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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. 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