The San Francisco call., 1904-07-24
XII.


When Obermuner sent for me
thought he wanted to see me about
that play he's writing in which I'm to
star-when the pigs begin to fly.
Funniest thing in the world about
that man, Mag. He knows he can't
get bookings for any play on earth;
that if he did they'd be cancelled and
any old excuse thrown at him as soon
as Tausig heard of it and could put on
the screws. He knows that there isn't
an unmatched hole in theatrical Amer
lea through which he can crawl and
pull me and the play in after him.
And yet he just can't let so working on
it. He loves it, Mag; he loves it as
Molly loved that child of hers that kept
her nursing it all the years Of its life.
and left her feeling that the world had
been robbed of everything there was
for woman TO do when il died.
Obermuller has told me all the plot
In fact, he's worked it out on me.
know it as it Is. as he wanted
it to be. and as it's going to
be- He tells me he's built it up
about me: that it will fit me as never
a comedy fitted player yet, and that
we'll make such a hit-the play and I
together-that
And then he remembers that there's
no chance; not the ghost Of one, and
he falls to swearing at the Trust.
Don't you think, Mr.. o." I said. as
he began again when 1 came into his
Office. that it might be as we'll to quit
cursing the Syndicate till you've got
something new 10 say or something
different to rail about? 1t seems TO
me a mans likely to get dany if he
keeps harping on"
"Oh, I've got it all right, Nance, be
sure of that I've got something diff
ferent to say Of them and something
new to swear about. They've done me
up; that's all. Just as they've fixed
Iringer and Gaffney and Howison."
Tell me-
He threw out his arms and then let
them fall to his side.
"Oh, it's easy" he cried, so easy
that 1 never thought of it. They've
just bought the Vaudeville out of hand
and served notice on me that when
my lease expires next month they'll
not be able TO renew it. unfortunate
ly'. That's all, No; not quite. In
order to kill all hope of a new plan
in me they've just let it get to be un-
derstood that any man or woman that
works for Obermuller needn't come
round to them at any future time"
'Phewl blacklist"
Not anything so tangible. It's Just
a hint, you know, but it works all
right. 1t works like"
What are you going to do; what
can you dO?"
shoot Tausig or myself. or both
of u.s."
Nonsense
Yes. of course it's nonsense, or
rather it's only what I'd like to
do. But that's not the ques-
ton. Never mind about me. It's
what are you going to do?"
He looked straight at me. waiting
But 1 didn't answer. 1 was thinking.
You don't realize. Nance. what
those fellows are capable of. When
Gaffney told me. before he gave up
and went West, that here was a gem
uine signed conspiracy among then TO
crush out us independents 1 laughed
at him. It's dream. Gafney, / said.
Forget it, It's no dream, as you'll
find out when your turn come i'm time
he shouted It's a fact, and what's
more. Iringer once taxed Tausig
to his face with it; told him
he knew there was such dOcu-
ment in existence. signed by the
great Tausig himself, by Heffelhnger
OF the Pacific circuit: by Dixon of chi
cago, and Weinstock of New Orleans.
binding themselves to force US fellows
to the wall, and specifying the per cent
of profit each one Of 'em should get on
any increase Of business; to blacklist