Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
COCOA R O
THE CLOWN
Continued from page s


that means that he must create five parts.
He'll have to give Coccaro his salary for the
two nights anyhow, and | don't think we
ought to ask Coccaro to 60 back to his old part
tonight.
BESIDES, he doesn't seem to care to act
wants to be a farmer. Told me he was trying
to buy farm up Connecticut way. Funny for
performer, Ell? At that I'm not very keen
| to tell him that Danella's going on tonight"
Don't you mind, interrupted Henning; Il
think I'll see him myself"
He found Coccaro in the stars dressing
room The clown was seated at his dressing
| table, slowly making up for the principal part.
Henning sat down on a trunk in the corner
| of the room and cleared his throat.
"Mr. Coccaro," he began, it seems Danella
is coming back tonight and wants to go on"
Coccaro nodded and dropped the stick of
We thought" Henning went on. that you
would like night or two off, and so you needn't
play your regular part tonight"
IF you don't mind" said Coccaro, and it
doesn't inconvenience you too much don't
think IN ever play that part again. couldn't
very well after-after what's happened. Jumel
says and my wife can go back to the circus. i"
For some moments Henning sat silent,
swinging his short legs against the trunk. Its
little hard to explain to you, Mr.. Coccaro,
he began. u am not man of words, and
find it difficult to say just what l mean"
Coccaro smiled pleasantly Ut, at the mana
know what you want to say
Perhaps you do and perhaps you don't.
1t wasn't the money, Mr.. Coccaro. l have
great deal of that, more than can spend. But
it was my position. You saved me from ap
pearing ridiculous to my old business friends,
and your work that night turned disaster into
a great success. / would like to do something
tor you that you and your wife would remem-
Der. Have you got pen over there?"
There's one over there on that table" he
AID haV ItIr10 come 1ttn 1hc
for Danella; but don't think I'll forget that
first night Mr.. Henning. I'll remember that
all my life.''
Henning took blank check from his pocket
book, filled it out, folded it, and handed it to
Coccaro. THE receipts for the first two nights
of the piece" he said, were thirty-six hun
dred and two dollars and seventy-fve cents.
1t seems to me, by all rights, they belong to
you; and that'n go some distance. anyhow,
toward that farm of yours.
Coccaro stood up protesting and held out
his hand with the check in it.
No, don't you be foolish" said Henning
"1've got farm myself don't know how
many hundred acres; but there's one little
some of the seeds next October. l tell you it's
the greatest corn in the worldl" And Hen
ming closed the door hurriedly behind him.
few minutes later Danella came into the
dressing room. The two nodded to each other.
1t was when Coccaro had put on his clothes
and was nearly ready for the street that
Danella broke the long silence. He spoke still
looking into the mirror, and his voice sounded
curiously even and almost without meaning.
Il read in the papers that you made a
great hit in the part. There's good in my
saying anything now; it's too late But I'm
much obliged. I'm sorry you've got to go
back to that part"
Coccaro took his hat from peg. I'm not
going back to the part" he said.
Danella continued to look at the mirror and
to draw stick of grease paint mechanically
across his forehead. Not going backl"
No, and I'm not going back to the circus"
Coccaro stopped and carefully traced out one
of the patterns on the carpet with his walking
stick. No; I'm going to the farm. I've got
it at last"
Danella dropped the grease paint and with
out taking his eyes from the face in the mirror
rested his chin between the palms of his hands.
From outside there came the cry of the call
boy, Five minutesi Everybody on for the
first act!" and the noise of many hurrying feet
Coccaro crossed over to the door, and then
turned back with his hand on the knob. "Ac-
cording to the old plan, Bill, you were to have
your room always at the farm. Well, if you
ever get tired here and want to rest up Bit
you know the room is there waiting for you
always. Marietta and | wouldn't want any
one else to have it,
For moment he hesitated for word from
his old partner, but Danella did not answer
Good night" said Coccaro, and closed the
door behind him. But when he had gone a
few steps down the hallway, he came back