Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-16

ucE iOfCL udA hO ACAihCL WIN ASA ut
She feared he had accepted bis dis
missal.
The first night came, and with 1t
came Mr.. Josselyn with a carriage to
take Miss Sweetland to see his play.
Naturally he was very i'll at ease.
When one struggles for months, per-
haps years. with play and It is to be
tested before an audience he is excus-
able for being agitated.
you're all OF a tremor," said the
girl Don't worry. I'm sure 1t will
be a success"
Their seats were in one of the pro-
scenium boxes. OF course the house
was crowded-theaters are always
crowded on first nights-and there
were many of Josselyn's friends among
the audience.
The play was light comedy. ~The
audience were captured at the very
opening. The second act which is
liable to be dull, was very effective.
Just before its close Josselyn asked
Miss Sweetland to excuse him and left
the box. A few minutes later there
was a cry Of Help, helpw
Every eye in the theater was turned
to the box opposite the one in which
Miss Sweetland sat, where two men
were tussling with each other.
I'm being robbed; he's got my
watchr' cried voice.
These words had scarcely been spo-
ken when one of the two men ran from
the box.
The excited audience sat expectapt
for a few minutes, when another voice
cried:
They've got him"
Two policemen in uniform were
seen marching a man out of the the
alter.
Meanwhile the curtain had been
rung down.
The stage manager appeared from
behind wing and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, one of the
most daring robberies in the annals of
crime has been committed right here
in this very theater. Thinking that
before the villain is taken to the sta
ton you would like to have look at
him, / have requested the police to
bring him for a moment on to the
stage"
There was clapping of hands, the
curtain was rung up. and In few
minutes two policemen advanced from
the right center with a man hand
cuffed between them. The robber
wore mask and was in evening dress.
He was marched to the footlights.
"Take off his maskI' ordered the
stage manager.
A policeman removed the mask.
For one moment there was silence;
then deafening shout filed the the
alter.
Its Josselynn' cried a voice
''Who's Josselyn?'' asked a woman.
"Why, the man who wrote the play.
Of course"
Meanwhile the shouts continued.
while Mr. Josselyn stood between the
policemen, each holding him by a hand
cuff. Miss Sweetland, who was net
versed in stagecraft, not dreaming but
that her lover had really robbed a
man for her sake, was in agony. Not
only would he be sent to the peniten
tiary, but this disgrace at being march
ed on to the stage in the presence Of
an audience among whom were nearly
ROoOCCcCo
BILE and would kill any sensitive man.
Josselyn gave one look at the girl; but,
seeing that she was suffering mex
pressible torture. his face broke into
smile.
Many Of the audience were deceived,
so realistically had the scheme been
carried out. and for a moment believed
that the man before them had commit
ted the robbery in which he bad been
caught. But Josselyn's smile made IT
apparent that the crime was a part CT
the performance. There was fresh
outburst Of shouting, this time accom-
panied by a thunder OF applause.
by Jove," exclaimed one of the au-
dience, that's the best stage gag
ever saw! It's enough TO make a sue
cess of dead failure"
your fortunes made" the stage
manager whispered to Jasselyn