Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-02-06
A MlSER SEES SATAN.
THE DEVIL CAUGHT HIM STEALING
AN AcroR's FlRewooo.


AN AcroR's FlRewooo.
hhs Satanic Majesty Was Only Inner.
so"a'ed' but the Hotel Keeper Though,
IL was a Real visioi-Niitop Nah1..
Reforms Penurious Landlord.
Milton Mobiles is brilliant converse.
uonallst and good story teller. Among
the many anecdotes credited to him. the
toilo"lng experience which he relates
VIII prove interesting reading:
In 1867, during my first year Of the.
atr1cai life, was q member of a small
travelling "Black Crook" company. I'M.
DER the management Of the late Tom
Davey. We were playing small towns
IN Wisconsin and Minnesota. One cold
January night found Us in little town
IN Wisconsin. where the theatre and bo-
Tel were under one roof, and owned and
run by one man.
Inc man has been in recent years well
Known to professionals, and there are
many stories extAnt of his peculiarities
lie was very wealthy, but a confirmed
mlser. A stranger entering his hotel
would invariably pick him out as the
porter, and indeed he performed the
most mental offices, even to backing the
boots Of his guests if asked to do so.
Yet he always kept good hotel. On
show nights he cleaned out the dress.
ing rooms and acted as ianitor in gen.
eral.
From the second story Of this hotel
there was hallway leading to the stage.
Inc actors were usually assigned to the
rooms along this hall, and would occa-
slonally use their rooms as dressing rooms
at night, a proceeding to which the old
man seriously objected. The old man
would watch the doors like cat, and as
soon as room was vacated he would
let himself in with a pass key, and if the
gas was left burning he would turn il
out. He would also gather every stick
OF wood from the rooms and redepogii
them in the big box at the top of the
Office stairs.
THE DEVIL.
was playing two or three characters
in the piece, among others that of Zaniel.
Ny room was near the stage door, and ]
could hear the orchestra and SO tell lust
how long | could safely remain in the
room before my scene would come on. !
finished my first character, and taking
my costume for the Devil went to Inv
room to make the change. The dress
was combination Of flaming red, black
and green, tight fitting, with big bat
wings. The feet were long and pointed.
with cloven hoofs; there was a close fitting
skull cap with two protruding horns.
made the face flaming red, with large
pieces of green foil paper under the eyes.
There were a large skull and cross
bones on my breast, with red foil paper
set in the eye sockets. The long scarlet
tail was forked at the end and illuminat-
ed with foil papers. As l completed this
satanic toilet could hear the orchestra
playing the ballet music of the grotto
scene, so l knew that | should not he
wanted for at least twenty minutes.
dropped two or three pieces of pine wood
on the open CRATE fire, and drawing a
big chair to one side Of the CRATE seated
myself comfortably for a short snooze,
placing my feet in another chair directly
in front Of the CRATE, and hitching "a
miel's forl1ed tail gracefully over my
right shoulder.
l was just dropping off when the doc,
was opened softly, and by a reflection in
the mirror | could see the old landlord
sneak into the room. His eagle eye
missed me, half hidden in the big chair,
but lit on the single gas jet burning at
full head. He turned it of quickly and
moved toward the well filed woodbox
he filed his arms full, leaving two OF
three small pieces as a blind, and turned.
This movement brought him face to face
with the apparition in the big chair
The darkeued room Illuminated by tho
glare from the burning pine added a
weird effect to the scene. The wood fell
from tue neryeless arms, and his lower
jaw dropped to the point of dislocation
1 ranained motionless, staring at hin
through my green foil eyes.
THE MIsER SCARED.
The old m;ser seemed to have grow
to the floor; he must have stood fol
thirty seconds without breathing. Final
ly his breath came with a gasp and 8
gurgle With one hand ] gently shoos
that forbed tail. the end of which wa,
standing on level with my head
Raising my arm slowly leveled at hiu
the long red foil tipped finger. With 6
gasp he rushed for the door. As he
reached it stood erect, my back to The
fire, scratching my ear with the tip OF
my tail, The old man gave one glauC,
over his shoulder. and, with an IN
earthly scream, fell against the door
and seemed trying to push it through
but the door opened in. took one steI
toward him, and he gave another screecl
and tried to jump through the transom
At that moment Tom Davey, my
roommate, pushed the door open am
the old man fell across the threshold
He gathered himself quickly and flew
wildly into the hall I explained tn,
situation briefly to Davey. Opening tn,
door he looked down to where the main
hallway intercepted the main nall. IN
fit of wild extravaganza the miser bat
turned the gas full on and stood staring
in the direction Of our door. The q,
man motioned to Tom and asked whethe
he had seen anybody i'll the room. Ton
assured him that there was no one in III
room. what, Nothing at all:' Moth
ing at all, answered Tom. The old man
stared at him vacantly for o monen
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