Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-06-14
REALISTIC ACTOR.
By WIN. II. cREExF1ELD.

in the Evening Times of February Is, 1902
And that was the advertisement that made
John Hammer the most miserable man IL
town. Said Hammer was an old theatr3eaI
manager, true and tried; a man who could
pick a "comer" the instant he set eyes on
him. But what made him so miserable was
the fact that no conner" came in answer
to his divert sement.
The ad. had run three days, and at the
end Of that time Manager Hammer had seen
almost every specimen OF the ham 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 CHAINS" that poured into his office.
50 it happened that on the morning of the
Cast Fan" OF the ad., Manager Hammer
was sitting in his office, chewing yexatiously
ct the end of a 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 ll-humored manage grow4: "AnSther
ham"
The newcomer beamed indulgently on the
manager, seated himself on a trunk, and
said, with a rising infection:
"Mr. Hammer"
IOuF DuslHesS9 IeUiattdeu NV idLn@
mer, not at all pleased with his visitor 5 con-
duct.
"IIl corae to that in good time" was.the
coal reply. Just now / would like your
permission TO light a cigarette"
Smoke al you please" znsried the naan-
ager, and when the other had lighted his
cigarette, he added:
what do you want2"
81 want to know if you want a good as.
tor" peplied the visitor.
"Do you know of one?" queried Hammer
eagerly the storm clouds Of anger partially
fading from his face.
81 nave known nim-nhis one-all my
life"
Where is heg"
"Sir, before you stands Paul Denton, who
has deracinsted this noble art, preserved
IL within has BOSOM. and LOO you are now
locking upon the incarnation of g%enius!"
$50 you are the good actor, /" sneered Ham
mer, derisiveIy.
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 exIsde-"
Enough Of this, sir" reared the manager.
81 arr not here 10 pe made fool OF by asim-
pleton. Get out. of here before j kick you
out"
The'keenness OF his anger and resentment
had tae effect of aiaking the youth drop his
j%ocular style. He meditated a moment, and
then sgid, with all seriousness:
Pardon, noble duke-ex, / man mE
dear SIR. / merely
Get out"
'YoU refuse me z,trial?"
You're no actor"
Il beg to differ, but ! am"
You can act!" Questioned Hammer
81 can't"
"Weli-' began the manager, ~rresGlutely
but the youth broke in withg.
'"Iry mel"
Five minutes later Hammer was rutting
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
siiously and said:
You're no better than the rest. Your
acting is gestureless you don't put strength
in it. You're too Lrtificiai-i don's want
that. I can maAk a wooden actor-you
aren't natural; YOU walk as 80n stills, and
roll the words arouUd in 7our mouth as
though they were uolasses candy. You.
won't d9i | w2ue natural acting and
Great Cd! WHAT'S the MATES with
him."
For Denton had suddenlr drawn a knife
from hi, pocket, whirled it above has head,
and advanced with long strides toward the
frighiAned manager. The youths erstwhile
smiling copntenanee was distorted oy a hor-
rible scowl, which changed to a satanic grim
as he advanced.
Hammers rulacond faee grew white us
ala5sster.
.'Wfat-what are you going to do2" de
gasped.
A low maniacal laugh was the gnly reply.
\ Instantly it dawned upon him that Den
ton had suddenly become iusar-e. He Nas
az the mercy of a maniac! lie realized this
with a sick2ning shudder, and r2sde IN e6ort
to raise his feet, but his muscles refused to
perform their functions and Ae sank back
white and rigid.
The scintillating OF 6s of the other seemed
| to shoot darts Of fire into his own. He tried
to avert his gaze. It was in vain. Denton's
ewes shone like two baleftS m%eteors; they
| glowed with a hypnotic incandesceuce that
was irresistible, and trembling in every limb
the theatrical manager sat there covered
by the sovereign glance OF a humpn eye!
With soft. catlike tread, Denton crcpt
upon him, flashing the nurderu1s blade oe-
fore his eyes. Suddenly he stopped, and in
a shrill, pitched vofce cried:
"Ye murdered my mother John Ham
mer. l will have your blood! The blood
that is on your hands will be covered by
your own blood. God tells me to eIt your
heart out. | obey God!'
The knife for the deedt Bloods Blooa'
Twill swim in your blood!" and he uttered
4 series OF blood-eurdling screams that frOze
the poor manager witt horror.
And then, when his roice aided with the
roxysm Of his frenxied screams, lie con
tinued. in a Tow, harsh, grating tone;
" lis minel Your heart, It's mine
and with a horrible yell bounded straigh.
at his victim.
Cold sweat exuded from every pore in tn
managers body, but he was powerless t.
move. Even his vocal powers refused t,
come to his aid.
But Denton stepped back and surveyed
him with those blazing orbs that burned
~. -. .,,l Rtf np1V for n taorpapi