The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-07-12
A WOMAN WITH A WILL.

The Way Jesaie DartIett Davis Once
Corrected Hcr snlnry.
Jessie Bartlett Davis was n woman
of indomitable will and with a stock
of self confidence born OF n healthy
outdoor life. When not engaged in
theatrical life her entire tim vas de-
voted TO outdoor pursuits. On her
ranch In California shc tau led and rode
bronclios, hcrded cattle ana sheep and
attended to her chickens with equal
facility. This combined TO make her
n good business woman and With the
muscular activity to back 1t.
Mrs. Davis was one engaged to sing
in II vaudeville company in New York
city. The manager OF the theater was
famous for his negligence in meeting
demands of performers whom he had
engaged, and, In fact, there were ugly
rulnors about checks bearing his sig
natur being returned from the bank
with the ominous words mo funds"
written across their faces.
At the conclusion OF her weeks eli
gagcment Mrs. Davis received "A check
for her salary. That was Saturday
night, and 1T was an open secret to ev-
cryl,Ody that she had engaged passage
on n steamship leaving the following
Wednesday for Europe, where she had
planned to take Il long rest. The pro
prietor or the Broadway hotel where
she WAS stopping obligingly cashed the
check. IL was returned 70 him Tues
day afternoon as worthless.
Mrs. Davis took back the rcpudiatHt
papcr and smiled grimly. II will make
it all right this evening" she said.
Armed with u stout cane she Went to
the managers oGlco that evening. the
stick serving AZ excuse for II limp due
to a "siiyiht sprain," she announced.
The manager received her with evident
embarrassment and listened to the
story of the check told quietly and in
moderate language.
1T WAS II mistake Oh thc part OF his
boohkccpcr.' he explained. The stupid
follow should have known that the
managers Hrcount In that particular
bank had been closed out long ago.
But if Mrs. Davis would walt Il few
minutes he would give her a check on
another bank which would he honorci
without fail.
But Mira. Davis was not accepting
checks. She was TO leave for London
the next morning and nothing but the
hard, cold cash would satisfy her. The
| was obdurnte and Mrs. Davis
politely insittent. 1h"n II developed
into IL wordy war, and Mrs. DaviE
arose with the cane In hand. Handling
1t like n foil, she passed the fcrrulc
lightly through the glass door of the
managers office. Another pass and
the fcrrulc broke one of the window
| panes. The clatter OF glass brought Il
half dozen employees to the spot. The
manager danced around as IL on n hot
stove and begged her to deslst. The
! scandal, he said, would ruin him. BY
way of reply Mrs. Davis puncturcd an
other window.
One OF the employees, who was a
relative OF the manager, rushed for.
ward to disarm hcr. The canc circlcd
In the mir, md the man rctrcntcd nurs-
Ing n big welt across the back of his
head.
The audience was Just entering the
thoater and the crashing OF glass
caused many to stop and conjecture the
cause. Mrs. Davis, smiling with the
utmost good nature, moved to the othcr
side of the Office and gnzcd critically at
the glass Of n large picture-tlre mana
gers favoritc possession.
stop he almost shouted. you
shall have your money" a messenger
! was dispatched to the box Office with
an order. lie returned In Il few min
utcs with n huge roll OF bills, which
Mrs. Davis carefully counted and stow
cd away. Then, bidding the manager
n smiling good night, she swept out of
tho Office and to her hotel, where the
bad check was redeemed and added to
her collection Of souvenirs Of her cx-
pericnccs OH the stage. New York
Press.