The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-08-06


throwing himself into q chair. look
ing bored.
Now. Ned had never before wit.
messed one OF the speciaities OF the
gifted Joel He had heard him sing
In the choir and spout election times.
but this was star rendition.
Joel had some yoice-in fact. too
much OF IT, The Gladiator" he rep
resented made Ned smile He must
have been born with a cold The
funny part OF il. 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
we're appallingly ridiculous. In the
far east a glow" and be nung his
hand 20 the south. up among those
holy stars" and his finger pointed
ed" and he stood limp and awkward.
My tender. gentle love" and be
scowled and struck the attitude of a
prize fighter His arms continually
swung about like windmills. he glided
where he should have fingered. ne
WINGED. he grimaced, he went bounc-
ing about like jumping jack.
"There," he shouted. breathlessly
triumphant at the last. what do you
think OF that?"
My friend. said the agent. arising.
suppressing a smile. your forte is pam
tomime. You are a wonder as a facial
contortionist Show in the next client
he ordered 10 his Office boy. Good
day, sir
Joel Randall was scandalized He
fumed. he raved TO his companion.
Why. the arrogant nonentityi' he
stormed. Does he take me for q
Humpty Dumpty clown? He's jealous
OF my voice Ned you're friend?"
DO you doubt 1t, Joel?"
No. and | hope you will do some
thing for me"
And what's that, Ned ,"
Il want YOU to find me an unpreiu-
diced audience All strangers. and I'M
preiudiced Let me come upon them
Unexpectedly. Their verdict shall de-
eide and establish or doom my foren-
sic ability"
All. my chancel" chuckled Ned
Wallace jubilantly TO himself. Dear
Winnie. I'm going to win her. sure"
and two days later Ned advised his
friend
Joel. I've arranged it all. At $50
this evening you are to go with me
to deliver your two special voice fea-
lures before an audience OF 100 peo-
pie"
Where are they" questioned Joel.
"No no. JOEL" chided Ned playfully.
You wanted a strange audience. you
said. Keep II strange to yourself as
we'll III guarantee a most strange
and attentive audience"
And that evening the two friends
entered a large building and were
shown behind the stage A few min
utes later Joel faced a good sized au-
dience. He was encouraged as he
noted the eager and attentive express
sion in the bright. cheerful faces be-
fore him.
He sang his favorite song first
There was some applause. not much.
II was when he began his grafton about
The Gladiator" that many of the au-
dience began 10 writhe They uttered
no words. They simply smiled, smiled.
smiled Then they writhed Two OF
them fell over in their seats.
Did you seel" cried Joel. as he
came back TO Ned behind the scenes.
You could have heard a pin drop.
They were actually hypnotized into at
tention and appreciation"
Ned nodded and smiled. Then. as
they reached their hotel. he let the
cat out OF the bag
Joel" he said. that was the only
audience l could arrange for. They
are inmates OF an asylum"
What kind OF an asylum" ques-
toned Joel
Deaf and dumb" replied Ned.
Those who couldn't hear. we're so
amused with your pantomime that
they nearly had fits. Those who could
hear. weren't much impressed with
the big voice, So"
Joel flushed. Then he got mad
Then he said something about an
unappreciative world" and vowed he
would let it go TO pot
AZ to Ned, he took his friend home.
cured. OF his rare gift" and won
rarer one-Winniel