Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-02-28

S1,650 actually invested in printing, proper
ties, and so forth, not to speak of plays, and
can't afford to risk success on a novice.
But I'll tell you what I'll do. Tfl agree to
give you quarter interest in the profits and
pay your expenses, if you invest $500. l
ought not to do it / know, but the fact is
I've kind of taken fancy to you, and Tll
do it," '".-..... -.' 2 NtH-'t-
Here was the looked-for opportunity, and
the next two hours passed rapidly away, as
the manager and the would-be manager
delyed deeply into the mysteries OF the pro
flesh, figuring on Jumps" stands" bill
ing" route, plays and all the details, and at
the end of that time the gigantic brain of
AdOlphus had grasped the situation, and the
smaller mental apparatus of Manager Edison
had laid the wires for the obtaining of the
needed $500.
The next day Adolphus inquired into the
antecedents of the Ethel Summers Comedy
Co., found it was an actuality, was shown
the flaming printing at the Great Western
Show Print Go. y establishment, (held there
awaiting the settlement of biH,) and resOlv-
ed 10 make the leap.
He did 1t. The $500 changed hands; the
manager and star redeemed their trunks,
and the company showed signs of renewed
vitality.
Soon select corps of seedy-looking indi-
viduals arrived from Chicago, who were in
trOduced respectively as ''Our leading man, ="
"Our heavy, sour comedian" etc, while a
piping-voiced Young lady of uncomfortable
height and forward stOop, was engaged as
first old woman, plump damsel of flip ten
dencleS as soubrette, and an ambitious CIR
amateur was promised her expenses for es-
saying secondary roles. =.
All went well. AdOlphuS had his profes-
sional card printed, donned plug, took in
the local theatres on the strength of his
/ pasteboard, and felt he was at last entering
the regions of his dreams
Rehearsals were conducted at a local the
atre, and arrangements made for a two
nights preliminary stand at suburban
house before taking the road in dead earnest.
The night arrived; the ambitious Adolphus
| was on hand as ticket taker, but the public
seemed to have made mistake about the
| date and forgot to come. AT last, however,
| the curtain went up and the play began to a
select audience of small boys in the gallery
\ Cat half price,, and bakers dozen on the
| lower floor The wardrobe of the Seedy act
| ors was apparently in soak, one OF them
| the old man-carrying his outfit in a hand
| kerchief. The players stuck and struggled
| the prOmpter seemed badly mixed and the
| smafl boys filled up the gaps I'm the dialogue
| by yelling "Ratsp while the marrow in
4 Adolphus' .vertebra was gradually losing its
'sTney'f ii be ali right later on" said Man
ager Edison.
| Adolphus ForteScue at last packed his va
lise and took the road on half-fare ticket
| feeling sanguine of success; but, somehow
4 managers fought shy of the Ethel Summers
| Company, or, If they would play them al
all, wanted about 50 per cent, while hotels
and newspapers handled them charity
Printing seemed to have lost its power tC
draw, and after a week or so Adolphus wa:
paying his own expenses on the strength o
| telegram that money would be sent hin
Immediately. At last another dispatch
reached him, reading: Treasurer decamp
ed, company stranded. Look out for your
self"
He did. An hour or two afterward Mr.
FOrtescue, Sr., received a message by wire
please send me ten dollars. AdOlphus.
But FOrtescue, Sr., was mad. Said he
"AdOlphus is d-d idiot. I'll let him flint
out what money MEANS" and the next da!
rural paper contained an item like this:
"The Ethel Summers Comedy Co. viii
not appear here next Thursday The snal
concern has busted up. Adolphus FOrtes
cue, the silk-hatted advance agent, was seel
to-day counting ties between here and 81
Louis"