Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-22
Deadwood
tccpyEtght, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. uo,)
Charles H. Day

V1CpNx@&ASs ASoss ny AasA3 pp0fy &&us A1sl DEFIANT thought it quite funny n when he put at the top of hls letterheads a stipulation in regard to the size of performers dressing room and hotel trunks and the condi- tions: Trunks at hotels twice a week. No dogs or guns carried. No deadwood permitted" Tn spite of Bryant's rule and resolution he did have to carry some deadwood, and it came about through the necessity of engaging an eQuestrienpe.
 Bryant had no standing in the circus business and was despised by artists and managers alike. Stolid and mer- cenary, he had cuticle like rhinoc- eros and when the comments of others reached his ears he laughed at the un- complimentary criticisms, when man of finer feelings would have blushed for very shame.
 One spring Bryant found himself at a very late day minus that all impor- tant feature, a lady rider, as already stated. Several had applied. been turned down and put off, or, better said. bluffed in the standard Bryant way. Now that the man was in a pinch he did not advertise or con6de his imperative necessity to his agents, but doggedly declared obtusely:
 '"The show will go out, rider or no rider
 One afternoon he had caller. It was Flora Ervine, a rider of repute and physical charms, and to the managers astonishment her mission was to se- cure an engagement.
 1T thought you was engaged?" said Bryant, as soon as the visitor made known her errand
 T cancelled . was the reply.
 .sBecause?''
 Because l am married.
 "Oh, ho!' exclaimed Bryant, mis- trusting the reason of the cancella- tion |'Is your husband in the busi- ness?''
 The equestrienne bit her lip before she answered, hesitated while Bryant looked upon her with something be- tween a glare and a grin:
 My husband is not in the busi- ness
 T thought as much blurted Bryant. coarsely, and then he quickly recov- cred himself and remarked apologet- ically: Excuse me"
 An awkward pause followed, the wis., itor quietly breaking the ice anew:
 T learned that you were without rider and thought would calI-'' < The manager cut her off with the blunt statement:
 tfI don't carry any deadwood with my trick, don't"
 "Deadwood!" repeated the eques- trienne
 ''Y-e-s," drawled the manager. 'Dead-wood. deadwnod!" With that he pushed a letterhead into his callers hands. with his finger indicating the conditions.
 s'Then might as well be going" observed the equestrienne. By the time that she had gained her feet he had interposed request for her to remain:
 Wait leetle."
 Bryant was not fool enough to throw away last chance, and he hastened to say, with an effort to conciliate:
 Traps we might make dicker an include the-the--er your husband; that is. if you make the figure right, (Foxy Bryant never lost sight of the dollar.) 'Twould Le nard to spoil your honeymoon, wouldn't it? Ha, hal" (the visitor smiled notl. Bryant leered and chuckled. "I'm widower, you know, but never dreamt that you had an idea of matrimony.'.
 The visitor looked grave and offend ed, whereat the manager ceased his distasteful banter and proceeded to business, a, deal was made, and it is scarcely necessary to state that Bryant took considerable advantage of the situation. As the equestrienneswas de- parting with her contract the manager remarked:
 T hope that while your husband is with the show he will pick up some thing of the trade and not be excess baggage all the season"
 When Milton Folsom came on with his wife for rehearsals be got the cold shoulder both from the manager and the performers. Even the animal keepers, grooms, canvasmen and csIoA Ervine's deadwood. The performers were especially severe in their com ments. Said the first singing clown, the oracle of the dressing-room:
 Why. the chappie don't know enough to even keep up her horses
 .'or groom them" added a grotesque who always confirmed the oraclas opinions.
 Milton Folsom had joined the show with determination to fit himself in somewhere. Possessing no money in his own right and without calling, he found himself in the position of a non-producer. Cupid. the rascal, had trapped the young man and lured the lover into an l1nenviable situation. When the husband blamed himself, the wife asserted:
 Don't reproach yourself, dearest; never mind what others say or look.