Facing the World Read online

  CHAPTER VII

  A NEW ENGAGEMENT

  Harry was not a little relieved at his narrow escape. He did notpropose to be taken captive without making a strong resistance; butstill, in a struggle with Mr. Fox and Joel, he felt that he would beconsiderably at a disadvantage.

  "I am much obliged to you for saving me, Professor Hemenway," he said.

  "You are quite welcome. So you didn't like old Fox?"

  "Not much."

  "He doesn't appear to like you any better."

  "There isn't much love lost between us," returned Harry, laughing.

  "How do you like the boy?"

  "He served me a good turn--for five dollars--but he would help captureme for the same money, or less."

  "You seem to know him."

  "He is fond of money, and would do almost anything for it."

  "You thank me for saving you from capture, my lad," continued themagician. "Well, I had an object in it--a selfish object."

  Harry looked puzzled.

  "It struck me that I needed a boy about your size, and character, fora general assistant, to sell tickets, take money, and help me on thestage. How do you like the idea?"

  "I like it," answered Harry; "but there is one objection."

  "What is that?"

  "I don't come from Madagascar," responded Harry, slyly.

  Professor Hemenway laughed.

  "You've been as near there as I have," he said. "Did you really thinkI came from Madagascar?"

  "You look more as if you came from Maine, sir."

  "You've hit it! There's where I did come from. I was raisedtwenty-five miles from Portland on a farm. But it would never do toput that on the bills. People are ready to pay more for imported thanfor native curiosities. However, to come to business. I had a youngman traveling with me who wasn't suited to the business. He was adry-goods clerk when I took him, and is better adapted to thatbusiness than to mine. He left me last week, and I have been in aquandary about his successor. How much do you consider your timeworth?"

  "Just at present it isn't worth much. If you will pay my travelingexpenses, that will satisfy me."

  "I will do better than that I will give you five dollars a weekbesides, if business is good."

  "Thank you, sir. I think I shall enjoy traveling."

  There are few boys who do not like change of scene, and the chance ofseeing new places is attractive to all. Harry was decidedly of theopinion that he had a streak of luck. It would be much better in allways than living with his late guardian, and working for partialboard.

  As they approached the village of Conway, Harry's attention was drawnto a variety of posters setting forth, in mammoth letters, that theworld-renowned Magician of Madagascar would give a magical _soiree_ atthe Town Hall in the evening. Tickets, fifteen cents; children undertwelve years, ten cents. The posters, furthermore, attracted attentionby a large figure of the professor, dressed in bizarre style,performing one of his tricks.

  "That draws attention," observed the professor, "particularly amongthe boys. I think I shall have a hall full this evening. An audienceof three hundred will pay very well. My expenses are light. I do mostof my traveling in this wagon, and at hotels I get the usualprofessional reduction."

  "Did it take you long to learn the business?"

  "I have been learning all along. Every now and then I add a newtrick. I will teach you some."

  "I might leave you and set up on my own hook when I have learned,"suggested Harry, with a smile.

  "It will be some time before you look old enough for a magician. Whenyou are, I'll give you my blessing and send you out."

  Meanwhile they had been jogging along, and were already in the mainstreet of Conway. The professor drew up in front of the village hotel,and a groom came forward and took his horse.

  "Wait a minute my friend," said the professor. "Harry, you can help metake my implements out of the back of the wagon."

  These "implements" were of a heterogeneous character, but all wouldcome in use in the evening. A number of boys watched their transferwith mingled awe and curiosity.

  "What's them?" Harry heard one ask another, in a half-whispered tone.

  "Those," said the professor, in an impressive tone, turning toward theboys. "Those are paraphernalia!"

  The boys looked more awestruck than ever. All inwardly resolved to goto the Town Hall that evening, and get a nearer view of the articleswhich had such a grand name.

  After a while Harry came downstairs from the room assigned him, andstood on the piazza.

  One of the boys drew near him cautiously.

  "Are you the magician's son?" he asked.

  "No," answered Harry, smiling.

  "Do you come from Madagascar?"

  "I have not been there recently."

  "Are all the people there magicians?"

  "Not quite all."

  This information was rather scanty, but it was whispered about amongthe boys, the first boy boasting that he had a talk with the young manmagician. If Harry had heard himself called thus, he would have beenvery much amused.

  Directly after supper Harry went with his employer to assist inpreparing the stage for the evening performance. Though novice, heacquitted himself to the satisfaction of his employer, whocongratulated himself on having secured so efficient an assistant.Half an hour before the performance he stationed himself in the entry,provided with tickets. He sat at a small table, and received thecrowd. Though new to the business, he managed to make change rapidly.He found his position one in which he had a chance to study humannature.

