Part 13 (2/2)

Before we know it someone else will break in and get all the cream off the proposition.”

”No, no, friend Pep,” laughed Ben Jolly confidently. ”We've got too good a start in the movies race at Seaside Park, and we're bound to win.”

CHAPTER XII-BUSINESS RIVALS

”Put the brake on, Pep!” sang out Randy.

”What's the trouble now?” inquired Ben Jolly. ”Someone trying to kidnap you again?”

Frank, Randy and Jolly, on their way to see about their goods at the freight house, had scattered precipitately as a bounding figure turned a street corner and almost crashed into them.

”Glad I found you. Say, what did I tell you?” exclaimed the youthful sprinter. ”You come with me and I'll show you something that will open your eyes.”

”Later, Pep,” said Frank. ”We are on our way to arrange for carting the traps from Fairlands up to the playhouse.”

”It won't take a minute,” declared Pep. ”It's only a block or two away.

Say, you'd better come. I'll show you a sight that will set you thinking.”

”All right, we'll give you five minutes, Pep,” said Frank indulgently.

”And don't forget that I told you so!”

”Told us what?” interrogated Randy.

”You'll find out in a minute.”

Pep piloted the group in his usual impetuous way. Quite a busy boardwalk diverged from the main boardwalk thoroughfare, and some minor stores and restaurants of the cheaper cla.s.s occupied the first block.

About midway of the square was a vacant building, once a dime museum.

Frank and his friends had noticed this in their search for a business location. It was off the main route of travel, however, and the building was old, ramshackly and set down from the street level, the lot lying in a depression in the ground so that one had to descend three steps to the entrance.

”There you are,” p.r.o.nounced Pep in an impressive way. ”What do you say to it?”

Frank, Randy and Ben Jolly came to a halt as they faced an electric sign running out from the front of the building.

”'National,'” read Randy-”'National' what?”

”Photo playhouse,” a.s.serted Pep.

”Do you know that?” challenged Jolly.

”I do. When I pa.s.sed by a man who was wiring the sign told me that a big New York fellow and a Seaside Park party were going to open up next week.”

”The mischief!” exclaimed Randy, roused up.

”Say,” remarked Jolly, bristling up at this hint of rivalry, ”we want to get busy.”

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