CHAPTER XXV
CONCLUSION
It was a moment of great suspense for Ben Jolly and the ventriloquist as, without a moment’s hesitation, the three motion picture chums dived from their frail raft. The surface of the flood was so strewn with pieces of floating wreckage--the bottom and sides of the newly formed water way so treacherous--that it was a tremendous risk to get into that swirling vortex.
Frank and his companions were no novices in the water. They saw that Jack Beavers had been struck down from the window sill by the falling bricks, and had probably been knocked senseless. Almost immediately after diving the heads of the boys appeared on the surface.
“Got him!” puffed Randy.
“Lift him up,” directed Frank, swinging out one hand and catching at a protruding window sill of the building. This purchase gained, all exerted themselves to drag up the limp and sodden form of Peter Carrington’s partner. Frank and Randy kept the upper part of the man’s body out of the water. Pep swam after the floating platform they had used as a raft. Jack Beavers, apparently more dead than alive, was placed upon it. His rescuers pushed this over to where the water was shallow and then carried the man into a drug store fronting the boardwalk.
“I suppose I had better stay with him,” observed Vincent, as Beavers, after some attention from a physician who happened to be in the drug store, showed signs of recovery. “I know him the best, although I can’t say truthfully that I like him the best.”
“Yes, he’s struck hard lines, and it’s a sort of duty to look after him,” said Ben Jolly.
He and the boys put in nearly two hours helping this and that group in distress among the storekeepers of the slump. They got back to the Wonderland to find that its superior location had saved it from damage of any consequence.
A wild morning was ushered in with a chill northeaster. Daylight showed the beach covered with wrecked boats and habitations. The tents over on the Midway were nearly all down. The National was still flooded and the street in front of it impassable. Very few of the frame buildings, however, had been undermined.
The worst of the storm was over by afternoon, but no entertainment was given until the next evening. A big transparency announced a flood benefit, and five thousand dodgers telling about it were circulated over the town.
It was a gala night for the Wonderland. There were few of the minor beach shows as yet in condition to resume operations, and after twenty-four hours of storm everybody seemed out.
“At least seventy-five dollars for the benefit of the poor families down on the beach,” observed Pep. “Say, let me run down and tell them. It will warm their hearts, just as it does mine.”
“All right,” acceded Frank. “I guess you can promise them that much, Pep.”
Frank and Jolly stood in front of the playhouse talking over affairs in general as Pep darted away on his mission of charity. A well-dressed man whom Jolly had noticed in the audience, and one of the last to leave the place, had loitered around the entrance. Now he advanced towards them.
“Is there a young man named Smith connected with your show?” he inquired.
“Yes, sir,” replied Frank. “He has gone on a brief errand, but will soon return.”
“I’ll wait for him,” said the stranger, and he sat down on the side railing.
Frank went inside as Randy appeared with his cash box. Jolly remained where he was. Finally Pep came into view briskly, happy faced and excited.
“Someone to see you--that man over there,” advised Jolly.
“Is that so? Stranger to me. Want to see me?” he went on, approaching the stranger.
“If you are Pepperill Smith.”
“That’s my name,” vouchsafed Pep.
“The same young man who was the guest of Mr. Tyson at Brenton?”
“Guest!” retorted Pep, in high scorn. “Oh, yes, I was a guest! Fired me the first time he got mad.”
“Oh, well, we all have spells of temper we are sorry for afterwards,” declared the man smoothly.
“Is Mr. Tyson sorry?” challenged Pep.
“He is, for a fact. You see--well, he gave you some papers, cheap stocks or bonds; didn’t he, instead of cash for your services? He thought maybe you’d rather have the money. I’ve got a one hundred dollar bill for you. If those papers are lying around loose you might hand them over to me.”
“I haven’t got them,” said Pep, and the man looked disappointed. “Maybe my friend preserved them. Oh, Mr. Jolly,” and Pep called the pianist over to them and explained the situation.
“H’m!” commented Jolly thoughtfully, when Pep had concluded his story, and glancing keenly at the stranger, “you seem to have discovered some value to the stock you refer to.”
“Oh, I suppose these stock brokers know how to juggle them along,” responded the stranger, with assumed lightness.
“Well, as I understand it, they were given to my friend Smith.”
“Undoubtedly--why, yes, that is true.”
