"I've heard beginners like you talk before," he said. "You think you are going to set the river on fire, but the river is not inflammable. I admire your nerve. I've heard how you drummed up business in Boomville, and you did well. But you can't do that sort of thing all the time. My friend, Wattles, wrote and told me that you would work things so that the house would be full when his company played, but he made a mistake that time."
"Did Mr. Wattles say that?" cried Al.
"He did; and I was surprised at it, for Wattles is not usually a very sanguine man."
"If he said it, I'll do it," announced the boy.
Again his companion laughed.
"There's nothing like youthful enthusiasm," he said, "and I acknowledge that it cuts lots of ice at times—but not every time. You might as well try to square the circle as to get a crowd here to-morrow evening. It can't be done."
"We'll see," responded Al, with the most confident air he could assume.
The task before him was a hard one, apparently an impossible one, but he resolved that he would try to accomplish it.
"Sail ahead, and do it if you can," said the manager, with something very much like a sneer. "I shall watch your methods with interest."
"It's a pity," said Al, "that you have only one morning paper here. Now if——"