The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-10

the pale-brown stars of Mrs. Jimmie
Brown-Potter and the only James Owen
O'Conuor will pale into insignficance.
This determination on the pars of Mrs.
John Martin is of very recent origin. 1t
is just possible that she was an entire
stranger TO any such idea a little over two
weeks ago. That was about the time she
first heard of Theodore Kremer, the young
German playwright, he having been first
brought into prominence here be the an
nouncement Of the approaching produc-
ton of his new play, Church and Stage"
which is to be brought out at the Bush
street Theater next Monday evening. Mrs.
John Martin read the articles about the
play and pondered over them and the more
she pondered the more uneasy she became
until, at last. she suddenly descended upon
young Mr. Kremer at his hotel, the DeX-
ter on Bush street.
That was on Monday afternoon. She
asked for an interview with the play
wright and no sooner did she come into bis
presence than she accused him of having
"put her In the play" Mr.. Kremer was
somewhat taken aback at this. but finally
recovered Self-possession enough to infOrm
the lady that she must be entirely mis-
taken, as the play had been written long
before the Martin will case had came on
for trial Mrs. Martins indignation toned
down somewhat at that and she entered
into conversation with the young author
regarding playwriting in general. As she
was about to leave she invited Mr.. Kremer
to call at her house, 22l5 Van Ness avenue,
as she had a proposition TO make TO him.
He promised he would.
Monday evening Mr.. Kremer started for
the home of Mrs. Martin. With him went
John Howard, another resident at the
Dexter. The latter had heard a good deal
of Mrs. Martins outbursts during the
trial. and as he was leaving his room he
very carefully placed in one OK his pockets
a doube-action revolver. He didn't pro-
pose to be caught mapping, if he knew
himself.
The residence of Mrs. Martin was
| reached in Ia short time and Mr.. Kremer
and his companion were ushered into the
brilliantly lighted parlor to await the COM
ing of the hostess. They were kept in
suspense for but short time, as hardly
| had they been seated when they heard the
| swish of draperies On the stairs. and, a
second later, the figure of Mrs. john
4 III dlttu SilQCu w tHO uo
| heroine of the celebrated will case was
looking her best. She was clad in one of
| those loose, elegant, clinging black silk
robes that are particularly fetching. Her
| eyes were bright and her lips parted in a
glad smile of greeting as she stretched
| forth her hands TO bid the young men
welcome. The bright particular star OF
| the most dazzling of society plays could
| have been no more stuaningly gotten up.
She was not the terrible Mrs. John
Martin of the celebrated will case at all
as she orened her batteries on the young
men, but the easy, delightful society
matron. She talked to MIR. Kremer of his
plans and his future. and praised him be-
fore his face TO his friend, Mr.. John
Howard. The latter blushed to himself
moro than once as hs quietly felt for the
revolver in his pocket, and wondered
what on earth had ever induced him TO
bring il.
The first hour passed pleasantly and
swiftly, and was rounded off with tasty
supper. which Mrs. Martin had had pre-
pared. and which she insisted the two
young gentlemen must wash down with
champagne. Then. when the supper was
| finished and the conversation began to
| flag, Mrs. Martin revealed to Mr.. Kremer
her plans. and made him the proposition.
She had made up her mind she would be
| an actress, and she had concluded that
Kremer was the man to write play for
| her.
| Mr.. Kremer promptly replied that he
was at her service. He would begin the
moment she outlined her plot or named
the style of play that would suit her, but
! he would have to ask for a retainer of
$500.
Mrs. Martin was so thoroughly delighted
with his readiness to undertake the plav
that she paid not the least bit of attention
| TO the gentle reminder of the author that
be was not writing plays for his health.
| She waved her arms ecstatically and fairly
beamed upon the young man.
| She had her mind fully made up az to