The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-06-20
"A REALISTIC ACTOR,
BY WIN. H. GREENFIELD.

John Hammer the most miserable man in
town. Said Hammer was an old theatrical
manager, true and tried; a man who could
pick a Conner the instant he set eyes on
him. But what made him so miserable was
the fact that no Conner" came in answer
to his advertisement.
The ad. had run three days, and at the
end of that time Manager Hammer had seen
almost every specimen of the cham" actor
that existed within the limits of the city.
1t is not to be wondered at that Manager
Hammer was ~irritated at the incessant
stream of "hams" that poured into his office.
So it happened that on the morning of the
"last run" of the ad., Manager Hammer
was sitting in his office, chewing vexatiously
at the end Of pencil and impiously indulg-
ing in a heterogeneous assortment of violent
execrations when the door opened and a
tolerably handsome youth walked in with a
stride and an air of assurance that made
the ill-humored manager growl: another
ham,"
The newcomer beamed indulgently on the
manager, seated himself on a trunk, and
said, with a rising infection:
"Mr. Hammer"
"Your business!" demanded MI. Ham
mer, not at all pleased with his visitors con-
duct.
.Tll come to that in good time" was the
cool reply. "Just now l would like your
permission to light a cigarette"
"Smoke all you please" snarled the man
ager, and when the other had lighted his
cigarette, he added:
What do you want?"
II want to know if you want a good ac-
tor" replied the visitor.
do you know of one?" queried Hammer,
eagerly, the storm clouds of anger partially
fading from his face.
81 have known him-this one-all my
life"
"Where is he??"
"Sir, before you stands Paul Denton, who
has deracinated the noble art, preserved
it within his bosom, and 10! you are now
looking upon the incarnation of g~enius!"
$50 you are the good actor" sneered Ham
mer, derisively.
"Give me the opportunity, and I'll prove
it, retorted the other. My very person
exhales the genius of Booth; all, my dear sir,
/ can see that you are animated by the subtle
vapors that exude-'
Enough of this, sir" roared the manager.
81 am not here to be made a fool of by a sim
pleton. Get out of here before | kick YOU
out"
The keenness of his anger and resentment
had the effect of making the youth drop his
%jocular style. He meditated a moment, and
then said, with all seriousness:
Pardon, noble duke-er, l mean my
dear sir. | merely"
Get out!"
''You refuse me a %trial?"
"You're no actor"
81 beg to differ, but lam"
1You can act?" questioned Hammer.
81 cant"
"Wel-' began the manager, irresolutely,
but the youth broke in with:
"Try me"
Five minutes later Hammer was putting
the youth through the PAGES, so to speak,
but shook his head in a dissatisfied manner
when the trial was over. Resuming his
seat at the desk, he smiled somewhat super
%ciliously and said:
you're no better than the rest. Your
acting is gestureless; you don't put strength
in it. You're too artificial don't want
that. l can make a wooden actor-you
aren't natural; you walk as if on stills, and
roll the words around in your mouth as
though they were molasses candy. You
won't do! l want natural acting, and
Great Cd! What's the matter with
him."
For Denton had suddenly drawn a knife
from his pocket, whirled it above his head,
and advanced with long strides toward the
frightened manager. The youths erstwhile
smiling countenance was distorted by a hor-
rible scowl, which changed to a satanic grin
as he advanced.
Hammers rubicond face grew white as
alabaster.
"What-what are you going to do?" he
gasped.
A low maniacal laugh was the only reply.
Instantly it dawned upon him that Den
ton had suddenly become insane. He was
at the mercy of a maniac! He realized this
with a sickening shudder, and made an effort
to raise his feet, but his muscles refused to
perform their functions and he sank back
white and rigid.
The scintillating orbs of the other seemed
to shoot darts of fire into his own. Hetried
to avert his gaze. 1t was in vain. Dentou's
eyes shone like two baleful meteors; they
glowed with a hypnotic incandescence that
was irresistible, and trembling in every limb
the theatrical manager sat there, covered
by the sovereign glance of a human eye!
With soft, catlike tread, Denton crept
upon him, flashing the murderous blade be-
fore his eyes. Suddenly he stopped, and in
a shrill, pitched voice cried:
4e murdered my mother, John Ham
mer. l will have your blood! The blood
that is Oh your hands will be covered by
your own blood. God tells me to cut your
heart out. | obey God!"
'The knife for the deed! Blood! Blood!
] will swim in your blood!" and he uttered
a series of blood-curdling screams that froze
the poor manager with horror,
And then, when his voice failed with the
paroNysms of his frenzied screams, he con
tinued, in a low, harsh, grating tone:
"'Tis mine! Your heart! It's mine!"
and with a horrible yell bounded straight
at his victim.
Cold sweat exuded from every pore in the
managers body, but he was powerless to
move. Even his vocal powers refused to
come to his aid.
But Denton stepped back and surveyed
him with those blazing orbs that burned
into his very soul. But only for a moment
did Denton pause. He screamed: ellis
heart! His heart!" and sprang forward.
In two leaps he reached his victims side
and raised tho o1itta,ipo 1-nifa