Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-25

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Mr.. 1saacs Rugged the delusion that one
day he would by Mr.. Climbacker.
1t was in the winter of 'S2 that the play
wrights began TO fall. Baglev died in
January ana Fitzpatrick and Poole died
in February. In March Callahan and
Morrison passed away. The millennium
began to dawn. The managers wore
bright faces and had regular champagne
meetings. lsaacs was loaded with
anonymous presents. His contract would
make him dOublv rich.
But during all the Yeening hours of this
success the cold, cynical face Of CHM
hacker regarded MIN impassiyely. 1t
seemed always to say, 81 see through
your game. you old fraud. and I'll beat
you vet Isaacs dreaded this look, there
was a dull, inevitable air Of destiny about
it that maddened him.
But the playwrIgnts continued to pass
away with calm regularity.
When the winter of 'S3 set in there was
a feeling of buOyancy in all theatrical cir
Giles, owing to the glad prospect Of there
being no native plays to be produced and
paid for.
And up to this time Mr.. Isaacs' meth
DDS had not been inquired into.
IL was then that ne ran against Mr.. Bob
Norris and fell himself 1t is now known
that the method pursued with this gifted
but vOluminous playwright was the same
that had wiped out so many of his prede-
cessOrs.
The first that Mr.. Isaacs heard of him
was when the managerial syndicate sent
for the hy'er, and pointed out that he was
not doing his duty. In vain he produced
the death registry and obituary notices.
He was told that all his work was as
naught, so long as Bob Norris walked the
earth with play in each pocket.
Mr.. Isaacs hen promised to concentrate
himself on Mr.. Norris, and, il possible,
stop him in his mad career.
The maign tactics we're now applied to
Mr.. Norris. He went to that young man
and told him cOntidentially that he had a
young lady who wanted play. She had
deposited S.. 900 with him TO be paid for il
If il suited her. He was to have her that
night in box at Wallack's. Could Mr..
Norris make IL convenient to put on
dress coat and come there? Could he?
lie was there. The thermometer was
two degrees below. The young woman
was lsaacs' daughter and confederate.
She covered MIR. Norris with "tatteta."
She SAID all other playwrights ''made her
Five thousand dollars was no object with
her. Mr.. Norris head swan apparently.
Mr.. lsaacs asked him TO come outside the
box. He beQuiled him into the Vestibule
where the draughts blew. He then asked
HIM to come next door, where they could
be alone on business few mo-
ments. Norris had left his OvercOat in the
box. His white shirt bosom invited the
blizzard, but he did not hesitate They
went next door. isaacs got MN on the
corner, buttOnholed him where the arctic
wind raced down the great thOrOughfare.
He talked $4,000 and shivered, but Norris
turned his White shirt 'front.' to the western
b asst and looked comfortable. Isaacs
was amazed. This mad killed Poole.
Callahan had stood here ten minutes in
dress coat and gone down the next day
with the pneumonia. Fitzpatrick had
cou2hed himself to pieces IN two weeks
at rlt.
Norris seemed to enjoy it.
When lsaacs thought his fell purpose
was'2cc0mpl ne remarked:
"SIXpose we 20 back; I'm afraid you'n
catch Gold"
80, no. says Bob. 'T like it."
A grim ASile 0verspread Mr.. lsaacs'
face as he thS.ught:
"You'll not 1ke it 80 wen tomorrow"
A slight accident interiered with Mr..
Isaacs the neXtdak. be was little un-
der the weather AN Mr.. Norris came 10
see him about the son D.. The youn@ mau
was in fine cOnditOnN IL was "Osoluiel}
necessary 10 give him another dose. The
same feat was repeated tIst night. one
man wore a heavy 0Yercoat, the other
stood by his side in the bitter blast Boz "A
dress coat. Aud while they stood thtie
| Climbscker passed them and gave lsaacr
/ a calm, patient smile. IL maddCueu MN.
! The next day letters came nom the
/ managers, complain ng OF tie nOn-&Y ale-
! ment OF Norris. Mr.. l-aacs asked for
! time. lie was sure that the Young men
was In process Of disappearance. ne
would rest his reputation on the drees
coat treatment.
Another day passed. Then came the
dread announcement that Norris
h had, had play accepted
OF the managers, mHddened by cha grin.
Mr.. lsaacs undertook to 60 out, but bad
10 take TO mis- bed. AZ night bee had what
the doctors call the Dieuratic stitch.
Fatal sign. lie knew II only too well.
Meanwhile the managers were growing
impatient. Bulletins came complaining
that Norris was walking the streets In a
dress coat with an additional play stick
iug ont of his pocket. Mr.Jalmer demand
ed an explanation.
lsaacs grew steadily worse. On Jan. %
the doctors gave hlm up. Just before he
died he sent forNOrris. That young man
came Win ClimOacker.
"rell me- one thing" whispered lsaacs
hoarsely. "Are you wellp'
"Neyer better in my life" said Norris.
81 can't understand It." murmured
Isaacs. "irs beyond me-"
, 80, I'll eXplaiuit." replied Morris chirp.
b ingly; "lts simple enough. wore one
Of Climbacker's arctic undershirts -
And as lsaacs passed out in the pres.
ence Of his weeping family he saw that
hun.
This Is the true explanation of the tragic
fate that beiell Mr. lsaacs aud of the sud.
b den failure Of the only laudable attempt
! ever made in this country TO abate the
e American playwright.