Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-08

Arrival Of the Comedians Friend>The
Trunk Trick.
Any one who knows the look of the
"barnstormer" can tell him at glance.
1t Is the fne days that bring him ont.
Little is seen of him ON wet and rainy
lays. but give Old Sol just half acl,ance
and you wonder at the array Of immacu-
late linen. cigarettes and Prince Alberts
exhibited by these fly by night stars,
whose ways Of securing an existence are
Us ingenious as they are manifold. The
men. with but few exceptions, are bar-
bers or walters who do rot work at their
trade, rs they are either too light for
heavy work or too heavy for light work.
The ladies are as a rule the possessors
Of good homes. which they desert to
follow their cherished calling.
A company of Keystone talent leaves
Philadelphia to play the state of New
Jersey. Their stock in trade consists
Of $25 bank roll and several bum
dles-not trunl;s-of wardrobe. Of course
they are in possession Of their ability,
which is not appreciated by New Jersey
natives, ard after making several stands,
pursued by angry hotel keepers, they go
ashore on the rocks. ard with one &C.
cord all noses point toward the Quaker
City. The ladies have little trouble in
securing transportation, as they are ex-
perienced in the art of telling the con-
ductors a story calculated to soften
heart of steel. They ride, and before
reaching the Delaware river have
touched" the accommodating ticket
puncher Cor cents each with which 10
pay their ferry fare.
Not SO with the men, as they care not
for varnish covered cars. but prefer rid
ing in what is known to the professionals
as n side door sleeper, but which the rail-
road calls a box car. The comedian has
secured possession of his valise, which he
has expressed to his destination. On
reaching home ne redeems it from the
express company and HES himself to
some theatrical hotel, where he secures
room and board for week, at the end
of which time he is unable to pay and
informs the hotel man that he is expect
ing to sign with Manager So-and-so and
will settle in a day or two. After hear
ing this song FOR four weeks the landlord
takes charge Of his grip and advises him
To- find other quarters.
Happy thought: His friend, Tom
Blower. has arrived in the city, and as
Tom is dressed-iu their language-out
of sight, orr comedian hunts him up.
and after short confab with him Tom
can he seen walking in the direction of
the hotel lately occupied by Comedy.
| Reaching there, he calls mt the desk for
our comedian and Is informed by the
! proprietor that he is no. in, whereupon
| Tom becomes agitated, and in a conf
| dental tone tells the hotel man that he
| desires To engage Comedy to work the
rest of that week. as his comedian has
been taken i'll. Why lie exclaims, Il
| raust get him at any price. as he is the
only man in the city acquainted with the
lines and the finest comedy exponent in
! the country" Comedy now strolls in,
| and Toms falls upon his chest with JOY
and engages him. III tones to he over.
heard by the landlord. to complete the
week with him at a salary of SO. The
landlord is happy and already hears the
jingle of the simoleons due him.
Tom here informs our friend that III
must report for dress rehearsal at once
whcrcupon the landlord is told that hi.
wardrobe is in the grip, which is handed
him instantcr. He and his friend Ton
depart arm in arm. But they Eeyel
ccfnc back.
Several years ago company stranded
near Philadelphia, and all but the lead
Ing man returned to New York. he re
manning with headquarters ut tine hote
in which he was stopping. expecting, a
he told tine country landlord. none,
order from his wife. AT the end of thre,
weeks no money order had made its az
pcarance. and tho Thespian's trunk wa
taken into the storeroo,n as security b,
the hotel man. The day following thi
move n young lady alighted from TN
train and registered at the hotel, and il
very short time became acQuaintc,
with the leading MIN. She wanted (,
buy a trunk. He would sell her cue an,
stated to the innkeeper that he had
chance TO sell his trunk and gave hin
the impression that the proceeds Of tn
sale should apply on his board bill.
The trunk was removed to the actor
| room, where the contents were taken on
of it andwrapped in a paper, after whicl
/ the lady was called in to examine til
..keister." She was in love with tn
style and make of it and paid the acto
$40 in cash for the same. The bundle
were lowered out Of the window by tin
actor and expressed to Philadelphia. Til
lady paid her bill at the hotel. amour,
ing to 81, and that afternoon left for thi
city in company with the leading mar
who was none other than her husband
and in whose pocket quietly reposed tn
baggage check for his trunk, which tn
day before had been the property Of til
confiding hotel keeper. and who. to thi
day, had never received u cent from til
proceeds of that sale.
/ A .,,,p,pn,, ,,roetico fo11avva1 l,v fhxS