d, and Dickey had
examined with a critical eye all that had been done, Ben stated to
Johnny and Paul the proposition which Master Spry had made, declaring
himself in favor of accepting it.

Of course, after the advantages of this new connection had been
explained, the artists were perfectly willing to admit Mr. Spry as a
partner, and he was informed of the fact, with the intimation that it
was necessary to have the seats there as quickly as possible.

Dickey promised to begin his labor on the following morning; and then,
while the others worked on the scenery, he related to them the success
he should make as an actor, provided he was given a part which
admitted of his carrying a sword and shield.

CHAPTER VII.

ARTISTS AND PRINTERS.

Dickey Spry kept his word, so far as having the timber for the seats
at the theatre was concerned; for so anxious was he to fulfil his part
of the contract that he devoted all the next afternoon and evening to
the work.

He made arrangements with Mrs. Green, whereby he could get into the
house during the afternoon while she was attending to her fruit-stand,
and by nine o'clock in the evening he had made seats enough to
accommodate at least two hundred boys, providing, of course, that they
were willing to stow themselves in snugly.

After the work was done, there was not a member of the firm but
thought they had a valuable acquisition in the person of Mr. Spry and
his timber, and they listened with more attention to his suggestions
than they had on the previous evening, when it was possible that he
would not carry out his portion of the contract as fully as they
desired.

When they stopped work that evening they surveyed their theatre with
a great deal of pride; for it was now so nearly completed that any one
could tell, at a very searching glance, what it was intended for. The
scenery was all in its place, and Nelly had made a quantity of
rosettes out of tissue-paper of various colors, which were to be
fastened as ornaments on the rough, unpainted boards.

All that remained to be done was to make the curtain, and hang it so
that it could be rolled up and down, and to arrange a place for the
candles that were to serve as foot-lights.

What that curtain should be made of had been a vexing question for the
partners to settle, and many and serious had been the discussions
regarding it. Ben had insisted that they ought to buy white cloth
enough to make a regular curtain; bu