Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-09-03

brigand began the old song. The audi
enee 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, Il
thank you for your kind attention. Our
little comedy has passed of 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 a habit of keeping my
word. To simplify matters intend TO
place this alarm cloekn--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. IL
Is set 20 so OF at IL O'clock. Don't
leave your seats until you hear it. IL
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
bluff" intended TO give the robbers
chance to get safely away. They were
disinclined. however, to put their belief
to the test, aud no one stirred. While
matters were still in this indetermi-
nate state n piercing cry of "FireF
rang out throughout the house and
was Immediately taken up on several
sides.
The managers of the theater at this
outcry rushed on the stage and shouted
words meant to be calming to the audi
ence. They succeeded In a measure In
allayIng the panic which was begin
ming to get under way, but many peo-
pie. overweight by the evenings hap
penings, rushed from the theater out
into the street. Then II was discovered
conclusively that there was no fire. but
that the scare raised by the cry had
added to the start already gained by
Gentleman George and his band.
BY noon on the day following the
sheriff was ready to start for the
haunts of Gentleman George with
strong posse. when the mayor sent for
him and read this letter. found on his
doorstep that morning;
Dear Mr. Mayor-A dastardly outrage
has been perpetrated on my good name
and incidentally on the people OF your
city by the ruffians who held up the
Opera House last night The person cali
ing himself Gentleman George was only
an lmpersonator believe / know the
scoundrel and by the time you receive
this myself and n few trusty comrades
will be on his train. The good citizens OF
Oaktree cannot be more grieved than
am over the regrettabie occurrence of
last evening. To show you that l was not
the man who held up the Opera House
inelose you my latest photograph. made
in San Francisco. You can depend upon
IL that the evildoers OF last night will be
brought to Justice. Yours In good faith,
GENTLEMAN GEORGE.
The sheriff did not like the cool, i'm
pertinent tone OF the letter and thought
that, owing TO his long immunity, Gen
tleman George was inclined to jest
with the township. The mayor thought
differently. IL was, he said, very
courteous note. and he could not see
that II In any way reflected on the
town. Sides were taken, and the next
election was fought out largely on the
question of the good faith or other
wise OF Gentleman George. Though
the election went In favor OF the may
or and the upholders of Gentleman
George. to this day 1t has not been de-
termined whether or not 1t was that
polished bandit who had held up the
Opera House.