Lead the way to the stable you +spoke of, my man."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the trio reached the stable. Here several delays +awaited them. In the first place, the man who had been on duty in the +office at the time the coach must have been hired, was asleep in a room +above the stable, and when awakened refused to get up. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> some +persuasion, he agreed to do so, and came downstairs half dressed. He was +also half asleep, and for several minutes could not recall the event +about which his visitors were so anxious to be informed. It had been an +unusually busy evening, and he was not sure whether the coach had come +from that stable or not.</p> + +<p>At last, however, his memory having been stimulated by a five-dollar +bill, which Mr. Wattles slipped into his hands, he remembered having +rented the team to a man who answered Farley's description.</p> + +<p>"There was a lady with him, too," the man added.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a looking woman?" asked the manager.</p> + +<p>"Tall, dark, with very black eyes."</p> + +<p>"Miss Hollingsworth!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"Just the idea that occurred to me," added Al.</p> + +<p>"It was she, beyond the shadow of a doubt. She is in the scheme, too, +then. That woman is capable of anything. At last we have a clew, and a +strong one."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">ON THE TRACK.</span></h2> + + +<p>"But why," questioned Al, "should Miss Hollingsworth lend herself to +such a scheme?"</p> + +<p>"For several reasons," Mr. Wattles replied. "In the first place, she is +a woman who likes mischief for its own sake—there are such people, you +know. Then, she is under the influence of Farley; that is a fact that I +have known for a long time. That man can make her do almost anything he +wishes."</p> + +<p>"Is she in love with him?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes I have thought so, and sometimes I have thought she almost +hated him. He seems to exercise a sort of hypnotic influence over her; +that is the only way in which I can explain it."</p> + +<p>"If she is in love with him," suggested Al, "it is rather strange, isn't +it, that she should help him to abduct a rival?"</p> + +<p>"Not when you consider everything. Remember that the woman has a grudge +against you. You haven't forgotten that episode at the Boomville Opera +House, have you? You were the indirect means of throwing her out of an +engagement."</p> + +<p>"That is so."</p> + +<p>"You can depend upon it," went on the manager, "that the woman in the +case—and in the carriage—was Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> Olga Hollingsworth. But we mustn't +stand talking here any longer."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles had observed that the stableman was listening to the +dialogue with considerable interest.</p> + +<p>"Where did the couple say they were going?" he added.</p> + +<p>"They said," was the reply, "that they wanted to catch a train, but that +they had to make a call first."</p> + +<p>"Did they say where they were going to call?"</p> + +<p>"They did not."</p> + +<p>"Did they say what train they wanted to catch?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Where is the driver that took them out? Has he returned yet?"</p> + +<p>"He came back long ago, and has gone home."</p> + +<p>"Did he say where he took them?" questioned Al.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he said nothing about the matter; all we were talking about +was the theater fire."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Wattles, with a wink at Al, "we are much obliged for +your information. Good-night."</p> + +<p>And he took the boy's arm and walked him rather unceremoniously out of +the place.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to ask a few more questions," said Al, when they were outside.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have done any good, my boy. The man told us all he knew +about the case."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure about that," demurred Al. "It seems rather queer to me +that the driver should say nothing at all about such a peculiar case +when he got back to the stable. According to the report of the stage +hand he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> must have been posted about Farley's intention. He was really a +party to the crime."</p> + +<p>"Exactly; and that, of course, is just the reason he said nothing when +he got back. But we can find out all that later on. Now, in my opinion, +they—Farley, Hollingsworth and their victim—did really take a train. +The question now is, what train?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can learn that at the railway station."</p> + +<p>"Just what I was going to say. We will go to the station now and find +out what trains leave at about the time that our friends would have been +likely to reach the place."</p> + +<p>"Rockton is not a very big place; there are not many trains a day."</p> + +<p>"No; we shan't have any trouble in getting the information we want."</p> + +<p>They found the station agent at the depot. He was a small, shriveled-up +old man, and he glared suspiciously at them when they questioned him.</p> + +<p>It took them some minutes to elicit the information that two trains left +the station at nine-ten—about the hour that the carriage would have +reached the place if it had gone there direct from the theater.</p> + +<p>"And where do these two trains go?" asked Mr. Wattles.</p> + +<p>"One goes to New York."</p> + +<p>"And the other?"</p> + +<p>"The other is the Boston express."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>The manager then described the occupants of the carriage.</p> + +<p>"I remember them; what of it?" said the station agent, crustily.</p> + +<p>"What do you remember about them?"</p> + +<p>"I remember that one of the ladies—the smaller one—seemed to be sick; +at any rate, she had to be helped into the waiting room, where they all +three stayed till the train arrived."</p> + +<p>"Which of the two trains did they take?" cried Al.</p> + +<p>"That I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You don't know?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. Do you suppose I keep tabs on everyone that comes +into this place? Hardly."</p> + +<p>"The New York train and the Boston train were here at the same time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And they might have taken either?"</p> + +<p>"They might."</p> + +<p>"It is of a good deal of importance to us," said Al, "to learn which of +those two trains they took."</p> + +<p>"I can't help that," was the reply. "I'm no clairvoyant or +fortune-teller."</p> + +<p>"Isn't there some one about the station who could give us some +information?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think there is. The ticket-seller that they bought their +tickets from might tell you something, but he's off now; there is +another man in his place."</p> + +<p>Al and Mr. Wattles stared at each other in perplexity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>Just then a hang-dog looking young fellow of about Al's age came +slouching up.</p> + +<p>"Here, Smith," called out the station agent, "these folks want some +information; perhaps you can give it to 'em. Tell this chap what you +want, gents, and maybe he can help you out."</p> + +<p>Al explained the situation to the fellow, who said, readily enough:</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I remember that party."</p> + +<p>"And which of the two trains did they take?"</p> + +<p>"The one goin' to Boston."</p> + +<p>"At last," exclaimed Mr. Wattles, "we have a little information. Now, +then, my boy, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"I shall follow them," replied Al, promptly.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go with you, but——"</p> + +<p>"I know it would be impossible, Mr. Wattles; and probably I shall get +along just as well alone."</p> + +<p>"Maybe; but I'd like to be with you to witness the discomfiture of that +arch-villain. Well, come along and get your ticket for Boston."</p> + +<p>They were now walking in the direction of the ticket office.</p> + +<p>"No," said Al, "I shall get a ticket for New York."</p> + +<p>"Eh?"</p> + +<p>The boy repeated the statement.</p> + +<p>"But that fellow said they went to Boston; you must have misunderstood +him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I didn't."</p> + +<p>"He certainly said Boston."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>"I know he did."</p> + +<p>"And yet you are going to get a ticket for New York?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you."</p> + +<p>"I'll explain. You didn't see the wink he gave the station agent when he +told us the Boston train yarn, did you?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"You think he was lying to us?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it. Farley probably paid him to put us off the track."</p> + +<p>"Allston, you are a smart young fellow, but there is such a thing as +being too smart. It may be that by going to New York you will lose +them."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so, Mr. Wattles; I am sure I am right. At any rate, I +will take the chances."</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes later Al was on his way to the metropolis.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">"DR. FERGUSON."</span></h2> + + +<p>As may be imagined, Al was very tired when he boarded the train for New +York. It had been a hard day for him; yet, though physically fatigued, +he was mentally alert.</p> + +<p>Next him sat a clerical-looking man of about fifty, who presently +remarked:</p> + +<p>"You got on at Rockton, young gentleman, did you not?"</p> + +<p>Al, glad of the chance to speak to anyone, replied in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"I once had a charge there," went on the old man.</p> + +<p>Al did not understand him.</p> + +<p>"A charge?" he said, interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am a minister of the Gospel."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I was pastor of the wealthiest church in Rockton. I left it to +accept a call to New York."</p> + +<p>As this statement possessed no especial interest to the boy, he made no +reply.</p> + +<p>There was a silence of some minutes' duration. Then the old gentleman +broke out with:</p> + +<p>"May I offer you my card?"</p> + +<p>At the same time he thrust a bit of pasteboard into Al's hand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>Upon it was inscribed the name, David Ferguson, D. D.</p> + +<p>"I haven't a card with me, Dr. Ferguson," said the boy; "but my name is +Allen Allston."</p> + +<p>His traveling companion grasped his hand, and shook it with a remarkable +exhibition of warmth, considering their short acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to meet you, my young friend," he said. "Are you going +far?"</p> + +<p>"To New York, sir."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Then we shall be traveling companions for nearly three hours. +How delightful!"</p> + +<p>The prospect did not seem quite so delightful to Al; for, although he +was glad to have some one to talk to, he began to fear that the Rev. Dr. +Ferguson might not prove a wholly congenial companion.</p> + +<p>"Are you a resident of Rockton?" went on the doctor.</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Only a visitor there?"</p> + +<p>"That's all."</p> + +<p>"Rockton is a beautiful place."</p> + +<p>Al acquiesced.</p> + +<p>"And you don't live there?" continued Dr. Ferguson.</p> + +<p>"I do not."</p> + +<p>"You were visiting friends?" questioned the old man, whose bump of +curiosity seemed to be well developed.</p> + +<p>"I was not, sir; I was there on business."</p> + +<p>"On business! Really? You are quite young to be actively engaged in +business."</p> + +<p>As this was a point upon which Al was a little sore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> he made no reply. +He was now quite willing to let the conversation end right there and +then.</p> + +<p>But Dr. Ferguson would not have it so.</p> + +<p>"What was the nature of your business, if I may ask?" he resumed. +"Pardon me, if I seem inquisitive."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Al, with a sigh, "I don't know that I have any reason to be +ashamed of my business."</p> + +<p>"I trust not, my dear young friend—I most sincerely trust that you have +not."</p> + +<p>"I am connected with Wattles' New York Comedy Company."</p> + +<p>Dr. Ferguson gasped for breath.</p> + +<p>"You are an actor—at your age?" he cried.</p> + +<p>Al laughed, a little sarcastically, it is to be feared.</p> + +<p>"It isn't quite as bad as that," he said.</p> + +<p>"Ah!"</p> + +<p>"I am only the advance agent."</p> + +<p>"And what, may I ask, is an advance agent?"</p> + +<p>Al explained.</p> + +<p>"It is not, then, quite as bad as I thought," said his companion.</p> + +<p>"It might be a heap worse," responded the boy, laconically.</p> + +<p>"But still," went on the reverend gentleman, "a position such as that +you hold may lead to something worse. You may in time—pardon me, if I +hurt your feelings—you may in time become an actor."</p> + +<p>"I guess not," said Al, who had some difficulty in repressing a smile.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>"You cannot tell, my dear young friend; one wrong step leads to another, +and once on the road to destruction, there is no knowing where or when +the end will come."</p> + +<p>"I hope I am not on the road to destruction yet," said Al, "and I feel +pretty sure that I am not."</p> + +<p>"Pride cometh before a fall, my dear young friend," said the doctor, +impressively. "The moment you begin to be too sure of yourself, you have +taken the first downward step. You may not be conscious of it, but it is +taken."</p> + +<p>Al began to shift about uneasily in his seat.</p> + +<p>"I know that what I say is not pleasant for you to hear," continued the +old gentleman, "but I speak for your own good."</p> + +<p>He then went on to deliver a long homily on the evils of theatrical +life, and actually succeeded in tiring Al to such an extent that he fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>He was awakened by a voice shouting in his ear:</p> + +<p>"This ain't a sleeping car, young man. All off!"</p> + +<p>Al leaped to his feet, only half awake. The car was empty of everyone +except himself and a brakeman.</p> + +<p>"Where are we?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"In New York," was the reply. "Say, young fellow, you are a pretty sound +sleeper."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm awake now," said the boy. "I'm sorry to have given you any +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right. But you haven't lost anything, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No. Why?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>"I don't see your baggage anywhere?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't bring anything with me."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, then. I was afraid that duck in the seat with you +might have got away with your stuff."</p> + +<p>Al laughed.</p> + +<p>"That was a clergyman," he said—"the Rev. Dr. Ferguson."</p> + +<p>"Reverend nothing," grinned the brakeman. "Say, young man, you must be +from 'way back."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that fellow is one of the cleverest confidence men in the +country."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you are talking about?" asked the boy, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"You can bet I do. Oh, he has fooled sharper ones than you or I. You +didn't lend him anything, did you?"</p> + +<p>"I did not."</p> + +<p>"Nor invest in green goods or anything of that sort?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are one of the lucky ones, then. When I saw him giving you so +much chin music I thought he had you sure."</p> + +<p>"Well, he didn't."</p> + +<p>And Al left the car on very good terms with himself.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," he mused, "I'll start in on the business that brought me +here. I'll go to the nearest police station first. I don't know where it +is, so to save time I'll take a cab."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>As he thus ruminated, he mechanically felt in his pocket.</p> + +<p>The next moment he uttered an involuntary exclamation.</p> + +<p>His money was gone, and so were his watch, and the ring that had been +presented to him in Boomville.</p> + +<p>He had not, after all, escaped scot-free from the "Reverend David +Ferguson."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN UNLUCKY ERROR.</span></h2> + + +<p>Al's self-esteem had suffered a severe shock.</p> + +<p>He had considered himself quite competent to look out for "Number One," +but this plausible swindler, the very first person he had met on the +train, had easily succeeded in swindling him out of all the valuables he +had about him.</p> + +<p>He had lost about a hundred and fifty dollars in cash, his watch, which +was worth at least another hundred, and the valuable diamond ring that +had been presented to him on the stage of the Boomville Opera House.</p> + +<p>He was alone and penniless in a great city at two o'clock in the +morning, with a mission to perform that would almost necessarily involve +the outlay of money.</p> + +<p>While he stood at the entrance of the Grand Central Depot the brakeman +who had addressed him on the car came along. Noticing the look of dismay +on the boy's face, he said:</p> + +<p>"There's nothing the matter, is there?"</p> + +<p>"I should say there was."</p> + +<p>"What is it? That bunco man didn't get the best of you, after all, did +he?"</p> + +<p>"Rather."</p> + +<p>And Al proceeded to inform the man of his loss.</p> + +<p>His companion uttered a low whistle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>"Well, he did soak it to you, for fair," he said. "He don't generally +play that game; as a rule he works the thing in a more artistic way than +that. Well, he got the money, all the same. It was a pretty good haul, +too."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how he got that ring off my finger without waking me up," +said Al, ruefully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he can do more than that," grinned the brakeman. "He'd manage to +rob you of your eyeteeth if he happened to take a fancy to them. He's a +daisy!"</p> + +<p>"I wish you had warned me when you saw him talking to me on the train."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't very well do that; but I kept an eye on you both, and if I +had seen him up to any funny business, I should have spoken. Hasn't he +left you any money at all?"</p> + +<p>"Not a cent."</p> + +<p>"Well, see here, I'll let you have a few dollars if you'll promise to +return 'em as soon as you get funds."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will, and I am very much obliged to you," said Al, +surprised at this unexpected offer.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, then."</p> + +<p>And the man handed him a small roll of bills.</p> + +<p>"Give me your address," said Al, "and I'll return this to you within a +day or two, with something to boot."</p> + +<p>"I don't want anything to boot. I'll write down my address, if you'll +lend me a pencil a minute."</p> + +<p>Al handed him a pencil. The man was about to write the address on the +back of an envelope, when, to his amazement, his companion made a rush +for a cab that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> stood at the curbstone, gave the driver a few hasty +directions in a low tone, and then leaped into the vehicle, which +immediately started off at a rapid pace. Before the brakeman could +recover from his astonishment, the cab had turned a corner and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Well," gasped the man, "if I haven't been buncoed myself, and by a kid +at that. I'll bet he and the other fellow were pals. And I never +suspected it! Well, I'll get my ten dollars back if it costs me a +hundred to do it. This is the last time I'll ever lend money to a +stranger. I wish I could hire some one to kick me round the block."</p> + +<p>The brakeman could scarcely be blamed for forming this opinion of Al, +erroneous though it was. Appearances were certainly against the boy, and +the reader is, perhaps, wondering if he had suddenly become insane or +developed into a kleptomaniac.</p> + +<p>The reason for our hero's strange action was this: Just as he handed the +brakeman the pencil a carriage was passing the depot, from the window of +which peered the face of the very man for whom Al was seeking—Jack +Farley.</p> + +<p>There was no time for explanations; the carriage was going at a rapid +rate. Al rushed out to the cab that stood at the entrance and said to +the driver:</p> + +<p>"Do you see that carriage yonder?—the one that is just about to turn +the corner? Follow it wherever it goes and I'll pay you well."</p> + +<p>"Enough said!" the man responded.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>As we have seen, the boy entered the cab, and was driven away.</p> + +<p>"That brakeman will think that I am a thief, too, I'm afraid," Al mused. +"Well, I can't help it; it will be all right to-morrow. But he is a good +fellow, and I don't like the idea of being misunderstood in that way by +him even for a few hours. There's no help for it, though; I couldn't +afford to let Farley get away from me!"</p> + +<p>The two vehicles kept at an even distance from each other until Tenth +Street was reached. At the corner of that thoroughfare and Fifth Avenue +the carriage in advance came to a sudden halt.</p> + +<p>Al's driver stopped almost at the same moment.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do now, sir?" he called out to his passenger.</p> + +<p>"Go right ahead," the boy directed. "When you get to the spot, stop, if +the other coach has not started again in the meantime; if it has, go on +as long as it does."</p> + +<p>In less than a minute later Al's carriage once more come to a +standstill.</p> + +<p>At the same moment a man leaped from the other carriage, advanced to the +cab and threw open the door.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean," he demanded, "by following my carriage? I have been +onto you ever since you started. Who are you, and what do you want?"</p> + +<p>The man was not Jack Farley; he did not resemble him in any way.</p> + +<p>He was an elderly man, fashionably dressed, and had the appearance of +one who was on his way home after a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> ball, or some other social +function, with just enough wine on board to make him quarrelsome.</p> + +<p>"What is your little game?" continued the man. "Come, out with it; I am +going to know."</p> + +<p>Al was decidedly embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"It is all a mistake," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"That's too thin," said the stranger. "I'm onto you; you are a +detective! Now, what are you shadowing me for?"</p> + +<p>Al could not help laughing.</p> + +<p>"I am no more a detective than you, sir," he said. "I told my driver to +follow a certain carriage, and he has made a mistake; that's all there +is to it."</p> + +<p>"I made no mistake," interposed the driver, surlily. "This is the +carriage you told me to follow."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong; the man in that carriage was not this gentleman. +Remember, it turned the corner before we left the depot, so you lost +sight of it for half a minute or so."</p> + +<p>"That's so," admitted cabby.</p> + +<p>"It had probably turned out of the street before we turned into it, and +you, seeing this gentleman's carriage, supposed it to be the same, and +followed it."</p> + +<p>"I guess that explains it."</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't explain it to me," said the aggrieved stranger. "I +consider this affair an outrage, and I am going to have it +investigated."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead and investigate, then," said Al, losing his patience. "You are +making a mountain of a mole hill."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>"I am, eh? Well, you'll see whether I am or not. Cabman, I have your +number."</p> + +<p>"That's all right; keep it," growled the jehu.</p> + +<p>"I shall keep it, and make good use of it, too. You will hear from me +again."</p> + +<p>And the man climbed back into his carriage, flushed almost as much with +anger as with wine.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN EXCITING INTERVIEW.</span></h2> + + +<p>As the carriage rolled away Al and the cabman stood and stared at each +other. Then the latter burst into a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," he said, "this is the funniest job I have had for many a +long day."</p> + +<p>Al failed to appreciate the humor of the situation.</p> + +<p>"It does not strike me as being particularly funny," he said.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't?"</p> + +<p>"Decidedly not. Why did you lose sight of the other cab?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you explained that yourself just now. The two carriages looked +just alike; I believe they were the same."</p> + +<p>"No, they were not. The man I saw looking from the window of the +carriage that passed the Grand Central Depot was not the man we have +just been talking to."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. You followed the wrong carriage; that is all there is to it."</p> + +<p>"Well," admitted the cabby, "I think you are right. Where shall I take +you now?"</p> + +<p>"Nowhere; I'll walk. How much do I owe you?"</p> + +<p>"Ten dollars," was the calm reply.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>"Ten what?" demanded Al.</p> + +<p>"Dollars."</p> + +<p>"Ten dollars for driving me that short distance?"</p> + +<p>"Do you call that a short distance?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I could have walked it in a good deal less than half an hour."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you, then?"</p> + +<p>"I——"</p> + +<p>"Now, see here," interrupted the cabman, with a threatening air, as he +put his face in very close proximity to Al's, "I don't want no muss with +you. See? But I get that ten dollars. Do you think I'm driving this here +thing for fun? Not on your life!"</p> + +<p>This was Al's first experience with one of the class known in New York +as "night-hawks," and for a moment he hesitated. Imagining that he had +gained an advantage, the man added:</p> + +<p>"Now, look lively! I've got something else to do besides standing here +chinning with you."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the boy, quietly, "you have. On second thoughts, I'll keep +your cab a little longer. Drive me to the nearest police station."</p> + +<p>The man stared at him, then asked, rather uneasily:</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"So that I can find out just what I ought to pay you. It won't take +either of us long to get the information."</p> + +<p>The night-hawk saw that he had, for once, met his match.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>"See here, young gent," he said, "I don't want no trouble with you."</p> + +<p>"If there is any trouble, you will bring it on yourself," responded the +boy.</p> + +<p>"I've got no time to waste. Give me a V and I'll call it square."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you nothing of the sort."</p> + +<p>"What will you pay, then?"</p> + +<p>"Two dollars is quite enough."</p> + +<p>"Make it three, boss."</p> + +<p>"I can't do it," said Al, who saw that he had by luck hit upon about the +right price. "Will you take two, or will you go with me to the nearest +police station and let them settle the matter there?"</p> + +<p>"Give me the two," said the man, sullenly. "I'll take it, but I'm losing +money on the job. If I'd stayed up at the station I might have picked +up——"</p> + +<p>"You might have picked up a bigger greenhorn than you did," added Al. +"Well, I'll wish you good-morning."</p> + +<p>He was about to turn away when a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, +and a familiar voice exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, this is luck. I didn't expect to find you as easy as all this."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you, is it?" cried Al, recognizing the friendly brakeman who +had loaned him the money. "I'm mighty glad I ran across you."</p> + +<p>"You are, eh?" sneered the man.</p> + +<p>Al looked at him in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was going to hunt you up."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>"Oh, you were?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I was. I wanted to explain to you why I left you so suddenly. +You must have thought——"</p> + +<p>"I thought the truth—that I had been made the victim of a swindler. I +made up my mind that I would hunt you up, but I didn't expect to find +you quite so soon; that was blind luck."</p> + +<p>"See here," said Al, his anger rising, "you are going a little too far. +I was, and am, much obliged to you for lending me that money, but I——"</p> + +<p>"Lending nothing," interrupted the cabman, who had been a silent +listener to the conversation. "Why, the young villain has just been +telling me how he euchered a brakeman up at the Grand Central out of a +wad."</p> + +<p>"It is a lie!" burst from the lips of the indignant boy, and he advanced +toward the treacherous fellow with clinched fists.</p> + +<p>But the cabman retreated and leaped upon his box.</p> + +<p>"If I didn't have my cab here," he said, as he gathered up the reins, +"I'd teach you to call me a liar. Boss"—to the brakeman—"you're in +luck to find the young rascal so easy. Don't let him off; I know him +well, and, in spite of his innocent looks, he is one of the toughest +youngsters in the city."</p> + +<p>With these words the rascal whipped up his horses and started up the +avenue at as rapid a pace as his steeds were capable of.</p> + +<p>"Do you believe that fellow's story?" demanded Al, looking his companion +squarely in the eyes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>"You can bet I do," was the prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"You think I am a thief?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't I pretty good proof of it?"</p> + +<p>"I——"</p> + +<p>"Now, see here, young fellow," interrupted the indignant brakeman, "I am +not going to sit up till daylight to discuss this matter with you. You +can talk it over with the judge later. You buncoed me in a very neat +manner; I admit you did the job well, but luck happened to be on my +side, and the game is lost for you. But see here; just to avoid trouble, +if you hand me back my ten dollars, I'll let you off."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you all I have left of it," said Al; "and some day I'll prove +to you that I am not——"</p> + +<p>"That's all right," interrupted the uncompromising brakeman. "I don't +care what you are; all I want is my ten dollars, not what you have left, +but just what I gave you."</p> + +<p>"I have just paid that cabman two dollars," said Al, "and all I can give +you is eight. I am very sorry I accepted the loan at all."</p> + +<p>"You ain't as sorry as I am," sneered the brakeman. "But, see here, I'm +not going to fool any more time away with you. I've had a hard day, and +I've got to start in again at eleven o'clock. To save myself trouble, I +have offered to let you off if you would give me my money back. If you +won't, you will go with me to the station house, where I shall make a +formal complaint against you. Now, what do you say?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>Before Al could reply a man suddenly turned the corner of Eleventh +Street.</p> + +<p>As he approached, the boy grasped his companion's arm.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "I'll prove to you that you have made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Do you see this man coming?"</p> + +<p>The brakeman looked, then started.</p> + +<p>"It's your pal!" he exclaimed, recognizing the individual who had been +introduced to the reader as the "Rev. David Ferguson."</p> + +<p>"He's no more my pal than you are," said Al. "Just keep your eyes and +ears open, and I'll convince you on that point, at any rate."</p> + +<p>The alleged reverend gentleman was approaching rather slowly. His eyes +were on the pavement. He was smiling; evidently his thoughts were of an +agreeable nature.</p> + +<p>He did not observe Al and his companion until he was within a few feet +of them; then the boy suddenly stepped forward, saying:</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Ferguson."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD.</span></h2> + + +<p>The reverend gentleman started; a decidedly uneasy expression appeared +upon his face.</p> + +<p>"I don't know you, young gentleman," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can't have forgotten me, Mr. Ferguson," said Al. "My name is +Allston; don't you remember the interesting conversation we had on the +train this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Ahem! I think I do recognize you now."</p> + +<p>"I thought you would. Isn't this rather early for you to be out, Mr. +Ferguson?"</p> + +<p>"I have not yet returned to my home; I have been on an errand of mercy. +And now I must ask you to excuse me, for I am greatly fatigued."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have often heard it said that justice and mercy ought to +go hand in hand."</p> + +<p>"It is a very true saying, my lad."</p> + +<p>"Well, you say you have just been on an errand of mercy; suppose you now +perform an act of justice."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded Mr. Ferguson, uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I guess you know. I mean that I want you to hand back the money and +jewelry that you stole from me."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to insult me, or are you mad?" almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> shouted the alleged +clergyman. "Do you dare accuse me, me, David Ferguson, of theft?"</p> + +<p>"That's about the size of it," replied Al, coolly. "And, remember, I +know now that your name is no more David Ferguson than mine is."</p> + +<p>"Do you dare——" began the fellow.</p> + +<p>"That'll do," interrupted Al. "Bluff will not work with me. Are you +going to return my property?"</p> + +<p>He had not uttered the last word when "Mr. Ferguson" abruptly turned on +his heel and started to run.</p> + +<p>He did not go far, however. Out went Al's foot, and the next moment the +adventurer lay sprawling on the pavement. He was helped to his feet by +Al and the brakeman, who both kept a tight hold on him.</p> + +<p>The sanctimonious expression had entirely vanished from the fellow's +face, which now wore a look of rage and fear.</p> + +<p>The transformation was wonderful; he did not seem the same man.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "what are you going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to hand you over to the police in short order if you don't +return my property."</p> + +<p>"If I give it all back," demanded the man, "will you agree not to make +any charge against me?"</p> + +<p>"Don't agree to anything of the sort," interrupted the belligerent +brakeman.</p> + +<p>But Al said:</p> + +<p>"I ought not to do it, but I have no time to attend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> to the case, so, if +you hand back what you took from me you can go."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ferguson" fished the roll of bills from his pocket and handed it to +Al, who carefully counted it.</p> + +<p>"Now, the watch and ring," he said.</p> + +<p>The "crook" produced the timepiece and gave it to its owner.</p> + +<p>"I can't return the ring," he whined.</p> + +<p>"Why can't you?"</p> + +<p>"I've pawned it."</p> + +<p>"Give me the ticket, then."</p> + +<p>"I can't do that, either."</p> + +<p>"How is that?"</p> + +<p>"I've lost it."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Al, "that's unlucky—for you. Now, see here, my reverend +friend, I have no more time to waste. If your story is true, you'll come +along with me to the police station. If it is a lie, which I believe, +you had better hand over that ring in quick time."</p> + +<p>"I——"</p> + +<p>"I advise you to hurry, for here comes a policeman, and if the ring is +not on my finger by the time he gets here, I shall hand you over to him +as sure as I am standing here."</p> + +<p>The "crook" hesitated no longer.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, then," he said.</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he thrust the ring into Al's hand.</p> + +<p>"Now," he asked, in a voice that trembled with nervousness, "may I get +out?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>"Skip," responded Al, laconically.</p> + +<p>In less than ten seconds the fellow had disappeared from view.</p> + +<p>The brakeman extended his hand to his companion.