The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-12
THE sUeevILLE METEOR.

a little baudy-iegged, weezing tenor
bring down the house" with the tenor
solos of the opera. and he, Claude Tn
thank Of Suggville knew in his heart
OF hearts that he could sing much better.
Besides he was six feet tall. handsome
had not the Suggville Voice proclaimed
him the Adonis OF Pratt & PrOutys dry
goods emporium
Just then a staggering. silk-hatted,
lcng-coated man walked in. Claude me
chanically advanced, lingering the tape
measure that hung about his neck, and
said;
What can I do for you this morning.
Il want to see Mr.. Unthank," said the
stranger.
That's me-" quoth Claude. coloring.
''Hawl Glad TO know YOU, Mr.. Tn
thank. I'm the manager of the, aw-
Anderson Ideals-heard you were quite
a tenor-thOught Of strengthening up my
aw-chorus. If you'd care, aw-to join
us, avn
The clerk could hardly believe his ears.
| IF he'd carei' Here at last was the
realization of his cherished dreams. The
manager at once became friendly, affec-
t,onate. purrins.
Poor Unthank's ears .tingled to the
trumpet tones Of his destiny. Surely
he would come 10 try his voice; must he
bring his music? No. Sing any oi5
thing,"
you" explainel yrr, Holiday, the man
aser. No do*-l but youu suit as 20
voice. then-if you can act or learn TO
act bit-why-aw, fortune made!'
And the distinguished parsonage bowed
himself out, leaving Claude in the very
vestibule of Paradise. At noon he walk
ed proudly into the stage door of the
Srggyille opera house. found Holiday
with his coat off playing the piano and
Signor Gari9Ccl, the Manrico of the nigh.
before, lounging about the empty house
with bottle of beer in one hand and a
cheese sandwich in the other.
"Splendidr cried Holiday when the
first song was done. by Cracky, Jimmy"
he added. turning to Garlocci. the kid
is all right. isn't hep"
Magnificent voice." cried the generous
signor. I'D give him trial tonight"
VIII you go on tonight" asked Hol-
liday turning TO Claude; just to try a
turn at chorus work?''
Claude agreed that he'd go on" and
il was arranged. From the opera house
back to Pratt & PrOuty's he walked upon
sunbeams, and there. marching up to the
head of the firm, he proudly rendered his
resignation.
I've signed with the opera troupe"
he explained as the country merchant
gazed at him with incredulous admira-
ton. IF it's all the same to you, Mr..
Pratt I'd like to draw my money and
get home to pack up
Mr.. Pratt agreed. sure that his young
clerk had at last put his hand on the
latch which opens the door TO fame and
fortune, and in ten minutes the lad was
leaving the store with all his savings
more than $500, in his inside pocket. The
news of Unthank's engagement spread
like wld-fire, and before dark the town
civ
the appearance that evening of Mr.
Claude Unthank, the phenomenal young
tenor Of SugEville who has just been en-
gagged at a princely salary by the Ander-
son Opera company II was proud day
for Claude.
All Suggville was in the opera house
that evening. Claude. dressed in bar
barrie splendor, was in the front rank Of
the chorus. In order to get quickly
into the atmosphere of the profession
Claude STOPPED" at the hotel that night
and drank more beer with Garlocci than
he was accustomed 10.
It was nearly 1. o'clock when the ia
nous tenor, locking the door, grew very
confidential with his protege. He told
the boy that all he needed was week 8
rehearsal TO make a great leading
tenor" He Garlocci, was anxious to re-
sign and get back to New York, where
great chances awaited him. Upon my
word. Unthank." he said at last, I'd
quit right now f.
IF what?' asked the boy, his hopes
rising.
IF had, say, 500 to get back to the
East on"
Now Claude. being very shrewd as well
as ambitious. wanted to get the tenor out
o. his way. His first nights success lent
him an overweening conceit, and before
they parted Signor GarlOcci had borrowed
a hundred dollars from the Adonis Of
tenor was missing. A search of the town
revealed the fact that he had caught an
early train for the East. Manager Hol-
liday was wild. And II the midst OF his
desperation Claude went to him and Of
feTed to take the great tsnor's place that
night. Brilliant. daring OFFER, More
dodgers: rush for seats. a new Man
ricoi Signor Unthank Of Suggville, his
first appearance az starr The theater
was jammed again. and the audacious
young singer carried of all the laurels.
Claude was again the hero Of SuggviiIe
when the company took the train for
Wachie, for almost the whole population
turned out TO see him of.
During the two weeks Of one night
stands that followed Claude became ac-
qUainted with his coufreres and-loaned
them money.
It'll we set to Dallas" each OF them
would saw. and that set him 70 think
ing. 50 that one evening, accostiug the
manager in lonesome corner Of the
hotel, he asked
what salary am I drawing. ar. Houl-
day2'
2 The managers small eyes E-ew large
with astouishment, but he only rnurmur-
ed, Wait till We get 70 Dallas
That worried Claude little. for he
had a lingering commercial sense, 50 ho
brette who was quite motherly and o.
least 90 years old. and asked her what
De ousht In do about ST.
II can t1l y0u what % don't DO" she
said. taking eff her yellow wig, don't
lend our people any money don mag
Inc that you're o. because Holiday is
starring YOU. you see. we re Wiid-catti1e (
our way hack East There wont be ans
~ Us Eet naid Ter this Were l-cSy
CIR expenses IS ual3 % within walking
distance az y Tawk y course yau
know by this tine thar HoiEdav 5ast
picked sou SD 81 6li Gario"ci place He
iut E0in IL nav yc- Re al1C a-goiu
Bt Claude was already rushing To-
ward Manager Holiday r1aru- SEE zap
Esd fercciously. ard the great Enar. vso
vas in bed. hsWied- THAT you, Un-
tha~k
That's WHO il $50
Il t1id sou once that III settle with vou
- Dallas. Wen le there day frrer %
morrow Leave ue ei1He. III yeu
and tle boy slsrk awaE to bed Fshen
they got q Dallas De- acEsea the ra-
acer s 1oolsters for haif 3 aay. and SO
lest cerrafie5 hfu ig DIS dirsy room - th
ltar-fe--aNe Era r.il-E ErU@e