“Oh, you are making too much of this, Mr. Merriwell. Don’t worry about girls like that. There are thousands of them. They are everywhere.” “All the more reason why a man should take an interest in them. If one of them can be prevented from making the fatal mistake, it is a great thing.” “If they are bound to be gay, they’ll be so, and you may lecture to them all you like.” “But I hope no one in my company will help any girl to become ‘gay,’ as you call it. That is all I have to say, Dunton. I trust you will understand me. I don’t wish to meddle with your business.” Frank knew it was useless to say anything more or talk plainer. Dunton understood him, and all he might add to what he had said would make no deeper impression. That night the theater was packed to the doors. The “S. R. O.” sign was put out some time before the curtain went up, and several hundred more seats might have been sold. More than ever was the manager of the house delighted. He declared “True Blue” the greatest drawing card of the season, and he offered all kinds of bookings for next season. The performance went off smoothly. The splendid climaxes in each act received tumultuous applause, and at the end of the third act the audience was worked up to a pitch of great excitement. There were repeated curtain calls. “Merriwell,” said Hodge, his dark face flushed with excitement, “this play beats your first one out of sight. I’ve never acknowledged it before, but I do now. ‘John Smith’ was not in it with this piece. Oh, but you wouldn’t do a thing with this in New Haven! Can’t you play there, Frank?” “Perhaps,” smiled Merry, in a singular way. “I am going to put the play to the test in Chicago. We’ll be there the first of next week, and then we jump to New York.” “What?” cried Hodge. “And you have never told me before?” “Because I have been working for those engagements, but did not know that I’d get them. We play a week in New York. It’s make or break, old man. I started out on that plan, and I’m going to stick to it. I’ve been aiming for the top notch, and I’ll get there if it is possible.” “You’ll get there!” exclaimed Bart. Frank was almost the last one of the company to leave the theater that night. He had remained to see that everything was properly cared for, being anxious that there should be no further hitches in the performance of “True Blue.” The company carried quite a lot of special scenery and mechanical “effects,” the most striking of which were those used in the great boat race scene which concluded the third act of the play, and Frank wished to be certain that everything was properly handled in getting it ready for shipment. Well satisfied, Merry was walking swiftly toward his hotel when he noticed two persons entering a restaurant. He paused instantly, whistling softly to himself. “Dunton and the blue-eyed girl!” he exclaimed. “He made a date with her, and she met him after the performance. I’m sorry she did it.”