Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-05-26


"Au REvo1Ri TAKE CARE OF Youn
HEALTH"
in desperation, had brief but ignomin-
ious career and met well-merited fate.
1t was, of course, the creation Of the
typical Hard Boiled Egg manager. who
opened his campaign by spending his
last dollar to insure the insertion Of
the following advertisement in ON in
auential daily newspaper:
WANTED-By an experienced theatrical
manager. leading lady for comedy COM
pany. Must have talent and ambition, and
$3.50 in cash. Experience not necessary.
The manager, having inserted this
advertisement, was perfectly easy in
his mind. His slumbers that night
We're calm and refreshing. After late
breakfast on the following morning he
gave the hotel barber pass for two.
good for that evenings performance
by friendly Hard Boiled Egg company
not yet disbanded, in return for which
the barber trimmed his hair, curled his
mustache and ironed his silk hat till
1t shone with all the radiance of pros
perity. The barber also contributed
cigar, which the manager lighted, and
walked in lordly manner across the
street to the Office of a cheap dramatic
agency, where he knew by experience
that one or more victims of his cum
ningly worded advertisement would be
anSiously awaiting his arrival.
There We're three OF them. The mo-
Inent the manager saw them he knew
perfectly well that each had $3.50 in her
pocket, and was in mortal terror lest
one of the others would win the priv
ilege of contributing the same. How
did the manager know this? Because
there was no installing the customary
vocation of the applicants. They were
Palpably servant girls. The manager
knew that stage-struck servant girls al
ways have $3.50 saved up against the day
when their great opportunity would
arrive. He strobe haughtily into an
inner Office and closed the door behind
him. Then he slapped his thigh and
chuckled:
What luck! Three in a bunch,
Three times $3.50 is 1,o5o-enough to
put out three companies in The Bunko
Steerer.' No. on second thought, here
is an excellent scheme for one company
with capital to burn"
Then the manager rang bell, which
was instantly answered by an impu-
dent-faced office boy, who was told with
wink to "trot EN- in one at time"
There was sound of w1angling with
out, and presently there entered the
best looking of the trio of applicants,
the office boy taking pains to close the
door, much to the disgust of the other
two. The manager was very busy writ
ing,
"Weli?" he said, brusquely, without
looking up.
"rhe advertisement, sir" began the
embarrassed applicant, sin this morn
ing's paper"
Really, my dear madam, you will
have to be more explicit" interrupted
the manager, still without looking up;
"you see how busy am
VT was about leading lady, sir"
"Ah. yes. Very sorry. but the posi-
ton is filed"
Sure, 1 was the first one here, sir"
The girls voice was full of such in
tense disappointment that the manager
knew he could proceed with confidence.
oh" he interrupted again. this time
wheeling around in his chair and giving
the applicant searching glance, you
refer to the comedy company ad. I
declare had forgotten all aboutit. You
see have been devotinga all my thoughts
to my tragedy company. Really, you
ore very fortunate, as 1 shall give the
comedy company my personal atten-
ton. What is your name?"
MOLLY O'Brien. sir.'
ut won't do. Let me see. Yes
Katherine Everham, that is better-un-
less you have selected your own stage
nalne?"
Molly O'Brien, radiant with pleasure
Mt this evidence of her selection for the
position of leading lady. said that the
name was quite satisfactory to her, and
began fumbling with her pocketbook.
The manager was already writing n
receipt which stipulated that Molly
o'Brien, engaged as leading lady of the
bunko Steerer Comedy company at
salary of $40 per week, was thereby as
signed one-quarter interest in the
aforesaid company for the sum of $3.50
In cash, the receipt ofwhich was there.
by acknowledged. Having completed
the document the manager handed it to
his willing victim and asked whether 1t
was perfectly satisfactory. 1t was so
entirely satisfactory that Molly forth
with handed over the $3.50, whereupon
the manager signed Molly's combina-
ton contract and receipt, gave it back
to her, rose from his chair, shook her
warmly by the hand and said:
"Allow me to congratulate you. This
Is an opportunity of lifetime. You
think it strange, perhaps, that have
not tested your ability before complet.