  During the evening Harry was called upon to assist the professor insome of his tricks. Some boys would have been embarrassed upon findingthemselves objects of general attention, but Harry was by temperamentcool and self-possessed. He had been fond of declamation at school,and this had accustomed him, to some extent, to a public appearance.

  The entertainment was in two parts, with an intermission of tenminutes.

  "I wish you were a singer," said the professor, when they werestanding behind the screen.

  "Why?" asked Harry.

  "Because the audience sometimes gets impatient during theintermission. If I could put you on for a song, it would help quietthem."

  "I can sing a little," said Harry, modestly.

  "What can you sing?"

  "How would 'The Last Rose of Summer' do?"

  "Capital. Can you sing it?"

  "I can try."

  "You are sure you won't break down? That would make a bad impression."

  "I can promise you I won't break down, sir."

  "Then I'll give you a trial. Are you ready to appear at once?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Wait, then, till I announce you."

  The professor came from behind the screen, and, addressing theaudience, said: "Ladies and gentlemen, lest you should find thenecessary intermission tedious, I am happy to announce to you that theyoung vocalist, Master Harry Vane, has kindly consented to favor youwith one of his popular melodies. He has selected by request, 'TheLast Rose of Summer.'"

  Harry could hardly refrain from laughing when he heard thisintroduction.

  "One would think I was a well-known singer," he said to himself.

  He came forward, and, standing before the audience, with his face alittle flushed, made a graceful bow. Then, pausing an instant, hecommenced the song announced. He had not sung two lines before theprofessor, who waited the result with some curiosity and some anxiety,found that he could sing. His voice was high, clear, and musical, andhis rendition was absolutely correct. The fact was, Harry had takenlessons in a singing school at home, and had practiced privately also,so that he had reason to feel confidence in himself.

  The song was listened to with earnest attention and evident enjoymentby all. When the last strain died away, and Harry made his farewellbow, there was an enthusiastic burst of applause, emphasized by theclapping of hands and the stamping of feet.

  "You did yourself proud, my boy!" said the gra
tified Professor. "Theywant you on again."

  This seemed evident from the noise.

  "Can't you sing something else?"

  "Very well, sir."

  Harry was certainly pleased with this evidence of popular favor. Hehad never before sung a solo before an audience, and, although he hadfelt that he could, he was glad to find that he had not overestimatedhis powers.

  Once more he stood before the audience.

  "I thank you for your kindness," he said. "I will now sing you a comicsong."

  He sang a song very popular at that time, the words and air of whichwere familiar to all. While it did not afford him so good a chance toshow his musical capacity, it was received with much greater favorthan the first song.

  There was a perfect whirlwind of applause, and a third song was calledfor.

  "I would rather not sing again, professor," said Harry.

  "You needn't. They would keep you singing all the evening if you wouldallow it. Better leave off when they are unsatisfied."

  "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "Master Vane thanks you for your kindapplause, but he makes it an unvarying rule never to sing but twosongs in an evening. He never broke that rule but once, and that wasat the special request of the governor-general of Canada. I shall nowhave the pleasure of performing for your amusement, one of my mostpopular experiments."

  "Well, you have pleased the people, and that is the main point. ByJove! my boy, you've got a lovely voice."

  "I am glad you think so, sir."

  "You will prove a very valuable addition to my entertainments. I meanto show my appreciation, too. How much did I agree to give you?"

  "Five dollars a week if business was good."

  "It's bound to be good. I'll raise your wages to ten dollars a week,if you'll agree to sing one song, and two, if called for, at each ofmy evening entertainments."

  "I'll do it, sir," said Harry, promptly. "It's a surprise to me,though, to find my voice so valuable to me."

  "It's a popular gift, my boy; and all popular gifts are valuable. WhenI get my new bill printed, I must have your name on it."

  They left Conway about noon the next day.

  The Foxes, were destined to hear of Harry's success. The Conway_Citizen_ was taken in the family, and, much to their astonishment,this is what they found, prominently placed, in the next number:

  "The magical entertainment of Professor Hemenway, on Thursday evening,was even more successful than usual. He had had the good fortune tosecure the services of a young vocalist named Harry Vane, who charmedboth young and old by two popular selections. His voice and executionare both admirable, and we predict for him a brilliant future."

  Mr. Fox read this aloud in evident wonder and excitement.

  "Did you ever hear the like?" he said.

  "Who'd have thought it?" chimed in Mrs. Fox.