</p> + +<p>"I have wronged you," he said.</p> + +<p>"That's what I told you," replied Al, quietly, "but you wouldn't take my +word for it."</p> + +<p>"I hope you'll accept my apology."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will; and you must accept your money back."</p> + +<p>And the boy handed his companion a ten-dollar bill.</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't feel hard toward me?" persisted the man.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Al responded, readily. "You were very kind to offer me the +money at the depot. I was a perfect stranger to you."</p> + +<p>"But I sized you up as a square lad."</p> + +<p>"It didn't take you long to change your mind, though."</p> + +<p>"You must admit that I had some reason to change it."</p> + +<p>"I do admit it. Appearances were very much against me, and if I had been +in your place I should, very likely, have thought just what you did."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I'm sorry I was so hasty. Now, see here, young fellow, +I've taken a liking to you—honest, I have. I'd like to help you. Now, I +have an idea that you are in some sort of trouble."</p> + +<p>"You are not far out of the way there," admitted the boy.</p> + +<p>"Of course, it's none of my business, and I'm not one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> of the sort that +cares much about other people's affairs; but—but what is your trouble? +I only ask, thinking that I may be able to help you in some way."</p> + +<p>Al hesitated, then said:</p> + +<p>"I need help badly enough, but I don't see what you could do. However, I +will tell you why I am in New York."</p> + +<p>In a few words he told the story of his sister's abduction. When he +explained why he had left the depot so suddenly his companion +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Why," he cried, excitedly, "I saw the cab that you wanted to follow! I +can tell you just where you can find its driver, too."</p> + +<p>"You can?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. As it happens, he is an old friend of mine, and there isn't much +that he won't do for me. He drives for a stable up on Fifth Avenue, but +he ought to be home by this time. I can get a good deal more information +out of him than they would give you if you went up to the stables. Do +you want to go round to his house with me now and see if he is in?"</p> + +<p>"Is it far from here?"</p> + +<p>"Not ten minutes' walk."</p> + +<p>"Let us go, then. But, perhaps, we ought to go to a police station +first."</p> + +<p>"We shall pass one on our way there. Come on; I'll bet that you won't be +sorry you met me."</p> + +<p>Within five minutes Al had given a description of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> sister to the +police, and an alarm was about to be sent out when he left the station.</p> + +<p>"Now, to see my friend, Tim Story," said the brakeman, "who, if I am not +mistaken, will be able to give us as much information in five minutes as +the police will gain in twenty-four hours."</p> + +<p>Tim Story's home proved to be a floor in a West-Side tenement. The +cabman had just returned home, and did not seem to be in a very +communicative mood. But in a few minutes Al's new friend had obtained +information from him that gave the boy a new hope.</p> + +<p>"We have found her!" he exclaimed. "How can I thank you?"</p> + +<p>"Don't thank me yet," was the reply. "Remember the old saying, 'There's +many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.' You have a dangerous job ahead +of you, my boy."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">HARD LUCK.</span></h2> + + +<p>Among the passengers that arrived at the Grand Central Depot by a train +which reached the city about three hours before Al Allston's arrival, +were a trio who attracted some attention from their fellow passengers; +attention that was evidently unwelcome and annoying to at least two of +the three.</p> + +<p>There were two women and a man. One of the women, slight and heavily +veiled, was supported, almost carried, by her companions. She seemed to +be very ill.</p> + +<p>As she was lifted from the car, one of the passengers, an elderly +gentleman, overheard her say:</p> + +<p>"Where am I? Where are you taking me?"</p> + +<p>The gentleman stepped forward and asked:</p> + +<p>"Can I be of any assistance? The lady seems to be sick."</p> + +<p>His voice and manner showed very plainly that he suspected there was +something wrong, but the two persons he addressed either did not notice +this, or willfully ignored it.</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, sir," responded the male member of the party of +which the apparent invalid was one. "The lady is ill, and we are anxious +to get her to her home as soon as possible. Would you be kind enough to +call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> a carriage for us? I would not ask this of a stranger had you not +so kindly proffered your assistance."</p> + +<p>"I will do so with pleasure," replied the gentleman, evidently a little +surprised at the manner in which his offer was received. "But may I ask +what is the matter with the lady?"</p> + +<p>The man he addressed tapped his forehead significantly.</p> + +<p>"Brain disease?" questioned the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Brought on by overwork at school. Poor girl! But we have hope that +in a few weeks she will be herself again."</p> + +<p>"It is very sad."</p> + +<p>"Very; and now, sir, if you will kindly call the carriage for me, I +shall be greatly indebted to you."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir."</p> + +<p>As the gentleman hurried away, the woman whom we have mentioned as the +third member of the party, a tall, showy-looking brunette, said:</p> + +<p>"What's your game, Jack? Why did you send that old fellow for a +carriage?"</p> + +<p>"It was the easiest way to get rid of him," was the reply. "Didn't you +see that he was very suspicious?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"The way in which I accepted his offer took him off his guard, and, +perhaps, saved us some trouble."</p> + +<p>"Hush! here he comes."</p> + +<p>"I see him. Don't say a word. Leave all to me."</p> + +<p>"I have found a very good coach for you," announced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> the old gentleman, +hurrying toward them. "Come this way, please."</p> + +<p>Murmuring his thanks, Jack Farley, whom the reader has, perhaps, ere +this, recognized, hurried toward the entrance, supporting the alleged +invalid, who was now moaning piteously.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the three were ensconced in the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Where shall I tell the driver to go?" asked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>Farley gave an address.</p> + +<p>As the carriage started, Miss Hollingsworth asked:</p> + +<p>"Why did you give that address?"</p> + +<p>"You didn't suppose I was going to give the right one, did you?" said +Farley, petulantly. "When we are out of sight of the depot I'll tell the +driver where to go."</p> + +<p>As soon as the coach had turned a corner he leaned out of the window and +called out:</p> + +<p>"Driver, I've changed my mind."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Take us to this address."</p> + +<p>And he handed the man a card.</p> + +<p>"You think of everything," said Miss Hollingsworth.</p> + +<p>"I have to."</p> + +<p>"I was afraid that we were going to have some trouble with that old +man."</p> + +<p>"So was I at first, but it turned out all right. I tell you, Olga, it +takes a smart one to get the better of Jack Farley."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>Miss Hollingsworth gave a peculiar laugh.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" demanded Farley. "What have you got in your +head now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have. What is the matter with you, anyway? Your whole manner +to-night has been unnatural and peculiar."</p> + +<p>"That is only your imagination."</p> + +<p>"It is not. Olga, you are not thinking of rounding on me, are you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. What an idea!"</p> + +<p>"Because if you are, I warn you not to try it; if you do, I'll make you +wish you had never been born."</p> + +<p>"Why should I round on you, as you put it? Are not our interests one? Am +I not helping you in this affair? Am I not unquestioningly obeying you +in everything? Jack, you are nervous and excited."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess that's so. What I need is a bottle of fizz; and, as soon +as I get the girl to your flat, I'll go down to Billy's and get it."</p> + +<p>"Don't do that," said Miss Hollingsworth, uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"It is too late."</p> + +<p>"It's only a little after twelve o'clock."</p> + +<p>"But you will stay there gambling and drinking until morning, and I do +not want to be left alone with this girl."</p> + +<p>"I shan't stay more than an hour or so; as for the girl,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> give her +another dose of the stuff, and she'll be quiet enough."</p> + +<p>At this moment the carriage halted in front of a tall apartment house on +a fashionable thoroughfare within a stone's throw of Fifth Avenue.</p> + +<p>Farley alighted first, carrying the unconscious girl, and was followed +by Miss Hollingsworth.</p> + +<p>"Wait for me, driver," he ordered. "I shall need you again in a few +minutes."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later Farley emerged from the house.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Billy Rawlins' place?" he asked the cabman.</p> + +<p>It was a notorious gambling house, and the man knew it well, as did most +of his fraternity.</p> + +<p>"Take me there, and wait for me."</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes later the resort of vice was reached. Farley entered, and +did not emerge for more than an hour. When, at last, he did come out, +his face was flushed with wine, and wore a look of disgust and anger.</p> + +<p>"That's the last time I'll ever set foot in that place," he said, +addressing the sleepy driver. "I believe I've been hoodooed by some one. +I never have any luck in Billy's nowadays, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Luck against you to-night, sir?" asked the cabman, sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"I should say luck was against me. I went in there with two hundred +dollars, and all I have got left now is only a little more than enough +to pay you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>"Hard luck," commented the man, evidently relieved by the latter part of +the sentence.</p> + +<p>"Home," ordered Farley, leaping into the carriage.</p> + +<p>As the vehicle passed the Grand Central Depot he happened to look out; +it was at the precise moment when Al Alston handed the brakeman the +pencil.</p> + +<p>"That boy here!" muttered Farley. "Well, he hasn't lost any time. I +believe he is my evil genius. Somehow or other the sight of him sends a +cold chill over me. I wonder if he saw me? I hope not. Pshaw! Why should +I bother my head about the kid? I'll try to dismiss him from my mind for +to-night."</p> + +<p>The task did not prove an easy one, however, though Farley stopped at +two saloons on the way; when the carriage reached its destination his +mind was still busy with the boy he hated.</p> + +<p>Having paid the driver with almost the last cent he possessed, he +entered the house and ascended to the second story.</p> + +<p>Unlocking a door at the head of the stairs, he entered a plainly +furnished flat.</p> + +<p>Miss Hollingsworth met him at the door. There was something in her face +that he did not like, as she said:</p> + +<p>"Back at last, are you?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE.</span></h2> + + +<p>Farley stared at her, scowling savagely, as he said:</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Got one of your cranky fits? If so, you had best not +worry me, for I'm in no mood for nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Neither am I," was the quiet reply. "But I am going to talk a little +solid sense to you."</p> + +<p>"I won't listen to you. I'm tired, and want to sleep."</p> + +<p>"You will sleep soon, and soundly. Come into the drawing room."</p> + +<p>Farley followed her, asking:</p> + +<p>"How is the girl?"</p> + +<p>"Asleep, under the influence of another dose of the drug."</p> + +<p>"Good! Well, what have you to say?"</p> + +<p>And he threw himself into a chair.</p> + +<p>"I shall not detain you long. I see by your manner that you have lost +again to-night."</p> + +<p>"Nearly every cent I had with me."</p> + +<p>"As usual."</p> + +<p>"I shall never enter Billy's place again."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think you will."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded Farley, uneasily. "I don't understand you +to-night, Olga."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>"Don't you? Well, I will try to make myself understood."</p> + +<p>"Go on, then, and be quick about it. I'm dead tired."</p> + +<p>"I have stood by you for five years, have I not, Jack Farley?" demanded +the woman, fixing her large, dark eyes firmly on those of her companion.</p> + +<p>"Well, what of that?" growled the man. "It has been to your interest to +do so, hasn't it? Have you ever had a decent engagement that I have not +obtained for you? And haven't I stuck to you, too? See here, Olga, I am +in no mood for recriminations this morning, and you may as well quit +just where you are. I see you are going to have one of your tantrums; +well, you can have it all by yourself."</p> + +<p>Farley rose to leave the room, but his companion placed herself between +him and the door.</p> + +<p>"Wait," she said, in a strange, hard tone.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you to-night?" demanded Farley. "Have you gone +crazy?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. At any rate, I will compel you to listen to me."</p> + +<p>"You will compel me?" sneered the man. "And how do you propose to do +that?"</p> + +<p>"Do you see this?"</p> + +<p>And Miss Hollingsworth opened her hand, revealing a small cylindrical +object.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Farley, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Dynamite."</p> + +<p>The man recoiled.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>"You're joking, Olga."</p> + +<p>"I am not. There is enough of the explosive here to tear this house to +pieces."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get it? What are you going to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind where I got it. As for what I am going to do with it, that +you will learn very soon. Now, Jack Farley, will you listen to me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; but give me that stuff, Olga."</p> + +<p>"Sit down."</p> + +<p>Farley obeyed, with a very pale face.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We are going to have a settlement at last. You no longer love me, Jack +Farley."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Olga. You know——"</p> + +<p>"I know that I am speaking the truth. You have thought me merely the +creature of your will; I have let you think so, I have borne your +indignities patiently——"</p> + +<p>"What indignities?" interrupted Farley. "I don't know what you are +talking about."</p> + +<p>"Was it not an indignity to almost force me to assist you in abducting +my rival?"</p> + +<p>"Your rival! Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"This girl has supplanted me in your affections."</p> + +<p>"This is folly. I only did what I have to revenge myself on that kid, +Allston, the girl's brother."</p> + +<p>"It is a lie, and I know it. But all will soon be over now."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>"Just what I say, Jack Farley."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Explode this dynamite, and end all at once. Jack, in two minutes you, +she and I will be in eternity!"</p> + +<p>"Are you stark, staring mad? Give me that stuff!"</p> + +<p>The woman laughed wildly.</p> + +<p>"No, the hour has come!" she cried.</p> + +<p>She lifted the cylinder above her head, with the evident intention of +hurling it to the hard wood floor.</p> + +<p>But at that instant her arm was seized and the dynamite forced from her +hand.</p> + +<p>"You have saved at least twenty lives!" gasped Farley, sinking, pale and +trembling, into a chair.</p> + +<p>"Where is my sister?" demanded Al Allston—for the newcomer was +he—paying no attention to his enemy's words.</p> + +<p>"She shall be restored to you," said Farley, who was thoroughly sobered +by the shock.</p> + +<p>"She shall not," cried the woman. "She shall not leave this house +alive!"</p> + +<p>It was plain to Al that Miss Hollingsworth was mentally deranged, and +not wholly responsible for her conduct and words.</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"She is asleep in yonder room," said Farley, pointing to a door at the +farther end of the drawing room. "Take her with you and go."</p> + +<p>The plotter seemed entirely unnerved; he was ready to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> surrender at once +and without protest all that for which he had schemed so long.</p> + +<p>The boy advanced toward the apartment designated. Miss Hollingsworth +made no attempt to detain him as he passed her; but there was a strange, +meaning smile on her face, the significance of which our hero did not +comprehend.</p> + +<p>He entered the adjoining room. His sister lay upon the bed, fully +dressed and apparently asleep. He was about to lift her in his arms when +there came from the other room a strange, wild peal of laughter. It was +immediately followed by a terrific explosion.</p> + +<p>Al was thrown to the floor, half stunned by the shock.</p> + +<p>In a few moments he had risen. The wall separating the two rooms was +partially destroyed; the drawing room was in flames, there was no +possibility of escape in that direction.</p> + +<p>The boy rushed to the window and threw it open.</p> + +<p>An exclamation burst from his lips; there was a fire escape outside.</p> + +<p>He lifted the still unconscious girl in his arms, and a moment later he +had begun the perilous descent of the frail iron ladder.</p> + +<p>It was made in safety; in a few moments Al had deposited the girl in a +carriage which had been in waiting for him.</p> + +<p>By this time, early as was the hour, the street was thronged with +people, attracted by the terrific explosion.</p> + +<p>The upper part of the house was in flames, the fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> escape was now +crowded, and the half-dressed tenants of the building were rushing out, +panic-stricken, from the various exits.</p> + +<p>Al was fortunate enough to attract but little attention; five minutes +later he and his sister were in a place of safety.</p> + +<p>His sudden appearance on the scene may be briefly explained.</p> + +<p>The hack driver, Tim Story, had given him the card which he had received +from Farley, and Al had lost no time in going to the address given.</p> + +<p>In their excitement Farley and his companion had left the outer door of +their flat unfastened, and the boy had been able to effect an entrance +without difficulty. As had happened more than once before in his life, +his natural energy and push had been supplemented by good luck.</p> + +<p>A physician, whom Al at once summoned, gave it as his opinion that +Gladys was under the influence of an opiate, but that in all probability +there was no danger of serious results from the adventure.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AND LAST.</span></h2> + + +<p>It was nearly ten o'clock that morning when the girl awoke from her +stupor; and, to Al's intense relief, she seemed none the worse for her +experience.</p> + +<p>All she could remember of the events of the previous night was that she +had been forced to enter the carriage at the stage door of the Rockton +Theater, and that as soon as she was inside the vehicle a handkerchief +saturated with some drug—chloroform, she believed—had been pressed to +her nostrils. Then she lost all consciousness of her surroundings.</p> + +<p>She had no recollection whatever of the journey to New York, or of any +of the subsequent events.</p> + +<p>The afternoon papers contained exciting accounts of the explosion. Al +had unreservedly given the police all the facts in the case; and in the +hands of the reporters the story lost nothing.</p> + +<p>The building had been saved from total destruction by the efforts of the +firemen, and it was known that no lives had been lost, except those of +Miss Hollingsworth and Jack Farley; it seemed certain that they must +have perished. It was found that the former had premeditated her +horrible crime, and had prepared for emergencies; she had, on the +previous day, supplied herself with no less than half a dozen of the +dynamite cylinders, so that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> loss of the one which Al had taken from +her was no obstacle to the accomplishment of her plan.</p> + +<p>Once more Al was the hero of the hour. When he rejoined Mr. Wattles, two +days after the events we have just related, he was met at the station by +a crowd of citizens, who unhitched the horses from the carriage that was +in waiting for him and his sister, and insisted upon dragging the +vehicle to the hotel, much to the embarrassment of the two young people.</p> + +<p>Al suspected Mr. Wattles to be the instigator of this proceeding, and +accused him of having incited the populace to behave as they had.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you?" the old gentleman asked. "Such a tribute +of admiration would turn the head of almost anyone, but you kick about +it."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you work up the demonstration?" persisted Al.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I did?"</p> + +<p>"Well, don't do it again."</p> + +<p>"I shan't have to. I've set the ball rolling, and the chances are that +something of the sort will happen at every town we visit during the next +two weeks."</p> + +<p>Al groaned.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll throw up the job," he said, half in jest, and half in +earnest.</p> + +<p>"Well, I believe you won't," said the manager, very much in earnest. +"You're just the sort of agent I want. Why, you can't help having +adventures and getting into the papers."</p> + +<p>"That sort of thing won't last forever."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>"I suppose not; but, when you cease to be a popular hero, I think I can +trust to your good judgment and business ability to manage things. Throw +up the job! I should say not! I couldn't get along without you. And, +besides, if you left me, your sister would go, too."</p> + +<p>"That need not necessarily follow."</p> + +<p>"She would go; and I tell you I could not get along without her, +either."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wattles always spoke of Miss March with an awkward, embarrassed air +that puzzled Al.</p> + +<p>"But, of course," he continued, hastily, "you do not mean what you said. +Remember, you promised me——"</p> + +<p>"I never went back on my word yet," interrupted Al, "and I shall not +now. But I wish these public demonstrations would cease. They seem to me +ridiculous, and they annoy me a good deal more than you seem to think."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are the queerest press agent I ever struck," said the +manager. "However, I guess you won't be much bothered—after to-night."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" cried Al. "After to-night? What do you mean by that? What is to be +done to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing in particular. I ought not to have mentioned it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you ought. Come, out with it!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose I may as well. The fact is, the citizens of this place +have decided to——"</p> + +<p>"Not another speech-making affair at the theater?" interrupted the boy, +in horrified accents.</p> + +<p>"Well," blurted out Mr. Wattles, "that's just it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>"I shan't be here. You know I've got to go ahead to the next town this +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you haven't," smiled the old gentleman. "The fact is, the sale +is so big that I have felt justified in canceling the next two towns, +and we are to stay here the remainder of the week. There's no getting +out of it, my boy; the thing has got to come off, and this time you will +have to make a speech."</p> + +<p>At first Al would not hear of this, and declared that he would start for +home. But he at last allowed his companion's eloquence to overcome his +objections, and agreed to remain.</p> + +<p>How he dreaded the ordeal no one but he ever knew, but he made up his +mind that, as he put it to himself, he would "see the thing through." He +prepared a brief speech, which he memorized, and which he hoped to be +able to deliver without breaking down.</p> + +<p>Evening came only too soon, and Al, arrayed in a new dress suit, awaited +the inevitable call for his appearance. Everything had been "cut and +dried," and he knew that there was no escape.</p> + +<p>At the end of the first act of the play there arose a shout, "Allston! +Allston!"</p> + +<p>"Go on, my boy," said Mr. Wattles, who, with his protégé stood upon the +stage, just behind the curtain. "What are you trembling for? This ought +to be the proudest moment of your life."</p> + +<p>With these words he fairly pushed the boy before the audience.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>Then arose a whirlwind of applause. When it had subsided, Al tried to +begin his speech. But to his utter consternation, he found that he had +forgotten every word of it.</p> + +<p>But he was not, after all, obliged to deliver it. As he stood, trying to +remember at least one word of the carefully prepared effort, a man +suddenly advanced from the rear of one of the proscenium boxes, leveled +a pistol at the boy's head and fired.</p> + +<p>The bullet whistled past Al's ear, but did not graze it. The next moment +the would-be assassin was struggling in the hands of the other occupants +of the box. He managed to free himself; then came another report, and +the next moment Jack Farley lay dead on the floor of the box, a suicide.</p> + +<p>How he had escaped from the doom with which he had been threatened on +the previous night, how he had succeeded in entering the theater without +attracting attention, will never be known.</p> + +<p>Al's speech was forgotten in the excitement, and he was not obliged to +make it, after all.</p> + +<hr class="thin" /> + +<p>In a few weeks Al ceased to be a popular idol, but he was daily learning +new "points" and becoming more and more valuable to his employer; he was +already recognized as one of the brightest advance agents on the road.</p> + +<p>One morning, about two months after the tragedy that we have just +recorded, his sister came to him and said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>"Al, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you grant it?"</p> + +<p>"I promise in advance," was the prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"Then congratulate me."</p> + +<p>"On what?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to be married."</p> + +<p>"Married!" gasped the boy. "To whom?"</p> + +<p>"To Mr. Wattles."</p> + +<p>"You're joking."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I am not!"</p> + +<p>"Why, he is forty years your senior."</p> + +<p>"He is a good, true man, and I love him; that's enough for me."</p> + +<p>"Then it is enough for me, too, sister," was Al's quick reply, "and I do +heartily congratulate you."</p> + +<p>We need add but a few words. The marriage proved a most happy one, and +Mrs. Wattles—whose real name we should give, if we were permitted—is +now one of the most popular actresses and most estimable ladies on the +American stage.</p> + +<p>Al is now no longer an advance agent, but a manager. He is rapidly +making a fortune; and, what is better, has earned a reputation for +integrity and uprightness second to that of none in his business.</p> + + +<p> </p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p>The original edition of this book did not contain a +table of contents. A table of contents has been created for this +electronic edition.</p> + +<p>The following typographical errors in the original edition were +corrected.</p> + +<p>In Chapter III, "would, perhaps, he a good scheme" was changed to +"would, perhaps, be a good scheme", and "his eyes over s contents" was +changed to "his eyes over its contents".</p> + +<p>In Chapter IV, "your prepartions for the performance" was changed to +"your preparations for the performance".</p> + +<p>In Chapter VI, "his attention was atrracted by the sound" was changed to +"his attention was attracted by the sound".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XI, "I want you take this" was changed to "I want you take to +this".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXVI, "Where are ye?" was changed to "Where are we?"</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXVIII, "the boy grasped his ccompanion's arm" was changed to +"the boy grasped his companion's arm".</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 39454-h.txt or 39454-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/5/39454">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/5/39454</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/39454-h/images/cover.jpg b/39454-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b11d8ee --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/39454-h/images/logo.png b/39454-h/images/logo.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f369f75 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454-h/images/logo.png diff --git a/39454.txt b/39454.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3d3f96 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7164 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ahead of the Show, by Fred Thorpe + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ahead of the Show + The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent + + +Author: Fred Thorpe + + + +Release Date: April 14, 2012 [eBook #39454] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + http://books.google.com/books?vid=r08TAAAAYAAJ&id + + + + + +No. 77 +Bound-to-Win Library + +[Illustration: Cover.] + + +AHEAD OF THE SHOW + +Or + +The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent + +By + +FRED THORPE, + +Author of "Blind Luck," "The Boy in Black," +"Chris, the Comedian," "Git Up and Git," +"Walt, the Wonder Worker," etc.... + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +Street and Smith, Publishers +238 William Street, New York + +Copyright, 1897 +By Norman L. Munro + +Ahead of the Show + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. AL MAKES APPLICATION. 5 + II. AL TALKS BUSINESS. 12 + III. AL'S SCHEME. 17 + IV. AL TO THE RESCUE. 24 + V. AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD. 29 + VI. ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD. 35 + VII. THE DEBUT. 41 + VIII. A STARTLING SITUATION. 47 + IX. A CLOSE CALL. 53 + X. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. 61 + XI. IN PERIL. 67 + XII. INTERVIEWED. 73 + XIII. A STROKE OF LUCK. 80 + XIV. AL'S AD. 87 + XV. SAVED BY A SHADOW. 91 + XVI. A LESSON IN JOURNALISM. 97 + XVII. "I WANT YOU." 103 + XVIII. MR. MARMADUKE MERRY. 109 + XIX. A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 115 + XX. THE LOCKET. 121 + XXI. BROTHER AND SISTER. 127 + XXII. AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE. 133 + XXIII. AN EVENTFUL NIGHT. 139 + XXIV. A CLEW. 145 + XXV. ON THE TRACK. 151 + XXVI. "DR. FERGUSON." 157 + XXVII. AN UNLUCKY ERROR. 163 + XXVIII. AN EXCITING INTERVIEW. 169 + XXIX. A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD. 175 + XXX. HARD LUCK. 181 + XXXI. A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE. 187 + XXXII. AND LAST. 193 + + + + +AHEAD OF THE SHOW. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AL MAKES APPLICATION. + + +"If I had that fellow here I'd make him wish he'd never heard the name +of Augustus Wattles. And I'll do it some day, too." + +The manager and proprietor of Wattles' New York Comedy Company was very, +very "mad." His naturally florid face was redder than usual, and his +fists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow" +referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at +this precise moment. + +He stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with the +local manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share his +discomfiture and anger. + +A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing +at them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people +feel for members of the theatrical profession. + +"It's pretty tough," said Mr. Perley, "but it isn't my fault." + +"I know it isn't. Well, this is the last time that loafer will play that +trick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in the +past there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the +mistake of his life." + +"Of course, you will discharge him?" + +"You had better believe I will. A healthy sort of advance agent he is! +Think of my bringing my company to a town of the importance of +Boomville, to find that absolutely no advance work has been done, that +my advance agent, to whom I pay a fancy salary, has not even showed his +face in the town." + +"I suppose he has succumbed to his old complaint?" said Mr. Perley. + +"Of course; he is drunk beyond the shadow of a doubt, and may not show +up again for a week. Well, when he does, he'll meet with a warm +reception from me. We ought to have had an eight-hundred-dollar house +to-night, and now we'll be lucky if we take in half that amount." + +"I don't expect we'll do as well as that. It wouldn't have made so much +difference under ordinary circumstances, but, as luck will have it, +they've got the strongest attraction of the season at the other +house--the 'Crack of Doom' Company. You know that's a big puller +everywhere." + +"Sure. They have a railway collision, a tank of real water, a buzz saw +and two real lunatics in the insane asylum scene." + +"Yes, and their advance man has worked the show up in great shape here. +According to him, the leading lady lost nine thousand dollars' worth of +diamonds on her way here, and the soubrette is going to marry Chauncey +Depew. And they give souvenirs to-night in honor of the five hundredth +performance of the piece." + +"They've been giving that five hundredth performance in every town +they've played in for the last month; and their souvenirs are not worth +over fifty cents a gross." + +"All very true, but the public will have 'em. I hoped your advance man +would have some taking counter-attraction." + +"So he did have, but---- Oh, well, it's no use talking about that. +What's done can't be helped, but I won't be left in this way again. +Where is the nearest telegraph office?" + +"On the next block. What are you going to do?" + +"Wire to New York for a new advance agent. I happen to know of an A1 man +who is out of an engagement. There are two or three others after him, +but I guess I can make it worth his while to go with me. I won't get +left in this way again, you can bet your boots!" + +"That's all right," growled Mr. Perley, "but it doesn't help out the +present engagement any." + +"No, but we are joint sufferers in that, and we may as well grin and +bear it." + +And the irate manager of the New York Comedy Company started for the +telegraph office with fire in his eyes and a look of determination on +his face. + +Neither he nor Mr. Perley had observed the presence in the little group +of listeners to their conversation of a rather good-looking, +well-dressed boy of about eighteen. + +This lad did not lose a word of the excited discussion, and, as the +manager started to walk away, he muttered: + +"This is the chance I have been looking for; I won't let the opportunity +slip. It doesn't seem as if there would be much hope for me, but there's +no harm in trying, anyhow." + +He followed Mr. Wattles, and just before that gentleman reached the +telegraph office he tapped him on the shoulder. + +The manager turned quickly. When he saw the boy, he asked, impatiently: + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Can I speak with you a few minutes, sir?" + +"Not now, not now." + +Mr. Wattles was about to resume his walk, but the boy laid a detaining +hand on his arm. + +"I want to see you on business, sir." + +"You have business with me?" + +"Important business, sir." + +"Well, well, I'll see you in a few minutes; I've got to send an +important telegram now." + +"But I want to see you before you send that telegram." + +"Before I send the telegram? Why?" + +"Because I think I can prove to you that it is not necessary to wire to +New York at all." + +"Eh? Why, how did you know that I was going to wire to New York?" + +"I overheard what you said to Mr. Perley in front of the opera house +just now." + +"Humph! I was excited, and spoke a little louder than I ought. Well, +why do you think it will not be necessary for me to send the telegram?" + +"Because I am sure you can find just the person you want right here in +Boomville." + +"An advance agent to be picked up offhand in this place? That would be +too much luck. What is your man's name?" + +"Allen Allston." + +"I never heard of him. What company was he with last?" + +"He has never been with any company, sir, but----" + +Mr. Wattles surveyed the boy with a look of supreme disgust. + +"Do you suppose for one moment," he interrupted, "that I am going to +take an inexperienced jay from a town like this and send him ahead of an +organization like Wattles' New York Comedy Company? Well, hardly. I've +got to have an experienced man." + +"And you're going to telegraph for one now, sir?" + +"This minute." + +"But suppose you can't get the man you want--will you talk with me then, +sir?" + +"Er--yes, in that case you might send your friend to see me, though it +seems nonsense. But I shall get my man all right." + +"I suppose you are going to request an immediate answer to your +telegram, Mr. Wattles?" + +"I am; I shall get it within an hour, in all probability." + +"Where can I find you after you have received it?" + +"At the hotel next door. You are a persistent young rascal; your friend +has a good advocate in you." + +The boy smiled. + +"I am the best friend he has in the world," he said. + +"Well, if you are you had better advise him to stick to farming, or +whatever he is doing, and keep out of the theatrical business; we have +too many farmers in it already." + +"He wouldn't take the advice, sir." + +Mr. Wattles laughed as he entered the telegraph office. + +"If the boy's friend has got as much 'go' as he has," he muttered, "he +might do something in the business." + +In a few minutes the message had been sent. An hour and a half later a +messenger entered the lobby of the hotel with a telegram. + +"For me?" questioned the manager, who had been impatiently pacing the +floor for the last twenty minutes. + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. Wattles tore open the envelope. + +A muttered exclamation escaped his lips as he hurriedly perused the +message. + +"Well, sir?" said a voice at his elbow. + +Turning, he confronted the lad with whom he had had the brief interview +which we have recorded. + +"You here? Well, you do mean business." + +"Is your offer accepted, sir?" the boy asked. + +"Confound it, no! The man I wanted signed yesterday with another +manager. Well, send your friend round and I'll talk with him." + +"He is here, sir." + +"Where?" + +"I am Allen Allston." