Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

Diih5 hih' 49,
stage"
There was n clapping of hands, the
curtain was rung up. and in a few
minutes two policemen advanced from
the right center with a man hand
cuffed between them. The robber
wore a mask and was in evening Dress
He WAS marched to the footlights.
Take off his mask ordered the
stage manager.
4 policeman removed the mask.
For one moment there was silences
then a deafening shout filed the the.
ater.
Its Josselynw cried n 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 hand
cuff. Miss Sweetland, who was not
versed in stagecraft, not dreaming but
that her lover had really robbed a
man for her sake. was in agony. Not
only would he he 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
all the friends he possessed was horri'
BILE and would xiii any sensitive man.
Josselyn gave one look at the girl; but
seeing that she was suffering mex
pressibe 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 had been
caught. But Josselyns smile made 1t
| apparent that the crime was part OF
| 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 l
! ever saw! It's enough to make sue
cess of dead failure"
| Your fortunes made" the stage
manager whispered to Josselyn.
"This means a 300 night rum" NUT
tered the manager, with a chuckle.
Speech cried the audience with
one voice.
The policemen released the arms of
the prisoner. and, with the bracelets
still on his wrists, he stepped forward
and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you
from the bottom of my heart for your
sympathy
"You don't need 1t; you've made q
hit!' interrupted a voice.
"This Is a hard world" continued
the playwright. For what we desire
we must make great sacrifices. have
made a guy of myself tonight for an
object near to my heart-an Object
"a hundred thousand in royalties!A
interrupted another voice.
"Shut upw cried one who wished to
hear the speech.
Meanwhile Josselyn stood looking at
the girl for whose sake he had made
a guy of himself with look Of humor-
Gus triumph In his eye. She drew a
long breath of relief, and gradually an
unwilling though radiant smile forced
itself over her features. When silence
was restored he concluded his speech
by stating that the object of his life
had been to write n successful play,
and this hearts desire had been ac.
complished. Then, thanking them for
, their appreciation. he bowed. retired
the curtain was rung down. and when
it was raised again it was upon the
:, first scene of the third act.
Josselyn had "killed two birds with
one stone" He had kept his contract
with Miss Sweetland and had insured
, the success of his play Everybody
knows that play depends upon It's
start. The first night is immensely
! important. By his robbery the author
had put his audience in good humor
for the third act. the crucial point of
! a play. The consequence was that,
while he noticed several defects in it,
which he corrected the next day. the
audience pronounced 1t perfect.
Josselyn returned TO his box. He
found Miss Swcetland sitting behind q
curtain and took seat beside her
Notwithsta 7ding the fact that all eyes
were upon him, beneath the balcony
that concealed him from his chest
downward he felt Il soft hand stealing
into his. His face broke into a charm.
ing smile, and the audience. taking II
to itself, gave three hearty cheers for
the playwright
When the curta IN went down on the
third act II there had been any doubts
I that the play would be II success they
had disappeared The next morning
the dreaded cri les all gave favorable
+ notices. and from that time for months
the box Office was crowded
t While Mr.. Josselyn and Miss Sweet
D land were riding to her home she said
to him:
. II am very sorry that should have
;. put you to SO much trouble. I'm not
e worth it,
!. "IHdeed you are. sweetheart But
instead of putting me to trouble you
e gave me brilliant idea that will In
l sure the success of my play. establish
me as q playwright and make my for
; tune"
e (Which. suppose, I shall share. II
S isn't every girl that is so well paid fol
e her folly"
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tnNRrTHinE NrW |