The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26
PAYABLE TO BEARER.
BY MARION HILL

n tain having fallen alter the hrst act, the
q -s;aoce awaited the customary burst Of
&c from the orchestra; but among the
-,.icisus there was quiet dispute under
Il s..dwsv. They. were endeavoring to ex-
-I.in something to the violinist, a gaunt,
n .tlsss-looking man who was making
,neeriug responses in tone which, as his
n .orge rose, became more and more audi le.
The audience, not yet alive to the de-
r-btful probability of a row. buzzed con-
/. nntedly.
4 70 mt an end to the characterization.
10 Ladder Of the orchestra tapped thrice
.nthoritatively with his baton and started
~ selection. The discord which ensued
Us barbarous, as well it might be, siuce the
violiuist with devilish sdag JrOid scam
.ared lar in advance of the other instru-
Pmants. The dIsmayed orchestra readily
obsyed the signal for silence The violinist
sroopsd, too, and remarked with q certain
triumph:
hsbiud, and be - to you"
The leader, by this time purple with
| ,nlesn. commanded ktm to leave the thea
ter.
vble | stay, play. too; so we are likely to
such a resolute look accompanied his
words. that his victim was momentarily
nonplussed. Then, recovering decision and
preSence of mind, be ordered two burly
musicians TO remove the belligerent, and
in the same second reawoke to melodious
activity his crippled but by this time unan-
imous orchestra.
TAKE me out? That suits me-" MUIR
Injured the violinist, and he Immediately re-
~ bia Ar aG
dead weight to mis- captors. The only resist
anoe he offered was to conYulse them by
delivering, all reoumbently, bits OF profuse
and profane advice. By the time his
shabby shoes had been carried the way of
his shabby body, the excited public had re-
sumed their seats and the distur bauce was
at an end In due time the music reached a
peaceful and natural end, and once more
the curtain rose.
Among those who mad been near enough
to hear as we'll as to see the disgraceful
scene, was man of military aspect, VINO
sat In the first row of seats. He now
leaned forward and tapped the nearest
musician on the shoulder, saying:
beg pardon-the man who was carried
out Just now-his pamel Do you know
HIM"
The man stopped blowing noiselessly into
biz cornet, and turned his eyes $50 goggled
as to be almost on movable stalks like crabs)
toward his questioner. know him? Every
body knows him. HuhW
"But am a stranger in the city. What
is his name?"
"Him9 Vance. Harold Vance"
The questioner made swift swoop for
his hat, and strobe vigorously up the aisle
and out of the theater, quite oblivious TO
the outraged Rlances that were thrown in
bis wake,
Once outside, he turned down a side
street, and proceeded directly TO the back
door of the characterization a remarkable
achievement for a stranger. Opening it he
walked along the dimly lit passage-dimly
lit yet odorous with prodigal escape of gas
to where two men, seated on boxes, were
playing cards upon barrel head
II want Harold Vlance, il he is here; il
not, tell me where he has gone, quickly
Quicklyp
One of the players never stirred. except
to cut the card the other shuffled and dealt
methodlcally, casting but one glance at the
speaker to impress him with the folly OF
haste. The gas-jet iared drunkenly in the
draught Tue doorkeeper arranged his
cards In suits and murmured " our play"
then, keeping an eye upon the board, be con-
descended to reply:
'''Arold Vlauce, sir, e went bout, sir,
cussing tremendous, not 'arf minute ago.
Went to the Big Sun Flower, hopposite
corner, hat / don't mistake, sir
sake yer bloomin' time for playin',"
come in a morose growl from the other; so
the seeker after Harold Vlance dashed impa-
tiently into the street again and made for
the indicated saloon.
As be attempted to enter, Harold Vlance
himself came out, almost stepping into the
arms OF tue other, who said with a choke in
his throat: "Vlapce, old fellow, is it yous"
Harold Vance unceremoniously seized his
interlocutor by both shoulders. and swung
him into the light OF a near lamp, under
whose rays he proceeded to examine him,
apostrophzing meanwhile:
Before committing ourself, let us first
be sure of your identity. II you are credi-
tor, a brazen Bill Dunn, receive our courte-
GUS assurance that we are not we. If you
are"
Here he recoilingly loossned his hold
and inutrered:
81 wish you fellows were dead! all of
your
do you really wish that Of me, Vlance?
Do you know mem
Bowling suavely, Harold Vlance replied
with recovered indifference;
"Of course l know you. Once plain
Hugh Hams, esteemed co-worker and fell
low student; now, Maj. Hams, in her maj
esty's service"
Col Hams - was the correction too au-
tomatically delivered to be charged to van
ity.
Harold Vance bowed lower still, in from
ical abaSement, but some OF his hearts
agony pierced through bis bravGdo and
spoke IN his whitening lips.
You are coming home with me-" cried
the colonel Vehementlye
Lie number one" was the response.
Then you are going to take me home
with your
''rll see you-well, anywhere you like, first,
I'm follow you, then; | must speak with
you l will not leave youp
The other considered a moment.
well, do as you like; you'll live longer.
Pride of place was never a failing Of
mine, 80 come on"
With this he led the way, and the colonel
accompanied him.
II was at the theater, the st. James,"
volunteered the latter.
Harold Vlancs emitted chuckle.
You we're famous for that in the old
days at college," continued his friend IN
vague retrospect.
Famous Tor what? Playing the violin,
or the devil?"
"The violin,n answered the colonel.
gently.
I'm, yes. That was something could
do, and play out of time l will not; no, not
for Orpheus himself"
81 heard of your marriage" began the
colonel again.
Did you2 And my wife's deaths"
"Dead9 No, no, dear friend, i"
Pray don't condole. My loss occurred
several years ago, and am slowly recover
h.. Of raIH Nnda