Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-25

shouting out, but he was deterred from this by two considerations-first,t that the stranger looked every inch the man to resort to personal violence; second, that it would have made himself appear ill rather ridiculous light No; the safer as well aS the more dignified course was to remain quiet for the present and to give him in charge the moment he left the house. On that course MT. Quill let most firmly resolved
 The stranger unfolded his roll of manuscript and began to read. taking no notice at all of the others sulky scowl The fellows voice was musical and ex- preSsive enough, Mr. Outlet was forced to admit to himself And the tragedy we'll, there was something in it, after all At the end of five minutes the en- forced listener had forgotten to scowl At the end of Is he was intent and in- terestod. At the end of 80, when the first act terminated, he was sitting spell bound.
 Shall leave off here?' inquired the stranger, 'or shall go on? am ready, you know, to stand by our compact.
 "Go un-go on!' said Mir. Outlet, with a wave of his hand. Every trace of anger and resentment had left him. It was evident from the expression of his face and from his whole demeanor that he was alive to no other sensations than those produced by this extraordinary play.
 With kindllng eye and heightened color, the stranger proceeded, his deep, musical voice never missing point nor slurring light aud shade. The motif of the tragcdy-to wit, the representation of the devil i'll a human shape-was ob viOusly far from original, but the treat ment of the subject was absolutely so, differing both in details and essentials and differing for the better-from every previous conception. Itbreathed through out an air not merely of powerful tragic interest, but of genuine reality and nat ural consequence, which hurried you forward to the fatal climax by series of irresistible developments. Long be- fore the end was reached MT. Outlet, who was far from predisposed ill the strangers favor, saw that the piece would be a fortune to any manager and inwardly confessed that his own just completed tragedy, on which hitherto he had rather valued himself, would be literally extingulshed by the blaze of so powerful q production.
 But the wonderful strength and terri ble pathuS of the denOucment soon oblit- eratcd from his mind everything ill the shape of sordid calculations and left him only conscious of an overwhelming sense of tragical emotion.
 "Thcrc!' said tae stranger, laying down his papers, and regarding Mr Outlets expressive face with look of placid triumph What do you say? Does the piece justify the strong meas urcs I have taken to force it on your no tice or does it not? Speak, sir!"
 "It-it s |. masterpiece, gasped Mir. Outlet "A work of genius-a splendid tragedy. There is no man living, and very few dead, who could have written it.
 II believe you. was the quiet reply. It stands alone. I know it. And now I give you yuur reward for having heard me to hrrmd. Take this tragedy, write yuur name upun it and produce it at the Erccth"um fer your uwn!'
 "Eh-rr-I don't understand you, Mir, Outlet rjaculatcd, Supposing that his cars had deceived him.
 My words were plain. replied the stranger. My meaning equally so l make you a present of my picce-out and uut-with no reserve, except that you offer it to BillhurSt uf the Free taeum, in lieu of the one which you are how writing"
 Impossible, cried MT Outlet "ComMon honesty forbids me to appro- priate your work like that. Why, man alive, do you not realize that this trag- edy is worth money to you? It means name and fortune.
 Bah ," laughed the other scornfully. What do 1 want with either? I have long enjoyed too much of both. All l desire is to have my tragedy produced. In whose name. or to whose profit, care not a straw"
 But, really" objected MT. Outlet. "I'-
 "Pish-my friend, none of these butts. With my eyes open and in good faith, make you an offer which, while it suits me. is highly advantageous to yourself If you are too proud to eccept-well, there may bc others less squeamish. But you have your chance"' Pride is not concerned ill the mat 1 ter, = replied MT. Outlet. But how car l bring myself to put my name to an other man 's work? It would be q species of literary forgery.
 ''Nothing of the sort" was the ener | gctic reply "The play is my own in cv cry sense. I have an incmtcstable right to make it over tn you. Will you takt it. or will you not?"
 "Jpon my word. was the hesitatine | rcjoindcr. "I-I-that is-in point q | fact -
 II cant wait, intcrposcd the stran | ger hriekly. II must have yes or no at once If the former, we'll and good diatc!v. Which is it to be-
 "WrlI. really, if You are bent on giv ing it away" answered MT. Outlet, '' suppose may as we'll profit by it as an. one else. v
 "Yes, considerably better, from you standpoint. Very good! Then you ac cept the piece ou the conditions named? ?
 "I do," replied MT. Outlet, afte some reflection. He was not prepared t reject this extraordinary offer then ant there. but he reserved (mentally) t himself the right of cancelng his yer bal acceptance by letter, if he deemed wiser on mature consideration.
 That is right" answered the other
 taking up his hat and rising to go ''
 will not detain you longer now. Proba | b1v shall call nm vOu aOaiO Sh0rtlv -
 Stay" cried MT. Quillet "Yo
 will leave me your name and address
 ill case I wish to communicate wit
 you:"
 The stranger shook his head
 "No." he said. with an inscrutahl
 look. I'm afraid I can't. I have pal