The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-06-04
AMATEUR i.
NIGHT
(Copyright.)
BY EDWARD w. GILBERT

Y OshfoAC PauSCup ~ thS aNN
kdSIng little stage door Of the London
TEeater, OH the BOwery In New York.
Nothing but the memory of her land
,sady's last grim words, Tomorrow
wxnt the room, or the rent" would
have given her courage to enter. But
a long sickness, dull times in the pa
per-Bex trade (making 1t impossible
few her to get job), and the end of
ihsT meager savings. had brought her
TO the problem Of where to shelter
Oh the morrow, and how to eat; her
fzss meal having been the previous
evening.
She had often seen the flaring post
err OF the amateur nights at the Lon
G'on, setting forth the cash prizes to
the best act, and a wild hope had
zTeUa in her mind that she might win.
Rot, perhaps. the first prize of five
EO7Isrs, but perhaps the second. and
mat would mean shelter for another
wee& and enough food to keep her
Suffering soul and frail body together,
and so she stood hesitating on the
thSestoid Of her greatest venture.
She might have lacked courage to
enter. but the doorkeeper, happening
20 look out, saw the wavering little fig
ure and asked, not unkindly:
What dye wants"
CIarsie 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."
Size 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-
versRtion, rough jokes, and BOwery
NfaHg.
This your first time. lady" asked
the FAD ahead Of her.
YES" said Clarsie family.
whats your act-singin'"
Sire nodded family.
I'm buck-dancin'," said her new ac-
guaiDtance. "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
rooans. Clarsie heard dimly, as from an
immense distance, a voice say:
Gentlemen, the amateurs will now
perform. We have large list tonight,
aud I think you will be much enter
tai8ed."
She opened her eyes and saw, stand
SDg at the entrance to the stage, a
gentleman with tired and cynical
expression. Beside him stood a figure
which, to Clarsie'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
smateurs. What, girl, too?"
"Oh, we have them sometimes" said
her companion.
The white hussar shrugged her
shoulders and walked past them, but,
rust as she passed, her eyes met those
OF CIarsie, 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, cor you'll go up In the air."
She gave her rough, friendly slap on
tbe shoulder, turned and stepped back
to the wings just as the manager, with
fis Hist, stepped out on the stage. 1--WE
have first" came the voice, Barney
Dce5ey, buck-dancer."
That's me-" said the youth in the
gsven-and-red sweater, as he ran on to
the stage.
"A noise, like the roaring Of the sea,
greeted him. Cat-calIs, Kisses. hand
cispping and wild whoops we're min
xSsG tn a continued roar.
Ken here again2" "Oh! Barney,
Why don't you die" 'Take it away.
tske Il away"
During this internal concert, Bar
nay gravely footed II, and, as a hail
Of small coin descended upon the stage.
without losing a beat of his feet, he
STOPPED and gathered them into his
cxp.
Take 1t away, take it away, take
Il sway"
"Scuse me-" said q man at ClarsIe's
elbow, pushing past her. In his hands
WIS 4 ten-foot pole with q red iron
hook on the end. and, while she looked
with horror, he placed it around Bar
Dey'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, Clarsie!"
fCome out here, Clarsie."
I'VE dare you, Clarsle."
Go on" said tie white hussar.
Don't let them buffalo you"
The next moment Clarsie found her
self facing whirling mass of tobacco