Work and Win #07: Fred Fearnot as Actor — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

FRED FEARNOT AS AN ACTOR. Neen ES, seen ee eine J “ ==. EA Bl eek ee aie | * ahi > ~~... ee Om Minitab i , Ye i veads -— J a, ee ' “wy he —_ ain a > -e SCO “That’s all right, young man, put up or shut up,” ‘*T suppose you take me for a sucker.”’ and he drew from his pocket a roll of bills, from ““Oh, no; you’re a long way off from that, but which he stripped off five hundred dollars in twenties | you’re one of those men who think they know a great and fifties. deal more than they do. Sometimes you do know, “Say, Terry,’ said Fred, “let’s see if we can raise | but at others you don’t, and this is one of the times five hundred between us. I’ve got a little over three | when you missed it.”’ hundred in my pocket. How much have ‘you 2” “All right,” laughed the man, ‘I’m able to stand _ “Oh, I guess I’m as rich as you are,” laughed | it.” - Terry. ‘‘ Glad to hear it,’’ replied Fred, ‘for it isn’t every ** Well, in about fifteen or twenty En ULes me ‘TL be | man who can pay for his lessons in cold cash.”’ five hundred dollars richer. Let’s put it up.’ “’m able to pay for it,’’ said the man, “ but I Both parties went to the clerk of ae hotel and | don’t care to pay five thousand dollars to learn how ~ asked him to hold the stakes. that trick is played.’’ By that time such a crowd of guests and hotel ‘‘T won’t sell it for any less.”’ laughed Fred. loungers had crowded around them that Fred sug- | “‘Can you do any other tricks ?’’ he was asked, gested they get into a larger room, as he had a right | “Oh, yes; quite a number of them ;’’ and to amuse to have as much room in performing the trick as the | the crowd he borrowed a silk pocket handkerchief man at the theater had. from one of them, tore it in two parts, then rolled it up in a ball and tossed it back to the owner, who un- rolled it and found his handkerchief intact, just as it was at first. The proprietor of the hotel was appealed to and he had the dining room thrown open, into which nearly a hundred people poured and took seats. Fred pulled off his coat, handed it to Terry, rolled ““T’ll give it up,’’ said the man, who had lost his his sleeves up almost to his elbows, took five silver | bet. ‘‘ I’m satisfied it’s a trick, but ’m blamed if I dollars, jingled them in his hands, and let acommittee | can understand it.’’ ~ of three examine his hands and the coins. Then he “There are a great many things in this world that stood up on a table and began tossing the coins in the | one can’t understand,” said Fred, as he leaped down air towards the ceiling. Everyone of them disap- | fromthe table and proceeded to put on his coat again. — peared from view, notwithstanding every eye in the The clerk of the hotel handed the stakes over to room was watching him. him, which he very promptly divided with Terry, after ~ *“Now, you saw them goup, didn’t you ?”’ heasked, | which they retired to their room to sleep. How long looking at the man with whom he had made the | they had been asleep they didn’t know, but Fred Was | wager, and holding out the palms of his hands so that | awakened in the night by some one moving stealthily he could see them. about in the room. They had both placed their *‘Yes,’’? answered the man, “ that’s all right, go on | money under their pillows. Fred watched the in- with the trick.’’ truder, there being light enough in their room which «Allright, here goes,’’ and he reached out at arm’s | Came through the transom in the door from the lamp length, as though trying to catch a fly that was pass- hanging in the hall, and saw him searching their ing him, and quietly passed a silver dollar down to | trouser pockets. the man with whom he had wagered. “*Oh, we’ve got the money wndee our pillows here,”’ “«That’s one, isn’t it ?’? he laughed. he quietly remarked to the fellow, whereupon the in- ** Yes,’’ replied the other. truder made a break for the door, which he opened, “Very well, now, hold your hat and I’ll give you | passed out and shut behind him before Fred could get the other four,’’ and with that he began snatching at | out of the bed. space again, each time caught a dollar and tossed it To his amazement, when he reached the door, Fred into the man’s hat, until the four had dropped into | found it locked, although the key was on the inside. it. ‘“What’s the matter, Fred?” Terry asked. Then he locked down at him and laughed, asking: “Get up, Terry,’’ replied Fred, and lich® aie <<Did you catch the trick ?”’ gas.”’ “No.” Terry sprang up, struck a match, lit the gas and « All right, then, I’ve caught your five hundred dol- | found Fred examining the lock of the door, wht jars.” opened out into the corridor. ‘“Well, what’s the trouble ?”? he asked again. Fred told him what had happened, adding: «Oh, that’s all right,’’ said the man, who seemed to have money to burn, “I'll give you five hundred more to show me how the trick was done.”’ ““1’m the worst puzzled man in the world. The fel- «‘ Not for five thousand !”’ laughed Fred. low dashed for the door here, opened it, passed out. «« Are you a professional ?”’ the man asked. and closed it behind him. MHere’s the key on the in- { | “No; simply an amateur. Never gave a perform- | side, but hanged if it isn’t locked.”’ ance in paphe- in my life. It pays better to play for “What !’’ exclaimed Terry. men like you.’ ‘a crowd roared with laughter at the man’s ex- ! pees by Beying “Yes; it’s afact. You can see for yourself.” Terry examined it and saw f Hanged if I can heeeMicolmilcbools com rs