The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-28

must know that on the third Saturday
in this present month he has arranged
to produce the entirely new and original
drama, Saved by Woman's Pluck
at the Royal Olympic theater, Man
chester. By the way. have you the pre-
liminary poster with you. Mr.. Stra-
gaus?''
In answer Mr.. Stragaus produced
from his bag the placard before describ-
ed and spread it upon the table, at the
same time looking at the coach builder
as if to demand his opinion on such .
fine display of color.
"You will observe, Mr.. Ebridge,
continued when the other had read it,
"that the whole production will be on
q scale of unparalleled splendor police,
bloodhounds, live horses and one large
prison van, all on the stage. It will be
one of the greatest successes of the CEN
fury. But we want your assistance. :"
sYou mean, of course, that you want
me to make you van"
Exactly"
"Just makeshift affair for the stage,
/ presumed"
"Oh, dear, no! That is not Mr.. Stra.
gaus' way of doing business at all. If
he has fire engine on the stage, as he
had in his last production, it must be a
real engine, with every detail complete
and in proper working order. In the
same way then, when he orders police
van, he wants it made in every particu-
lar just as you would make it for her
majesty's government. There must be
no difference at all in any one respect,
neither the painting, lettering, nor the
internal fittings
cit will cost you lot of money, Mr..
Stragaus, said the builder.
''Dot is no madden at all to me, - re-
piled Mr.. Stragaus pompously. 81 will
ave de ding berfect or nod at all. Vot
is more, must ave it at once"
"Mr. Stragaus, may point out to
yon, Mr.. Ebridge," I continued, sis in
a very great hurry. There has been 4;
slight pushing forward Of dates, and in
order to insure success he is willing to
pay you handsomely if you will COM
plete the work in short space of time. :"
GLOW long can you give me, sir?'
"a week exactly. Not a day longer"
Impossible. It cannot be done!''
"Den We must go elsewhere, mine
vriend, - said Mr.. Stragaus. "Dot is all.
If you will undertake to do de work and
to and me over de van complete on
next Duesday evening at IL O'CLOCK, I
will pay you dwice de sum you ask me
now"
The man looked up in surprise at this
extraordinary offer and asked to be ex-
cused for moment while he consulted
with his foreman. While he was alb
sent, Walworth whispered:
~ think he'll do it. And if we can
arrange it that way we shall be able to
get it safely up to the yard of the house
unobserved. %
Here the coach builder returned.
my foreman tells me he thinks it
can be done, sir. But you must see that
it will mean night and day work for us
all. And the charge will have to be on
q corresponding scale.'
"Dot is holdings to me- Yon do de
work, and will pay de money. You
agree? Den it is arranged I shall send
my men for de van ERE on Duesday
night at 10 O'CLOCK, and you will ave it
complete. Den We can zend it on by
rail worst ding in de morning. But,
mind you dis. if it is not done den, I
will not pay you Won farding. You
agree?"
II agree. have given you my prom
Use, Mr.. Stragaus, and whatever hap
pens it shall be completed by that
time.''
"Dot is goot. You might, too, ave a
tarbaulin to cover it NIT, SO dat de pub
lick shall not see it ven We dake it away.
Now. zir, I wish you goot morning. You
will be paid for de van ven my men dake
delivery.
"Thank You, sir. Good morning, gen.
tlemen.''
When we were once more in the cab
and on our way back to town, Wal
worth discarded his German accent and
resumed his natural tongue.
$50 far SO good. That bit of business
is satisfactorily accomplished.
"You did not say anything to him
about observing secrecy"
"It wasn't necessary. That poster,
which you will notice have left upon
his table, will account for everything"
"But supposing the police get to hear
Of it and it rouses their suspioions?''
"Well. let them get to hear of it.
If they suspect, they will call on Eb-
ridge and make inquiries. He will
then describe us and show the poster.
They may then possibly telegraph to the
Olympic, Manchester, and learn that
Mr.. Stragaus has booked season there
for his new play. That will put them
off the scent completely
"And what are we to do now"
"Well, now, you had better come to
breakfast with me, I think, at my lodg-
ings. You can there resume your own
everyday appearance. During the morn
ing I am going to meet two men have
in my mind for the policemen. After that
1 shall visit tailor's shop and order the
uniforms as arranged. In the afternoon
I'm going to hunt for house.
"Can do anything else to help your
-