Читать книгу Frank Merriwell's Own Company; Or, Barnstorming in the Middle West онлайн

14 страница из 40

The manager shook his head.

"It is barely possible," he admitted; "but I do not dare try it."

"Why?"

"The audience would not accept you in the place of a famous magician like Zolverein."

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Frank, who was eager for the chance to try his hand at magic; "I will make a speech to the audience. I will tell them of Zolverein's sudden death. Then I will offer to entertain them for thirty minutes without charge. At the end of thirty minutes everyone who wishes will be given an opportunity to leave the theater and collect their money at the box office. Those who wish to remain will see the rest of the entertainment for whatever price they have paid. Isn't that all right."

"It sounds all right; but I don't wish to make a farce of this affair. I am afraid to try it, young man."

"If twenty persons leave the theater at the end of thirty minutes," Merry proposed, "I will forfeit fifty per cent. of my share of the gate receipts. If forty persons leave, I will forfeit the entire gate receipts. What do you say to that?"