“It’s bound to be good. I’ll raise your wages to ten dollars a week, if you’ll agree to sing one song, and two, if called for, at each of my evening entertainments.” “I’ll do it, sir,” said Harry, promptly. “It’s a surprise to me, though, to find my voice so valuable to me.” “It’s a popular gift, my boy; and all popular gifts are valuable. When I get my new bill printed, I must have your name on it.” They left Conway about noon the next day. The Foxes, were destined to hear of Harry’s success. The Conway _Citizen_ was taken in the family, and, much to their astonishment, this is what they found, prominently placed, in the next number: “The magical entertainment of Professor Hemenway, on Thursday evening, was even more successful than usual. He had had the good fortune to secure the services of a young vocalist named Harry Vane, who charmed both young and old by two popular selections. His voice and execution are both admirable, and we predict for him a brilliant future.” Mr. Fox read this aloud in evident wonder and excitement. “Did you ever hear the like?” he said. “Who’d have thought it?” chimed in Mrs. Fox. CHAPTER VIII A LIBERAL OFFER Then commenced a round of travel--what the professor called a professional tour. By day they traveled in the wagon, carrying their paraphernalia with them, stopping at the principal towns, and giving evening entertainments. At many of these places the magician was well known, and his tricks were not new. But he had an attraction in his young assistant, who was regularly advertised on the posters as the “celebrated young vocalist, whose songs are everywhere received with admiring applause.” Indeed it was very near the truth. Harry was really a fine singer, and his fresh, attractive face and manly appearance won him a welcome in all the towns on their route. Sometimes a young girl in the audience threw him a bouquet. This made him blush and smile, and the donor felt rewarded. Where was it going to end? Was he to continue in the service of the professor, and in time become himself a magician and a traveling celebrity? Harry was not sure about it. He saw that it would pay him better than most kinds of business, and he also discovered that Professor Hemenway was even better off than he had represented. Yet, he was not quite ready to select the same profession, but, being only sixteen, felt that he could afford to remain in it a while longer. One day the professor gave him a surprise. “Harry,” he said, as they were jogging along a dusty road, “do you think you would like to travel?” “I am traveling now,” answered Harry, with a smile. “True, but I don’t mean that. Would you like to go on a long journey?” “I should like nothing better,” replied Harry, promptly.