The manager had donned earphones like all the rest, and the little company listened with varying emotions as Larry went through his repertoire. His friends were praying fervently for his success and were delighted as they realized that he was surpa.s.sing any of his previous efforts. The manager"s att.i.tude was critical, but as Larry went from one imitation to another the boys could see from the expression of his face that he was pleased. Larry rose to his opportunity n.o.bly, and as he realized that he was making a good impression added trills and notes that he had never thought of before. By the time he had finished, all doubt had vanished from Mr.
Allard"s mind.
"I guess we can use you all right, young man," he said. "Do you think you can fill in this evening? I need somebody to round out the bedtime programme at seven o"clock, and I imagine your act ought to go well at that time."
"Anything you say, sir," answered Larry, "will suit me."
"I can put you up here for to-night," volunteered Mr. Allard. "And if you don"t feel strong enough to work regularly for a week or so, you can go back to-morrow and report for your regular performance a week from to-day."
"I think that would be best," put in Frank Brandon. "I imagine Mr.
Bartlett will need at least another week before he"ll be able to work steadily."
Larry was but little older than the radio boys, and Herb was in an ecstasy of delight over Brandon"s "Mr. Bartlett."
"But if you stay here to-night you"ll miss having dinner at Doctor Dale"s house!" cried Jimmy, impulsively.
"Guess it can"t be helped," said Larry, with a laugh, in which the others joined. "Business before pleasure, you know, Jimmy."
"That"s what dad always tells me, too," grumbled Jimmy. "But personally, I"d rather have the pleasure first, and let the business take its chance afterward."
"Don"t you believe it," said Mr. Allard. "There are too many people doing that already. It"s a system that will never help you to put money in the bank, my boy."
"He"ll probably find that out for himself sooner or later," said Mr.
Brandon. "I used to feel the same way, but I"ve got over it."
"We"ll all be sorry that you can"t be with us to-night, Larry," said Dr.
Dale, kindly. "But we"ll be home in time to listen to your first radio performance this evening, so you"ll know that we"re hearing you just the same as though we were in this room with you."
"I"ll be sure of that, Doctor Dale," said Larry. "But I know I"ll be missing a fine supper at your house, and you know how I"d like to be there. I"ll be back in Clintonia to-morrow, anyway."
"But how are you going to travel back alone?" asked Bob. "You"re not strong enough to go sailing around all by your lonesome yet."
"Don"t let that worry you," replied Mr. Allard. "I"ll see that somebody goes to the train with him, and I guess one of you fellows won"t mind meeting him at the train at the other end."
"I rather guess not," said Bob, emphatically. "We"ll be there with bells on, Larry; you can bet on that."
"It seems as though I"m making you all a lot of trouble," said Larry. "I guess I could get along all right."
"We"ll be there, so there"s no use of your saying any more about it,"
said Bob, in a voice of finality. "How about it, fellows?"
All the radio boys were of the same mind, so Larry was forced to give in.
"But if you"re going to get back to Clintonia in time to hear my act at seven o"clock, you"ll have to leave pretty soon," he said. "I"m not going to detain you here any longer."
"I"m afraid we will have to be going," said Dr. Dale, glancing at his watch. "The ferries are apt to be crowded at this hour, too. But we"ll wish you all success at your new venture, Larry. If you always do as well as you did this afternoon, you"ll soon be acquiring a big reputation."
They all shook hands with Larry and Mr. Allard, and went out to where Dr.
Dale"s automobile was waiting for them.
"I guess Larry was right when he said we"d have to make time going back,"
said Mr. Brandon. "It"s three o"clock now, which doesn"t leave us much of a margin."
"That"s very true," conceded Dr. Dale. "But if we can have any luck in getting over the ferry and through New York traffic, we"ll make it. Once out of the city, and I"ll show you what my car can do in the way of eating up miles."
CHAPTER XVI
SPEED
Fortunately they met with very little delay in crossing the ferry, and Dr.
Dale, in going through New York, avoided as far as possible the more congested thoroughfares. In a comparatively short time they had reached the outskirts, and Dr. Dale began to speed up a bit. As they reached the more open country, Dr. Dale opened the throttle wider, and the big car responded with a dash and power that delighted the boys. Mile after mile they reeled off, the wind whistling in their ears and making conversation difficult. The boys did not mind this, however, as they were enjoying the excitement of speed too much to have any desire to talk.
Slowing down for the towns, but speeding up again on the open road, the big car put mile after mile behind it, until the boys began to recognize the towns they pa.s.sed through.
"Say!" yelled Joe, trying to make himself heard above the roar of the motor and the whistling of the wind, "aren"t we making time, though? At this rate we"ll get home with time to spare."
"You bet!" shouted Bob. "Isn"t this a peach of a ride?"
"Only about six miles more to Clintonia," shouted Frank Brandon, from the front seat which he shared with Dr. Dale.
Most of that six miles consisted of new concrete state road as smooth and level as a billiard table. Up and up crept the speedometer needle, and the big car seemed to be fairly flying. Fences and trees flashed past them, and the smooth road seemed like a river flowing toward them. The boys were intoxicated with the wild thrill and exhilaration of speed, and laughed and shouted and pounded each other on the back. For several miles the speedometer needle never receded, and not until the roofs and church steeples of Clintonia were visible in the distance did Dr. Dale slacken pace and bring the big machine down to a sedate twenty-five miles an hour.
"Well, how did you like that?" he inquired, turning around for a moment to glance at the excited boys. "Was that fast enough to please you?"
"It was great!" declared Bob. "This car can certainly step along when you want it to."
"We"ll be at my house in less than ten minutes. I hope you all feel as though you could eat a little something."
"Eat!" exclaimed Jimmy, in heartfelt tones. "Why, I"m so hungry I"ve been tempted to start in and eat the upholstery once or twice."
"Please don"t," laughed Dr. Dale. "It"s too expensive, besides being indigestible. Control yourself for a few minutes, and I"ll promise you something much better than leather to eat."
"All right, then, I"ll do the best I can," promised Jimmy, with a grin.
"We have to pa.s.s Antonio"s shoe repairing store before we get to Doctor Dale"s house, and if you like, I"ll get out and buy you a nice big chunk of sole leather, Jimmy," suggested Joe. "If you really want something along that line, it seems a shame not to let you have it."
"Thanks all the same, but I wouldn"t like to put you to all that trouble,"
said Jimmy, with elaborate politeness.
Joe was about to protest that he would not mind the trouble in the least, but before he had time to the car drew up in front of Dr. Dale"s house.
Mrs. Dale was waiting for them on the front porch.
"I was beginning to get worried over you," she said. "But I suppose you found it quite a long trip, didn"t you?"