Five thousand dollars was a good deal more money than Al had ever had in his possession, a good deal more than he was likely to earn as advance agent for a long time to come; but his answer was prompt and positive. "Mr. Anderson, I don't want your money. I would not accept a penny of it. I only request that you allow your wife to keep her promise and appear to-night. I would not ask this if I thought there would be anything disagreeable to her in fulfilling her promise, but----" Here Mrs. Anderson interrupted. "Why, of course there would not," she said. "You know, John, I am so anxious to make my debut on the professional stage. Now, do let me go, won't you? You cannot refuse now!" After a moment's hesitation, the mayor said: "No, I cannot. You shall go." It was with difficulty that Al suppressed a sigh of relief. "There is not a moment to be lost," he reminded the would-be debutante. "I know it," cried Mrs. Anderson. "Oh, I am so glad you came! Now, don't look so downcast, John; you will be very proud of me when you see me on the stage." "Humph! Well, we shall see." Al rose to go. "You will not change your mind again, Mrs. Anderson?" he asked, a little apprehensively. "No, no," laughed the lady. "I have never changed it at all. I shall be there." CHAPTER VI. ANOTHER ROCK AHEAD. Mr. Anderson accompanied Al to the door. "I would have granted almost any other request you might have made with more willingness," he said. "I have a strongly rooted objection to my wife appearing on the stage." "I am very sorry, sir," said Al. "But, perhaps, as Mrs. Anderson says, you will feel differently when you see her." "I doubt it very much. Now, tell me, why did you insist upon this sacrifice on my part? What is it to you whether my wife appears or not?" "I haven't time to tell you now, sir," the boy replied. "I must return to the theater at once." "Can you call at my office, at the City Hall, to-morrow?" "Yes, sir." "Do so, then, at, say, ten in the morning. I should like to have a talk with you; I want to know more of you." "I will be there, Mr. Anderson. Good-evening, sir." "Good-evening, my lad." As Al hurried along to take the good news to Mr. Wattles, he muttered: "Well, I didn't think I had so much cheek. I wouldn't have insisted upon Mrs. Anderson's appearing if there had really been any harm in it, but I'm sure it can't damage her or her husband much. Besides, she gave her promise, and she ought to keep it." As the boy hurried through the long corridor leading to the manager's office, his attention was attracted by the sound of loud and excited voices, and, listening, he heard a portion of the conversation taking place between Mr. Wattles and his ex-advance agent. As we have seen, he reached the office just in time to see Farley standing over the manager with uplifted knife, and to interfere. The advance agent proved himself a coward, for the weapon dropped from his fingers, and, throwing up his hands, he cried: