The morning times., 1895-08-21
One Cent H5Rp R5a
No advertisement less than I0S
p Dark" DrarnafiSt.
Continued from yesterdays Evening Times.

81 can't wait" interposed the stranger
briskly. Il must have yes or no at once.
II the former, well and good; If the latter,
| take il elsewhere Immediately. Which
is it to be-"
well, really, if you are bent on giving
it away" answered Mr Outlet, Il sup
pose l may as well profit by it as any one
else -
Yes, considerably better, from your
standpoint Very good. Then you accepb
the piece on the conditions naned?"
Il do" replied Mr.. outlet, after some
reflection He was not prepared to reject
this extraordinary offer then and there,
but he reserved (mentallyJ TO himself the
right OF canceling his verbal acceptance
by letter If he deemed it wise OIL mature
consideration.
That is right, answered the other, TAX
ing UP his hat and rising TO go. Il Will not
detain you longer now. Probably 1 shall
call on you again shortly"
"Stay!" cried Mr.. Outlet. you will
leave me your name and address, in case
| wish to communicate with your
The stranger shook his head.
No he said, with an inscrutable look,
I'm afraid / can't | have particular rea-
Sons for secrecy, which l cannot now ex
plain. You shall learn more about me by
and by. For the present | prefer TO keep
my identity concealed
He rose, bowed to Mr. outlet, and hur-
riedly left the room. Before the latter had
half recovered from his surprise the street
door banged behind his mysterious visitor.
Mr.. outlet read the tragedy through gain
To himself and was more than ever struck by
it's wonderful power and force. 1t was some
time before he could make up his mind what
TO DO about it But at last he submitted he
play to Biuhurst, manager ofthe Erectheum,
telling him the extraordinary and peculiar
| Circumstances under which he had become
| possessed Of 1t.
! BilIhurst read the play and at once pro-
nounced 1t a trump card.
Il tell you, outlet, he said with enthusi-
| asm, there's a mint of money in that piece.
| It's as certain to draw as anything ever
read Only 1 don't ike this very runimy
way in which il has come to US. suppos-ng
it should have been stolen, eh?"
That is hardly probable, think. - was
the rejoinder, "and if you think OF taking
the piece in hand you might feel your way
ahead a little by putting few preparatory
notices ia the newspapers"
How would tnat safeguard u.s." asked
| the manager.
| why in the event OF the pla y having been
| cribbed or unfairly come by the notice might
| catch the eye of some person interested
| who would, of course, communicate with
you" .
| True" -" said Mr Biilhursl, thOughtfUlly,
Il Will give the matter my consideration" "
| The manager was very much worried Just
| then about his account, which showed an
| ugly deficit The last veuture had lost him
60 900 The current piece was not paying
its way.
But. damme, there's money in this new
piece said Mr.. Biilhurst to himself, con
fidently, and tell you what IL is, viii put
1t on and take all chances"
| Having once made up his mind, the man
ager did not let the grass grow under hi
feet Within fortnight the new TRACED!
was in full rehearsal 1t went well from the
beginning The manager was in grea
| feather He saw a sure and phenomena
| success before him Then an accident hap
peued which nearly turned his hair gray
| on the night before the last dress rehea rsal
and only two nights before the pFoductiouo Of
| the piece. Stau6ish the leading tragedian
was attacked and robbnd in Drury Lane, BE-
ing so roughly handled that the police, whC
| found him lying stunned on the pavement
took him straight 10 the nearest hospital
Here he lay IN a very precarious condition
The manager, who only heard the new
when he came down To the theater the mex
morning, was well nigh beside himself.
Good God, QuIlet!' he calculated, witt
a groan, the play is as good a. damned
Everything depends on that part, and Stan
dish sunderstudy viii never carry it through
on the first night
It's a bad business" admitted Outlet
ruefully.
Please, SIR" said one of the call boys
thrustIng his head in at the door. here's
gent TO see you"
Damn the gent" cried the manager
I'm busy: I'm
But the call boy had Withdrawn, and Mr.
Bllhurst found himself leveling these rt
marks at tall, dark-complexioncd strar
ger, who stood bowling and smiling in tn
doorway.
Mr. outlet gave a start and plucked hi
friend by the sleeve
Its the mysterious author of the piece,
he whispered.
Good morning, Mr. Outlet" said tn
stranger. GOOD morning, Mr. BilIhurst
This is uufortu nate news about pool
Standish"
You have heard it, them" said the man
ager, eying him with a shrewd, interesting
glance.
Yes, and came on here at once. VIVA
do you propose to do, may l aSk?'
God knows. I'm sure the understud,
will make a hash of it" groaned the man
ager.
Most probably Now, I'm going to make
a startling proposition TO you. Intrust M
with the part
"You?" calculated the manager DO yol
know anything about acting?"
"A great deal But try me and see, salt
the other, confidently. Come, 1 viii re
hearse that scene in the third act for you
benefit now"
The manager said nothing, but he and Mr.
Outlet exchanged GIances- Taking their 81
lence for consent, this extraordinary MAJ
started his self-suggested rehearsal Il