Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-14
! waiting for her cue to jump to the

waiting for her cue to jump to the
center of the stage. "
Queerly enough, a hundred miles
away, Mr.. Arthur Cheeseman was UNI
dergoing financial worry. He had
money, too, but he also thought of
earthquakes. 1t came to him like a
fash to write play. 1t should be a
comedy. Just how many acts he
wouldn't determine offhand. There
should be anywhere from three to
seven. 1t should be at least $4,000
play-$10,00O and royalty. He didn't
speak to his mother or any one else
about it,, but hustled for foolscap,
took of his coat and wrote the title.
That pleased him 80 much that he
also removed his vest and wrote till
midnight without stop.
1t was an odd coincidence that the
two plays were finished at about the
same time, and that on certain day
and hour the two authors called on
well known theatrical manager in
an eastern city. They could not trust
their plays to the mail or express.
They 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
lists. Miss Gregg's play, Enclosed
in large envelope, was received with
bow and promised immediate at
tention. Mr.. Cheeseman's play was
received with another bow ten Sec
onds later and promised the same
thing. A bell was tinkled, boy APP
peared, and he was instructed to take
those plays to the secretary and re-
quest prompt decision. The secrs.
tary was girl stenographer who
chewed gum and read novels. She
took the tragedy from it's envelope,
read the title and missed one chew in
order to say init"
Then she took the comedy from the
other envelope and missed three or
four chews. The title read: 1000
Certificate" 1t was railroad stock.
Mr.. Cheeseman had figured to see
his broker as we'll as the theatrical
agent and had left the other envelope
at home. There were four certificates.
"Nit"' said the secretary for the
first envelope, and init" for the sec.
ond; and she resumed her gum-chew-
ing as she sent them back to the
"You see how it isl said the man
ager to the two waiting dramatists.
II am heartbroken, but what can l
do? My secretary announces 4,244
tragedies and 1856 comedies ahead
of yours. fear-I fear-that is, l
fear"
And he extended the envelopes with
a sorrowful smile-a smile that plain
ly said this was the saddest moment
of his life.
Miss Ida Gregg rose and bowed and
departed Mr.. Arthur Cheeseman did
the same. Miss Ida Gregg said to
herself that she would like to stab
that man to the heart with her hat
pin. Mr.. Arthur Cheeseman began
to make arrangements to burn him
at the stake. Miss Ida tucked her en-.
velope into her handbag and went
home to fling it into her desk. Mr..
Cheeseman pocketed his and went
down to see his broker. An hour
later he was bac... at the theatre,
''No,fI don't know who she isl res
piled the manager. "All I noticed
about her was that she had red hair.
If she got your envelope she will
probably return it. Dramatists are
always honest"
"But don't think my name was on
It,"
'Oh-I see. Sorry-very sorry. |
think you will have to go looking
after red-headed girl"
An interval of three weeks elapsed
and Mr.. Cheeseman had spent every
waking minute of those weeks look
ing for red-headed girl and tearing
up the comedy left at home. For OBJ
vious reasons his language is not here
reproduced. Then one day. he found
himself at the depot In Tarrytown.
He overheard two girls who were
waiting for train and gossiping.
$50 she wrote play?" queried one.
IT suppose she called it a play"
sneered tie other.
is it going on the road?"
"Not much and am just glad of
it. When wrote some poetry she
made fun of it,"
Mr.. Cheeseman's heart pounded on
his ribs. Here was a clew. Some
where in Tarrytown was girl who
had written play and failed to have
It accepted. He started forward to
ask if she was red-headed. but the
two gossips gave him stern looks and
he retreated. He retreated, but he
was not discouraged He walked
straight down to the office of the
Tarrytown Herald-Advertiser-R Record
and asked of the editor:
do you know of young lady in
Tarrytown who is literary?'
"Why, yes" was the reply, after
awhile. 81 believe Miss Gregg has a
leaning that way"
els she red headed?"
Cant say, as never saw her. You
can call at her mothers house and
see."
Mr. Cheeseman was naturally a.
brave man. He was one of the brand
that faces spouting battery of six
guns and thinks nothing Of it: If he
hadn't been he would never have
called at Miss Gregg's and asked of
Miss Ida, who received him:
"I-I want to ask of you if there is
a red-headed girl here who is liter
ary?"
Sir" demanded the bfown-haired
Ida.
''Red-headed, you know, and she