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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.  "I WANT YOU."                     103
   XVIII.  MR. MARMADUKE MERRY.              109
     XIX.  A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT.       115
      XX.  THE LOCKET.                       121
     XXI.  BROTHER AND SISTER.               127
    XXII.  AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.             133
   XXIII.  AN EVENTFUL NIGHT.                139
    XXIV.  A CLEW.                           145
     XXV.  ON THE TRACK.                     151
    XXVI.  "DR. FERGUSON."                   157
   XXVII.  AN UNLUCKY ERROR.                 163
  XXVIII.  AN EXCITING INTERVIEW.            169
    XXIX.  A DANGEROUS JOB AHEAD.            175
     XXX.  HARD LUCK.                        181
    XXXI.  A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE.              187
   XXXII.  AND LAST.                         193




AHEAD OF THE SHOW.




CHAPTER I.

AL MAKES APPLICATION.


"If I had that fellow here I'd make him wish he'd never heard the name
of Augustus Wattles. And I'll do it some day, too."

The manager and proprietor of Wattles' New York Comedy Company was very,
very "mad." His naturally florid face was redder than usual, and his
fists were clinched in a manner that augured no good to the "fellow"
referred to, had that individual chanced to appear upon the scene at
this precise moment.

He stood at the door of the Boomville Opera House, in company with the
local manager, Mr. Cyrus Perley, who seemed in some degree to share his
discomfiture and anger.

A group of stragglers listened in silence to their conversation, gazing
at them with that peculiar and unaccountable reverence that many people
feel for members of the theatrical profession.

"It's pretty tough," said Mr. Perley, "but it isn't my fault."

"I know it isn't. Well, this is the last time that loafer will play that
trick on me. He thinks that because I have been easy with him in the
past there is no end to my patience. I'll show him that he is making the
mistake of his life."

"Of course, you will discharge him?"

"You had better believe I will. A healthy sort of advance agent he is!
Think of my bringing my company to a town of the importance of
Boomville, to find that absolutely no advance