Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-04-01

Nhat are you dolngT how olu ShuA
fes getting on? Has Miss Goosebe''-y
eyes got a husband YETI"
These questions were very cmbarrass
ing, and | should have been greatly rNs
to for an answer, but Martha came to
my assistance.
WELL look here, Mr.. Fitzwalton."
she said with sign to me; Master
Silas has got some very particular bust
ness on hand just now that obliges him
to be cautious, so | know you'll excuse
him answering your questions for day
or two"
"Oh. | don't want to pry into any
body's secrets retorted Josiah, with
something of pique in his tone.
There was an awkward silence for
some minutes, during which l discussed
my breakfast, with the embarrassing
sensation that the Professor" as l af-
forwards heard he liked to be called,
was sharply scrutinizing me.
1t was impossible for Josiah to keep
silent for any length of time. or TO re-
frain from talking about himself. So,
in spite of my reticence, he soon put me
in possession of the whole of his his
tory, from the time he quilted Mr.. Por-
ter's establishment up to the time in
which | found him sitting in Mrs. Jen-
nings' parlor.
"l)o you remember that night you got
out of window, and | took YOU TO the
theater? Well, you see, | didn't care
for the printing business much. l had
Il soul above scraping rollers and rolling
ink; and, from the first night l went
into the theater | was stage struck
1t seemed such jolly, easy life; and
such II glorious thing to see ali the
plays, and act in them, AMI get rounds
of applause, and wear fine clothes, so
determined to be an actor. | had the
impudence to apply to old Tomkins. the
manager of Bury, for an engagement.
His answer was to kick me out of the
theater as a presumptuous young ape.
But, although this hurt my pride, it did
not damp my ardor. l heard of a booth
two or three miles off. One evening
l walked over to the village and offer
ed my services there. They happened
to be in want of some one to pull up the
scenes, deliver the bills and go on for
small parts. l was engaged ct once.
The printing business saw ME no more.
So instead of rolling ink, l rolled up
scenes. | was very happy for a time,
especially when l got few lines to
speak. BY and by | grew ambitious md
scared in Imagination from the first cfli-
Ger to Macduff. and even to Macbeth.
got Disguised with the mental portion Of
my work. and one fine morning. at Il
fair, deserted to an opposition show,
next door, where, in Il spangled tunic.
and a pair of russell boots. | Nscowled
ferociously at my old companions. Then
| managed to get taken on as super at
one of the big theaters. and knowing
something about the business, got pro-
NOTED to Super-master. There | met my
esteemed friend. the Professor, gem
tleman who can write b. A. after his
iame who has moved in the most dis
tinguished circles, but who, being at
present under a cloud is compelled to
play General It'll at the Royal Corin-
THAN Theater."
But what sort of characters do you
take" | inquired. referring back. in
my mind, to my solitary theatrical ex-
perience.
"Oh, l veer between the heavy busi-
ness and the light comedy" he answered
carelessly.
Yes; between carrying on the chairs
and tables and the candles" dryly re-
marked his friend speaking for the first
time.
"Oh, hang it, l say, now!' expostrilat-
ed Josiah. You know the stage man
ager is very much struck with me- and
intends giving me a small part in the
new piece. Once let me get my nose in,
and I'll show them what | can do"
You may more correctly say that
la or IL l.-,
again remarked the Professor. in the
same sarcastic vein Il thought you
had broken his nose with that banner
the other night; in his best scene. too
just as he was working up. He ex-
pressed his admiration of you in very
strong terms; it is wonder you did not
get your nose between his fingers"
Josiah was getting very angry To
avert Il quarrel, | asked who General
Util'' was.
"A person who's supposed to be able
to do everything, and consequently dc
nothing. and who's bullied for every
body else's blunders," spitefully replied
| Josiah.
After little more pickering. the two
| friends. as | suppose l must style them
went out for a walk. | felt quite re-
licved at being freed from the strange
sorutinizing glance of Mr.. Montgomery
eyes. that had scarcely ever been taken
off me the whole time he remained lit the
room. After this, Martha came, and
had a little quiet talk.
81 couldn't 90 to sleep for hours last
night thinking of what you'd better do ;
she. said. "A clerkship is what you
want; but. You see, you've got no r Ger
ences. and it is so hard to get sitna
ton without them-and, indeed, with
them, for the matter of that. | think
you ought to try and find out youi
| friends yOu know the name of the law