The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-24
] TROUPING WITH FATE.
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press
BY FRANK l.. Ot;DEN.

copyright, 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press.)
Airing almost forgot his lines. He
stared. fascinated. at the girl in the
box. What il she should recognize
| him2
Your cue growlcd the loud voice
OF the prompter in the wings. Don't
get stage fright, you foo"
Thus cautioned, Fred Airing. as
| Morton Murdoch. poor but honest
| from his reluctant lips and strove to
think OF the work in hand.
| This was ArIing's home town.
| Six months ago the ambitious youth
had given up position as assistant
teller in the Clemtown bank to go to
New York and avail himself of an
offer of similar situation made some
months before by a friend of the
| family who was the president Of a
metropolitan banking institution
Arriving in. Ns9 york=-hts- first
trip to the, city. he found his would be
benefaotor gone to Europe and the
other officials a set of human icicles
with little interest in him, and abso-
lutely no intention Of believing him
until the return of Mr.. Mink.
At home Airing had left family
high in local social circles and the
prettiest, fullest little fiancee the
gods had ever been blind enough to
| to give to mere man.
Arlings letters to the maid were
xeritahle rEys of -optirnisri---Ae s.ndi-
ously avoided mentioning. except in
vague phrases. his predicament, ex-
I planning casually that Mink we4id re-
turn shortly and then he would he
given a desk In the bank.
Meanwhile the youth, while wait
1 ing and rustling for a makeshift JOB,
was reduced financially.
| The days of Arling's misfortune
drifted into weeks The want ads
were carculiy scanned each morning
| for possible chances, but applicants
with local references were always
given the preference.
| He exchanged hard luck stories
from time to time with other DOWN
and-outs. Scintiilating In this class
was one Christweil. Ehristweli. tail,
long haired. lean-jawed and with jet
eyes sunk deep beneath shaggy brows.
was shabby Thespian of the old
school. He struck up a sharp init
macy with AIRING, and cunningiy
drew him out.
You're trouping with fate" sighed
the old hummer at the completion of
the boys teie. And you're playing
I tire circuit of rfIaHrg,=ffaeE most HTI-
likely thing in the world Is the posi-
-biiity- of your placing yourself with a
bank of the strength of that one lit
ttfe reference - frorr---er-~-tsienrtow
You had better take 1t easy until your
friend arrives
II was over at the 'Steenth National
to-day" confessed the youth. and
they teid HE that went be hefsfr
for a month or more"
The observing eyes OF the actor
summed up the points of the tall,
well-built Airing; his clean. keen face.
his black, curly hair, his gift of clear
emu notation.
III you care TO troup bit, / have
a friend whom / think would place
YOU. His company is just organizing
now" Airing started. But I am no
actor ne answered. II never was
on the stage In my life"
so much the better. Canton, the
| manager I have In mind. really pre-
fers to do his own educating
BEFORE the dialogue ended, Ii was
arranged that Airing was to accom-
pany ChristwelI the next morning and
apply for the vacancy
To the surprise of the youth, he
was promptly accepted and told 10
/ report for rehearsal on the morning
following. The old actor WAS also one
Of the elect, and he volunteered to
keep an eye out for the youth and
coach him in every way possible.
Airing made progress. Remember
ing his lofty ambitions when he out