A GRAND SUCCESS
A deep hush pervaded the audience. The people were spellbound. Even Pep, standing against the side wall, felt a thrill pass through him. So natural and fitting had been the climax of the picture that its effect was apparent in a general rustling梐 deep breath that swayed the onlookers.
The wrecker turned and his lips again moved as if to form for a signal whistle. Shrilly the call wavered about the scene.
揂 talking picture!?Pep heard someone whisper.
揑t抯 great!?echoed another voice.
A magnificent Newfoundland dog came bounding down the beach. Its young master held a coil of rope in his hand. He seemed swayed by conflicting emotions. Then he appeared to arrive at a conclusion.
He would not see that noble ship go to pieces on the rocks! He secured one end of the rope to the collar of the animal and made signs. The intelligent dog lifted his head. A joyous, willing bark rang out. It was real條ike the call條ike the whistle.
揋inger!?exclaimed Pep Smith, in a stupefied way.
The dog disappeared. Then a dim light showed far out at sea and there sounded out the distant echo of the foghorn of a steamer. It was so familiar to the audience, so natural, that more than one among them probably lost himself and almost fancied he was standing on that lonely storm-lashed beach with the wrecker.
The film ran its course梩he rope was carried by the faithful dog to the imperiled ship. A safety line was sent ashore. Passengers and crew were all saved and among them a beautiful young girl.
The last picture showed a lovely garden梩he grounds of the home of the father of the rescued girl. She was reading a book in a vernal bower. The wrecker, her lover, appeared. Birds swayed among the blossoming branches of the trees. He spoke梥he listened. Then, arm in arm, they walked slowly from the garden to the accompaniment of soft bird notes that filled the whole house with the most ravishing melody.
The lights came on amid furious and genuine applause. A delighted and excited old man jumped up on his chair and waved his hat, shouting:
揟hree cheers for the best show on earth!?
揟hat was just famous.?
揗ust be one of those new speaking pictures.?
揙h, we must get all the folks to come to this delightful show!?
Pep抯 heart beat proudly as the audience filed out and he overheard this encouraging praise. He could hardly contain himself. Then he noticed Ben Jolly beckoning to him and he glided over to the piano. Jolly抯 face was one broad, delighted smile.
揌ow was it, Pep??he inquired.
揘o, what was it!?corrected Pep in a fluster, and then he noticed that the cornetist had remained seated梐nd he guessed something.
揌im??he questioned.
揅orrect!?replied Jolly. 揋ive Durham the tip. It抯 Hal Vincent. Durham must have noticed the brilliant accompaniment to the films and I don抰 want to get him rattled wondering what抯 up.?
Pep had some difficulty in getting to the operator抯 booth. A long line of people were in place at the doors and they came in with a rush as the room was emptied. Pep tapped and Frank told him to come in.
揇id you hear梔id you notice it??spoke Pep, excitedly.
揥hy, of course,?replied Frank. 揑 couldn抰 understand it at first, but I know it must be some professional imitator.?
揑t was Mr. Vincent. He wore a false beard.?
揧ou don抰 say so!?cried Frank.
揧es, and he was the cornetist outside, too.?Pep went on.
揂ll a piece of Mr. Jolly抯 work, I suppose??
揙f course,?replied Pep. 揥hen he got that message this afternoon Mr. Vincent was probably at the hotel. Then he arranged to surprise us.?
揑t抯 more than a surprise梚t抯 given tone and novelty to the whole entertainment.?
The routine of set duties prevented the boys from prolonging the conversation. Jolly had begun the intermission overture and the seats were filling up fast. A good many had remained from the first audience. It took little circulating among the benches for Pep to learn that 揂 Wrecker抯 Romance,?with its realistic interpretation, was responsible for this.
There was not a break in the second show, but there was a great surprise for the boys when the third and last programme began. A good many who had been to the National had got around to the rival playhouse. Home-going crowds from the beach made a stop.
揘early fifty people turned away,?reported Randy, as Pep slipped out to have a word with him.
揟here must have been over eight hundred admissions,?figured Pep.
揙ne thousand, one hundred and fifty exactly,?reported Randy.
揥hy, say,?cried Pep, 揳t that rate we抮e going to be rich!?
揌ey, young fellow,?hailed a man appearing at this moment棑I suppose there抯 a free list for friends??
揑 should say so,?responded Pep, recognizing the workman at the National he had gotten so chummy with. 揝tep right in, although I抦 afraid I can抰 offer you a seat.?
揅rowded as that; eh??spoke the man. 揟hat抯 fine.?
揌ow is it at the National??asked Pep. 揇o they keep busy??
揈very seat taken, but then you know they gave away a lot of tickets. Why, say,?proceeded the man as they got inside, 揑 had no idea you could fix this place up so nifty.?
揑 suppose they opened at the National before they were all ready??suggested Pep, who was dreadfully curious about the proceedings of Peter Carrington and his friends.
揑 should say they did! They had to use boards for seats and several of them split in two. The funniest thing, though, was when one of the private boxes broke down.?
揝ay,?propounded Pep, 揹id they really build some private boxes??
揟hey did, for a fact. They were no use and no ornament, and the fellow who bosses things梙is name is Beavers梜icked big against it. Young Carrington would have it, though, so we hurried through the best we could to-day. We told him the floor wasn抰 in and not to move the chairs about, but he got in there with some chums. First thing we knew one of them shifted his position, and the three of them went through the floor and landed sprawling on top of the piano. It was a sight, I tell you, and the audience roared.?
揥ell, I declare!?spoke Jolly, an hour later, as he came to the front of the playhouse with Vincent. 揟he last entertainment over and I believe you could gather up enough to run another show.?
揑t certainly looks like it,?added Frank.
The last audience had dispersed, but around and near the Wonderland a great many persons and groups loitered or strolled along leisurely. They were the late stayers about the beach, and had the lights been left on and the ticket office open many of them no doubt would have entered the playhouse.
揈nough is as good as a feast,?laughed Randy, hugging his tin cash box under his arm with great complacency. 揑t couldn抰 have been better.?
揑 guess we抳e hit it this time,?pronounced Pep, proudly.
揟hat isn抰 always so hard to do at the start,?advised Hal Vincent. 揑t抯 keeping it up that counts. You want to advertise now梟ew stunts, novelties, attractions.?
揂ttractions!?cried Pep. 揅an the best of them beat those cornet solos? Novelties! Why, those talking pictures will be the hit of the town.?
揧ou are a famous friend, Mr. Vincent,?spoke Frank, warmly.
揂nd ought to be a famous man,?supplemented Jolly, loyally. 揌e抯 worth putting on a special programme, Durham.?
揑 got through with my city lawsuit just in time,?explained Vincent. 揗ade quite a good settlement, too. First thing I did was to release my wardrobe and dummies from embargo. They are ready to ship to any point where I may find an engagement.?
揟hen give your order for their delivery at Seaside Park forthwith, Mr. Vincent,?directed Frank, spontaneously. 揑抣l risk saying that we can pay you what is fair for a month抯 steady run at least.?
揟hings seem to be building up right along the line; don抰 they, Pep??piped the piano player briskly, giving his favorite a friendly slap on the shoulder.
揙h!?cried Randy, 搘e抮e going to find all kinds of fame and fortune at Seaside Park.?
揃y梩he梬ild梥ea梬aaa-ves!?added the versatile Vincent, throwing his ventriloquist voice way off over the beach in a sing-song way that startled passers-by.