“As their custodian,” continued Jolly, “I want to look into this matter.”
“I wouldn’t. Waste of time. All a tangle,” insisted the stranger. “Look here, let me give the boy two hundred dollars.”
“You can give Pep all you want to,” observed Jolly, “but I shall advise him to see how the market stands on that stock before he delivers those securities.”
“Hum! ha! quite so,” mumbled the stranger in a crestfallen way.
“And we will let Mr. Tyson know our decision in a day or two.”
“I see--well, I will report the result of my negotiation to my client.”
“Negotiation? Aha! Client? A lawyer, then,” observed Jolly, as the man reluctantly moved away. “Pep Smith, I’ll investigate that stock of yours with the first break of dawn. There’s something more to this than appears on the surface.”
* * * * *
“Wasn’t that Jack Beavers I just saw you talking to?” inquired Hal Vincent of Frank, as the latter approached him on the boardwalk.
“Yes, poor fellow,” replied Frank. “I have been having quite a conversation with him.”
“Making a poor mouth about his misfortunes, I suppose?” intimated the ventriloquist.
“Not at all, Mr. Vincent,” explained Frank soberly. “He is all broken up, but more with gratitude towards us for saving his life the night of the storm than anything else. He acts and talks like a new man. Peter Carrington and Greg Grayson left him in the lurch with a lot of debts, and he is trying to get on his feet again.”
“In what way?”
“Some friend has happened along and is willing to fix things up at the National. He came to me to say that he felt he had no right to come into competition with us, after owing his very existence to our efforts the other night.”
“What did you tell him, Durham?”
“I told him to go ahead and make a man of himself and a success of the show, and that he need expect nothing but honest business rivalry from us.”
“Durham,” spoke the ventriloquist with considerable feeling, “you’re pure gold!”
The bustling pianist appeared on the scene all smiles and serenity at that moment.
“Where’s Pep Smith?” he inquired.
“Up at the playhouse.”
“That so? All right. Come along, and see me give him the surprise of his life. You know I went down to Brenton to see Mr. Tyson about that stock? Well, I’m back--minus the stock. I’ve got something better. Look there.”
Ben Jolly held a certified check before the dazzled eyes of his friends. It read: “Pay to the order of Peperill Smith Two Thousand Dollars.”
“This good fortune will about turn Pep’s head,” declared Frank Durham.
“Why, those shrewd fellows will get double that out of it,” said Jolly. “It seems that the company is on the rocks, but a reorganization is being attempted and it can’t be put through without a majority of the stock. Pep’s holdings fit in snugly, so they had to pay me my price.”
Pep Smith gasped as Jolly recounted all this over again to him in the living room back of the photo playhouse.
“What are you going to do with all that money, Pep?” inquired Randy.
Pep waved the precious bit of paper gaily and jumped to his feet with glowing eyes.
“What am I going to do with it?” he cried. “And what could I do but put it into the Wonderland business fund! Why, just think of it! When the season is over at Seaside Park we have got to look for a new location; haven’t we?”
“That’s sure,” agreed Ben Jolly. “You boys have made a success of the motion picture business so far and I want to see you keep it up.”
And so, with both playhouses in the full tide of prosperity, we bid good-by to our ambitious young friends, to meet again in another story to be called: “The Movie Boys on Broadway”; or “The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.”
“My, but we have been lucky!” declared Randy.
“That’s what,” added Pep.
“Well, we’ve had to work for our success,” came from Frank.
