The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-22

to make something worth while OF
himself. Louise Drake, an attractive
and desirable young girl, was watch
ing his fight, and he looked forward
to the day when he might ask her to
marry him. j9 + 4f ,an If #
For a while the work of usher was
interesting, and listening to the plays
was good fun. But when a decided
success settled down for al indefinite
run, this became monotonous. Having
an always active brain, Jimmy cast
about for some way to pass the time.
One day he discovered that he had
heard. the stars lines 80 often that he
could anticipate almost every speech.
This gave him a thought Of something
further to do. He would memorize
the part.ia @ss, - ~,
It was not very difficult, and, having
accomplished it, he turned his atten-
ton to the part that interested him
most next to that Of the star. 1t was
that of a young man who figured ratll-
er prominently in the play, and was
more or less Jimmy's ideal of young
manhood. He became SO absorbed in
It that he frequently found himself
standing before his glass, making the
gestures to fit the lines as he had seen
the actor do. At the end Of the third
week, it seemed to him he must know
the play by heart. ne
One Saturday night, the young &C.
tor, q man named LangdOn, was taken
violently i'll an hour before the per.
Torrance. His understudy had been
allowed a leave Of absence over Sun.
day, and had just left town. How
could the play go ONT The man in the
box Office, who knew Jimmy and had
had many a chat with him about his
stunt Of learning the different parts.
laid a seemingly absurd proposition
before the manager and was criticized
for his pains. Ill.,.
Twenty minutes later, however, the
manager. In desperation. reconsidered,
and sent for Jimmy. For a half hour
he heard him say the lines, and then
asked him II he wsas afraid his nerve
would give out Jimmy, inwardly
quaking, said mo-" Then he was hur-
ried to a dressing room. The clothes
| fitted, and someone came and "made
him up."
The audience began to assemble.
Among them was a girl who scanned
the face of each usher, evidently look.
ing for one she knew.
At last the bell sounded, the lights
slowly grew dim, and the audience set.
tied itself for the first act, little know
ing that behind the scenes a young
amateur actor was waiting for his cue
with shaking knees and f%ast-beating
heart. The most thrilling moment Of
Jimmy's life was at hand, and he felt
he could not 60 through with it. Stage
| fright had seized him, his courage
ebbed away, and he leaned against the
scenery for support. The manager!
close at hand, alternately swore and
encouraged. The success of. his eve!
ming was at stake. IN Fs.s Fl
The cue came, Jimmy, more dead
than alive, stepped out on to the STAGE
And. behold! With, the first word of
his part, all embarrassment departed
and confidence returned. w. as
The curtain fell on the last act. In
the dressing room the manager
grasped Jimmy's hand. BE in the of
fee on Monday morning at ten o'clock,
and we'll talk things vel. You're to
have the part till Langion gets WE'LL
and by that time thcre'll be something
else" he said. :
Too happy and excited to knew he
was tired, Jimmy washed the grease
paint off and put on his own clothes
as in a dream. As he passed out the
stage door, the pretty girl who had SO
eagerly watched for someone In the
theater seized his arm. Jimmy! Jim
my! / was there all the time! Didn't
you remember / was coming? Hooked
for You and looked, and then when you
came on the stage-Oh. Jimmy, 1t was
greatl"$
. ) ;
It was great, although 1t did not
lead. to college. The money earned that
season made 1t possible to begin the
kind OF study that would develop the
abilities Of a growing young actor, Up
hill work It was sometimes. but al
ways steady. And when, after several
years Of hard work. the night came on
which Jimmy saw his name emblas-
oned In lights above the door Of the
Star theater. his thoughts went back
to that night in his past when pre-
parednesS', had enabled him to seize