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AL TALKS BUSINESS. + + +Mr. Wattles stared at the boy a moment in speechless surprise, then +burst into a loud laugh. + +"You don't mean to say," he almost gasped, "that you made that +application for yourself?" + +"That's just what I mean to say, sir," replied the lad, quietly. + +"Why, you must be crazy!" + +"I don't think I am." + +"You are only a boy." + +"I'll get over that in time, Mr. Wattles; and besides, that fact is no +proof that I am crazy." + +"Oh, pshaw! I can't stand here bandying words with you." + +Al was not in the least taken aback. + +"That's just what I was thinking," he said. + +"What?" + +"That we had been standing up too long. Let's sit down." + +"Well," said the manager, "you have cheek enough, anyhow." + +"Cheek is necessary for an advance agent, isn't it, sir?" laughed the +boy. + +"Yes, but--oh, really, this is ridiculous, you know!" + +"What is ridiculous?" + +"Your applying for this position." + +"Why is it ridiculous?" + +"Who ever heard of a boy advance agent?" + +"That's just the point. Nobody ever did, and it will be a complete +novelty, and a big ad. for the show." + +Mr. Wattles gazed at the boy almost admiringly. + +"Well, you are a corker!" he exclaimed. + +"A good advance agent ought to be a corker, oughtn't he, sir?" + +"I suppose so--yes." + +"Shan't we sit down and talk the matter over?" + +"Yes." + +And the manager sank into a convenient chair, gazing at his youthful +companion with an expression indicative of bewilderment. + +"I've got him now sure," murmured the lad, but his companion did not +hear him; Al did not intend that he should. + +When they were both seated the boy said: + +"Now, sir, you want an advance agent, and I want a position. It is lucky +we met." + +"Yes," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "but what the mischief do you know about +the business of an advance agent?" + +"A lot," was the calm reply. + +"How did you learn it?" + +"By reading and observation." + +"Nonsense! You might as well talk about learning to swing on a trapeze +by reading and observation." + +"There's a big difference, sir." + +"Not much." + +"Well, I've always thought I should like to do work of that sort, and I +think I could do it well." + +"Stage-struck, eh?" + +"Not a bit of it, Mr. Wattles. Now, will you listen to me a few moments, +sir?" + +"Go ahead." + +And the manager assumed an air of resignation. + +"I generally keep my eyes open," began the boy, "and I have had a chance +to watch the movements of most of the theatrical people who come to this +town, particularly the advance agents." + +"Why the advance agents in particular?" interrupted Mr. Wattles. + +"Because I have been in the editorial office of the Boomville _Herald_, +and have had a chance to see how they work the press. Some of them are +very slick, but I think that if I had a little experience I should be as +slick as any of them." + +"Ah," said the manager, "that's the point. You haven't had experience." + +"Well, I've got to begin some time, sir. If all managers had talked like +you the race of advance agents would have been extinct long ago." + +"There's something in that," laughed Mr. Wattles. + +"There's lots in it." + +The manager of the New York Comedy Company surveyed his companion for a +few moments without speaking. + +"My boy, I rather like you," he said, at last. + +"Well, that's one point in my favor, sir," said Al. + +"I'd like to give you a chance, but I really do not see how I can." + +"Why can't you?" + +"You must remember that the New York Comedy Company is not a common, +fly-by-night organization, but a first-class enterprise. I have put a +good many dollars into the thing, and I can't afford to experiment. If +so much did not depend upon the result, if I were running a cheap side +show, I might give you the trial you ask, but----" + +"I wouldn't have anything to do with any such show," interrupted the +boy. "I don't intend to be that sort of advance agent. But I can +understand how you feel, sir." + +"Then you can also understand how impossible it is for me to engage your +services." + +"Oh, no, I can't understand that at all, Mr. Wattles. Now let me ask you +a question." + +"What is it?" + +"I heard you tell Mr. Perley that you did not expect there would be four +hundred dollars in the house to-night." + +"That's what I said. I shall be agreeably disappointed if there is as +much as that." + +"Yet the opera house will hold twelve hundred dollars." + +"I see you are posted, my boy." + +"I am. Now, Mr. Wattles, it is a little out of the line of an advance +agent's work, but, just to show you that I have a little snap and +business ability, I will guarantee to fill the opera house to its utmost +capacity to-night, if you will agree to give me a chance as advance +agent after that." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" + +And the manager stared in renewed amazement at the youth. + +"I do." + +"You will undertake to fill the house to-night, in spite of the +disadvantages under which we are laboring?" + +"The 'Standing Room Only' sign will be displayed before eight o'clock." + +"Well, what is your scheme?" + +"You will agree to follow my suggestions?" + +"Not until I hear them." + +"If you don't like them you will agree not to repeat anything I may say +to you?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then I'll give you my idea. I see you are getting ready to guy me, +sir," as a rather cynical smile appeared upon the manager's face. + +"Oh, no." + +"You don't think I can knock out such a strong opposition as the 'Crack +of Doom' Company, do you?" + +"I do not." + +"Well, I'll show you that I can, and get you not only a full house, but +the elite of the place." + +"Well, well," interrupted Mr. Wattles, impatiently, "have done with +preliminaries and let me know how you propose to accomplish all this." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AL'S SCHEME. + + +"Mr. Wattles," said Al, in a low tone, "I suppose you have in your time +met a few stage-struck amateurs--people who thought they knew it all, +and only needed a chance to show the world that they were the equal of +anyone who ever trod the boards?" + +The manager laughed. + +"I should say yes. The woods are full of them." + +"Well, we have one here." + +"Only one?" + +"There are others, but one whom it will be worth your while to know." + +"Who is she?--for it is a woman, of course." + +"Yes, sir, it is a woman; she is the wife of the mayor." + +"The wife of the mayor of Boomville stage-struck?" + +"In the worst way, Mr. Wattles; she believes herself the only legitimate +successor of Charlotte Cushman." + +"They all do. Well, what has all this to do with your scheme?" + +"A good deal. Mrs. Anderson--that is her name--is very anxious to appear +on the professional stage." + +"Of course." + +"Why can't you give her a chance?" + +"Eh? I? How?" + +"Send her word that one of your actresses has been taken suddenly ill, +and ask her to take her place. She'll do it, take my word for that, and +all Boomville will go to see her." + +"Well, you must be crazy, young man," said Mr. Wattles, in a tone of +disgust. "So that is your scheme, is it?" + +"That is part of it." + +"Well, it won't work." + +"Why not?" + +"For a dozen reasons. If I had two or three weeks to work up the thing +it would be different; then it would, perhaps, be a good scheme. But you +seem to forget that the performance takes place to-night." + +"There's plenty of time to work up business," said Al, calmly. "It is +not ten o'clock yet. See Mrs. Anderson, get her consent to play, and +I'll prove my executive ability by doing all the rest." + +"But, good gracious! how could the woman memorize a part between this +and night?" + +"Give her a short part--any old part. Two or three lines will do. What +she wants is a chance to show herself on the professional stage." + +"There is a small part," hesitated Mr. Wattles, "one that she could +learn in half an hour. But, no, it won't do. The woman might queer the +performance, and I should be the laughingstock of the profession for the +next year." + +"She's not as bad as all that," said Al. "She has appeared in amateur +performances here and made a success. Better see her, Mr. Wattles. I +know she'll be tickled to death with the idea. You'll be in plenty of +time to get a big ad. in this afternoon's _Herald_, and you'll have the +biggest house of the season." + +The manager brought his fist down on the table by his side, and said: + +"By jingo, boy, I will do it! Lots of money has been made out of +stage-struck society women, and perhaps I may come in for a little of +it." + +"You'll come in for a lot of it to-night, sir, if you just follow my +advice. And now I'll show you the way to the mayor's house." + +"Wait a minute. You said this amateur racket was only a part of your +scheme; what is the rest of it?" + +"Souvenirs. This town is wild on souvenirs. The 'Crack of Doom' Company +give hand-painted fans to-night. Why don't you go one better, and +announce that every lady attending your performance will receive a +heavily plated silver souvenir spoon?" + +"But where the mischief could I get the spoons?" + +"I'll provide them." + +"You?" + +"Certainly." + +"But where are you going to get them?" + +"I've got them. You see, sir, I am a sort of speculator. I attend +auction sales and that sort of thing, and if I see a big bargain I take +advantage of it. It's better than clerking at five dollars a week. A few +days ago I struck a bankrupt sale in New York, and bought a lot of +plated spoons at 'way below cost. I meant to sell them to the stores +here, but I'll let you have them at just what they cost me--you can +afford to give them away if you buy them at that price--and there will +be plenty to go round." + +Mr. Wattles surveyed his companion in amused wonder. + +"Well, you are a queer sort of lad," he said. "You seem to have a pretty +old head on those young shoulders of yours!" + +"I think I have enough to look out for number one, sir." + +"I should say you did. I should like to know more of you." + +"You will, sir, when I become your advance agent." + +"Well, we'll see all about that. And now I'd better be off for the home +of the stage-struck mayoress. Meet me in half an hour." + +"I'll be here, sir." + +As the manager walked away, he muttered: + +"I'm afraid I'm going on a fool's errand. Confound it! I believe that +young rascal has hypnotized me. But, after all, I can't afford to +neglect the chance. The treasury is pretty low, and if this scheme +doesn't work there may be trouble on salary day. I'll do my best to get +this woman to play, and I guess I shall succeed; people used to say that +Gus Wattles was the champion jollier, and I don't think he has lost his +powers yet." + +Al was doing a little soliloquizing, too. + +"I didn't think I had so much nerve," he mused. "I'm beginning to have a +little more confidence in myself. If to-night's performance is a success +I shall get the job sure--he can't refuse me. But if it isn't a +success, if Mrs. Anderson refuses to have anything to do with the +scheme--I won't let myself think of that." + +It was nearly an hour before Mr. Wattles returned. + +"Well, sir?" questioned the boy, breathlessly. + +"It's all right." + +"She will play?" + +"Not only that, but she is going to pay me for the chance. Oh, there are +no flies on Augustus Wattles, my boy! Yes, she is going to play, and she +is delighted because the part will give her a chance to exhibit herself +in a new costume which she has just imported from Paris. Now, then, my +lad, we must get up the ads. How much time have we before they must be +in the newspaper office?" + +"An hour at least. And you had better get out some posters announcing +Mrs. Anderson's appearance. They can be on the walls in two hours. Will +you leave that part to me?" + +"Yes; but first you can help me with the advertisement. Undoubtedly you +can give me some points." + +Al was able to do so. The manager was plainly delighted and surprised at +the aptitude he displayed. + +"I begin to think," he said, "that you were cut out for this business." + +"That is what I have thought for a long while, sir," replied the boy, +as, copy in hand, he started for the office of the _Herald_. + +Within a few hours everyone in Boomville knew that Mrs. Anderson, the +mayor's wife, was to assume a role in the drama, "Loved and Lost," at +the opera house that evening, and all the lady's friends, all her +enemies and almost everybody else who ever attended theatrical +performances at all had made up their minds to go and see her. + +Besides, the offer of a plated spoon as a souvenir was almost +irresistible; people who had more solid silver spoons than they had any +use for fell over each other in their frantic haste to secure seats for +the evening's performance and make sure of the coveted spoon. + +"We haven't had an advance sale like this since the house was built," +said the local manager to Mr. Wattles, a short time before the doors +were opened. "Why, there isn't a seat left in the house except in the +gallery, and they will be all filled as soon as the doors are thrown +open. And I understand that there is no sale at all at the other house. +I don't believe there'll be a baker's dozen there. It was a great idea +of yours to get Mrs. Anderson to appear." + +"I claim no credit for it at all," said Mr. Wattles. "It was all the +work of that bright young fellow." + +"Oh, by the way," interrupted Mr. Perley, taking an envelope from his +pocket, "here is something that came for you a few minutes ago; I had +nearly forgotten about it." + +Mr. Wattles tore open the note and ran his eyes over its contents. As he +did so the expression of his face underwent such a remarkable change +that his companion said, uneasily: + +"There's nothing the matter, is there?" + +"I should say there was," was the reply. "We're in a nice fix. Mrs. +Anderson won't play!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AL TO THE RESCUE. + + +"Mrs. Anderson won't play?" almost shrieked Mr. Perley. + +"That's what I said--Mrs. Anderson won't play," replied the manager of +the combination, with the calmness of despair. "Read this." + +The note which he handed his companion read as follows: + + "MR. A. WATTLES: + + "DEAR SIR: I deeply regret my inability to appear this + evening as I promised. My husband objects so strongly + that I have no alternative but to yield to his wishes. + Trusting that this will cause you no inconvenience, I + am, + + "Faithfully yours, + + "BLANCHE ANDERSON." + +"'Trusting that it will cause us no inconvenience,'" groaned Mr. Perley. +"Isn't that like a woman? Well, Wattles, we are in a nice little fix +now. Of course, we shall have to give three-fourths of the audience +their money back." + +"Yes; but that isn't the worst of it. Think of the roasting the papers +will give us!" + +"Don't speak of it. And it's all your fault; you would be fool enough to +listen to that kid." + +"Don't say any more, Perley. I must have been out of my head." + +"It isn't worth while to get excited, gentlemen," said a calm voice. + +And looking in the direction from which it proceeded, the two men saw Al +Allston standing in the doorway. + +"You young rascal----" began Mr. Wattles, but Al silenced him by a +gesture: + +"There is no time to waste, gentlemen," he said. "I told you that Mrs. +Anderson would appear to-night, and she will." + +"Do you mean to say," cried Mr. Wattles, "that you can make her do this +in defiance of her husband's will?" + +"Her husband will agree after he has had a short talk with me," was the +boy's reply. "Go right ahead with your preparations for the performance, +gentlemen; Mrs. Anderson will be here as per agreement." + +And, without waiting for a reply, Al left the room. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, drawing a long breath, "I never saw the equal +of that kid. Do you know, I think he will do what he has promised." + +Mr. Perley shook his head. + +"It's out of the question now," he said. "Mayor Anderson is one of the +stubbornest men in the world; if he has said that his wife shall not +appear, she will not. The boy was talking through his hat." + +"Well," said the manager of the New York Comedy Company, "all we can do +now is to trust to luck. Go ahead and let the people in, and we'll see +whether this confounded stage-struck female turns up or not. Somehow, I +believe the lad knew what he was talking about." + +Meantime Al had reached the mayor's house, a pretentious mansion on the +most fashionable thoroughfare in Boomville. + +In response to the rather supercilious "What is it?" from the servant +who opened the door, he presented his card and asked to see Mrs. +Anderson. + +"I don't think she'll see you," said the flunky, "but I'll give her your +card if you wish." + +"I do wish," said the boy. "Give her the card, and tell her that I wish +to see her on very important business that will admit of no delay." + +The man left with the card. In a few moments he returned, saying with a +grin: + +"She don't know you, and she won't see you." + +And with an impudent leer, he extended the card to the boy. + +Al took it and hurriedly wrote a few words on the back. Then he returned +it to the servant, saying: + +"Give it to Mrs. Anderson again; I think she will see me." + +The man hesitated, then said: + +"Well, I'll take it to her, but the chances are she'll give me orders to +kick you out." + +With this cheering assurance he again departed. + +"I didn't like to do it," murmured Al, "but there was no help for it." + +In a few moments the flunky returned, his manner completely changed. + +"Please be kind enough to step into the drawing room, sir," he said, +with the utmost politeness; "Mrs. Anderson will be down in one minute." + +A few minutes after Al Allston had left the theater a showily dressed, +red-faced man of about thirty sauntered into the manager's private +office where Mr. Wattles was seated alone. + +"So, Wattles, old man," he said, extending his hand, "we meet again." + +The manager started to his feet. + +"How dare you show your face here?" he cried, angrily. + +"Eh! What's all this?" said the newcomer, in real or feigned surprise. + +"I don't want to have anything more to do with you. A nice sort of +advance agent you are, aren't you?" + +"There's none better, so they say," replied the fellow, with a tipsy +leer. "What are you on your ear about?" + +"I have no time to bandy words with you. You are discharged." + +"What's that--I discharged? What ails you, Wattles?" + +"That's enough, Dick Farley. I told you after your last drunk that if +the same thing occurred again I should have nothing more to do with you, +and I meant it. Get out!" + +"But, Wattles, I haven't been on a booze. I have been drugged and +kidnaped. Listen and I'll tell you all about it; it's the queerest +affair you ever heard of." + +"I guess it is; I know your talent for inventing yarns. I don't want to +hear this one." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" + +And Farley's face reddened. + +"That would be impossible." + +"It would, eh? See here, Gus Wattles, do you mean to say that you are +going to throw me over and ruin my chances in the business?" + +"It is your own fault. I want to have nothing more to do with you." + +"Then I'm bounced?" + +"That is it, exactly." + +"Oh, it is? Well, I'll show you!" + +And the drink-maddened ruffian suddenly drew a knife and, brandishing it +above his head, sprang toward his companion. + +In another second the weapon would have descended but for a most +opportune interruption. + +"Stop!" + +Farley turned and glared in the direction from which the voice +proceeded. + +Al Allston stood in the doorway, in his hand a revolver, which was +leveled at the head of the would-be assassin. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD. + + +Al was bowed, by the now obsequious servant, into Mrs. Anderson's +elegantly furnished drawing room. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said the man, cringingly. "I didn't know that +you were a friend of the family, or I wouldn't have spoken as I did. You +see, sir, we're a good deal troubled by book agents and such like." + +"Wouldn't it be a good idea to be civil to everyone?" said Al. "It would +not cost you anything, and you'd be sure to make no mistake." + +"Yes, sir. You won't say anything to Mrs. Anderson, will you, sir? It +might cost me my place." + +"No, no!" returned Al, so impatient to see the mayor's wife that he +scarcely heard what the man said. + +"Thank you, sir." + +At this moment the sound of approaching footsteps was heard, and the +servant hastily bowed himself out. + +Scarcely had he gone when Mrs. Anderson entered the room, followed by +her husband. She was a tall, slender, rather good-looking woman of about +thirty; he a short, pompous man, at least ten years his wife's senior. + +The lady approached Al with outstretched hands. + +"My brave, noble boy," she cried, "how delighted I am to see you! And I +did not even know your name until I received your card just now. I am so +glad you did not allow yourself to be sent away. But why have you not +called before?" + +"Yes, why have you not called before?" echoed the mayor, seizing the +boy's hands, which his wife had just relinquished. + +Al, considerably embarrassed, murmured something about not wanting to +intrude. + +"Intrude!" cried the lady. "You are, like all heroes, modest to a fault. +You will always be a welcome guest here. But sit down; you must spend +the evening with us." + +"I cannot," began the boy. + +"Nonsense! I will take no refusal. He must stay, mustn't he, Mr. +Anderson?" + +"By all means," smiled the mayor. + +"And we will talk about his heroic deed," went on Mrs. Anderson. "It was +a fortnight ago, but the scene comes up before me as vividly as if it +had been only yesterday--the maddened horses, our child directly in +their path, her rescue by this noble boy at the imminent risk of his own +life. In another moment she would have been crushed under the feet of +the runaway animals had he not sprang forward and dragged her out of +danger." + +"It was a heroic act," said the mayor. + +"It was nothing more than almost anyone would have done, sir," said the +blushing lad. + +"It was more than anyone else did," returned Mr. Anderson, "and I +understand that the affair was witnessed by a dozen or more persons. But +why have you not called before? I understood my wife to say that she +asked you to come that afternoon. You did not come, and we tried in +every way to discover your identity, even going so far as to advertise +for you." + +"I saw the advertisements, sir," replied Al. + +"Ah! and that is why you are here?" + +"Oh, no, sir. The advertisements mentioned that you wanted to give me a +reward." + +"Of course we did. You don't mean to say that it was the fear of having +a reward forced upon you that kept you away?" + +"Well, sir," replied Al, "I confess that had something to do with it." + +The mayor laughed heartily. + +"This is really refreshing," he said. "My lad, I am interested in you +more than ever, now. Well, I promise you that, if you insist upon it, +the subject shall not be referred to this evening." + +"But I do not insist," said Al. "The fact is, Mr. Anderson, I came here +to-night to ask you to make your promise good." + +Both the mayor and his wife stared at the lad in surprise. + +"You mean," said the former, "that you are here to claim your reward?" + +"That is what I mean, sir." + +There was, perhaps, just a shade of disappointment on the face of Mr. +Anderson; it may be he was thinking that another idol had been rather +rudely shattered. But he only said: + +"I am glad you have changed your mind, my boy. What reward do you wish? +My little daughter's life is worth more to me than anything else on +earth, so you need not be too modest in your request. How much shall it +be? I will write a check for any reasonable amount you choose to name." + +Al's face flushed. + +"I don't want money, sir," he said. + +"No? Well, what can I do for you, then? Do you want me to find you a +position in my office? Perhaps I can do something for you in that way, +if you----" + +"Mr. Anderson," interrupted Al, desperately, "you would never guess what +I want if you tried until doomsday." + +The mayor, very naturally, looked surprised. + +"Eh?" he stammered. "Why, r-really, you are a most extraordinary youth. +Well, I will try to satisfy your demands, whatever they are. Out with +them now." + +"You will grant any request I make?" asked Al. + +"Anything in reason, my boy." + +"Well, sir, I can't explain now just why I ask this favor of you, but I +will when there is time; just now there isn't." + +"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Anderson. "Come to the point; +what is it you want me to do?" + +"I want you to let Mrs. Anderson appear at the opera house to-night, as +she promised." + +Both the mayor and his wife started from their seats, their faces +showing all the surprise they felt. + +"Why, what is it to you whether she appears or not?" asked Mr. Anderson. + +"It is everything." + +"I do not understand." + +"I cannot explain now; but, sir, I assure you that, perhaps, my whole +future depends upon whether you grant my request or not." + +"Really," gasped the mayor, "this is most extraordinary. Why cannot you +explain now?" + +"Because the curtain goes up in a good deal less than an hour, and Mrs. +Anderson ought to be at the theater now." + +Here the lady herself interposed. + +"Mr. Anderson," she said, beseechingly, "do let me go! You know I +promised, and that in itself is reason enough why I should appear." + +"I cannot understand this at all," said the mayor, petulantly. Then +turning to Al, he added: + +"Boy, I will write you my check for five thousand dollars, if you will +withdraw this absurd request." + +Five thousand dollars was a good deal more money than Al had ever had in +his possession, a good deal more than he was likely to earn as advance +agent for a long time to come; but his answer was prompt and positive. + +"Mr. Anderson, I don't want your money. I would not accept a penny of +it. I only request that you allow your wife to keep her promise and +appear to-night. I would not ask this if I thought there would be +anything disagreeable to her in fulfilling her promise, but----" + +Here Mrs. Anderson interrupted. + +"Why, of course there would not," she said. "You know, John, I am so +anxious to make my debut on the professional stage. Now, do let me go, +won't you? You cannot refuse now!" + +After a moment's hesitation, the mayor said: + +"No, I cannot. You shall go." + +It was with difficulty that Al suppressed a sigh of relief. + +"There is not a moment to be lost," he reminded the would-be debutante. + +"I know it," cried Mrs. Anderson. "Oh, I am so glad you came! Now, don't +look so downcast, John; you will be very proud of me when you see me on +the stage." + +"Humph! Well, we shall see." + +Al rose to go. + +"You will not change your mind again, Mrs. Anderson?" he asked, a little +apprehensively. + +"No, no," laughed the lady. "I have never changed it at all. I shall be +there." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD. + + +Mr. Anderson accompanied Al to the door. + +"I would have granted almost any other request you might have made with +more willingness," he said. "I have a strongly rooted objection to my +wife appearing on the stage." + +"I am very sorry, sir," said Al. "But, perhaps, as Mrs. Anderson says, +you will feel differently when you see her." + +"I doubt it very much. Now, tell me, why did you insist upon this +sacrifice on my part? What is it to you whether my wife appears or not?" + +"I haven't time to tell you now, sir," the boy replied. "I must return +to the theater at once." + +"Can you call at my office, at the City Hall, to-morrow?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do so, then, at, say, ten in the morning. I should like to have a talk +with you; I want to know more of you." + +"I will be there, Mr. Anderson. Good-evening, sir." + +"Good-evening, my lad." + +As Al hurried along to take the good news to Mr. Wattles, he muttered: + +"Well, I didn't think I had so much cheek. I wouldn't have insisted upon +Mrs. Anderson's appearing if there had really been any harm in it, but +I'm sure it can't damage her or her husband much. Besides, she gave her +promise, and she ought to keep it." + +As the boy hurried through the long corridor leading to the manager's +office, his attention was attracted by the sound of loud and excited +voices, and, listening, he heard a portion of the conversation taking +place between Mr. Wattles and his ex-advance agent. As we have seen, he +reached the office just in time to see Farley standing over the manager +with uplifted knife, and to interfere. + +The advance agent proved himself a coward, for the weapon dropped from +his fingers, and, throwing up his hands, he cried: + +"Don't shoot! Mercy, mercy!" + +Mr. Wattles picked up the knife. + +"Allston," he said, "go for a policeman." + +As Al turned to leave the room, Farley cried, imploringly: + +"Wait! Wattles, old man, I didn't know what I was doing. The fact is, I +have been drinking pretty hard lately, but I shall be all right in a day +or two." + +"You don't expect to get back in my employ again, do you?" the manager +asked, sternly. + +"No, no, I don't. All I ask is that you will not utterly ruin all my +chances for life by having me arrested. Things look bad enough for me +without that." + +"Very well, Farley, I'll let you off this time, but I warn you to keep +out of my way in the future." + +"If I keep straight and show you that I am at my best we may do business +together again, eh, Wattles?" + +"No, sir; I shall never have anything more to do with you." + +"Perhaps you'll think better of that. You haven't had time to fill my +place yet." + +"I've got a better man for your place than you ever were," said the +manager. + +"Who is he?" demanded Farley. + +"There he stands;" and Mr. Wattles pointed to Al. + +"That kid?" gasped Farley. + +"That young gentleman," said the manager, with theatrical +impressiveness. + +Farley stared at the boy a few moments without speaking; then, with a +peculiar smile, he said: + +"So you are an advance agent, are you, bub?" + +"So it seems," replied Al, as coolly as he could. + +"Well, you won't remain one long; I will see to that. Take my advice and +quit the business before the temperature gets too high. See? Yes, I +think you do. I don't propose----" + +"Look here," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "I've had just about enough of +this. Are you going to get out or are you not?" + +Farley backed toward the door. + +"I am," he said. "Ta, ta, Wattles! Ta, ta, my young friend! But we shall +meet again, and don't you forget, either of you, to paste that fact in +your hat." + +And he swaggered out of the room. + +"The impudent scoundrel!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles. "I let him off too +easy. If I am not mistaken, we shall have more trouble with him." + +"Never mind about him," interrupted Al. "Do you know that it is almost +eight o'clock, Mr. Wattles?" + +"Good gracious! So it is! And Mrs. Anderson----" + +"It's all right." + +"She will appear?" + +"Sure." + +The manager grasped his companion's hand. + +"Allston," he said, "you are a wonder." + +"That's just what you want for an advance agent, isn't it?" the boy +asked, with a laugh. + +"Yes. Did she come with you?" + +"No, but she is probably here by this time." + +"How did you do it?" + +"I'll tell you some other time, sir." + +"That's right; we have no time to waste in talk now. I'll go and see if +she has arrived. I should be in a nice fix if she changed her mind +again." + +"She won't, Mr. Wattles." + +Scarcely hearing the last words, the manager rushed from the room. + +"Well," mused Al, "if Mr. Wattles is a man of his word I am his advance +agent now. It will be my fault if I don't make the best of the +opportunity. But it's dollars to doughnuts that I shall have trouble +with that loafer, Farley. Well, I guess I can hold my own." + +He was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Mr. Wattles. + +"It's all right, my boy," laughed the manager. + +"You haven't seen her yet?" + +"No, but I've seen Perley, and he tells me she is here, and is dressing +for the part. He thinks that she is going to make a big hit." + +"Of course she will," laughed Al; "she is the leader of society here, +and it would be treason not to like her." + +The manager smiled. + +"You know something of the world," he said. + +"Not as much as I would like to. But, seriously, sir, Mrs. Anderson is +not such a bad actress, and I shouldn't wonder if she did make a hit." + +"She'll have to be a second Ristori, if she does in that part," grinned +Mr. Wattles. "There's nothing to it; but, for all that, the woman who +has been playing it is wild because I have taken it away from her for +one night." + +"Have you explained the circumstances to her?" + +"Have I? I've talked myself nearly deaf in doing so, but it was of no +use." + +"She must be very thick-headed if she can't see how you are placed." + +"My dear boy, a woman will never see anything she doesn't want to see. +But never mind about all that. I don't care particularly whether the +woman is suited or not; I can fill her place at a few hours' notice. And +now I must go and see how things are going. I have a good stage manager, +but I have to do a lot of the work myself, for all that. And I must +acknowledge that I do feel a little nervous at letting an untrained +amateur appear in the piece without a rehearsal. Come with me, and we'll +see if everything is going smoothly." + +Al followed the manager through the long passage way and out into a +damp, dingy court, on the opposite side of which was a door bearing the +inscription: "Stage Door. No Admittance." + +Passing through the sacred portals, Mr. Wattles and Al stepped upon the +stage. + +Al had been "behind the scenes" before; the scene that met his eyes was +not an entirely unfamiliar one, and he trod the boards with the +nonchalant air of a veteran. + +"Well, Sparkley, how does everything go?" asked the manager of an +anxious-looking elderly man, whom the boy rightly guessed to be the +stage manager. + +"Badly enough," was the reply. "There's been a big row, and your society +amateur refuses to appear." