Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity
OR
TOIL HAS ITS REWARD
CHAPTER I.
WHEN RAGE RULES.
The scene was the stage of the Star Theater in Atchison,Kansas, and the occasion the rehearsal of FrankMerriwell’s company in his new play, “True Blue.”From the first night “True Blue” had been a success;the playgoers of Puleob, Colorado, who had witnessed thefailure of its first version, welcomed “True Blue” enthusiasticallyand assured Frank, as Roscoe Havener,his stage manager, had put it, that he had a “winner.”
Frank had chosen to turn back toward the East, insteadof continuing on to the Pacific coast, for it was latein the season and business was on the decline. It wouldbe better for the members of his company if the playclosed its run in the East, leaving them on the groundwhen the time came to make engagements for the comingseason. Besides that consideration, Frank had other reasonsin turning Eastward. The failure to keep the datesmade for “John Smith” and the partial failure of “ForOld Eli” had made it difficult for him to secure theatersfor “True Blue” on the Western route, while it was comparativelyeasy to secure good bookings on the way Eastward.
So it happened that the “True Blue” company hadjumped from Puleob straight across Colorado and Kansasto Atchison, where they were to open that night.
6All the actors, except Frank, were on the stage carefullyrehearsing, as Havener was determined that only byconstant drill could slips be avoided, and he aimed tohave a perfect performance.
As the afternoon waned, more than one glance of commenthad been exchanged by the other players as theywitnessed Bart Hodge’s repeated acts of insubordination.Bart seemed to be in a very unpleasant frame of mind,favoring everybody with savage glances and paying absolutelyno attention to the directions of the stage manager.In the eyes of actors there is no more unpardonable offensethan to treat the stage manager thus.
<