“His associates would go right on with their plans, just the same,” said Frank. “They think they have got ahead of us.”
“Why, it looks so; doesn’t it?” observed the Westerner in a rather sober tone.
“It looks that way; but it isn’t,” answered Frank, a twinkle of confidence in his eye. “The big double store was never the place for a first-class show—I saw that at a glance.”
“But—being the only one?” suggested Mr. Strapp.
“Not at all,” was Frank’s confident reply.
“Why, you said the other store was so narrow it wouldn’t allow for four rows of seats.”
“Just that,” returned Frank, rather enjoying the perplexity of his friends. “But you see that was the professor’s point of view. This morning I made a discovery. The people who occupy the stationery shop have a lease as well of a big building at the rear. It almost connects with the shop. There is just a narrow passageway, and then you are in a great structure nearly fifty by one hundred and fifty feet. It’s been used as a warehouse. Look here.”
Frank took up from the table the sheets of paper he had been figuring and sketching on half the afternoon. He showed one which reproduced in diagram the space covered by the lease. Then he held up the columns of figures on the other sheets.
“Mr. Strapp,” he said, “I have figured it all out. We get that big building almost thrown in. It will make the finest auditorium you ever saw, as it will seat over five hundred people. Paint, gilt and other improvements will make it a playhouse. It’s away from the noise and crush of the street.”
“Yes, that’s all right, and it’s a dream; but what about the store space?”