Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-01-06

''TFE PERFORMANCE WENT OFF VERY
SMOOTHLY
iIgly easy air Of comforting assurance
which had caused him to be cordially
hated by all of his people that the
moGey in his possession was less than
half Of what was necessary to trans
port us to the next stand. Things
looked mighty blue, l can tell you.
"At this juncture Windus came to the
front like a man.
"'Hire the ballroom of the hotel he
suggested, and give the entertainment
there
ga splendid idea,' replied the man
ager, who forthwith set out to make
arrangements for,the hall and to have
handbiIls announcing the change print
ed The hall was readily secured, but
there was no printing office in the
town got hold of the dregs in
can OF green paint in the hotel and
with the aid of the proprietor's wife,
an old sheet and couple of mop han
dies soon had q very fair sandwich
sign constructed. The wind was blow
ing a gale, and the property man, who
was sent out with the sandwich
promptly returned, vowing that moth
ing would induce him to venture forth
again. The leading man was the most
athletic member of our company, and,
despite his protests, he was sent out
with the sandwich Within five min
utes he returned minus the sandwich
which had been blown to ribbons. AS
last resort we stuck a notice up in
the postoffice.
"At o'clock the drug store reported
that not a seat had been sold, and
once more Windus came to the front.
Calling the members Of the company
aside, he said: Give this performance
tonight. Don't be worried about get
ting to the next stand. Here are some
five dollar goldpieces, United States
money at that, one for each of you.
Keep the facts of this little gift away
from the manager. I shall tell him
that if he will give his performance
before me tonight will pay him $50
in gold when the final curtain falls
"Talk about your New York hits and
that sort of thing! Nothing that ever
happened to us could have made us
happier. You would not have suspect
ed that we had but few minutes ear
lier lost practically all we owned. The
hotel served an early supper, and we
went to the theater with light hearts.
No seats had yet been sold. The same
condition prevailed at 1880. Even
Windus had not arrived. We sent out
a scouting party and learned that he
had been celebrating his triumph in
having a special performance all to
himself trife too heavily, and the
town constable had inconsiderately
locked him up. Our manager seeing
the promised $50 going a-glimmering,'
tried to negotiate with the officer, but
that official was obdurate. Finally in
consideration Of $40, which the man
ager reluctantly paid, leaving himself
practically broke Windus was liber-
ated and was soon seated in the hotel
ballroom. The performance went off
very smoothly, and Windus applauded
during the first two acts at every posi-
BILE opportunity.
"There was long delay between the
second and third acts, and when the
sheet which did duty as curtain was
drawn aside Windus had disappeared.
We Immediately CLOSED in again, the
manager, not knowing of the gifts to
us, suspecting treachery. Just then
the hotel proprietor came back. He
was very indignant as he explained
that the constable had rearrested Win
dus. his authority being a telegram
from the chief Of police of Winnipeg,
who asserted that Windus was one Of
the most skillful counterfeiters in the
world and that he was suspected of
then having in his possession several
thousand spurious five dollar gold
pieces"