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE DEBUT. + + +Mr. Wattles sank into a convenient chair. + +"Well," he said, with an air of stony resignation, "there's no use in +fighting against fate. I give it up. We'll return the people their money +and shut up the house." + +"What's the matter?" asked Al. + +"Why," replied Sparkley, "Miss Hollingsworth, who has been playing the +part that Mrs. Anderson is billed for, has been here, and has had an +interview with her successor, and got her so worked up that she +absolutely refuses to appear." + +"Why, I told the woman that she needn't come at all to-night!" cried Mr. +Wattles. + +"Well, she's here as large as life." + +"Why did you let her in, Sparkley?" + +"I couldn't very well refuse her admittance; she is a member of the +company." + +"That's so." + +"Besides, I had no idea that she was going to raise a row. I think that +Farley was at the bottom of the business; I saw him talking to her +outside just before she came in." + +"You did? That explains the whole thing. Well, I'm just going to let +things take their course." + +At this moment Mrs. Anderson came rushing toward them, evidently +greatly excited. She was closely followed by a young woman, quite as +much agitated as herself. + +Both women began talking at once, and it was two or three minutes before +Mr. Wattles could make himself heard. When at last he succeeded in doing +so, he said: + +"Now, ladies, if you will speak one at a time, and talk slow, I will try +to straighten things out. What is the trouble, Mrs. Anderson?" + +"That woman," sobbed the society belle, indicating the actress, "has +grossly insulted me. I cannot, I will not play." + +"Have you forgotten your promise to me, Mrs. Anderson?" interposed Al. + +"No, I have not, and I am very sorry that I cannot fulfill it. But it is +impossible." + +"I only told her," snapped Miss Hollingsworth, a fiery-looking, +dark-haired, black-eyed woman, "that she was a rank amateur, and so she +is. Why, it is an insult to give such a woman my part!" + +"Yes, that's what she said," cried Mrs. Anderson, in a high-pitched +voice. "I would never play the part unless she was discharged." + +The manager's face lighted up. + +"Will you play," he asked, "if I discharge her?" + +"Yes." + +"That settles it. Miss Hollingsworth, you are discharged." + +"Wha-a-t?" screamed the actress. + +"You heard what I said. You are given the usual two weeks' notice." + +"I am discharged, I, Olga Hollingsworth, on account of this woman?" + +"No, you are discharged because these exhibitions of bad temper on your +part have tired me out. And now, madam," turning to Mrs. Anderson and +speaking with the utmost politeness, "will you kindly return to your +dressing room and complete your preparations for your appearance? You +will have to go on in less than fifteen minutes." + +"I will do so, sir." + +And with a withering glance at the actress, the mayor's wife swept away. + +"You shan't forget this evening's work in a hurry, Mr. Gus Wattles!" +hissed the enraged Miss Hollingsworth. "You'll rue the day when you made +Dick Farley and me your enemies!" + +"So Farley is at the bottom of all this, is he?" said the manager. "I +thought so." + +"Never mind whether he is or not," was the actress' reply. "I wish you +good-evening, Wattles. I don't want your two weeks' notice. I wouldn't +play in your company again for ten times the miserable salary you paid +me. Find some one else to play the part to-morrow night or shut up the +house." + +With these words and a vindictive glance, the woman left the theater, +slamming the stage door violently behind her. + +Mr. Wattles drew a long breath of relief. + +"I'm glad to get rid of her," he said. "This isn't the first time she +and I have had words. I'll have another woman here to play the part +to-morrow night, or I'll cut it out altogether; it isn't of any +importance, anyhow. And, I say, I believe that Mrs. Anderson has the +making of an actress in her, after all. She's as good a kicker as if she +had been in the business all her life. No danger of her suffering from +stage fright; she has too good an opinion of herself. Well, I must go +around to the front now. Come with me and see how things look." + +The house was, as Al had predicted, packed to the doors; even standing +room was at a premium. Such an audience had never been seen in the opera +house before. + +The souvenir spoons had proved a great success; everyone was extolling +the liberality of the management. + +"This is immense," chuckled Mr. Wattles, rubbing his hands. "Allston, +you are a trump. I wish you could do this in every town we visit." + +"Well, I'll do my best to repeat the success," smiled Al. "What can't be +done in one way can in another." + +"And you're the lad who can do it. But the curtain is going up. I hope +Mrs. Anderson will be all right. She comes on in less than five minutes. +Come up to the manager's box now; it's the only place in the house where +we can get a seat." + +The two elbowed their way through the crowd; and, not without some +difficulty, reached the box in question. They had hardly taken their +seats when Mrs. Anderson stepped upon the stage. Her appearance was the +signal for a perfect whirlwind of applause. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, as the lady stood bowing and smiling, "she is +a good-looker, anyway. She's as well made up as if she'd been in the +profesh for years; and, by Jove! she's as cool as a veteran! What a +reception! Irving himself couldn't ask for a better one." + +In fact, it was nearly or quite three minutes before the debutante could +go on with her part. By this time the stage was half filled with "floral +tributes," one huge piece being from the board of aldermen. When the +mayor, who was seated in an opposite box, saw this, his face, which had +until then worn a rather gloomy expression, lighted up, and he began to +manifest some signs of interest in the performance. + +As Mr. Wattles had said, the part that had been assigned to Mrs. +Anderson was one of very little importance. It would have been difficult +to make a failure of it. The lady recited her lines well, and when she +left the stage she was furiously applauded. + +"That shows what the public appreciation of the drama amounts to," +remarked Mr. Wattles, sarcastically, although he had applauded Mrs. +Anderson as loudly as anyone. "You can't hear yourself think for the +noise they make about this society woman; yet, on the same stage there +is a little girl who has real talent. But they ignore her." + +"You mean the young lady who plays the part of _Ethel Darlington_?" +questioned Al. + +"Yes, of course I do. I see that you, at least, know good acting when +you see it; but here comes Mrs. Anderson again. Ah! that old fellow in +the box over there is going to make a speech." + +Al recognized in the "old fellow" referred to one of Boomville's +prominent citizens--a certain Maj. Duncan. + +The major, who enjoyed nothing in life more than hearing himself talk in +public or in private, had risen in his seat and was signaling for +silence. + +In a few moments the house was so still that the fall of the traditional +pin would have startled the more nervous portion of the audience. + +The major, standing at the edge of the box, delivered, in a sonorous +voice, a fulsome speech of praise, addressed to Mrs. Anderson, ending by +presenting her with a wreath of laurels. + +The lady, not in the least embarrassed, made a brief reply, and was +about to resume her part, when Maj. Duncan, who had remained standing, +said: + +"But this is not all. There is here to-night a young fellow townsman of +ours of whom Boomville should be proud. I refer to the gentleman seated +in the proscenium box on the other side." + +And the orator fixed his eyes on Al's face. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A STARTLING SITUATION. + + +Everyone in the house stared at Al, and Mr. Wattles whispered in his +ear: + +"Why, he means you! What have you been up to? I tell you, this is a +great night for Boomville." + +Evidently Maj. Duncan expected some acknowledgment of his compliment +from Al, for after a moment's silence he added: + +"I repeat, I refer to the young gentleman yonder, Mr. Allen Allston." + +"Get up and bow," whispered the manager, in our hero's ear. + +Scarcely knowing what he was doing, Al obeyed. + +The entire audience applauded, although there were not three persons +among them who knew why they did it. + +"Will the young gentleman kindly step upon the stage?" went on the +major. + +Without speaking, Mr. Wattles seized the boy by the arm, and fairly +dragged him through a narrow door in the rear of the box. + +"This is the easiest way of getting on the stage," he said. "I wonder +what they have got on foot. They ought to have told us. In a case like +this it is always the proper caper to have a witty impromptu speech +ready, and they ought to have given you a chance to prepare one at your +leisure--they really ought. But this is not New York. Now, then, my boy, +step out on the stage. Don't you hear them shouting for you?" + +But Al held back. + +"I don't understand all this," he said. "What do they want with me?" + +"Go and find out." + +"But----" + +"Allston! Allston!" came from all parts of the theater. + +"Go on!" + +And Mr. Wattles fairly pushed his companion upon the stage. + +It is not necessary to say that Al was greatly embarrassed as he +confronted the sea of faces. His appearance was greeted with wild +cheers, though the audience did not know what they were cheering about. + +In a few moments silence was again restored through the efforts of Maj. +Duncan, who then cleared his throat and began: + +"It may not be known to many of you that we have a hero, a genuine hero, +among us, but it is a fact. And that hero now stands blushingly upon the +stage before us. Ladies and gentlemen, picture to yourselves this +scene--a team of maddened horses rushing at a terrible rate of speed +directly for a spot where a defenseless child has fallen on the highway. +Apparently the little girl is doomed to a horrible death. The spectators +stand spellbound--all save one, a youth. He rushes forward and, at the +risk of his own life, saves the child from the fate that a moment +before seemed inevitable. That youth, ladies and gentlemen, was Allen +Allston; the little girl he rescued was the child of our mayor." + +The major's rather theatrical speech was here interrupted by frantic +applause, much to the orator's gratification and Al's embarrassment. + +When silence once more reigned the major went on: + +"It is not necessary that I enlarge upon the heroism displayed by this +noble youth; it is evident to all of you, and the performance has +already, perhaps, been delayed too long. I will close by requesting the +acceptance by Mr. Allston of this token of esteem and appreciation from +Mayor Anderson, who has delegated to me the most agreeable duty of +making the presentation speech. Take it, my young friend; and always +wear it in remembrance of those whom you have placed under so heavy a +debt of gratitude." + +As he spoke Maj. Duncan extended a diamond ring to the boy. + +Al was obliged to cross the stage to receive it. By this time he had +partially regained his usual self-possession. He took the ring with a +graceful bow, and attempted to speak. + +But the effort proved a total failure. The words stuck in his throat; he +could only give utterance to an inaudible murmur. + +"Speech, speech!" cried a dozen or more persons, but Al was unable to +gratify their wishes. In great confusion he retired to the comparative +seclusion of the stage, where Mr. Wattles met him and grasped his hand. + +"I had no idea you were a hero," he said. "But why didn't you make a +speech? Oh, I understand--stage fright. Well, never mind, you're the +hero of the hour, anyway. Isn't that ring a sparkler! Just completes +your outfit as advance agent; they always wear a diamond ring, you know. +Well, this is a great night, and no mistake." + +By this time the performance had been resumed. It was brought to a +successful conclusion two hours later, Mrs. Anderson having been called +before the curtain no less than ten times. + +"I'm glad everything went off so well," said Mr. Wattles to Al, when the +audience had dispersed. "I was a little afraid that fellow, Farley, +would try to make some trouble for us. He's just about crazy enough from +drink to do something desperate if the idea occurred to him. Look out +for him, Allston." + +"I'm not afraid of him," said Al. + +"Nevertheless, be on your guard. Well, didn't everything go off in great +shape? That presentation alone will be worth a good many dollars to the +show. Accounts of it will be published all over the country." + +"I wish they had given me the ring in private," said Al. + +"You do? Well, I don't! You must get over some of that modesty of yours; +you won't need it in your career as advance agent. Going now? Well, +good-night. You'll be ready to start for the next town at noon +to-morrow?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Good. Look out for Farley on your way home." + +"I'm not worrying about him," laughed Al. "I guess you're more afraid of +him than I am, sir. Good-night." + +Al lived a little way out of the town. To get home it was necessary for +him to ride for half an hour in a horse car, and then to walk some +distance along a lonely country road. + +Singular to say, the subject that engrossed his thoughts during the ride +was not the events of the day, not the new career that he was about to +begin. One face was constantly before his mental vision, the face of the +beautiful young girl--Miss Gladys March, the bills called her--who had +played the part of _Ethel Darlington_. + +Why did her face haunt him so persistently? he asked himself. She was a +complete stranger to him, yet, somehow, he felt as if he had known her +all his life. + +His thoughts were still on her when he left the car and began his lonely +walk. + +So absorbed was he in meditation that he did not notice that from the +moment he alighted from the car he was followed at a short distance by a +man whose face was concealed by a high coat collar and a slouch hat. + +The full moon was shining brightly, but Al's pursuer lurked in the +shadows of the trees and shrubbery that lined the road on either side. + +For half an hour this pursuit of the boy continued; then the man gave a +shrill whistle. + +As Al turned, three masked men sprang from a clump of bushes on his +left and seized him. Before he could cry out a gag was thrust into his +mouth. A few moments later he was bound hand and foot. + +Then one of his assailants lifted him in his arms and bore him up a side +road, near which the assault had been committed. A covered wagon stood +in waiting here. Al was placed in it; then his captors and the man who +had followed him from the car, entered, and the vehicle was driven +rapidly away. + +At the expiration of, perhaps, half an hour the wagon was brought to a +standstill, and Al was lifted out. + +It was a strange sight that met his gaze. + +Half a dozen masked men were assembled under a tree, over one of the +boughs of which was flung a stout rope. + +One of the strange party stepped forward and removed the gag from the +boy's mouth, saying: + +"If you have any last remarks to make, make 'em now, and be quick about +it. We don't propose to fool away any time on this job." + +"What does all this mean?" gasped Al. "What are you going to do?" + +"We're going to string you up in just about two minutes at the outside," +was the reply; "so if you have anything to say you'd better hurry." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CLOSE CALL. + + +"You are going to murder me?" the boy cried. + +"Well, we don't put it just that way," was the cool reply of the man who +had spoken before. + +"How do you put it, then?" + +"We are going to execute you. In cases like yours the law is a little +too slow for us, so we have constituted ourselves judge, jury, +executioners and all the rest of it. Young fellow, you've stolen your +last horse." + +The truth flashed upon Al. + +For several weeks residents of the neighborhood of +Boomville--principally farmers--had been the victims of a clever horse +thief, who had, since he began operations, stolen a number of valuable +animals. The authorities seemed to be powerless in the matter, although +they professed to be using every possible means to bring the thief to +justice. Only one clew had been gained; one of the stolen horses had +been sold to a farmer in a village about fifty miles distant by a youth +of about sixteen, who had given a plausible reason to the simple-minded +purchaser for having the animal in his possession. The farmer had been +able to give a quite minute description of the boy. Al had read that +description, and now remembered, with a sinking of the heart, that it +would apply to him fully as well as to the thief for whom he was taken. + +"See here," he exclaimed, impetuously, "you are making a terrible +mistake! I am not the person you think me to be." + +"That's all right," was the sarcastic response of the spokesman of the +crowd. "I told you we were not going to waste any words on you, and we +are not." + +"String him up!" shouted another of the party. "Get the job done with! +We're taking big chances in delaying the thing." + +"That's right!" + +"H'ist the derned hoss thief, then!" + +"We've had enough chin music; let's get to work." + +These were a few of the comments of the would-be executioners. + +One man now stepped to the front. It was he who had followed Al from the +town. He had now donned a mask like the rest of the party. + +"I'll do the job," he said. "Will you leave it to me, gents?" + +Al started. Where had he heard that voice? Before any reply could be +made he said, in a loud, clear voice: + +"Gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime. My name is Allen Allston. I +live in Boomville. Hundreds of people there know me, and can tell you +what my reputation is. Why, I should not have the slightest trouble in +proving an alibi. If you murder me, you will all bitterly regret it some +day. You do not want to commit a murder; you want to do what you think +an act of justice. You are making an awful mistake; give me a chance, +and I will prove it." + +These words had a visible effect upon the desperate men. They began to +converse together in a low tone--all but the man who had followed Al; he +stood aloof from the rest. + +"See here," he presently said, in a voice that Al noticed trembled +slightly, "if you gents have any more time to fool away here I haven't. +I don't propose to get into any trouble through this thing. I have tried +to do you a service, but you don't seem to appreciate it." + +"We don't want to make any mistake," said the spokesman. + +"But you're not making any mistake. Don't I tell you I know the boy, +that he is the same one that sold me the horse last week?" + +Here Al interposed. + +"Do you claim," he asked, "that you are the farmer to whom the horse +thief sold one of the stolen animals last week?" + +"I do; and I recognize you as the person. It's no use, my fine fellow, +the jig's up. I've been shadowing you for some time, and I've got you +down fine." + +Al turned to the group of men, who had been listening in silence to the +brief dialogue. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "do any of you know the farmer who bought the +horse from the thief? Could any one of you swear to his identity?" + +The spokesman replied, this time using a gentler tone than before. + +"No, my lad," he said, "not one of us ever saw the man until to-night." + +"You don't see him now," said Al. "I do not believe that this is the man +at all. He is some enemy of mine, who has imposed upon you for his own +personal ends." + +"Bah!" interrupted the subject of discussion, "are we to stand here all +night listening to this sort of stuff? The young villain is only trying +to gain time. Of course, if he will steal, he will lie." + +"All I ask is a fair trial," said Al, "but I see I cannot get that here. +However, gentlemen, if you must kill some one, don't kill the wrong man. +It looks to me a good deal as if this fellow were the real thief, and +that he was trying to throw dust in your eyes. None of you ever saw him +before, you say. Now, perhaps I have seen him. Let me see his face; it +may be that I can identify him." + +"That's fair enough." + +"That's all right." + +"Off with your mask, stranger, and let the boy see your face." + +It was evident that the sentiment of the crowd was turning in Al's +favor. + +"Why should I show him my face?" said the boy's accuser. "All the rest +of you are masked." + +"We'll take off our masks if you take off yours," said the spokesman. +"Eh, boys?" + +"Ay! ay!" came from the others. + +Still the stranger hesitated. + +"It's risky for all of us," he said. "Have done with this nonsense. If +you are going to do away with the thief, get to work; if you're not, +why, let him go. We can't stand here all night chinning." + +"Off with your mask!" said the leader of the crowd, sternly. + +"All right," said the fellow, desperately; "I agree. Off with yours, +then, all of you." + +Several of the crowd removed their masks. The stranger raised his hand, +as if to take his off, but instead of doing so, he turned suddenly and +made a rush for a thick growth of wood near which the scene we have just +described had been enacted. In a few moments--before his companions +could recover from their astonishment--he had disappeared. + +"After him, Hammond and Thompson, and you, Porter!" shouted the leader. +"Don't let him get away from you." + +Then turning to Al, he added: + +"Boy, I believe we have made a mistake. That fellow is the real thief." + +"I don't know about that," said our hero, "but I do know I'm not." + +"If he isn't the thief, what motive could he have had in accusing an +innocent person?" + +"Perhaps it is some one who has a grudge against me." + +"It must be an awful grudge to induce him to lay such a plot as that +against you. Do you suspect anyone?" + +"I'd rather not mention any names," said Al. + +Here an old farmer, one of the three or four who had removed their +masks, stepped forward. + +"Don't let this here boy fule yer," he said. "I b'lieve he's one o' the +gang. Mark my word, it'll turn aout so." + +"You think so, do you, Mr. Chadwick?" said Al, quietly, looking the old +man full in the face. + +"Yeou know me, dew yeou?" + +"Yes, and you ought to know me. Have you forgotten Allen Allston?" + +The farmer gasped for breath. + +"I'll be derned ef it ain't Jack Allston's boy!" he exclaimed. "Why, o' +course I know yeou." + +"I told you my name before." + +"I wuz so 'xcited that I didn't take notice. I wuz so sure, yeou see, +thet we hed the right one. Boys"--turning to the others--"I'll swear +thet this here lad don't know no more 'baout who stole them hosses than +we do. I know all his folks, an' there ain't a dishonest hair in the +heads o' enny o' them. I'd ha' know'd him at fust, but I ain't seen him +fer a year or more, an' he's grow'd. An' besides, my eyesight ain't what +it used ter be. Boys, we've hed a narrer escape from committin' a +murder." The men now crowded round Al and shook his hands, and +apologized for their rough treatment of him. + +While they were thus engaged the three who had gone in pursuit of Al's +accuser returned. + +"Ain't you got him?" cried Farmer Chadwick. + +"No, he gave us the slip. The moon has gone under a cloud, and in the +darkness he got away. But we'll catch him yet." + +Then the man turned to Al. + +"Boy," he queried, "have you any suspicion as to who the fellow is?" + +Our hero hesitated, then he replied: + +"Yes, I have." + +"Who do you think he is?" cried two or three of the men together. + +"I would rather not say," replied the boy. + +"Why?" + +"Because I might be wronging an innocent man." + +"But we want to find the thief." + +"I cannot help you do that. If the man is the one I think he may be, he +did not steal the horses." + +"Why did he accuse you, then?" demanded one of the party. + +"Merely to satisfy a private grudge." + +"Then he ought to be found and punished; so why do you try to shield +him?" + +"Because it is my private affair," replied Al, quietly. "And because I +do not like your way of administering what you call justice. See how +near you came to making a mistake to-night. But how did you run across +the fellow who said I was the thief?" + +"I'll tell you," replied the spokesman, rather sheepishly. "A few of us +were in a saloon in Boomville the early part of the evening. We had +indulged in a few drinks, and we must have talked a little louder than +we realized, for this fellow overheard us telling how we were going to +start a search for the horse thief to-night and string him up if we +found him. He came and told us that he could lead us to him. Well, he +talked as if he knew what he was saying, and---- Well, you know the +rest." + +"So," said Al, "you took the word of a barroom loafer, or worse, on a +matter of so much importance as that." + +"We were excited and had drunk a little too much." + +"Well, it seems to me that you had better leave the future management of +the business to the proper authorities," suggested Al. + +"Maybe you're right," admitted the man he addressed. "Well, you won't +say anything about this night's affair to anyone?" + +"I shall say nothing that can harm you. The thing shall not be made +public through me." + +"We'll take your word for that. And now, get into the wagon, and you +shall be driven home." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. + + +Al's ride home after his queer adventure was an uneventful one. He was +glad enough to reach the solitude of his own room. Although his body was +tired, his mind seemed abnormally active, and for at least two hours he +lay tossing sleeplessly on his bed, reviewing not only the exciting +events of the day, but much of his past life. + +We have thus far said nothing of our hero's past, nor shall we now; we +will let him tell the story himself, as he did the next morning when he +visited the mayor's office. + +Ten o'clock was the time Mr. Anderson had appointed for their interview, +but Al was off hand a little before that hour. Mr. Wattles had told him +that he must leave Boomville for the next town at noon, and he knew he +had no time to waste. + +The mayor received him cordially. + +"I'm delighted to see you, my dear young friend," was his greeting, as +he grasped the boy's hand. "We had a grand success last night, did we +not? And it was all due to your efforts. If it had not been for your +persistency Mrs. Anderson would not have appeared." + +"Then you are not sorry that she played, sir?" questioned Al, somewhat +surprised at the mayor's enthusiasm. + +"Sorry? Not a bit of it! Why, it was one of the grandest triumphs in the +history of the American stage." + +Al had his own opinion on that point, but he did not express it; he only +said: + +"The audience seemed to be very much pleased with Mrs. Anderson's work." + +"Pleased! Of course they were pleased. How could they help it? As for +myself, I was as much delighted as I was surprised. I have given my +consent to Mrs. Anderson's second appearance to-night." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"Yes. Mr. Wattles came to me and, in the most respectful manner, asked +the favor. You see, the woman who has been playing the part was so +angered by my wife's success that she refused to appear. I could do +nothing but yield, especially as Mr. Wattles assures me that there was a +widespread feeling of disappointment on the part of those who were +unable to gain admission last night. Mr. Wattles, my lad, considers Mrs. +Anderson one of the greatest geniuses on the American stage; he told me +so this morning." + +Al could not help thinking that the "foxy" manager was overdoing the +thing a little; but he did not express any opinion. In fact, Mr. +Anderson did not give him a chance to do so, for he went on as soon as +he had caught his breath: + +"But never mind about all that now. Some day you will doubtless remember +with pride that you assisted at the debut of Mrs. Anderson; but let us +now talk of yourself." + +"We might find a more interesting subject, sir," suggested Al. + +"It is like your modesty to say so, but I cannot agree with you. Now, my +lad, I have taken a great interest in you, and I am going to do what I +can to help you along in the world. What do you most need now, Mr. +Allston?" + +"Good health, sir," laughed Al; "or, rather, a continuance of it. I have +about everything else I want." + +"Well, I am about to offer you something that you haven't got." + +"What is that, sir?" + +"A position under the city government, a position with very little work +and a good salary. It has never been held by anyone as young as you +before, but I haven't the slightest doubt that you will be able to +discharge its duties satisfactorily. In fact, it is almost a sinecure." + +"You are very kind, sir," said Al, as the mayor paused, "but I cannot +accept the position." + +"Eh? You cannot? Why not?" + +"For two reasons, sir." + +"What are they?" + +"One is that the position you are kind enough to offer to me is not the +kind I am looking for. I am not looking for an easy berth. I want a +place where there will be plenty to do." + +The mayor stared at the boy incredulously. + +"Well," he said, "you are an original. And what is your other reason for +refusing?" + +"It is that I have a good place now, sir." + +"Ah, indeed? What is it?" + +"Mr. Wattles has engaged me as advance agent for his company." + +Mr. Anderson's face clouded. + +"And you would rather travel with a show than have an easy, respectable +position here at home?" + +"I would, sir." + +"Well, that is a matter of taste. I should prefer the berth I have just +offered you." + +"I hope you are not offended, Mr. Anderson?" said Al, a little +diffidently. + +"Offended! No, no, my boy; but I think you are making a mistake." + +"The end will show, sir." + +"Yes, yes, the end will show. Well, I can't help feeling an interest in +you, not only because you rescued my child, but because you seem to me +to be a rather unusual lad. Do you mind answering me a few questions? +Believe me, I shall not ask them out of mere idle curiosity." + +"Ask as many as you like, sir." + +"Do you live in Boomville?" + +"A little way out of the town, sir." + +"Are your parents living?" + +"Only my mother." + +"And your father--has he been dead long?" + +"He died before I was born, sir." + +"Can it be that your father was John Allston?" + +"That was his name, sir." + +"Why, good gracious!" exclaimed the mayor, with a new interest, "I knew +him. It was years ago, and we were never intimate, but I had a speaking +acquaintance with him. Let me see, was there not something peculiar +about the manner of his death? I remember hearing something said about +it at the time, but it was so long ago that I cannot remember just what +it was." + +"People said, sir," replied Al, "and I guess they were right, that my +father died of a broken heart." + +"I remember now!" interrupted Mr. Anderson. "His child, your sister, was +stolen. Her loss was such a blow to him that he only survived the shock +a few months." + +"Yes, sir; that is true." + +"It is a sad story. Was your sister never found?" + +"No, sir." + +"Nor any clew to the mystery gained?" + +"Nothing of any importance, sir. It was suspected that her nurse had +something to do with the affair, and she was shadowed for a long time. +But nothing was ever learned." + +"I can sympathize with your poor father and mother, my boy," said the +mayor, with more emotion than Al had seen him manifest before. "I can +understand his feelings. But the depth of a mother's love is something +we of the grosser sex cannot ever quite comprehend. I suppose your +mother has never entirely recovered from the blow." + +"She never has, Mr. Anderson; and it is in the hope that I may help her +to do so that I have taken this engagement with Mr. Wattles' company." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN PERIL. + + +The mayor stared at Al. + +"You have taken this engagement for your mother's sake?" he said. "I +don't understand." + +"I didn't say that," the boy replied. "I took it because I believed the +work was just the sort I could do well. At any rate, it was just the +sort I wanted to do. But I also thought that it might give me a good +chance to look for my sister. What can I ever do if I stay here in +Boomville? Nothing. I will go out into the world; and who knows----" + +He paused, perhaps a little offended, for the mayor was smiling. + +"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my boy," Mr. Anderson said, +straightening out his features, "but your hopefulness reminds me of my +own when I started out in life. Alas! those dreams!" + +"But you succeeded, sir." + +"Yes, I succeeded, but in a far different line from that I marked out +for myself. But"--in a changed tone--"it is later than I thought, and I +must reluctantly say good-by. I am sorry you will not take the position +I have offered you; but I cannot say that I respect you less for having +refused it. When do you leave town?" + +"At noon." + +"And it is nearly eleven now. Well, my boy, let me hear from you once in +a while; and be sure that you will always have a friend in John +Anderson." + +"Thank you, sir. Good-morning." + +And Al backed toward the door. + +"Wait a moment," the mayor cried, suddenly producing a sealed envelope +from his pocket. "I want you to take this. Open it at your leisure. I +trust the contents will prove acceptable to you. And now, good-day, +good-day." + +Al could not help thinking that the manner in which his companion almost +shoved him out of the room was due to a fear that he would open the +envelope before he got out. But he put it in his pocket, saying: + +"I am very much obliged to you for your kindness to me, sir." + +"The obligation is on the other side, Mr. Allston," was the reply. "But +good-day--and good luck to you." + +It was after eleven when Al reached Mr. Wattles' hotel. + +"I was beginning to be a little nervous about you," said the manager. +"But I said to myself: 'I don't believe he is one of the kind that go +back on an agreement.'" + +"And you were right, Mr. Wattles." + +"You know you must leave by the noon train." + +"I am all ready, sir." + +"Our next stand, as you are aware, is Rockton. It has the reputation of +being a bad show town, and if you can create a _furore_ there you will +do well." + +"I'll try, sir." + +"There is one morning paper there; do what you can with it." + +"I will. If you could only persuade Mrs. Anderson to go there! She was +born in Rockton, and the whole population would turn out to see her." + +"I thought of that, and tried it. But the mayor wouldn't hear of it. But +he is going to let his wife appear here again to-night, all the same." + +"So I have heard." + +"Eh? Are the bills out already?" + +"I guess not. I have just come from the mayor's office." + +"Ah! indeed? Well, that's right; it's policy to keep in with such +people." + +Al's face flushed. + +"I didn't go there as a matter of policy," he said, "but only because I +promised the mayor yesterday that I would." + +"Well, he ought to do something handsome for you in return for the great +service you did him." + +"I think he did quite enough in giving me that ring last night. My +mother says it must be worth at least five hundred dollars, and she +knows something about such things." + +"It is worth more than that. But Anderson ought to do more for you. Why +doesn't he get you a job under the city with a fat salary and nothing to +do?" + +"That's just what he offered me this morning," laughed Al. + +The manager's jaw fell. + +"Then I shall lose you before long, of course?" + +"Not on account of that political job." + +"Eh?" + +"I refused it." + +"You did?" + +"Of course. I want a job where there is something to do." + +"Well, you've got it with me," said Mr. Wattles, evidently gratified. +"But he might have given you a check." + +"Maybe he did," said Al, reminded of the envelope that the mayor had +handed him just before he left the office. + +He took it from his pocket, tore it open and drew from it a long, narrow +strip of paper. + +The manager, who was looking over the boy's shoulder, exclaimed: + +"Well, he has done the handsome thing, and no mistake." + +The check was for five thousand dollars. + +"I won't take it!" cried Al. + +"Yes, you will take it!" said Mr. Wattles, very emphatically. "To return +it would be to offend him very deeply." + +"But----" + +"But you must be starting for the train. Come, I'll walk to the depot +with you. I have a number of points to give you." + +When they parted, the manager was better pleased than ever with Al. His +"points" did not seem to be needed by the boy; a knowledge of and +adaptability to the business seemed to have been born in him. + +"You're all right," said Mr. Wattles, slapping his new advance agent on +the shoulder just before they parted. "I consider a big house in Rockton +a dead-sure thing." + +Al was not quite so confident, however. In Boomville circumstances had +favored him, but he could not hope for the same luck in Rockton; there +he would have to prove his fitness to be the advance agent of the New +York Comedy Company by tact and hard work. + +In conversation with a gentleman on the train, he learned a fact of +which Mr. Wattles had not informed him--that Barnum's circus was at +Rockton. + +"There won't be a corporal's guard at your show," said his informant, +unsympathetically. "Everybody for miles around has been saving up to go +to the circus. Other shows will be simply not in it." + +As if to add to Al's annoyance, the circus parade was going on when he +reached Rockton; at any other time he would have stopped and looked at +it, but he was not in the mood now. + +The sidewalks near the depot were crowded with eager sightseers. Al +forced his way through their ranks, and attempted to cross the street, +heedless of the warning cries of those who saw him. + +He had reached the middle of the street when he attracted the attention +of one of the elephants, an animal with a national reputation for +viciousness. The beast quickened its pace, reached the boy, seized him +in its trunk and raised him high in the air, with the evident intention +of dashing him to the pavement. + +A cry of horror rose from the crowd. Apparently Al was doomed to a +frightful death. