ng out in a string of motor cars for this place; watch them
getting rigged out in their spic-and-span suits of mail, and old-time
stuff; feast their eyes on just such wonderful feats as you have seen
pulled off beside these massive walls; and step by step, be taken
into our confidence as we progress, until finally the amazing climax
arrives. Right now you can hear the machine clicking away, as the
operator takes a crack at the players resting between their acts.
Perhaps it may please you chaps to know that you'll be seen in the
finished production along with the rest of the troupe."

Billy seemed quite awed at the idea. He was observed to slyly pull
down his vest, and straighten himself up as though on dress parade.
If countless thousands of people were going to gaze upon his person
throughout the whole length and breadth of the land, Billy wanted
to do his family justice, and not disgrace his bringing up.

Plainly, the stage director seemed to be considerably interested in
the scouts. Possibly he may have had a boy or two of his own in his
metropolitan home who also wore the khaki, and consequently any fellow
who sported such a uniform was of some value in his eyes. Then again,
in his hard labors, the coming of Hugh and his four comrades may have
seemed like a breath of fresh air, something to temporarily distract
him from the routine of his trying business.

At any rate, he seemed disposed to continue the conversation while his
people were resting, and making ready for the next act in the drama of
publicity.

"Although all this seems very wonderful to you boys," he went on to
remark, lighting a cigarette as he spoke, at which he took several
puffs and then nervously threw it away again, "it represents only one
little event in the bustling activities of my force here, as any
regular member of it could tell you."

"I suppose you must have been around some, sir?" ventured Monkey
Stallings, at which the red-faced manager looked queerly at him and
then chuckled.

"Well, it's a hustling age, you know," he told them. "I've been at
this business over four years now, and so far it hasn't quite reduced
me to a skeleton in spite of the fierce work. I've taken the leading
members of my famous players across the desert in Egypt to the pyramids,
explored Spain and the heart of India, traveled across Japan, gone
into China, camped in Central American jungles, wandered into the
heart of Africa hunting big game, toured aw