Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

64 mind is liable to work disaster on nature if you give it half a chance.” Dressed and ready to go, even to the derby on his head, the old man had taken his corduroy-cap down from its nail—quite inadvertently—after he’d patted the dog and started for the door. He had laughed a bit at finding the mistake in his hand. Then he tossed the cap on the floor as he bade Collieboy the whispered good-by. Never would he have to wear that old cap again, he thought as he went down-stairs. And now, above all things, he mustn’t allow that fickle mind of his to slur over those eggs for his pal. Staying out late to-night might cause him to oversleep in the morning—just a minute or two, perhaps, but enough to miss the egg-wagon. And then if Collieboy should happen to get hungry unexpectedly— But meanwhile how very satisfying it was to let his thoughts go back, over and over, to that recent hour of dressing up—so long since he’d dressed up—resulting in his pres- ent rehabilitation. H-m! He could still think in the English language, even if he were only a box-maker. And how extremely agreeable now to feel himself dressed, suita- bly attired, and with a purpose. For this was the night, remember. The great Sir Sidney Barbee would give him an engagement to-night; perhaps at only thirty a week; maybe only twenty-five; but there could be no doubt of the position. One hasn’t worked so faithfully—and so clever- ly, ’twas said—in the days of yore, to be forgotten by his old manager now. Twenty years ago, or thereabouts, it had been, Janie and he not long married then, and both of them with the English star on his first United States tour. An enjoyable engagement with the Britisher, although Malcolm himself was an American; yes, sir, entirely American. And Sidney Barbee had: been only a plain “‘ Mister ” those days. John Malcolm would have applied to his former manager long ago, when work had become so scarce, but Barbee had gone to Australia. That was in the. time when younger men and that vaudeville stuff and a new kind of nickel entertainment had begun to encroach upon the older dramatic stage. | THE ARGOSY. And thinking of nickel’ entertainment— why, it riled old Malcolm whenever he allowed himself to think of it. He had attended one of them once, only once, and long ago—a show in a storeroom. It was a single-reel picture-film, whose early-day incompleteness disgusted him without quite knowing why. But he had sworn to Collie- boy when he got back to the attic that never again would he leave him to go to another infernal ‘“ movie,” as they called ’em. Those same movies had retaliated and played havoc with the old actor and steady engagements shortly after that. Why, on one occasion he, John Malcolm, had been obliged to put on a local talent play with some impossible amateurs; a little later on he’d been compelled to paint scenery, and also to do various things. But Sidney Barbee had remained in Australia for ten long years. Collieboy had never listened favorably to the idea of Australia, even when the money to go had been on hand. How fine was that stroke of Providence in stalling the last shipment of shoe-box lumber in the freight-yards that morning, thus giving him the afternoon to prepare— though it had been at the cost of part of his dollar fifteen. Oh, yes, Providence was good—sometimes. 7 “Wonderful Revival!” The big type in his open newspaper again caught. his eyes as he meandered on. He meditated over that “ Revival ” detail. Sir Sidney Barbee must be—um, let’s see—how old? He_was eight years younger than I; I am now sixty-nine. Tut-tut! He’s got no business trying to do Bull Sykes in “ Oliver Twist ” at sixty-one! But still why not? He could act it, even if he might no longer look the part, depend on that. Now, on another page Malcolm happened to spy two group-pictures. In his hasty dressing he must have overlooked them. They were half-tone reproductions of—of flash-lights, he’d wager. The descriptive matter beneath was too fine to be read, but he knew the costumes and the scenes. Yes, that was Sidney Barbee. Well he remem- bered that particularly brutal pose. Who could ever forget Barbee, Sidney Barbee the magnificent actor of heavy villains, the cComiclbooks.com