El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-28
HatPsgs
A short story.

Corn Exchange, Pillbury. was
= usually employed as an office in
[ which the dealers in corn could settle
! their accounts Now, as these men were
I in the habit Of wearing their hats dur
I ing business hours, the authorities at
/ the corn exchange did not think it
necessary to provide a multitude of
! hatpess- Remembering. however, that
I touring theatrical companies were
| sometimes compelled to dress there
/ they had deigned TO recognize the
/ fact by having six pegs erected
1t was the shortage OF pegs which
! led to little upset in The Lures Of
London company. when they paid
/ their one night visit to the ancient
I borough Of Pillbury. For there was a
young man in the COMPANY raw be-
Quette of pegs" He did not know that,
as very small-part person. it was his
duty to dress on his luggage basket, or
on a chair. and to leave the pegs for
I the leading man, the heavy and the
comedian.
The leading man Ioathed to share a
room with other people, but the ext
gencies Of "fit-up" halls viii not allow
star dressing rooms. He therefore
came in as late as possible, TO avoid
more contact with the common herd
I than was absolutely necessary
His first action was to step right I'D
10 the wall and glare at it.
m, no pegs, as usualr' he groWled-
But 1t doesn't matter. A leading man
can dress on the floor, I suppose. Here.
who on earth has taken this peg?'
He knew quite well that the peg in
question had been annexed by little
WILSON, person with whom he could
afford to quarrel because Of his insig-
nificance.
'Tt's-it's mine. Mr.. Charteris.v STAN
mered for the youth nervOusly-
"Oh- ii is, is it,"
actor thrust away the clothes from the
peg, and they fell to the dusty floor
Wilson flushed. and was about to speak
but could not find words. Somehow his
mouth was parched, his tongue seemed
to be paralyzed- 1t was all so new and
strange to him-this theatrical bust
ness-that the boy was completely de-
mOralized and whatever pluck he
possessed had eyaporated.
Here, buck up, old chap" said the
heavy kindly, as he stopped and
helped the trembling youth to pick up
the garments, and Just. you snove
your props back on that peg. You're
entitled to one peg, at any rate, and III
see that you have itl'
Charters pricked up his ears. He had
had several Whistles and sOdas on his
way to the hail. and was spelling for
"dust-up," as he phrased it
yvit %h 26 the S1 blaz s,6 has it got to DO
asked. with an OminOus frOWn-
Never you mind"
But I do mind-see? mind very
Well. it's like this. I'm not going
to see this boy bullied by you or any
body else. He's new to the business
and life in these beastly fit-ups is quite
pad enough Tor fellow without you
making II worse Hang it all. man,
we were all beginners once Give the
boy a chancei"
go and hang YOURSELF"
Ignoring the amiable suggestion.
Stanley turned to the beginner and
said firmly:
shove back your props on that peg.
Little Wilson hesitafed. but the other
members Of the company had paused in
their makeup to look on He did not
like to show the white feather before
them all. and he therefore began to
replace the clothes. Charters swayed
towards him.
Wilson continued the process. With
a muttered exclamation Charters
stretched forth his hand to seize the
props. when Stanley interviewed He
caught the other man by the shoulder
ana swung him away The fist OF
.Charteris shot forth. but Stanley lodged
the blow and retaliated with another.
flour.
tied for the remainder of the tour
Very sOrry. Mr.. stanley. but there
IS nothing going today. You might
Dick Stanley crept down the ding
staircase that led to the agents rooms,
feeling very sick Seven years had
tour. but he had made little progress in
a profession where talent and hard
work count for little compared with
luck and influence. Moreover, he had
heen unfortunate in other directions
A serious illness had swallowed his
small savings, and there was wife to
consider as well
A year went by and Stanley could
find no employment. Finally he became
resOlute
He brushed his coat and hat. made
hlmSen as respectable as his shabby
elothlng would allow, and then with a
hurried kiss. set off for the big the
alter in Charing Cross Road.
Stanley was about to enter the build
lnng when big automobile dashed up
70 the door. and a tan young man m
a motor coat altghted- He caught sight
OF Stanley and looked at him keenly.
Little wilson, Stanley uttered in
amazed ejaculation
yes. but Wilson no longer Ny IN
Gle left me a pot of money soon after
that awful tour Withathe Lures OF
London" company. and took the old
boys name dare say you've heard it
Frank FOtheringham-"
Stanley gasDed- FOtheringham was
the lessee and manager OF the Edo
radO-a famous manager and a famous |
actor as well.
Fotheringham opened a drawer. took /
out bulky brown paper covered book, |
and placed IL in the other mans hand. |
There's your part old chap" he /
said Il was looking for a good heavy
man. and I've got him. It's $50 a week. /
my boy. and half salary for matinees; /
will that suit?
"Why-why have YOU done this for
me?" Stanley asked huskily.
For answer Fotheringham pointed to (
the wall
Pegs" he said quietly I.
Sanley gasped-
"JOvei' he murmured- 7 had Tor
gotten"
stores were advertising pork chops,
delivered and charged, at 16 cents a
pound.