Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-10-25

fitness which leave nothing undone.
The scenes in the Mscchesney home
are almost Photographic in their
fidelity. This lack of the artificial
and the theatric at first gives an i'm
preston of slowness, and one must
get into the real atmosphere before
one can fully appreciate all that the
playwright has ACCOMPLISHED.
One other remarkable feature
which makes THE Three of Us"
unique Is that It Is a western play
minus all the familiar attributes
which in the past we had come to be.
lteve were indispensable. There Is
no use made for firearms. no intro
duction of redskins for the sake of
local color. no drinking bout, no un-
ruly cowboys, and no murder. Miss
lCrothers does not see At to call into
use a background of moutain peaks
and deep ravines, for she is able 20
make YOU feel the bigness and
breadth of these people of the west
without resorting to the-employment
Iof familiar tactics. The story of the
play is as follows:
Rhy Macchesney and her two
brothers, Clem and "Sonnie" are
The Three of U.s." For some eight
years they have been residents OF q
small western mining town. During
the greater part of this time Rhy
has endeavored to be both father
and mother to the boys. Their only
Itnheritance from father was small
sum of money, a poor old house, and
an apparently worthless mining
claim. Still. with the atd Of low
able old Irish servant, Maggie, Rhy
has managed to care for the boys
and bring them up. until Glenn Is
just approaching manhood. the period
az which the play opens. Boy-like,
Glen is sort of neer-do'well. He
Is thoroughly dissatisfied with his
home and surroundings and yet Is
unwilling to make any effort to help
himself in any way.
Two men, Steve .Townley. poor
but ambitious. and Louis Berresford,
rich and INSCRIPTIONS, are In love
with Rhy. but she cares only for
Steve. He comes TO her TO tell her
that he has come across an abandon
ed claim In which he has discovered
a rich vien. II adioins a claim own
ed by Mrs. Blk. an eastern woman,
who has become disputed with her
|non-suCcess and Is anxious to sell
out and return east. Mrs. Blk gives
a dinner party in honor OF a capt
talist. Lorimer Trenholm, hoping
Through good fellowship TO receive
a favorable offer for her mine. Glen
ovcrhoars Stoves recital OF his find
and also hears that Trenholm Is go
Ing 10 make Mrs. nix an offer that
evening at the dilner. Accordingly,
the boy sells his secret to BerrLs-
fordd. and the latter goes to Mrs.
Blk and buys her claim, while she Is
ignorant OF its real value. When
the opportunity arrives for Trenholm
20 make his offei, Mrs. Blk has moth
ing 10 sell, and the capitalist, beliov-
ing he has Deem imposed upon and
been made the victim OF n trick. re-
fuses to buy the Townlet and Mac
cheney claims, as he had promised.
Berre5ford he's told Rhy that he Is
the purchaser. but he has imposed \
silence on her. Therefore. when
Steve Is accused of double-dealing
by Trenholm, Rhy alone, who could
clear him, Is silent. Steve sees that
there Is some compact between Bec-
lresford and tho girl. and he mis-
trusts Rhy's love. AZ the hour OF
midnight Rhy goes to Berresford' &
room and bog5 TO be absolved from
her promise. While there Steve
comes also. and q strong scene en-
sues. Rhy finds Clem's watchfob on
the floor and Il suddenly dawns on
her that Il is hor brother who has
been the traitor. and. 10 save the
family honor, she refuses 10 give
Steve any explanation OF her pres
lence.
She goes home, only to find Clcm
preparlng to leave home ana 20
strike out IN the world with the mon
ey he had received from Berresford.
After much persuasion and final
lappeal 10 his manhood. and for his
protection, she prevails on him TO
stay, Gnd, with the coming OF morn
ling Steve returns all Is made clear