Work and Win #07: Fred Fearnot as Actor — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

WORK AND WIN. Issued IF Lge By Subscription $2.50 per year. Hutereu as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office, December &, 1898. tntered according to Act of Congress in the year 1899, in the office of the Librarian of Congr ess, W ashington, D.C., by Frank Tousey, 29 West 26th st,, New York. No. 7. NEW YORK, January 20, 1899. Price 5 Cents. Fred Fearnot as an Actor; OR, FAME BEFORE THE FOOTLIGHTS. BY AUTHOR OF FRED FEARNOT, CHAPTER I. 7 THE FUN ON THE TRAIN—FRED BOUND FOR THE WEST. ! FRED FEARNOT was on his way out West to visit three towns in lowa, for the purpose of attending to some legal business for his father, who had found it impossible to attend to it himself. On a former occasion his father had sent him on a Similar errand, and he had transacted the business so ‘much to his satisfaction that the judge complimented im highly and actually told him he was proud of him, so again he had sent him out on business of very great importance, and with instructions and as properly authenticated. He was accompanied by his classmate and chum, Terry Olcott, and both were in the highest spirits, for they were to do the whole West after the business on which Fred had been sent was attended to. It happened that a very lively theatrical company, on its way to fill engagements in the West, was in the same car, and before the train had made fifty miles they were singing and shouting atagreatrate. There were about a dozen of them in all, among whom were four girls and the wife of the manager. . Fred and Terry occupied a seat by themselves quietly listening to the songs and jokes of the merry thespians, and came to the conclusion that if they couldn’t act any better than they could sing, their performances would not be worth five cents’ admission to see. “Say, Fred,” laughed Terry, when the company had just finished a rollicking song, ‘‘they’re a jolly pet, but they can’t sing. There’s more harmony among 4 lot of frogs in an old mill pond than in all the music they’ve given us.”’ “Oh, it isn’t an opera company,” returned Fred. “<Those two chemical blondes over there, who are carrying on at such a rate, are very good actresses. V’ve seen them perform several times, but I don’t é r a < recollect seeing any of those fellows on the stage, un- less it’s that tall, black-eyed fellow who started up that last song. I think I’ve seen him strutting about on the stage, ranting and snorting, and calling for blood and all that sort of thing. I wish 1 knew where they are bound for.”’ ‘“‘What’s the matter with asking some of them ?’” suggested Terry. “‘T will, when I get a chance. Say, look at that, will you ?”? and as he spoke he nudged Terry, as one of the actors opened his grip and extracted from it a typical black bottle, which he handed to one of the girls, after drawing the cork. The girls laughed and giggled a great deal, as each one turned up the bottle, took a sip from it that forced. her to make an extremely wry face. “Well, Pll be hanged !’’ said Terry. ‘‘ That’s the first time I ever saw a woman or girl take a drink straight from the bottle !’’ ‘Oh, theatrical people don’t stand on ceremony or conventionality, when they’re out on the road, and L guess we’re the only ones in the car who don’t belong to the company, unless it’s that old fellow back in the corner behind us there. It wouldn’t make any dif- ference, though, with them, if there were fifty stran- gers inthe car. They’re out for fun and they’re go- ing to have it. Suppose we give them a song just to. let ?em know what good singing is.”’ “All right,’’ laughed Terry; ‘‘ what shall we give them ?”’ “Oh, any old thing will do. Let’s try the ‘Old Oaken Bucket.’ ”’ “All right,’ said ‘Terry. ‘Time apy? Fred struck the back of the seat in front of him with the index finger of his right hand, and held it up to his ear, in imitation of a singing master with ‘his tuning fork. He performed a like service for Terry, asking: «‘ Have you got the right key ?”’ CopmicloookkS.se©