Work and Win #07: Fred Fearnot as Actor — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

‘ Bi 8 - AS AN ACTOR. “Oh, Hammond watches the box office more than s does the stage,’’ laughed Fred. * Of course, he’d be a fool if he didn’t.” “Yes, I know,”’ assented Fred, ‘but after all it’s the work on the stage that brings in the money. I never met Hammond till this season, and I find him “a very level-headed man, who pays his people prompt- ly, but won’t lend a dollar nor advance a penny to a of them.”’ ; “Oh, ho! He’s found out a few things,” and the 3. Louis manager laughed. ‘‘The profession may mink amanager very heartless, but heruns up against nore snags when he lends money or makes advances yn salaries to irresponsible people, than in any other business going’.”’ “Ves, I suppose so; but as for Olcott and myself, we don’t ask for any Gee Pee and are not compelled te work for a living; but we enjoy the fun that is in at this and take what money we can get for it.”’ _ The conversation was broken off by the approach of the cynic and the St. Louis man went away. _ © He’s after you, is he ?”’ the cynic asked of Fred. ~ Do you know him ?”’ Fred asked. Yes; I played with him one season.”’ _ ** How did he treat you ?”’ «<Oh, he’s. all right, but looks out for No. 1 every sime.”’ ~ **To you know of a sensible manager who doesn’t ?”’ Can’t say that I do. It’s a rule that everybody seems to have.adopted. Does he want you to sign with him ?”’ - “Oh, no,” said Fred; ‘he was simply inquiring if [thought there was any chance for him to get 29 Ah! What does he offer ?” * «Seven dollars a week,” replied Fred. Tiiberal offer,’”? remarked the cynic. ‘Kindly ion for me when you see him again, and if you can, aake a ten years’ contract. But if yow want a oft snap on big pay, there’s a dime museum in Chi- _ “In what way?” Fred asked. _ “Qh, simply as a curiosity. He could label you the man who never told the truth in his life, sven in his sleep;’’ and with that the cynic turned ‘away, leaving Fred chuckling softly to himself. But ie lost no time in reporting to some of the other performers that he had seen the St. Louis manager talking with Fred, and offered to bet that Fearnot would be playing in St. Louis at the end.of his present 1 ae gement it soon got to Hammond’s ears, and he hunted Fred up, in a state of nervous excitement. os See here, now, Fearnot,”’ said he, *‘ Baldwin, of ~ a “Vm not going to leave you, Mr. Hammond,” re- ied Fred. “Baldwin offered me three hundred dol- 12 ee ts a a ci ee a vss OME HARRY.” lars a week for next season, but I told him I wasn’t in the profession for a living, and I didn’t know whether I would continue in it or not. I’m going to see you through just because I’m having a good time with the company.”’ Hammond was overjoyed. shook it warmly, and said : “T’ll go Baldwin fifty dollars better for next season.”’ “*|’ll give pou first choice,’ laughed Fred, ‘‘so you needn’t worry.’ Just before they started to the theater, for the matinee performance, Nellie Traynor grasped Fred by the arm, drew him aside, and asked : ‘Are you going to leave the company ?’’ ““No. Who said I was?’’ “Oh, the cynic is offering to bet that you’ll be playing in St. Louis in a short time.”’ “‘Oh, well, don’t mind anything he says. I’m sat- isfied where I am. I like the boys and the girls in this company, and am going to see them through the trip.” * ‘©Oh, I’m so glad to hear you say that.”’ Baldwin was in the theater that afternoon, and watched all the performers closely, asif trying to size up their abilities, andafter the performance was over, he told Fred that he quite agreed with him about the little brunette; that she was capable of doing much better than her opportunities gave her a chance to. «‘ Qh, she is full of dramatic power,’’ replied Fred ; “‘put as I told you before, hasn’t the nack of looking out for herself like some of the other girls have.” A day or two later Nellie was taken ill with a severe cold and Gussie, who had been her understudy for some time, was substituted for her, and under Fred’s instructions she made a tremendous hit ; so much so, that Hammond declared she was the better of the two. Nellie was quite sick for a week, being confined to her room, but the news that she received filled her with dismay, and from being Grussie’s friend she turned to be her bitterest enemy, saying a great many very hard things about her. She even told Mrs. Hammond that Fred had given her money to buy clothes after the fire inthe theater in the country town, and also money to send to her mother before that. ““Do you know that to be true ?”? Mrs. Hammond asked, very much shockec. “Yes, Ido, for he sent the money to her by me; but you mustn’t say anything to him about it.”’ It was a mean thing to do and she lived to bitterly repent it. He grasped his hand, CHAPTER XII. CONCLUSION. THE wife of the manager lost no time in asking Gussie about Fred’s giving her money, and she very CoOpnicoookSse@