"Go and find out."
"But——"
"Allston! Allston!" came from all parts of the theater.
"Go on!"
And Mr. Wattles fairly pushed his companion upon the stage.
It is not necessary to say that Al was greatly embarrassed as he confronted the sea of faces. His appearance was greeted with wild cheers, though the audience did not know what they were cheering about.
In a few moments silence was again restored through the efforts of Maj. Duncan, who then cleared his throat and began:
"It may not be known to many of you that we have a hero, a genuine hero, among us, but it is a fact. And that hero now stands blushingly upon the stage before us. Ladies and gentlemen, picture to yourselves this scene—a team of maddened horses rushing at a terrible rate of speed directly for a spot where a defenseless child has fallen on the highway. Apparently the little girl is doomed to a horrible death. The spectators stand spellbound—all save one, a youth. He rushes forward and, at the risk of his own life, saves the child from the fate that a moment before seemed inevitable. That youth, ladies and gentlemen, was Allen Allston; the little girl he rescued was the child of our mayor."
The major's rather theatrical speech was here interrupted by frantic applause, much to the orator's gratification and Al's embarrassment.
When silence once more reigned the major went on: