The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-05-18
BY PROXY
By R. E. Young.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sa

THANKS, thanks, gentlemen! For
the moment / was lost. 1t sounds
half a paradox, but-and the old tra-
gedian's voice, faltering through the
final silence, was proof enough
though ! have been an actor all my
life, l could not act at this moment it
l wished. This splendid send-otf you
have given my new theater tonight
somehow carries my mind back to the
old, struggling days-makes me recol-
lect how it was at the dear old house,
in this very month of October, that
won my life's opportunity. And how
strangely! Dare / think that, but for
that one never-forgotten chance, l
should have stood where l stand to-
night?
The old house! All, it was great in
those days-the scene of triumph
nightly. You know why; the know the
actor / mean. Gavin Usher--Aus-
tralia's idol-had come to London with
his memorable play, "A House Divid-
ed" had taken us all by storm, and
his name was on everyone's lips.
close my eyes and see him now, as he
used to stagger off" pale and eX-
hausted / can hear those crowds,
cheering and shouting until he had
passed the curtain twice. !, who would
have given half my life then for one
nights triumph such as that. had
hopelessly thin part in the cast. L
PLAYED Cripps the valet, whose solitary
=. y, 1,1f lrrhf ON
Usher, as the hero, estranged from his
wife by plotters, lay asleep in the de-
serted wing of the mansion; there the
valet. bribed, stole in by the secret
panel and stabbed him supposedly to
death. Just that. and little more: and
that role Usher had partly created for
me. soon after his coming to London,
out of sheer good nature. / had mar
ried girl in his original company, and
was ont of an engagement-deado outof
luck in every sense.
Yes: il was one October night when,
hurrying in al the stage door, heard
excited voices. Gavin Usher had just
stepped down from his cab, few yards
away. and some man had evidently In
tercepted him. That mans back was
turned my way, but by Just a chance
I pripped one fact about him. lie had
flung up his right hand as if in pro-
test, close against the cab-lamp. |
stared; ! thought he was going TO
bring Il down in q blow; and in that
instant | saw that one of the middle
fingers was missing there was only
the merest stump ! heard Usher say,
hotly:
"Never, as long as ] live! But I'll
give YOU one final warning if ] sec you
here again ] blow his whistle. You
unlerstand!" and then ( had to bob
back, Usher. very pale stroda past me
in the corridor That was all; and it
happened 50 quickly and naturally that
it quite wen, out of my mind and I
thought nothing more about t.
just a week went by tic last night
Of the play had been announced. IL
was getting dusk, on, afternoon, when
/ started up from my usual doze at
the sound Of repeated knocks. All, Of
course Mollie had gone out shopping
with the laudlaaV Down / ran. and a
shaboy -geuteel gentleman, quite a
stranger 10 me, stood there, mbling
at his face with Handkerchief,
"Mr Alec Rodney? Ah yes, ! know
you weil-INe seen you act times
enough. Er-it'5 all right; could
have a word Gtith yon@ in priSatc"'
and, rather doggedly, l led the way
into our parlor-ou little best" room.
that we 50 seldom used. Yes" he
began, seating himself by the table
after Q quick glance round. AN actor
makes many friends that he never
hears Of. Wen, Mr.. Rodney,
time flies, We are both business men,
| take it'll go straight to my point.
Just this: I'm here to ask you 10 let
me plav Cripps. the valet, tonight.
pieasel Every man has his price, prop
erly enough Name yours"
This was il to a word lie looked
sober, he spoke calmly enough; yet |
could only stand and stare, wondering
which of US was mentally lacking for
the moment. II was surely not asleep
still
''You don't see the drift?" he went
on, coolly. just put me down as a
stage-struck crank. Here's my card
Hunt. of the New Thespians. See here.