The record-union., 1897-09-26


'Ah why?''
the Evening Journal" He fell in at
my side. We walked together down
the Strand
Sad news this about Ruthven."
l looked at him.
To what news are you referring?"
Il hear he is at Deaths door"
Where did you hear that?"
'.The fellows were talking about it at
the club. They talk about getting him
something from the fund. 1t appears
that he is actually in want. Seems hard
lines just when he was going to get
his chance. BY the way, who are you
going to put in his placer"
Il don't know if you are aware that
Mr.. Ruthven is at this moment in
town?"
In town! Why, I just heard Farm
combe saying that only the day before
yesterday he left Ruthven dying at
Pittenween. It seems that Farncombe
was golfing at St Andrews, and Stan
ley found out by accident that Ruth
ven was close at hand. He went over
and saw him.
My information is later than Mr.
Farncombe's. I just left Mr.. Ruthven
at the stage door of the theater He
has been attending rehearsal"
Attending rehearsal Then Farm
combe must have been piling it on.
Il have heard of stranger things
Goodday."
1 left Maidment standing on the
pavement. I had not advanced anoth-
er 200 yards towards Fleet street wher
I almost ran into Farncombe.
Halo, Ince, you're the very man
wanted to see. I say, couldn't you
spare bit for Ruthven? It's wanted
badly enough I know his going under
just now is hard upon you, but it's
harder on him. His wife, is in dread
full state, and there isn't enough tc
pay the funeral"
I took a good look at Mr.. Farm
combe. I have known him some years
He has the reputation of being a truth
ful man-that is, as men go. L, my
self have certainly no reason to sup
pose that he is an habitual liar
Il don't think that a funeral will be
required-at least, just yet"
MY dear fellow, he's doomed. Tht
doctor told me-what, for the matter
of that, could see for myself-that, al
the mCst it's only a question of days
perhaps only hours. 1t is quite possible
that he's dead already"
Possibly, but not probable. I think
not"
why? Have you had news?"
"ShGht news"
From his wife?"
mo; from Ruthven himself"
You don't mean to say he has
written to you? Why, when I saw hin
the day before yesterday. he hadn''
strength enough to raise his hand, fal
less to hold a pen"
He has now; or, at least, a few min
utes ago he had"
"A few minutes ago! What are yot
driving at?"
"At the facts. Which are. that
have just attended rehearsal with him
and that have just parted with hin
at the stage door of the theater."
''Ince, you're joking"
Nothing is farther from my
thoughts
do you mean to tell me that Ruth
ven-Philip Ruthven-is actually il
town?"
Unless he has just taken train agar
for Scotland Which is hardly likely
since lie is to rehearse again to-mor
row.
Farncombe stood still in the middle
Of the pavement. He thrust his hand.
into his trousers pocket. He knit hi:
brows. His demeanor must have strucl
the passengers in the Strand as strange
"Ince, there's a mystery somewhere.
give you my word of honor that l saw
Philip Ruthven the day before yester
day at Pittenween. He vas lying il
bed. BIS wife was crying at his side
He could not speak; he could not move
At least, every attempt at movement
brought on suffocation. He could only
hook. Such look! If ever I saw tn,
near presence of death upon man:
face I saw it then on his
It Came-the first night-that nigh
which means the prospect of a littl,
fun to those in front and which means
something so very different to thos,
behind. I make it a rule to shun tn,
first nights of my own plays. I hav,
a strong feeling that those are occa
sionS on which the author is bette
away. That night I broke my rule.
All men say that they are not super
stitiOus. But l fancy that, at bottom
and on occasion, we all of us are.
know that something told me that tha
night would be a night of disaster.
had never written a play of which
had hoped greater things. I felt tha
had Iut into it some of the best worl
of which I was capable. If it was /;
failure, then L was a failure too. AnC
yet
Several things worked together t,
bring about this unsatisfactory stat
of mind But, oddly enough, they al
grouped themselves about Mr.. Ruth
ven. The more I saw of him tie less
liked him. I found that this feelin.
of mine was shared by others. Trotte
in confidence actually told me that h
was afraid of him. He said he neve
came near him without a shudder
that his presence filled him with
sense of physical pepulsion. This wa
nonsense. l told him so. But I my
self was conscious, in my heart 0
hearts. of something Of the kind AM
yet the man was inoffensive. He wa
the most retiring of mortals. He neve
| spoke unless he first was spoken to
He never thrust himself to the front
| Indeed, wished he would have thrus
himself a little more to the front Any
thing more depressing than his de
meanor at rehearsals never witnessed
He acted like a wet blanket He wa
absolutely lifeleSSi At the eleventh
hour both Trotter and I wished tha
we were rid of him. But Trotte
wouldn't take the initiative, and
ridiculous though it sounds, I felt
couldn't