The Alaska citizen., 1910-12-19
RA Venture in the High C's.2
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Agnes, though defending him against his father. was still reluct- ant about the trip, but suddenly, with a curious smile. she withdrew all objections and even urged him to go ahead"
 Bobby" she said. still with that curious smile and strangely shin. ing eyes, and putting both her hands upon his shoulders. "I see lha, you must go ahead with this. I-I guess it will be good for you Somehow. l think that this is to be your last folly, that you are really learning that the world is not all polo and honor-bets. So go ahead - I'll wait here
 He could not know how much that hurt her. He was only a bit pug Hled. it not being given men of his stan D. while still young to under. stand women. He only knew. after she had talked more lightly of his trip, that he had her full and free consent, and, highly elated with his first successful business ven ture. he took up the contracts of the Neapolitan Grand Opera Com pany where SignOr Matteo. the de- camped manager and producer. had dropped them. The members of the company having attached the scen- cry and effects for back salaries sold them to Bobby for ten thou sand dollars. and he immediately found himself confronted by de mands for settlements, with the al formative of damage suits. from two cities in which the company had been booked for the two past weeks
 Had Bobby not bound himself ir- revOCably 10 contracts which made him liable for the salaries of every member of this company for the next twenty weeks. he would have withdrawn instantly at the first hint of these suits; but. now that he was in for il, he promptly com promised them at a rate which made Spratt furious.
 If I'd thought" said Spratt angri ly in the privacy of the Orpheum office. that you were sucker enough 10 get roped in for the full season, I'd have tossed you out of the running for this week This game is a bigger gamble than the Stock Exchange. The smartest producers in the business never know when they have winner or loser. More than that. while all actors are hard 10 handle. of all combinations on earth. a grand opera company is the worst. I'll bet a couple of cold bot ties that before you're a week on ;he road you'll have leaks in your iri oil nt ip stunts that are not in the book of any opera of the Neapolitan roper tore.'
 The prediction was so true that it was proved that very night. which was Friday, during the repetition of Carmen. It seemed that Biff Bates, by means of the supreme dominance of The Caravagio, had been made free of the stage, rare privilege, and one that enabled Biff to spend his time, under unusual and roman tic circumstances, very much in the company of the Celtic Signor- ina; all of which was very much to the annoyance, distress and fury of SigaOr Ricardo, especially on Carmen night At all other times the great Ricardo thought very well indeed of the Signorina Nora, only being in any degree near to unfaith- fulness when. on Aida nights, he sang to vivacious little Madam Vil- lenauve; but on Carmen nights he was devotedly, passionately, madly in love with the divine Car-r-r-r- avaggio. Else how could he sing the magnificent second act aria? Life without her on those nights would be hollow mOckery, the glance of any possible rival in her direction desecration. Why, he even had to restrain himself to keep from doing actual damage to Philippi, who, though on the shady side of forty-fve, still sang a most dashing Escamillo; nor was his jealousy less poignant because Phil ippi and Carayaggio were sworn eneI ies.
 Thus it may be understood any orc, at least, who has ever loved ecstatically and fervidly and even medically like the great Ricardo how on Monday and Wednesday nights and the Thursday matinee, all of which were Caravaggio per. formances, he resented Biff's pres ence. From dark corners he more darkly watched them chatting in frank enjoyment of each others con- pany; he made unexpected darts in front of their very eyes to greet them with alarming scowls; and be- cause he insolently brushed the shoulder of the peaceably-inclined and self-sure Bif upon divers oc- casiOns, and Biff made no sign of re- sentiment, he imagined that Biff trembled in his boots whenever he noted the approach of the redoubt- able Ricardo, with his infnitesimal but ferocious mustache. Great, then, was his wonder, to say nothing of his rage, when Biff, after all the scowls and ShoulderingS that he had receiV- ed on Thursday, actually came around for Friday nights Carmen perform ance!
 Even tefore the fierce Ricardo had gone into his dressing room he was already taking upon himself the deadly character of Don Jose, and he saw Biff Bates, gayly laughing as if no doom impended, come in at the stage door with the equally gay and care-free Caravaggio. But after Signor Ricardo had donned the cos tune and the desperateness of the brigadier Don Jose-it was then that the fury sank into his soul! And that fury boiled and seethed as, during the first and second acts, he fDuD6 in the wings SipnoriDa Car