The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-10-14
By J. P. CoUaHLA
Copyright, 1901. BY 4. S. Richardson


the opera house incog.
The curtain had fallen on the second
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 craned forward in their seats
The man raised an impressive hand
and began:
Ladies and gentlemen, trust that !
shall have your undivided attention.
We are about this evening to vary the
programme slightly and SHALL with
your kind indulgence, offer a little
comedy, part of whose action will take
place in the body of the house think
1t well to warn you beforehand that 1t
would be best for you to keep your
seats. If 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 it win be inn
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 brace of revolvers and
wearing u 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 red cap.
"No danger, friends" he called out in
an amiable voice. ALLOW me to intro
duce myself: am Gentleman George,
and you know my reputation. II you
are reasonable, you will not be touched
that Is to say, you will only be
touched mildly, for what yaluables 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 a
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
Nov that we understand each 9th
err" continued the speaker, "our col
lectors will pass among you, and
trust you will remember that their
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 q
tremulous voice from the balcony as
she held up a small brooch In her hand
for 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
house In some cases the requests
were granted Immediately, others as
CURLY refused and still others compro-
missed. Some citizens were allowed to
keep trinkets they valued by giving an
81. o. T." for their value. This unex-
pected turn to the proceedings gave the
affair flavor of the auction room, and
in the excitement, coupled with peeps
into the heart secrets of others. the
women forgot in great measure their
fright. This result was greatly con-
tributed to by the good natured way in
which the thieves did their robbing.
"Now. my friends" said Gentleman
George after pause. everything
seems to be moving serenely. and while
the rest of the collection is being made,
with your kind permission, will en-
deavor to entertain you with a little
song. Can you accompany me in The
Suwanee River. professor"
Certainly. SIR"
"If you please, then"
In a sweet rich tenor voice the
origand began the old song. The audi
ence listened In amazement and as he
finished the first verse filed the house
with genuine applause.
BY the time the song was finished
the collectors had completed their
work, and only the guards on the doors
remained. The leader again raised his
hand for silence.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, II
thank you for your kind attention. Our
little comedy has passed off successful
ly, and now before we wind up let me
give you few final instructions. Our
guards are still outside the various
doors and shall remain there until we
have had good start. That will be,
let US say, fifteen minutes. Any one
who attempts to leave before that time
will be shot dead at the door, and you
know | have habit of keeping my
word. To simplify matters intend to
place this alarm clock"-here he held
up an alarm clock which was handed
to him from the wings to the view of
the audience-"here on this table. 1t
is set to go off at II o'clock. Don't
leave your seats until you hear it. If
you do"
Before the sentence was finished
Gentleman George had vanished.
The people in the house looked at one
another wonderingly. No one dared to
be the first to tempt fate by getting up
and leaving the theater. Yet each man
there believed that the threat was a
bluff" intended to give the robbers a
chance to get safely away. They were
disinclined. however, to put their belief
to the test, and no one stirred. While
matters were still in this indetermi-
nate state a piercing cry of Fire"
rang out throughout the house and
was Immediately taken up on several
sides.
The managers of the theater at this