Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-14

ing
"Going to play lone hand tonight"
"Guess I'll have to. ] can do tho
dancing oil right, but ] can't sing.
You'd better come along Jimmy. and
try your little song on tho public"
Jimmy laughed, and ~ was evident
that tho offer was intended as a joke;
but 1t set Lawrence thinking. The
man with tho concertina took seat In
remote Corner and appeared to be
somewhat downcast. Lawrence ap-
preached him.
Ibid understand you to say that
you were going to give an entertain
ment somewhere and desired singer"
he asked.
Billy looked up with an amused stare.
"Can you sing?" he inquired. mo
foolin', now. l took o Teller on his
word some years ago, and when he
opened his mouth aboard the ferry-boat
the passengers came pretty near throw
in us both overheard"
~ didn't know that entertainments
were allowed on the ferry-boats," said
Lawrence. "There was sign prohibit
ing such things On the boat came over
in"
Don't worry about the sign" said
Billy. ~ stand in with all the night
crews. Now can you sing, honest?
What do you know? All the old chest
nuts, ] suppose. Give us sample. II
it's very bad I'll beg the clerks pardon,
and you won't get shot"
Drane was amused. He had tenor
voice Of good power and compass, and
excellently cultivated. He looked Billy
squarely and sternly in the eye for q
moment, and then gave him q short
vocal exercise somewhat pyrotechnic
in its character, and concluding with q
smooth, mellow howl in the neighbor-
hood of high c. Billy and every body
else in tho place jumped to their feet,
but they did not run away, as Drane
had feared they might.
Say" said Billy, slowly, putting his
forefinger on the breast OF Drane's coat,
that's great stuff. Just do that o
couple OF times on board the boat while
I knock out little accompaniment on
the old concertina, and we'll pick up
big money"
Drane was elated. Here was his
chance to escape from all his difficulties.
He wondered that he had not thought
earlier OF using his voice to make his
living.
He had often been affected by just
such entertainments as no now proposed
to take part in, and no had wondered
what would be tho success Of q really
competent performer. He had no end
Of faith in good music, and he resolved
to give tho ferry-boat's passengers some
thing worth hearing. The time dragged
heavily till twelve o'clock, when Billy
said the curtain could rise. Billy was q
queer specimen, and Drane would
have felt very much ashamed of his
society under ordinary circumstances,
but now no only thanked his stars that
tho fellow was no worse. He was o
great deal more ashamed OF the concer-
tina. and afraid Of it, too.
They left the hotel and boarded the
twclve-o'clock boat. Drane was nervous.
He hadn't decided what to sing and he
feared tho miscellaneous audience to
the last degree. He had often sung in
public, and occasionally in costumcd
light opera parts, but he had never been
SO thoroughly and outrageously made
up" before.
They took their positions in the well
come Obscurity OF the passage between
tho forward and after cabins ON tho
ladies' side.
"We'll have to wait till she starts, :"
said Billy. That's the rule, and por-
haps it's just as we'll. None of 'em can
escape after you begin to sing"
Drane shivercd. I'm little nervous
about these new songs" Billy acknowl-
edged. "Do you think I'd better try to
foller along or strike one chord all the
time and take my chances?'
"'Billy," replied Drane, pointing to
the conccrtina while the cold perspi-
ration gathered on his brow, ''if you
let that thing break loose while I'm
singing I'll throw you overheard"
"Oh, I'll handle her careful" said
Billy. Don't you worry about me. Go
ahead now. She's started"
Billy pushed Drane out into the cabin
and then extracted few walls from the
concertina by way Of prelude. When he
had finished, Drane began the we'll
known air, "Spirito Gentil," which is
suited to high tenor voice, but not to
an audience Of New Jersey people re-
turning to their homes in the dead Of
night. After the first few melodious notes
had agitated the air, on intoxicated citi-.
zen walked up with start and shouted:
Say boss, quit that and sing something
we all know. Sing Annie Laurie"
The incbriate started his favorite
song in u voice much the worse for
liquor, and both be and Drane were