Al could not help overhearing nearly every word they said, for in their excitement they spoke louder than they thought. "I tell you, Marcus," he heard one of the men say, "it's a bad knockout." Marcus! Al remembered that this was the name of the proprietor of the new paper. He was, as the manager had said, a rather dudish-looking young fellow, but his face was by no means indicative of a lack of brains. "The worst of it is," added Mr. Marcus, "that the _Banner_ people will have the grand laugh on us. They have been poking fun at the 'amateur daily,' as they call it, ever since the _Bugle_ was announced; now they will go for us." Al was now interested; for the time he forgot his own worries. What could the trouble be in the office of the new paper? "They'll have a good chance," said Mr. Marcus' friend. "Really, my dear sir, I can't see how you could have made such a break. The idea of accepting a full-page ad. for 'Dr. Gurgles' Metallic Liver Pads,' only to find that there is no such thing on the market, and that you have been made the victim of a practical joker! I wish I had had charge of the business end of the thing, this would not have happened." "I dare say not, but don't reproach me, for I'm too much broken up to stand it. The question is, how are we going to fill up that page? I've been boasting, right and left, about the phenomenal amount of bona-fide ads. the first number of the _Bugle_ would contain, and now we are a full page short. And I've told a number of people that we were to have a page ad. from a well-known concern--something the _Banner_ never had." "Have you told anyone what the concern was?" "No." "Then perhaps you could get some firm in town to take the page." "I'd let 'em have it at any price. But, no, it wouldn't do; I should have to own up how I had been victimized. Besides, it's too late now, anyhow. Why, nearly the whole paper is in type, and one side is printed." "Well, what are you going to do with that page?" "I give it up." Al rose from his seat and approached the table where the two gentlemen were seated. "Perhaps I can help out, sir," he said. Mr. Marcus started from his chair, his face flushed with anger. "You've been listening, boy!" he exclaimed. "I have; I couldn't very well help it, for you spoke in a loud tone." "That's so, Marcus," added the other gentleman. "A public restaurant is not just the place to talk over such a matter." "Well," said Marcus, glaring at Al, "I suppose you mean to go and tell everyone in town what you have heard?" "I don't know anyone in town, and if I did I shouldn't repeat a word. As I just said, I think I can help you out." "You! How?" "You said you'd let that page go at any price?" "I did."