The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-09-03

Sy dSSoI Culcl1I VI grease p0lulS AuJ
spread out upon Joseph's coat OF
chamois skin.
but look here, W." persisted Black
lie. genuinely panic stricken; 'you don't
know what you're running me up
against. ] can't
"Take off your coat and vest and col
lar and tie and shirt, and rub that cold
cream all over your face" she ordered.
| ''I'll be back as soon as I've seen
whether Melissa Tripp is having fits
or only the ague."
"Just one moment" commanded
Blackie. holding up a compelling hand.
Are you on the dead level about
this?''
"Why. certainly am! You're exact
| ~ Delancy's size. You know all the
lines, business and cues, and you know
the words and music of every song.
| You play the Grand Lama tonight"
but sing like pig under barbed
wire fence still objected Blackie,
who. however. had already removed
his coat and vest and was now tug
ging at his collar.
| Violet disdained to answer that fool
| iSh objection and started out the door,
but Blackie recalled her.
"You VIM" he gave in, "but want
case of 100 proof rye up here in five
| minutes"
Violet turned and contemplated him
thoughtfully. II believe that is no.
BILE little idea" she agreed. ''I'll send
for it right away, but you must let me
feed it to you. There's nobody in this
world. not even you yourself. can tell
as good as l can when you've got just
the right edge on"
Somebody repeated Blackie's first
cue to him three times little later on
and pushed him on the stage. He ut
tered the we'll remembered first line in
a dazed air to no one in particular, and
out in front everybody laughed. AS
one in dream Blackie went through
the part Of the Grand Lama in pre-
cisely the manner in which for a.
month he had been urging Delaney to
play it. When the curtain rang down
on the first act Miss Devoe hated him
for life. for the recalls were all for
him. Violet Bonnie threw her arms
around him with gurgles Of joy.
"This is the proudest minute of my
life! she exclaimed.
"Give HE goblet of rye begged
Blackie huskily. .......
Clear! yelled the stage manager
to the pro tenn star comedian and his
wife.
Get out of the road. you!" snapped
a grip man as he slammed past them
with set of marble steps on his
shoulder.
The next Blackie remembered was
having his costume torn off him in
the dressing room and another one
thrust upon him.
You'd better step out and tell them
that Delancy's sick and that an UNDER
study was put ON at a moments no
tice." he suggested in his only lucid in
terval
Somebody laughed at that. 1t sound
ed like his wife. Then he was on the
stage again and great peals of laughter
were rolling up to him and over him
from out that vast yawnng pit Of dim
human mistiness 1t followed him
wherever it went 1t annoyed him
whenever he spoke, because he was
never allowed to finish what he had to
say. but there was something in it
that he seemed to like too. 1t seemed
to liven him up and make him more
active.
1t was so all through the play. Be
fore the evening was half over the ex-
perienccl Violet Bonnie went around
shaking hands with everybody who
would stand still long enough. and with
herself when nobody else was handy,
for 1.-The Lama's Coat was "across!'
She was the happiest woman in the
world. and the proudest, for Blackie
had done it all. She told him as much.
over and over, until she almost made
him believe it after the last act.
WELL" he finally conceded. II never
would have done it if it hadn't been
for that souse.''
"Why, Backie, you haven't had a
drink today" and she pointed to the
still uncorked bottle upon his makeup
! table,
He looked at it. astounded, until he
finally believed that. too somebody
get me corkscrew." he directed. i've
got eight drinks coming"
The stage manager burst into the
dressing room just at Blackie. submit
. ting to cocoa butter. was taking the
second of his belated drinks and all
but embraced him.
"Your regulations made from this
minute" the stage manager exclaimed
"Thats what | was afraid of before
: started" retorted Blackie, with a
' rather sheepish grin.
you've put over the biggest hit on
7 Broadway. just got word from De-
1 lancy's wife that he can come back to-
} morrow but if he does come back it'll
2 be to carry a spear"
.aIIa,u nlau tho mart tOmnrraX niuht