The stage was a poor affair, with just two sets of scenery, one of which could be used for a center door fancy by supposing that the audience would permit a broad stretch of imagination.
The footlights were plain kerosene lamps, as were the other lights in the hall.
The curtain rolled on a big heavy roller, and Havener had warned all the company not to get under it and permit it to come down on them at the finish of an act.
"There will be some sudden deaths if you do," he said. "It is heavy enough to finish a man if it struck him on the head."
When Frank came onto the stage there was a profound silence in the hall.
That silence was broken by a sound to stir the blood.
A hiss!
Where it came from no one could tell, but all heard it distinctly.
Frank was not rattled. He did not even glance toward the audience to see if he could tell from what quarter the odious hiss came. It is possible there was a slight tightening of his nerves, and it is certain that a certain thought flashed through his head:
"That was Harris!"