Excerpt: \"The scene was the stage of the Star Theater in Atchison, Kansas, and the occasion the rehearsal of Frank Merriwellâs company in his new play, âTrue Blue.â From the first night âTrue Blueâ had been a success; the playgoers of Puleob, Colorado, who had witnessed the failure of its first version, welcomed âTrue Blueâ enthusiastically and assured Frank, as Roscoe Havener, his stage manager, had put it, that he had a âwinner.â Frank had chosen to turn back toward the East, instead of continuing on to the Pacific coast, for it was late in the season and business was on the decline. It would be better for the members of his company if the play closed its run in the East, leaving them on the ground when the time came to make engagements for the coming season. Besides that consideration, Frank had other reasons in turning Eastward. The failure to keep the dates made for âJohn Smithâ and the partial failure of âFor Old Eliâ had made it difficult for him to secure theaters for âTrue Blueâ on the Western route, while it was comparatively easy to secure good bookings on the way Eastward.\"
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