The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-10
throwing himself into . chair. look.

throwing himself into . chair, look.
ing bored.
Now, Ned had never before wit
messed one of the specislties of the
gifted Joel. He had heard him sing
in the choir and spout election times.
but this was q star rendition.
Joel had some voice-in fact. too
much of 1t. The Gladiator" he rep
resented made Ned smile. He must
have been born with q cold. The
funny part of 1t, however, was the
most excruciatingly funny spectacle
Ned had ever come across. Even the
agent was stimulated. He sat up, his
face aglow with amusement. Ned hid
behind . screen and held his sides to
keep from yelling outright.
Il was the gestures Of Joel that
were appailingly ridiculous. In the
far east q glow" and he flung his
hand to the south. up among those
holy stars" and his finger pointed
through to China. 4 am rock-root-
Cd" and he stood limp and awkward.
MY tender, gentle love-" and he
scowled and struck the attitude of .
prize fighter. His arms continually
swung about like windmills, he Elided
where he should have fingered, hs
WINGED. he grimaced, he went bounc-
ing about like a jumping jack.
"There!" he shouted, breathlessly
triumphant at the last. what do you
think of that?"
MY friend" said the agent, arising,
suppressing q smile. your forte is pan.
tomime. You are wonder as facial
contortionist Show in the next client, y
he ordered to his office boy. Good
day, SIR"
Joel Randall was scandalized. He
fumed, he raved to his companion.
why, the arrogant nonentity!" he
stormed. Does he take me for q
Humpty Dumpty clown? He's jealous
of my voice. Ned, you're q friend?'
DO you doubt it. Joel?"
j mo. and hope you will do some
thing for me-"
And what's that, Ned?"
Il want you to find me an unpreju
diced audience. All strangers, and un
prejudiced. Let me come upon them
Unexpectedly. Their verdict shall de
eide and establish or doom my loren
sic ability"
'Ah, my chance!" chuckled Ned
Wallace jubilantly to himself Deal
Winnie, I'm going to win her, sure,
and two days later Ned advised his
friend.
Joel, I've arranged it ALL At S:3t
this evening you are to 60 with mt
to deliver your two special voice fea
lures before an audience of 100 PEG
ple."
Where are they?" questioned Joel
mo, no. JOEL" chided Ned playfully
You wanted q strange audience, 20,
said. Keep 1t strange to yourself al
we'll. I'll guarantee most strange
and attentive audience"
And that evening the two friends
entered large building and wer,
shown behind the stage. A few min
utes later Joel faced a good sized au
dience. He was encouraged as HI
noted the eager and attentive expires
sion in the bright. cheerful faces be
fore him.
He sang his favorite song first
There was some applause, not much
1t was when he began his Grafton abou
THE Gladiator" that many of the au
dience began to writhe. They uttere'
no words. They simply smiled. smiled
smiled. Then they writhed. Two o
them fell over in their seats.
! Did you see!" cried Joel. as h,
came back to Ned behind the scenes
You could have heard . pin droE
They were actually hypnotized into a
tention and appreciation"
Ned nodded and smiled. Then, .
they reached their hotel, he let tn
cat out Of the bag.
JOEL" he said, that was the onl,
audience could arrange for. The,
are inmates Of an asylum"
What kind of an asylum" ques
toned Joel.
Deaf and dumb" replied Ned
Those who couldn't hear, were 9,
amused with your pantomime tina
they nearly had fits. Those who coul'
hear, weren't much impressed witt
the big voice, so"
Joel flushed. Then he got mad
Then he said something about al
unappreciative world" and vowed b
would let 1t 20 to pot!
As to Ned. he took his friend home
cured, of his rare gift" and won
rarer one-Winnie!