o happy to say
much even between the acts. He watched William keenly, and often
nodded approval, though he frowned once or twice when the youth made
little "breaks." When the curtain fell, he waited with the others for
William, and, as they stood in the lobby, the dean of the dramatic
critics, a life-long friend of the old comedian, approached him. "Not
bad, Epstein," he said.

"It will make a hit on the road," Epstein answered.

"Know any of the cast outside of Mertles?"

"A few."

"Who is the kid with the funny name--'William Adolphus Turnpike'?"

"Why?"

"He's the pick of the new ones. There's a great promise in that lad.
If he doesn't get swelled head early in the game he'll soon be shining."

The old comedian smiled happily. "He's a friend of mine: a pupil, in a
way--I'm glad you like him."

"You're a rare one to pick out the good ones, 'Chuck,'" said the
critic, warmly. "The lad will be a credit to you if----"

"If," echoed Epstein.

"If he doesn't get swelled head, as I said before. That's the trouble
with a lot of the promising ones," he added, as he walked away.

"He may get swelled head," said Epstein to himself, as William joined
the waiting group, "but it won't last long, I'm sure of that." He
greeted William affectionately. "You'll do, boy," he said kindly,
"you'll do. There are some things about your part I'd like to discuss
with you, but I'm proud of you, William."

The little supper for William and "the bunch," arranged by Tommy
Watson, was a rather gloomy affair. Pa and Ma Turnpike were not used
to such affairs; the younger Turnpikes were timid. William was silent,
and all were under the depressing spell of the knowledge that they
would soon part with him.

The morning papers the next day were very kindly in their criticism of
the play and of the company, but only one of them, that for which the
dean of critics wrote, had any special mention of William. "His part
was a small one: until the fourth act he had no real chance, and then
he made the most of it. There is rare promise in the youth, but there
are many pitfalls for those who go on the stage. The next few years
will be a time of testing for him: if he emerges successfully there is
no reason to doubt that he will win his way to the front rank as a
comedian." Epstein's eyes were tear-dimmed as he read the words:
William cut them out of his own copy of the paper and kept them stowed
away with other precious belongings