As he took his seat beside Miss Stubbs, she said: "I saw you on the stage last evening, Mr. Barton." "Did you? I was not aware that you were in the house." "Why didn't you tell me that you were an actor? I've got a bone to pick with you." "I didn't know it myself, Miss Stubbs." "You mean to say you didn't play the newsboy? Oh, Mr. Barton!" "Yes; but when I left the house I had no idea of playing. It so happened that the young actor who usually takes the part--Bob Hazleton--was sick, and I was applied to by the manager to take his place." "Then he knew you were an actor?" "No; I only fell in with him on the train from New York." "Why you acted just as if you were used to it." "I am glad you think so. I hardly dared to accept the part." "Will you play the rest of the week?" "I have agreed to do so. Hazleton goes home to-day." "How nice! I must go again." "I take that as a compliment." "Can't you actors take your friends in free?" asked Angelica, whose rule was to make all she could out of her acquaintances. "I haven't been an actor long enough to find out." "I should consider it _such_ a favor. I would get all my friends to go." "On the same terms?" asked Bert with a smile. "No. They can pay." Bert did secure a complimentary ticket for Miss Stubbs, who boasted everywhere that she was intimately acquainted with one of the leading actors in "The Streets of Gotham," and that he was really very attentive to her. "What would my friends at Lakeville say if they knew my new business?" thought Bert. "I should be glad if Percy Marlowe could see me on the stage." He determined, however, not to say anything in his letters about this new engagement, for, though he had been successful thus far, his success and popularity might not last. "Did you see the notice of your play in the morning paper, Mr. Barton?" asked Miss Angelica. "No; I haven't seen the paper yet." "It speaks of one of the actors. I won't say who," continued Miss Stubbs, nodding playfully. "Do you mean me?" asked Bert in excitement. "Yes, here it is." Bert ran his eye hastily over the notice, which occupied a quarter of a column. This is the portion that most interested him: "The part of the newsboy was effectively taken by Mr. Bert Barton, who was engaged at the last moment to fill the place of Mr. Hazleton. His acting was spirited, and the fact that it was liked was shown by the hearty call before the curtain at the end of the second act. The management are fortunate in securing so good a substitute for Bob Hazleton." Bert's face showed his gratification. It almost seemed a dream to him that he had really appeared on the stage, and he was glad that he had given satisfaction. At ten o'clock he reported at the stage entrance, where he was met by Mr. Pearson, who was associate manager. He went through a rehearsal which enabled him to look forward with more confidence to a repetition of the part.