Page:Daskam--The imp and the angel.djvu/103

The Imp's Matinée "and then I'd count for more! I wish I was a whole family!"

The man laughed again. "I wish you were," he said. The Imp turned the polo-cap around in his hands.

"Would you act the theatre for ten people?" he said. The man shook his head.

"I'm afraid not: it wouldn't pay."

"Would you act it for twenty people?"

The man hesitated. "That's pretty small," he said, "I don't know." The Imp gasped at his own daring, but persisted.

"Would you do it for thirty?" The man looked at the determined little figure in a blouse and corduroy knee-breeches.

"Why, ye-es, I guess they would," he said slowly, "that would pay the fares: I guess they would. Why?"

"Then you wait! you just wait!" begged the Imp, with the fire of resolution in his eye. "You just make 'em wait a minute. I'll be back—you just wait!" He nodded encouragingly to the astonished man and fled up the narrow, deserted street. His heart was beating high: his tears were forgotten. He should see the theatre. Now 79