Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-04-16
AMATEUR
NICHT o.
By EDWARD w. GILBERT
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(Copyright.)

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(Copyright)
Clarsie paused, trembling at the for
bidding little stage door Of the London
Theater. on the Bowery in New York,
Nothing but the memory Of her land
iady's last grim words, Tomorrow /
want the room, or the rent" would
have given her courage to enter. But
a long sickness, dull times in the pa
per-box trade (making 1t impossible
for her to get a job), and the end Of
her meager savings, had brought her
to the problem of where to shelter
on the morrow, and how to eat; her
last meal having been the previous
evening.
She had often seen the flaring post
ers of the amateur nights at the Lon
don, setting forth the cash prizes to
the best act, and wild hope had
grown in her mind that she might win,
not, perhaps, the first prize Of five
dollars, but perhaps the second, and
that would mean shelter for another
week and enough food to keep her
hutlSiIhB nOul anu lihh uOuy tOBSthcii
and so she stood hesitating on the
threshold of her greatest venture.
She might have lacked courage to
enter, but the doorkeeper, happening
to look out, saw the wavering little fig
ure and asked, not unklndly:
"What dye want?"
Clarsie murmured something in
which he heard the word AMATEUR"
"Got your name DOWN." asked he.
"All right, go on in. Jim, put this lady
wit the amatoors."
She found herself one of line of
people, mostly boys, standing with
their backs to the wall of narrow
passage. In front Of her was typical
East Side boy, In little cap, green-red
sweater, and depressed-looking canvas
shoes. Along the line ran buzz Of con-
versation, rough Jokes, and Bowery
slang.
"ThIs your first time, ladyT" asked
the lad ahead Of her.
"Yes," said Clarsie family.
whats your act-singin'T"
She nodded family.
"Pm buck-dancin'," said her new ac-
Quaintance. "This is my fourth time"
A crash Of music from the front,
and the chorus trooped past, off the
stage, and scattered to the dressing
rooms. Clarsle heard dimly, as from an
immense distance, a voice say:
Gentlemen, the amateurs will now
perform. We have large list tonight
and l think you will be much enter
tanned"
She opened her eyes and saw, stand
ing at the entrance to the stage, a
gentleman with a tired and cynical
expression. Beside him stood figure
which, to Clarsle's eyes, was the most
magnificent she had ever seen. The
lady was of great height and thinness.
Good night" said this apparition to
the man In evening dress, and then,
as her eye Fell on the line, "Ah, the
amateurs. What, q girl, toop
"Oh, we have them sometimes" said
her companion.
The white hussar shrugged her
shoulders and walked past them, but.
just as she passed, her eyes met those
Of Clarsie, and the look of fright, pain
and helplessness that she saw there
startled her. She stopped suddenly.
Don't be so frightened, little girl"
she said, Tor you'll go up in the air."
She gave her rough, friendly slap on
the shoulder, turned and stepped back
to the wings just as the manager, with
his list, stepped out on the stage. I'VE
have first" came the voice, Barney
Dooley, buck-dancer."
That's me-" said the youth In the
green-and-red sweater, as he ran on to
the stage.
A noise, like the roaring of the sea,
greeted him. Cat-calls, Kisses, hand
clapping and wild whoops were min
gled In continued roar.
"You here again." "Ohl Barney,
why don't you de-" "Take It away,
take 1t away"
During this Internal concert, Bar
ney gravely footed It, and, as hail
Of small coin descended upon the stage,
without losing beat Of his feet, he
stopped and gathered them into his
cap.
Take 1t away, take It away, take
It away"
"Scuse me-" said man at Clarsle's
elbow, pushing past her. In his hands
was a ten.foot pole with red iron
hook on the end and, while she looked
with horror, he placed It around Bar
ney's neck and dragged him from the
stage, amid sounds like the roar Of a
menagerie.
The manager, who had never
changed his expression Of weary In
difference. glanced at his list, and
said, coldly: 1--WE have next, Miss Clar.
sic Ellis. in songs"
A cry greeted this announcement.
"Oh, Clarsie oh, Clarsiep
"Come out here, Clarsie."
1--WE dare you, Clarsie."
go on" said the white hussar.
Don't let them buffalo you"
The next moment Clarsie found her
self facing whlrling mass Of tobacco
smoke.
The leader shook his bow, the Or
chestra played, and she stood dumb.
Her lips opened; her throat worked
cOnvulsively, and she went through the
motions Of singing, but was still dumb.
She would have run, but she was an
chored with fright. Something struck
Clarsle on the cheek and fell tinkling
to the stage. With the clearness Of
sight that the dying are said to pos
sess. she saw that II was a silver coin.
"oh. how cruel" she said, and rage