Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-21
SCARED SINGER
DRUMS IN BED
WINKING FRlGHTENS FRITZ
SCHEFF
Offending Man Didn't Mean II and
Couldn't Help lt-He Was That
Way Naturally, but Singer
Didn't Know II
snecial 20 The Herald.

SpeC1al TO IHt
u ST. LOUIS, Jan. 20.-Lying In bed In
her room on the sixth floor of the Jeffer-
son hotel FRITZ Scheff frantically
pounded a silver punch bowl with
drumstick while an audience was as
sembling at the olympic to see her III
mile. Modiste" Tuesday evening. she
was I'm a state OF nervousness bordering
on hysteria, following two encounters
with n man, who, she believed, was try
ing to flirt with her.
The first that the hotel attaches knew
OF the trouble was when Miss Scheit,
closely followed by Henry M. Blossom,
ir.. creator OF Mile Modiste, and her
secretary, Miss Valentine, jumped out
of the elevator and rushed TO the desk
Greatly excited, she told Robert
Beatty, tho chief clerk, that man had
aocosted her In tho corridor near the
door OF her room.
HE weenked at me and he nod his
head ovairc hees shoudaire, so,' said
the star initiating the mans actions.
Beatty called Manager Hay, who sent
an employe upstairs TO look for tho
man. While Miss Scheff was still ges-
ticulating at the counter the man was
brought to the lobby.
THAT iss he. that iss he," said FIRTH
Take heein away l do pot want heem
arrest"
The stranger was trying to explain,
but before he could make defense he
was hustled to the street. Miss Scheff,
Mr.. Blossom and Miss Valentine re-
turned to the sixth floor.
Saw Man in Lobby
Twenty minutes later there was an
other scene. Miss Scheff came down in
the elevator. AS she stepped into the
lobby she saw the man standing there.
go way, go way" she cried, and
made a rush for him. He ran through
the door leading to Twelfth street.
Close behind Miss Scheff were Mr.. Bios
som and Miss Valentine. The stranger
ran north on Twelfth street.
Catch that man quick" said Bios
som to Policeman Pearson. The chase
continued to Washington avenue, where
Pearson overlook the man and held
him. He protested that he had done
nothing wrong.
II had message from Alfred Robyn
for Mr.. Blossom" he said. II was wait
ing in the hall to see Mr.. Blossom when
the lady came out. She screamed and
ran. 1 didn't do anything to her at all.
have an affection which causes one of
my eyes to wink and my head to twitch.
can't help that"
While he talked his affliction was
apparent to Pearson. He gave his name
and address and when he was taken
back to the hotel he had no difficulty
in convincing Manager Hay that he was
all right. A prominent merchant sum-
moned by telephone vouched for him.
Meanwhile Miss Scheff returned TO
her room alone. A few minutes after
she got there the echoes of the hotel
were awakened by a din like that of
fire department gong.
Her room was the center of the dis
turbance. A maid who was sent to see
what was the matter hurried back to
the office and reported that the star had
undressed and gone to bed and was
beating on silver punch bowl with
one of the drumsticks which she uses
in her play.
With each succeeding attack of nerv-
BUSINESS FRITZ beat the harder on the
silver bowl.
A husky bellboy and maid were sta
toned at the door of her room, with
instructions to run in and quiet her
each time she attempted to repeat the
drumstick solo.
-'or half an hour the bellboy and the
maid We're busy at frequent intervals.
AS the time for the curtain to rise on
Mile. Modiste" approached, Mr. Bios
som became visibly agitated With Miss
Valentine he went to the room and
pleaded with the singer to get up and
dress for the show
NO, no, am too nairvous. / am all,
what you call unstringed," said the
star. Tell zem L cannot appear to-
night. Tell zem annysing"
1t was nearly o'clock when she
finally consented to go to the playhouse