Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-26


there, but he reserved (mentally) to
himself the right of canceling his YER
bal acceptance by letter, if he deemed it
wiser on mature consideration.
''That is right" answered the other,
taking up his hat and rising to go. 81
will not detain you longer now. Proba-
bly, shall call ON you again shortly
"Stay,' cried Mr.. Outlet "You
will leave me your name and address,
in case I wish to communicate with
you:'
The stranger shook his head.
"NO," he said, with an inscrutable
look. "I'm afraid I can't have par
ticular reasons for secrecy, which l can
not now explain. You shall learn moro
about me by and by. For the present l
prefer to keep my identity concealed
He rose, bowed to Mr.. Outlet and
hurriedly left the room. Before the lat
ter had half recovered from his surprise
the street door banged behind his mys-
terious visitor.
u 4 u
Mr.. Outlet read the tragedy through
again to himself and was more than ever
struck by its 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 the play to Billhurst,
manager Of the Erectheum, telling him
the extraordinary and peculiar circum-
stances under which he had become pos
sessed Of it.
Billhurst read the play, and at once
pronounced it a trump card.
''I tell you, Outlet, he said, with
enthusiasm, "there's mint of money
in that piece. It's as certain draw as
anything ever read. Only don't like
the very rummy way in which it has
come to us. Supposing it should have
been stolen, eh?'
''That is hardly probable, I think"
was the rejoinder, "and if you think of
taking the piece in hand you might
feel your way ahead a little by putting
a few preparatory notices in the news
papers.
"How would that safeguard us?" ask
ed the manager.
"Why, in the event of the play hav
ing 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.. Billhurst thought
fully; "I will give the matter my con-
sideration.
The manager was very much worried
just then about his accounts, which
showed an ugly deficit. His last venture
had lost him 60, 900. The current piece
was not paying its way.
''But, damme, there's money in this
new piece, said Mr. Billhurst to him
self confidently, "and, tell you what it
is, I will put it on and take all
chances"
Having once made up his mind, the
manager did not let the grass grow un
der his feet Within q fortnight the new
tragedy was in full rehearsal. 1t went
we'll from the beginning The manager
was in great feather. He saw sure and
phenomenal success before him. Then
an accident happened which nearly
turned his hair gray. On the night be-
fore the last dress rehearsal and only
two nights before the production of the
piece, Standish, the leading tragedian,
was attacked and robbed in Drury lane,
being so roughly handled that the po
lice, who found him lying stunned ON
the pavement, took him straight to the
nearest hospital Here he lay in very
precarious condition.
The manager, who only heard the
news when he came down to the theater
the next morning, was well nigh beside
himself
"Good God, Quillet'' he calculated,
with groan, "the play is as good as
damned. Everything depends ON that
part, and Standish's s understudy will
never carry it through ON the first
night.
SIT is a bad business, admitted Quill
let ruefully.
"Please, SIR" said one of the call
boys, thrusting his head in at the door,
''here's gent to see you.
"D-n the gent, cried the manager.
"I'm busy; I'm''-
But the callboy had withdrawn, and
Mr.. Billhurst found himself levelling
these remarks at tall, dark complex.
toned stranger, who stood bowling and
smiling in the doorway.
Mr.. Outlet gave start and plucked
his friend by the sleeve.
''It is the mysterious author Of the
piece" he whispered
"Good morning, Mr.. Outlet" said
the stranger. "Good morning, Mr.. Bill
hurst. This is unfortunate news about
poor Standish."
"You have heard it, them" said the
manager, eying him with a shrewd, in
terested glance
"Yes, and came here at once. What
do you propose to do, may I ask?''
"God knows. Pm sure the understudy
will make a hash of it," groaned the
manager.
"Most probably. Now, I am going to
make startling proposition to you In
trust me with the part. -
"You?" CALCULATED the manager. "Do
you know anything about acting?"
GA great deal But try me and see"
said the other confidently. "Come, I
will rehearse that scene in the third act
for your benefit now."
The manager said nothing, but he and
Mr.. Outlet exchanged glances. Taking
their silence for consent this extraordi-
nary man started his self suggested re-
hearsal In five minutes the managers
rueful face was elated, flushed, eager,
with new hope.
"By heaven!'h he exclaimed excitedly.
"Repeat that on the stage, Mr.. What's
your-name, and we'll make the piece
magnificent success yet!'
They did. The first nights audience
received the new tragedy with enthusi-
astic favor They called the performers
and particularly the new actor-be-
fore the curtain again and again. He
was certainly splendid. The wonderful
realism with which he played Mephis-
topheles was, said the next day s newspa-
pers, as convincing performance of its
kind as had ever been seen upon the.
London stage Billhurst was in great
spirits He believed that he had hit upon
a theatrical Eldorado. When he quilted
the theater that night, he felt most
amiably disposed toward himself and all
mankind.
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