The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1903-01-17
q q q q q - @# q Il 1900
BACK of THE I
BURNT CORK \
BY Epes w. Sargent 8
Copyright, 1901, By e. ". Sargent "
= q q e ### @# q s. IS
COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY e. ". Sargent

Sorry to disturb you, old chap, but
am to share this pen with you for tn,
next two weeks" And Frank Hether
ington regarded with unfeigned DISCUS
the cubbyhole styled by courtesy {
dressing room.
1t was Hetheringtons first season II
vaudeville, and after a long run a,
leading man with one of the New YorI
stock companies the facilities provided
performers at the Apollo theater IL
San Francisco did not appeal to his
somewhat fastidious tastes.
The person to whom he addressed
his conversation was fellow perform.
er, evidently minstrel monologist.
since the white of his bare arm showed
In glaring contrast to the reddish pig
ment which stopped half way down
the neck, concealing his features as eff
fectually as If he wore a mask. Heth-
erington had a winning manner with
men and women alike, yet after a
slight start at first sound of the voice
the original occupant of the room gave
no sign of recognition save q curt "All
right as he moved his makeup mate
rials TO give the other more space on
the plain board shelf which ran along
one side Of the wall
Hetherington Lit a cigarette in direct
defiance of the placard tackled above
the electric light and was seated be-
fore the mirror, making up, before he
attempted to renew the conversation.
Silence 1rritated him, and it was more
to break the monotony than to gain the
friendship Of his companion that he
commenced to talk.
"As long as we're to share this hoy
stall FOR the next two weeks we might
us well know each others name. Mine
IS Hetherington. I'm new to this and
OF the business. but have some small
reputation in the east as an actor. Pm
DONG a sketch with Miss Phyllis Lam
caster. Now that I've introduced INV.
self may ask
Inc monoiogist disregarded this invi-
Eaton for moment while he strupc,ed
with pair of tight fitting green trou-
'ers. Finally. having adjusted the sus-
penders, he turned coldly with:
/ don't think there is much in
name. Mine is Brown-Phil Brown-if
you want 1t for the programme. T fiji
n the stage In one while they're strik-
ng your set and getting ready for the
'croDauc act to close with"
Hetherington carefully outlined bis
yenrows with black crayon before he
epned with a light laugh: Brown
Gems rather funny for stage use when
'ou can pick out a name to suit vonr-
ell But 1t matches your makeun and
as good as any other to travel by
seems to me that If you are going to
ohow me either | am beastly late or
gu are horribly early, and. by the
'ay, thought Glenroy followed onr
ct" eu our
Glenroy was switched to Los An.
eles, and they brought me down from
ae Cnutes. Yes, I've been playing the
nutes and the free house, the Olvm.
10 the past three weeks, yeti think
1e manager remembers the time when
~ name was worth as much on or
istern programme as yours is now
Ut IT wasn't Brown them
BY this time Hetherington was s,,,u
ressed, and with careless ran,o,.i,
lat he trusted they'd get along VOL
lring the week he carefully slammed
It the glowing end of his second cia
cite and climbed the ricketv stairs
hich led to the stage.
Ihere was trouble with the set+,nn
II MS turn, and in the excitement 80
the matter out there was
Tie time for conversation with his
.rner before the act opened Aftar
King their curtain call he went diroo+
TO his dressing room. He had
omlsed to meet party of friends Of
Donemian club, and Miss Lancas. ]
:, hnown In private life as Mrs |
was going to the bote, {
'ne. A brief kiss and a LAUGHING
omise to be home by morning had ,
',heu thelr parting in the wings 6e
lite. iouS room-
= was lonely enough in the dressing s