The San Francisco call., 1909-02-16
BELASCO WITNESSES
/. IMPROMPTU DRAMA
Villain, Unaided by SpOtlights,
Proves Faithless to
His Trust
Playwright Sees Clerk GO to
Draw Money, but Doesn't :
See Him Come Back

Realism. unaided by spOtlights, per-
feet in it's conception and eminently
touching in it's portrayal. was accorded
David Belasco. the theatrical magnate.
last Saturday afternoon when he saw
his relative. E. Friedlander. a wholesale
shirt and garment manufacturer. embez-
zled out of $500. the villain in the trag-
edy being Walter H. Van, stock clerk.
who proved faitnless to his trust.
The atmosphere of the performance
was the harsh, crude one of payday.
when Belasco wandered into the estab-
lishment at Cough and Geary streets to
greet his relative. The Office boy jingled
imaginary silver in his tight trousers
pockets and wandered in a dreamy par
adise of ice cream and bananas; the
stenographer anticipated the purchase
Of an almost lace affair. destined to
make her young man come to time; the
book keeper only smiled when raw
clerk tried to soar to the heights OF
frenzied fnaneiering by subtracting Sc
from IS account and figuring it up IS
ahead of the game. 1t was charming
Every one was busy. every one happy
At the crucial time Friedlander looked
around for the messenger who weekly
Travelled 10 the bank to cash the check
for the payroll. All The messenger
was absent. He looked at the book
keeper. The book keeper was busy.
Then he looked at Van.
SENT WITH A CHECK
"Oh. you, Walter" said he. run in
hurry to the bank and get this cashed.''
Walter grabbed the check and made
exit right, but without saying farewell
The play went on. Belasco beamed.
Friedlander beamed-every one beamed.
Time was flying. So was Walter; but
nobody knew of this impromptu busi-
ness. not even the audience. The scene
began 20 change. The Office boy ap-
peared worried and impaired his fears q.
to the stenographer, who turned pale
and in turn flung the doubt to the book
keeper. Walter had not returned Why
had he not returned? Hal 1t was
problem play. Followed then a rush to
the telephone. a conversation with the
bank and then-dismay.
What shall we do?" asked Fried
lander
Catch him." said Belasco- Whereupon
Friedlander crossed to right upper and
tearing at the telephone told the police.
What orders did you give the man.
asked Belasco-
Il told him to run to the bank and
get the check cashed-"
AND Is STILL RUNNING
We'll. he ran. didn't he?"
Yes, yes"
And he got the check cashed. didn't
hep"
Yes: oh. yes"
'.And-and-'
And what? Speak quickly. man. Do
not delay an instant"
"And-he's probably running yet"
The prophetic nature of the famous
magnate had asserted itself correctly
again. Walter II. Van IS still running
and. as far as the police and Friedland-
er know, he is running to this hour. He
left the stage. never TO return.
Van is "a years of age. but up to his
performance at last Saturdays matinee
did not display any histrionic ability
This was his first opportunity to play
before David Belasco. F-iedlander's
opinion about the production was that
whatever it's merits from an artistic
standpoint it was financially failure.
the probabilities being that the house
will lose $500 on the single perform
ance.