by Fred Thorpe
CHAPTER II.
AL TALKS BUSINESS.
Mr. Wattles stared at the boy a moment in speechless surprise, thenburst into a loud laugh.
"You don't mean to say," he almost gasped, "that you made thatapplication 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 noproof 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 theboy.
"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 completenovelty, 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 youthfulcompanion with an expression indicative of bewilderment.
"I've got him now sure," murmured the lad, but his companion did nothear 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 luckywe met."
"Yes," interrupted Mr. Wattles, "but what the mischief do you know aboutthe 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 trapezeby 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 Ithink 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 chanceto watch the movements of most of the theatrical people who come to thistown, 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 arevery slick, but I think that if I had a little experience I should be asslick 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 likeyou 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 afew 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 agood many dollars into the thing, and I can't afford to experiment. Ifso much did not depend upon the result, if I were running a cheap sideshow, I might give you the trial you ask, but----"
"I wouldn't have anything to do with any such show," interrupted theboy. "I don't intend to be that sort of advance agent. But I canunderstand how you feel, sir."
"Then you can also understand how impossible it is for me to engage yourservices."
"Oh, no, I can't understand that at all, Mr. Wattles. Now let me ask youa question."
"What is it?"
"I heard you tell Mr. Perley that you did not expect there would be fourhundred dollars in the house to-night."
"That's what I said. I shall be agreeably disappointed if there is asmuch 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 advanceagent's work, but, just to show you that I have a little snap andbusiness ability, I will guarantee to fill the opera house to its utmostcapacity to-night, if you will agree to give me a chance as advanceagent 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 thedisadvantages 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 sayto 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 'Crackof Doom' Company, do you?"
"I do not."
"Well, I'll show you that I can, and get you not only a full house, butthe elite of the place."
"Well, well," interrupted Mr. Wattles, impatiently, "have done withpreliminaries and let me know how you propose to accomplish all this."