The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-11-17

sadly in need of a shave, and there was
. a haggard look about his eyes which
bespoke hard lines of fate. A hair cut
would nave altered his appearance
greatly, and would have done him no
material harm. His long, fur-caped
and fur-cuffed overcoat was faded and
t%hreadbare, and was kept closely but
toned, for the reason, it may be sup
posed, hat his under coat was still less
prepossessing to the eye. His shoes
which once had been patent leather
We're cracked and scanned. but polished.
His hat was no quite new-in fact
there was a bare dent in the back
ground which, carefully as the nap had
been brushed, could not be concealed,
but the rim was soiled and bent.
But notwithstanding Mr.. Treadwell's
seedy appearance, n the fact that
he was almost Il counterpart of la
another stranded actor who has
haunted the Rialto in years past, there
was something about him which inn
pressed n favorably and held the at
tention.
Treadwei came into my office one
afternoon. looking more seedy than
usual. but graver, more austere, and
more majestic.
II have just been insulted." he said
in suppressed tragic tones, as he sat
down in the easy chair by the fire.
NC trouble, l hope.' l said, by way
of encouraging him to continue In ex-
PLANTATION
Well, no; though 1 should have pre-
ferred to ave struck the dog down. 1t
was Conrad the manager of the Metro
pol1tan theater. where g crowd of gig
Cling fools are muse nightly. You
cannot imagine what the the d%espicable
s%coundrel said to me. 'Treadwen,' he
said, i'm that ~patronizing way of his,
you don't seem to be playing in much
luck of late. Hang it man. slapping
me on the back with disgusting
familiarity, haven't you ound out that
tragedy is dead and buried? Heaven
help you sir! The people don't want
1t and they won't have it. You would
starve ten times Yer While you were
convincing them that you We're a sec
ond Irving. The rattle headed public
wants screaming farce-that's what it
wants. That's h it's willing to shell
out it's silver sheckels for, and that's
what we must give if we want to make
the best OF the situation. Now, IN tell
you what III do-Ill give you ten
pounds a week to join my Willy Wally'
company at the Metropolitan, and app
pear just as you are without one bit
of makeup. Your duty will be to go
on and act your natural self. Why,
man, as. the busted tragedian you
would hav the whole town holding it's
sides. You don't appreciate what a
frightful guy you are. You mustn't
even get a shave you know. l want
you just as you are. You don't say no?
There's a good thing in it for you, old
man, and it's the only sensible thing
to do"
What did YOU say" asked,
Say" Numbered Treadwell, with a
magnificent gesture. II told him to go
and boil himself! 1 was angered as 1
never was before. Burlesque myself,
eh? l wanted to crush him to he
earth! I may starve, sir, yes %starve.'
I said blu l will not pollute myself
and desecrate my noble art, by ac-
ceptings such a diabolical proposition as
this of yours. You are Il craven insult
er, sir!' And with that 1 turned on my
heel and left him.
The offer was Very ill-aavised," 1
commented, but perhaps he meant
well. You can afford to be charitable,
Mr.. Treadwen."
Il soothed his ruffled feelings as best
/ could, and presently he asked me to
accompany him up the street to Chal-
mer's theater, where there WAS TO be a
benefit performance that afternoon.
Some very good talent-worth see
ing" he added sententiously.
II have always been more or less a
Bohemian, and the idea of walking up
the Strand in company with Gilbert
.Treadwell had M embarrassment for
me. Furthermore, I understood my OBJ
LEGATIONS, and we pushed in the we'll
known yellow doors and then pushed
them out again before we turned into
the foyer of the playhouse.
WHO is the beneiciary?' / asked
when we had gained our seats.
zone of the noblest little IN that
ever liyed,' he answered warmly. IRA
mona Darling. You know of her, of
course. She was rarely talented, but
sickness and. desertion by the man
whom she loved have reduced her to
absolute poverty"
Yes, 1 remember Ramona Darling.
In her palmy days when She was al. the
height of her popularity. l thought her
the most chic and cunning actress on
the stage"
/ felt almost a personal gratitude to
those sympathetic artists who had vol
unteered to give their time and talents
toward the benevolent project of re-
lieving her distress.
The entertainment was made up of
a medley of songs dances and portions
of acts from plays which We're at the
time running at the different theaters in
the city, and, altogether, was clever
and interesting. But the tickle,
lthoughtless public, unfortunately, had
not shown the interest in Ramona
would, and as "a result the audience was
not only small. but was composed in a
greater part of "deadheads," like
Treadweil and myself.
Just before Inc curtain wont down on
the final scene Mr.. Chalmers, the man
ager of the theater n the organizer
of the benefit, appeared on the stage.
II am very sorry TO say" he am
,nounced, that the proceeds of this
benefit amount to a triie less than
$50. And this sum, Y fear, win be
required to pay the expenses of a flu
neral. I have just heard that Ramona
Darling is dying"
AS Treadwell and i went slowly out
of the theater 1 fancied he brushed p
tear from his eye.
If youth pay the bus fare, Felix, .
he said i'll a strained voice. we'll go
round to her house. l didn't know she
was so bad as that. : want to see her
once more before she goes"
There was humor Iii his Dathos, for,
despite himself. in all that h. did,
Treadwell Was q hu1norist.
I was quite sufficiently interested in
Ramona Darling to cordially agree
with his plan to visit her. and in a
few minutes; we f0nnd ourselves ring
ing at her door Tha place was one