Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

22 TIP TOP WEEKLY. “I have thought of several things.” “Have we Been properly billed?” “Yes; our paper is up and our photograph boards are in the best windows.” ‘And no advance sale? How about the newspapers? Has Riddle done good work “as press agent?” “He has done well. enough, but I have found there is a report afloat that may have caused people to hold aloof.’ “Ah! Now we are getting at it!” For the moment Frank forgot about the wonderful discovery of his father. He was interested in the fate of their venture into Kansas City, where they were to fill three nights left by another company that had gone to the. wall. Of course, the show had been put in there ina hurry, ‘but Riddle had prophecied that they would be “dead sure winners, and they had come there with great hopes. Now it seemed that they were to re- ceive a set-back. “What is this report you speak of?’ asked Frank. _“A story that this is a fake show and will be closed up here by the manager of another show on whose rights we are trespassing by using a scene from one of his plays.” “Ts that it? Well, I wonder how such a yarn was started.” “Tt have been trying to find out, and I think I have discovered.” “You haver’ Vas.” “Tell.” “A certain individual has been here ahead of us.” “Name him.” “Lockwell.” “Hal” “The man at the box office told me Lock- well had been inquiring about our show.” “Then he has done everything possible to hurt us, and, being an actor, he knew just how to go about it to do the most harm. It is too bad!” “Hang the fellow!” drawied Folansbee, with a show of anger. neck {” eS “It is ‘plain he means to keep his word.” | Tht was a/Cnvenint Crack in ‘the Fl lor to Which Clif. Aunlied His Eye—Tip Top No. 36. | Td like to wring his. “Eh? What word?” ‘He promised that I should hear from him again. Ihave. But it may not be as bad as you fear. Our company is here, and we shall play. I do not believe we shall be disturbed.” “What’s the odds if we don’t get houses? I could not get in here at the usual thirty- seventy; I had to give the manager a lump sum for the three nights, and take our chances. The manager will be all right if we do not draw ten persons, for he has the mon- ey in his pocket. Iam the one who will get it in the neck.” “We'll see what can be done, Mr. Folans- bee.” “What can be done?” “That I cannot tell now, but we may find a way of working up business.” “We are up against some good things at the other theaters, and that makes it worse. Jefferson is playing at the——” “That will make no great difference with - us. . Jefferson plays first class, while we play to popular prices.” . “But Jacob Litt has a big spectacular affair running in town, and is packing his house every night. The manager of the theater where we are to appear told me Litt had killed the other show whose dates we are filling.” Frank could see that the situation was real- ly serious, and he felt that it was his duty to do all he could to bring out the people to See “John Smith.” But what could he do? That was a question not easily answered. And this had come about to perplex Frank just when the discovery of his father had diverted his mind for the time. But business was. business, and Merry felt that it was his duty to give his time to the show. However, he felt that he must see the mysterious Mr. Phenix without delay. ~ &Mr. ‘Folansbee,” he said, “I have some- thing I wish to attend to just now, but I will ‘return as soon as possible and try to. devise some scheme for getting out a house to- night.” Folansbee shook his head. “Go ahead and atténd to your business,” JOO (COINMAC SS (CO)