The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-03-24

the easy work of floating theater to
| the more strenuous lire of the road"
but to the manager personally only one
member of the company counted, the
dainty little woman who played the
ingenue roles in the rather lurid plays
which formed the repert1ry of the
! BranScome stock company.
Being a strict discipiinarian. Brans-
come gave no outward evidence of his
love- ana none of the company with
the exception of Miss Montague, whose
real name was Blanche Blake, ever
dreamed that the hard hearted. bruSque
manager had fallen a victim to Cupid's
wileS.
As for Miss Montague the phi
losophy of life was summed up in the
quotation Men were deceiverS ever"
and she had heard that the Nancy Il. was
named after Branscome's wife Some
how she could not help being attracted
to the big hearted. oUtspoken giant.
but there ever ranked the memory of
his letter-the only love letter he had
ever written-and the side comments
of the players about his wife. They
had come almost simultaneously
Branscome soon saw that his atten-
tons We're unwelcome, and, being at
heart a gentleman. he desisted from
any further attempt to WOO her. He
had no idea of the rumor that the boat
was named after his Wife. and, being
keenly aware of his lack of polish. he
supposed that his rejection was due to
this cause.
Meanwhile Miss Montague showed
preference for the society of the lead
ing man. jim Burrows. and Branscome
passed sleepless nights wondering how
he could warn her of the actors real
character without making it appear
that jealousy was the motive Of his re-
mOnstrance.
So they drifted down the Ohio. pass
ing into the Mississippi at Cairo just as
| the days began to turn cool. Branscome
had played the route a dozen seasons
| in an old boat and knew Just how to
| time his tour They reached the lower
river just as the cotton, sugar and rice.
! DtSdl " NtlSu llic bON IL pOtllSs anu
money was plentiful.
! Branscome would gladly have dis
| charged Burrowes- to save Blanche. but
/ BurroweS had an ironclad two years
! contract without a canceling clause.
! Usually two weeks notice might be
| given on either side, and Branscome
! groaned when he remembered that it
was he, thinking only of the leading
mans popularity. who had urged and
finally had carried the omission of the
cancellation clause.
Branscome strove to win Blanche's
confidence. with the result that she cul-
tivated Burrowes all the more assidu-
ously.
They were about thirty miles below
, Vicksburg, and Branscome had about
decided to let Burrowes go. no matter
what the consequences. when fate solv'
ed the problem for him. 1t was their
custom to tie up at town for several
days, avoiding the cities where there
were permanent theaters. The compa
ny could then play to a profit three OF
four nights.
At this particular landing a profes
sional gambler had been driving {
brisk business. and. with well lined
pockets, sought to attract Miss Monta
CUES attention when she made LITTLE
trips to the postoffice and general store
Her disdain had been noted by th'
townspeople and, with the memory o
their poker losses still fresh. they wer
disposed to twit him upon his lack Of
success.
Stung by their taunts, he bet heavil!
that the little actress would give hin
a kiss before the boat dropped dow
the river, and by the last night of thu
engagement he stood to lose severa
hundred dollars more than he had tax
en- from the local gamesters.
Desperate at his lack of success, h.
began drinking and arrived at the boa
just sober enough to pass the door
During the first act the fumes of tn
liquor mounted to his head, and whel
In the second act Blanche Montagu
o.,4 -. r.I,n,,4 s,Irfw4s -, 10 hor i,,,i