Unknown to Bert there were two persons present at the theatre that night who recognized him. One of the male boarders, prompted by a rather significant hint from Miss Angelica, had invited that young lady to accompany him to the performance. They sat in the sixth row from the stage, though Bert, who attended only to his duties, did not see them. When he first came on as a newsboy, Miss Stubbs said: "How much that newsboy looks like Mr. Barton, ma's new boarder." "He does look some like him." "But of course it isn't he. I wonder if he is here this evening." "I don't see him anywhere," said the escort. When Bert appeared in his own clothes in the fourth act, Angelica exclaimed: "Why, it is Mr. Barton, after all! Is it possible that I know a live actor? Why, I was talking to him at supper, and he was really quite attentive to me." "He is put down on the bill as Bob Hazleton," said the young man, consulting the programme. "That must be his stage name. I will get him to tell me all about acting to-morrow. Do you know, Mr. Cutting, I should like to go on the stage myself? I should so like to play Juliet." "If you do, will you let me be Romeo?" "Yes, if you desire it," said Angelica, tapping her escort coquettishly with her fan. It's safe to say that Mr. Cutting, who was barely five feet in height, and Miss Angelica, who was tall, thin, and angular, would have made a very remarkable Romeo and Juliet. As Bert left the stage door, a boy touched his arm. Looking round he saw that it was the one who had guided him to the theatre. The boy's face wore a respectful look as he said: "Say, you didn't tell me you was one of de actors." "I didn't know it myself," answered Bert. "It was you that took off de newsboy," continued the boy. "Yes, but I'm not the regular actor. He's sick and I took his place." "It was tiptop. Are you goin' to act to-morrow night?" "I shall act all this week." "I'd like to see de play again. It's a boss play." Bert felt in a liberal mood. "Here is fifteen cents," he said. "Tell your friends to come." "I'll bring 'em. I'll tell 'em I know one of de actors." It may be remarked that Tom Roach, for this was the boy's name, gave such glowing accounts of the play to his intimate friends that no less than ten of them accompanied him to the theatre the next evening, and were especially enthusiastic when Bert was on the stage. Their liberal applause raised Bert in the good opinion of the management, who felt that they had secured a prize in the new actor. CHAPTER XXIX. BERT SECURES A BOX OF MR. HARDING'S PAPERS. When our hero went down to breakfast next morning, he found himself the observed of all observers. Miss Angelica Stubbs and her escort had already made known that he was a member of the dramatic company, and as none of the boarders had ever before met "a live actor," all felt great curiosity and a desire to become acquainted with so distinguished a public character.