The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-11-20

Il AoiIn u1f sir ht hhht0 ttltNohiVul
~, how long Mr. Davis Is usually er
gagged at this hourg"
Cant tel; II all depends" respon'
ed Billie. Got an appointment wit
him2"
mo, no." came the dignihed an
swer Il merely dropped in TO sa
good morning and-er-to see hos
things are conducted in minor bool
ing Offices OF this-er-descripti
What's your sp0cialty?" asked Bi
lie. s'sllWVWWWTE
Speciality" The fine note OF IN
disguised horror and Reputation
brought n scarlet flush to the ques
toner's face. IL, sir. am a Shakspe
rian actor OF the old school. I en-
tered this business when one had I
be an actor born and bred, sir. an
hourly expecting a wire In reply Il
my acceptance OF a Broadway engage
ment. !, sir, played with Booth an
an actor, sirl" He rose and cast {
whitening look at the crushed Billie
and as II to complete the latter's hu
initiation, Davis Office boy entered ant
called: "Mr. Warrington Dangerfelt
here?" and the tall man with truly
Booth Shaksperian sweep Of the hand
followed him into the private office.
A silence fell on the crowd, broker
at last by a low, deep whistle from
Billie as he repeated softly, II am an
actor, sir!" The Office boy reappeared
and Billie grabbed him by the arm
saying: Say, kid, how long is Booth
the Second going to stay there?"
Jaw, not long the boy replied
Some guy phoned the boss he was
due here and to treat him right fol
old times sake-he's a real has-been
you know"
The conversation stopped abruptly
as Mr.. Dangerfeld appeared in the
doorway, and with head held high be
swung majestlcally to the door, then
as IL recollecting the presence of Bill
lie, whose aim was a tryout in the
park or moving picture house, he
again cast a plying look at him and
bowed In naughty condescension;
then the door closed behind him.
The following Thursday, Billie.
armed with his excess" Zone grip
rather the worse for wear), landed at
Weston and looked about in disgust
as the train pulled out of the station.
Gee Whit" he muttered. "T'll bet
thoy amt had show here since
Uncle Tom ten years ago. Every
mothers son has to be In bed by 0
o'clock and up at 4-and this is the
place Davis wants me 10 break my act
in. Will the natives get my gags
never! I'll bet In the Good Old Sum-
mer Time is new here. o, well, It's
only for a half a week, Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday-me for the opr'y
houEe!" and he trudged up the main
street to the shining white building
with d big sign over the door inform.
ing the unsusDecting public that NOV
ing pictures would be exhibited there
afternoons and evenings, interspersed
with vaudeville, for the small sum OF
hYe and ten cents. Billie made his
way to the stage, rehearsed his stuff"
with the plano player and then went
on to kill time until the show began.
An act was on when he returned,
and he stepped to the wlngs-then an
inoredulous cry broke from his lips,
and he grabbed the stage manager.
Who's that guy?" he asked in a loud
whisper.
Warrington" was the brief reply.
"Warrington-what?"
Nothing. just Neutrality-suspicious.
list and storyteller-one OF the old
school actors, but now he's down and
out-booked here for an entire week
by some soft.hearted agent that used
to know him, and his acts punk"
Billie wiped his forehead. Gee
4 a.. IL