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 name
of 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 his
fists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow"
referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at
this precise moment.

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

A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing
at them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people
feel 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 that
trick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in the
past there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the
mistake of his life."