Evening star., 1909-02-28
By S. E. Kiser
Drawing by lrma Deremeaux
CHAPTER TX.

hillsides Miss TrelaW ney and | were
walking together a little in the rear of
the wizard and | was letting her know
as plainly as could by my looks that
l had gradually learned to care for her
more and more, when the head of our
combination turned suddenly and said:
Angel Willie and his Monte Cristo
Company are here!''
There was billboard with the an
nouncenent on it, just ahead of u.s. and
the Doc thought it would be
wellto hunt up our professional
co-laborers. Wefoundt the COM
pany at hotel on side street
]: 1: !: s i: !: : ]: ( /
Willie, the manager, was weep I'M .
ing. He had just paid out the W.
last dollar that his grand ~
mother had willed to him, and
Miss MAXWELL the star, had -
gone away with Fogarty, the q {
leading man ~N
Besides being in love with III
Miss Maxwell, Willie was a \NCM1
good many miles from home, WNM
and cornered by Richards, his wE
property man Richards was MN
not inclined to be gentle with NJ
h.s employer He had not seen ~
the ghost for some five weeks,
nd made no effort to hide his
mpatience When we arrived,
'Ir. Richards, who had for
nerly been a teamster in Chicago, was
giving Angel Willie list of the disagree
able things that were to be done to him
if he didn't settle Immediately Miss Fen
ninore, the ingenue, was weeping softly
and making side remarks about the way
her mama would be shocked if she could
know of her child's plight at that moment.
1t seemed to relieve Willie some to see
us, and Miss Fennimore rushed at me with
SO much enthusiasm that Clytie looked
panied The Doc got Richards to calm
down little, and then we talked the mat
ter over
MY friends" said the wizard, let us
A'A consider the situation Let us turn
upon it the searchlight of reason We are
where we are and it is evident that some
thing must be done if we are ever to be
elsewhere AS the poet has said so beauti-
fully:
The things that are would not be SO
If they were otherwise;
The world, if it were not below,
Might be above the skies,
And nothing meath the armament
Would ever go unless it went.
1t seems to me that we still have a
chance to make things CO.
Thank you" said Angel Willie, grasp
ing the Docs hand and shaking it,
thank you for these words of cheer; but
what can we do"
You have arranged to produce in this
brisk and beautiful little city that sterling
drama, Monte Cristo, have you not?"
Yes; but we can't fill the engagement
The two principal members of our COM
pany have deserted us
AS he spoke Willie began to weep again
but the Doc clapped him on the back,
saying:
Tears, idle tears. My boy, take to
heart this lesson:
They lose who sit disconsolate;
But splendidly he wins
Who boldly faces frowning fate
And kicks her the shins.
Let us see what we can do by COM
bining forces. You are billed to play here
this evening. Have you had no under
study for Miss MAXWELL"
| can play Mercedes" Miss Fennimore
said to her manager with much enthusi-
asm. IF you'll give me a chance, I'll
play the part in way that will make you
quit wondering why the people didn't go
wild over the Maxwell woman" i"
Good replied the Doc My daugh-
ter, Miss Clytemnestra Trelawney, will
take the part you have been playing I'm
der the hvDnotic smell which | will mt