By Wells Hastings (1878- )

[ Century Magazine_, April, 1914; copyright, 1914, Century Co ; republished author's permission ]

"An' de next' frawg dat houn' pup seen, he pass him by wide "

The house, which had hung upon every word, roared with laughter, and shook with storming volley of applause Gideon bowed to right and to left, low, grinning, assured comedy obeisances; but laughter and applause grew he shook his head, and signaled quietly drop He had answered many encores, and an instinctive artist part fuel vanity that his audience had never yet had enough of him Dramatic judgment, as dramatic sense of delivery, was native to him, qualities which the shrewd Felix Stuhk, his manager and exultant discoverer, recognized and wisely trusted in Off stage Gideon was watched over like child and delicate investment, but once behind the footlights allowed his own triumphant gait

small wonder that Stuhk deemed himself cleverest managers business; that his narrow, blue-shaven face was continually chiseled in smiles of complacent self-congratulation rapidly becoming rich, and there were bright prospects of even greater triumphs, with proportionately greater reward He had made Gideon national character, headliner, star first magnitude firmament vaudeville theater, and all in six short months Or, at any rate, he had helped him all this; he had booked him well and given him his opportunity , Gideon had done the rest; Stuhk was as ready as credit to Gideon's ability Still, after all, he, Stuhk, discoverer, the theatrical Columbus who had had the courage vision

now-hallowed attack of tonsilitis had driven him to Florida, where presently Gideon employed to beguile his convalescence, and guide him over the intricate shallows long lagoon known Indian River in search of various fish On days when fish reluctant Gideon lured into conversation, and gradually into narrative relation of what had appeared to Gideon as humorous and entertaining; and finally Felix, the vague idea growing big within him, had one day persuaded his boatman to dance boards of long pier where they had made fast for lunch There, with all the sudden glory of crystallization, the vague idea took definite form and became the great inspiration of Stuhk's career

Gideon had grown to vaudeville much what Uncle Remus is to literature: virtue very simplicity His artistry itself was native and natural He loved good story, and it own sense gleeful morsel upon his tongue as no training made him He always enjoyed his story and himself telling Tales never lost their savor, no matter how often repeated; age was powerless to dim the humor thing, and as he had shouted and gurgled and laughed over the fun of things when all alone, or holding forth and little children color, so he shouted and gurgled and broke from sonorous chuckles to musical, falsetto mirth when he fronted the sweeping tiers of faces across the intoxicating glare footlights He had that rare power of transmitting something own enjoyments When Gideon was stage, Stuhk used to enjoy peeping out intent, smiling faces audience, where and children, hardened theater-goers and folk fresh country, sat with moving lips and faces lit with an eager interest and sympathy black man strutting in loose-footed vivacity before them

"He's simply unique," he boasted to wondering local managers--"unique, and it took me him There , little black gold-mine, and all of 'em passed him by until Some eye ? What ? I guess you'll admit to hand it some to your Uncle Felix coon's health holds out, we'll have all the money mint "

That was Felix's real anxiety--"If his health holds out " Gideon's health was watched over he an ailing prince His bubbling vivacity foundation his charm success were built Stuhk became sort of vicarious neurotic, eternally searching for symptoms protege; Gideon's tongue, Gideon's liver, Gideon's heart were matters to him of an unfailing and anxious interest And of late-- it imagination --Gideon had shown little physical falling off He ate bit less, he had begun to move in restless way, and, worst of all, he laughed less frequently

