And, without waiting for a reply, Al left the room.
"Well," said Mr. Wattles, drawing a long breath, "I never saw the equal of that kid. Do you know, I think he will do what he has promised."
Mr. Perley shook his head.
"It's out of the question now," he said. "Mayor Anderson is one of the stubbornest men in the world; if he has said that his wife shall not appear, she will not. The boy was talking through his hat."
"Well," said the manager of the New York Comedy Company, "all we can do now is to trust to luck. Go ahead and let the people in, and we'll see whether this confounded stage-struck female turns up or not. Somehow, I believe the lad knew what he was talking about."
Meantime Al had reached the mayor's house, a pretentious mansion on the most fashionable thoroughfare in Boomville.
In response to the rather supercilious "What is it?" from the servant who opened the door, he presented his card and asked to see Mrs. Anderson.
"I don't think she'll see you," said the flunky, "but I'll give her your card if you wish."
"I do wish," said the boy. "Give her the card, and tell her that I wish to see her on very important business that will admit of no delay."
The man left with the card. In a few moments he returned, saying with a grin: