Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
Missing Curtain Key.

Il ffom tle hdIsdH SitJ souIAnts
Did you ever work around a theater7 DID
you ever go In search of the curtain keyT'
r. you haven't, and some one should come
to you with tears In his eyes and inform
you that 1t would be impossible to give q
performance that night without having the
key, and that It had been loaned to some
other theater, why, just give the party with
the tears In his eyes merry ha ha and
tell him to Back to the pinery." For If
you attempt to help get the loaned key
surely something viii happen to you. That
is, you will look like dray or junk wagon
after going on an expedition after the
leaned article. 1t is all q joke. and only
a person who makes himself too conspicu-
Gus around q theater Is ever the victim.
Con Hecker, who has been the treasurer
during the summer at the Auditorium The
alter, played 1t on a young man the other
day. and as result had to lock himself In
the box Office to escape an enraged boy ana
broomstick.
Up at Mr.. woodwards theater there had
been a boy hanging around who thought ne
knew the business as no one else did, ana
he became such a nuisance that MI. Hecher
on several occasions had grown wrotn 70
the extent of almost throwing the BOY out.
He remembered the old trick, and SO Wnen
the boy was in the Office he was surprised
to see Mr.. Hecker suddenly grab UP papers.
look under the safe and otherwise act In
high state Of excitement
Whats the matter?" he asked.
"Ohr groaned Hecker. II can't find the
curtain key. and If we don't find 1t, 1t Is
cinch we won't get the curtain to work.
Mr.. Hecker searched for FEW moments
longer, and the boy, although ne had never
heard of a curtain key, also joined IN the
hunt.
"By George, that's So we lent it to the
Grand people, said Hecker.
'I'll get IT, volunteered the boy.
That was all that was needed to start the
affair. Hecker went out and got small
log, which he wrapped up and gave TO the
young one.
Take this down to Jason Ratekin. he
said. This is the key that belongs to the
Grand, but don't think it will do us any
good if he can't find ours be sure and bring
this back and we will try to make IL 40.
He then wrote Jason the following note:
my Dear Jason-Here is a sucker VINO
wants curtain key. Load him up with
something and send him to the Gilii Is
Yours in haste, CON HEChEH
The hoy loaded the timber upon his shuul-
der and bending under its weight, struck
out for the Grand Opera House.
Eatekin the ticket artist, met him with
the glad hand and the information that the
Gilliss people had borrowed the key, ana
asked if the young man would carry bun
die for him to Harry Sparks. The boy
would. Jason hustled out and found about
twenty f6et or cut up leau pipe, uc
tied I'D securely in heavy covering, and
presented the boy another note, which went
like this:
"Harry-Load up on rocks or anything
handy. He is all o. K. JASON
Picking up the now heavy load that would
have called for an express wagon the boy
staggered on down Walnut street in the d.
rection of the home of the melodrama
where he arrived a very weary and per-
spring Individual. He dropped the pipe
upon the floor with a thud that fairly shook
the house, and handed the surprised Mr.
Sparks the epistle from Mr.. Ratekin Mr.
Sparks didn't have heavy thriller to dis
pose of, as How Hearts Are Broken was
needed that night to fill up the Gilliss cof-
fers. So, telling the boy to wait, he went
out and picked up what brickbats he could
find in the alley, and, taking them to the
billing room, wrapped them UP in a neat
looking package.
said Sparks. II think the other part of it
is up at the Century. Give EN- this note"
The note was addressed to Joe Donegan,
treasurer of the Century, and read:
Dear JOEL understand you have our
curtain key. Please return to boy and oblige
us all. SPARKS"
Mr.. Donegan added three stage braces
and crowbar to the collection When the
victim reached the Auditorium he was "all
in," and when the contents of the various
packages were revealed he was In fight
Ing mood.
He doesn't go near the Auditorium any
more, at any rate.