Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-09

Wv nv Nne EuuullN-CoiOfcd paper ana
the agents ingenuity in utilizing the
old broom.
The paper up, the reserved scat salc
was arranged and the town "dodgcrcd"
with small bills. This brought on
another night. The next morning was
passed by the agent In bed, as he was
almost paralyzed with WEAKNESS. Aris-
ing at noon he proceeded to talk shop
the only method now left him TO
further excite the populacc. lie talked
oil afternoon, rapidly and necessarily,
TO anyone and everyone who would
listen TO him, until, at night, he
ran across tho leader of the town
band, with whom he made dicltcr TO
have the band play in front OF the ope.
ra house in consideration Of their be-
ing admitted free and one extra ticket
apiece. The following day at noon tho
company was due, and Mt eleven o'clock
the agent reached the depot, mile out Of
town, and, seated in the midst Of a will
derness of cotton bales, waited. Ivy the
time the train was due his thoughtswere
suicidal, as, after mentally summing
up the company's expenses In the town
and comparing the sum with the prob
able business, he could see nothing but
overwhelming disaster for the doomed
players. On the other hand rose the
uncertainty of their coming, rs he had
left them playing to very small houses
and the chances were that they could
not raise money enough to leave Little
Rock. However, TO his unspeakable
relief, the train finally pulled in with
two members Of the organization sa-
luting him through the windows. His
doleful misgivings were partly realized
when but eight members OF the com
pany stepped off the train. They ex.
planned that "Our Boys" could bc done
with eight people and, rs n clincher
they added that no more OF the compa.
NY could have come anyway, MS getting
the eight there had been pinch. Pro-
ceeding up TO and striking the main
street the company were greeted by tne
extensive and gaudy billing-thc most
novel their eyes ever rested upon. Man
tell, Davenport, Barrett, Rose Coghlan,
Mccullough, calvin Joslin," Julia Mar
lowe, Sothcrn, Annie Ward Tiffany,
Seaman, Mary Anderson, o'Ncil,
Kccnc, Robson, Rhca, Sully, aud n host
of others equally well known, stared
them in the face from every poin. OF
vantage to appear In "our Boys"
that evening. The sale at seven o'clock
amounted TO six dollars and half with
prices at fifty cents and one dollar,
Proceeding, after an early supper, 10
the temple Of last resort, the company
arranged the stage and assisted the
ooh.liah Of the thcatcr To light up.
This was n simple affair, as foot lights,
sidelichts and all other lights consisted
Of tallow candles, The manager and
agent took their stand ut the head Of
the ancient stairway, and awaited the
public's pleasure. Two riclScty chairs
and an old dry-goods box comprised the
box Office. Tho discordaut footing of
the band without distracted any sad or
apprchcnsivc thoughts they might have
entertained as 20 the immediate future.
and at s:l5 p. M, farty-four dollars had
accumulated - just about enough To
squire all debts Of the agcnts contract
ing in the town outside Of board bills
and return trip To Little Rock. As they
were obliged to 90 ahead the manager
disappeared back upon the stage and
preceded the entertainment by appear
ing in front Of the curtain and diplo-
matically explaining how il happened
that twenty artists were billed and but
eight would appear. After thoroughly
mystifying and muddling the audience
he retired, made up aud "Our Boys"
was presented.
Arriving nt the hotel after the per-
formancc II council 81 war was held.
Their total cash consisted Of not quite
seven dollurs-this total being made up
from their slight pocket change aud the
few dollars remaining Of the door re-
ccipts Of the night They had, after
hscalSfDst nest morning, when they
hoped 10 leave Tor Little Rock, an eight
dollar board bill to meet Then came
the difficulty Of railroad fares. Not
much, 10 be sure, but they had IL not.
~ this gloomy hour the agent, sudden
~ recovering from n brown study,
durtcd from the room and shortly re-
turned bringing with him the marshal,
to whom, in the presence Of the entire
company, lac appealed in long and nf-
fccting speech relating 10 their pccu-
MARY standing.
The marshal never weakened until
the agent pathcticaily referred to the
ladies of the company, three in number;
when lac produced onc-half Of the rent
moncy-tcn dollars and gave IL TO the
agent on behalf Of the company, good.
naturcdly undertaking to see the matter
explained t. the owner Next morning
at about 1850 o'clock the company,
after paying all indebtedness, departed
for Little Rock, where their tale Of woe
was soon told 10 the remainder Of the
now stranded players. A week passed
and the town knew them no more.
inside pockets were dclvcd into, and
this took away the ladies and about one
third Of the men the first dny-some
going home and others 10 the various
dramatic agencies in New York and
Chicago. A half dozen more kept the
wires hot in appeals 10 friends and rel
atiycs, and in n couple Of days onc.half
the others had disappeared. by pawn
ing jcwclry all but three OF the com
pany managed 10 get away. What be-
tame Of the three? They may be there
yet.-Dctroit Tree Press.