The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-13
"Why, certainly, Mr.. Caffyn; rely

railway station in a whirl. Imagined
l seemed to be treadiug on air; /
wanted to give great shout--but it
was the time, If ever, to keep desper-
ately cool. l had meant to run back
home and see Nance-there was some
thing more / had TO say TO her, but
there would only be just time enough
to purchase one or two little things l
must have, snatch tea, freshen my
memory by glance through the "cues,"
and then--and then prepare to realize
and eclipse the widest dream l ever
dreamed. For tonight 1 was Caffyn
himself-and tonight 1 was to play
Karl Angel.
By six O'Clock l had seen Blake.
By half past had slipped into Dress
ing room and locked the door. AT
minute to eight, when the callboy's
voice sounded above the finale of the
finale of the orchestra, i stepped out
ready. One of the supers, as / passed
close, touched his forehead.
GOOD evening, Mr.. Caffynl"
Eleven O'Clock and all overl A glo-
rious success, that was ending in pro-
longed shout as the curtain went slowly
down. And I--sick with the intoxica-
ton, with the certain knowledge that
had made never paipable slip and
more than justified my claims-I stood,
my foot on the chest of my prone oppo-
nent, lifting my sword in one hand and
with the other clasping the maiden
whose cause had championed and
won. Yes, at that moment l could
understand what Caffyn felt every
night-what it was to be an idol of the
people, if only for an hour.
"Caffyn, Caffyn! Bravo, Caffynl"
they were shouting, and up rolled the
curtain for the third time, then down,
and it was all over.
strobe "off." Blake was waiting.
One smile, and he pressed my hand.
"Bravo it is, Strangl He ought to have
been here--it'll leak outl Take my
word for it, you need never look back
nowl Superbp
But it was Nance 1 wanted to see.
She was there in front, and her eyes
would be swimming with sheer pride,
knew well. 1 was making for the
dressing room-and then l suddenly
recollected what had promised Caffyn.
Slipping on my hat and overcoat, l
stuffed the helmet and my own clothes
into the trunk, scrubbed a note of ex-
PLANTATION and gave it to the callboy to
take round to where Nance waited and
hurried out into the street. There was
an empty hanson just moving past the
theatre.
"Strand hotel, sir2 Right-inside 30
minutesl" | remember / sank back on
the seat, my heart still humping away.
1t was more than likely Caffyn had
been little curious to see what my
make up" was like. He should've
should open his door and see his
"double" that night. An ejaculation
or approval or surprise from his lips
would complete the days triumph.
And wouldn't Nance be waiting at
home in feverl Bless her heartl
The cab stopped, l gripped the trunk
and went to step out. l heard a boy
say, "Look, amt that Csffyn, the ac-
tor?" and laughed to myself. What
then? The rest seems still more like an
awful, incredible dream. Looking
back afterward to realize, it seemed to
me that l had hardly taken stride
across the pavement when a figure
darted forward and intercepted me
dead. 1t all happened in mere flash
of time. know I took in glimpse of
dead white face that l knew and OF
two eyes that shone with a vindictive
light. Then simultaneously q husky
hiss:
81 warned you'll Take it'll"
1 never saw the pistol 60 up. There
was no time to grapple with him or
even to swerve an inch by instinct.
A flash, a bang-something had struck
me full in the chest. A noise of rush
ing feet, whirl of dancing stars, a
sound of distant shouting-and then
for me heaven and earth had come to.
gether with a crash.
"Save him, doctor-bring him to be-
fore his wife comesl That shot was
meant for me. I've acted the coward
and william. Oh, save him you mustl
couldn't stand exposureW
That broken voice-was it Norman
Caffyn's? Where was what had hap
pened? 1 lay in deadly yet swee
lethargy, not even able to open my
eyes, just conscious that 1 had partl,
struggled back to life and that som'
one was plucking at my chest. TheI
another voice, cool and reassuring:
"You need not. Don't you excite
yourself, sirl There you area mer'
flesh wound that'll be we'll in fort
night. This mail skirt affair has simpl,
saved his life-the bullet only just 60
through it. There was an intens,
shock to the heart, an access of bloot
to the brain, and now-this brandy ant
a little quiet ought to put him right
There, he's coming round. I'll SEM
down and tell them there's nothing
much the matter. And they let thu
scoundrel get clear away!"
"Clear away before the policeman
got near" Aye, that was Caffyn'
sunken voice. / moved a hand, and il
trice both his own had closed convul
slvely upon it. "Strang, old chap
thank heavenl I've sent for her-ther,
was card in your pocket. There
been a miracle at work all round.
only know you were to save my lif
tonight. Oh, I'll never forgive my
self-I was skunk to let you 60 lik
that. / don't know what made me d,