“I didn’t mean anything,” faltered the frightened actor. “I think I was too hasty. I apologize.”
“Be careful in the future,” advised Merry, releasing him.
Then Merry turned to the others, saying:
“Ladies and gentlemen, until Havener just brought the news, I did not know that Parker Folansbee was gone. It was a great surprise for me, as I did not dream he was a person to do such a thing. Even now I cannot feel that he has entirely deserted us. He may have left town rather than face us, but I hope he has been man enough to leave money behind that will enable us to return to Denver, at least. You must see that we are in the same box together. I am hit as hard as any of you, for I had hoped that Folansbee would stand by me so that I would be able to put the play in better shape and take it out again. I have lost him as a backer, and if he has skipped without leaving us anything, I have barely enough money to enable me to get back to Denver.”
“Haven’t you any way of getting hold of money?” asked Harper.
“Unfortunately, I have not,” answered Merry. “If I had money in my pocket I would spend the last cent to square this thing with you.”
“And I know that’s on the level!” chirped Cassie Lee.
“Well, it’s mighty tough!” muttered Billy Wynne. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
“We’ll have to get up some kind of a benefit for ourselves,” said Havener. “That’s the only thing left to do.”
“Come up to my room,” invited Miss Stanley, “and we’ll try to devise a scheme for raising the dust. Come on.”