ALL READY!
The man in advance happened to cross a wet streak on the walk just as Frank and his friends observed him. This was caused by the overflow of a combination drinking fountain and horse trough. The man slipped and went flat. In another minute, as he struggled to his feet, his pursuer pounced upon him.
揥hy, look! Look!?ejaculated Pep.
揑t抯 Hal!?echoed Ben Jolly.
Frank and Randy recognized their friend the ventriloquist simultaneously. The former was a good deal surprised, for he had bade Vincent good-bye in New York City within the past forty-eight hours. He wondered what had brought Vincent to Seaside Park; and more than ever, what his participation in the present incident might mean.
揑抳e got you; have I??stormed Vincent, making a grab at the fugitive and seizing him by the arm. Then he whirled him around and transferred his clutch to the throat of the man. 揘ow, then, you pull off that coat in a jiffy, or I抣l fling you out into the street.?
揧es, yes, certainly梥sh! don抰 raise a row. Likely to be known here. Going into business梙urt my reputation.?
揧our reputation, you miserable rat!?shouted Vincent, greatly excited. 揧ou抳e led me a fine chase; haven抰 you, after all I did for you! I made up my mind, though, I抎 find you and get back my property, if I had to chase you half over the country.?
揜eturn coat in private梥ecluded spot.?
揟ake it off now!?
揕eaves me without any.?
揟ake it off!?fairly yelled Vincent. Then, as the man obeyed he wrenched it from his grasp, threw it to the pavement and grasping the fugitive by the shoulders, ran him straight up to the watering trough.
Splash! splash! splash! 揙oo梠of! Leggo! Murder!敆a wild riot of sounds made the welkin ring. A fast-gathering mob bustled nearer. Dripping, hatless, coatless, the helpless fugitive was given a shove down the sidewalk by Vincent, who turned and confronted a police officer.
揌i, there!?challenged the latter sternly棑what抯 the trouble here??
揘o trouble at all,?retorted Vincent. 揑抳e saved you that. That fellow slinking out of sight between those two buildings stole my coat and I抳e got it back梩hat抯 all.?
揂 thief; eh??
揙h, he抯 out of sight and I抦 satisfied,?advised Vincent. 揑 gave him free lodging and feed in the city and he paid me back by robbing me. We抮e square now and no need of your services, thank you. By the way, though, you might glimpse him so as to be able to keep track of him. He抯 a slippery customer to have in a town where there抯 even door mats or lawn mowers lying around loose.?
Frank had picked up the coat from the pavement where Vincent had flung it and he now offered it to him.
揟hat you, Durham??hailed the ventriloquist, mopping his perspiring brow棑and the rest of the crowd? Howdy桰 declare, I was ruffled. I can stand anything but ingratitude.?
揥ho is the fellow, anyway??inquired Jolly.
揙h, he抯 been a hanger-on at the movies and a sponge and dead beat for a long time. His name is Jack Beavers.?
揥hat抯 that??cried Pep, sharply. 揥hy, that抯 the name of the 慴ig New York man?who is going to start the new show with Peter Carrington and his crowd.?
揥hat new show??inquired Vincent, quickly.
Pep told of the prospective photo playhouse that had come to their attention that day.
揝ay,?exclaimed Vincent, belligerently, when the information had been accorded. 揑抣l follow this up and put that fellow out of business.?
揑 wouldn抰 trouble, Mr. Vincent,?said Frank. 揥e don抰 want to give Carrington and his friends any excuse for claiming we are persecuting them. If this man is the kind of fellow you describe, he will soon run himself out.?
揂nd them, too,?declared Jolly.
揃irds of a feather梐ll of them,?commented Pep.
Vincent explained that he was due to return at once to the city. He expected to have his claim against the company that had stranded him and owed him money come up in court at any time, and wanted to be on hand to present his evidence. The boys, however, prevailed upon him to accompany them home and have at least one good, old-fashioned meal with them. Then they all went with him to his train.
揌ope to see you soon again, Hal,?remarked Ben Jolly, as they shook hands good-bye.
揧ou will, Jolly梚t抯 fate,?declared Vincent. 揑抦 running up against your crowd all the time, and I guess it抯 on the books. Bow-wow-wow!?and he winked at Pep, always alive for mischief.
揗eow!梡抯t! pst!敆and a kitten in the arms of a fussy old man just getting aboard of a coach arched its back at the well-counterfeited imitation of the ventriloquist, while its mistress ran up the steps in a violent flurry.
揕et me out條et me out!?came next, apparently from a big sample case a colored porter was carrying for a traveling salesman. Down came the case with a slam and the porter stood regarding it with distended eyes and quivering face.
揕awsy sakes, boss!?he gurgled棑what you done got in dere??and very gingerly and rapidly he carried the case into the coach when prevailed upon to do so by its somewhat startled owner.
Then with a smile the versatile Vincent jumped aboard of the train, waving his hand cheerily in adieu to his smiling friends.
揂 jolly good fellow, that,?commented Frank, as the train pulled out. 揑 only hope we will be able to afford to engage his talents for the new Wonderland.?
揧ou抳e just got to,?vociferated Pep. 揌e抯 a regular drawing card and a show all in himself.?
And now came the real work of the motion picture chums. The new photo playhouse was all ready for the outfit, and when that was brought from the freight house there was plenty of lifting, carrying and placing to attend to. The big electric sign had to be reset and adjusted, the sheet iron booth for the machine put in place, and for four days there were a multitude of little things to accomplish.
Jolly got track of a closed show at Brenton where the chairs were for sale and drove an excellent bargain in their purchase, and also in the delivery.
It was Thursday night when for the first time the electric lights were turned on, so the boys could see how the playhouse 搒howed up,?as they expressed it. They all went out in front, Jolly turning the switches from inside. To the excited vision of the enthusiastic Pep the result was a burst of glory. The sign came out boldly. The many windows of the building, standing alone by itself as it did, made Randy think of a palace.
Frank was more than pleased. He was proud of his playhouse, proud of his loyal friends and deeply gratified as a crowd began to gather and he overheard their flattering and encouraging comments.
揥hy, I saw that blaze three blocks down the street,?declared a breathless urchin, coming up on a run.
揧es, it was so bright I thought it was a fire,?echoed a companion.
It was arranged that the three chums should visit their home town next morning. Jolly was left in charge of the playhouse and told them to have a good time and throw all care from their minds, as he would be able to complete all the arrangements for the opening Monday night.
The boys had a splendid time at Fairlands. They were highly elated over their business progress in the new venture and infused their families and friends with their own enthusiasm and delight. The Fairlands weekly paper printed a nice article about 揟hree Rising Young Business Men of Our Town,?and altogether as they took the train to return to Seaside Park each one of the trio felt that life was worth living and honorable business success a boon well worth striving for.
揂nd now for the grandest event of our life,?announced Pep, buoyantly棑the Opening Night!?