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +INTERVIEWED. + + +The elephant that had seized Al was, as we have said, well known for his +viciousness. He had killed two keepers and injured half a score of +persons. One of his escapades had occurred quite recently, and was fresh +in the minds of most of the witnesses of his attack on the boy. + +There was an almost simultaneous cry from the onlookers, followed by a +dead silence. The animal's small eyes twinkled viciously. It was evident +enough that in crossing his path Al had excited his ire, and that it was +his intention to revenge himself in a characteristic manner. + +Suddenly a sharp cry broke the silence. It was the voice of the +elephant's keeper, who had been lagging a little behind, but who now +came rushing up, shouting a command to his charge in a language +unintelligible to most of his hearers. To all of them, perhaps, except +the animal; it was plain enough that he understood it. + +His manner changed. He held his captive poised in the air a moment, then +dropped him. + +Al fell heavily to the pavement directly under the feet of the beast. A +new plan of revenge evidently suggested itself to the elephant. He was +about to plant one of his huge feet on the boy's chest when the keeper +again gave utterance to the same cry of command. + +The warning had its effect; the animal stepped over his intended victim, +not touching him. + +In another moment Al had sprung out of harm's way. + +It was an exciting scene. Men were shouting, children crying and women +sobbing. + +One nervous, hysterical lady, whom the boy had never seen before in his +life, clasped him tightly in her arms, and wept convulsively on his +shoulder. + +Al was, perhaps, the coolest person in the crowd. Disengaging himself +from the embrace of his new-found friend, he said: + +"There's nothing to cry about, madam; I'm all right." + +"You're sure you're not hurt?" sobbed the lady, scarcely knowing what +she was saying. + +"Not in the least; not so much as scratched." + +"You've had a mighty narrow escape, all the same, young man," said the +elephant's keeper--the procession had come to a standstill, and many of +the employees had crowded around the boy. "This ought to be a lesson to +you not to try to cross a circus parade again." + +"It will be," said Al, with a smile. "At any rate, I shall be careful +not to get too near the elephants." + +Just then a nervous, bustling little man with a notebook in his hand +forced his way through the crowd to where Al was standing. + +"I represent the Rockton _Daily Banner_," he announced. "Please give me +your name, sir." + +"Certainly," replied the boy, with an eye to business. "I am the advance +agent of Wattles' New York Comedy Company, which plays here to-morrow +night, appearing in----" + +"That's all right," the reporter interrupted. "I know what it appears +in. But your name, please." + +"It is Allen Allston." + +"What! not the youth who so heroically saved the life of the child of +Mayor Anderson, of Boomville? Not the same who was presented with the +ring at the opera house last night?" + +By this time the circus parade had been resumed; but, in the immediate +vicinity of the scene of the adventure we have recorded, it excited less +interest than the interview between Al and the reporter. + +The boy colored and hesitated. + +"Yes," went on the _Banner_ man, "you must be the same. Why, there were +two columns about you in the paper this morning. You seem born for +adventure. You being the hero of the hour, your escape of this morning +will excite great interest. I can make at least a column of it. Here, +Mr. Allston, come with me. We must get out of this crowd; then we can +have a talk." + +Al resigned himself to the inevitable, and forced his way through the +crowd, arm in arm with the reporter. + +While he shrank from having his personal affairs made public, he also +had the interests of his employer at heart; he saw that the exciting +incident of the morning might be used as an advertisement for the show, +and he decided to sacrifice his feelings and let the ambitious and +energetic reporter have his own way. + +"We'll step in here," said the _Banner_ man, leading the way into the +lobby of a hotel. "Really, it is lucky for you that this thing happened; +it can't fail to boom your show. And it needs booming, too, let me tell +you, for the circus will be here to-morrow night, and is pretty sure to +gather in about all the surplus cash that will be left in the +neighborhood after to-day's performances." + +"Still," said Al, "my company is a strong attraction." + +"Under ordinary circumstances, yes; but not when the circus is in town. +Still, we'll see what can be done. I've heard a good deal about you +during the last twenty-four hours, and, honestly, I'd like to help you. +You give me all the most startling facts in your career, and I'll write +'em up in good style." + +"But," smiled Al, "there has never been anything startling in my +career." + +"Eh?" gasped the reporter. "What did you say?" + +Al repeated the statement. + +"An advance agent without a startling career!" said the _Banner_ man. +"Why, such a thing was never heard of before. As a rule we have to cut +out nine-tenths of the blood-curdling incidents in advance agents' +careers, and even then what is left sounds like an Arabian Nights +story." + +Al laughed. + +"Well," he said, "then I am a remarkable exception. Isn't that a +startling fact?" + +"That may help things out a little." + +"Besides, it is not myself that I want to boom, but the New York Comedy +Company." + +"Well, you are a _rara avis_! But by booming yourself you may at the +same time boom the show. Now, tell me all about yourself first. You see, +the public is more interested about you personally than about Mr. +Wattles' company. But I'll work in a good notice for the show, too. Now, +then, please tell me where you were born, when--and all the rest of it." + +Within ten minutes the reporter was in possession of most of the facts +of Al's "career"; and, as the boy had said, there was nothing very +startling in the story. But when the _Banner_ man had wormed the fact +out of the lad that his sister had been lost or stolen in infancy, he +exclaimed: + +"Why, that's just what I want. A romance in your life! Nothing could be +better. A long-lost sister! That will show up in great shape in the +heading." + +"But," interrupted Al, coloring, "I don't want anything said about it. +Please omit any reference to my family." + +"Well," said the reporter, "just as you say; but it is easy to see that +you have not been an advance agent very long. Why, my dear boy, the +article which I am going to write will be copied all over the country, +and might be the means of restoring your sister to you. But there, +there"--as Al was about to speak--"I'll consider your wishes in the +matter, and if I say anything about your sister it will only be a +passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms. And now, then, +what about the company? How many thousand dollars' worth of diamonds +has the leading lady lost during the last week? Which of the men of the +company is engaged to be married to one of Gould's daughters? Don't be +bashful; tell me all you have to tell, and I'll use all of the stuff I +can. You've given me an A1 interview, and I'm glad to have a chance to +do you a good turn." + +Al had a few alleged facts about certain members of the New York Comedy +Company, and he proceeded to retail them to his companion, who made +notes of them. + +"They're rather chestnutty," he said, as he returned his notebook to his +pocket, "but I'll fix them up in as good shape as I can, and they may +help you out a little. However, you mustn't expect a big house to-morrow +night, for you won't have it." + +With this cheering assurance the _Banner_ scribe took his leave. + +It had occurred to Al, too, that the notices which had been furnished +him by Mr. Wattles were somewhat "chestnutty." + +"Never mind," he said to himself, "somehow or other I'll fix things so +that we'll have a big house. But, judging from the way I have begun, my +first engagement as advance agent is not going to be much of a 'snap.'" + +Al was busy during the entire day seeing that the paper--that is, the +posters, window hangers, etc.--of the company was displayed to the best +advantage. + +This work had been done after a fashion some days before by the local +manager, but the way in which the duty had been performed did not suit +the young advance agent, and he kept men "hustling" all day. + +"What's the use?" said the manager of the theater, with a weary smile. +"It's sure to be a losing engagement, anyhow." + +"Maybe not," returned Al. "You'd better get the 'standing-room-only' +sign dusted off, in case we need it." + +"Rats!" was the response. "Young man, when you know this business and +this town as well as I do, you'll sing a different tune. We shall have +about two hundred people in the house to-morrow night--maybe not quite +so many." + +And he exhibited the advance sheet, which Al examined with a sinking +heart. Only half a dozen seats had been sold for the performance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A STROKE OF LUCK. + + +"Something has got to be done," said the young advance agent. + +"Everything possible has been done," returned the manager, pettishly. +"The amount of the thing is that we have struck an unlucky night, and +there's no help for it." + +"Maybe there is," said Al, quietly. "I mean to have a big house +to-morrow night somehow or other." + +The manager laughed sarcastically. + +"I've heard beginners like you talk before," he said. "You think you are +going to set the river on fire, but the river is not inflammable. I +admire your nerve. I've heard how you drummed up business in Boomville, +and you did well. But you can't do that sort of thing all the time. My +friend, Wattles, wrote and told me that you would work things so that +the house would be full when his company played, but he made a mistake +that time." + +"Did Mr. Wattles say that?" cried Al. + +"He did; and I was surprised at it, for Wattles is not usually a very +sanguine man." + +"If he said it, I'll do it," announced the boy. + +Again his companion laughed. + +"There's nothing like youthful enthusiasm," he said, "and I acknowledge +that it cuts lots of ice at times--but not every time. You might as well +try to square the circle as to get a crowd here to-morrow evening. It +can't be done." + +"We'll see," responded Al, with the most confident air he could assume. + +The task before him was a hard one, apparently an impossible one, but he +resolved that he would try to accomplish it. + +"Sail ahead, and do it if you can," said the manager, with something +very much like a sneer. "I shall watch your methods with interest." + +"It's a pity," said Al, "that you have only one morning paper here. Now +if----" + +"Oh," interrupted his companion, yawning, "we'll have another to-morrow +morning." + +"How is that?" + +"A young dude named Marcus, with more money than brains--and not very +much of either, by the way--is to issue the first number of a new daily +to-morrow morning. He is going to call it the _Bugle_, I believe." + +"It being the first issue," suggested Al, "it is likely to have a good +sale. Wouldn't it be a good scheme to spend a little extra in +advertising in it?" + +"My lad," said the manager, wearily, "your ideas are primitive in the +extreme. I have given them my usual size ad., and even if I wanted any +more space--which I don't--I couldn't get it, for the paper is about all +made up now. Oh, we can't do anything against the circus, and that +settles that matter." + +It did not settle the matter with Al, however. He returned to his +hotel, and spent what was left of the afternoon in trying to devise some +plan to arouse public interest in the performance of the New York Comedy +Company. + +He worked at the problem until his head ached, but the harder he thought +the farther he seemed to be from a solution. + +In the evening he went down to the restaurant connected with the hotel, +quite discouraged. + +There was no one in the room when he entered; but a few minutes later +two men, both of them evidently very much excited, came in and seated +themselves near him. + +After a glance at the boy and a hurried order to the waiter, they +resumed a conversation in which they had been engaged when they entered. + +Al could not help overhearing nearly every word they said, for in their +excitement they spoke louder than they thought. + +"I tell you, Marcus," he heard one of the men say, "it's a bad +knockout." + +Marcus! Al remembered that this was the name of the proprietor of the +new paper. He was, as the manager had said, a rather dudish-looking +young fellow, but his face was by no means indicative of a lack of +brains. + +"The worst of it is," added Mr. Marcus, "that the _Banner_ people will +have the grand laugh on us. They have been poking fun at the 'amateur +daily,' as they call it, ever since the _Bugle_ was announced; now they +will go for us." + +Al was now interested; for the time he forgot his own worries. What +could the trouble be in the office of the new paper? + +"They'll have a good chance," said Mr. Marcus' friend. "Really, my dear +sir, I can't see how you could have made such a break. The idea of +accepting a full-page ad. for 'Dr. Gurgles' Metallic Liver Pads,' only +to find that there is no such thing on the market, and that you have +been made the victim of a practical joker! I wish I had had charge of +the business end of the thing, this would not have happened." + +"I dare say not, but don't reproach me, for I'm too much broken up to +stand it. The question is, how are we going to fill up that page? I've +been boasting, right and left, about the phenomenal amount of bona-fide +ads. the first number of the _Bugle_ would contain, and now we are a +full page short. And I've told a number of people that we were to have a +page ad. from a well-known concern--something the _Banner_ never had." + +"Have you told anyone what the concern was?" + +"No." + +"Then perhaps you could get some firm in town to take the page." + +"I'd let 'em have it at any price. But, no, it wouldn't do; I should +have to own up how I had been victimized. Besides, it's too late now, +anyhow. Why, nearly the whole paper is in type, and one side is +printed." + +"Well, what are you going to do with that page?" + +"I give it up." + +Al rose from his seat and approached the table where the two gentlemen +were seated. + +"Perhaps I can help out, sir," he said. + +Mr. Marcus started from his chair, his face flushed with anger. + +"You've been listening, boy!" he exclaimed. + +"I have; I couldn't very well help it, for you spoke in a loud tone." + +"That's so, Marcus," added the other gentleman. "A public restaurant is +not just the place to talk over such a matter." + +"Well," said Marcus, glaring at Al, "I suppose you mean to go and tell +everyone in town what you have heard?" + +"I don't know anyone in town, and if I did I shouldn't repeat a word. As +I just said, I think I can help you out." + +"You! How?" + +"You said you'd let that page go at any price?" + +"I did." + +"Perhaps I will take it. I couldn't afford to do anything like regular +rates, but perhaps by helping you out I can get a lot of advertising +almost free. I tell you frankly that is my object, and I give you my +word that no one shall know anything about the transaction." + +Mr. Marcus and his companion stared at Al in amazement. + +"Well," said the former, "you are a queer youngster. Who the mischief +are you--another practical joker?" + +"No. I am Allen Allston, advance agent of Wattles' New York Comedy +Company, which plays here to-morrow night." + +"A lad like you occupying a position like that?" exclaimed Mr. Marcus. + +"Just so, sir. Now, what will you let us have that page for?" + +"Perhaps your employer would repudiate the bill." + +"I'll pay it myself, right here and now." + +"I'll take you up. You can have the page for one hundred dollars. When +can I have the copy?" + +"Not at all at that price," replied Al, coolly. "The page wouldn't be +worth that much to us. I'll give you fifty dollars, cash now, and the +copy in an hour or less." + +After a moment's hesitation, the proprietor of the _Bugle_ said: + +"Done! Give me the fifty dollars, and I'll give you a receipt for four +hundred. But mind, mum's the word about this deal." + +"You may depend upon me, sir." + +"But," asked Mr. Marcus, "how are you going to have a full page of copy +ready in an hour?" + +"I'll get it ready," replied Al. "Your foreman will have it on time." + +He handed the publisher the fifty dollars, and received a receipt for +four hundred. + +"Well," said Mr. Marcus, "you have a head for business, and no mistake." + +"I hope so," said Al, modestly; "but this transaction does not prove +it." + +"I think it does." + +"My overhearing your conversation was only blind luck." + +"Yes; but many a man would not have been smart and quick enough to take +advantage of it. The successful business man is he who seizes upon the +lucky accidents that others pass by, and turns them to his own +advantage. You'll get along, my boy." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AL'S AD. + + +Mr. Marcus' words haunted Al for some time after their parting. + +"I don't know but there is something in that," the boy said to himself: +"I'll look out for the lucky accidents after this." + +But the full-page advertisement had to be prepared in less than an hour, +and Al had to turn his attention to its preparation. + +When he went to his room he had not the slightest idea what sort of an +advertisement he was going to write; he only knew that it must be +something taking and brief. + +"Brevity is the soul of wit, anyhow," he reflected, "so I don't believe +I shall make any mistake on that point. But what shall I say in the ad.? +I wonder if I haven't bitten off a little more than I can chew?" + +In half an hour he had the advertisement ready, and a few minutes later +he presented himself with it at the office of the _Bugle_. + +Here everything was in confusion, but he found the foreman of the +composing room ready and waiting for him. + +"Have you got your copy all ready?" asked the man, nervously. "There is +no time to spare." + +"Here it is," said Al, producing a slip of paper from his vest pocket. + +"I thought you were to have a full page?" said the foreman. + +"So I am, according to contract," smiled the boy. + +"But there are only half a dozen lines here." + +"That's all." + +"Oh, you want a display ad.?" + +"No--at least not the kind you mean. I want those few lines repeated +over and over again until the entire space contracted for is filled." + +"You want it printed solid?" gasped the foreman. + +"That's it." + +"But I could give you a much more attractive ad. We can get up a +full-page display ad. that would be simply out of sight." + +"I don't doubt it, but I want another kind." + +"All right," said the foreman, with a pitying sigh; "you pay your money +and you take your choice." + +"That's the idea." + +The foreman carefully perused the advertisement. This is what he read: + +"See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, Manager. + +"See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.' + +"See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam. + +"See the real steam yacht. + +"See all this. + +"But---- + +"Please don't look at the queer old man in the third row of the +orchestra." + +The foreman stared at Al as if he thought him an escaped lunatic. + +"That's a strange ad.," he said. + +"Is it?" laughed the boy. + +"I never saw anything like it before." + +"Well?" + +"Well, do you want it to go in just as you have written it?" + +"I do." + +"Without any attempt at display?" + +"Without the slightest attempt at display." + +"That goes, then. Good-night; I must get the men at work on this at +once." + +"I've done all this on my own responsibility," reflected Al, as he left +the place. "If it turns out a fizzle, Mr. Wattles won't have so much +confidence in me in the future. Well, there's no use fretting now; the +thing is done. If it doesn't work I shall know enough not to repeat the +experiment." + +Still Al did fret a little after he got to his room. The apartment that +had been assigned to him was a large, gloomy room on one of the upper +floors of the building. It was about half filled with paintings not +hung, but standing against the wall. These, the hotel clerk had +explained, were the property of an impecunious artist who had formerly +boarded in the house, and were being held until his bill was paid. + +"We left them right there," explained the clerk, "not thinking that we +would need to put anyone in the room for some time. But on account of +the rush to the circus the house is full, and we must put you there." + +It made very little difference to Al where he slept, and he said so. He +was only going to spend one night in the house, and the room was +comfortable, if it was rather gloomy. + +Entering it after his visit to the _Bugle_ office, he threw himself into +a chair and fixed his eyes on a full-length picture of a man in modern +dress. He did not even take the trouble to light the gas. + +The rays of the moon dimly illumined the room and lighted up the +picture. The boy sat for nearly half an hour staring absently at the +portrait, thinking nothing about it, but trying to plan his work for the +next day or two. + +But soon he began to realize that he was very tired. He found himself +yawning, and his eyelids drooped in spite of himself. + +"It's no use," he said to himself, "I'll have to leave business until +to-morrow. I'll go to bed." + +But just as he rose from his chair--could he believe the evidence of his +senses?--the figure of the man stepped from the canvas and approached +him. + +It was no dream, for in an instant the boy was as wide awake as he had +ever been. + +Apparently the picture had come to life! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SAVED BY A SHADOW. + + +In a few seconds Al perceived that the picture had not been endowed with +life; the painted figure remained in its place; it was a being of flesh +and blood that was approaching him. + +The intruder had been standing in front of the picture; the dim light +and Al's preoccupation had conspired to render the boy unconscious of +his presence. + +"Who are you?" our hero exclaimed, as the man approached him. + +The next moment he recognized the fellow, and added in a startled voice: + +"Farley!" + +"Yes," said the ex-advance agent, "it's Farley, the man you knocked out. +You're a little surprised to see me, aren't you?" + +"What do you want?" demanded the boy. + +"I'll show you what I want." + +And he darted between Al and the door. + +"Get out of my way!" the lad exclaimed, attempting to push him aside. + +But Farley seized him by the throat and forced him to the floor. + +"You won't escape me this time," he hissed. + +Al struggled to release himself, but the grasp of the drink-maddened +brute was not to be shaken off. + +"No, you don't!" he said, in a fierce whisper. "I warned you that you +had not heard the last of me." + +Al tried to cry for help, but could only make an inarticulate sound. + +Farley dragged him in the direction of the window, saying: + +"You got away from me last night, but you won't this time." + +"So," Al managed to gasp, "you were the masked man who accused me of +being a horse thief?" + +"I was the man. You nearly turned the tables on me that time, but you +won't have the same luck twice in succession." + +As he spoke Farley relaxed his grasp on the boy's throat. + +"Youngster," he went on, "if it hadn't been for you I shouldn't have +lost my job with Gus Wattles. Its loss, under the circumstances, means +ruin for me. I can't catch up again, unless----" + +"Is that my fault?" interrupted Al, seeing that the man was crazed with +drink, and that the wisest policy was to attempt to conciliate him. "I +didn't take the position until Mr. Wattles had decided to discharge +you." + +"It's a lie!" + +"It's the truth." + +"If you had not been available he would have taken me back." + +"I don't know anything about that. Of course, I had no feeling against +you in the matter. I wanted the place, but I could not have obtained it +if your work had been satisfactory." + +"You used some underhanded method to oust me." + +"I did not." + +"You did. If you had not, how could you have gotten the place? There are +dozens--hundreds--of experienced men, who would have been glad to take +the position at half my salary. No, you did it for private reasons of +your own. You were hired to do it to separate me from her." + +"From whom?" + +"You know well enough who I mean." + +"I have not the slightest idea," replied Al. + +By this time Farley had permitted him to rise to his feet, but still +kept between him and the door. + +"I mean Gladys--as you know," said the drink-maddened man; "Gladys, for +whom I would give my very life." + +"Miss March?" + +It was with genuine surprise that Al asked this question. + +"Yes." + +"You think that I am in a conspiracy to separate you from her?" + +"I know it." + +"You are entirely mistaken. I know nothing at all about Miss March's +affairs; in fact, I have never even spoken to her." + +"It is a lie. But come, I have no more time to waste. This job must be +done." + +He again seized the boy by the throat, and dragged him toward the +window. Al was by no means a weakling, but he was absolutely powerless +in the grasp of his frenzied assailant. + +With one hand Farley held his intended victim, while with the other he +threw up the window sash. + +"No one in the street below," he hissed, "is looking, and if they were +they could not see us. When your body is found, your death will be +considered an accident." + +Al now lay on his back upon the sill; half his body was out of the +window. Apparently the villain's object was almost accomplished, and in +a few seconds the boy's mutilated body would be lying upon the pavement +below. + +"I never knew before," said Farley, "how sweet revenge was." + +"You won't know just yet," said Al, "if I can help it." + +As he spoke, realizing his extreme peril, he made one last, desperate +effort, exerting all his strength, and succeeded in regaining his +footing. + +The struggle was renewed, but it seemed certain that it must result in +the boy's defeat. + +Suddenly, however, Farley released his hold on Al and rushed to the +opposite side of the room, crying: + +"Interfere, will you?" + +At first our hero could not understand this action, but in a moment he +comprehended it. + +The villain had actually been frightened by his own shadow, which was +strongly outlined on the wall opposite. It might have been mistaken even +by a sober man for an intruder; and in his excited condition Farley was +certain that some one had come to the rescue of his intended victim. + +Of course, he quickly discovered his mistake, but Al had now time to +rush to the door, fling it open, and make his escape from the room. + +Outside the door stood one of the hotel clerks, who had evidently just +arrived upon the scene, and who demanded: + +"What's going on in there?" + +Before Al could reply Farley rushed out of the room and started for the +staircase. In a moment he had disappeared. + +Al started to follow him, but the clerk seized him by the collar, +shouting: + +"You won't get away quite as easily as all that, my fine fellow! Now, +what's your little game?" + +"Don't keep me standing here," cried the boy, trying to shake off the +man's detaining grasp. + +"That's all right," was the response of the zealous employee, who was +under the impression that he had captured a hotel thief. "You just keep +quiet. I've got you all right, and your pal won't get out of the house +as easily as he thinks." + +By the time Al had explained the situation so that the clerk understood +it, Farley had had ample time to make his escape. + +The man was somewhat crestfallen when he realized that he had made a +mistake. + +"No matter," he said, "the ruffian can't have gotten out. They'd be sure +to detain him downstairs." + +But, as they learned when they reached the office, Farley had eluded +them. He had walked leisurely out, lighting a cigar, apparently in a +perfectly easy, unconcerned frame of mind. + +Having notified the police of what had occurred, Al returned to his +room, and in a few minutes had retired for the night, having first +assured himself that there were no other unbidden guests in the +apartment. + +The next morning he found a note awaiting him in the office. It read as +follows: + + "You are a lucky youth, but your luck won't last + forever. You don't lead a charmed life. I am on my + mettle now, and I am going to settle you if I swing + for it." + +There was no signature, but of course Al knew well enough who the writer +of the precious communication was. + +He did not feel particularly worried; in fact, he had no time to worry +just then, for, as he put the note in his pocket, the morning papers +were placed in his hand by the clerk, with the remark: + +"Well, young man, you are a corker and no mistake." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A LESSON IN JOURNALISM. + + +Al laughed. + +"What do you mean by that?" he asked. + +"Read that interview with you in the _Banner_, and you'll find out. If +you've been through half the startling adventures that the reporter says +you have it is a wonder you are alive now." + +Our hero opened the paper with a feeling of apprehension which proved to +be well grounded. + +Undoubtedly the interview would prove a good advertisement for the show, +but it embarrassed Al greatly; he would gladly have given a hundred +dollars to have been able to withdraw it. But it was too late for that +now; already it had, doubtless, been read by half Rockton. + +The reporter had not kept faith with him. + +"If I say anything about your sister," he had told him, "it will only be +a passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms." + +But instead of that he had headed the article: + + A BOY WONDER! + + AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER! A LONG-LOST SISTER! + +And there were other headlines that startled and dismayed Al. + +According to them he had been a lion hunter, a champion football and +baseball player, an exceptional sprinter, and the greatest boxer of his +age that the world had ever known. + +"You must have made yourself mighty solid with the _Banner_ man to get +an ad. like that," remarked the clerk. "It's simply great." + +"I wish I hadn't succeeded in making myself quite so solid," groaned Al. + +The clerk stared at him, asking in surprise: + +"Don't you like the notice?" + +"Hardly." + +"What's the matter with it?" + +"I'm not here to advertise myself but the New York Comedy Company." + +"You're the first advance agent I ever saw who wasn't trying to +advertise himself at the expense, if necessary, of his show." + +"That isn't my way of doing business." + +"Well, this article will boom the show, and don't you forget it. But if +you don't like the headlines what will you think of the interview?" + +Al sank into a chair and began a hasty perusal of the article. + +He was dismayed at the reporter's audacity; the information he had given +the man had been so altered and distorted that he could only dimly +recognize himself in the hero of the newspaper man's weird fancy. + +The interview was in the highest degree complimentary--at least from +its writer's standpoint; it was evident that the reporter had written it +in a friendly spirit, and with the intention of giving its subject a +good "send off." + +The portion that referred to his sister annoyed Al the most. It was near +the end of the two-column article, and read as follows: + + "But the life of the hero of this strange, though + strictly authentic, tale has not been entirely one of + adventurous pleasure. Deep in his heart he carries a + sorrow about which he was extremely reticent to speak + to the _Banner_ reporter. In referring to it this lad, + who has faced dangers from which many a stalwart man + would shrink appalled, wept like a child. Years ago he + lost an idolized sister. She was taken from the home + of which she was the pride, not by the hand of death, + but by that of a kidnaper. The story is a most + romantic one. The little child was playing one morning + on the sloping lawn in front of her father's palatial + country seat in Tarrytown, adjoining that of the late + Jay Gould. Her nurse was called away for a few + moments. During the woman's absence the child + disappeared. What became of it? Alas! to this day no + one save the ruthless destroyer of the happiness of + this once peaceful home knows. It was rumored that a + rejected suitor of the little girl's mother was the + villain, but nothing was ever proven against him. The + father of the child died of a broken heart, and his + wife would, without doubt, have soon followed him to + the grave had it not been for her boy--the subject of + this necessarily incomplete article. For his sake she + resolved to live. When he was but four years of age + she made him promise her that he would devote his life + to solving the mystery of his sister's fate." + +Al looked up from the paper, his face white with anger. + +"The villain!" he exclaimed. + +The clerk looked up in surprise. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +"Have you read this thing?" Al demanded. + +"Why, yes." + +"The part that speaks of my long-lost sister?" + +"All of it. Of course, it's a fake, but nine people in ten will swallow +it whole." + +"I don't want anyone to believe it." + +"You don't?" + +"Of course I don't." + +"Then why did you grant him the interview?" + +"Because he insisted, and because he promised me that everything should +be printed just as I gave it to him." + +The clerk laughed. + +"It's evident," he said, "that you have not enjoyed a very extensive +acquaintance with reporters." + +"I've known several, but none like this fellow." + +"He's considered one of the smartest men in his line in the State." + +"Well, I'd like to interview him just now." + +"What would you say?" + +"I'd at least give him my opinion of his methods." + +"You wouldn't have a chance." + +"Why wouldn't I?" + +"You have met him once, and you ought to know. Why, he wouldn't give you +an opportunity to get in a word edgewise. Anyhow, I don't see what you +are kicking about; you've got the best ad. of the season free of cost. +Hello! here comes your reporter now. If you want to go for him you have +your chance." + +While the clerk was speaking the little reporter of the _Banner_ who had +interviewed Al only a few hours before entered. + +The boy strode toward him. + +"You're just the man I want to see," he began. + +The scribe pretended not to notice the look of anger in his face. +Seizing his hand and holding it tightly, he said: + +"And you're just the person I want to see. There are one or two little +mistakes in that interview of ours, and I was looking for you to find +out whether the fault lies with you or me. But the article shows up +well, doesn't it?" + +"I----" + +"Don't say another word." + +"But----" + +"I know exactly what you are going to say, but it will be all right next +time. It was the fault of the compositor that your name was spelled +wrong." + +"I wasn't----" + +"I was going to ask you whether it was three men or only two that you +knocked out at that scrap referred to in the second column; I'm afraid I +got that wrong. But never mind, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, +anyhow. He! he! he!" + +"No such incident ever occurred, and I----" + +"Tut! tut!" interrupted the reporter, with a shocked look. "What made +you tell me the yarn, then?" + +"I----" + +"Never mind, we'll have to let it go now; and, after all, it doesn't +make much difference. But you ought to be more particular in talking to +reporters in the future, my dear young friend." + +"If I----" + +"Oh, that's all right---- No thanks. Hello! there goes a man I've got to +see right now. S'long!" + +And the scribe rushed out, leaving Al staring helplessly after him. + +"Isn't he a dandy?" said the hotel clerk, admiringly. "You'll never +catch him. The traditional Frenchman's flea was a graven image compared +with that fellow. In your line of business you can profit by the lesson +he has just given you. He is an artist in 'bluffing.'" + +Before Al could reply Mr. Wattles entered the office and approached him +with outstretched hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"I WANT YOU." + + +"I thought I should find you here," the manager said. "I want to offer +you my congratulations before I say another word." + +"Your congratulations upon what, Mr. Wattles?" asked Al. + +"Why, upon the way you have worked things here, of course. I heard about +it before I left Boomville this morning. That interview is out of +sight." + +"I wish it was," groaned Al. + +"Eh?" + +The boy expressed his opinion of the interview in very emphatic terms. