The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-02-24

trembling hand OF the dying heroine |
The play was finished last week.
"Rut should have thought you
would have said something about It,"
Not word. Not hint You had
said that it would he the rankest kind
Of 4 faiure-that it would be guyed of
the stage | could look for no sym
pathy and encOura cement from you. l
believed in the play. | believed that
the Mammoth cave and that can Of
tomatoes would make the hit Of the
decade, to say nothing Of the barrel Of
prunes. | believed 1t, but kept still
until could spring surprise on you"
Il see. And now you are ready to
spring one:"
Il am. Today theatrical manager
who had somehow heard of my play
called at the office and asked for the
privilege Of CHANGING over it, In just
twenty minutes by the watch he an
nOunced that it was cOrker. In
twenty one minutes he announced that
it would create the sensation Of the
season \ minute later he said that
he must have, it at any price You
| had condemned the play. You had
torn it to tatters. and yet here WAS
manager of thirty years experience
who said that it was play to make
me rich and famous. You can thus
see what your criticisms amounted
| to-"
And what are you going TO dos
asked Mrs. Bowser.
What any man with brains would
do under the circumstances The play
| is going ont Oh the road at once We
shall give the order for the scenery
and the Autographs tomorrow He is
| going to try and engage Lillian Rus
sell for the star part. She has to be
chucked into the empty prune barrel
in the third act. but he says she, wont
mind the chucking if she's getting $500
per. He will be here within an hour
to talk over final details. and if you
have anything to say you can say it
now"
''Thcn I want to say that the nan
| ager is probably making a 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-"
| Jeered at His Play.
| 81 don't want to hurt your feelings
but l must say again that it WAS q
poor play. In fact. it was no play at
all. You might try for a million years
and not find any reputable manager to
read more than n page Of the manu-
script Now. then. for heavens sake
don't let somebody make a fool of
you. He simply wantsl to get some
money out Of you. He's coming here
this evening to ask you to back the
play. II you do. you will lose every
dollar you put into it."
And this to me-tO me" gasped Mr..
Bowser as he stared at her and wink
ed his eyes. You are my wife. and
yet You talk that way to ME. It's not
a good play. The manager takes me
for fool. He wants to do me up"
There was IN awful silence lasting
for a minute. Just how Mr.. BOwser
would have broken loose and just
what damage he would have done will
never be known. He was drawing a
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 man
ayers arm. and they We're walking up
the street together.
Mr.. BOwSer suggested that they sit
down on the steps of the church and
talk ii over.
The manager suggested that they go
to saloon ard talk while slipping
their beer.
They went to Il saloon.
The manager ordered beer and the
bartender collected the dime of Mr..
two-three beers. One-twO-three
dimes, Then the manager said:
ITS co.ker It's Il daisy, It's a
play that is going to knock EN- all
silly. 1t will draw the people by thr
million. Two more beers please. Yes.
Bowser we have got Il gold mine. |
can't understand how YOU got the
idea"
''Oh. it Just came to me-" was the
modest reply.
TO you. Amt you thirsty again? Yes,