Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-07

arfelrS.
"Oh," answered the other laconically,
and there was another pause. But
suppose l won't? Suppose just call
the police and put you in jail? For, OF
course, know nothing of all this non
sense you talk Of"
every WELL" Hcndy replied, rising
YEARLY, "call 'em, but I'm afraid you'll
get county courted overNthose salaries.
An when it begins-Lor', when will 1t
stop?'
This was quite true. For If all the
unliquidated debts incurred in Mr..
Trevor Fitz-Howard's theatrical ca
rccr We're to be called up Mt once by
creditors all over the country Mr. Bar
ing Spencer would be squeezed very
tight indeed And once the two
names were identified the rush would
begin. But there was another con
sideration. aIr. Barring Spencer was
at critical stage in his present opera
tons, but his name just now stood
good for anything; whereas, Mr..
Trevor FitZ-Howard was notorious
swindler. So anything that might re-
veal the fact that the. two names stood
for one financial operator would mean
a crash indeed. So Mr.. Barring Spen-
Ger, like a man OF business, went to
the root of the matter straightway.
Look here" he said. "We'll fool
about no longer. How much do you
want?"
Hendy sat down again. For me-"
he said, "say four weeks at thirty bob,
and say nothing about the boots. Miss
Beaumont four weeks at thirty bob.
too, an Teddy Norton fortnight at
the same. That's fifteen Quid."
The sum seemed enormous In these
lean days, but he was dealing with
capitalist and the estimate was honest
enough. "An' then" he went on, "you
might give poor old Leatherby lift
on the road
"Never mind all that" the other said,
unlocking n drawer. you don't expect
to make me believe you're interested
in all those people, do you? Or that
you'd give them cent? ! amt baby;
no more are you. See here" He took
a small parcel of notes and counted.
zone, two, three, four. five-a pony:
f25. Take it and clear out. and keep
your mouth shut. AS for getting the
show on the road, do 1t anyhow you
please and as soon as you like. Only
mind"-and lie raised his finger-'if
any of those others get on the scent
and come here l shall tell them you've
got their money. Now you can go as
soon as you like"
But, indeed, Mr.. Barring Spencer was
just trife too clever He was much
too clever, in. fact, to suppose that
Hendy-a man just caught stealing
pudding-would part with any of that
money unless he were obliged. He as
sumed, of cor:.se. that IIendy would
keep the money to himself, say nothing
of the encounter, and. moreover, use
| every eNertion to get the show out of
the neighborhood, because of the threat
to set the others after share of the
notes if he, Spencer, were troubled by
them. Indeed, he judged it a very
cunning shift to shut Hendy's mouth
| and clear away the players from the
town at one stroke. He was never safe
from recognition among players.
But he miscalctllated. for Leather
by's company signalized Christmas by
two dinners Mt the Crown, one at mid
day and one at Z, and Leatherby gave
the health of Barring Spencer, founder
of the feast, with great fervor and pro-
claimed him an ornament to the theat-
rical profession, which he had so lately
left, for Hendy had made no secret of
whence he had the money or of the
debts 1t was to liquidatc, and some of
1t he represented as subscription to-
ward I.catherby benefit designed to
set the show on its legs again in IL"