THE END
The Dave Fearless Series
_By_ ROY ROCKWOOD
DAVE FEARLESS AFTER A SUNKEN TREASURE, or The Rival Ocean Divers
DAVE FEARLESS ON A FLOATING ISLAND, or The Cruise of the Treasure Ship
DAVE FEARLESS AND THE CAVE OF MYSTERY, or Adrift on the Pacific
DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE ICEBERGS, or The Secret of the Eskimo Igloo
DAVE FEARLESS WRECKED AMONG SAVAGES, or The Captives of the Head Hunters
DAVE FEARLESS AND HIS BIG RAFT, or Alone on the Broad Pacific
DAVE FEARLESS ON VOLCANO ISLAND, or The Magic Cave of Blue Fire
DAVE FEARLESS CAPTURED BY APES, or In Gorilla Land
DAVE FEARLESS AND THE MUTINEERS, or Prisoners on the Ship of Death
DAVE FEARLESS UNDER THE OCEAN, or The Treasure of the Lost Submarine
DAVE FEARLESS IN THE BLACK JUNGLE, or Lost Among the Cannibals
DAVE FEARLESS NEAR THE SOUTH POLE, or The Giant Whales of Snow Island
DAVE FEARLESS CAUGHT BY MALAY PIRATES, or The Secret of Bamboo Island
DAVE FEARLESS ON THE SHIP OF MYSTERY, or The Strange Hermit of Shark Cove
DAVE FEARLESS ON THE LOST BRIG, or Abandoned in the Big Hurricane
DAVE FEARLESS AT WHIRLPOOL POINT, or The Mystery of the Water Caves
DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE CANNIBALS, or The Defense of the Hut in the Swamp
Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._ Garden City New York
The Larry Dexter Series
_By_ RAYMOND SPERRY
LARRY DEXTER AT THE BIG FLOOD, or The Perils of a Reporter
LARRY DEXTER AND THE LAND SWINDLERS, or Queer Adventures in a Great City
LARRY DEXTER AND THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE, or The Great Search
LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY, or Exciting Days in Wall Street
LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY, or A Chase on the Great Lakes
LARRY DEXTER AT THE BATTLE FRONT, or A War Correspondent’s Double Mission
LARRY DEXTER AND THE WARD DIAMONDS, or The Young Reporter at Sea Cliff
LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT CHASE, or The Young Reporter Across the Continent
Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._ Garden City New York
THE NAT RIDLEY RAPID FIRE DETECTIVE STORIES
_By_ NAT RIDLEY, Jr.
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, or Nat Ridley’s Great Race Track Case
TRACKED TO THE WEST, or Nat Ridley at the Magnet Mine
IN THE NICK OF TIME, or Nat Ridley Saving a Life
THE CRIME ON THE LIMITED, or Nat Ridley in the Follies
A DARING ABDUCTION, or Nat Ridley’s Biggest Fight
THE STOLEN NUGGETS OF GOLD, or Nat Ridley on the Yukon
A SECRET OF THE STAGE, or Nat Ridley and the Bouquet of Death
THE GREAT CIRCUS MYSTERY, or Nat Ridley on a Crooked Trail
A SCREAM IN THE DARK, or Nat Ridley’s Crimson Clue
THE RACE TRACK CROOKS, or Nat Ridley’s Queerest Puzzle
THE STOLEN LIBERTY BONDS, or Nat Ridley’s Circle of Clues
IN THE GRIP OF THE KIDNAPPERS, or Nat Ridley in High Society
THE DOUBLE DAGGER, or Nat Ridley’s Mexican Trail
THE MOUNTAIN INN MYSTERY, or Nat Ridley with the Forest Rangers
THE WESTERN EXPRESS ROBBERY, or Nat Ridley and the Mail Thieves
STRUCK DOWN AT MIDNIGHT, or Nat Ridley and His Rivals
DETECTIVE AGAINST DETECTIVE, or Nat Ridley Showing His Nerve
Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._ Garden City New York
_The_
FRANK ALLEN SERIES
_By_ GRAHAM B. FORBES
FRANK ALLEN’S SCHOOLDAYS, or The All Around Rivals of Columbia High
FRANK ALLEN PLAYING TO WIN, or The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice
FRANK ALLEN IN WINTER SPORTS, or Columbia High on Skates and Iceboats
FRANK ALLEN AND HIS RIVALS, or The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics
FRANK ALLEN--PITCHER, or The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond
FRANK ALLEN--HEAD OF THE CREW, or The Boys of Columbia High on the River
FRANK ALLEN IN CAMP, or Columbia High and the School League Rivals
FRANK ALLEN AT ROCKSPUR RANCH, or The Old Cowboy’s Secret
FRANK ALLEN AT GOLD FORK, or Locating the Lost Claim
FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT, or Racing to Save a Life
FRANK ALLEN CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM, or The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron
