Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-09
NORTON DECAMPs
Proprietor of Park Theatre and
Saloon Leaves Behind I'M
paid Performers.
PLACE HAS BEEN CLOSET
Negro Barker Holds Fort for a Day
VaudevilIians Leave
Town.

a pudgyfaced man and yellow
haired damsel stood in front of the
darkened doorway of the Park thea
tire saloon on Twentieth street, oppo-
site Spencer square, last night. There
was Il small grip on the walk beside
her and he carried a bundle under his
arm. Here is the conversation that
was heard:
How much you got, Nell?'
MY last weeks tenspot. and little
besides Not the first time I've been
WEIGHED. | was wise to that guy Nor
ton first night | hit the shanty. He
looked short to me. He was growing
humpbacked searching his pockets
Lucky girl. You'll never have to
miss your doughnuts as long as you
keep that nut of yours working that
way. Course, my voice is getting bad
and | can't draw the salary got when
l had the big producers bounding
me with kilograms. You didn't know
that l was so popular in my younger
days that [ had to travel incog. to
avoid annoyance from managers.
Well, / should say. You haven't got
the makin's, Nell? Thanks. But
that's the way it goes. And you and
L turned adrift tonight by ii cheap
beer saloon proprietor. I've got
enough to buy feathers and my rolls
and coffee in the morning. Guess I'll
try the side-door sleeper back to Chi
tomorrow. Good night, Nell. Coin
to Davenport, Ell? Purity fast burg.
guess. You won't have any trouble.
Take good care of yourself. So long"
Norton Leaves Town.
Charles Norton, proprietor of the
Park saloon and theatre. has been
missing since midnight Wednesday. 1t
was not known that he had skipped
until yesterday afternoon, when a
representative of the Rock Island
Brewing company dropped in and
turned the key in the front door of
the establishment.
Norton had been growing weaker
financially for weeks. He was prac-
tically down and out Monday, when
he conceived a dream to excite SYM
pathy among his creditors. reporting
to the police that his place had been
entered by burglars and the till tap
ped for its contents. $40. Wednesday
was salary night for the vaudeville
performers Norton had employed to
entertain those who drifted into the
cracker-boX theatre he had improvis-
ed during the summer at the rear of
the saloon. With the approach of cool
weather attendance at the theatre and
consequently bar patronage began to
diminish, and Wednesday had been a
settler. There had been nothing do
ing. Norton was without funds. He
could not muster sufficient nerve to
face the hungry performers, so he
took to the high manipulated.
Wife Faces Music.
His wife remained and faced the
music. She had confidence in her hus-
band and believed he would return.
She importuned the angry thespians
to hold their tempers; that every
thing would come out right in the
wash.
When the bar opened yesterday
morning Edward McGraw. Il big negro
with a shanty over his left eye, who
had been acting as barker for the
theatre. was in charge. He announc-
ed to all Corners that he was the pro-
prietor; that Norton had gone to
other fields. McGraw was out of suds,
and he telephoned the Chicago Brew
ing company to roll him in a quarter
ON credit. He secured the beverage
and was ready for business. The I'M
paid thespians swooped down on the
establishment at noon and demanded
their salaries McGraw said he did
not know anything about their bust
ness relations with Norton; that they
would have to see the latter gentle