CHAPTER XXV
SUCCESS
The motion picture chums looked at one another jubilantly. Their long period of waiting was over. At last they saw success before them. They had fought hard and long, and had won.
"Come on!" cried Pep impetuously, with something of a return of the spirit which had not been in evidence the last few days. "Come on, boys! We'll put up those fine big posters of the sea and animal films. For we're going to show them now!"
He started for the advertising room where the posters had been placed, after the theft of the valuable films.
"Not quite so fast!" exclaimed Frank.
"Why not, I'd like to know?" asked Pep. "We can go on with our big show now; can't we?"
"Yes, but we must wait further word from Mr. Bullard. I have no doubt but what he says in this telegram is true. We will get all ready, but we won't advertise those films unless we actually have them ready to slip on the machines. There may be a reel or so missing, though of course we could easily duplicate them. But we won't put up those posters until we have the complete reels in our possession."
Pep was a little disappointed, but he saw the force of Frank's reasoning. However, he had the satisfaction of getting the advertising posters out in readiness.
The motion picture chums did not have long to wait. There came another telegram from Mr. Bullard—a longer one—in which he said he had lodged Royston in jail, with some of his cronies, and was on his way back with the recovered films. The telegram was dated from a town about two hundred miles from San Francisco.
"He'll be here by night," Frank announced, looking at a time table.
"I wonder how he caught Royston?" spoke Randy.
"It doesn't much matter, as long as he caught him," voiced Hank Strapp. "The rascal will get what he deserves!"
It was anxious waiting. But finally Mr. Bullard's step was heard in the hall outside the office of the Zone Theatre, where the chums were waiting for him.
"Well, here I am, boys," he said, genially. "How are you?"
"Much better—sort of sitting up and taking nourishment," replied Hank Strapp, with a grim smile. The boys looked the question they hesitated about asking.
"And here are your films," went on the government man, as one of his helpers followed him into the office. "I brought them along with me in a taxicab, as I thought you'd be anxious to look them over."
"Glory be!" cried Randy.
"Now for those posters!" exclaimed Pep.
"We'll have to test the films first," objected Frank. "They may have been damaged."
So Pep had to restrain his impetuosity, but not for long. The recovered films were quickly reeled off before the small audience of the chums and their friends. Not one was missing and though one or two were broken, that was a common occurrence and they were easily mended.
"Now can I put out those posters?" asked Pep.
"Yes," replied Frank, and a little later the big signs, announcing that the Zone Theatre would open as originally planned, and on time, with the greatest films ever exhibited, were put up.
"And now can you tell us how you caught Royston?" asked Frank.
"There isn't much to tell," Mr. Bullard said. "Like most criminals he left one track uncovered, and there were so many of us after him that he could not very well get away. Then, too, the films gave us the best clue. He did try to dispose of them, and we obtained trace of him in that way. Then it was only a question of waiting until we could get those associated with him. That took a little time. But we rounded up the whole gang, and we have sufficient evidence against them to send them to prison for long terms, not counting your charge against them."
"Then he won't worry us any more?" asked Randy.
"No," replied the government agent.
"And he can't annoy my uncle?" questioned Albert.
"Indeed he cannot," was the answer. "We found out something about that insane commitment, too. Mr. Jackson never should have been sent to an asylum.
"Private treatment would have answered in his case," went on Mr. Bullard, "but that did not suit Royston's ends. He wanted Mr. Jackson out of the way, and took that means of bringing it about. Royston swore falsely, or the physicians never would have signed the papers. I am not blaming them so much, though they were blinded to the true state of the case by money Royston paid them.
"It is all right now, however, and your uncle need never again fear Royston or his cronies, Albert."
"I am glad of that. How different my feelings from those of the day I sat on the rock near Cliff House, and didn't care what became of me! And it's all because of you boys," he went on as he gazed affectionately at the motion picture chums.
"Oh, you did your share, too," declared Frank. "Only for you we wouldn't have this fine theatre, and be ready to open now with the greatest film ever exhibited—I mean the under-ocean views."
"If only the public think them as great as we do," remarked Randy.
"They sure will!" exclaimed Pep. And, though he was often wrong in his hasty judgments, he was right in this case.
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened on time, with the usual official action by those high in authority. The grounds, from the amusement Zone to the more dignified exhibitions, were thrown open to the public, and the throngs flocked in. And the Zone Theatre, with its great pipe organ, presided over by Ben Jolly, and the beautiful and wonderful films, was open on the stroke of time.
"Well, things seem to be coming our way," observed Frank to his chums as they looked from their office window, and saw a line of waiting persons in front of the box office.
"Yes, I think we can call it a success," agreed Pep.
And a success it was from the very first. The wisdom of the boys in showing rare, valuable and educational films was well demonstrated. The fame of the Zone Theatre spread as the days of the great fair progressed. Audience after audience waited outside for a chance to view the attractions. It was difficult to say which was the more appreciated—the under-sea views or the wild animal life.
"But if you ask me what brings the crowds, I'll say it's the pipe organ and the effects box," said Ben Jolly, with a merry twinkle in his eyes. "Why, I can even make you believe some of those elephants are trumpeting in the jungle, and as for a lion roaring—say, I scared a lot of women this afternoon. And as for those ocean pictures—why, when I imitated the surf breaking on the rocks to-day one girl screamed as if she had wet her feet."
"Well, it takes you to tell it, Ben," laughed Hank Strapp. "But, take it all together, I think we can say we're having a great success."
And so they were. It became a more and more pronounced success as the days passed. Mr. Jackson, now almost himself again, came to view the pictures, and Albert was one of the chums' most efficient helpers. Hank Strapp busied himself about many things, and of course we all know what Ben Jolly did.
As for Royston, and his crowd, they received well-deserved punishment, and our friends had nothing to fear from them.
And now that I have brought my heroes successfully through many trials and troubles, which they surmounted by not a little hard work and good luck, we will take leave of the Motion Picture Chums.
THE END
Books by Victor Appleton
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents, postpaid.
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA
THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE