“Why, of course,” replied Frank. “I couldn’t understand it at first, but I know it must be some professional imitator.”
“It was Mr. Vincent. He wore a false beard.”
“You don’t say so!” cried Frank.
“Yes, and he was the cornetist outside, too.” Pep went on.
“All a piece of Mr. Jolly’s work, I suppose?”
“Of course,” replied Pep. “When he got that message this afternoon Mr. Vincent was probably at the hotel. Then he arranged to surprise us.”
“It’s more than a surprise—it’s given tone and novelty to the whole entertainment.”
The routine of set duties prevented the boys from prolonging the conversation. Jolly had begun the intermission overture and the seats were filling up fast. A good many had remained from the first audience. It took little circulating among the benches for Pep to learn that “A Wrecker’s Romance,” with its realistic interpretation, was responsible for this.
There was not a break in the second show, but there was a great surprise for the boys when the third and last programme began. A good many who had been to the National had got around to the rival playhouse. Home-going crowds from the beach made a stop.
“Nearly fifty people turned away,” reported Randy, as Pep slipped out to have a word with him.