The times., 1899-09-10
STAGE STORIES.
With the SECOND Act,


THE things damned queer" I said to
Jack Hobbs.
1 said it questioningly, but Jack Hobbs
paid not the slightest attention to me. In
stead. he continued to look refieetively
upon Thirty fourth Street and the falling
rain which had already made the case
ments of the Thespian Club more SER
yieeable as mirrors than as windows. The
last of the carriages following the hearse
in which lay the wife of our mutual friend
had just passed and both Of US were
thinking of him.
The things damned queer" I repeat
ed some seconds later. They appeared
to be very happy. Five nights ago I was
dining with them around the corner. To-
day she IS suicide and his heart is
broken. l can't understand it,
Il hardly believe Banks would care that
you should" drawled Jack Hobbs, provok-
ingly But he added, lit is damned
queer" Then / knew that he was gong
to tell me about the affair. 'Court.eigh
repeated the story to me in confidence, -
he continued, and I'm not sure that I'm
doing right in violating his provision
Courtleigh and he were to have been with
the same company you know"
" The Hand of Fate. - / put in by the
way of proving that / did know.
The Hand of Fate, quoth my in
formant. The strongest scene in the
piece was 10 have been shared between
them. Both had worked hard at the bit
It's too bad
Jack Hobbs merged into silence again.
Outside, the sky was the color OF the as
phalt and the drops were falling. Except
for a couple of belated pedestrians the
sidewalks were deserted. The fire that
burned in a CRATE ten feet back of US was
most agreeable, though November had
hardly come. / reminded Jack Hobbs that
he had begun a narrative.
Don't hurry me- he said. 81 shan't
take much Of your time. The strongest
scene in the piece was TO have been shared
between them. Each expected TO make the
hit of his life during the first rendering of
that second act. They rehearsed it con-
stantly. Both were letter perfect in their
parts before the call had been printed any
where They used TO meet after breakfast
and go over the lines on their way to the
theatre. At night they supped together
and discussed details Banks didn't tell
his wife anything about the matter because
he wanted her 10 be surprised at his sue
cess. Banks was an idiot. Banks was
very fond of his wife,
My vis-a-vis stopped an instant and re-
lit his pipe, which had gone out. ''The
services are to be held at the Little
Church" he said, irrelevantly.
Yes" / replied. What about the
story?'
Nothing in particular" answered Jack
Hobbs. Banks and Courtleigh both grew
10 be enthusiasts about the scene. 1t was
a wonderful affair They couldn't go
through it enough. Mrs. Banks spent her
afternoons away from home and her hus-
band asked his colleague up to reheaTse il
her absence CouFtleigh responded on
Tuesday and worked until within half an
honr Of the time for Mrs. Banks return.
Then he went away. On Wednesday he
came again Banks shut the door and they
began. TIE thing went so well tina. Meth
e. nct.eed how fast the minutes We're pass
ing. They had commenced with the sec
ond act. Perhaps you don't know that act.
II is great. Banks plays a trusting hug-
band. He finds out something about his
wife's unfaithfulness, but does not learn
the name of her lover. He tells the tale
TO his best friend without realizing that the
friend is the man who has wrecked his
life. Perfect, Ell? Banks and Courtleigh
both had chances for achieving everything
an actor wishes TO achieve Courtleigh
was TO hear the account of his chum's dis
coyery with silent emotion. Banks was
&c relate how he had coIle across the bale-
full knowledge. His lines depicted how 1T
tie he had worried over the womaH's daily
absences-with what horror he had discoy-
cred what they ;nednt--the pitiful eject
all this had had on him. You see the pos
sibilities %
began draading that Jack Hebbs' 1--we
Of strong drama had made bnn forget
everything else. But TIE explanation 49, ]
demanded.
This is the explanation, said Hobbs
The two lunatics went on with that sec.
ond act until long after the hour for dinner
CourIleigh says that the first intimation b
had of the time was in hearing the mante
clock strike seven. Banks asked him t,
stay and he accepted the invitation. WheI
they opened the door that led into the hal
they saw Mrs. Banks handkerchief lyinl
on the floor She has been listening, quoti
1 Banks All my plotting has gone TO
nothing She can't have heard very much,
replied Courtleigh- Most of the scene sait
/ Banks Come up to her room and help m
1 make a clean breast OF it..
Once more the pipe was extinguished
/ Never did manufacturer make so exasperat
ing a pipe.
Please 90 on 1 begged.
That's nearly ALL said Hobbs The.
4 had TO break open her door She had fallel
/ across a desk and the laudanum bottle wa
/ still in her hand Aren't those the bells 0
1 the Little Church"
Yes" I answered, they are.