t acting foolishly in accepting, at such short notice,
a position to which he was entirely unaccustomed. If he had not liked
declamation, and felt moderately self-possessed before an audience, he
would have promptly refused. As it was, the prospect, while it somewhat
daunted, also pleased him. Besides, he saw that, though he might not be
able to fill the place of Bob Hazleton, it was imperatively necessary
that the part should be taken by some one, and there was no time to lose
in hunting up another boy. If he did poorly, he could limit his
engagement to one evening.

He was not at home behind the scenes, and at the outset came near
tumbling through a trap door. He followed Orville to the general
dressing-room, where the manager assisted him to attire himself in the
costume provided for the newsboy. It is needless to say that it was not
of a costly description, and would have been dear at a dollar and a
half.

"I'll dress you first, and give you the lines afterward."

In five minutes Bert surveyed himself in a cracked mirror, and wondered
if he were the same boy. Orville ruffled up his hair, taught him the
free and easy walk of the typical newsboy, briefly instructed him in the
"business" of the part, and then gave him his lines to commit.

"Read them to me," he said. "I want to see if you've caught the spirit
of the part."

Of course Bert needed a little coaching, but "caught on," as Orville
expressed it, with remarkable quickness. After a few minutes' rehearsal,
his teacher said: "You'll do; that is, if you don't get rattled."

"What's that?"

"Get an attack of stage fright, and forget your lines."

"I won't do that," said Bert confidently.

"Then you'll have no trouble. Now, stay here till you get a summons from
the call boy. I must make up for my part, though I don't appear, either,
till the second act. Remember that we rely upon you."

"I'll get through," said Bert confidently.

By this time our hero looked forward eagerly to the moment when he would
appear on the stage. He felt excited, and yearned to distinguish
himself. He wanted to justify the stage manager's hasty, and, it must be
confessed, rather imprudent, choice.

He waited in the wings till he heard the call boy's summons, and then
made his entrance as instructed by Orville. He glanced at the audience,
but only got a confused impression of hundreds of faces. He did not
allow himself to think of them, but addressed himself to the business of