“Penny!” her father called impatiently from outside. “We haven’t much time.”
Picking up the revolver, she hurriedly joined him.
“Dad, why not call the stunt off?” she began. “Something might go wrong—”
“We can’t call it off now,” her father cut in impatiently. Taking the revolver from her hand he gave it to Jerry. “Do your stuff, my boy, and don’t be afraid to put plenty of heat into the argument. Remember your cue?”
“I’m to start talking just as soon as the Mayor finishes his speech.”
“He’s winding it up now. So get up there fast.”
As Jerry started up the stairway, Penny trailed him.
“Someone must have been in the dressing room after I left the revolver there,” she revealed nervously. “Be sure to check it before you turn it over to Mr. Bates.”
The reporter nodded, scarcely hearing her words. His ears were tuned to the Mayor’s closing lines. A ripple of applause from the audience told him the speech already had ended.
Taking the last few steps in a leap, Jerry reached the wings where John Bates was waiting. He gave him the revolver and at once plunged into his lines. So convincingly did he argue about the stage lights that Penny found herself almost believing the disagreement was genuine.