CHAPTER XVIII.
MR. MARMADUKE MERRY.
"A warrant for my arrest?" gasped Al, half believing that the suddenappearance of the stranger was only a joke.
"That's what I said. Now, young fellow, don't you try to resist me, forit won't work."
"I'm not going to resist you if you really have a warrant," said Al.
"Well, I have, and here it is."
And the stranger produced a document from his pocket.
"What am I accused of?" asked the boy.
The deputy, who evidently felt the importance of his position, produceda copy of the first number of the Rockton _Bugle_ from his pocket.
Slowly unfolding it, he turned to Al's full-page advertisement, andsaid:
"You writ that, didn't you?"
"I did," admitted our hero, promptly.
"Well, that settles it. Come along."
"But hold on," laughed Al. "It isn't a crime in these parts to advertisea theatrical performance, is it?"
"Yes," replied the deputy, without hesitation, "it is--the way youadvertise."
"What is the matter with my advertisement?" asked the astonished boy.
"You don't know, eh?"
"I certainly do not."
"Well, of course my business here is only to serve the warrant, but I'llread the advertisement over to you."
"Go ahead," said Al, thinking that there might be a misprint in thepage.
The deputy sheriff read:
"See the New York Comedy Company, Augustus Wattles, Manager.
"See this great company in 'Loved and Lost.'
"See the real locomotive, under a full head of steam.
"See the real steam yacht.
"See all this.
"But--
"Please don't look at the queer old man in the third row of the orchestra."
The deputy laid the paper down and glared at his prisoner with atriumphant air.
"Well?" said Al, greatly puzzled.
"Didn't you write that and cause it to be inserted in the _Bugle_?"
"I did."
"That settles it, then."
"It may settle it for you, but it doesn't for me," said the boy. "Whatis the matter with the ad.?"
"You know well enough what the matter is with it."
"I do not. Is it a crime in this town to try to boom a show by anylegitimate means?"
"No; but it is a crime to try to boom it the way you have; it is acrime here and everywhere else, as you will find out if you try the samegame again in another town."
Here Miss March, who had listened in silence until this moment,interposed.
"What is the matter, sir?" she cried. "I read the advertisement, and Iam sure there was nothing in it that could offend anyone."
The deputy, who until now had forgotten or neglected to doff his hat,did so.
"As far as you see, miss," he said, "the ad. is all right."
"Well, what is there--what can there be--that I do not see?" the younglady cried.
"You are not acquainted in this town, are you, young lady?" the deputyasked.
"I am not."
"That accounts for it, then. But this young fellow is acquainted here,and he knew just what he was doing when he wrote that advertisement."
"Yes, I think I did," interposed Al, "But will you please tell me rightnow why you are here?"
"I am here in my capacity of deputy sheriff of this county," replied theofficial, with dignity, "and also as a personal friend of Mr. MarmadukeMerry."
"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" exclaimed Al.
"Yes. No wonder you start and turn pale at the mere mention of thatname."
"But I did not start or turn pale. Who is Mr. Marmaduke Merry?"
"You pretend not to know?"
"I pretend nothing at all; I do not know. I never heard the name ofMarmaduke Merry before in my life."
"This subterfuge will avail you nothing," said the deputy, who wasbecoming theatrical. "We know all."
"All what?"
Al could not help laughing, and this evidently angered the overzealousdeputy.
"I am not here to bandy words with you, young man," he said; "I havealready spent too much time in talk."
"That's what I think," smiled Al.
"I'm glad we agree upon that point. Come along."
"I am ready."
"One moment," interposed Miss March. "Won't you please tell me, sir, ofwhat crime Mr. Allston is accused?"
"I will," the deputy replied, with a look that was very evidentlyintended to be languishing. "I can refuse you nothing, miss. He isaccused of holding one of Rockton's most respected citizens up to publicridicule; and Mr. Marmaduke Merry is the man."
"But," interrupted Al, more bewildered than ever, "haven't I told youthat I never heard of this man, Merry, before?"
"You have told me so--yes."
"Well, I told the truth."
"You will have to convince the court of that."
"But what has my ad. to do with Mr. Merry? His name is not mentioned init."
"Ah, that is where your cunning comes in. But doesn't everyone inRockton know that for years and years Mr. Merry has always occupied aseat in the third row of the orchestra at the first performance of a newplay?"
At last Al grasped the situation.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "that's what you mean?"
"That is what I mean."
"And you think I meant Mr. Merry when I referred to the 'queer oldman'?"
"Of course I do, and so does Mr. Merry."
"Both of you are very much mistaken."
"For your own sake, I hope you will be able to prove that statement."
"Why, I never heard of Mr. Merry until you mentioned his name."
"You have said so several times since I have been here, but I do notbelieve you. However, I am not your judge. But if you did not mean Mr.Merry, whom did you mean?"
"Nobody at all; the old man was only a creation of my imagination."
The deputy coughed, and had the audacity to wink knowingly at MissMarch.
"This is a great tale," he said, "and will be believed, I don't think.You have got yourself and the local management into a scrape, my lad.But what could be expected?"
At this moment there was a tap upon the door. "Come in," the actresscried.
A servant entered.
"A card for you, Miss March."
The young lady took the bit of pasteboard and glanced at it; then sheexclaimed:
"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!"
"Mr. Marmaduke Merry!" echoed the deputy.
"Show him up, please," the actress said.