Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-06-29
BOX NUMBER TWELVE.


there appeared one day this seductive an
| nouncemcnt:
a GENTLEMAN who is guardian OF 4
YOUNG orphan LADY 20 years 81 asS; S,;r,unys Nary
| Of two millions desires to marry his ward
to a DISTINGUISHED looking gentleman be.
is no Object. address W g. oflice OF thi.
Journal. No agents need apply.
1t Is useless to say that Immediately on
tsr.. tt' po,irei in upon the " 81 box at the
that one wearied clerk was specially De,
a large bag. The iirst two days more than
| Jep letters came.
| some days afterward. one q The Soo
| CAPTAIN Castle. received the following let
My Dear slr:-rhe particulars that YOU
concerning your social position, etc. sat,
| isfy me completely. As to the wishes OF
my ward. i shall only say that the sight
| her no disappointment-very much to the
contrary. Therefore ] have determined 10
bring about an interview between you and
venient 10 go next Wednesday the 18TH
of this month, TO the Folly theater, wear
ward and will occupy box number IL,
and we shall be charmed to receive you
between the first and second acts. Very
Captain castle shot out of his chair as
II impeled by II spring, and did not pause
unit. he had reached the ticket office of
Give me an orchestra chair" he de-
manded of the box Office keeper.
No, for the 18TH"
What's that?"
Captain Castle insisted. but in vain. The
countenance Of the ticket seller, did not
soften, and he finally pulled down his
per. while Captain Castle walked out Of
ths lobby. much cast down.
As he STOPPED on the sidewalk, q shabby
hat approached him.
Want an orchestra seat, mister?'
60 to the devil"
II got a good seat. for Wednesday. the
The shabby Eenteel individual walked
invitingly toward neighboring saloon. and
Captain Castle with a CLEAN OF hope in his
eye, followed him.
It's good seat, mister, in the first
''I'll take it, How much?'
Fifteen dollars"
Great snakes said the captain, "do
You want TO rob a man.
You cant have 1t for cent less" said
the. ticket peddler, 'the whole house is
The captain made wry face but he
wound up by paying the money.
The evening of Wednesday, the 18th. was
one Of the most notable in The annals OF
packed like Market street ear, and the
orchestra was thickly populated with gen.
tlemen in swallow-tailed coats, each one
wearing a white rose in his buttonhole.
box No l..
Between the acts the swallowtailed gem
tlemen swarmed through the lobbics but
1t was particularly around the door OF box
No l. that they were thickest. 1t was like
Il human ant hill
The second act commenced. Yet box No.
Il remained hermetically closed, fun of
nothing but air. And yet toward this box
~. la moo. an
anon from the well dressed crowd in the
While all this was going ON in the thea
ter a band of actors were seated around a
table In a beer saloon at the back of the
theater, swallowing mountains of frank
6wn dGrtsr Win f1a rsonl of Beer Al Se heai Of
them was old Bagot, the Dutch comique.
who was presiding In the most paternal
whose benefit the show was given that
night.
all you want. Old Baaot has money TO ourn
You bet your sweet life you have" re-.
piled one OF the actors. why, such a
benefit as this will enable you to retire on
At this moment Miss Tott!e,. the ParIor
Patti, who had Just finished her turn in
the second part, burst into the beer sa-
loon, pale and disheveled.
Whats the matter?' cried the convivial
"oh, 1t is terrlbler said the Parlor
Patti. They are lighting the orchestra"
Fighting? Who"
"Oh, all those swels in swallow-tails.
They are beating one another over tho
head with canes, and nobody knows why"
II know why" said old Barot, TRANQUILITY.
Its all on account of box No, T."
But there Is nobody in box No. Is" said
the paralyzed Parlor Patti.
EXACTLY. That's why"
And old Bagot added, as he slowly closed
one eye: BOX No. Il IL a little snap of my
own. l wanted TO be sure that the theater
should be filled and, by Jove, 1t is"
Such was indeed the bitter truth-bitter.
that is, for the band OF swallow tailed gem
tlemen. The letter which Captain Castle
had received they all had received. 1t was
not a letter II WAS crcular,-San Fran
cisco Argonaut.