The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-17

the east Manager Holiday was wild. And in the midst of his desperation Claude went to him and offered to take the great tenors place that night Brilliant, daring offer. More dodgers; rush for seats. "A new Manrico. Sig nor Unthank of Suggvlle, his first ap- pearance as a star" The theater was damned again, and the audacious young singer carried off all the laurels. l The prima donna, the contralto and the chorus girls kissed him in their delight. The men shook his hands and told him he was great" Then he bought beer for everybody in the company, for Cas- par Guttwell, the heavy basso, told him i that they would not be paid till they reached Dallas
 Claude was again the hero of Sugg- vile when the company took tram for Wachie, for almost the whole popula- tion turned out to see him off. He stood on the rear platform with gleam of triumph in his dark eyes as the train pulled out, and the young men, envious, and the young women fearful, waved him adieu.
 During the two weeks of one-nght stands that followed Claude became ac- quainted with his confreres and-loaned them money
 "Till we get to Dallas" each of them would say, and that set him to think ing, so that one evening, accosting the manager in a lonesome corner of the hotel, he asked.
 What salary am drawing, Mir Hol- liday?"
 The managers small eyes grew large with astonshment, but he only mur- mured: Wait till we get to Dallas
 That worried Claude a little, for he had lingering commercial sense, so he sought out Mile. Duvernay, the sou brette, who was quite motherly and at least fifty years old, and asked her what he ought to do about it.
 T can tell you what to don't do,' she said, taking off her yellow wig don't lend our people any money, don't im- agIne that you're it because Holiday is starring you. You see we're wildcat ting our way back east. There won't any of us git paid for this We're lucky if our expenses is paid to within walking distance of NYawk O course you know by this time that Hol- liday just picked you up to fill Garloc- els place. He ain't agoin' to pay you He aint agoin' to-"
 But Claude was already rushing to- ward Manager Holidays room. He rapped ferociously, and the great man, who was in bed, bawled: That you, Unthank?"
 That's who it is.
 q tole you once that I'd settle with you at Dallas. We'll be there day after tomorrow. Leave me alone, VIII you?'
 And the boy slunk away to bed. When they got to Dallas he dogsed the managers footsteps for half day, and at last corralled him in his dingy room in the Battle-Axe boarding-house.
 Now. MT. Holiday" said he, I'll reckon with you"
 "Aint no reckoning to be done growled the manager, thrusting forth bit of pasteboard,
 Whats this?" faltered the boy.
 It's you to suggviIle!" roared Holli- day. losing his temper. Claude looked at him for moment h1s dreams of fu- ture triumphs fading like phantom castles, and then gasped;
 Then Im-Tm-----
 "You're tin-canned. Back, back. Manrico! Back to Suggville, ana that eft-soons, for your ticket expires to- night!'
 And another rising star had been "wild-catted" from the operate tir1na7 ment.-John H. Raftery in the Chicago Record Herald,