Ahead of the Show; Or, The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent

by Fred Thorpe

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  No. 77Bound-to-Win Library

  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....

  Street and Smith, Publishers238 William Street, New York

  Copyright, 1897By 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 nameof 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 hisfists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow"referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene atthis precise moment.

  He stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with thelocal manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share hisdiscomfiture and anger.

  A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazingat them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many peoplefeel 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 thattrick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in thepast there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making themistake 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 ofBoomville, to find that absolutely no advance work has been done, thatmy advance agent, to whom I pay a fancy salary, has not even showed hisface 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 showup again for a week. Well, when he does, he'll meet with a warmreception from me. We ought to have had an eight-hundred-dollar houseto-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 muchdifference under ordinary circumstances, but, as luck will have it,they've got the strongest attraction of the season at the otherhouse--the 'Crack of Doom' Company. You know that's a big pullereverywhere."

  "Sure. They have a railway collision, a tank of real water, a buzz sawand 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 ofdiamonds on her way here, and the soubrette is going to marry ChaunceyDepew. And they give souvenirs to-night in honor of the five hundredthperformance of the piece."

  "They've been giving that five hundredth performance in every townthey've played in for the last month; and their souvenirs are not worthover fifty cents a gross."

  "All very true, but the public will have 'em. I hoped your advance manwould 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 manwho 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 getleft in this way again, you can bet your boots!"

  "That's all right," growled Mr. Perley, "but it doesn't help out thepresent engagement any."

  "No, but we are joint sufferers in that, and we may as well grin andbear it."

  And the irate manager of the New York Comedy Company started for thetelegraph office with fire in his eyes and a look of determination onhis face.

  Neither he nor Mr. Perley had observed the presence in the little groupof 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 themanager started to walk away, he muttered:

  "This is the chance I have been looking for; I won't let the opportunityslip. It doesn't seem as if there would be much hope for me, but there'sno harm in trying, anyhow."

  He followed Mr. Wattles, and just before that gentleman reached thetelegraph 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 detaininghand 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 animportant 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 toNew 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 housejust 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 inBoomville."

  "An advance agent to be picked up
offhand in this place? That would betoo 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 totake an inexperienced jay from a town like this and send him ahead of anorganization like Wattles' New York Comedy Company? Well, hardly. I'vegot 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 itseems nonsense. But I shall get my man all right."

  "I suppose you are going to request an immediate answer to yourtelegram, 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 friendhas 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, orwhatever he is doing, and keep out of the theatrical business; we havetoo 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, "hemight do something in the business."

  In a few minutes the message had been sent. An hour and a half later amessenger entered the lobby of the hotel with a telegram.

  "For me?" questioned the manager, who had been impatiently pacing thefloor for the last twenty minutes.

  "Yes, sir."

  Mr. Wattles tore open the envelope.

  A muttered exclamation escaped his lips as he hurriedly perused themessage.

  "Well, sir?" said a voice at his elbow.

  Turning, he confronted the lad with whom he had had the brief interviewwhich 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 anothermanager. Well, send your friend round and I'll talk with him."

  "He is here, sir."

  "Where?"

  "I am Allen Allston."