{"product_id":"2940014520089","title":"Ahead of the Show","description":"\"If I had that fellow here I'd make him wish he'd never heard the name\u003cbr\u003eof Augustus Wattles. And I'll do it some day, too.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe manager and proprietor of Wattles' New York Comedy Company was very,\u003cbr\u003every \"mad.\" His naturally florid face was redder than usual, and his\u003cbr\u003efists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the \"fellow\"\u003cbr\u003ereferred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at\u003cbr\u003ethis precise moment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with the\u003cbr\u003elocal manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share his\u003cbr\u003ediscomfiture and anger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing\u003cbr\u003eat them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people\u003cbr\u003efeel for members of the theatrical profession.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It's pretty tough,\" said Mr. Perley, \"but it isn't my fault.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I know it isn't. Well, this is the last time that loafer will play that\u003cbr\u003etrick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in the\u003cbr\u003epast there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the\u003cbr\u003emistake of his life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course, you will discharge him?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You had better believe I will. A healthy sort of advance agent he is!\u003cbr\u003eThink of my bringing my company to a town of the importance of\u003cbr\u003eBoomville, to find that absolutely no advance work has been done, that\u003cbr\u003emy advance agent, to whom I pay a fancy salary, has not even showed his\u003cbr\u003eface in the town.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I suppose he has succumbed to his old complaint?\" said Mr. Perley.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course; he is drunk beyond the shadow of a doubt, and may not show\u003cbr\u003eup again for a week. Well, when he does, he'll meet with a warm\u003cbr\u003ereception from me. We ought to have had an eight-hundred-dollar house\u003cbr\u003eto-night, and now we'll be lucky if we take in half that amount.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I don't expect we'll do as well as that. It wouldn't have made so much\u003cbr\u003edifference under ordinary circumstances, but, as luck will have it,\u003cbr\u003ethey've got the strongest attraction of the season at the other\u003cbr\u003ehouse--the 'Crack of Doom' Company. You know that's a big puller\u003cbr\u003eeverywhere.\"","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47152866590960,"sku":"2940014520089","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014520089_p0.jpg?v=1763610304","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014520089","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}