“Why, then, we’re regular friends,” insisted Peter, acting as if he was about to embrace all hands. “He was my roommate at school. We were like twin brothers.” “Maybe that’s the reason!” muttered Pep. “His folks are big guns in Fairlands, just as we are here. Say, if you know Greg Grayson, that settles it. You just ask him if I ain’t all right—up to snuff and all that—and if I wouldn’t make a fine partner.” Frank managed to usher their persistent visitor from the room, all the way down the corridor the latter insisting that he was going to “put the proposition up to Aunt Susie” forthwith, and that they would hear from him on the morrow. “Frank,” exclaimed Pep, “it seems good to get rid of that fellow.” “A fine partner he’d make,” observed Randy, with a snort. “I am dreadfully sorry he overheard our plans,” spoke Frank. “Of course it will soon be generally known if we decide to locate here; but this Peter may talk a lot of rubbish that might hurt us or start somebody else on our idea.” “And to think of his knowing Greg Grayson, and playing him off on us as a recommendation!” cried Pep. “They make a good pair,” added Randy. “Why, I’d give up the whole business before I would have either of them connected with our plans in any way.” “I wouldn’t wonder if Mr. Jolly might happen along if we stay here a day or two longer,” remarked Frank. “You know he was the first to suggest a look at Seaside Park with a view to business.” “That’s so,” said Randy. “Did you write to him, Frank?” “Yes. You know when we closed up at Fairlands he said he would take a day or two visiting some relatives and looking over the movies business in the city.” “Ben Jolly told me he wasn’t going to stay idle all summer. Nor let us do it, either,” observed Pep. “He’ll have something fresh to tell us when we see him.” “Well, when we left Fairlands I sent him a few lines telling him that we were going to look over the field here,” said Frank. “That is why I think he may drop in on us.” “I wish he would,” declared Randy. “Mr. Jolly knows so much about the business. What’s the programme for to-morrow, Frank?” “Why, I thought we would find out what it will cost us to move our traps here from Fairlands, the amount of the license fee for the show, the cost of a lot of electric wiring and current we will need if we locate at Seaside Park, how much it will cost us to live, and a lot of such details.” The boys had a wonderfully refreshing sleep in that high room pervaded with cool ocean breezes, and got up fully an hour later than they had planned. After Peter Carrington had left them the evening before they had strolled down the beach about nine o’clock to get an idea of the evening crowds. This filled them more than ever with ardor as to their prospective business undertaking. “I say,” Randy had observed, “don’t you see, Frank, there aren’t enough amusements to go around?” “Yes,” Frank had assented, “the crowds seem just in trim for some lively entertainment.”