The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-16
A Mantem Mistake.

Few actors can resist the Temptation to
play a practical joke whenever the opPor-
tInity occurs, and the following story WIS
sprung about Robert Manteil a few days
ago. MaEtell Possesses the power to
change his facial expression at will. AMI
can 90 so m manner that makes II dif-
ncult for his most intimate friends TO rec
Ognize him. While playing ia a western
city some time ago he had occasion TO
call rehearsal OF the Face in the Moon
light the morning following his first ap-
pearance there. he arose and hastily DIS
clssed an egg and cup OF coffee IT.
his apartments In the hotel: slipped on a
shooting coat and SLOUGH hat: picked mp
a stout stick and walked 10 the tEeater,
where he was occupied by the work Of the
rehearsal until a late hour in the after
noon, when ne returned 70 the hotel 10
get brief rest and dress for dinner.
Now the clerk of the hotel had seen Mr.
Mantell the night previous as he came in
aftcr the performance. ana when the stal-
wart individual in shooting coat and
SLOUGH hat. with heavy blackthOrn stick
stepped up TO the desk and demanded the
Key OF No. a. he looked the actor over
with a puzzled air that caused the actor
10 grasp the situation. and at once as
sumo the vacant expression of Rabat. the
French criminal In that play. The clerk
gave him the key, and he STROBE mp the
stars three steps at time until out of
sight His peculiar appearance, vacant
look ana general makeup, however, mace
such an impression on the knight of the
key rack that he could not shake il of
until he heard a member of the company
ian TheSpian that Mr.. Nfantell was al
the theater, where the speaker had just
left him
This decided the hotel man. He called
the head porter and privately instructed
him 10 keep watch on door No. AZ. and
II the man should attempt to carry away
anything 10 stop him. II then instructed
the bell-bOy TO 90 up and knock at the
door with the usual Did YOU ring STRIP
and TO make good use OF his eyes while the
room door was open, so as 10 see what
the occupant was doing Then ne dis
shaw with the information that he had
a hotel robbcr cornered. and would give
him in charge as soon as the officer ar
rived.
The bell-boy returned and report 4 that
the man UP there was ransacking every
thing in the room. The local sleuth and
two police Ofncers soon put in an appear
ance, and opened an informal court OF in
qutry in the hotel Office. Everybody had
noticed something suspicious. when TIE pc
culiar man up in No. 81 came in. Should
they Sc nd to the theater Tor Mr.. Mantel
or arrest the villain first, and keep him
until the rlghtiul tenant for the room ar
rived? After many plans and much CON
sul.ation, the latter course was adopted.
and the army of assault headed by the
representative of the law, marched up TO
the next floor. and formed in line of bat
tie just opposite the entrance TO No. AZ.
Just as the gong announced the dinner
hour when the clerk was about 10 knock
and demand admission, the door of the
room opened, and the line of attack was
confronted by Mr.. Mantcll in propriI per
soma, clad in faultless evening dress.
read for an early dinner. He bowed to
the clerk. locked his door, and went into
the dining room. while the crestfallen de-
tective and officers dispersed without wait
ing for orders to do so.