A policeman came down to the box and threatened to arrest Joe, but he was pacified by Creighton, who had a decidedly smooth way of "fixing things."
Frank Merriwell remained quiet until near the end of the play, enjoying the sport the other fellows were making. At last, however, he decided to produce some amusement himself.
Frank was a very good amateur ventriloquist, although he seldom practiced the art. Now, however, he saw his opportunity.
_Little Eva_ was on her deathbed, and the mourners were assembled about. All at once one of the mourners seemed to say:
Every one started and stared. The actors were astounded, and the audience amused. Then the death agony went on until another of the watchers by _Eva's_ side observed:
The manager was heard to hiss from the shelter of the wings:
"Oh, go fall on yourself, you old cheat!" the actor seemed to fling back.
Then _Little Eva_, in her death agony, apparently remarked:
"Give it to the old duffer! He owes me six weeks' salary, and I'll quit dying right now if the ghost doesn't walk immediately!"
This brought laughter and hearty applause from the college lads.
When the applause had subsided _Uncle Tom_ apparently observed:
"He can't get ahead of me. I've put an attachment on the jackass."
This was more than the excitable manager could stand, and he rushed onto the stage, shaking his fist at _Uncle Tom_ and crying:
"Confound you! I don't owe you a cent! You obliged me to pay up before you would go on to-night!"
And then he nearly collapsed when he realized what his anger had led him to do and say.
The college lads arose from their seats and cheered.
Standing in the front of the box, Charlie Creighton shouted:
"This is the best part of the show, fellows. Let's give 'em one! Now--all together!"
Then the Yale yell pealed forth, and _Little Eva_ came near dying in reality from heart failure.
This broke up the show entirely, and the curtain came down with a rush, while the frightened orchestra made haste to disappear. From behind the curtain the manager shouted that the show was over, and the laughing, tumultuous students hurried out of theatre.
"Well, Merriwell," said Charlie Creighton, "how have you enjoyed the evening?"
"It was a regular sus-sus-sus-circus," declared Joe Gamp. "Never had so much fuf-fuf-fuf-fuf-fun in all my bub-born days!"