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No. 77
Bound-to-Win Library

[Illustration: Cover.]


AHEAD OF THE SHOW

Or

The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent

By

FRED THORPE,

Author of "Blind Luck," "The Boy in Black,"
"Chris, the Comedian," "Git Up and Git,"
"Walt, the Wonder Worker," etc....







[Illustration]

Street and Smith, Publishers
238 William Street, New York

Copyright, 1897
By Norman L. Munro

Ahead of the Show




CONTENTS

       I.  AL MAKES APPLICATION.               5
      II.  AL TALKS BUSINESS.                 12
     III.  AL'S SCHEME.                       17
      IV.  AL TO THE RESCUE.                  24
       V.  AL CLAIMS HIS REWARD.              29
      VI.  ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD.                35
     VII.  THE DEBUT.                         41
    VIII.  A STARTLING SITUATION.             47
      IX.  A CLOSE CALL.                      53
       X.  AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR.       61
      XI.  IN PERIL.                          67
     XII.  INTERVIEWED.                       73
    XIII.  A STROKE OF LUCK.                  80
     XIV.  AL'S AD.                           87
      XV.  SAVED BY A SHADOW.                 91
     XVI.  A LESSON IN JOURNALISM.            97
    XVII.