FRANK ACCEPTS.
The following day Frank went down to the Thalia Theater at the time
appointed, and he found Manager Haley waiting for him in the box office,
as he had said he would be.
Merry was invited in, and he accepted the invitation. He was given an
introduction to the ticket seller, and then Haley asked him into a
little room adjoining the office.
“I’ve struck a man this morning to fill Storms’ place,” he said, “and
now, if we can make arrangements, the company will be all right again.”
“Did the officers arrest Storms?” asked Frank.
“No. He got away, but he’s broke, and they’ll get him all right, unless
he counts the ties.”
“Counts the ties?”
“Yes; walks out of town on the railroad. I’m glad to be rid of him. He
made a good ‘Legree,’ but he was a quarrelsome fellow, always kicking up
a fuss. He made more trouble in the company than all the others put
together.”
The manager opened a little closet door and took out a bottle and
glasses. He placed a glass before Frank on the table that served as a
desk, and then shoved the bottle toward Merry.
“Help yourself,” he urged. “I’ll get some water for chasers.”
“What is it?”
“Whisky—good whisky, too. Needn’t be afraid of it. Took particular pains
to get good stuff.”
“I do not care for any,” said Frank.
“Eh? Don’t? What’s the matter?”
“I never drink whisky.”
“Singular! Young man, good color, full of life. Can’t be you prefer
rum?”
“No, sir.”
“Brandy?”
“No. I do not drink.”
“Don’t drink? Why, you take something occasionally?”
“Never.”
“Is that so? What made you swear off? Going it pretty hard?”
“Didn’t swear off.”
“Didn’t?”
“No; I never took a drink of liquor in my life.”
Haley stared hard at Frank.
“If I were running a dime museum, I’d engage you as a freak,” he said,
in a manner that brought the color to Merry’s face. “You’ll excuse me if
I take a snifter. It’s my time for one.”
“Go ahead, sir,” bowed the youth.
So Haley poured out a brimming glass of the stuff and dashed it off
without a “chaser.”
“Ah!” he said, smacking his lips. “That’s all right. Better than we’ll
get when we get further west.”
He put away bottles and glasses. Then, turning to Frank once more,
produced a cigar case, opened it and held it out.
“Have a weed?” he invited.
“Excuse me,” protested Frank.
“What? Oh, go ahead! Those are no two-fers; they’re straight tens.
Needn’t be afraid of them.”
“I’m not afraid of them.”
“Not? What’s the matter, then?”
“I do not smoke.”
The manager stared harder than before.
“Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t——Do you swear?”
“No, sir.”
“Then I’m afraid you won’t make a first-class property man. No man can
handle properties unless he swears.”
Frank laughed.
“I didn’t suppose it was absolutely necessary to swear in order to do
any kind of work successfully,” he said.
“Never knew a property man who didn’t swear. If you take the place,
you’ll learn to swear within a week.”
“Then it must be a position that provokes a man’s ill nature?”
“It is—riles him all up. Going to tell you just what it is before we
talk business. Then you’ll know what you are going up against.”
Then the manager sat down and told Merry all about the requirements and
duties of a first-class property man.
“You see, it won’t be no fat job,” said Haley. “I’d rather you’d
understand at the start, for you might get disgusted with it after a
short time if you went with us thinking you had a soft snap.”
“I am not looking for snaps,” declared Merry. “I expect to work.”
“That’ll be all right. Some young chaps think traveling with a show and
acting is all play. Didn’t want you to start out with such a notion.
Gallup, who plays in the band, says you’re a wonder at anything you
attempt to do, and I’ve been making some inquiries about you in town
this morning. You did chop frost for a short time after getting a job on
the railroad, and that’s a fact. They say your rise was phenomenal. But
the strike knocked you out.”
“Yes; and now I must do something for a living. Doesn’t seem to be any
show for me to get a job railroading right away, so, if we agree, I am
willing to engage with you.”
They talked it over a long time, and finally came to terms. Frank was
not to receive much money at first, but Haley said he would do better
after he had learned all about his business.
Ephraim and Hans knew of Frank’s appointment with the manager, and they
were waiting for him outside the theater when he appeared. Both made a
dive for him.
“Did yeou do it?” asked Gallup, breathlessly.
“Yaw!” cried Hans, “did it do you?”
“I am going with the company, if that is what you want to know,” said
Frank.
“Glory!” shouted the Vermonter, catching his hand and wringing it.
“Py Chorch! dot vos pully!” gurgled Hans, getting hold of his other hand
and trying to pull his arm out of the socket.
“Say, we’ll jest have haydoogins of fun!” declared the Yankee youth.
“You pet my life!” fluttered the Dutch youth.
Frank went home and found little Nell there, anxiously awaiting his
return.
“What is it?” she asked, immediately on his appearance.
“I am engaged,” answered Merry.
A deep cloud came over her face, and she slowly turned away. He hastened
to her side.
“You know, I must do something for a living, Nellie,” he quickly said.
“I cannot remain idle.”
“I know,” she nodded, chokingly.
“I have been idle too long. Last night I did not sleep. I was thinking
of Elsie. I must earn money; I must find her. I feel that she needs my
aid.”
“But, Frank, you will not be able to find her if you are traveling over
the country with a show.”
“I shall be earning something. When spring comes, I shall go in search
of her.”
“Oh, but it will be so lonely when you are gone!”
Her face dropped in her hands, and she gave a choking sob. He had his
arm about her in a moment.
“It is not fated that we shall be together always, Nellie,” he said. “I
have been with you some time, and fortune has turned in your favor
during that time. You were blind when I first saw you; now you can see.
You have a snug little business which will grow, and you will prosper
and be happy.”
Her face was hidden by her hands, and she made no reply.
“Don’t do that way, Nellie!” he implored, gently. “We shall meet
again—some time.”
“Some time!” she sobbed. “When?”
“I can’t tell that.”
She turned quickly, reached up and put her arms about his neck, burying
her face on his breast, where she wept, while he vainly tried to comfort
her.
“Nellie, Nellie, don’t!” he pleaded, his own voice husky. “I can’t bear
this! Please don’t—for my sake!”
“For your sake!” she murmured. “For your sake, Frank, I’ll try not to
cry. You have been so good to us. Oh, I shall miss you so much! Heaven
bless and keep you, Frank! Heaven guide you to Elsie! May you
prosper—may you always be happy! I shall pray for you every night!”
“And I shall pray for you, dear little friend,” he said, in his sincere,
manly way. “I will write to you often.”
Then they sat down together, hand in hand, and talked of the future.
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