New-York tribune., 1921-02-27

fessor Chiids came in.
Then, as now, he was a tall, hand
some man, dressed quietly like a no
tary public, self-possessed, anc
owner of a magnetic personality
He was, and is, one of the most per
suasive takers on the face of the
earth, with fine booming voice ano
system of careless gestures.
On this fateful occasion he wore
a light cane and q plug hat thai
glistened like seal. He nodded
genially to Eli Purman and came
over.
"Here you are, Mr.. Childs,'' sale
Eli. "This is the Omar Gill / smoke
about"
''This is George" Eli continued
nodding carelessly toward me. "Mee,
Mr.. Childs."
We shook hands with the stran.
ger, after which he invited all pres.
ent to step up and hook one as i,
passed.
Mr.. Purnan tells me you sing
tenor" Harmony said to Omar. and
from here on | shall continue to re.
Ter to him as Harmony, because it
isn't natural to call him Mr.. Childs
L have called him a lot of things in
my time, but never Mr.. Childs.
Il am only a fair singer" Omar
replied with that bogus modesty Oh.
serVable IN all tenor singers. 81
wouldn't call myself wonder"
eco ON, sing for Mr.. Childs, !,
Eli urged, and Harmony
smiled encouragingly:. Omar backed
himself over against the free lunch
and took a long breath.
'Fine," said the professor. when
the noises ended, and making out
he was about to buy again. "I'm
going to hire you. That's all ]
need to hear"
Il knew you would the minute
you heard him sing" Eli said heart.
ily' Omar has the kind of a voice
that mighty few people appreciate. >
i can tell that" Harmony re.
marked, looking again at Oma,
with that critical stare I have come
to know so we'll in later years. care
you as strong as you look, MI
Gin?"
"Strong?" Omar murn1ured
Il mean, have you a rugged con.
stitution? You see, you're not 8
large man. Nobody would call VOL
a large man, Mr.. Gill"
Il know they wouldn't" Oma,
replied, "but Pn strong enough. ]
used to drive a truck in Fresno
Can a man pursue vinegar barrels
up the back end of dray without
being strong?"
"He looks strong and wiry," Har.
mony continued, feeling of Omar,
shoulder blades and speaking tc
Eli. Still, you can't be certain"
II tell you am strong" Oma,
retorted in some heat. "Do | have
to sing while carrying a horse?
What's singing for your show got
to do with how strong / am?"
Would you be willing to start
for $50 week?" HARMONY in.
quired, and at this point I kicked
Omar swiftly to indicate that such
was undoubtedly the case.
Omar nodded. "Of course ~ he
said, Il wouldn't want to sing lone
for $50 week"
'You won't" said HARMONY
Then he sat himself on table anc
explained at length.
He stated that he was the sole
owner of Professor Childs's Nam.
moth Road Show, which consisted
OF refined vaudeville acts, with in.
terpolations by Mr.. Childs himself
usually of light and amusing char
acter. The show was coming from
the East. and was TO open for a
weeks performance at the Joseph
City Opera House on the following
Monday evening.
"And my regular tenor is tempo
rarily Ineligible" Harmony re-
marked casually, $50 if / failed to
engage you, Mr.. Gill, that spot on
my program would remain vacant -
s.
'THE same night Harmony moved
his trunks into the hote! and
surrounded himself with the tran
sient luxuries of Joseph City. At
intervals Omar and | visited him in
his rooms, and Omar rehearsed his
coming melodic debauch. | sat in
the corner and appeared TO be
Omar's manager, because half of