"She asked me if I would get her Queen Victoria's autograph, in that case. She also asked me for my own. I promised her the queen's if I were able to obtain it."
"Didn't she ask for my autograph?" asked Mr. Montgomery, with a twinge of professional jealousy.
"She said she was going to ask you for it."
"I shall be glad to gratify her," said Montgomery, condescendingly. "I am often asked for an autograph."
"That was my first application," said Dean smiling.
"You are not as old as I. Long before you are, your autograph will be in demand."
For three weeks the combination continued to give entertainments, arranging from two to three a week. They did not again meet with the success which had greeted them at Granville, but in almost every case they made expenses, and a fair sum besides. At the end of this time, each of the partners found himself possessed of about forty dollars.
At the close of a concert at a small town in Missouri, on returning to the hotel, Mr. Montgomery chanced to take up a copy of the New York Herald in the office. He ran over the advertisements on the first page, including the "Personals," when all at once his color changed, and he looked agitated.
"What's the matter, Mr. Montgomery?" asked Dean.
"Bad news, my boy!" said the actor sadly. "Look at that!"