“Mr. Havener, when I made you stage manager of this company I did so with the full intention that you should manage the stage and the people on it. I made no reservations. At rehearsal I am under you, and I thoroughly understand that. It is the only way to run a company as it should be run. A stage manager must have absolute authority in his province, or he is of very little value. I tried to tell this to Hodge, but he was too hot to listen.” “But Hodge is your friend.” “Yes.” “And you always stand by your friends.” “Always. At the same time I will not uphold a friend to the absolute injury of somebody else. I will stand by him and endeavor to convince him of his error, if he has made one; but I will not aid him in injuring another person.” Havener brightened and the downcast look left his face. “I was afraid you would blame me in this matter,” he said. “It’s pretty rough to be upset just like this, after all the troubles you have had and just when there seemed to be plain sailing ahead.” “I do not blame you at all, Havener. I have heard just what took place on the stage, and I have no complaint to make.” “Thank you,” said Havener, much relieved. “You have nothing to thank me for. I am going away. I am going to make an attempt to overhaul Hodge and bring him back.” “The performance to-night——” “Will not take place.” “The manager of the theater will be furious.” “I can’t help that.” “What will you do about it?” “I want you to attend to that matter.” “You will give me instructions?” “Yes.” “I’ll do my best.” “You are to notify the box office without delay that sale of seats must stop.” “Oh, but there will be a flurry!” “Tell the manager just what has happened. Here is a check which I have made out for you. It is for five hundred dollars.” Frank handed Havener the check. “What’s this for?” asked the stage manager. “To settle with the manager of the opera house and to pay bills here till I return.” Havener slowly shook his head. “I’m afraid this won’t do,” he said. “Not enough?” “Yes.” “Then what do you mean?” “It’s a check on a Denver bank, and it’s for five hundred dollars. I don’t think I can get it cashed in this place, Mr. Merriwell. You have plenty of ready money. You had better give me some of that.” Just a bit of color added its flush to Frank’s cheeks. “Unfortunately, Mr. Havener,” he said, “I have not plenty of ready money at the present time.” “But—but you told me on the train——” “I know what I told you. I said I was carrying several hundred dollars with me so that I’d not get in a tight corner.” “Yes, you told me so.” “I have disposed of that money since coming to Atchison.” Havener stared. “Disposed of it?” he muttered as if he did not understand. “Yes. I have none of it handy now. For myself, I have less than a hundred dollars, which I was carrying on my person, but that will be enough for the present.”