important."

"Get out of this, I say," and the man caught him roughly by the
shoulders, wheeled him around, and was about to send him headlong out
upon the stage, when a stern voice arrested him.

"What's all this about, Ben?"

"I'm kicking these two bushies out, sir, for their impudence in coming
here," the little man replied, letting go of his grip upon the boy.

As Rod turned, his heart gave a great leap, for there before him stood
the very man with "the splendid eyes and grey hair," who had so won
Miss Arabella's heart.

For a few seconds John Markham eyed the two boys. Rod's face looked
familiar, but he could not recall where he had seen it before. He was
always meeting so many people that it was hard for him to remember them
all. Perhaps this was one of the newsboys, and that was the reason why
he recognised his face.

"What do you want, my lad?" he kindly enquired.

"We want to see Miss Royanna," was the reply.

A smile passed over the manager's face at the idea of the famous singer
entertaining such company.

"I am afraid that Miss Royanna is too tired to see you to-night," he
replied. "She gave strict instructions that no one was to be admitted."