The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-09

announced that it was a corker. In
tWenty-one minutes he announced
that 1T would create the sensation OF
the season. A minute later he said
that he must have it at any price
You had condemned the play. You
nad torn 1t to tatters. and yet here
was a manager of thirty years ex-
perience who said that it was a play
to make me rich and famous You
can thus see what your criticisms
amounted to %
And what are you going to do?'
asked Mrs. Bowser
What any man with brains would do
under the circumstances The play is
going out on the road this fall. We
shall give the order for the scenery ami
the Autographs tomorrow. He is going
to try and engage Lillian Russell for
the star part. She has to be chucked
into the empty prune barrel in the third
| act, but he says she won't mind the
| chucking If she's getting 5000 per. He
VIII be here within an hour to talk over
| final details. and if you have anything
to say you can say it now"
! Then I want to say that the man
ager is probably making fool of you. ="
| 'W-h-a-t!" exclaimed Mr.. Bowser,
! jumping from his chair.
THAT manager has taken you for
soft mark
Mrs. Bowser, do you realize what
you are saying? Have you the least
idea who you are talking to?"
II don't want to hurt your feelings,
but 1 must say again that it was a
poor play. In fact, it was no play at all.
You might try for million years and
not find any reputable manager to read
more than page of the manuscript.
Now, then, for heavens sake, don't let
somebody make a fool of you. He
simply wants to get some money out of
you. He's coming here this evening to
ask you to back the play. If you do
you will lose every dollar you put into
it,"
"And this to me-to mep' gasped Mr..
Bowser as he stared at her and winked
his eyes. You are my wife. and yet
you talk that way to me. It's not
good play! The manager takes me for
a fool. He wants to do me up!''
There was an awful silence lasting
for minute. Just how Mr.. Bowser
would have broken loose, and just what
damage he would have done: Will never
be known. He was drawing long
breath and getting ready for a move
when the doorbell rang and he passed
down the hall to admit the manager.
Ten seconds later he had clapped on his
hat and taken the managers arm and
they were walking up the street to-
gether.
Mr.. Bowser suggested that they sit
down on the steps of the church and
talk it over.
The manager suggested that they go
to a saloon and talk while slipping their
beer.
They went to a saloon.
The manager ordered beer, and the
bartender collected the dime of Mr..
Bowser as a matter of course. One |
two-three beers. One-two - three
dimes. Then the manager said:
IT'S a corker. It's a daisy. It's a
play that is going to knock 'em all silly.
1t will draw the people by the million. |
Two more beers, please. Yes, Bowser,
we have got gold mine. 1 can't I'M
derstand how you got the idea"
"Oh, it just came to me-" was the
modest reply.
well, it will be worth a cool million !
to you. Amt you thirsty again? Yes, |
sir, a cool million. We can't get Lillian
for the part. She says she can't bear
no trouble in finding a hundred others |
to take the part. All! two more beers. |
All you have to do is to put a thousand
dollars into the play and its
But don't propose to put any thou |
sand dollars into it," replied Mr.. Bow |
ser.
You don't? Let's have some more
beer, bartender. Why, if you can't put !
in at least a thousand dollars how do |
you expect to get the pla out? I've |
shown my confidence, and now it's for |
you to show yours. Say
Mr.. Bowser rose up and walked out |
and went home. Mrs. Bowser looked up |
as he entered the sitting |
room, but he sat down and took up the
evening paper, and it was fully ten min
utes before he observed that all the
weather signs pointed to hard winter.
1907, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate).