Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
They stared as long as possible.


And presently they were all laxative
together, for, after all. there were the
drinks, and the poor players had learn
ed not to be too thin skinned.
Sam Davis and Billy Mack found
their way across soon, and the droyer
was good for another round of drinks
on their entrance.
'"Trade in your line don't seem fust
rate" said the butcher happy in many
Christmas orders. "Ain't overcrowded,
are your
The buskers looked one Mt another
and shook their heads. There could be
no concealment. "Beastly business
Davis answered. orridw
"Not very payin' game, eh" said
the drover.
WELL" Teddy Norton replied, "I'd be
pretty well off If had all that's OWN
me, anyhow"
"Ah, but then suppose you had to pay
all you owe? rejoined the butcher and
guffawed joyously at his own wit.
"Owing?" cried Hendy, with excite
ment. "Why, the money in salaries l
haven't had 'ud start bank!''
"Yus-no doubt" said the butcher,
and laughed again. what amt got
'ud sink ship"
Lets see" said Davis, "you was in
Trevor Fitz-Howard's crowd, wasn't
you, when it left 'em stranded at
Leeds2'
II was that, my boy, an Teddy Nor
ton here, an my missis-before 1 mar
ried her. That was the second time he
put me in the cart, too," Hendy went
on, with bitter "Reminiscences. "He
dropped a company ut Bristol once
after three weeks. an l was in that,
an that second time ut Leeds he col
Jared bag O. mine to put the plumber
in, with a new pair O. boots in itl
II bet you'd like to have 'em now"
observed the butcher, with glance
ut the actors dilapidated shoes.
II didn't know Fitz-Howard," ven
tured Davis, "but I've known some
pretty near US hot. There was Digby,
that called himself Stuart, an Walde-
grave an" y
So the talk went, and each poor
player fell to computation Of what
he had lost In shortages by reason Of
dad business" and by the robberies
of rascally managers, SO that If debts
were but assets here would sit COM
pany Of atiluent persons sponglng for
drinks in the Crown Scarce town
in the kingdom but one or other had
been stranded in 1t. They counted 1t n
successful engagement that brought
first to last half the stipulated salary,
and, though it was held too bad"
when manager bolted with the
money bags, the thing was SO common
as scarce to seem worse than piece
Of rather sharp practice.
Last. poor old Leatherby himself, n
sad figure Of stout man worried thin,
Joined the group and drew another
round Of drinks. 1t was hard, very
hard, to maintain the dignity proper
to n proprietor and manager conscious
the while that he, even he, had fallen
to press" for drink among stran-
gers, though in truth he did his best.
That night they played 1.-THE Ticket
of Leave Man"-played 1t with the en-
ergy Of despair. Whatever that per-
Torrance might bring was all that lay
between them and the lack of a
Christmas dinner, and worse lack than
that. Hendy played Bob Briefly to
his wife's May Edwards. Leathcrby
doubled Meter Moss and Mr.. Gibson,
with rush round the back and a
change Of coat in the office scene,
played with n cottage interior. Billy
Mack doubly, too-Maltby and Green
Jones-and Leatherby's daughter was
Sam Willoughby and Miss ST. Eyre
mond by turns, while Mrs. Leatherby
as Mrs. Willoughby. Teddy Norton as