We have thus far said nothing of our hero's past, nor shall we now; we will let him tell the story himself, as he did the next morning when he visited the mayor's office.
Ten o'clock was the time Mr. Anderson had appointed for their interview, but Al was off hand a little before that hour. Mr. Wattles had told him that he must leave Boomville for the next town at noon, and he knew he had no time to waste.
The mayor received him cordially.
"I'm delighted to see you, my dear young friend," was his greeting, as he grasped the boy's hand. "We had a grand success last night, did we not? And it was all due to your efforts. If it had not been for your persistency Mrs. Anderson would not have appeared."
"Then you are not sorry that she played, sir?" questioned Al, somewhat surprised at the mayor's enthusiasm.
"Sorry? Not a bit of it! Why, it was one of the grandest triumphs in the history of the American stage."
Al had his own opinion on that point, but he did not express it; he only said:
"The audience seemed to be very much pleased with Mrs. Anderson's work."
"Pleased! Of course they were pleased. How could they help it? As for myself, I was as much delighted as I was surprised. I have given my consent to Mrs. Anderson's second appearance to-night."
"Indeed, sir?"