The last audience had dispersed, but around and near the Wonderland a great many persons and groups loitered or strolled along leisurely. They were the late stayers about the beach, and had the lights been left on and the ticket office open many of them no doubt would have entered the playhouse.

"Enough is as good as a feast," laughed Randy, hugging his tin cash box under his arm with great complacency. "It couldn't have been better."

"I guess we've hit it this time," p.r.o.nounced Pep, proudly.

"That isn't always so hard to do at the start," advised Hal Vincent.

"It's keeping it up that counts. You want to advertise now-new stunts, novelties, attractions."

"Attractions!" cried Pep. "Can the best of them beat those cornet solos?

Novelties! Why, those talking pictures will be the hit of the town."

"You are a famous friend, Mr. Vincent," spoke Frank, warmly.

"And ought to be a famous man," supplemented Jolly, loyally. "He's worth putting on a special programme, Durham."

"I got through with my city lawsuit just in time," explained Vincent.

"Made quite a good settlement, too. First thing I did was to release my wardrobe and dummies from embargo. They are ready to ship to any point where I may find an engagement."

"Then give your order for their delivery at Seaside Park forthwith, Mr.

Vincent," directed Frank, spontaneously. "I'll risk saying that we can pay you what is fair for a month's steady run at least."

"Things seem to be building up right along the line; don't they, Pep?"

piped the piano player briskly, giving his favorite a friendly slap on the shoulder.

"Oh!" cried Randy, "we're going to find all kinds of fame and fortune at Seaside Park."

"By-the-wild-sea-waaa-ves!" added the versatile Vincent, throwing his ventriloquist voice way off over the beach in a sing-song way that startled pa.s.sers-by.

CHAPTER XVII-BOASTFUL PETER

"Somebody at the door, Pep."

"All right, I'll attend to them."

Jolly was rearranging the chairs after sweeping out the playhouse and Pep was dusting, when there came a summons at the front door. It was a smart tapping and Pep wondered who it could be. He released one door to confront an impressive-looking individual, with a light cane in his hand and a face that somehow made Pep think of a stranded actor.

"This is the Wonderland, I a.s.sume?" spoke the caller, grandiloquently.

"You have a.s.sumed right," replied Pep.

"Mr. Frank Durham, proprietor?"

"One of them."

"Can I see Mr. Durham personally. Important business."

"Certainly. This way," directed Pep, and he led the way to the living room at the rear.

"What did I tell you!" half groaned Hal Vincent into Frank's ear the moment he set eyes on the newcomer.

"Ah, Mr. Durham-forgotten me, I suppose?" airily intimated the visitor, as he entered the room.

"Not at all," replied Frank, with a pleasant smile, as he arose from the desk at which he was seated.

Jolly had got hold of a very presentable desk in his trading. It had been set in a convenient corner of the room and const.i.tuted the "office"

of the Wonderland.

It was the ubiquitous Booth whom Frank greeted. He knew the man at a glance and so did Vincent. The latter viewed the new arrival suspiciously and with a none too cordial bow. There was something that appealed to Frank in the visionary old fellow, however, and he treated him courteously.

Booth bore unmistakable signs of prosperity and contentment. He now wore a brand new glossy silk tile, lemon colored gloves, was cleanly shaven and exploited an irreproachable collar and bright red necktie. He might have been one of the amus.e.m.e.nt kings of America judging from the immense gravity and dignity of his demeanor. Mr. Booth drew out a memorandum book with several bank notes folded between its pages and straightened his neat gold eyegla.s.ses.

"I have some very pretentious business offerings for you, Mr. Durham,"

he volunteered. "However, before we proceed any farther, there is a matter of unfinished business-a trivial obligation. Let me see?" and he flipped over several leaves of the memorandum book. "Ah, yes, this is it: 'Acceptance, one hundred and fifty.' No, that is not it. 'Note at bank'-wrong again. Here we have it: 'I. O. U., one dollar.' I had forgotten the amount," and he handed Frank a bill for that amount.

"Many thanks, Mr. Durham. Adversity is the common lot, and such cheerful a.s.sistance as that which you accorded me at New York City is of the kind that keeps the human heart warm with those who honorably expect to pay their debts. Now then, sir, to the important business mission which brought me here."

Vincent looked darkly suspicious, Frank mildly inquisitive, Randy wondered what was coming, and Pep was curiously expectant.

"The inauguration of two new photo playhouses at Seaside Park has offered a certain scope of opportunity for my line of specialization,"

proceeded Booth. "I have canva.s.sed the town and have done some very satisfactory initial business, believe me, Mr. Durham."

"I am very glad to hear that," spoke Frank, heartily.

"Beyond my expectations, I may say," declared the enterprising advance agent. "You are open for curtain features, sir?"

"Of the right kind, most certainly," a.s.sented Frank.

"High cla.s.s with me, sir, always," declared Booth. "I have one contract of quite some magnitude. It is a continuous one, with a feature that will enhance your business materially. Perhaps I had better show you.

How is that, sir?"

The advance agent presented a card. Upon it a photograph had been pasted and under this was the reading:

"Who am I? Meet me face to face!"

"Why," smiled Frank in some mystification, "this is a picture of the back of a man's head?"

"Exactly so-that's just it!" nodded Booth, animatedly. "In me you see the inventor of that most original idea. I wish you to have that made into a slide. You throw the picture on the screen during the intermissions. A blank card is given to every person with the admission ticket. It is announced that the picture represents a well known local merchant. Who is he? The audience is given a chance to vote and the cards are collected. To those who guess correctly a one-pound box of finest chocolates is delivered next day. These confections, done up in handsome boxes, you pile up in your front windows with a neat placard explaining the scheme. A custom drawer; eh, Mr. Durham?"

"Why, I must say it is quite a novel and ingenious plan," admitted Frank.

"Got to have some attraction like that to interest new business, sir,"

declared Booth. "I have presented the plan to you first, because you stood my friend in time of need and because I am informed that you operate the leading playhouse here at Seaside Park."

"Are you authorized to make a deal on that business, Booth?" inquired Vincent, in a blunt, matter-of-fact way.