A POPULAR ACTOR TELLS THIS STORY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 63, 3 January 1908, Page 3

A POPULAR ACTOR TELLS THIS STORY.

" We were playing in a small town out West, back in the seventies," remarked a theatrical man, " when our leading heavy man had rather a tough experience. All the miners were in the theatre. The heavy man had been persecuting a poor maiden through two acts. In the third act he came to the powerful scene of the play. 'At last,' he said,' I have you in my power, and nothing on earth can save you ! I, who was the slave, am now the master.' So saying, he advanced towards his trembling victim. 'Mercy!' she moaned. 'Mercy?' he retorted. ' You had no mercy for me, and I will have none for you ! "

At that moment a gruff voice was heard from the gallery. ' You blamed varmint, I'll settle with you ! * There was the crack of a pistol, and a bullet whizzed near the heavy man. " Plug the son of a gun, boys," continued the voice, and a shower of bullets saluted the stage villian. He didn't stop long. In the wing he met the stage-mana-ger, who was white with anger. " You have broken up the scene," he said. " Well ?" "Go back to the stage, and wait for your esit 1" *< t guess not." 1 1 tell you, I won't have the man in my company who is so easily disconcerted ! Go on with the scene or you leave the company to-morrow." That was serious, to be stranded in that forsaken town was calculated to. make the heavy man appreciative. " I'll go back," he said. He tore off his wig just before going on, and, stepping down to the footlights with an injured expression of he said: " Ladies and gentlemen—there were no ladies there, but that didn't matter—with your kind permission I will resume the scene. Before doing so, \ want to call your attention |o the' fact., that the lady and myself are merely acting parts. In reality we are the best of friends. I bear no ill-wilt for your display of heroic chivalry. I trust, -however, that you will curb your generous sentiments, for' If you should hit me, the play will be interrupted. If any of the gentlemen will meet me after the show at M'Carthy'sj they will find out that I am not a bad fellow." Loud cheers greeted this speech andjthe play was continued.