Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TIP ‘TOP WEEKLY. 5 there has been no plagiarism in this case, we may not be able to defend our rights.” “That’s true,” admitted Frank. “We may have to shelve ‘John Smith.’ ” “What then?” “That’s why I am getting my ideas to- gether for another play.”’ “But, good heavens! how can you take it so coolly?” “What is the use to take it differently? I don’t believe we can be stopped from playing this piece at once, even if this other manager tries to stop up, for you have the money to fight him, and we can go on gathering in the shekels for a time, but we may have to give it up in the end. Then, if I can have an- other play ready, why, we'll be strictly in it. See?” “You tatlk about going on with this play as if there is no trouble about that now, but I don’t see how we are going on with it to- night.” _ “Oh, that is a minor mattter,” assured Frank, coolly. “It may be,” fussed Folansbee; “but I don’t look at it in that light. This business is wearing me out! It is setting my nerves onedge! I'll bea wreck!” : “Vou have been so much in the habit of taking things easily and not bothering your head over business that a matter like this breaks you allup. I want to call your atten- tion to the fact that Lockwell did not play the part of the villain in the first place. You re- member that, for it was by your orders that Dunton, a better actor, was taken out of the part to give it to Lockwell.” Folansbee shrugged his shoulders. . “Are you going to give me a dig about that?” he asked, petulantly. “Perhaps it was a msitake, but-——” “I am not going to ‘give you a dig’ I speak of it so that I may call your attention Who said “Td give a Ten Dollar hill to see Clif Faraday Make One Fool Break. Trae Blue No. 38.” NOOLKS to the fact that Dunton can play that pari Havener has notified him to be ready to play it again to-night. now on short notice. Havener did not consult you, for he : ““He is the stage manager, I know. What do you want me to do—beg Havener’s par- don for meddling?” “Don't, Mr. Folansbee! table. ner’s pardon. you, and it was pretty certatin you would not object to any kind of a shift to enable us to play the piece to-night.” “Oh, of course not! but I don’t see how putting Dunton back into his original part That will leave open the We shall still be You are very irti- You are not expectetd to beg Have- There was no time to consuit will help mattters. part he has been playing. short a man.” “There is no one to play Haggerty but Dunton, who has been quite out of his sphere wrestling with German comedy. Danger- ford, who has been playing the Yankee co- median, will do the German.” “Oh, yes!’ came sarcastically from the manager. “That’s all very well, but what are you going to do with the Yankee—cut him out?’ “We can’t do that, for some of the best comedy scenes are between the German and the Yankee, and it is the comedy, as much as anything, that makes the piece go with our class of patrons. There must be a cer- tain number of laughs to offset the thrills.” “Well, then, by Jove! I don’t see that you have made any progress. Where’s your Yankee?” ‘There is a person with the company who has never found it necessary to fill a part. We have decided to make him do the Yan- kee.” Folansbee stared, began to gasp, fell back. | “V ou—can’t—mean—me?” he palpitated. Frank laughed. COMNMUC (CO