San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-15
MISS LAURA MiLLARD's EXPER-
FENCE.

4
She Once Saved Her Diamonds BY
Pulling a Man Through a Tran
Miss Laura Willard has had two eN.
periences during the tour of ''The
Geisha that she will not
soon forget, and in one of them.
strange as it may seem, diamonds fl
CURED, but it is best to say at once
that they were not stolen. This Incl
dent occurred in Toledo
When THE Geisha" arrived in that
town, Miss Willard registered at the
best hotel of which the city boasts.
There was door between Miss Mil
lard's parlor and the adjoining room
and over this door there was n transom
Miss Willard boasts of some diamonds
which are valued at less than million
dollars, but nevertheless she is very
fond of them and does not feel chart
tably where they are concerned.
The first night ut dinner she no.
ticed black bearded man at another
table who eyed her keenly and left
the dining room within five minutes of
her entrance. Whether it was tele-
pathy or not she does not know, but
her mind went to her diamonds, which
she left in her room, and finally be-
coming nervous decided to 90 and get
them.
She entered the room Just in time to
see the gentleman with the black
beard coming through the transom feet
foremost. Being plucky, she rang the
electric bell, gave loud shout, grasp
ed the thief by the legs and held on.
He made fatal mistake of trying
to climb back again. but the pI.ima don
ma possessed strength enough to hold
him where he was until the arrival of
help, Then she promptly tainted
away in truly feminine manner.
a second instance occurred some
weeks ago while THE Geisha' was at
the Columbia Theatre, Brooklyn. The
usual congestion of cable cars on
Broadway caused Miss Willard to get
TO the ferry a few moments late and
she thought she could make better time
by taking the feryboat than by utiliz-
ing the bridge and its possible de-
lays. When the ferryboat was in mid
stream its steering gear became in
jured. and the boat drifted helplessly
about for half or three-quarters of
an hour before it reached its mOorings
at the slip on the Brooklyn side. In the
meantime there was trouble in the
Columbia Theatre.
\ vigorous search for Miss Willard
had failed to discover her, and all
sorts of rumOrS were circulated on the
stage. The one that gained the most
credence was that she had been alb
Quoted by a band of ruffians who were
going to hold her for high ransom
Stage manager Parr had one of his
understudies dress for Miss Millards
part and began the entertainment.
The understudy did very well. and
but few in the audience realized the
difference until it came to the singing
portion Of the part.
After the kissing duet which oc
ours in the first act between o MINI
OSa Fan and Lieutenant Fairfax, Miss
Willard, who arrived at the theatre
and dressed was in the wings ready
to go on. breathless, but still deter
mined. Fairfax remarked to the I'M
derstudy: Heavens, have made a
mistake. You are not the real o MINI
osa San. Run away now. and fetch
me the real one"
This clever Interpolation served the
purpose admirably, and his understudy
ran off and Miss Willard appeared in
the most natural way in the world
New Orleans States