, 1918-12-05
Oh, You
Oboe!
~0
BY
ARcHEY CAMERON NEW
Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

O'Brien, In the fiddle pit, laid dow his
baton.
Guess that lets us out" he an
nounced to the others in the orches-
ira. Shawter started TO close his pi-
ano, when O'Brien,. with a twinkle in
his eye, stepped once more upon the
dais and called to n wrinkled individ-
ual on the stage: "Oh, l beg pardon.
Charlie. Boys, one verse of the fu-
neral march. Charles doin' a single,
entitled THE Dealt of a Dying
Brain"
A roar OF laughter from the pit
brought Charlie Zepp, the Olympia's
press agent. from n huddled position
on a packing blx in the rear of the
stage to his feet. He advanced to
the footlights with a savage frown.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he an
nounced, over O'Brien's head. to the
empty house beyond. 1.-THE Olympia, as
always, leads the rest. To encourage
the success of amateur nights, we have
placed an amateur band to play for
YOU"
At a signal from O'Brien taps We're
rolled on the trapdrum, and amid the
laughter that followed Zepp retired in
defeat.
O'Brien beckoned TO Wallace Mac
kay, who played the oboe. and the
young man followed him out under
the stage. When they were alone
O'Brien turned to him with a frown.
wallace, old scout" he began, apol-
ogetically, II hate to tell you, but
you're looking awful seedy. TIL boss
thinks 1t looks bad for the house. Bet
ter get a new suit"
But, BILL" objected Mackay, rue
fully regarding his wornout clothes, ~
can't do it right now. 1 haven't the
money. Besides, why tn new clothes?
Only the first rows see us. an they're
generally travelin' men,"
mot this week they amt" answer
ed O'Brien in the best queens Eng
lish. FORESTS trying out that Law
der kid; she's a local bird an all tn
home folks will be down front all week
t give her tn up an down. It'll look
bad for tn house If TIL orchestra look
like buns. Get the new stuff on
tick, or somehow, but get 1t. Get
mel"
Mackay nodded dumbly. and wendell
his way despondently to the stage door.
Pausing near Charlie Zepp, he was
talking to the latter, meanwhile siren
uously brushing his spotted tuxedo
coat, when a golden-haired little vision
floated by, attired for the street. She
smiled merrily at the two men.
"Oh, you oboe !" she greeted Mackay
cordially, Their her eyes lighted on
Zepp.
"Oh, Mr.. Zepp!" she cried, eagerly.
please give me a big write-up will
you? I want all my friends to see me
here this week. Please do"
"What've you done?" demanded Zepp
bluntly. "Y' can't get big write-ups
outa air, y'know. Small-time acts gets
small-time write-ups."
"And small-time press agents gener-
ally have small-time brains" she re-
torted good-naturedly. But maybe
you can stretch yours" And fitting
away, she tossed from her pink finger
tips a kiss to them.
Mackay glanced at Zepp unhap-
PLY.
II guess she's right" he said sorrow
fully. 81 do look like a hobo. Even
O'Brien told me to get a lev suit.
And just for her, too. Sos her friends
won't think tn Olympia is a cheap
joint"
Don't let that worry y none,' SYM
pathized Charlie, howbeit sourly.
'There won't be many t. look at her.
I'll fix that"
Mackay started, for n vision of her
wistful face fioated across his mind.
"Oh, Charlie, have a heart" he plead
ed. Don't ruin tn kids fun just cause
you're in a bad humor."
"She's a cheese !" growled Zepp, and.
rejecting on the orchestra's laughter
a few minutes before, he added. saw
agely: "And so are you. So mind your
own business"
=
Helen Lawder. stepping out Of For
rests office about two hours later
heard two men wrangllng in the lobby,
and stepped back again and peeped
through the crack in the door.
Mackay had gripped Charlie Zepp's
arm and pushed him away from q
large picture frame. In his (Mackay's)
hand was Helen Lawder's picture. and
as she saw IT the girl behind the door
started violently.
"Put that back !" Numbered Mackay
holding out the picture.
81 won'tl" refused Zepp heatedly
"She sassed me and she gets no no
toriety for 1t, see?"
"Then I WILL" announced Mackny
and he replaced the photo in the opeI
case and snapped the door. "And Il
stays there, get met"
You're a nut" growled Yep. takinI
another tack. "Y're rulnln' yerself, 'at'i
all. Amt she settln' y back tn
cost of a new suit? An didn't sh,
call you a hobo?"
Mackay smiled ruefullv.