“Let me out—let me out!” came next, apparently from a big sample case a colored porter was carrying for a traveling salesman. Down came the case with a slam and the porter stood regarding it with distended eyes and quivering face.
“Lawsy sakes, boss!” he gurgled—“what you done got in dere?” and very gingerly and rapidly he carried the case into the coach when prevailed upon to do so by its somewhat startled owner.
Then with a smile the versatile Vincent jumped aboard of the train, waving his hand cheerily in adieu to his smiling friends.
“A jolly good fellow, that,” commented Frank, as the train pulled out. “I only hope we will be able to afford to engage his talents for the new Wonderland.”
“You’ve just got to,” vociferated Pep. “He’s a regular drawing card and a show all in himself.”
And now came the real work of the motion picture chums. The new photo playhouse was all ready for the outfit, and when that was brought from the freight house there was plenty of lifting, carrying and placing to attend to. The big electric sign had to be reset and adjusted, the sheet iron booth for the machine put in place, and for four days there were a multitude of little things to accomplish.
Jolly got track of a closed show at Brenton where the chairs were for sale and drove an excellent bargain in their purchase, and also in the delivery.
It was Thursday night when for the first time the electric lights were turned on, so the boys could see how the playhouse “showed up,” as they expressed it. They all went out in front, Jolly turning the switches from inside. To the excited vision of the enthusiastic Pep the result was a burst of glory. The sign came out boldly. The many windows of the building, standing alone by itself as it did, made Randy think of a palace.
Frank was more than pleased. He was proud of his playhouse, proud of his loyal friends and deeply gratified as a crowd began to gather and he overheard their flattering and encouraging comments.
“Why, I saw that blaze three blocks down the street,” declared a breathless urchin, coming up on a run.