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you're 'way off in your +ideas on that point. Why, the interview is great. I supposed you had +taken the reporter out and got him full." + +"The interview didn't cost me a cent." + +"That's so much the better. I'm mighty glad it appeared, and you ought +to be, too. It'll help biz; and how do you know but that through it you +may find your sister?" + +"That's not possible," said Al. "Why, the facts are all distorted. My +father never had any palatial country seat in Tarrytown; there was +never any talk of a rejected suitor of my mother's; there----" + +"Never mind," interrupted Mr. Wattles; "it's a good ad., anyway, and we +got it for nothing. You mustn't be so thin-skinned, my boy. You see +here"--in a changed tone--"that ad. of yours in the _Bugle_ must have +cost a young fortune. You ought to have consulted me by wire before you +did that. The idea is a good one, and everyone is talking about it, but +it will not be worth to us what it cost." + +"How much do you suppose I paid for it, sir?" + +"Oh, I don't know; three hundred at least, probably more." + +"It cost just fifty dollars; and if it is not worth that to you, I'll +pay it out of my own pocket." + +"Fif---- Is that straight?" + +"Certainly." + +"How did you do it?" + +Al explained. + +"Well, that was a mighty good transaction, and you deserve credit for +it, as well as for writing the ad. The new paper was selling like hot +cakes on the train this morning, and everyone was reading that ad. Al, +my boy, you're a genius!" + +"Not quite that, I guess," laughed the boy. + +"You are, I tell you. But who is the queer old man in the third row of +the orchestra?" + +"A myth, a creation of my imagination." + +"I supposed so, though I did not know but you had hired some one to play +the part." + +"No." + +"Well, there'll be lots of people out to see the old man. How did you +happen to strike the idea?" + +"I don't know. I had to get the copy ready in a hurry, and I wanted +something new and taking." + +"Well, you got it. I believe that ad. and the interview are going to +produce results." + +They did; though some of the results were quite different from those Mr. +Wattles and his advance agent expected. + +While Al went into the restaurant for breakfast, his employer hurried to +the theater to inquire about the advance sale. + +He returned an hour later, flushed and excited. + +"Well?" questioned the boy. + +"Well, we've caught 'em again. Half the house is already sold, and that +means a crowd to-night. The local manager says you're a corker." + +Al laughed. + +"He didn't think so yesterday." + +"He does now. He's going to try to get you to stay here under his +employ." + +"I shall not do it." + +"I told him you wouldn't, but he's going to make you an offer, anyhow. +Oh, by the way!" + +"What is it, sir?" + +"I nearly forgot that Miss Gladys March, who, with the rest of the +company, came with me this morning, is very anxious to have a talk with +you." + +"With me? Aren't you mistaken, Mr. Wattles?" + +"No; she asked me to tell you as soon as I saw you, but I did not think +of it." + +"What can she want of me?" + +"I give it up." + +"I don't know her; I never spoke to her in my life." + +"So I thought. Well, the best way to find out what she wants is to go +and ask her. You'll find her upstairs in her room." + +"I'll go at once." + +A few minutes later Al presented himself at the door of Miss March's +room and knocked rather timidly. + +"Come in," said a sweet voice, which the boy recognized as that of the +young actress. + +He entered the room. + +Miss March, who was seated by the window, rose to meet him. + +"I supposed that it was one of the servants," she said, with a sweet +smile, "or I should have welcomed you at the door. Please be seated." + +The young girl's perfect self-possession embarrassed Al a little. He +stammered out something about its being of no consequence, and seated +himself on the extreme edge of the sofa. + +Certainly Miss March was a very beautiful girl; unlike many actresses, +she looked prettier off the stage than on it. + +"I suppose," she began, "that you wonder why I have requested the favor +of this interview." + +"I am a little curious to know," Al admitted. + +"When I have told you, I suppose you will think me a very foolish girl; +probably I am. But I cannot leave a stone unturned." + +She paused, evidently agitated. What new mystery was this? Al asked +himself. + +"I have read the interview with you in this morning's Rockton _Banner_," +went on the young lady. + +"I'm sorry to hear that," said the boy, bluntly. + +"Why?" + +"Because there are scarcely ten words of truth in it." + +A genuine look of disappointment appeared upon Miss March's face. + +"I am very sorry to hear you say that," she said. + +Al stared at her in surprise. + +"You surely did not believe all that stuff, Miss March?" + +"Not all of it, of course," replied the girl, with a faint smile; "but +there was one part that I thought might be true." + +"What part?" + +"About your sister, who was stolen in infancy." + +"It is true," said Al, "that my sister was stolen." + +"Ah!" interrupted the young lady, with an appearance of agitation that +the boy could not understand. + +"But the facts were so twisted and distorted that the story is very +different from the truth." + +"What is the truth?" + +Al hesitated. + +"Believe me," said Miss March, "I do not ask from mere idle curiosity. I +have a most important reason for putting the question. Will you not tell +me the story?" + +Her agitation communicated itself to her companion; the boy's voice +trembled slightly as he replied: + +"Certainly, Miss March; for I feel that you have some strong motive for +desiring to hear it." + +"Believe me, I have. Go on, I beg of you." + +Al was about to speak when the door was thrown open and a rough-looking +man strode into the room. + +"I thought I should find you here," he said, addressing our hero. + +"Who are you, and what do you want?" demanded the boy. + +"I'm a deputy sheriff, and I want you. I have a warrant for your +arrest." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +MR. MARMADUKE MERRY. + + +"A warrant for my arrest?" gasped Al, half believing that the sudden +appearance of the stranger was only a joke. + +"That's what I said. Now, young fellow, don't you try to resist me, for +it won't work." + +"I'm not going to resist you if you really have a warrant," said Al. + +"Well, I have, and here it is." + +And the stranger produced a document from his pocket. + +"What am I accused of?" asked the boy. + +The deputy, who evidently felt the importance of his position, produced +a copy of the first number of the Rockton _Bugle_ from his pocket. + +Slowly unfolding it, he turned to Al's full-page advertisement, and +said: + +"You writ that, didn't you?" + +"I did," admitted our hero, promptly. + +"Well, that settles it. Come along." + +"But hold on," laughed Al. "It isn't a crime in these parts to advertise +a theatrical performance, is it?" + +"Yes," replied the deputy, without hesitation, "it is--the way you +advertise." + +"What is the matter with my advertisement?" asked the astonished boy. + +"You don't know, eh?" + +"I certainly do not." + +"Well, of course my business here is only to serve the warrant, but I'll +read the advertisement over to you." + +"Go ahead," said Al, thinking that there might be a misprint in the +page. + +The deputy sheriff read: + + "See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, + Manager. + + "See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.' + + "See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam. + + "See the real steam yacht. + + "See all this. + + "But-- + + "Please don't look at the queer old man in the third + row of the orchestra." + +The deputy laid the paper down and glared at his prisoner with a +triumphant air. + +"Well?" said Al, greatly puzzled. + +"Didn't you write that and cause it to be inserted in the _Bugle_?" + +"I did." + +"That settles it, then." + +"It may settle it for you, but it doesn't for me," said the boy. "What +is the matter with the ad.?" + +"You know well enough what the matter is with it." + +"I do not. Is it a crime in this town to try to boom a show by any +legitimate means?" + +"No; but it is a crime to try to boom it the way you have; it is a +crime here and everywhere else, as you will find out if you try the same +game again in another town." + +Here Miss March, who had listened in silence until this moment, +interposed. + +"What is the matter, sir?" she cried. "I read the advertisement, and I +am sure there was nothing in it that could offend anyone." + +The deputy, who until now had forgotten or neglected to doff his hat, +did so. + +"As far as you see, miss," he said, "the ad. is all right." + +"Well, what is there--what can there be--that I do not see?" the young +lady cried. + +"You are not acquainted in this town, are you, young lady?" the deputy +asked. + +"I am not." + +"That accounts for it, then. But this young fellow is acquainted here, +and he knew just what he was doing when he wrote that advertisement." + +"Yes, I think I did," interposed Al, "But will you please tell me right +now why you are here?" + +"I am here in my capacity of deputy sheriff of this county," replied the +official, with dignity, "and also as a personal friend of Mr. Marmaduke +Merry." + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" exclaimed Al. + +"Yes. No wonder you start and turn pale at the mere mention of that +name." + +"But I did not start or turn pale. Who is Mr. Marmaduke Merry?" + +"You pretend not to know?" + +"I pretend nothing at all; I do not know. I never heard the name of +Marmaduke Merry before in my life." + +"This subterfuge will avail you nothing," said the deputy, who was +becoming theatrical. "We know all." + +"All what?" + +Al could not help laughing, and this evidently angered the overzealous +deputy. + +"I am not here to bandy words with you, young man," he said; "I have +already spent too much time in talk." + +"That's what I think," smiled Al. + +"I'm glad we agree upon that point. Come along." + +"I am ready." + +"One moment," interposed Miss March. "Won't you please tell me, sir, of +what crime Mr. Allston is accused?" + +"I will," the deputy replied, with a look that was very evidently +intended to be languishing. "I can refuse you nothing, miss. He is +accused of holding one of Rockton's most respected citizens up to public +ridicule; and Mr. Marmaduke Merry is the man." + +"But," interrupted Al, more bewildered than ever, "haven't I told you +that I never heard of this man, Merry, before?" + +"You have told me so--yes." + +"Well, I told the truth." + +"You will have to convince the court of that." + +"But what has my ad. to do with Mr. Merry? His name is not mentioned in +it." + +"Ah, that is where your cunning comes in. But doesn't everyone in +Rockton know that for years and years Mr. Merry has always occupied a +seat in the third row of the orchestra at the first performance of a new +play?" + +At last Al grasped the situation. + +"Oh!" he exclaimed, "that's what you mean?" + +"That is what I mean." + +"And you think I meant Mr. Merry when I referred to the 'queer old +man'?" + +"Of course I do, and so does Mr. Merry." + +"Both of you are very much mistaken." + +"For your own sake, I hope you will be able to prove that statement." + +"Why, I never heard of Mr. Merry until you mentioned his name." + +"You have said so several times since I have been here, but I do not +believe you. However, I am not your judge. But if you did not mean Mr. +Merry, whom did you mean?" + +"Nobody at all; the old man was only a creation of my imagination." + +The deputy coughed, and had the audacity to wink knowingly at Miss +March. + +"This is a great tale," he said, "and will be believed, I don't think. +You have got yourself and the local management into a scrape, my lad. +But what could be expected?" + +At this moment there was a tap upon the door. "Come in," the actress +cried. + +A servant entered. + +"A card for you, Miss March." + +The young lady took the bit of pasteboard and glanced at it; then she +exclaimed: + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" + +"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" echoed the deputy. + +"Show him up, please," the actress said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. + + +"He is here!" + +With this theatrical exclamation, a man pushed his way past the servant +and entered the room. + +"I am Mr. Marmaduke Merry," he announced. + +Both Al and Miss March gazed with considerable curiosity and interest at +the visitor. + +He was at least seventy years of age, but was dressed in the most +youthful fashion, and wore a light blond wig. Much below the medium +height, shrunken, shriveled and weazened, he presented a decidedly +ludicrous appearance as he stood, a huge bouquet in hand, bowing and +smiling at the young actress. + +Miss March could not help smiling herself; this evidently encouraged the +old gentleman. + +"You pardon the liberty I have taken, then?" he said. "I was sure you +would." + +"What is your business with me, sir?" the girl asked, composing her +features. + +"It is to offer a tribute to your art and beauty," replied Mr. Merry, +with a smirk. "But"--for the first time seeing the deputy and Al--"who +are these persons?" + +"Don't you know me, Mr. Merry?" asked the official. + +"Why, bless my soul!" ejaculated the old man, adjusting his glasses, +"it's Bullfinch!" + +"Yes, sir; it's me." + +"What are you doing here in Miss March's apartment?" + +"Attending to business, sir." + +"What business?" + +And the old man glared suspiciously at the cringing deputy. + +"Your business, Mr. Merry." + +"I didn't send you here." + +"You sent me to find the writer of that infamous advertisement in the +_Bugle_, didn't you, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I have found him." + +"Where is he? Who is he?" + +"There he stands." + +And Mr. Bullfinch pointed triumphantly at Al. + +"That boy?" gasped the old man. + +"Yes, sir." + +"You must be mistaken." + +"I am not. I went to the office of the _Bugle_ and asked who wrote the +advertisement. They told me it was the advance agent of the company, a +young man named Allston. I tracked him to this place, and was about to +drag him forth when you arrived." + +"You talk like a fool, Bullfinch," snapped Mr. Merry. + +"Sir, I----" + +"That will do. If this is the person who is responsible for that +advertisement take him away." + +"Yes, sir." + +And the deputy laid his hand on Al's shoulder. + +But Miss March interposed. + +"Wait a moment, Mr. Merry." + +"Certainly, my dear young lady. What is it?" + +"This gentleman, Mr. Allen Allston, never saw or heard of you before he +came to Rockton. It was not in a spirit of malice that he wrote that +advertisement. Don't you see, Mr. Merry, that by having him arrested you +will only subject yourself to ridicule? You acknowledge yourself to be a +'queer old man.' Why should you do that?" + +The old gentleman coughed. + +"Ahem! That aspect of the case had not occurred to me," he said. "You +assure me, Miss March, that the young man did not intend to hold me up +to ridicule?" + +"I am absolutely certain," interrupted the deputy, "that he did." + +"Shut up, Bullfinch!" + +"Mr. Merry," interrupted Al, "I give you my word of honor that I should +not have inserted that advertisement if I had for one moment supposed it +would injure the feelings of anyone. It was only a joke on the public." + +"A joke at my expense, young man!" + +"I have given you my word of honor, sir, that I did not intend to hurt +you or anyone else by that ad." + +"Your word of honor!" sneered Mr. Merry. "What is your word of honor +good for? Who are you?" + +Al colored. + +"You have heard my name from Miss March. I am Allen Allston." + +The old man started. + +"I did not catch the name before," he said. "Surely you are not Allen +Allston from Boomville?" + +"I am." + +"The noble young fellow who saved the life of my grandchild?" + +"Is Mayor Anderson's little girl your granddaughter, sir?" asked Al, a +little embarrassed. + +"Of course she is. My boy, I beg your pardon." + +And the old man grasped Al's hand and shook it warmly, adding: + +"The youth who performed such a heroic act could not be guilty of such a +crime as that of which you are accused. Bullfinch"--turning fiercely +upon the deputy--"you are a fool!" + +"Sir----" + +"What put it into your head that he could have had any malicious intent +in writing that advertisement?" + +"I only acted upon your instructions, sir," responded the deputy, very +humbly. + +"Nonsense! I thought you had a little common sense. Leave the room, sir. +Your presence is an insult to me and to my friends." + +"But the arrest, sir----" + +"There will be no arrest to-day; I withdraw the complaint." + +"But the warrant----" + +"Tear it up--do anything you like with it, only don't worry me any +further with your nonsensical remarks. Go, sir!" + +The deputy slunk out of the room. + +Mr. Merry turned to the actress. + +"I am extremely pained," he began, "that such a scene should have +occurred in your room. I am----" + +"Will you please state your business, sir?" interrupted Miss March. + +The old gentleman was a little disconcerted at first, but he quickly +recovered himself and said: + +"I come, as I remarked before, to pay a tribute to genius and beauty." + +"Well?" + +Al had not supposed the girl capable of assuming such a frigid air as +that with which she now confronted her aged admirer. + +"Will you accept these flowers?" stammered the old man. "They are a +tribute to----" + +"Thanks," interrupted the actress. "You may leave them on the table." + +"You are very kind. And now----" + +"And now you must excuse me; I have business of importance with Mr. +Allston." + +"Oh, certainly! May I call again?" + +"I am too much occupied to receive callers. Good-morning." + +And with perfect self-possession the young girl opened the door. + +Mumbling a few inaudible words, the aged admirer of the drama left the +room. + +"I am sorry to say," remarked Miss March, "that I have seen men like +him before. He means no harm, but I cannot endure such silliness. But +never mind about him; let us talk about ourselves. Sit down, please, and +I will try to commence where I left off. When we were interrupted I had +asked you to tell me the story of your sister's disappearance----" + +"And I was about to do so." + +"Exactly. Go on." + +Al hesitated. + +"Why do you want to hear the story, Miss March?" he asked. + +"Because--because----" + +"Well?" + +"Because I believe that I may be your sister!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE LOCKET. + + +Al started. Could Miss March seriously mean what she said? + +"You surely do not think," the girl said, earnestly, "that I would jest +on a subject so sacred?" + +"No, no," Al assured her, "but what ground have you for thinking that we +may be related?" + +"No logical ground, perhaps," the actress replied; "but from the moment +I first saw you--and I have seen you when you were not aware of my +presence--I was strangely attracted to you. You may laugh at this, you +may think it only the foolish fancy of a foolish girl, but it is true." + +"And I, too," said Al, thoughtfully, "have had the same feeling toward +you. I remember I could think of nothing but your face all the way home +on the night of your first performance in Boomville. Can it really be +that you are my sister, restored to me in this strange way? If she is +alive she must be about your age." + +"Tell me all you know about her," entreated the girl; "the circumstances +under which she was lost--all. But no"--with sudden change of manner--"I +will tell you my story first, if you will listen to it." + +"Go on, please, Miss March." + +"My first recollections are of a miserable home on the upper floor of a +tenement house in New York. I lived with a hard-featured woman who +called herself my aunt. Her name was Ann Thompson. Did you ever hear of +her?" + +And Miss March gazed anxiously into the boy's face. + +Al shook his head. + +"Never!" + +"Aunt Ann, as I used to call her," went on the actress, "was always more +or less under the influence of liquor. Gin was her favorite drink. She +would work until she had money enough for a debauch, and then--but I +cannot bear to recall my unhappy childhood." + +Miss March paused and turned away her face; her trembling voice showed +the emotion she felt. + +"I can imagine it all," said Al, sympathetically. "Go on, please, and +spare yourself unnecessary pain." + +"How kind you are!" the young girl said, gratefully. "I will, then, omit +many details which I am sure would be as painful for you to hear as for +me to relate. When under the influence of alcohol Aunt Ann was sometimes +very cruel to me. She would beat and otherwise ill-treat me; and to-day +I bear scars inflicted by her. But I bore all as patiently as I could, +and for what reason, do you suppose?" + +"I should think you would have left her," said Al, as the actress +paused. + +"I should have done so but for one thing." + +"And that was?" + +"Sometimes while intoxicated she would hint to me that in reality we +were not flesh and blood, that I was in no way akin to her, that there +was a secret in my life that she could reveal if she would, a secret the +publication of which would be greatly to my advantage. But she never +became so intoxicated that she told me the whole truth; I could only +guess it. Sometimes during her sober intervals I would tax her with what +she had said; but she would always reply by telling me that I must pay +no attention to anything she said when she was drunk--that she was at +such times out of her mind, and did not know what she was saying. Once, +when I persisted, she became greatly enraged, and gave me such a beating +that I was taken to a hospital and she was arrested and sentenced to a +term of imprisonment." + +At this point in her story Miss March burst into tears. + +"Postpone telling the rest of it until another time," said Al, to whom +the recital was almost as painful as to the girl. + +"No," said the actress, "I must go on. I was discharged from the +hospital on the day on which Aunt Ann was released from jail, and the +old life was renewed." + +"You went back to live with the woman?" cried Al. + +"Yes. I had no other home. Besides, I still hoped that I might be able +to learn from her the secret of my birth--for that there was a secret I +was now more firmly convinced than ever. At the time of which I have +just been telling you, I was about twelve years of age. Three years +later Aunt Ann, while under the influence of liquor, met with an +accident which terminated her miserable life in two days. When she was +told that she was really dying, she sent for a priest and confessed to +him. When the clergyman was gone she summoned me to her bedside, and +told me that at the suggestion of the good father she was about to tell +me at last the secret that I had been striving so long to learn." + +"And she said----" demanded the boy, breathlessly. + +"She began by telling me that she was not my aunt, that we were in no +way related. Years before she had been my nurse. My poor mother had in +some trivial way offended her, and under the influence of her +anger--and, I suppose, of alcohol--she determined to revenge herself by +kidnaping me. She carried this resolution into effect, and her guilt was +never proven, although it was suspected. 'My name is not Ann Thompson,' +she said to me, 'but you shall know now what it really is, and who your +parents are. Your father is dead, but your mother still lives. For years +she has mourned you unceasingly.' The woman then bade me unlock and open +a certain drawer in her bureau. I did so, and took from it at her +direction a small package. 'That bundle,' she said, 'contains proof of +your identity. Take it to your mother and show her what is in it. Tell +her what I have said, give her my real name, and she will acknowledge +you as her 'daughter.' 'What is your name?' I cried, breathlessly--'what +is mine?' The woman opened her lips to reply, but not a sound escaped +them. The next moment she fell back upon her pillow. I bent over her, +crying in an agony of suspense: 'Speak, speak!' But she could not, she +was dead!" + +"What did the package contain?" asked Al. + +"Only a few articles of infant's clothing and two pieces of jewelry. +Some time they may be of assistance to me in finding my parents, but +thus far they have proved of no value as a clew. Well, after Aunt Ann's +death I was adopted by a family in moderate circumstances. They had no +interest in my personal affairs, all they wanted of me was my services +as housemaid, and I served in that capacity for two years. Then came an +opportunity to adopt a stage career, and I eagerly seized it, against +the advice of all who were in any way interested. I must say that, so +far, I have had no reason to regret my decision in the matter. I find +that the stories of the temptations of stage life that I had heard were +gross exaggerations, and that a woman can be as good and pure on the +stage as off it. And now, my friend, you have heard my story; can you +help me find my mother? Do you think it possible that I am the sister +for whom you have been searching?" + +Al's voice trembled with emotion as he replied: + +"That question can very soon be decided. Have you the package of +infant's clothing that you spoke of?" + +"Yes; I always have it with me wherever I go." + +"May I see it?" + +"I am very anxious to show it to you." + +And the actress rose and opened her trunk, from which she took a small +parcel. + +Her face was very pale, her hands trembled as she unfastened the little +package. + +"Look!" she said. + +Al took the garments, yellowed with time, in his hands. + +"I have heard my mother describe the clothing that my little sister wore +when she disappeared," he said, "a thousand times. She would be able to +tell you if these are the ones, but I cannot. But the jewelry--where is +that?" + +"Here." + +And the girl handed him a box. + +The lad took from it a baby's ring and a chain, to which was attached a +locket. + +"My sister wore a chain and locket like these when she was lost," he +said, "In a moment I will tell you if this is the locket." + +"How can you?" the actress cried. + +"Because the locket contains my father's picture." + +"There is no picture in this," said Miss March, with a look of deep +disappointment. + +"You do not know whether there is or not," said Al. "There is a secret +spring and I can find it. Look!" + +As he spoke the locket flew open. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +BROTHER AND SISTER. + + +As Miss March bent over the locket she uttered an exclamation of wonder +and delight. + +The portrait revealed was that of a singularly handsome man in the prime +of life. The calm, thoughtful eyes and the sensitive mouth were those of +the young actress herself; the likeness was not only unmistakable, but +remarkable. + +"Is it possible that this picture has been here all these years, and I +have never known it?" the girl exclaimed. + +"You might never have discovered it," replied Al. "I should not have +known but for the fact that I have a locket precisely like it, which +opens in the same way." + +"Then there can be no doubt----" + +"That you are my sister." + +"Brother!" + +The next moment the singularly united couple were folded in each other's +arms. + +It was a moment that in all their after lives neither of them ever +forgot, a joy that no future sorrow had the power to efface from their +memories. + +When the first transports of emotion were over, the young girl said, +tremulously: + +"My mother--when shall I see her? Oh, I must go to her at once! I must, +I must!" + +"Of course, Mr. Wattles will give you leave of absence as soon as we +tell him what we have discovered." + +"I do not see how he can." + +"Why can't he?" + +"I have no understudy. No, I must remain; he has been very kind to me, +and I could not ask a favor that I knew it would be so very difficult +for him to grant." + +"That is right, sister. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll telegraph +to mother to come on here at once. She will arrive before the evening +performance." + +"Do so, brother---- Oh, how strange, yet how delightful, it is to utter +that sacred name! But do not tell her the truth until she comes." + +"No, indeed. Why, I think the shock would almost kill her. We must break +it to her gently." + +At this moment Mr. Wattles came bustling into the room. + +"The advance sale," he began, "is something unheard of in Rockton. +Why---- But what's the matter? Nothing wrong, is there?" + +"No, indeed," Al replied. "Everything is all right." + +And he proceeded to acquaint the manager in a few words with what had +happened. + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, when he had finished, "you beat the deck, +young man. I'm going to write a romance about you when the season is +over. You're no sooner done with one startling adventure than you're +right in the midst of another. Why, you're almost equal to one of +Dumas' heroes! Well, I sincerely congratulate you both." + +After a hearty handshake the manager added: + +"And now I must be off to give this story to the papers." + +"No, no!" cried Miss March. + +"Not by any means," added Al. + +Mr. Wattles stared at them. + +"What do you mean?" he asked. + +"We mean," said Al, "that this is a private affair with which the papers +have nothing to do." + +"But, my dear boy, think--only think--what a grand ad. it would make for +the show!" + +"No matter; we don't want a word printed about it." + +"Of course not," said the actress. "I should think you would understand +our feelings in the matter, Mr. Wattles." + +"Well, I don't," returned the manager, evidently chagrined. "I cannot, +to save my life, see why you are willing to throw away such a chance for +a stunning free ad. Nor"--addressing Al--"can I understand your +scruples. By Jove! you are the queerest combination of impudence and +modesty that I ever met. But have it your own way, my children; throw +away the chance if you want to." + +As he was about to leave the room the old gentleman turned again, +saying: + +"I almost forgot that I had a letter for you, Miss March. Here it is, +and I think I know the handwriting." + +As the actress glanced at the superscription on the envelope she changed +color. + +"It is from that wretch, Farley!" she exclaimed. + +"So I thought," said Mr. Wattles. "You had better look out for that man, +my dear. He is, or thinks he is, desperately in love with you, and he +may give you some trouble yet. If you don't mind, I should like to know +the contents of that letter. Believe me, it is not from mere idle +curiosity that I ask you to let me read it." + +"I know that, Mr. Wattles," said Miss March. "Ever since I have been in +your company you have been like a father to me. You shall open the +letter yourself if you will." + +She handed the epistle to the manager, who tore it open. As he glanced +at its contents a frown appeared upon his usually cheerful countenance. + +"The scoundrel!" he muttered, crushing the letter in his hand; "if I +ever meet him again I will thrash him within an inch of his life--I +will, by Jove!" + +"What does he say?" the girl asked, anxiously. + +"It will do you no good to know the contents of this precious epistle," +replied Mr. Wattles. "You had better let me destroy it." + +But Miss March's feminine curiosity was now aroused, and she insisted +upon knowing what was in the letter. + +"Well, if you will have it," said the manager, resignedly, "I'll read it +to you. But if you don't sleep nights for the next week or two you +mustn't blame me." + +"Go on, go on!" + +The old gentleman read as follows: + + "GLADYS: This is to remind you that, although we are + separated, I am near you. Do you remember what I told + you the last time we met, that no power on earth could + make me give you up? I meant what I said, I mean it + still. I am not far away; you will see me sooner than + you think." + +"Is there no signature?" asked Miss March. + +"None, but there can be no doubt as to the identity of the writer." + +"Of course not." + +"I don't want to alarm you, my dear, but you ought to be very careful." + +"I shall be." + +Al laughed. + +"I don't think there is much danger," he said. "That letter sounds like +an extract from a sensational novel. A barking dog never bites, you +know." + +"I don't know anything of the sort," returned Mr. Wattles. "Some barking +dogs do bite; and this one, as you have reason to know yourself, has +sharp teeth. Well, just let me lay my hands on him and I'll settle him +in short order." + +"What will you do?" smiled Al. + +"First, as I said before, I'll give him a sound thrashing. Oh, you may +laugh, but I can do it, if I am not a boy. And then I'll hand him over +to the authorities. By Jove! I had no idea that the fellow was such a +scoundrel when he was in my employ, or I wouldn't have kept him an +hour. But now I really must be off. Do your best to-night, Miss March; +you'll have one of the biggest houses of the season--thanks to the +exertions of that sharp young brother of yours." + +And the manager rushed out of the room. + +"Brother!" the girl said, softly. "How sweet the name sounds. To think +that I have a brother! And a mother!" + +"Don't cry--please don't!" entreated Al, with a boy's horror of feminine +tears. + +"They are tears of joy, brother. And now you must go and send the +telegram." