"I should say there was," was the reply. "We're in a nice fix. Mrs. Anderson won't play!" CHAPTER IV. AL TO THE RESCUE. "Mrs. Anderson won't play?" almost shrieked Mr. Perley. "That's what I said--Mrs. Anderson won't play," replied the manager of the combination, with the calmness of despair. "Read this." The note which he handed his companion read as follows: "MR. A. WATTLES: "DEAR SIR: I deeply regret my inability to appear this evening as I promised. My husband objects so strongly that I have no alternative but to yield to his wishes. Trusting that this will cause you no inconvenience, I am, "Faithfully yours, "BLANCHE ANDERSON." "'Trusting that it will cause us no inconvenience,'" groaned Mr. Perley. "Isn't that like a woman? Well, Wattles, we are in a nice little fix now. Of course, we shall have to give three-fourths of the audience their money back." "Yes; but that isn't the worst of it. Think of the roasting the papers will give us!" "Don't speak of it. And it's all your fault; you would be fool enough to listen to that kid." "Don't say any more, Perley. I must have been out of my head." "It isn't worth while to get excited, gentlemen," said a calm voice. And looking in the direction from which it proceeded, the two men saw Al Allston standing in the doorway. "You young rascal----" began Mr. Wattles, but Al silenced him by a gesture: "There is no time to waste, gentlemen," he said. "I told you that Mrs. Anderson would appear to-night, and she will." "Do you mean to say," cried Mr. Wattles, "that you can make her do this in defiance of her husband's will?" "Her husband will agree after he has had a short talk with me," was the boy's reply. "Go right ahead with your preparations for the performance, gentlemen; Mrs. Anderson will be here as per agreement." And, without waiting for a reply, Al left the room. "Well," said Mr. Wattles, drawing a long breath, "I never saw the equal of that kid. Do you know, I think he will do what he has promised." Mr. Perley shook his head. "It's out of the question now," he said. "Mayor Anderson is one of the stubbornest men in the world; if he has said that his wife shall not appear, she will not. The boy was talking through his hat." "Well," said the manager of the New York Comedy Company, "all we can do now is to trust to luck. Go ahead and let the people in, and we'll see whether this confounded stage-struck female turns up or not. Somehow, I believe the lad knew what he was talking about." Meantime Al had reached the mayor's house, a pretentious mansion on the most fashionable thoroughfare in Boomville. In response to the rather supercilious "What is it?" from the servant who opened the door, he presented his card and asked to see Mrs. Anderson. "I don't think she'll see you," said the flunky, "but I'll give her your card if you wish."