FRANK ALLEN AT OLD MOOSE LAKE, or The Trail in the Snow
FRANK ALLEN AT ZERO CAMP, or The Queer Old Man of the Hills
FRANK ALLEN SNOWBOUND, or Fighting for Life in the Big Blizzard
FRANK ALLEN AFTER BIG GAME, or With Guns and Snowshoes in the Rockies
FRANK ALLEN WITH THE CIRCUS, or The Old Ringmaster’s Secret
FRANK ALLEN PITCHING HIS BEST, or The Baseball Rivals of Columbia
Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._ Garden City New York
The New Western Series
Exciting, Thrilling Stories of the Old West
TEXAS MEN AND TEXAS CATTLE E. E. Harriman THE SCOURGE OF THE LITTLE “C” J. E. Grinstead THE LONE HAND TRACKER William W. Winter WHEN DEATH RODE THE RANGE William W. Winter RAW GOLD Clem Yore DON QUICKSHOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE Stephen Chalmers THE LAST SHOT William MacLeod Raine STRAIGHT SHOOTING W. C. Tuttle SAD SONTAG PLAYS HIS HUNCH W. C. Tuttle THE SENTENCE OF THE SIX GUN Anthony M. Rud THE OUTLAWS OF FLOWER-POT CANYON Frank C. Robertson THE CLEAN-UP ON DEAD MAN Frank C. Robertson THE MASTER SQUATTER J. E. Grinstead SIX GUN QUARANTINE E. E. Harriman THE VALLEY OF SUSPICION J. U. Giesy TREASURE TRAIL Robert Russell Strang MOUNTAIN MEN Ernest Haycox BATTLING HERDS W. C. Tuttle HOSTAGES OF HATE Anthony M. Rud TAKE-A-CHANCE TAMERLANE Stephen Chalmers HASKELL OF THE DUG-OUT HILLS Frank C. Robertson GUNPOWDER VALLEY Murray Leinster RUSTLERS’ RANGE George C. Shedd TROUBLE TRAIL Clem Yore
Garden City Publishing Company, _Inc._ Garden City New York
THRILLING, BLOOD-CHILLING EXCITING STORIES!
Mystery and Detective Series
Follow the crooked trails of criminals--where courageous men face danger and death against an invisible foe--unravel strange, terrible mysteries. Many exciting, throbbing hours are ahead of you.
ALL IN A NIGHT’S WORK. _By Ethel Watts Mumford and George Bronson Howard_
THE DEVIL’S HEIRLOOM. _By Anthony M. Rud_
THE DEATH BELL. _By Edison Marshall_
THE CURRENCY EXPERT. _By Francis Lynde_
FLAT 2. _By Edgar Wallace_
GREEN TIMBER THOROUGHBREDS. _By Theodore Goodridge Roberts_
CROOKED SHADOWS. _By Gordon Young_
$10,000 REWARD. _By Charles Wesley Sanders_
THE WATER DEVIL. _By Crittenden Marriott_
THE REMITTANCE WOMAN. _By Achmed Abdullah_
THE MOSS MYSTERY. _By Carolyn Wells_
THE GRAY GULL. _By Henry Francis Granger_
Garden City Publishing Co., _Inc._ Garden City New York
The Movie Boys Series
_By_ VICTOR APPLETON
THE MOVIE BOYS ON CALL, or Filming the Perils of A Great City.
THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE WILD WEST, or Stirring Days Among the Cowboys and Indians.
THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE WRECKERS, or Facing the Perils of the Deep.
THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE, or Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts.
THE MOVIE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND, or Filming Pictures and Strange Perils.
THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE FLOOD, or Perilous Days on the Mighty Mississippi.
THE MOVIE BOYS IN PERIL, or Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal.
THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER THE SEA, or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.
THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER FIRE, or The Search for the Stolen Film.
THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER UNCLE SAM, or Taking Pictures for the Army.
THE MOVIE BOYS’ FIRST SHOWHOUSE, or Fighting for a Foothold in Fairlands.
THE MOVIE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK, or The Rival Photo Houses of the Boardwalk.
THE MOVIE BOYS ON BROADWAY, or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.
THE MOVIE BOYS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION, or the Film that Solved the Mystery.
THE MOVIE BOYS’ NEW IDEA, or Getting the Best of Their Enemies.
THE MOVIE BOYS AT THE BIG FAIR, or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited.
THE MOVIE BOYS’ WAR SPECTACLE, or The Film that Won the Prize.
Garden City Publishing Co., _Inc._ Garden City New York
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.