The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-12
GRABBING THE ACT :
BY ARCHIE c. NEW.
IA pa "a "a "a . "a A IA M

'That guy isn't actin happy; he's
just plain incubator of JOY" The
speaker, O'Brien, electrician at the
Olympia, turned a face hrimful of
smiling friendliness from Dawson Du-
quesne, who was busily engaged in
charming the Monday matinee crowd,
to Forrest, the manager, who lurked
at his side.
"Humph!" grunted Forrest, but two
little lines in the corner of his kindly
mouth attested the fact that he, too,
was charmed with this new act, and as
Duquesne bowed himself off the stage
after his last song, amid a thunderous
volley of applause. Forrest, standing in
the wings, babe him take another"
which, in the parlance of the mimic
world, has manifold meaning, chief
Of which is sincere appreciation of the
act on the part Of the stage director.
Another new act on the Olympia's
bill was the Venetian Models"
group of attractive little seraphs, and
among them as they waited In the
wings to follow Duquesne in the
spotlight" was Rita Young.
"Great house," he exclaimed, boy
ishly enthusiastic. "Now go knock
'em dead, Miss Young" And she gave
a little musical laugh and made her
entrance with her fellow models.
Duquesne ten minutes later was eff
facing the last vestige of grease paint
and humming one of the latest popu-
lar airs, when he stopped abruptly
and, crossing the room, leaned his ear
against the partition. He turned to
Jack Fuller, who shared his dressing
room, and pointed to the partition.
Man, what a voice!' he whispered
huskily. "Who is it?''
''Who has that room?"
9TH models" replied Fuller.
DuQuesne hurried into his street
clothes and flinging his hat on his
head, he threw an absent "au revOir"
to FULLER and went out on the stage.
Outside the models dressing room
door he paused for moment, undecid-
ed whether to wait and ask about the
voice or not, when the door opened
and Rita Young, dressed for the street,
met his startled gaze with frown.
Shame on you, Mr.. Duquesne," she
rebuked him, her eyes twinkling never
theless. Housekeeping? Listening
to girls gossip?"
"Er-no," he stammered. Some one
was singing Celeste Aida Who was
it?"
"Guess I'm the guilty one" she con-
fessed modestly. did it annoy your"
annoy me?" he echoed amazedly.
'It-charmed me. Why-why don't
you sing instead Of pose?"
"rd like to-" she said slowly, 'but
it's impossible"
"Nothing's impossible" protested
Duquesne optimistically. Then a sud-
den resolution seized him. "See here,
let's cut Mrs. Gardens Monday night
beef pie and go over to the Hofbrau
/ for dinner. I'd like to have talk with
you"
Later, as dessert was served, Du-
quesne preached to her his proposition.
Why not join forces with him, he sug-
gested. There was big money in it.
"It's very tempting" she admitted,
| toying with her fork. "But can't con-
/ slider myself, Mr.. Duquesne. Two years
| ago got my start with Mrs. Tomkins.
| She's been almost mother to me. She
worked hard to make me fit to go with
her act. My parents were both dead
and was having an uphill time of it
when she took me with her and kept
me all through the rehearsals. Now
she's getting too old to train any more.
It would ruin her act"
i $50 you wouldn't crab her act, eh p
Duquesne looked at her with deep ad-
miration. 'Well, little lady, you're all
i wool and yard wide"
For two weeks the Venetian Mod
els" continued to follow Duquesne on
/ the program, then one day. as Du-
sss