Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-05

IurtneI experience.
My efforts had q degree of success,
and I triuEiphantly took my way back
to New York with the dismissed pair
I congratulated item upon their situa-
ton. thought them, in truth, very
lucky.
They accepted my view with alacrity
| and volubility and were full of ingen-
ious explanations Of the managers self
sacrifice-in dismissing, not in paying,
them, they meant.
now learned the exact details of
their financial situation. They were
hardly reassuring to my skeptical mind,
but the pair-I always thought of them
as the pair-did not themselves take a
dismal view CT their case. A hundred
dollars of the memorable $400 was still
i'll Eank. This fact filled me with ad-
mlrlng wonder, especially when consid-
cred the purchase Of that wine cclored
| satin and the accompanying cartload of
embroidery silks. But if they INDUCED
in some remarkable extravagances it is
plain, you see. that they were, in the
main, most frugal, and they had had an
energy and lack in wrestling money
from managers at which I never ceased
! to marvel
l speak of one financial revolution;
there was but one. They had purse in
common, as if they were living in an
ancient romance. They were blind in
| tic modern view that this is a greater
strain than friendship can stand.
Arrived in New York they took rooms
in neighboring lodging houses on South
! Washington square-for it happened
they could not find what they wanted i'll
either one alone-and once having seen
the possibility Of establishing them
selves near something green it was
| highly characteristic OF them, Unborn
cockneys though they were, that nothing
else would do.
! Then, with IN oil stove, a coffeepot,
n stewpan and eight dishes, belongings
that had seen service before and were
taken cut OF storage, they set up what
is known to the initiated as light house
! keeping.
Despite the woman's failing health,
her dragging step and her cough, they
| were still. as Mr.. Leroy had SO bitter
ly complained, giddy and happy. To
have freedom, freedom to talk about the
'heater as much as they liked, with
none to make them afraid, to be in a
town full Of billboards, seemed to fill
, their cup
Casslus, during our journey and in the
| hurry bury of arrival, had proved him
! self possessed of great gifts as courier,
gifts that he exercised not only for
+! Aunt Maggie and himself, but for me
, as well. expected to stay in town all
summer, ard he had given me Invaluable
aid III re-establishing myself. He had run
errands and driven nails and hung pic
lures and bounded trades people in
short he laid me under great obligations
| III taking much Of the worst of life off
| my hands
1t was al done out Of simple good
ness Of heart and pleasure in exercising
his powers. and Of course my relations
with himself and Mrs. Mason were now
fixed. Soon they came to me for a grave
consultation. They were thinking of
eking out this income by seeking posi-
lions as stage supernumeraries-su
was the word used i'll our conversation.
The point was. Did think this course,
If most secretly managed, would hurt
their professional position and prospects?
Their professional position and pros
poets! I didn't think it would.
Then Ii came out that tine thing was
! already done-they were engaged for a
new piece. 1t was to be adorned with
an exceptionally accomplished mob, and
! they were to be part Of the mob. Now,
at the last, their fears for the cherished
professional position end prospects had
made them hesitate.
L brought up my cid argument and
SAID l thought the mob would add to
their experience, and, as before, they
raptuIcusly argued that that was the
| view 10 take.
Daily puts his extra people on the
list OF his company" Cassius informed
me, with great satisfaction. 1.-The stage
manager is going to take just as much
| pains with the mob as with the-the
other actors" said Mrs. Mason, stun
/ bling over the chance OF DENYING them
| selves the beloved title.
! thought to myself that he would
Certainly have to take great deal
more. The public does not need to be
| N--Ss thC iAot uSQHsly
brilliant. and reflected, further, that if
the zeal Of my friends did not too far
conserve their discretion their superior
quantities might possibly win them val.
liable good will.
Their luck-that sovereign factor in
all things thea,rical-was still amaz-
lngly good. The demand for old women
as extra Indies is commonly small,
indeed, but in a mob, You see, all sorts
are needed, and in such a very swell
mob as this was to be talent must have
some chance to shine, for here was a
| place where Cassius and Mrs. Mason
must by comparison be called talented.
! Ny best hopes were more than met.
AN astute creature, half manager. half
newspaper man, saw my pair and dis.
I covered that he had use for Cass;ns
He was about TO seek public favor for a
show OF his own Che afterward adver-
tised 1t on the bill5oaris, by the way
as having no plct and no literary
| merritt. This show was a careful com.
Z