Beth Norvell | Page 4

young man to look at. I vos most

afraidt you could not do mein vork, but it is all right. You vill eat mit us
at the long table," he waved his hand indefinitely toward the
dining-room, "at 12:30, and then I valk mit you over py der Obera
House, und show you vat der is to be done mit dot scenery und dem
trunks. Mein Gott! it vos vonderful dot muscles vot you haf got--you
vould make a great Davy Crockett ven I learns you de business, mein
frient."
The manager's appreciation of his new acquisition was so clearly
evident that Winston felt compelled to notice it.
"I am rejoiced you appear so well satisfied," he said, rising to his feet.
"Satisfied! Mein Gott," and the overjoyed Albrecht cordially clasped
the hand of his new recruit. "It vos a great season of luck for me, mein
frient. Dot Meess Norvell, she makes me mooch monies vile I shows
her how to be an actress,--oh, it vos yoost beautiful to see her act,--und
now you comes mit me also, und cares nottings for vot I bay you, und I
can see you haf der actor genius. Mein Gott! it vos too goot to be true."
Winston broke away gladly, and drifted back toward the cigar stand,
where the mystified Tommy yet stood staring at him.
"Well, did you get it?" the latter questioned, grinning.
"Thomas," returned the other loftily. "You can hand me out another
cigar, and I will thank you not to be quite so familiar in the future. I am
now general utility man with the 'Heart of the World' company, and
consequently entitled to greater respect."
CHAPTER II
OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY
Miss Norvell failed to appear at the noon meal, though Winston met the
other members of the company. He found them genial enough, even
somewhat boisterous, with the single exception of Mr. Lane, who
maintained a dignified and rather gloomy silence, such as became one

of his recognized professional standing, after having favored the
newcomer with a long, impertinent stare, apparently expressing
disapproval. The manager was outwardly in most excellent humor,
narrating several stories, at which all, excepting the reserved comedian,
laughed quite heartily. At the conclusion of the repast, Albrecht
condescended to purchase his new recruit a cigar, and then walked
beside him toward the Opera House, where the necessary instructions
in new duties promptly began. If Winston had previously imagined his
earlier steps toward histrionic honors were destined to be easy ones, he
was very soon undeceived under the guidance of the enthusiastic
manager. It proved a strenuous afternoon, yet the young fellow had the
right stuff in him to make good, that stubborn pride which never
surrenders before difficulties; he shut his teeth, rolled up his
shirt-sleeves, and went earnestly to work.
It was a small, cheaply built theatre, having restricted stage space,
while a perfect riff-raff of trunks and detached pieces of canvas scenery
littered the wings. At first sight it appeared a confused medley of odds
and ends, utterly impossible to bring into any conformity to order, but
Albrecht recognized each separate piece of luggage, every detached
section of canvas, recalling exactly where it properly belonged during
the coming performance. For more than an hour he pranced about the
dirty stage, shouting minute directions, and giving due emphasis to
them by growling German oaths; while Winston, aided by two local
assistants, bore trunks into the various dressing-rooms, hung drop
curtains in designated positions, placed set pieces conveniently at hand,
and arranged the various required properties where they could not
possibly be overlooked during the rush of the evening's performance.
Thus, little by little, order was evolved from chaos, and the astute
manager chuckled happily to himself in quick appreciation of the
unusual rapidity with which the newly engaged utility man grasped the
situation and mastered the confusing details. Assuredly he had
discovered a veritable jewel in this fresh recruit. At last, the affairs of
principal importance having been attended to, Albrecht left some final
instructions, and departed for the hotel, feeling serenely confident that
this young man would carry out his orders to the letter.

And Winston did. He was of that determined nature which performs
thoroughly any work once deliberately undertaken; and, although the
merest idle whim had originally brought him to this position of utility
man in the "Heart of the World" company, he was already beginning to
experience a slight degree of interest in the success of the coming show,
and to feel a faint esprit de corps, which commanded his best efforts.
Indeed, his temporary devotion to the preparation of the stage proved
sufficiently strong to obscure partially for the time being all
recollection of that first incentive which had suggested his taking such
a step--the young lady