The Oakes times., 1907-08-22

loEs for Shakespearean plays in sum-
mer more than in the winter Thus 1t
will be $500 per week for ffty-two
weeks in the year. Is there anything
bad about that for an income?'
Does Mr.. Blank want you to put
any money in the enterprise?"
Yes, few dollars. think he
wants me to advance enough money
to pay for the printing. He will pay
me back double the amount when we
get out on the road. He has had
twenty-one companies, and all have
made money. He Is said to be worth
81, 100000"
"Then why does he want you to ad-
vance anything?"
Might Leave Him In Lureh.
"Why? Why? I don't know exact
" why, but to show that l am in
earnest, l suppose. I might engage
with him and then leave him in the
lurch."
1t was an explanation, but it didn't
satisfy the explainer. He saw smile
on Mrs. Bowser's face and began to
flush up as he said:
That's always the way with you
doing your best to find some fault. I
wish l hadn't said word until the
company was ready to start out on the
road"
II am not finding fault, Mr.. Bowser.
am simply asking for information.
There's ring at the bell. 1t is prob
ably your man Blank. Go ahead and
make your arrangements with him.
shall expect box all to myself on
the first night you play Hamlet"
Mr.. Bowser ushered his theatrical
manager into the library and carefully
closed the door, and they took seats
at the table. The said manager didn't
look to be worth $1,00O,OOO. In fact,
he didn't look to be worth much over
Is cents. His silk hat had witnessed
many ups and downs in the world, and
his tightly buttoned frock coat was
Worn and shiny and showed that it had
often stood before the free lunch coun-
ter and taken in the bean soup. His
cuffs We're frayed and his necktie
faded, and the hand that had darned
one knee Of his trousers must have
held darning needle. He had his as
surancc with him, however, and that
was the main thing.
Needed About $1,000.
ooh, this dross, this worldly dross!'
he sighed as he sat down. at should
have nothing to do With our noble pro-
fession, but unfortunately we cannot
escape it. I have been figuring this
afternoon, and find that it will take
about seven thousand to put us on the
road in good shape. OF course it will
all come back to you sooner or later.
There are ten or twelve parties who
are anxious to furnish the money, but
as none of them can play Hamlet I
have turned them down."
"Um" grunted Mr.. Bowser, who had
an idea that twenty-five or thirty dol
lars at most would be wanted.
"As for the part of Hamlet, of
course you couldn't expect to go right
on and play it at the start. You must
/ gradually work up to it. For the first
two weeks you will bring the spade
to Hamlet to dig the grave with"
"Um! Umv' 4F =
II wish we could make you foot
taller somehow. You are rather short
. and chunky to play the part"
Mr.. Bowser turned red and white.
1--WE must also get you wig to hide
your badness. Do you think you could
reduce your weight by sixty or seventy
pounds? Hamlet has no bay window
on him, you know"
"By thunder, man, what are you
talking about" shouted Mr.. Bowser
as he rose up.
Hamlet Not Bowser.
"Calm thyself, Horatio," replied Mr.
Blank in soothing tones. "Hamlet
must be Hamlet. Hamlet cannot be
Bowser."
"Hamlet be burned! Sir, you have
insulted mey'
"Tush, tush. I like thy spirit, but
the tones Of thy voice hath q clarion
sound. Sit thee down and we will talk
Of the long green. Seven thousand
"Seven thousand nothings! l don't
like your style; l don't want to deal
with you. This interview is closed"
"And you haven't offered ME glass
Of wine nor cigar. was mistaken
in you. You couldn't play Hamlet
any more than bull could play q
church organ. Good night, sir. can
find my way out. If hear Of brick.
yard for sale will put you next"
/ Mrs. Bowser was in the sitting room
As Mr.. Bowser came out he was all
a-bristle and ready for battle, but she
simply looked up and smiled and said:
"Isn't 1t rather cold night, dear, fol-
this time Of year?'
Mr.. Bowser didn't answer, but be
thought 1t was-fOr him.
M. QUAD.
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