Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-17
LANCASTER u 1890

y
little high stoop' house used as an
hotel Lawrence had come to the con-
clusion that he must look up some char
table institution and ask for a nights
lodging. and with this purpose in mind
he entered the hotel office and asked to
see the directory. While he was consult
ing it man with concertina in his
hand dropped into chair near him.
Hello, Billy" said the clerk to the
newarrival. where's your side partner?"
II donno," replied Billy Guess
he's in the Jug. haven't seen him
since the three o'clock boat this morn
ing"
''Going to play lone hand to-night9"
Guess I'll have to. l can do the
dancing all right, but ] can't sing.
You'd better come along, Jimmy, and
try your little song on the public"
Jimmy laughed, and it was evident
that the offer was intended as a Joke;
but it set Lawrence thinking. The
man with the concertina took a seat in
a remote corner and appeared TO be
somewhat downcast Lawrence APP
preached him.
did / understand you to say that
you were going TO give an entertain
ment somewhere and desired a singer"
he asked.
Billy looked up with an amused stare.
''Can you sing?" he inquised mo
foolin', now. | took a 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.
81 didn't know that entertainments
we're allowed on the ferry-boats," said
Lawrence. There was a sign prohibit
ing such things on the boat ! came over
in"
Don't worry about the sign" said
Billy. II stand in with all the night
crews. Now can you sing, honest?
What do you know? All the old chest
nuts, suppose. Give us a 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 hooked Billy
squarely and sternly in the eye for a
moment, and then gave him a short
vocal exercise somewhat pyrotechnic
in its character, and concluding with a
smooth, mellow howl in the neighbor-
hood of high c. Billy and every body
else in the place jumped TO their feet,
but they did not run away, as Drane
had feared they might
Say, said Billy, slowly, putting his
forefnger on the breast OF Drane's coat,
''that's great stuff. Just do that a
couple of times on board the boat while
/ knock out a 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 he now proposed
to take part in, and he had wondered
what would be the success of a really
competent performer He had no end
OF faith in good music, and he resolved
to give the ferry-boats passengers some
thing worth hearing. The slime dragged
heavily till twelve o'clock, when Billy
said the curtain could rise. Billy was
queer specimen, and Drane would
have felt very much ashamed OF his
society under ordinary circumstances,
but now he only thanked his stars that
the fellow was no worse. He was
great deal more ashamed Of the Concer-
tina, and afraid of il, too
They left the hotel and boarded the
Cwelve-o'clock boat, Drane was nervous.
He hadn't decided what to sing and he
feared the miscellaneous audience to
the last degree. He had often sung in
public, and occasionally in costumed
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
the forward and after cabins on the
ladies' side.
Wen have TO wait till she starts,
said Billy. That's the rule, and per-
haps it's just as we'll None of EN- can
escape after you begin TO sing"
Drane shivered. 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 concertina while the cold perspi
ration gathered ON his brow, 'if you
let that thing break loose while I'm
singing III throw you overheard. f"
''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 Gentii, which is
suited TO q 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, an intoxicated citi-
zen walked up with start and shouted:
Say boss, quit that and sing something
we all know. Sing Annie Laurie.
The inebriate started his fayorite
in ,1s.o v-s.oh for,