As matter of fact, ground for Stuhk's apprehension not all matter of managerial imagination: Gideon was less himself Physically nothing the matter ; he passed his rigid insurance scrutiny as easily as he had done months before, when his life and health insured for sum that made good copy press-agent sound in every organ, but something lacking in general tone Gideon felt it himself, and was certain that "misery," that embracing indisposition race, was creeping upon him He fed well, too well; growing rich, too rich; he had all the praise, all the flattery that his enormous appetite for approval desired, and of it White men sought him out and made much of him; white women talked to him about his career; and wherever he went, women of color--black girls, brown girls, yellow girls--wrote him admiration, whispered, when listen, passion and hero-worship "City niggers" bowed down before him; the high gallery was always packed Musk-scented notes scrawled upon barbaric, "high-toned" stationery poured in upon him Even few white women, horror and embarrassment, had written him of love, letters which he straightway destroyed His sense position was strong in him; proud of it "folks outer their haids," but he had the sense to remember For months he had lived in heaven of gratified vanity, but at last his appetite had begun to falter sated; his soul longed to wipe spiritual mouth back of spiritual hand, and His face, now curtain was down and leaving the stage, was doleful, almost sullen

Stuhk met him anxiously wings, and walked dressing-room suddenly very weary of Stuhk

"Nothing the matter, Gideon, ? Not feeling sick or anything ? "

"No, Misteh Stuhk; no, seh Jes don' feel extry pert, that's all "

"But it--anything bothering you ? "

Gideon sat gloomily before his mirror

"Misteh Stuhk," at last, "I been steddyin' it oveh, and I about come delusion that I needs good po'k-chop Seems foolish, , but it do' seem good po'k-chop, fried jes right, would he'p consid'able to disumpate this misery feelin' that's crawlin' and creepin' round my sperit "

Stuhk laughed

"Pork-chop, eh ? Is best think of ? what you mean, though I've thought for that you were getting little overtrained What is--let me see--yes, nice bottle of wine That's the ticket; ease things up and won't any harm I'll go, Ever had any champagne, Gideon ? "

Gideon struggled for politeness

"Yes, seh, I's had champagne, and it's nice kind of lickeh sho enough; but, Misteh Stuhk, seh, I don' want any high-tone drinks to-night, an' ef yo' don' mind, I'd rather amble off 'lone, or mebbe eat that po'k-chop with some otheh cullud man, ef I kin fin' one that ain' no-'count Carolina niggers s'pose yo' could let me have little money to-night, Misteh Stuhk ? "

Stuhk thought rapidly Gideon had certainly worked hard, and not dissipated If to roam the town by himself, no harm The sullenness still showed black face; Heaven knew what he might do if he suddenly began to balk Stuhk thought it wise to consent gracefully

"Good ! " "Fly ? hundred ? "

" is coming ? "

"About thousand, Gideon "

"Well, I'd moughty like five hun'red of it, ef that's 'greeable to yo' "

Felix whistled

"Five hundred ? Pork-chops coming high You don't want to carry all that money around, ? "

Gideon answer; he looked very gloomy

Stuhk hastened to cheer him

" anything Wait minute, get it

"I'll bet that coon's going himself ring or something," he reflected as he went in search local manager and Gideon's money

But Stuhk was wrong Gideon had no intention of buying himself ring matter , he had several that were amply satisfactory They had size and sparkle and luster, all the diamond brilliance that rings need ; and for had he paid much over five dollars amply supplied with jewelry perfect satisfaction His present want was positive, if nebulous; he desired fortune pocket, bulky, tangible evidence miraculous success Stuhk had found him, life had had an unreal quality for him His Monte Cristo wealth was like fabulous, dream-found treasure, money that spent without danger of awakening And he had dropped habit of storing it about him, in any pocket into which he plunged his hand he might find roll of crisp evidence of reality He liked his bills of all denominations, and some so large as exquisitely to stagger imagination, others charming by their number and crispness--the dignified, orange paper of man of assured position and wealth-crackling greenbacks the design tinged the whole with actuality specially partial to engravings of President Lincoln, the particular savior and patron race This five hundred dollars adding to an unreckoned sum of about two thousand, merely as extra fortification against growing sense of gloom to brace his flagging spirits gay wine of possession, and glad, money came, in an elastic-bound roll, so bulky pleasantly uncomfortable pocket as he left his manager