"Get the skiff back where you found it, Randy," directed Frank. "I will be with you soon," and he started the launch back for the spot where he had been allowed to use it by its owner.

A chorus of cheers followed him. Glancing across the pier, Frank noted the owner of the motor boat surrounded by a crowd and being interviewed by two young fellows who looked like newspaper reporters. One of them parted the throng suddenly and ran along the pier, focussing a camera upon the launch. He took a snap shot and waved his hand with an admiring gesture at its operator.

"Young man, I don't know when I have been so pleased and proud,"

observed the owner of the launch as Frank drove up to the pier where he stood. "I'm glad I had my boat at hand and as bright and smart a fellow as you to run it just in the nick of time."

Frank felt pleased over his efforts to be helpful to others. He was too boyish and ingenuous not to suffer some embarra.s.sment as he pa.s.sed little groups staring after him. Such remarks as "That's him!" "There he goes!" "Plucky fellow!" and the like greeted his hearing and made him blush consciously.

He found his friends down the beach, Randy laughing at Pep and joking with him, the latter seated on the edge of the boardwalk emptying the water out of his shoes and grumbling at a great rate.

"What's the trouble, Pep?" hailed Frank.

"Trouble! Say, whenever I think of my chance to duck that cheap cad we took aboard the skiff I want to lam myself. 'Jumped overboard to hurry for help,' he claimed. Then found 'that he had forgotten he couldn't swim.' Bah!" and the irate Pep slammed his shoe down on a board as if it was the head of the offensive and offending Peter Carrington.

"We'll go up town and get you dried out, Pep," remarked Frank. "I say, fellows, I'm inclined to believe that we're going to find an opportunity of some kind here at Seaside Park. The little hotel we inquired at seems to be the cheapest in the place, and we had better make arrangements there for a sort of headquarters, even if we don't stay here more than a day or two."

"That suits," nodded Randy. "The man offered a double room on the top floor for a dollar, and we can pick up our meals outside."

The three chums concluded the arrangement at the Beach Hotel.

Fortunately each had brought an extra suit of clothes on his journey, and Pep was placed in comfortable trim once more. Then they sallied forth again to make a tour of the parts of the little town they had not previously visited.

"Just look at the crowds right within a stone's throw of the place we are thinking of renting," said Pep, as quite naturally they wandered back to the empty store so suited to their purposes and so desired by each.

"Yes, and it keeps up from almost daybreak clear up to midnight,"

declared Randy. "Why, Frank, we could run three shifts four hours each.

Just think of it-twelve shows a day. Say, it would be a gold mine!"

"I agree with you that it looks very promising," decided Frank. "We must do some close figuring, fellows."

"Let's go inside and look the building over again," suggested Pep, and this they did.

"Why, h.e.l.lo!" instantly exclaimed the owner. "Back again?"

"Yes, Mr. Morton," replied Frank, pleasantly.

"Shake!" cried the old fellow, dropping a hammer he held and in turn grasping a hand of each of his juvenile visitors. "You're some pluck, the three of you. That was the neatest round-up I ever saw. What you been before? Life saving service?"

"Why, hardly--" began Frank.

"Well, you got those people off that burning motor boat slicker than I ever saw it done before. Look here, lads, business is business, and I have to hustle too hard for the dollars to take any risks, but I like the way you do things, and if I can help you figure out how you may take a lease on the premises here and make something out of the old barracks, I'm going to favor you."

"We shall decide this evening, Mr. Morton," said Frank.

"Well, you've got an option on the place till you are ready to report, no matter who comes along."

"Thank you," bowed Frank.

"Oh, I do so hope we can make it!" exclaimed the impetuous Pep.

They were hungry enough to enjoy a hearty meal at a restaurant. Then they found themselves tired enough for a resting spell. Their room at the hotel was a lofty one, but it commanded the whole beach and afforded an un.o.bstructed view of the sea for miles. The chums arranged their chairs so as to catch the cool breeze coming off the water, forming a half-circle about an open window.

Frank had been pretty quiet since they had last seen the vacant store, leaving Randy and Pep to do the chattering. They knew their business chum had been doing some close calculating and they eagerly awaited his first word.

"Tell you, fellows," finally spoke their leader in an offhand but serious way, "I've turned and twisted about all the many corners to this big proposition before us, and it's no trivial responsibility for amateurs like us."

"We made good at Fairlands; didn't we?" challenged Pep.

"That is true," admitted Frank, "but remember our investment there wasn't heavy; we didn't have to go into debt, expenses were light, we were right among friends who wanted to encourage us, and we had free board at home."

"That's so," murmured Randy, with a long-drawn sigh.

"If we start in here at Seaside Park," went on Frank, "we have got to fix up right up to date or we'll find ourselves nowhere in a very little while. There's electric fans, expensive advertising, a big license fee, more help and the films-that's the feature that worries me. As we learned this morning, we have got to have the latest and best in that direction."

"But twelve shows a day, Frank," urged Pep. "Think of it-twelve!"

"Yes, I know," responded Frank. "It looks very easy until some break comes along. I wouldn't like to pile up a lot of expenses, and then have to flunk and lose not only the little capital we have but the outfit we've worked so hard to get. Truth is, fellows, any way I figure it out, we're short of the ready funds to carry this thing through."

Randy and Pep looked pretty blank at this. It was a decidedly wet blanket on all their high hopes.

"Couldn't we get a partner who would finance us?" finally suggested Randy.

"Why, say, give me that chance!" spoke an eager voice that brought the three chums to their feet.

CHAPTER IV-AN OLD FRIEND

It had grown nearly dusk while the three chums sat at the window of their room animatedly discussing their prospects. None of them had thought of lighting the gas and the night shadows that had crept into the room prevented them from recognizing the intruder whom they now faced.

They had left the door of the room leading into the corridor wide open to allow a free current of air. The doorway framed a dim figure who now advanced into the room as Frank challenged sharply:

"Who's that?"

"Why, it's me-Peter," came the cool reply. "Don't you remember?"

Peter-Peter Carrington-stalked closer to the window with the superb effrontery that was a natural part of his make-up. He ducked his head and grinned at the chums in the most familiar manner in the world. There was a spare chair near by. Peter moved it near to the others and sat down as if he owned it.

"Feels good to rest," he enlightened his grim and astonished hosts. "Had a message for you, and the hotel clerk directed me to your room. Say, you must fancy climbing four flights of stairs!"

"You seem to have made it," observed Randy, in a rather hostile tone, while Pep seemed bristling all over.

"Glad I did," piped Peter, cheerfully. "Wouldn't have missed it for worlds. Just in time to hear you fellows going over your dandy scheme, and say-it's a winner! Photo playhouse on the beach! Why, it'll coin money!"

n.o.body said anything. Frank was minded to treat the intruder civilly and resumed his chair. Suddenly Pep flared out:

"Have you been waiting out in the hall there, listening to our private conversation?"