Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-10-19

TN HEAVENS NAME HE BEGAN.
from the ranch, thrust n handful of
cigars toward him and wished him
luck on his thirty mile drive back.
Hadn't you better go back to the
ranch with me?" the puncher suggest
ed
NO" said Overton ana added sar-
donically: Think I'll do the town to-
night There's a hotel here, isn't
there"
. The others grin broadened.
There's a place that goes by that
name" said he. Hop in. I'll drive
you back there"
Overton picked up one of the suit
cases and climbed into the wagon.
They bumped along the street and
pulled up before n rambling wooden
building In front of which a sign,
which the weather had rendered illegi-
BILE, creaked in the wind.
Overton bade his driver goodby,
wished him luck once more and then
entered the hotel The office was not
inviting; neither was the proprietor,
who lounged in his shirt sleeves be-
hind the desk. Overton's heart sank.
The twenty four hours he must walt
here for the next train bade fair to
drag heavily. He wrote his name on
the smudgy register.
The proprietor adjusted his specta.
cles, looked at the signature and then
frankly scanned his guest
well" he drawIed Il amt got
much In the way of accommodations
for you. First two floors IS all took
up by a theatrical company playing
here this week. Have to put you at
the top of the house"
"All right" said Overton shortly.
The proprietor eyed the suit case
knowingly
Whats your line" he asked affably,
"cigars or patent medicinesf'
Neither" growled Oyerton, and the
proprietor Iapsed into silence.
Overton sat In the dingy Office smok-
ing moodily until supper was an
nounced. The meal was a happy dis
appointment and after 1t was finished
Overton felt decidedly better natured.
Returning to the Office he stood before
a gaudy poster which announced that
1.-The Gordon Stanley company, an all
star combination, VIII be seen at the
Sandstone Opera House the week Of
June g."
He ran his eye over the rcpertory.
"As You Like 1t" was billed for that
evening. Shakespeare In Sandstone
bade fair to be amusing. lie would
take I'm the show.
At 8 o'clock he repaired to the opera
house and bought his seat. The place
was bare and dingy, redolent too, Of
must and kerosene. Shakespeare was
evidently not to SandstOnes taste
for but few Of the seats were filed
Before the stage a piano, badly out of
tone, was being maltreated by bald
headed man with black side whlskers.
| The overture came to an end, the
curtain went up, and the all star pro-
duction of "As You Like 1t" began.
| 1t was n disappointing affair
neither good enough to be interesting
|
was simply dull colorless. Overton
leaning back in his seat, smothered
several yawns and then doZcd inter
| mittently. As well dozc here as In
the hotel office, he told himself gloom
lily.
Suddenly he sat up, wide awake
| Rosalind was on the stage, and some
thing In Rosalind's voice was very,
very familiar. He leaned forward
staring frankly. He watched Rosa
lnd's every move, he listened to every
intonation Of her voice. lie was aware
Of a tightening at his throat and a
tingling sensation in his fingers.
OF course 1t was only some one alb
eurdly like her, he told himself. and
yet, when the first act was finished,
he sought the drowsy individual who
served as usher and drew a card from
his case
Take this to Miss-er"- consult
ed his programme Miss Lee" he
said.
The usher demurrcd. Orders is not
TO let any one behind the scenes" he
declared
Ovcrton produced a dollar bill. BET
ter try" he said, smuggling it into the
ushers hand.
The man departed, but Il moment
later he returned and bcc5oncd over
ton to follow him They went to the
rear Of the building entered a low
doorway and passed down a narrow
hall with little doors opening on to it
from either side. Before one Of these
they stopped and the usher knocked
The door was opened, ana EosaIind
stood before them
Phil! Phil" she cried, and the word
was almost a sob
Dazed, embarrassed, hc entered the
dressing room and sat down on
trunk
"In heavens name he began
"Don't-pleasc don't ask me about
It," she pleaded.