Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1899-03-09

AN ACTORS RUSE.

any one had told me that I'd |
make hit In that line when l first
went upon the stage. I'D have felt |
much insulted.
1t doesn't make much difference now |
what my aspirations were years ago; |
till, the shades Of Hamlet haunted |
ny dreams then, and was possessed
o shine as Romeo. Humph! The man
ger cast me for second grave-digger
n the first and Gregory in the second.
low well 1 carried the parts out can't
sell; know was never invited to do
the melancholy Dane. neither was !
ever asked to clasp fair Juliet In the
dim-lighted chamber Of the Capulets.
/ became reconciled to dlsappoint-
ment after awhile. and. after struggling
through the lesser characters, l finally
was given the position Of leading low
comedian In the stock company. Per
haps you'd take me for anything but
low comedian. How fairly well ! do
the business, the bills tell that.
In the year 1860 was playing In
q stock company in New Orleans, and
the city was Wild with rumors Of the
dawning conflict. AS the company
was composed of number Of Northern
people, many vacancies were created
by the deserters who hastened home
ward. The first to leave was our lead
ing man, and the manager was anxious
to secure a competent successor. who
soon presented himself in the shape Of
fine Texan, of much reputation
among the ranks Of amateurs. He was
tall, well-built chap of 21 or %. pos
sessing one of those peculiar voices,
such as Hal Montague's, not ranty,
strong, but plain, distinct, and pleas
ant; in all, well qualified for the rem
dering OF juvenile leading parts
took to the youngster from the
start for / plainly saw that he was one
Of those talented chaps who, If they
| fall into judicious hands, can be made
much of--as well as spoiled, IL they
come in contact with old stagers.
For some time back had noticed
| that the heavy man had been smitten
with the charms Of our leading lady.
also saw that she did not favor him in
the slightest. When her part made 1t
necessary for her to come in contact
with him / saw shrinking as Of more
than feigned disgust, and of the stage
she treated him pretty much the same
as on-with scorn and loathing.
| Well, short time after the new lead
Ing man came there sprang up between
him and the heavy man an enmity. !
was standing in the wings one night,
waiting Cor my cue, while we were
playing one of those good, old-fashion-
ed melodramas; lover had secret foe
who is endeavoring 70 win the good
graces, fortune and hand Of the fair
one and all that sort, by underhanded
ways. Discovery Of the false friend
and secret foe follows, and the usual
duel takes place. OF course the trail
torous foe falls, and the curtain drops
while the victor clasps the fair one to
his breast
was waiting my cue. as said. The
handsome young leading man was
bending over the leading lady. his hand
searching for hers. her face against his
1 was watching all this, and saw II
.. was more than stage love. 1t was the
genuine, pure article. 1t was my bust
ness to rush in just then, and thus
cause a great deal Of commotion.
heard a muttered: Curse himP'
.. turned quickly; 1t came from the lip
OF the heavy man, who was standing
! at my elbow. Such look Of fiendish
: ness upon human face never befor'
, saw, and as his was ugly by natur,
without the added features OF TIN
makeup, he looked indeed like devil
The play passed of smoothly. as us
! uaI: the hero and traitor met, the due
!. took place, and the regular denouemen
I followed amid the applause Of an aD
I preciative and satisfied audience.
II l kept my eyes open after that, for
knew there was something In the win
destined. n possible, to work wron
against the young leading man. VIII
y by this time had become prime favor
ite among the members Of the stoc
o company-the heavy man excepted.
D About q week after had witnesse
u the Villains rage, happening to pass b
his dressing-room door, / heard mui
fed. cIInking sound, as Of some meta
? lie substance coming In contact wit
the like. drew nearer, placed my ey
to the keyhole, and peeped through
The man was seated within range 9
my vision, upon trunk, pistol b.
\ tween his knees, and he was rammin
II q bullet into the barrel.
Fl 1t was all as plain as day. The fen
Y was preparing to murder the handsom
young leading man. He would me-
his would-be victim in the duel seen
kill him, and escape the penalty Of Il
law by advancing the plea that /
never dreamed that the pistol WI
loaded. was thunderstruck. I kne
. the fellow was a morose person, q ma
OF strong dislikes and few likes, but
did not think him capable Of such
: dastardly deed as he contemplate
:. Thank heaven! had witnessed the Y
!. tie scene behind closed doors.
8 Hearing his call from the calEboy,
withdrew behind some packing trunl
= and soon heard him treading Il
8 boards above. knew that be won