The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-11-04

few feet away In flood of light
gayly danced a girl to the accompani-
ment of highly syncopated music.
SIS there something l can do to help
you?" beseeched the electrician.
Allan Terry smiled wanly' Moth
ing" he said sadly, except put my
act over for me-"
Electricians have put over more
than one act"
Il know that" agreed Terry, "but
my act calls for no electrical effects
If I only had the benefit Of publicity
like Vernon Craigie received they
would react differently towards me-"
he finished with a catch in his throat
deeply affected by abject despair.
By turning away he missed the
transformation that suddenly came
over the countenance of the electri-
clan even as his busy fingers worked
with switches, for the lights over
which he had control flashed NO
brighter than his own eyes.
Terry returned to the wings near
the conclusion of the act preceding
his, and placed his stand of wigs and
makeup at the entrance The act
ended and from the small amount of
applause delivered he guessed the
audience to be colder than ever. He
picked up his stand to go out on the
stage just as the electrician laid
OBTAINING hand upon him.
"Just a moment" he said with voice
tingling, Sometimes a little suspense
helps"
Allan Terry hesitated and heard
rising from the house slight rusting.
He wondered at it and welcomed it,
rejoicing in any disturbance that
might rouse the audience from the
GOODNESS of Indifference. He looked
Questioningly at the electrician, but the
latter looked away self-consciously.
60 ahead and good luck" muir
INJURED the electrician.
Allan Terry stepped out onto the
stage-and was greeted by storm Of
applause! He was so overcome by the
uneXpectedness of it that he was forced
to busy himself in confusion with his
makeup stand. CHANGING up he saw
the electrician in the wings smiling
eXultingly. Allan Terry wondered, and
then the actor of him realized his OPP
pOrtunity. He was given a friendly
audience-no matter how the eXplana-
tion-it was up to him to hold it.
He threw himself into his act and
the aroused audience, eager to under
stand, became like the audiences of
the STICKS" the audience he needed.
1t became even more receptive as he
rose to heights of genius and acted as
he never had before, for, with that
telepathy that seems to exist between
actor and audience, they seemed to
sense that something beyond the act
was occurring.
Allan Terry lost track of his curtain
calls, but he was gIuuneIy happy
even before the blase Judge so far
forgot himself as to run around back
of the stage to congratulate him.
| Allan Terry was a success. The fol-
| lowing act had nearly finished before
he could fully realize the fact. Then
came the turn of widely billed Vernon
Craigie. He, too, waited for the eff
feet of suspense; and Allan Terry
heard again the sound of people hur-
riedly comforting with programs and
again he was puzzled. He turned with
q frown of wonderment to the cleo
/ trician only to find him In turn look
ing at him with wide-eyed emotion.
You're wondering why the audience
is looking at their programs" said the
electrician "Well, it's because l took
long chance to put you over and 1t
went through"
You helped me?" slowly repeated
the perpleXed actor. you mean you
were responsible for that audience be-
ing so receptive to me-how"
The electrician pointed out to the
stage to where were the frames now
bearing the Illuminated sign of Yer
non Craigie."
That's the second time I flashed
that name. I flashed Craigies for you
because you said you could go over If
you only had the benefit of his pub
licity-I hope it worked
Worked-worked !" repeated Terry
choking with gratefulness. "Why, man,
you PUT me over!'
I'm glad" said the electrician
simply.