and Mr. Beckwith. Are they here?"

"Not yet, Mr--er--Mr. Phillips?"

"No, no, Mr. William Philander Tubbs. When will they be here, may I
ask?"

"I expect 'em any moment, Mr--er--Mr. Tubbs."

"Then I'll wait for them," answered the dude, and sank down in a chair.

"Have you got an interest in that show?" asked the druggist, as he
continued to compound the prescription.

"Not yet, but I may have," answered William Philander, calmly. "It
will be quite a grand affair, I presume."

"They say it will be the best Ashton ever had."

"Is that so! Then I am very glad I came to take part," went on William
Philander, warming up. "I am sure I can be of great service to Messrs.
Carr and Beckwith. I have had a great deal of experience, you know."

"Thought you said you were from Brill?"

"Oh, yes, but, don't you know, I have assisted at many entertainments,"
gushed William Philander. "Why, some entertainments would have been
absolute failures if I had not taken part."

"Hum, is that so!" returned the druggist. Tubbs' dudish ways did not
strike him very favorably. "Well, here is Mr. Beckwith now, you can
tell him about it," he added.

A burly, red-faced man, with a heavy moustache, had entered. He was
evidently in a hurry and full of business.

"Anybody call about that job, Mr. Carter?" he asked, abruptly.

"This young man wants to see you," answered the druggist, and indicated
William Philander.

"You are Mr. Beckwith?"

"Yes."

"Permit me," and the stylish-dressed student presented his card. "I
was told you were getting up an entertainment and needed some
assistance," continued William Philander. "Now I have had a great deal
of experience in that line, and the ladies always seem to be glad to
see me. I can aid in getting up the proper programme, and all that,
you know. I was on the committee of the Charity Bazaar, and the
Plainvine Dog Show, and the Ladies' Aid of the Golden Hope Society, and
the Blue Banner Social, and----"

"Say, what are you pouring into me?" gasped Mr. Beckwith, in
astonishment. "Do you think I am running a pink tea, or a ladies'
sewing circle? I don't need anybody to help me to get up a programme;
my partner, Mr. Carr, attends to that end of it. What I need is a
strong, willing fellow to take tickets and usher folks to seats, and
keep the floor free of rubbish, and all that."

"W-h-a-t!" shrieked William Philander. "You--you--what sort of an
entertainment are you going