The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-11-22
THE GREAT OPERA
HOUSE HOLDUP
By ]. p. CoUGHLAN


~an,bination was giving Hamlet"
Tho manager estimated that there was
=, least $500 in the house, his prosaic
nav of summing up the value of the
audience from the box Office point Of
~iew There was good deal more
nan 500 in the house from the prac-
.,caI financial view of Gentleman
George. known In the adjacent noun
.o,ns where he made his headquar-
TORS as the leader of the Red Caps.
gentleman George had a reputation
that branched out into several of the
attaining states. His methods of brig
ondage were more novel than the I'M
originality of his sObriquet would lead
Won 10 believe; but, then, he was not
responsible for the adjective.
gentleman George visited Oaktree
occasionally, but a discreet population
refused to recognize him. and the au-
thorities were conveniently unaware
az his identity; hence 1t was quite I'm
order, as with other personages, that
he should attend the performance at
the opera house incog.
act and the audience was for settling
itself back into its seats when a tall,
bearded, distinguished looking gentle
man in evening dress appeared before
the curtain and made sign to the au-
dience, begging their attention. The
audience eraned forward In their seats.
The man raised an impressive hand
and began:
Ladies' and gentlemen, trust that l
shall have your undivided attention.
We are about this evening to vary the
programme slightly and shall, with
YOUR kind indulgence, offer little
comedy. part Of whose action will take
place in the body OF the house. I think
it well to warn you beforehand that 1t
would be best for you to keep Jour
seats. II you obey this injunction, you
will be In no danger whatever, but
should you become FESTIVE serious ac-
cidents may happen.
"Now let me add that II will be i'm
possible for single person to leave the
theater until the finish of the little
comedy. If-don't rise from your seats,
please-you will look toward the exits
you will see that they are carefully
guarded"
Eyes were instantly turned to the
doors. At each door ON the two tiers
that included floor and balcony of the
little theater stood resolute looking
man holding a brace of revolvers and
wearing red cap. A tendency to
scream on the part of the women was
repressed by the impressive hand Of
the man on the stage. who had by this
time also donned a red cap.
mo danger, friends" he called out In
an amiable voice. "Allow me to intro
duce myself: l am Gentleman George,
and you know my reputation. If you
are reasonable, you will not be touched
that Is to say, you will only be
touched mildly, for what valuables you
may happen to have upon you. The
good people behind the scenes are safe
in the hands of my comrades. All COM
munication with the outside Is cut off.
Every door is guarded. There is not
head In this house that is not covered
with Red Cap gun. AS long as you
sit still you are In no danger, but. the
moment you try to get gay or stow
away any Of your goods or put us to
any trouble you will hear
The ominous elipsis at the end of the
last sentence had all It's intended effect.
Now that we understand each 9th
er," continued the speaker. ''our col
lectors will pass among you, and l
trust you will remember that then
time is valuable and cannot be wasted
In disputes. In the meantime there is
no reason why the music should not
continue. If you please. Mr.. Professor,
strike up"
To the somewhat tremulous music
OF the piano three men moved sys-
tematically through the lower floor of
the theater, each one carrying slung
over his shoulder a large leather bag
such as Is carried by postmen, while
three others similarly equipped went
at the same time through the balcony.
Ladies may keep their wedding
rings" called out the chief robber,
who shouted out from time to time or
ders to his men and to the audience
from the stage.
Please, sir, may keep this? 1t was
my mothers" said a young girl In a
tremulous voice from the balcony as
she held up small brooch in her hand
Tor Gentleman George to see.
Certainly, my child. Jim, see that
the young lady keeps her brooch"
Presently requests of various kinds
began to come from all parts of the
mouse. In some cases the requests
We're granted Immediately, others as
CURLY refused and still others compro-
missed. Some citizens were allowed to
keep trinkets they valued by giving an
l. U. u" for their value. This unex-
pected turn to the proceedings gave the
aualr flavor of the auction room, and
~ the excitement, coupled with peeps
INTO the heart secrets of others, the
women forgot In a great measure their
right This result was greatly con-
ffs 4