Part 20 (1/2)

”I am,” replied the advance agent with emphasis. ”My client will sign a contract. He is one of the most reliable business men in the community.

In later curtain features, first the rear view and then the front view and advertis.e.m.e.nt of my client's business will be delineated on the screen. I have several other features to follow this one. I can make it worth your while to enter into a contract.”

”I see no objection to your proposition,” returned Frank, after a moment's reflection. ”I dislike any prize lottery contests, or anything that approaches the gambling idea; but this suggestion of yours seems clean and honest.”

He went over details with Booth and was pleased to realize that quite a neat little income was promised from this unexpected feature of the entertainments.

”I declare, that is the first coherent scheme I ever knew Booth to put through,” a.s.serted Vincent, as the advance agent took his departure. ”If he sticks at this in a business-like way it looks as if he would make some real money. He goes off on a tangent every once in a while, Durham.

You needn't be surprised if he drops in some day with one of his wild schemes, like dropping free tickets over the town from a balloon.”

”Ready to go to the bank, Randy?” inquired Frank, in quite a flutter, taking the bank book from a pigeonhole in the desk.

”Yes,” replied Randy, taking a neatly done-up package from his tin cash box. ”I've sorted out everything above fifty cents for deposit.”

”That's right-always keep a good supply of small change on hand,”

advised Jolly. ”I say, Durham, what about the daytime shows?”

”We had better canva.s.s that situation during the day,” replied Frank.

”We might give it a trial, say, day after to-morrow.”

”I don't think a morning show would pay us,” suggested Vincent. ”You might work in three matinees, though, especially when the beach gets more crowded.”

Randy invited Pep to go down to the bank with him. They felt pretty good over the pleasant way things were going.

”We're in the swim, sure,” declared Pep, animatedly.

”Yes, and drifting along most delightfully,” agreed Randy.

”Sort of a howling capitalist; aren't you!” railed Pep, as they reached the bank, and with a due sense of importance his companion handed in bank book and money at the receiving teller's window.

”You needn't talk,” retorted Randy-”you're 'a bloated bondholder'; aren't you?”

Pep winced at the allusion. As they pa.s.sed down the steps of the bank they came face to face with two of their business rivals. They were Peter Carrington and Greg Grayson. Pep carelessly and Randy rather distantly bowed to the two boys and were about to pa.s.s on their way.

”Hold on,” sang out Peter, in his usual abrupt style. ”Had quite a house last night; didn't you? So did we.”

”I heard so,” observed Pep. ”What's the matter with your private box department, though?”

”Oh, accidents will happen,” returned Peter. ”Say, look out for a big hit, though, in a day or two.”

”That so?” said Pep.

”You bet! Isn't that so, Greg?”

Greg Grayson a.s.sented with a nod. He looked mean and probably felt the same way. He had sense enough to realize that his past record with the moving picture chums, taken in conjunction with his present appearance on a new scene, showed him up in a poor light.

”Yes, sir,” vaunted Peter, swelling as if some big idea had sprouted in that dull brain of his; ”we're going to spring a motion picture sensation on Seaside Park that will about make us.”