"The hotel business is a good business, I am told. You don't tell me what your duties are, but you seem to be earning pretty good pay. I hope you will give satisfaction. You never earned even three dollars a week at farming, so that perhaps it may be well for you to stay where you are really earning a good income. Some time you may be qualified to keep a hotel yourself. Your mother's cousin keeps a hotel somewhere in Kansas, and I hear that he is making money. You did wrong to leave home without permission, but I will not find fault with you under the circumstances. When I go to New York I will call in and see how you are getting along. Your mother will make up a bundle of clothing and send you by express. "Your father, "JETHRO WATERS." Leslie showed this letter to Rupert. "Your father doesn't suspect that you came to the city intending to go on the stage?" he said. "No, he thinks I have given up my ambition to become an actor. He has no idea what a glorious profession it is. I don't suppose he ever went to the theatre in his life. I wish he could see Edwin Booth, or Irving, or Joseph Jefferson. Yet I suppose he would rather have me keep a hotel than become as great as either of these." "It takes a smart man to keep a hotel, Leslie. Very likely Booth or Irving wouldn't succeed in that line." "I hope some time I may get a chance on the stage. Will you go with me to-night to see Mansfield in 'Jekyll and Hyde'?" "Yes; I have no other engagement." That evening the two bell-boys had front seats in the gallery of a Broadway theatre, and saw Mr. Mansfield in his remarkable impersonation of the two contrasted characters. Leslie was filled with admiration. "Do you know, Rupert, I think I will learn to act those parts in time?" "You might succeed in Jekyll, but it would be more difficult to play the part of Hyde." "Perhaps so. Indeed, I know you are right. But it is a part which I should enjoy. I have a great mind to make a study of it." "If I were you I would try something easier." "It is the hard parts that are best worth acting," said Leslie, grandly. Rupert thought little more of this conversation, but two evenings later, as he sat playing checkers with Harry Benton, there was a knock at the door of Mrs. Benton's apartment. On the door being opened, Mrs. Spenser appeared. She was the lady of whom Leslie hired his room. She seemed to be quite excited. "Oh, Mr. Rollins," she exclaimed, addressing Rupert, "I wanted to see you. I am so frightened." Rupert looked up in surprise. "What is the matter, Mrs. Spenser?" "Your friend, Mr. Waters, is making a terrible noise. Is he subject to fits?" "Not that I ever heard." "I don't dare to go in. He is acting like a wild man. I never heard anything to equal it. Do you know if any of his family were ever crazy?" "I will go and see what is the matter. I don't think you need be alarmed."