Work and Win #07: Fred Fearnot as Actor — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

aa FRED —o couldn’t stand. I’m sorry it happened, but I’m will- ing to shake hands and be as good a friend to him as he ever had in his life.”’ ‘©Good, glad to hear you say that !’’ and the man- ager shook hands with him, after which they waited in the sitting room for his wife and the girls to come down to breakfast. CHAPTER VII. HOW FRED MADE A GIRL CRY. THE entire company were at the breakfast table when Gale came in. They looked up at him and found his face as placid as a May morning, with not a sign of discoloration in sight. His experience in making up for the stage had enabled him to apply the paint e one =f J ei ; il A Dy id at i , ie “s ius - ¥ — course you know what we all think about yours and Olcott’s singing.”’ ‘“Oh, yes; we both did well; because each time we * were almost in the dark. The lights were turned — down, you know.” ; ‘Oh, that had nothing to do with the singing.”’ ‘‘No; but it added a great deal to the impressive- ness of the scene.”’ When they reached the town they went to the hotel, | had their dinner, and then repaired to the theater, examined the scenery and found everything all right. The manager of the theater had received a telegram from the manager of the Homerville Opera House, to the effect that it was a splendid play, one of the best that had ever come to that town and, of course, the owner of the theater let the public know the fact, for it was to his interest that every company that played there should have full houses, so that the profession might put the town on the list of good play-towns. with such skill as to entirely conceal all evidence of | That night the building was packed, and again Fred his mishap. | and Terry made a splendid hit with their singing and A broad grin appeared on every face, but he bowed | Were compelled to repeat three different times. The and smiled as pleasantly as one could wish. After the meal he met Fred out in the office of the hotel and shook hands with him, saying: ‘*Old man, you were too much for me last night.”’ “Well, I’m sorry it happened,”’ returned Fred, *‘and was afraid that trouble would result from it for one or the other of us.”’ **Oh, no; it’s all right. You can bet your life I won’t try to run up against your fist any more. Where in thunder did you learn how to spar ?”’ “©Oh, I took lessons in New York,” laughed Fred. ““ Well, I’d like for you to give me a few.’’ “Not on your life. If I taught you the art you’d have it in for me and give me a whaling as soon.as you mastered it. You’re heavier than I am and have a longer reach.”’ Oh, no; I’ll promise never to do that.”’ “7 won't take the chances,’”’ laughed Fred. About noon the manager paid the bill at the hotel, and the company took the train for the next town, which was nearly twice the size of the one they had just left. In the car Fred managed to get a seat with one of the girls, who at once began questioning him about his fight with Gale. ‘“‘Now, look here,’’ said Fred, “‘Gale and I have made up; we’re good friends, and I’m not going to say a word to any one about that trouble.”’ “Well, you’ll tell me what caused it, won’t you 2?” ‘*No; I won’t tell you a thing about it.’’ ““Wasn’t it about one of the girls ?”’ she asked. “No. Why do you ask that ?’’ ‘Oh, because they’re all talking about it, thinking that it was on account of his jealousy of you.’’ “Well, it’s a mistake. It was about another mat- ter altogether, and now let me tell you, that you went through your part of the play last night so well, that one’s imagination would be ‘utterly at a loss to sug- | gest an improvement in it.’’ “Oh, thank you ever so much,” she replied, “HANDSOME HARRY.” Ot) audience fairly rose at them, which caused Manager Hammond to rub his hands in gleeful satisfaction. The last song, in which ‘‘ Home, Sweet Home” was turned into a screaming farce, took the house by storm. After the performance, Hammond said to Fred that he wanted him to take the part of the pa- triot spy in the play. ‘What are you going to do with the one that’s got it now ?”? Fred asked. “Why, I want to place him in the role of the one who went away last week.’’ ** You mean the extra one that Gale is filling ?”’ ‘| Vos. ‘“‘ Well, won’t he kick on that ?’’ *‘T don’t see why he should. He gets the same pay.”’ ‘“ Yes, I know; but he’ll look upon it as going back- ward instead of forward.”’ “Oh, that’s all nonsense. I’m running this thing for what money there is in it for me, and not to gratify the vanity of any particular man or woman.”’ “Very true; but it will make him an enemy of mine.’’ “Well, what if it does? You can take. care of your- self.”’ “Yes, I think Ican. Ill take the place if you wish me to. But you want us to keep up the singing, too, don’t ydu 2”’ “Oh, yes; we couldn’t do without that.” The manager saw the other actor, who was playing the part of the patriot spy, and told him what change he contemplated making. Naturally the actor kicked vigorously ; but Hammond told him very promptly that he was studying his own interest in the matter, — and that as long as he paid him his salary he ought to be satisfied. So the fellow had to submit. But he was unable to disabuse his mind of the impression that Fred had purposely sought to supersede him. Fred asked for a couple of days in which to memor- Eomicbooks me , =