elling
world than there had been when the fact was first circulated that Ben
and Johnny had embarked in a theatrical enterprise.

Of course the good-fortune that had come to the firm through Paul was
known as soon as the other, and whenever one of the partners passed a
group of merchants in his same line of business, he was sure to be
pointed out as one of the boys who were the happy possessors of a
clear hundred dollars.

As it was quite likely that Paul and his father would come down town
during the day, no one of the merchants knowing of the facts went very
far from the City Hall, lest they should miss the chance of seeing
him. There was a great deal of pride manifested because they had had a
rich man's son among their number, even though it had only been for a
few days; and those who had tried to drive him away during the first
of his attempts to sell papers now tried to show how often they had
befriended him.

Some even allowed such flights to their imaginations that they came to
believe Paul's father would give them money enough to make them all
rich, and they came to think of the five cents which they had spent
for a theatre ticket as just so much money given directly to Paul. But
the boys who had actually received money from Mr. Weston were so much
excited by the wealth which had so suddenly become theirs that they
could do no business at all that day. From the time they had reached
home with the hundred dollars in their pockets they had been in
earnest discussion as to what they should do with their money.

Mopsey had used every argument he could think of to show that it was
not only wise but proper for them to invest it all in their theatre;
and so earnest was he in his attempts to have it so expended that he
took upon himself the excessive labor of figuring the cash result of
ten performances at the same amount of receipts as those of the
previous Saturday, showing that they would receive in return the
amount of their investment and considerably more. But he was unable to
give any reason as to why they should not have as liberal patronage if
they continued their efforts in the same place without any further
outlay of money.

Ben was willing that a small portion of the amount should be spent for
the purchase of a curtain, and for more secure foot-lights; but he
insisted that the greater portion of it should be invested where it
would be safe.

Dickey was of the same opinion as Ben; and he further propo