The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-12
THE EVENING STORY
Her Tragedy-His Comedy.
(By Donald Allen.)

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about financial matters. Her widow
ed mother was fairly well off, and
Miss Ida's aunt hal left her a COM
Portable legacy, but she read of
strikes and earthquakes and floods
and failing brokers. and she felt that
her capital ought to be doubled.
How to do it? 1t took the young
lady just fourteen minutes to decide,
and in sixteen she was laying out the
plot. She would write a play. 1t
should be tragedy. There would be
hVe acts. She would sell it for S10,-
600 cash down and royalty of 10
per cent. 1t was just as easy as going
registering a letter. Miss Ida was
very calm, but at the same time very
determined, as she hunted up her
mother and announced:
Il am going to write play
Yes, dear?"
"A f1ve-act tragedy
Certainly
II shall get $4,000 for it, at least"
"Yes?',
Five minutes later the girl was on
her way to buy foolscap. bottle of
black ink, another of red, and two
penholders and pens. Before II
o'clock, noon, the stage was set, the
characters introduced, and the hero
inc was standing in the wings and
waiting for her cue to jump to the
Queerly enough a hundred miles
away, Mr.. Arthur Cheeseman was un-
dergoing financial worry. He had
money, too, but he also thought of
flash to write a play. 1t should be a
comedy. Just how many acts he
wouldn't determine offhand. There
should be anywhere from three to
seven. It would be at least a $4,000
play-s1O. 900 and royalty He didn't
N nr~ nj
about it, but hustled for foolscap; took
off his coat and wrote the title. That
pleased. him SO much that he also re-
moved his vest and wrote till mid
night without stop.
1t was an odd coincidence that the
two plays Were finished at about the
same time. and that on a certain day
and hour the two authors called on a
we'll known theatrical manager in an
eastern city. They could not trust
could not wait days and weeks and
months and years for a decision. They
could wait thirty minutes.
Every theatrical manager is pre-
pared for these thirty minute drama
fists. Miss Greggs' play, inclosed in a
large envelope, was received with a
bow and promised immediate atten-
ton. Mr.. Cheeseman's play was re-
ceived with another bow ten seconds
later and promised the same thing. A
bell avs tinkled, a boy appeared and
he was instructed to take those plays
to the secretary and request prompt
decision. The secretary was a girl
stenographer who chewed gum and
from its envelope, read the title and
missed one chew in order to say Nit
Then she took the comedy from the
other envelope and missed three or
Certificate 1t was railroad stock.
Mr.. Cheeseman had figured to see his
broker as well as the theatrical agent,
and had let the other envelope at
home. There were four certificates.
Nit" said the secretary for the
first envelope, and Nit for the sec
ond; and she resumed her gum chew
ing as she sent them back to the man
ager.
"You see how it is" said the man
ager to the two waiting dramatists. ST
am heartbroken, but what can 1 do?
My secretary announces 4,244 TRACE
dies and 1856 comedies ahead of
yours. I fear-I fear-that is,
fear
And he extended the envelopes with a
sorrowfuI smile-a smile that plainly said
this was the saddest moment of his life.
parted. Mr.. Arthur Cheeseman did the
same. Miss Ida Gregg said to herself
that she would like to stab that man to
Cheeseman began to make arrangements
to burn him at the stake Miss Ida tuck
went home to fling it into her desk. Mr..
Cheeseman pocketed his and went down
to see his broker. An hour later he was
back at the theater.
:, NO, don't knoW who she Isl, replied
was that she had red hair If she got
your envelope she will probably return it.
Dramatists are always honest"
But I don't think my name was on
"oh, I see. sorry-very sorry. I think
you will have to go looking after red
headed girl
An interval of three weeks elapsed and
minute of those weeks looking for a red
headed girl and tearing up the comedy
left at home. Fer obvious reasons his Ian
guage is not here reproduced. Then. one
day. he found himself at the depot in
Tarrytown. He overheard two girls who
were waiting for a train and gossiping.
80 she wrote a play?" queried one
81 suppose she called it a play sheer
ed the other.
rs it going on the road?''
Not much, and I am just glad of it.
Mr. Cheeseman's heart pounded on his
Tarrytown was a girl who had written
play and failed to have it accepted. He
started forward to ask If she was red
stern looks and he retreated. He retreat
ed. but he was not discouraged. He walk
ed straight down to the office of the
teIlinger and asked of the editor:
, DO you know Of a young lady in larry
! town who is literary"
why, yes, was the reply. after awhile.
81 believe Miss Gregg has leaning that
way"
Cant say, as / never saw her. You
can call at her mothers house and see
Mr.. CheeSeuan was naturally a brave
man He was one OF .ae brand that ,b fnGes
nothing of it. If he hadn't been he would