Evening star., 1909-05-16
By Sewe11 Ford
Drawings by F. Vaux Wilson

agent had the front to tell EN- their act was an
tique, and if he needed 'efn for a super turn
send word
Not that any vaudeville trust could put Morr
& Gould out of business for good. Not much.
public knew em too we'll. But the indepen
houses was some scattered, and what with
dates and long Jumps, they'd got it on the raw.
Here the other night, though things went
limit. They'd just opened for week engagen
up beyond Bridgeport, when paint store on
first floor of the Opera House was touched off anC
fore the devourin' element had quit lickin' his
jaws their costume trunk and prop box was all tC
bad So they'd counted ties and hoped the
rail clear in from Heaven only knew how far. to
their next date was an open air summer snap
wouldn't be billed until the Monday before
Fourth, meaning long wait between reg lar m'
And so.' says l, your talented cousin DROP
around to try his touch for few
g He let me slip him w. says Swiftly, tryn
best to be modest about it All cut out the fu
face business. You think that's the last I'll Sc
him, ehs'
I'm casting no horoscope says 1; but f
guess l should say that you'll see a lot more of
and Percy"
TT was like placin' bet after the ball STOP
roin. Inside of week they got to be reg
callers: and SO long they'd had the face herf
removed and had the wrinkles pressed out Of t
striped regalias, | didn't mind SO much; though
a rule, I'd just as soon not have that kind han
around the studio.
But Swiftly gives me lot more details about t
sad case and managed to work up consider BILE S
pathy. They don't call it being out of job,
you know. They're just liberty people. 1t
can't make it SO much easier, no matter how
it's tagged. Maybe you never tried to hang up
a goth st 1andady for the rent of hall room
when youd moved in with trunk and she
knew you was friskin the free layouts for your
meals9 That one item of the Morrison
Gould tragedy. But somehow they jollied her
into not putin new lock the door. and
they took turns sleepin' in the single bed.
To see 'em standin out in front of the
knickerbocker, posin' for the shop girls, though
and glancn droop eyed at the crowd, you'd
thought they was occupyin the state suite
and had just strolled out on the sidewalk to
get an idea of what common folks like
when seen close to.
THEN one day they walks into the studio
treadin heavy on their heels, and hears
that on account of some headliner havin' can
ceed her engagement they're to be given a
tryout on the Paterson-N Newark circuit, pro-
vidin they put three people sketch
to run twenty minutes and close in flat l. Mr.
Morrison has great scheme for rev1sln' their
old act; putin in some new business, and
ringin' in little lady he knows of who's all
to the orchids when it comes to being locker
And she does toe dance that never fails to
get 'em going. Costumes they can fake up, and
they'll have to get along with such props as
the management will furnish.
But how about the rehearsals:" says Per-
cey You don't expect us to work up our stuff
in Madison Square park, do yous'
Which is Mr. Morrison's cue to hit the thought
struck attitude and look hard at me- BY
Hercules Percey!" says he "A happy in
spiration! Here's the professors gymnasium
evenings, Sunday afternoons! What do you
say. McCabe?"
Well, l said it as cheerful as could, con-
siderin' the jar I'd got from his nerve display
i told em they might go ahead if they'd stick
to the hours marked out for them made it r
they free to build up any sort of act they wal
to, SO long as they didn't drop lighted cigarette
the corner of the gym or drive nails in the fl
hear about their struggles to hang onto that
by-nine skylight boudoir. l can't help feelin' S
for the pair But it wouldn't have done to let
And | expect should have got some excited
the fact that right here in my back room dram
was bein' created Maybe / would too, if | ha
happened to stay in late one evening and ha
chance to watch the proceSS