Ben had to dress for his part. His ordinary suit was thought to be too good for a poor newsboy, and one was supplied by the management not much better than those worn by Patsy and Mike.
Ben was destined to have another auditor known to him. Mr. Snodgrass, finding that his evening was likely to be a lonely one, suddenly decided to go to the theater. On looking over the evening announcements, he was led to think that he would enjoy “The Belle of the Bowery,” at the People’s Theater.
Mr. Snodgrass was not always in funds, but he had received two dollars and a half that day from the Weekly Bugle for a column sketch, and he felt that he was justified in attending the play. He accordingly purchased a fifty-cent ticket, which gave him a seat in the balcony.
“I’d have taken Ben if he hadn’t gone off with that Mr. Wilkins,” said Sylvanus to himself. “I suppose he can’t afford to buy a ticket.”
Soon the curtain rose. There was a street scene, in which the characters were an old man from the country and a tough. There was a little altercation, and the countryman seemed likely to get the worst of it, when a newsboy ran in from the wings and sprang to his defense.
At the first words of the boy Mr. Snodgrass craned his head forward in amazement. The voice seemed very familiar. Was it—could it be Ben? A few words more, and he was forced to admit that it was.
“Well, I’ll be blowed!” he ejaculated.
I am afraid that these words were hardly in keeping with the character of a distinguished romancer, but they were actually used by Sylvanus Snodgrass.
It is needless to say that Mr. Snodgrass followed the play with the utmost attention, particularly when Ben was on the stage. Before the curtain fell on the last act he saw reason to feel proud of his friend and fellow-lodger, for Ben scored an unqualified success. He was perfectly at his ease, and threw himself earnestly into the part. He was not aware of the presence of Mr. Snodgrass, but he looked up to the gallery and saw Patsy and Mike applauding vociferously.
Toward the end of the third act enthusiasm was created by a bouquet which was thrown from one of the orchestra seats, evidently intended for Ben.