Underneath, in Ralph Harding's handwriting, was this brief indorsement:

All true, every word of it! Helen was always prudent and a good
manager. It is true, as she says, that there are but two of us. Why
shouldn't I go to Peoria, and see her?

There was no more; but as Ralph Harding a week later left Harrisburg, it
seemed fair to infer that he had adopted his own half-expressed
intention, and gone to Peoria, to see his sister, especially as there
seemed a good chance of his obtaining work there in his own line.

"Peoria!" repeated Bert thoughtfully. "The chances are that Ralph
Harding went there from Harrisburg, and it is very probable that he is
there now. I wish I could find some one that could tell me about the
place."

"Mr. Pearson," he said, when he met the associate manager at rehearsal,
"can you tell me anything about Peoria?"

"Yes," answered the actor. "What do you want to know about it?"

"How large a place is it?"

"About the size of Harrisburg. I don't believe there is a thousand
difference in the population."

"Is it far from here?"

"A matter of six or seven hundred miles, I should think, perhaps a
little more. It is southeast of Chicago. Why do you want to know?"

"I want to find a man who, I have reason to think, is now living there.
I may have to leave the company, as it is very important for me to find
this man."

"There will be no occasion for you to leave the company. When we leave
Harrisburg, we jump to Chicago, and probably three weeks from now we
shall be playing in Peoria. It is on our list of places, and is a very
good city for a short engagement. Will that be soon enough?"

Bert hesitated. If he remained with the company, his expenses would be
paid out to Peoria, and he would be earning fifteen dollars a week
besides.

"Come, now, don't hesitate!" said Mr. Pearson. "We shouldn't know how to
get along without you."

Naturally this pleased Bert, and helped to fix his resolution.

"I don't know but I can wait two or three weeks," he said slowly, "if
you are sure we shall play at Peoria."

"I am certain of it. The route was made up this morning. We are having
some new bills printed in which your name is substituted for that of Bob
Hazleton. So you see, my boy, you will be getting a reputation under
your own colors."

This had its effect, for Bert felt that he should like to have a bill of
the play in which his own name appeared. Otherwise he might find his
frie