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE. + + +A telegram, carefully worded so that Mrs. Allston's maternal alarms +might not be aroused, was sent. In it Al requested her to come to +Rockton by a certain train, and promised to be at the depot to meet her. + +A reply came within an hour: + +"Yours received. Shall be there. Hope nothing has happened." + +"I should say something had happened," laughed Al, when he and his +new-found sister had read the message. + +"Poor mother!" sighed the girl. "She fears that you have met with some +accident." + +"In a very few hours that fear will be dispelled. What will she say when +she learns the truth?" + +"Ah, what?" responded Miss March. "I dread almost as much as I long for +the meeting." + +The anxious mother arrived on time. It is not our purpose to chronicle +the first meeting between the long-separated couple. Such scenes defy +the skill of the storyteller's pen or the artist's brush. Suffice it to +say that the proofs of her identity presented by the young girl were +perfectly satisfactory to Mrs. Allston, and that the reunion of mother +and daughter was all that the fancy of either had ever pictured it. + +True, the somewhat Puritanical old lady was a little shocked at finding +her daughter a member of the theatrical profession; she had always +regarded player folk as far beneath herself, both socially and morally, +and her own daughter was probably the first actress she had ever seen +off the stage. + +"I wish, my dear," she said, "that you would give up this dreadful +business and go home with me. To think of my child, my daughter, a play +actress! It is dreadful!" + +"Not quite as dreadful as you think, mother," the girl replied, quietly. +"I could not conscientiously leave Mr. Wattles until he had secured some +one else to play the part. Then, however, if you wish me to give up the +stage, I shall do so. We will talk it all over after the performance +to-night." + +"Yes, we will talk it over after the performance," echoed the mother. + +The house was crowded to the doors that night. Not a seat was to be had +at eight o'clock; even standing room was at a premium. + +Again Al had demonstrated his ability as a hustler. + +Everyone in town had read and re-read his strange advertisement; many +eyes were bent on the third row of the orchestra, in search of the +"queer old man." And Mr. Marmaduke Merry was there, too, not a whit +abashed, a huge bouquet in his withered hand. + +A good many people had heard of his attempt to have Al arrested in the +morning--such news travels fast--and he was the unconscious butt of many +a covert jest. + +Some one--it will never be known who, though there may be reason to +suspect Mr. Augustus Wattles--had caused the report to be spread that +the pretty actress, Miss Gladys March, was the long-lost sister of the +young press agent, Al Allston, and that they had been reunited through +the article in the _Banner_. That more than one person knew about it was +evident when Al made his appearance in a box, with his mother on his +arm; the applause that greeted him was as unexpected as it was +embarrassing. + +At first the boy did not realize that he was the object of these unusual +demonstrations. + +"What are they making all that noise about?" he said. + +"Why, they are applauding you," his mother said. + +"Nonsense!" + +"Don't you see that every eye is fixed on this box?" + +"I don't know but you are right," gasped Al, feeling symptoms of a +return of the "stage fright" with which he had been seized on the +occasion of the first performance in Boomville. + +"Of course I am." + +"Of course she is," added Mr. Wattles, suddenly appearing upon the +scene. "Bow, my boy, bow! And couldn't you make a little impromptu +speech?" + +"Not much!" replied Al, very emphatically. "I tell you, Mr. Wattles, if +I had had any idea that the duties of a press agent included so many +public appearances, I should not have gone into the business." + +He bowed; then some one--probably under the manager's direction--called +out: + +"Speech! speech!" + +But Al shook his head so emphatically that the audience saw he meant his +refusal, and the applause soon subsided. + +A few moments later the curtain rose. + +There was very little applause until Miss March made her entrance; her +appearance was the signal for another demonstration of enthusiasm. +Probably seven-eighths of the audience did not know why they were +applauding, but the other eighth did, and its enthusiasm was, as a +matter of course, contagious. The applause was literally deafening. In +its midst Mr. Merry hurled his bouquet upon the stage. It fell at the +feet of the young actress, who picked it up, smiling and blushing, to +the evident delight of the elderly "masher." + +Mrs. Allston shuddered. + +"This life of feverish excitement will kill my child," she said. "She +must abandon it." + +"Wait till you see her play, mother," said Al. + +"That will not alter my determination." + +"Wait," added the boy, quietly. + +He was not wrong in the conclusion he had reached. Miss March's part was +small, but it was a strong one. It was that of a persecuted young girl +who had been driven from home because of a misunderstanding. It was a +pathetic role, and before the actress had been on the stage five minutes +the entire female portion of the audience were in tears, and there was a +suspicious moisture in the eyes of more than one of the sterner sex. + +"Isn't she fine?" whispered Al in his mother's ear, as the girl left the +stage, after her first scene. + +"It is wonderful! I am amazed." + +"You did not think there was so much talent in the family, did you? Now, +wouldn't it be a pity to rob the stage of such an ornament?" + +"Yes." + +"I thought you would say so. I believe she has a great future. But let +us leave the decision to her." + +"We will do so, my boy." + +At this moment there came a shrill cry from the gallery. + +"Fire!" + +For one instant there was a dead silence; then three-quarters of the +audience sprang to their feet. + +Then came a mad rush for the exits. + +It was a scene of indescribable confusion. Women and children were +trampled beneath the feet of those who should have been their +protectors, but whose only thought now was to save their cowardly +selves. + +The shrieks of the terrified women, the groans of the injured, the +curses of the rougher element, who, though face to face with death, did +not fear to blaspheme--these added to the horror of the scene. + +It was evident that the alarm had not been a false one, for the house +was rapidly filling with smoke, and the crackling of flames could be +plainly heard. + +The doors soon became blocked. It seemed certain that many must perish +in the flames. + +Al quickly led his mother through the door that connected the box with +the stage, and conducted her in safety out of the building through the +stage entrance. + +As he passed Mr. Wattles at the door he uttered one word: + +"Gladys?" + +"She is safe," the manager replied. "She went out but a moment ago." + +"Thank Heaven! Mother, are you afraid to go back to the hotel alone?" + +"No, no; it is but a very short distance. But what are you going to do, +my boy?" + +"I think I can be of some assistance in getting the people out. Good-by! +I shall be with you again soon." + +And he rushed around to the front of the house, where the confusion was +greater than ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AN EVENTFUL NIGHT. + + +The Rockton police force were evidently not equal to the emergency--two +or three Hibernians in blue uniform were rushing wildly about, issuing +orders to which no one paid the slightest attention. + +Meanwhile nearly a thousand people were confined within the burning +building, most of them apparently doomed to a horrible death. + +At the doors--of which there were only two--men were fighting like +maniacs to escape, and actually retarding their own progress in their +mad excitement. + +What could one boy hope to do against this panic-stricken throng? + +This is the question that Al Allston asked himself. + +"I'm afraid I shan't accomplish much," he said to himself; "but I'm +going to try, anyhow." + +Assuming as cool an air as he could, he ran up to the entrance. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "there is no danger. Take it easy; walk out just +as you would at any other time, and everything will be all right. Keep +cool." + +Probably not more than half a dozen persons heard the words, but the few +who did hear them were impressed by the calm, fearless demeanor of the +boy, which was in such striking contrast to that of everyone else in the +crowd. + +An example of this sort is contagious; word was passed from one man to +another that the danger was not as great as had been supposed. The +conduct of the throng changed almost immediately. + +"Walk out quietly," went on Al, who was now able to make himself heard. +"Those on the right-hand side go in the direction of Grand Street, and +those on the left in the direction of Market Street. Don't block the +sidewalk. Keep cool, and everyone will get out all right. There is +nothing to get excited about." + +These words had almost a magical effect. In reality, there was quite +enough in the situation to excite anyone, but Al's apparent calmness and +his assertion that the danger did not amount to anything produced just +the result he desired. + +The crowd became more rational, and to make a long story short, within +three minutes the building was emptied, even of the women and children +who had fainted or been injured. + +Five minutes later the roof of the building fell in, but there was every +reason to believe that not a single human life had been sacrificed. + +Al started for his hotel as quietly as if nothing unusual had happened. +But he had gone only a few steps when he was overtaken by Mr. Wattles. + +To his astonishment, the manager folded him in his arms, exclaiming: + +"By Jove! I wish you were my son!" + +"What's the matter now?" asked the boy, disengaging himself. + +"Matter? Why, the matter is that you have in all probability saved the +lives of several hundred people." + +"Nonsense!" + +"That's just what you have done, all the same. You have a cool head for +such a young fellow--I can tell you that. If it hadn't been for you--I +shudder to think of what might have happened. You are, as I have had +occasion to remark before, a wonder." + +"Nonsense, Mr. Wattles! But I must go now; mother is sure to be worrying +about me." + +"But there are a score of people waiting to be introduced to you, and I +have promised to bring you back with me." + +"I can't go, Mr. Wattles." + +"But----" + +"Tell them that I---- Oh, just tell them the plain truth." + +"That you have a morbid horror of being lionized?" + +"If you want to put it in that way; and that my mother is waiting for +me." + +"Well, well, I won't urge you--particularly as I know that you generally +mean what you say and stick to it. But, let me tell you, young man, you +will have to stand considerable lionizing before you leave this town, +whether you like it or not." + +"I don't think so," smiled Al. "There is an early train in the morning, +if I am not mistaken." + +"But you won't take it." + +"You will see. Well, good-night, Mr. Wattles. Oh, wait a moment!" + +"What is it?" + +"You are sure my sister got out all right?" + +"Oh, yes; everyone on the stage escaped within two minutes after the +first alarm. Don't you know I told you that I saw her go out? You will +find her with your mother when you get back to the hotel." + +Al said good-night once more, and walked away. + +"Well," muttered the manager, as he stood and watched the lad's slim +figure until it was lost to view, "that boy is a corker. I don't believe +he is afraid of anything on earth--except speech-making. I should like +to see him really agitated for once." + +Mr. Wattles had his wish in less than fifteen minutes. + +He had just lighted the gas in his hotel room when there was a quick +knock upon the door. + +Before he could say "Come in!" Al rushed into the room. + +One glance at his face showed the manager that something unusual must +have happened. Never before had he seen the boy so intensely excited; he +was panting for breath, and his face was ghastly pale. + +"What is the matter?" the old gentleman gasped. + +"Gladys--my sister----" the boy began. + +"Has anything happened to her?" + +"We cannot find her." + +"She has not returned to the hotel?" + +"No." + +"Oh, there can be no occasion for alarm. I told you she got out of the +theater all right." + +"But she may have returned." + +"What should she return for? But she did not; that I am sure of." + +"Where is she, then?" + +"Oh, don't worry, my boy; she will turn up all right. Perhaps she has +gone to visit friends." + +"Would she be likely to visit friends under such circumstances?" said +the boy, almost angrily. "She has no acquaintances in this place--she +told me so only this afternoon; and if she had, this is not the time she +would choose for making a social call." + +"No, of course not, my boy. Well, what do you think has become of her?" + +"I believe that she has been the victim of foul play. Have you forgotten +Farley's letter?" + +Mr. Wattles started. + +"It may be so." + +"I am sure it is." + +"But I have seen nothing of Farley." + +"He would not be likely to let you see anything of him if he could help +it." + +"True. Well, what shall we do? Command me, my boy; I am at your +service." + +Before Al could reply the door, which the boy had only partially closed, +was opened, and a man entered. + +Both our hero and the manager recognized him as one of the stage hands +in the Rockton Theater. + +When he saw Al he started, then he said: + +"Mr. Wattles, I came here on purpose to get this here young gentleman's +address." + +"My address?" cried Al. "What do you want that for?" + +"Is it true, sir," the man asked, "that the young lady as was on the +bills as Miss Gladys March is your sister?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, sir, I have some information for you." + +"Do you know where she is?" demanded the boy, breathlessly. + +"No, sir; but I know that she is in a trap, and that if you want to save +her you must act quick. I've come here, sir, to make a clean breast of +my part in the affair." + +Overcome by excitement, Al seized the fellow by the throat and forced +him to his knees. + +"Speak!" he hissed. "Tell the truth, or I will strangle you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A CLEW. + + +Mr. Wattles stepped forward and gently forced Al to relax his hold on +the man's throat. + +"Don't get excited, my boy," he said. "This is just the time when you +need a cool head." + +"That's so, sir," added the visitor. "I don't blame the young gent for +the way he feels, but if he expects to get the best of that villain, +Jack Farley, he has got to keep his wits about him." + +"Then," gasped Al, "it was Farley that enticed her away?" + +"It was him, sir." + +"And what had you to do with it?" + +"More than I wish I had. The truth is, sir, I did not realize what I was +doing at the time. I was not onto his game until it was too late, and +then I----" + +"Don't beat about the bush any longer," interrupted Mr. Wattles, +impatiently. "What was Farley's game?" + +"Where is my sister?" added Al, in an agony of suspense. + +"It's like this, gents," replied the man. "Just before the alarm of fire +was given a man came to the stage door, where I happened to be standing +at the time. His collar was turned up, and his hat was pulled down, and +at first I did not recognize him. 'I want you to do me a favor,' he +says. 'What is it?' says I, 'and who are you?' 'Don't you know me?' he +asks me. 'No, I don't,' I tells him, 'and I ain't got no time to stand +here fooling with you.' You see, I thought maybe he was a stage-door +masher, though he didn't look much like one, to tell the truth, for he +was dressed in a way that----" + +"Never mind all that," interrupted Mr. Wattles again. "Get to the point. +The man told you he was Farley?" + +"He did, sir." + +"Why were you any more willing to talk to him then? Had you ever met him +before?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"By your own admission you knew he was a villain. Why, then, were you +willing to do him a favor?" + +"He did me a great service once, sir, and I was glad of a chance to +repay him." + +"Even at the risk of a young girl's life happiness, perhaps her life +itself?" + +"I did not think it was as serious as all that then, sir. You see, all +he asked me was to tell Miss March that a friend bearing important news +was waiting just outside the stage door to see her, and that he would +not detain her more than a minute. He also told me not to say that it +was him if she should ask." + +"And you did this?" + +"I took the message to Miss March, and, as she had at least half an +hour's time before she had to go on again, she went with me to the door +without any hesitation." + +"And then?" cried Al, breathlessly. + +"There was no one else around at the moment. Miss March stepped out. I +was surprised to see that there was a carriage waiting in the alley. He +said something to her that I could not hear, and led her to the door of +the carriage. The next moment, to my surprise, he lifted her in his arms +and put her into the carriage. She didn't have time to make any +resistance at all. I am not sure, but I think there was another person +in the carriage." + +"And you made no attempt to interfere?" cried Mr. Wattles. + +"What could I do, sir?" + +"I am pretty sure that if I had been in your place I should have done +something," said the old gentleman, warmly. + +"The carriage drove off like mad as soon as the young lady was put into +it, sir." + +"Didn't Farley enter it, too?" + +"Oh, yes, he jumped right in after her. The driver seemed to know what +to do; anyway, he received no directions from Mr. Farley in my hearing. +I suppose it had all been arranged between them beforehand." + +"Of course. You might have given the alarm at once; why didn't you?" +demanded Al. + +"By that time, sir, the alarm of fire had been given, and there was a +terrible commotion in the theater. In the confusion I did not know what +to do." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, "better late than never. But what put it into +your head to come here at all?" + +"I don't know that I should have come, sir, but when I heard of the +heroic way in which this young gent behaved, and how he saved the lives +of maybe half the audience--when I heard all this, and was told that the +young lady, Miss March, was his sister, I made up my mind that I would +come here and make a clean breast of my part of the affair." + +"And you have really told us all you know?" + +"All, sir, so help me Heaven!" + +"I believe you, my man," said Mr. Wattles. + +"And so do I," added Al. "But we must not spend any more time in talk; +we have got to do something at once." + +"I will do anything in my power to help you, sir," said the man. + +"I don't see that you can do much more than you have done," said Al. +"You can give me a description of the carriage and the horse, though." + +"The carriage was an ordinary livery coach. There were two horses, both +of them gray. It was a livery turn-out--there can't be any doubt about +that--and not a first-class one, either." + +"You don't know what stable it came from?" + +"No, sir; but it won't be a very hard job to find that out, for there +are only three stables in town. Two of them are quite swell, but the +other isn't, and I guess it was from that one that the coach came." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, springing to his feet, "we can get to work +now. Come, my boy, this man shall take us to the stable at once, and we +will see what they have to tell us there." + +"I don't want to drag you out, Mr. Wattles," said Al. "I can manage this +business alone." + +"You can, eh?" said the manager, almost indignantly. "Well, maybe you +could, but you won't get the chance. I am going to be right in it with +you. Why, do you suppose I could sleep a wink to-night with this thing +on my mind? I tell you, my boy, I thought more of that girl than you +imagine, and if anything should happen to her----" + +Mr. Wattles choked and turned away his head. Al was surprised at this +exhibition of emotion; he had not given his employer credit for the +possession of so much feeling. + +He extended his hand. + +"Mr. Wattles," he said, "you are a good friend of mine and hers. Have it +your own way, then. Come!" + +The manager pressed the boy's hand. + +"I don't like scenes--off the stage," he said, rather shamefacedly. "I +dislike emotion, and am seldom betrayed into it. But--but---- Oh, well, +we mustn't stand here talking all night. Lead the way to the stable you +spoke of, my man." + +Ten minutes later the trio reached the stable. Here several delays +awaited them. In the first place, the man who had been on duty in the +office at the time the coach must have been hired, was asleep in a room +above the stable, and when awakened refused to get up. After some +persuasion, he agreed to do so, and came downstairs half dressed. He was +also half asleep, and for several minutes could not recall the event +about which his visitors were so anxious to be informed. It had been an +unusually busy evening, and he was not sure whether the coach had come +from that stable or not. + +At last, however, his memory having been stimulated by a five-dollar +bill, which Mr. Wattles slipped into his hands, he remembered having +rented the team to a man who answered Farley's description. + +"There was a lady with him, too," the man added. + +"What sort of a looking woman?" asked the manager. + +"Tall, dark, with very black eyes." + +"Miss Hollingsworth!" exclaimed Mr. Wattles. + +"Just the idea that occurred to me," added Al. + +"It was she, beyond the shadow of a doubt. She is in the scheme, too, +then. That woman is capable of anything. At last we have a clew, and a +strong one." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ON THE TRACK. + + +"But why," questioned Al, "should Miss Hollingsworth lend herself to +such a scheme?" + +"For several reasons," Mr. Wattles replied. "In the first place, she is +a woman who likes mischief for its own sake--there are such people, you +know. Then, she is under the influence of Farley; that is a fact that I +have known for a long time. That man can make her do almost anything he +wishes." + +"Is she in love with him?" + +"Sometimes I have thought so, and sometimes I have thought she almost +hated him. He seems to exercise a sort of hypnotic influence over her; +that is the only way in which I can explain it." + +"If she is in love with him," suggested Al, "it is rather strange, isn't +it, that she should help him to abduct a rival?" + +"Not when you consider everything. Remember that the woman has a grudge +against you. You haven't forgotten that episode at the Boomville Opera +House, have you? You were the indirect means of throwing her out of an +engagement." + +"That is so." + +"You can depend upon it," went on the manager, "that the woman in the +case--and in the carriage--was Miss Olga Hollingsworth. But we mustn't +stand talking here any longer." + +Mr. Wattles had observed that the stableman was listening to the +dialogue with considerable interest. + +"Where did the couple say they were going?" he added. + +"They said," was the reply, "that they wanted to catch a train, but that +they had to make a call first." + +"Did they say where they were going to call?" + +"They did not." + +"Did they say what train they wanted to catch?" + +"No, sir." + +"Where is the driver that took them out? Has he returned yet?" + +"He came back long ago, and has gone home." + +"Did he say where he took them?" questioned Al. + +"No, sir, he said nothing about the matter; all we were talking about +was the theater fire." + +"Well," said Mr. Wattles, with a wink at Al, "we are much obliged for +your information. Good-night." + +And he took the boy's arm and walked him rather unceremoniously out of +the place. + +"I wanted to ask a few more questions," said Al, when they were outside. + +"It wouldn't have done any good, my boy. The man told us all he knew +about the case." + +"I'm not so sure about that," demurred Al. "It seems rather queer to me +that the driver should say nothing at all about such a peculiar case +when he got back to the stable. According to the report of the stage +hand he must have been posted about Farley's intention. He was really a +party to the crime." + +"Exactly; and that, of course, is just the reason he said nothing when +he got back. But we can find out all that later on. Now, in my opinion, +they--Farley, Hollingsworth and their victim--did really take a train. +The question now is, what train?" + +"Perhaps we can learn that at the railway station." + +"Just what I was going to say. We will go to the station now and find +out what trains leave at about the time that our friends would have been +likely to reach the place." + +"Rockton is not a very big place; there are not many trains a day." + +"No; we shan't have any trouble in getting the information we want." + +They found the station agent at the depot. He was a small, shriveled-up +old man, and he glared suspiciously at them when they questioned him. + +It took them some minutes to elicit the information that two trains left +the station at nine-ten--about the hour that the carriage would have +reached the place if it had gone there direct from the theater. + +"And where do these two trains go?" asked Mr. Wattles. + +"One goes to New York." + +"And the other?" + +"The other is the Boston express." + +The manager then described the occupants of the carriage. + +"I remember them; what of it?" said the station agent, crustily. + +"What do you remember about them?" + +"I remember that one of the ladies--the smaller one--seemed to be sick; +at any rate, she had to be helped into the waiting room, where they all +three stayed till the train arrived." + +"Which of the two trains did they take?" cried Al. + +"That I don't know." + +"You don't know?" + +"That's what I said. Do you suppose I keep tabs on everyone that comes +into this place? Hardly." + +"The New York train and the Boston train were here at the same time?" + +"Yes." + +"And they might have taken either?" + +"They might." + +"It is of a good deal of importance to us," said Al, "to learn which of +those two trains they took." + +"I can't help that," was the reply. "I'm no clairvoyant or +fortune-teller." + +"Isn't there some one about the station who could give us some +information?" + +"I don't think there is. The ticket-seller that they bought their +tickets from might tell you something, but he's off now; there is +another man in his place." + +Al and Mr. Wattles stared at each other in perplexity. + +Just then a hang-dog looking young fellow of about Al's age came +slouching up. + +"Here, Smith," called out the station agent, "these folks want some +information; perhaps you can give it to 'em. Tell this chap what you +want, gents, and maybe he can help you out." + +Al explained the situation to the fellow, who said, readily enough: + +"Oh, yes; I remember that party." + +"And which of the two trains did they take?" + +"The one goin' to Boston." + +"At last," exclaimed Mr. Wattles, "we have a little information. Now, +then, my boy, what shall we do?" + +"I shall follow them," replied Al, promptly. + +"I wish I could go with you, but----" + +"I know it would be impossible, Mr. Wattles; and probably I shall get +along just as well alone." + +"Maybe; but I'd like to be with you to witness the discomfiture of that +arch-villain. Well, come along and get your ticket for Boston." + +They were now walking in the direction of the ticket office. + +"No," said Al, "I shall get a ticket for New York." + +"Eh?" + +The boy repeated the statement. + +"But that fellow said they went to Boston; you must have misunderstood +him." + +"Oh, no, I didn't." + +"He certainly said Boston." + +"I know he did." + +"And yet you are going to get a ticket for New York?" + +"I am." + +"I don't understand you." + +"I'll explain. You didn't see the wink he gave the station agent when he +told us the Boston train yarn, did you?" + +"No." + +"I did." + +"You think he was lying to us?" + +"I am sure of it. Farley probably paid him to put us off the track." + +"Allston, you are a smart young fellow, but there is such a thing as +being too smart. It may be that by going to New York you will lose +them." + +"I don't think so, Mr. Wattles; I am sure I am right. At any rate, I +will take the chances." + +Twenty minutes later Al was on his way to the metropolis. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"DR. FERGUSON." + + +As may be imagined, Al was very tired when he boarded the train for New +York. It had been a hard day for him; yet, though physically fatigued, +he was mentally alert. + +Next him sat a clerical-looking man of about fifty, who presently +remarked: + +"You got on at Rockton, young gentleman, did you not?" + +Al, glad of the chance to speak to anyone, replied in the affirmative. + +"I once had a charge there," went on the old man. + +Al did not understand him. + +"A charge?" he said, interrogatively. + +"Yes; I am a minister of the Gospel." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"Yes; I was pastor of the wealthiest church in Rockton. I left it to +accept a call to New York." + +As this statement possessed no especial interest to the boy, he made no +reply. + +There was a silence of some minutes' duration. Then the old gentleman +broke out with: + +"May I offer you my card?" + +At the same time he thrust a bit of pasteboard into Al's hand. + +Upon it was inscribed the name, David Ferguson, D. D. + +"I haven't a card with me, Dr. Ferguson," said the boy; "but my name is +Allen Allston." + +His traveling companion grasped his hand, and shook it with a remarkable +exhibition of warmth, considering their short acquaintance. + +"I am delighted to meet you, my young friend," he said. "Are you going +far?" + +"To New York, sir." + +"Indeed! Then we shall be traveling companions for nearly three hours. +How delightful!" + +The prospect did not seem quite so delightful to Al; for, although he +was glad to have some one to talk to, he began to fear that the Rev. Dr. +Ferguson might not prove a wholly congenial companion. + +"Are you a resident of Rockton?" went on the doctor. + +"No, sir." + +"Only a visitor there?" + +"That's all." + +"Rockton is a beautiful place." + +Al acquiesced. + +"And you don't live there?" continued Dr. Ferguson. + +"I do not." + +"You were visiting friends?" questioned the old man, whose bump of +curiosity seemed to be well developed. + +"I was not, sir; I was there on business." + +"On business! Really? You are quite young to be actively engaged in +business." + +As this was a point upon which Al was a little sore, he made no reply. +He was now quite willing to let the conversation end right there and +then. + +But Dr. Ferguson would not have it so. + +"What was the nature of your business, if I may ask?" he resumed. +"Pardon me, if I seem inquisitive." + +"Well," said Al, with a sigh, "I don't know that I have any reason to be +ashamed of my business." + +"I trust not, my dear young friend--I most sincerely trust that you have +not." + +"I am connected with Wattles' New York Comedy Company." + +Dr. Ferguson gasped for breath. + +"You are an actor--at your age?" he cried. + +Al laughed, a little sarcastically, it is to be feared. + +"It isn't quite as bad as that," he said. + +"Ah!" + +"I am only the advance agent." + +"And what, may I ask, is an advance agent?" + +Al explained. + +"It is not, then, quite as bad as I thought," said his companion. + +"It might be a heap worse," responded the boy, laconically. + +"But still," went on the reverend gentleman, "a position such as that +you hold may lead to something worse. You may in time--pardon me, if I +hurt your feelings--you may in time become an actor." + +"I guess not," said Al, who had some difficulty in repressing a smile. + +"You cannot tell, my dear young friend; one wrong step leads to another, +and once on the road to destruction, there is no knowing where or when +the end will come." + +"I hope I am not on the road to destruction yet," said Al, "and I feel +pretty sure that I am not." + +"Pride cometh before a fall, my dear young friend," said the doctor, +impressively. "The moment you begin to be too sure of yourself, you have +taken the first downward step. You may not be conscious of it, but it is +taken." + +Al began to shift about uneasily in his seat. + +"I know that what I say is not pleasant for you to hear," continued the +old gentleman, "but I speak for your own good." + +He then went on to deliver a long homily on the evils of theatrical +life, and actually succeeded in tiring Al to such an extent that he fell +asleep. + +He was awakened by a voice shouting in his ear: + +"This ain't a sleeping car, young man. All off!" + +Al leaped to his feet, only half awake. The car was empty of everyone +except himself and a brakeman. + +"Where are we?" he cried. + +"In New York," was the reply. "Say, young fellow, you are a pretty sound +sleeper." + +"Well, I'm awake now," said the boy. "I'm sorry to have given you any +trouble." + +"Oh, that's all right. But you haven't lost anything, have you?" + +"No. Why?" + +"I don't see your baggage anywhere?" + +"I didn't bring anything with me." + +"That's all right, then. I was afraid that duck in the seat with you +might have got away with your stuff." + +Al laughed. + +"That was a clergyman," he said--"the Rev. Dr. Ferguson." + +"Reverend nothing," grinned the brakeman. "Say, young man, you must be +from 'way back." + +"Why?" + +"Why, that fellow is one of the cleverest confidence men in the +country." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" asked the boy, in amazement. + +"You can bet I do. Oh, he has fooled sharper ones than you or I. You +didn't lend him anything, did you?" + +"I did not." + +"Nor invest in green goods or anything of that sort?" + +"No." + +"Well, you are one of the lucky ones, then. When I saw him giving you so +much chin music I thought he had you sure." + +"Well, he didn't." + +And Al left the car on very good terms with himself. + +"Now, then," he mused, "I'll start in on the business that brought me +here. I'll go to the nearest police station first. I don't know where it +is, so to save time I'll take a cab." + +As he thus ruminated, he mechanically felt in his pocket. + +The next moment he uttered an involuntary exclamation. + +His money was gone, and so were his watch, and the ring that had been +presented to him in Boomville. + +He had not, after all, escaped scot-free from the "Reverend David +Ferguson." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +AN UNLUCKY ERROR. + + +Al's self-esteem had suffered a severe shock. + +He had considered himself quite competent to look out for "Number One," +but this plausible swindler, the very first person he had met on the +train, had easily succeeded in swindling him out of all the valuables he +had about him. + +He had lost about a hundred and fifty dollars in cash, his watch, which +was worth at least another hundred, and the valuable diamond ring that +had been presented to him on the stage of the Boomville Opera House. + +He was alone and penniless in a great city at two o'clock in the +morning, with a mission to perform that would almost necessarily involve +the outlay of money. + +While he stood at the entrance of the Grand Central Depot the brakeman +who had addressed him on the car came along. Noticing the look of dismay +on the boy's face, he said: + +"There's nothing the matter, is there?" + +"I should say there was." + +"What is it? That bunco man didn't get the best of you, after all, did +he?" + +"Rather." + +And Al proceeded to inform the man of his loss. + +His companion uttered a low whistle. + +"Well, he did soak it to you, for fair," he said. "He don't generally +play that game; as a rule he works the thing in a more artistic way than +that. Well, he got the money, all the same. It was a pretty good haul, +too." + +"I don't see how he got that ring off my finger without waking me up," +said Al, ruefully. + +"Oh, he can do more than that," grinned the brakeman. "He'd manage to +rob you of your eyeteeth if he happened to take a fancy to them. He's a +daisy!" + +"I wish you had warned me when you saw him talking to me on the train." + +"I couldn't very well do that; but I kept an eye on you both, and if I +had seen him up to any funny business, I should have spoken. Hasn't he +left you any money at all?" + +"Not a cent." + +"Well, see here, I'll let you have a few dollars if you'll promise to +return 'em as soon as you get funds." + +"Of course I will, and I am very much obliged to you," said Al, +surprised at this unexpected offer. + +"Here you are, then." + +And the man handed him a small roll of bills. + +"Give me your address," said Al, "and I'll return this to you within a +day or two, with something to boot." + +"I don't want anything to boot. I'll write down my address, if you'll +lend me a pencil a minute." + +Al handed him a pencil. The man was about to write the address on the +back of an envelope, when, to his amazement, his companion made a rush +for a cab that stood at the curbstone, gave the driver a few hasty +directions in a low tone, and then leaped into the vehicle, which +immediately started off at a rapid pace. Before the brakeman could +recover from his astonishment, the cab had turned a corner and +disappeared. + +"Well," gasped the man, "if I haven't been buncoed myself, and by a kid +at that. I'll bet he and the other fellow were pals. And I never +suspected it! Well, I'll get my ten dollars back if it costs me a +hundred to do it. This is the last time I'll ever lend money to a +stranger. I wish I could hire some one to kick me round the block." + +The brakeman could scarcely be blamed for forming this opinion of Al, +erroneous though it was. Appearances were certainly against the boy, and +the reader is, perhaps, wondering if he had suddenly become insane or +developed into a kleptomaniac. + +The reason for our hero's strange action was this: Just as he handed the +brakeman the pencil a carriage was passing the depot, from the window of +which peered the face of the very man for whom Al was seeking--Jack +Farley. + +There was no time for explanations; the carriage was going at a rapid +rate. Al rushed out to the cab that stood at the entrance and said to +the driver: + +"Do you see that carriage yonder?--the one that is just about to turn +the corner? Follow it wherever it goes and I'll pay you well." + +"Enough said!" the man responded. + +As we have seen, the boy entered the cab, and was driven away. + +"That brakeman will think that I am a thief, too, I'm afraid," Al mused. +"Well, I can't help it; it will be all right to-morrow. But he is a good +fellow, and I don't like the idea of being misunderstood in that way by +him even for a few hours. There's no help for it, though; I couldn't +afford to let Farley get away from me!" + +The two vehicles kept at an even distance from each other until Tenth +Street was reached. At the corner of that thoroughfare and Fifth Avenue +the carriage in advance came to a sudden halt. + +Al's driver stopped almost at the same moment. + +"What shall I do now, sir?" he called out to his passenger. + +"Go right ahead," the boy directed. "When you get to the spot, stop, if +the other coach has not started again in the meantime; if it has, go on +as long as it does." + +In less than a minute later Al's carriage once more come to a +standstill. + +At the same moment a man leaped from the other carriage, advanced to the +cab and threw open the door. + +"What do you mean," he demanded, "by following my carriage? I have been +onto you ever since you started. Who are you, and what do you want?" + +The man was not Jack Farley; he did not resemble him in any way. + +He was an elderly man, fashionably dressed, and had the appearance of +one who was on his way home after a ball, or some other social +function, with just enough wine on board to make him quarrelsome. + +"What is your little game?" continued the man. "Come, out with it; I am +going to know." + +Al was decidedly embarrassed. + +"It is all a mistake," he stammered. + +"That's too thin," said the stranger. "I'm onto you; you are a +detective! Now, what are you shadowing me for?" + +Al could not help laughing. + +"I am no more a detective than you, sir," he said. "I told my driver to +follow a certain carriage, and he has made a mistake; that's all there +is to it." + +"I made no mistake," interposed the driver, surlily. "This is the +carriage you told me to follow." + +"You are wrong; the man in that carriage was not this gentleman. +Remember, it turned the corner before we left the depot, so you lost +sight of it for half a minute or so." + +"That's so," admitted cabby. + +"It had probably turned out of the street before we turned into it, and +you, seeing this gentleman's carriage, supposed it to be the same, and +followed it." + +"I guess that explains it." + +"Well, it doesn't explain it to me," said the aggrieved stranger. "I +consider this affair an outrage, and I am going to have it +investigated." + +"Go ahead and investigate, then," said Al, losing his patience. "You are +making a mountain of a mole hill." + +"I am, eh? Well, you'll see whether I am or not. Cabman, I have your +number." + +"That's all right; keep it," growled the jehu. + +"I shall keep it, and make good use of it, too. You will hear from me +again." + +And the man climbed back into his carriage, flushed almost as much with +anger as with wine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +AN EXCITING INTERVIEW. + + +As the carriage rolled away Al and the cabman stood and stared at each +other. Then the latter burst into a loud laugh. + +"Well, sir," he said, "this is the funniest job I have had for many a +long day." + +Al failed to appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"It does not strike me as being particularly funny," he said. + +"It doesn't?" + +"Decidedly not. Why did you lose sight of the other cab?" + +"Why, you explained that yourself just now. The two carriages looked +just alike; I believe they were the same." + +"No, they were not. The man I saw looking from the window of the +carriage that passed the Grand Central Depot was not the man we have +just been talking to." