The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31

stand combination. He spoke in low tones.
so that the manager and the "angel"
wouldn't hear him. II was evident that
he considered himself a little bit better
than the other members of the troupe
You see," he said, in a hoarse whisper,
"some of the people in this company amt
accustomed to anything but barnstormin
but I'm pretty we'll up in dramatic art.
was with Louis James and Fred Warde
one season and used to be with Robert
Mantell in repertory. Things are kind o.
hard this year, you know, and this engage
ment turned up. so just concluded to help
the company out for while. Not for long
of course for I'm not the sort to remain
any length of time with a one-night stand
show. Confidentially, you know-mum's
the word" And with an expressive wink
he turned his attention to other matters
that required his serious consideration.
The invited auditor was introduced a
few moments after to the leading man of
the company. "Glad to meet you" said
this distinguished parsonage. II suppose
you have often seen me before. Was with
The Sign of the Cross one season and
did a nice bit of character work with The
Bandit King This engagement-ah-is
hardly worthy of my ability, and l will
here he lowered his voice-"not be with the
company more than few weeks at most
Rather absurd, you think, no doubt, that
1 should be with it at all. Well, il is, I
confess. But 1 thought / would help EN-
out for a few weeks. Managers an old
friend of mine. Needn't mention what I've
told you, of course-confdential"
AT this moment a good-looking young
woman came up to speak TO the leading
man and the latter introduced her to the
lone visitor. Il hope you don't imagine. "
said the leading lady-for such she proved
to be-"that l am a regular one-night stand
actress. You may recall having witnessed
my performance in The Limited Mail,
some seasons ago. 1t was one of the best
things L ever did, although there are those
who consider my portrayal Of the school
mistress in The Danites' my finest effort.
l am merely filling in little spare time
with this company, partly because the
manager has made me offer that is
this in soto voice-"considerably above
what he is paying the other members of
the organization. or course, this is be-
tween you and me. Excuse me- please, for
the rehearsal is about TO begin. Pleas
notice that the little sentimental bit that
1 do in the second act-it is by far the best
thing in the play"
During the evening the lone auditor be-
came acquainted at various times with
every other member of the company from
the short, squatty man who enacted the
villain. down TO the pale-faced young fell
low who turned up in a different character
In every act, only TO be killed of before the
curtain fell. And, at some time or other,
every one Of these Thespians managed 10
make known. in a heart-to-heart talk. that
he or she was not in reality a one-night
stand performer. but an artist who had
scored many successes in the pasta player
with many claims upon everlasting fame.
who. either through force of circumstances.
or just by way OF doing a kind and unselfish
act. was at the present time engaged in
helping out" this little company which
had been organized 10 do Indiana towns. "
They were all so perfectly self-confident
OF their own ability-those Thespians-and