The movie boys at Seaside Park : $b or, The rival photo houses of the boardwalkAppleton, Victor
General
The movie boys at Seaside Park : $b or, The rival photo houses of the boardwalk
Appleton, Victor
Motion picture theaters -- Juvenile fiction
“There is no danger,” he shouted--“just a broken pane of glass of two.”
Then he had resumed his seat and dashed off into a lively tune. People
could see now that they were in no immediate peril and could easily get
out. The dripping rain, however, dampered their amusement ardor. There
was a movement for the exit and the last film was left unfinished.
Frank had got to Randy as soon as he could. He did not wish the report
to get out that the Wonderland was in any way unsafe, or have anyone
leave the place feeling that he had not got his full money’s worth. He
summoned Pep to his assistance after giving Randy a quick direction.
The latter immediately proceeded to stamp the date and the seal of the
Wonderland across some blank cards. Then he came out into the entrance
archway with the others.
“Here you are!” shouted the lively Pep. “Everybody entitled to a free
ticket. Good any night this week on account of to-night’s storm. Let no
guilty man escape!”
“Ha! ha! very good.”
“This is liberal.”
The crowd was put in rare good humor by Frank’s happy thought. The
doors were left open and those who did not wish to go out into the
pelting storm, were told they were welcome to linger in the entrance
and among the rear seats until the rain let up. Meantime, however,
Jolly and Vincent were not idle. While their young friends were coaxing
the audience into good humor, the former had found a ladder, of which
there were several about the place. Vincent mounted it and got at the
skylight.
It was pretty well broken and the wind threatened still further
damage. Jolly remembered a large canvas tarpaulin in the celler that
had been used by the painters. By the time the front of the place was
cleared of the people he and Vincent had the skylight well battened
down and protected.
“We’re going to have a bad night,” he reported as he came down the
ladder dripping. “A view of the beach from that roof to-night would
make a great moving picture.”
“I hope the storm won’t move us, Mr. Jolly,” said Frank a trifle
uneasily, as a fierce blast shook the building.
There was nothing to do but to doubly secure all the doors and windows.
The roof of the living room proved to be leaky, but the use of pans and
kettles to catch the water provided against any real discomfort.
“I think we had all better stay up,” suggested Jolly. “I was in one of
these big coast storms a few years ago and before the night was through
we had some work on hand, let me tell you.”
The speaker proceeded to light the gas stove, put on some coffee to
boil and then announced that he was going to make some sandwiches. This
suited all hands. It seemed sort of cheery to nest down in comfort and
safety while the big storm was blowing outside. Pep and Randy began a
game of checkers. Vincent was mending one of his speaking dolls. Frank
was busy at his desk. They made quite a happy family party, when all
chorused the word:
“Hello!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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