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Yes. You followed the wrong carriage; that is all there is to it." + +"Well," admitted the cabby, "I think you are right. Where shall I take +you now?" + +"Nowhere; I'll walk. How much do I owe you?" + +"Ten dollars," was the calm reply. + +"Ten what?" demanded Al. + +"Dollars." + +"Ten dollars for driving me that short distance?" + +"Do you call that a short distance?" + +"Yes; I could have walked it in a good deal less than half an hour." + +"Why didn't you, then?" + +"I----" + +"Now, see here," interrupted the cabman, with a threatening air, as he +put his face in very close proximity to Al's, "I don't want no muss with +you. See? But I get that ten dollars. Do you think I'm driving this here +thing for fun? Not on your life!" + +This was Al's first experience with one of the class known in New York +as "night-hawks," and for a moment he hesitated. Imagining that he had +gained an advantage, the man added: + +"Now, look lively! I've got something else to do besides standing here +chinning with you." + +"Yes," said the boy, quietly, "you have. On second thoughts, I'll keep +your cab a little longer. Drive me to the nearest police station." + +The man stared at him, then asked, rather uneasily: + +"What for?" + +"So that I can find out just what I ought to pay you. It won't take +either of us long to get the information." + +The night-hawk saw that he had, for once, met his match. + +"See here, young gent," he said, "I don't want no trouble with you." + +"If there is any trouble, you will bring it on yourself," responded the +boy. + +"I've got no time to waste. Give me a V and I'll call it square." + +"I'll give you nothing of the sort." + +"What will you pay, then?" + +"Two dollars is quite enough." + +"Make it three, boss." + +"I can't do it," said Al, who saw that he had by luck hit upon about the +right price. "Will you take two, or will you go with me to the nearest +police station and let them settle the matter there?" + +"Give me the two," said the man, sullenly. "I'll take it, but I'm losing +money on the job. If I'd stayed up at the station I might have picked +up----" + +"You might have picked up a bigger greenhorn than you did," added Al. +"Well, I'll wish you good-morning." + +He was about to turn away when a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, +and a familiar voice exclaimed: + +"Well, this is luck. I didn't expect to find you as easy as all this." + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" cried Al, recognizing the friendly brakeman who +had loaned him the money. "I'm mighty glad I ran across you." + +"You are, eh?" sneered the man. + +Al looked at him in surprise. + +"Yes, I was going to hunt you up." + +"Oh, you were?" + +"Of course I was. I wanted to explain to you why I left you so suddenly. +You must have thought----" + +"I thought the truth--that I had been made the victim of a swindler. I +made up my mind that I would hunt you up, but I didn't expect to find +you quite so soon; that was blind luck." + +"See here," said Al, his anger rising, "you are going a little too far. +I was, and am, much obliged to you for lending me that money, but I----" + +"Lending nothing," interrupted the cabman, who had been a silent +listener to the conversation. "Why, the young villain has just been +telling me how he euchered a brakeman up at the Grand Central out of a +wad." + +"It is a lie!" burst from the lips of the indignant boy, and he advanced +toward the treacherous fellow with clinched fists. + +But the cabman retreated and leaped upon his box. + +"If I didn't have my cab here," he said, as he gathered up the reins, +"I'd teach you to call me a liar. Boss"--to the brakeman--"you're in +luck to find the young rascal so easy. Don't let him off; I know him +well, and, in spite of his innocent looks, he is one of the toughest +youngsters in the city." + +With these words the rascal whipped up his horses and started up the +avenue at as rapid a pace as his steeds were capable of. + +"Do you believe that fellow's story?" demanded Al, looking his companion +squarely in the eyes. + +"You can bet I do," was the prompt reply. + +"You think I am a thief?" + +"Haven't I pretty good proof of it?" + +"I----" + +"Now, see here, young fellow," interrupted the indignant brakeman, "I am +not going to sit up till daylight to discuss this matter with you. You +can talk it over with the judge later. You buncoed me in a very neat +manner; I admit you did the job well, but luck happened to be on my +side, and the game is lost for you. But see here; just to avoid trouble, +if you hand me back my ten dollars, I'll let you off." + +"I'll give you all I have left of it," said Al; "and some day I'll prove +to you that I am not----" + +"That's all right," interrupted the uncompromising brakeman. "I don't +care what you are; all I want is my ten dollars, not what you have left, +but just what I gave you." + +"I have just paid that cabman two dollars," said Al, "and all I can give +you is eight. I am very sorry I accepted the loan at all." + +"You ain't as sorry as I am," sneered the brakeman. "But, see here, I'm +not going to fool any more time away with you. I've had a hard day, and +I've got to start in again at eleven o'clock. To save myself trouble, I +have offered to let you off if you would give me my money back. If you +won't, you will go with me to the station house, where I shall make a +formal complaint against you. Now, what do you say?" + +Before Al could reply a man suddenly turned the corner of Eleventh +Street. + +As he approached, the boy grasped his companion's arm. + +"Now," he said, "I'll prove to you that you have made a mistake." + +"How?" + +"Do you see this man coming?" + +The brakeman looked, then started. + +"It's your pal!" he exclaimed, recognizing the individual who had been +introduced to the reader as the "Rev. David Ferguson." + +"He's no more my pal than you are," said Al. "Just keep your eyes and +ears open, and I'll convince you on that point, at any rate." + +The alleged reverend gentleman was approaching rather slowly. His eyes +were on the pavement. He was smiling; evidently his thoughts were of an +agreeable nature. + +He did not observe Al and his companion until he was within a few feet +of them; then the boy suddenly stepped forward, saying: + +"Good-morning, Mr. Ferguson." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD. + + +The reverend gentleman started; a decidedly uneasy expression appeared +upon his face. + +"I don't know you, young gentleman," he said. + +"Oh, you can't have forgotten me, Mr. Ferguson," said Al. "My name is +Allston; don't you remember the interesting conversation we had on the +train this morning?" + +"Ahem! I think I do recognize you now." + +"I thought you would. Isn't this rather early for you to be out, Mr. +Ferguson?" + +"I have not yet returned to my home; I have been on an errand of mercy. +And now I must ask you to excuse me, for I am greatly fatigued." + +"Wait a minute." + +"Well, what is it?" + +"I suppose you have often heard it said that justice and mercy ought to +go hand in hand." + +"It is a very true saying, my lad." + +"Well, you say you have just been on an errand of mercy; suppose you now +perform an act of justice." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Mr. Ferguson, uneasily. + +"I guess you know. I mean that I want you to hand back the money and +jewelry that you stole from me." + +"Do you mean to insult me, or are you mad?" almost shouted the alleged +clergyman. "Do you dare accuse me, me, David Ferguson, of theft?" + +"That's about the size of it," replied Al, coolly. "And, remember, I +know now that your name is no more David Ferguson than mine is." + +"Do you dare----" began the fellow. + +"That'll do," interrupted Al. "Bluff will not work with me. Are you +going to return my property?" + +He had not uttered the last word when "Mr. Ferguson" abruptly turned on +his heel and started to run. + +He did not go far, however. Out went Al's foot, and the next moment the +adventurer lay sprawling on the pavement. He was helped to his feet by +Al and the brakeman, who both kept a tight hold on him. + +The sanctimonious expression had entirely vanished from the fellow's +face, which now wore a look of rage and fear. + +The transformation was wonderful; he did not seem the same man. + +"Well," he said, "what are you going to do about it?" + +"I'm going to hand you over to the police in short order if you don't +return my property." + +"If I give it all back," demanded the man, "will you agree not to make +any charge against me?" + +"Don't agree to anything of the sort," interrupted the belligerent +brakeman. + +But Al said: + +"I ought not to do it, but I have no time to attend to the case, so, if +you hand back what you took from me you can go." + +"Mr. Ferguson" fished the roll of bills from his pocket and handed it to +Al, who carefully counted it. + +"Now, the watch and ring," he said. + +The "crook" produced the timepiece and gave it to its owner. + +"I can't return the ring," he whined. + +"Why can't you?" + +"I've pawned it." + +"Give me the ticket, then." + +"I can't do that, either." + +"How is that?" + +"I've lost it." + +"Well," said Al, "that's unlucky--for you. Now, see here, my reverend +friend, I have no more time to waste. If your story is true, you'll come +along with me to the police station. If it is a lie, which I believe, +you had better hand over that ring in quick time." + +"I----" + +"I advise you to hurry, for here comes a policeman, and if the ring is +not on my finger by the time he gets here, I shall hand you over to him +as sure as I am standing here." + +The "crook" hesitated no longer. + +"Here you are, then," he said. + +As he spoke, he thrust the ring into Al's hand. + +"Now," he asked, in a voice that trembled with nervousness, "may I get +out?" + +"Skip," responded Al, laconically. + +In less than ten seconds the fellow had disappeared from view. + +The brakeman extended his hand to his companion. + +"I have wronged you," he said. + +"That's what I told you," replied Al, quietly, "but you wouldn't take my +word for it." + +"I hope you'll accept my apology." + +"Of course I will; and you must accept your money back." + +And the boy handed his companion a ten-dollar bill. + +"I hope you don't feel hard toward me?" persisted the man. + +"Not at all," Al responded, readily. "You were very kind to offer me the +money at the depot. I was a perfect stranger to you." + +"But I sized you up as a square lad." + +"It didn't take you long to change your mind, though." + +"You must admit that I had some reason to change it." + +"I do admit it. Appearances were very much against me, and if I had been +in your place I should, very likely, have thought just what you did." + +"Nevertheless, I'm sorry I was so hasty. Now, see here, young fellow, +I've taken a liking to you--honest, I have. I'd like to help you. Now, I +have an idea that you are in some sort of trouble." + +"You are not far out of the way there," admitted the boy. + +"Of course, it's none of my business, and I'm not one of the sort that +cares much about other people's affairs; but--but what is your trouble? +I only ask, thinking that I may be able to help you in some way." + +Al hesitated, then said: + +"I need help badly enough, but I don't see what you could do. However, I +will tell you why I am in New York." + +In a few words he told the story of his sister's abduction. When he +explained why he had left the depot so suddenly his companion +interrupted him. + +"Why," he cried, excitedly, "I saw the cab that you wanted to follow! I +can tell you just where you can find its driver, too." + +"You can?" + +"Yes. As it happens, he is an old friend of mine, and there isn't much +that he won't do for me. He drives for a stable up on Fifth Avenue, but +he ought to be home by this time. I can get a good deal more information +out of him than they would give you if you went up to the stables. Do +you want to go round to his house with me now and see if he is in?" + +"Is it far from here?" + +"Not ten minutes' walk." + +"Let us go, then. But, perhaps, we ought to go to a police station +first." + +"We shall pass one on our way there. Come on; I'll bet that you won't be +sorry you met me." + +Within five minutes Al had given a description of his sister to the +police, and an alarm was about to be sent out when he left the station. + +"Now, to see my friend, Tim Story," said the brakeman, "who, if I am not +mistaken, will be able to give us as much information in five minutes as +the police will gain in twenty-four hours." + +Tim Story's home proved to be a floor in a West-Side tenement. The +cabman had just returned home, and did not seem to be in a very +communicative mood. But in a few minutes Al's new friend had obtained +information from him that gave the boy a new hope. + +"We have found her!" he exclaimed. "How can I thank you?" + +"Don't thank me yet," was the reply. "Remember the old saying, 'There's +many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.' You have a dangerous job ahead +of you, my boy." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +HARD LUCK. + + +Among the passengers that arrived at the Grand Central Depot by a train +which reached the city about three hours before Al Allston's arrival, +were a trio who attracted some attention from their fellow passengers; +attention that was evidently unwelcome and annoying to at least two of +the three. + +There were two women and a man. One of the women, slight and heavily +veiled, was supported, almost carried, by her companions. She seemed to +be very ill. + +As she was lifted from the car, one of the passengers, an elderly +gentleman, overheard her say: + +"Where am I? Where are you taking me?" + +The gentleman stepped forward and asked: + +"Can I be of any assistance? The lady seems to be sick." + +His voice and manner showed very plainly that he suspected there was +something wrong, but the two persons he addressed either did not notice +this, or willfully ignored it. + +"You are very kind, sir," responded the male member of the party of +which the apparent invalid was one. "The lady is ill, and we are anxious +to get her to her home as soon as possible. Would you be kind enough to +call a carriage for us? I would not ask this of a stranger had you not +so kindly proffered your assistance." + +"I will do so with pleasure," replied the gentleman, evidently a little +surprised at the manner in which his offer was received. "But may I ask +what is the matter with the lady?" + +The man he addressed tapped his forehead significantly. + +"Brain disease?" questioned the gentleman. + +"Yes. Brought on by overwork at school. Poor girl! But we have hope that +in a few weeks she will be herself again." + +"It is very sad." + +"Very; and now, sir, if you will kindly call the carriage for me, I +shall be greatly indebted to you." + +"Certainly, sir." + +As the gentleman hurried away, the woman whom we have mentioned as the +third member of the party, a tall, showy-looking brunette, said: + +"What's your game, Jack? Why did you send that old fellow for a +carriage?" + +"It was the easiest way to get rid of him," was the reply. "Didn't you +see that he was very suspicious?" + +"Of course." + +"The way in which I accepted his offer took him off his guard, and, +perhaps, saved us some trouble." + +"Hush! here he comes." + +"I see him. Don't say a word. Leave all to me." + +"I have found a very good coach for you," announced the old gentleman, +hurrying toward them. "Come this way, please." + +Murmuring his thanks, Jack Farley, whom the reader has, perhaps, ere +this, recognized, hurried toward the entrance, supporting the alleged +invalid, who was now moaning piteously. + +A few moments later the three were ensconced in the carriage. + +"Where shall I tell the driver to go?" asked the gentleman. + +Farley gave an address. + +As the carriage started, Miss Hollingsworth asked: + +"Why did you give that address?" + +"You didn't suppose I was going to give the right one, did you?" said +Farley, petulantly. "When we are out of sight of the depot I'll tell the +driver where to go." + +As soon as the coach had turned a corner he leaned out of the window and +called out: + +"Driver, I've changed my mind." + +"Well, sir?" + +"Take us to this address." + +And he handed the man a card. + +"You think of everything," said Miss Hollingsworth. + +"I have to." + +"I was afraid that we were going to have some trouble with that old +man." + +"So was I at first, but it turned out all right. I tell you, Olga, it +takes a smart one to get the better of Jack Farley." + +Miss Hollingsworth gave a peculiar laugh. + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded Farley. "What have you got in your +head now?" + +"Oh, nothing." + +"Yes, you have. What is the matter with you, anyway? Your whole manner +to-night has been unnatural and peculiar." + +"That is only your imagination." + +"It is not. Olga, you are not thinking of rounding on me, are you?" + +"Of course not. What an idea!" + +"Because if you are, I warn you not to try it; if you do, I'll make you +wish you had never been born." + +"Why should I round on you, as you put it? Are not our interests one? Am +I not helping you in this affair? Am I not unquestioningly obeying you +in everything? Jack, you are nervous and excited." + +"Well, I guess that's so. What I need is a bottle of fizz; and, as soon +as I get the girl to your flat, I'll go down to Billy's and get it." + +"Don't do that," said Miss Hollingsworth, uneasily. + +"Why not?" + +"It is too late." + +"It's only a little after twelve o'clock." + +"But you will stay there gambling and drinking until morning, and I do +not want to be left alone with this girl." + +"I shan't stay more than an hour or so; as for the girl, give her +another dose of the stuff, and she'll be quiet enough." + +At this moment the carriage halted in front of a tall apartment house on +a fashionable thoroughfare within a stone's throw of Fifth Avenue. + +Farley alighted first, carrying the unconscious girl, and was followed +by Miss Hollingsworth. + +"Wait for me, driver," he ordered. "I shall need you again in a few +minutes." + +"All right, sir." + +Ten minutes later Farley emerged from the house. + +"Do you know Billy Rawlins' place?" he asked the cabman. + +It was a notorious gambling house, and the man knew it well, as did most +of his fraternity. + +"Take me there, and wait for me." + +Twenty minutes later the resort of vice was reached. Farley entered, and +did not emerge for more than an hour. When, at last, he did come out, +his face was flushed with wine, and wore a look of disgust and anger. + +"That's the last time I'll ever set foot in that place," he said, +addressing the sleepy driver. "I believe I've been hoodooed by some one. +I never have any luck in Billy's nowadays, anyway." + +"Luck against you to-night, sir?" asked the cabman, sympathetically. + +"I should say luck was against me. I went in there with two hundred +dollars, and all I have got left now is only a little more than enough +to pay you." + +"Hard luck," commented the man, evidently relieved by the latter part of +the sentence. + +"Home," ordered Farley, leaping into the carriage. + +As the vehicle passed the Grand Central Depot he happened to look out; +it was at the precise moment when Al Alston handed the brakeman the +pencil. + +"That boy here!" muttered Farley. "Well, he hasn't lost any time. I +believe he is my evil genius. Somehow or other the sight of him sends a +cold chill over me. I wonder if he saw me? I hope not. Pshaw! Why should +I bother my head about the kid? I'll try to dismiss him from my mind for +to-night." + +The task did not prove an easy one, however, though Farley stopped at +two saloons on the way; when the carriage reached its destination his +mind was still busy with the boy he hated. + +Having paid the driver with almost the last cent he possessed, he +entered the house and ascended to the second story. + +Unlocking a door at the head of the stairs, he entered a plainly +furnished flat. + +Miss Hollingsworth met him at the door. There was something in her face +that he did not like, as she said: + +"Back at last, are you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE. + + +Farley stared at her, scowling savagely, as he said: + +"What's the matter? Got one of your cranky fits? If so, you had best not +worry me, for I'm in no mood for nonsense." + +"Neither am I," was the quiet reply. "But I am going to talk a little +solid sense to you." + +"I won't listen to you. I'm tired, and want to sleep." + +"You will sleep soon, and soundly. Come into the drawing room." + +Farley followed her, asking: + +"How is the girl?" + +"Asleep, under the influence of another dose of the drug." + +"Good! Well, what have you to say?" + +And he threw himself into a chair. + +"I shall not detain you long. I see by your manner that you have lost +again to-night." + +"Nearly every cent I had with me." + +"As usual." + +"I shall never enter Billy's place again." + +"No, I don't think you will." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Farley, uneasily. "I don't understand you +to-night, Olga." + +"Don't you? Well, I will try to make myself understood." + +"Go on, then, and be quick about it. I'm dead tired." + +"I have stood by you for five years, have I not, Jack Farley?" demanded +the woman, fixing her large, dark eyes firmly on those of her companion. + +"Well, what of that?" growled the man. "It has been to your interest to +do so, hasn't it? Have you ever had a decent engagement that I have not +obtained for you? And haven't I stuck to you, too? See here, Olga, I am +in no mood for recriminations this morning, and you may as well quit +just where you are. I see you are going to have one of your tantrums; +well, you can have it all by yourself." + +Farley rose to leave the room, but his companion placed herself between +him and the door. + +"Wait," she said, in a strange, hard tone. + +"What's the matter with you to-night?" demanded Farley. "Have you gone +crazy?" + +"Perhaps. At any rate, I will compel you to listen to me." + +"You will compel me?" sneered the man. "And how do you propose to do +that?" + +"Do you see this?" + +And Miss Hollingsworth opened her hand, revealing a small cylindrical +object. + +"What is it?" asked Farley, curiously. + +"Dynamite." + +The man recoiled. + +"You're joking, Olga." + +"I am not. There is enough of the explosive here to tear this house to +pieces." + +"Where did you get it? What are you going to do with it?" + +"Never mind where I got it. As for what I am going to do with it, that +you will learn very soon. Now, Jack Farley, will you listen to me?" + +"Yes, yes; but give me that stuff, Olga." + +"Sit down." + +Farley obeyed, with a very pale face. + +"Well, what is it?" he asked. + +"We are going to have a settlement at last. You no longer love me, Jack +Farley." + +"Nonsense, Olga. You know----" + +"I know that I am speaking the truth. You have thought me merely the +creature of your will; I have let you think so, I have borne your +indignities patiently----" + +"What indignities?" interrupted Farley. "I don't know what you are +talking about." + +"Was it not an indignity to almost force me to assist you in abducting +my rival?" + +"Your rival! Nonsense!" + +"This girl has supplanted me in your affections." + +"This is folly. I only did what I have to revenge myself on that kid, +Allston, the girl's brother." + +"It is a lie, and I know it. But all will soon be over now." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Just what I say, Jack Farley." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Explode this dynamite, and end all at once. Jack, in two minutes you, +she and I will be in eternity!" + +"Are you stark, staring mad? Give me that stuff!" + +The woman laughed wildly. + +"No, the hour has come!" she cried. + +She lifted the cylinder above her head, with the evident intention of +hurling it to the hard wood floor. + +But at that instant her arm was seized and the dynamite forced from her +hand. + +"You have saved at least twenty lives!" gasped Farley, sinking, pale and +trembling, into a chair. + +"Where is my sister?" demanded Al Allston--for the newcomer was +he--paying no attention to his enemy's words. + +"She shall be restored to you," said Farley, who was thoroughly sobered +by the shock. + +"She shall not," cried the woman. "She shall not leave this house +alive!" + +It was plain to Al that Miss Hollingsworth was mentally deranged, and +not wholly responsible for her conduct and words. + +"Where is she?" he repeated. + +"She is asleep in yonder room," said Farley, pointing to a door at the +farther end of the drawing room. "Take her with you and go." + +The plotter seemed entirely unnerved; he was ready to surrender at once +and without protest all that for which he had schemed so long. + +The boy advanced toward the apartment designated. Miss Hollingsworth +made no attempt to detain him as he passed her; but there was a strange, +meaning smile on her face, the significance of which our hero did not +comprehend. + +He entered the adjoining room. His sister lay upon the bed, fully +dressed and apparently asleep. He was about to lift her in his arms when +there came from the other room a strange, wild peal of laughter. It was +immediately followed by a terrific explosion. + +Al was thrown to the floor, half stunned by the shock. + +In a few moments he had risen. The wall separating the two rooms was +partially destroyed; the drawing room was in flames, there was no +possibility of escape in that direction. + +The boy rushed to the window and threw it open. + +An exclamation burst from his lips; there was a fire escape outside. + +He lifted the still unconscious girl in his arms, and a moment later he +had begun the perilous descent of the frail iron ladder. + +It was made in safety; in a few moments Al had deposited the girl in a +carriage which had been in waiting for him. + +By this time, early as was the hour, the street was thronged with +people, attracted by the terrific explosion. + +The upper part of the house was in flames, the fire escape was now +crowded, and the half-dressed tenants of the building were rushing out, +panic-stricken, from the various exits. + +Al was fortunate enough to attract but little attention; five minutes +later he and his sister were in a place of safety. + +His sudden appearance on the scene may be briefly explained. + +The hack driver, Tim Story, had given him the card which he had received +from Farley, and Al had lost no time in going to the address given. + +In their excitement Farley and his companion had left the outer door of +their flat unfastened, and the boy had been able to effect an entrance +without difficulty. As had happened more than once before in his life, +his natural energy and push had been supplemented by good luck. + +A physician, whom Al at once summoned, gave it as his opinion that +Gladys was under the influence of an opiate, but that in all probability +there was no danger of serious results from the adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +AND LAST. + + +It was nearly ten o'clock that morning when the girl awoke from her +stupor; and, to Al's intense relief, she seemed none the worse for her +experience. + +All she could remember of the events of the previous night was that she +had been forced to enter the carriage at the stage door of the Rockton +Theater, and that as soon as she was inside the vehicle a handkerchief +saturated with some drug--chloroform, she believed--had been pressed to +her nostrils. Then she lost all consciousness of her surroundings. + +She had no recollection whatever of the journey to New York, or of any +of the subsequent events. + +The afternoon papers contained exciting accounts of the explosion. Al +had unreservedly given the police all the facts in the case; and in the +hands of the reporters the story lost nothing. + +The building had been saved from total destruction by the efforts of the +firemen, and it was known that no lives had been lost, except those of +Miss Hollingsworth and Jack Farley; it seemed certain that they must +have perished. It was found that the former had premeditated her +horrible crime, and had prepared for emergencies; she had, on the +previous day, supplied herself with no less than half a dozen of the +dynamite cylinders, so that the loss of the one which Al had taken from +her was no obstacle to the accomplishment of her plan. + +Once more Al was the hero of the hour. When he rejoined Mr. Wattles, two +days after the events we have just related, he was met at the station by +a crowd of citizens, who unhitched the horses from the carriage that was +in waiting for him and his sister, and insisted upon dragging the +vehicle to the hotel, much to the embarrassment of the two young people. + +Al suspected Mr. Wattles to be the instigator of this proceeding, and +accused him of having incited the populace to behave as they had. + +"What is the matter with you?" the old gentleman asked. "Such a tribute +of admiration would turn the head of almost anyone, but you kick about +it." + +"Didn't you work up the demonstration?" persisted Al. + +"Suppose I did?" + +"Well, don't do it again." + +"I shan't have to. I've set the ball rolling, and the chances are that +something of the sort will happen at every town we visit during the next +two weeks." + +Al groaned. + +"I believe I'll throw up the job," he said, half in jest, and half in +earnest. + +"Well, I believe you won't," said the manager, very much in earnest. +"You're just the sort of agent I want. Why, you can't help having +adventures and getting into the papers." + +"That sort of thing won't last forever." + +"I suppose not; but, when you cease to be a popular hero, I think I can +trust to your good judgment and business ability to manage things. Throw +up the job! I should say not! I couldn't get along without you. And, +besides, if you left me, your sister would go, too." + +"That need not necessarily follow." + +"She would go; and I tell you I could not get along without her, +either." + +Mr. Wattles always spoke of Miss March with an awkward, embarrassed air +that puzzled Al. + +"But, of course," he continued, hastily, "you do not mean what you said. +Remember, you promised me----" + +"I never went back on my word yet," interrupted Al, "and I shall not +now. But I wish these public demonstrations would cease. They seem to me +ridiculous, and they annoy me a good deal more than you seem to think." + +"Well, you are the queerest press agent I ever struck," said the +manager. "However, I guess you won't be much bothered--after to-night." + +"Eh?" cried Al. "After to-night? What do you mean by that? What is to be +done to-night?" + +"Oh, nothing in particular. I ought not to have mentioned it." + +"Yes, you ought. Come, out with it!" + +"Well, I suppose I may as well. The fact is, the citizens of this place +have decided to----" + +"Not another speech-making affair at the theater?" interrupted the boy, +in horrified accents. + +"Well," blurted out Mr. Wattles, "that's just it." + +"I shan't be here. You know I've got to go ahead to the next town this +afternoon." + +"Oh, no, you haven't," smiled the old gentleman. "The fact is, the sale +is so big that I have felt justified in canceling the next two towns, +and we are to stay here the remainder of the week. There's no getting +out of it, my boy; the thing has got to come off, and this time you will +have to make a speech." + +At first Al would not hear of this, and declared that he would start for +home. But he at last allowed his companion's eloquence to overcome his +objections, and agreed to remain. + +How he dreaded the ordeal no one but he ever knew, but he made up his +mind that, as he put it to himself, he would "see the thing through." He +prepared a brief speech, which he memorized, and which he hoped to be +able to deliver without breaking down. + +Evening came only too soon, and Al, arrayed in a new dress suit, awaited +the inevitable call for his appearance. Everything had been "cut and +dried," and he knew that there was no escape. + +At the end of the first act of the play there arose a shout, "Allston! +Allston!" + +"Go on, my boy," said Mr. Wattles, who, with his protege stood upon the +stage, just behind the curtain. "What are you trembling for? This ought +to be the proudest moment of your life." + +With these words he fairly pushed the boy before the audience. + +Then arose a whirlwind of applause. When it had subsided, Al tried to +begin his speech. But to his utter consternation, he found that he had +forgotten every word of it. + +But he was not, after all, obliged to deliver it. As he stood, trying to +remember at least one word of the carefully prepared effort, a man +suddenly advanced from the rear of one of the proscenium boxes, leveled +a pistol at the boy's head and fired. + +The bullet whistled past Al's ear, but did not graze it. The next moment +the would-be assassin was struggling in the hands of the other occupants +of the box. He managed to free himself; then came another report, and +the next moment Jack Farley lay dead on the floor of the box, a suicide. + +How he had escaped from the doom with which he had been threatened on +the previous night, how he had succeeded in entering the theater without +attracting attention, will never be known. + +Al's speech was forgotten in the excitement, and he was not obliged to +make it, after all. + + * * * * * + +In a few weeks Al ceased to be a popular idol, but he was daily learning +new "points" and becoming more and more valuable to his employer; he was +already recognized as one of the brightest advance agents on the road. + +One morning, about two months after the tragedy that we have just +recorded, his sister came to him and said: + +"Al, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you grant it?" + +"I promise in advance," was the prompt reply. + +"Then congratulate me." + +"On what?" + +"I am going to be married." + +"Married!" gasped the boy. "To whom?" + +"To Mr. Wattles." + +"You're joking." + +"Indeed, I am not!" + +"Why, he is forty years your senior." + +"He is a good, true man, and I love him; that's enough for me." + +"Then it is enough for me, too, sister," was Al's quick reply, "and I do +heartily congratulate you." + +We need add but a few words. The marriage proved a most happy one, and +Mrs. Wattles--whose real name we should give, if we were permitted--is +now one of the most popular actresses and most estimable ladies on the +American stage. + +Al is now no longer an advance agent, but a manager. He is rapidly +making a fortune; and, what is better, has earned a reputation for +integrity and uprightness second to that of none in his business. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The original edition of this book did not contain a table of +contents. A table of contents has been created for this +electronic edition. + +The following typographical errors in the original edition were +corrected. + +In Chapter III, "would, perhaps, he a good scheme" was changed to +"would, perhaps, be a good scheme", and "his eyes over s contents" was +changed to "his eyes over its contents". + +In Chapter IV, "your prepartions for the performance" was changed to +"your preparations for the performance". + +In Chapter VI, "his attention was atrracted by the sound" was changed to +"his attention was attracted by the sound". + +In Chapter XI, "I want you take this" was changed to "I want you take to +this". + +In Chapter XXVI, "Where are ye?" was changed to "Where are we?" + +In Chapter XXVIII, "the boy grasped his ccompanion's arm" was changed to +"the boy grasped his companion's arm". + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AHEAD OF THE SHOW*** + + +******* This file should be named 39454.txt or 39454.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/5/39454 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/39454.zip b/39454.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4d1e11 --- /dev/null +++ b/39454.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc7349e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #39454 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39454) |
