The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-09-26
A Theater Diplomat
BY William Armstrong
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

LIZ HrsI act was almost over when
4 the tenor. the soprano and the
eontralto got together in the wings
and decided if the manager failed 10
arrive as lie had telegraphed and set
tie up the payroll. now overdue, they
would not sing the opera out.
When the news spread, as it quickly
did. the chorus with slight dissent
agreed in the plan. Many of them had
been stranded before and the prospect
was far from exhilarating. but the
chance of getting even in some small
way had the pleasure of novelty. The
plan was in consequence tacitly agreed
upon.
The basso. not in the original pro-
nunciamento list, told the call boy that
be need not bring the customary beer
from around the corner after the sec
ond act.
AS this meant that he would go after
it in person no doubt was left in the
minds of those concerned as TO what
course he would pursue.
Faces that few moments before had
appeared anxious now grew bright at
the prospect OF excitement.
The audience in front. not bad one
as the audiences of the new opera went.
was in ignorance of the projected sur
prise.
The soubrette. usually the most in
consequent member of the company,
/ alone was depressed.
81 tell you you don't know what you
are about. As long as people think you
are engaged, whether you get your
money or not. there's a chance that
they'll trust YOU but if they know the
company's disbaIded there's no more
( chance about it, AS in the world at
large the voice of the philosopher went
unheeded.
Not disconnected the soubrette
spread out her costume for the third act
on the steam radiator and left the door
of her dTessing-room wide open that
all might see as they passed by. Clear
iy she was not with the majority.
But Miss Casey had more at stake
than the majority. She was engaged
TO Victor T.aquine, a tenor in the chorus.
/ They were to be married in the spring
and would go into vaudeville in hap
| py domestic way.
\ disbanding of the company on
/ Christmas eve and their first engage
Jnent together booked for a summer
garden in May made scarcely pleas
/ ing prospect.
Engagements that year had been
hard enough to get at any time and
in mid-seasan would be scarcest of all.
At the very best it meant different
companies and separation. and that in
turn meant good-by to matrimony and
vaudeville. Miss Casey had been en-
gagged before, she knew the SEX
On the stage the company guyed each
other and the audience as only an un-
paid company can.
Miss Casey alone was too preoccu-
! pied to pay any attention to it, Now
and then she cast her eyes toward
the rear of the theater hoping to see
the managers fur-decked overcoat NOV
ing about behind the last row OF seats.
81 knew he wouldn't comet" every
one said as they faced each other on
the stage when the curtain had rung
/ down.
He'll come yet" said Miss Casey,
with firmness. Maybe his trains late;
this heavy snow would stop anything.
and if be comes and finds the theater
dark when the third act ought to be
on, wouldn't give much for the tick
cts he'd give you to get home on"
There was logic in this, but the So
prano pierced it.
How do you know his train isn't
in?" she inquired with dignity and a
look at the interfering soubrette that
would have silenced her. had she not
been Miss Casey with much depending
on her
Send the stage manager to the box
office telephone to see about it," put
in the contralto.
How do you know what road be is
on? There are half dozen or more.
He may be on his way here now in a
cab! He may step on the stage any
minute and find everyone refusin' to
/ go on instead of dressin' as we should
Any minute he may be lushin' in,
say!" Miss Casey was excited into
the vernacular. Her words tumbled
over each other and even those famil-
lar with the go she putin her songs
and dances would have been surprised
at the energy she put into her prog
ress to the dressing-room. 1t seemed
10 sweep the whole flank of chorus girls
with il.
bring my beer" said the basso 10
the call boy, as his eyes followed Miss
Casey's figure. Clearly he meant to
sing the third act.
The tenor, the soprano and the con-
/ tralto looked at each other aud then
at their retreating colleagues.
Presently the stage-hauds, who had
been interested auditors, began TO set
! the scene for the third act.
Miss Casey was back in an incred-