“That’s about the size of it,” nodded Hodge. “Oh, you are on the straight road to success—you are forging to the front.” “Well, I have hopes of getting there,” smiled Frank. “You will. I know that. Just think of the houses we had in St. Jo. And the advance sale here is remarkable. The manager says he never knew such a sale but once before. The house will be jammed to-night. We could play here three nights to paying business, and this is a small place. What’ll we do when we hit Chicago?” “That’s what I’d like to know.” “What do you mean by that?” “Chicago will be the test.” “How?” “I think I shall be able to tell in Chicago whether the piece will be a success or not.” “Oh, I don’t know about that. You can’t be sure. The taste of Chicago sometimes varies from that of New York. What is a success in one place is sometimes a failure in the other.” “But that happens so seldom that it is an exception. If ‘True Blue’ catches on in Chicago, it will go in New York.” “Well, I believe it is bound to go anywhere. It took me some time to realize you had written a better play than your first one, but I know it now.” The door was standing ajar. Cassie Lee appeared outside. “May I come in?” she called. “Come right in, Cassie,” invited Frank. “Who’s that following you? Tell him to come in.” The soubrette entered, followed by Havener. “I—I came to tell you something,” she said, but hesitated, as she saw Bart sitting there. “If it’s anything private, I’ll disappear,” said Hodge. “It’s nothing private,” declared Havener. “There is no reason for being secret about it, Cassie. The entire company knows we’re engaged.” “But I don’t feel just like—like——” “Oh, I know,” smiled Havener, who looked decidedly happy. “But I’ll tell. We’re going to be married in Chicago, Mr. Merriwell. We have settled on that. I’ve induced Cassie to agree to it at last.” “I congratulate you, Havener!” exclaimed Frank, grasping his hand and shaking it warmly. “I believe you will be happy together, and surely you deserve happiness, if any man deserves it, for fortune was rather hard on you in your other venture.” Bart rose and extended his hand to the stage manager. “Permit me to add my congratulations,” he said. Havener accepted Bart’s hand. “And Cassie,” said Frank, looking into the eyes of the girl. “Why, she’s changed remarkably in the last few weeks. The sad look has gone from her face, and there is color coming to her cheeks and luster to her eyes.” “I owe you everything, Frank!” she murmured. “Everything!” “Me?” “Yes.” “How?” “You gave me courage to fight my terrible habit. You encouraged me to pray. Heaven gave me strength. I believe I have won at last; but not until I was reasonably sure of that would I again consent to the marriage after that woman interfered with the other. The shock of that nearly sent me back into my old ways again.” “But it has ended well at last.” “Yes, yes.”