| Show A NEW STORY TOLD ABOUT H E ABBEY Interestino Scene Between the Famous Manaoer and John T Raumond That Took Place In Abbeus London Office The late Henry 13 Abbey was very busy in I his London office one day 10 August Ifcsl A number of clerks at desks In different parts of the room were hard at Iork coming now unit then with unnnlhd paper In hand and receiving a quiet word of Instructor from their chief or ndvlslng with one I another comparing documents Dr consulting con-sulting ledgers but all working Indus trlously and silently The place ults far more Fuggentive at the executive I seat I uf Solna glonU to commercial house than t tile omce uf a Showman II wu near I the opening of Ile Abbeys reason at the Lyceum theater London and of his I still more Important operatic venture at the Metropolitan Opera House In New York besides Henry Irvlngs first tour In America under Ills management Mr Abbey himself was busier than any of his clerks His table was heaped heap-ed with Papers At one side nnd ilc voted entirely to his private and personal per-sonal corrrpondncp lay it mnln cntly bound alligator leather writing desk ornamented wllh silver trimmings and mith Mr Abbeys Initials In large silver letters upon the lid The busy manager was writing slowly but BO Intently In-tently and cautiously that the Importance Impor-tance of his work was evident Now and then n messenger cop In hand would llcntly Blve him a telegram or a cablegram cable-gram which he would read and answer without a ord and Ibpn resume his l uts J 6 work Suddenly the floor Was thrown open find tilt almost solemn silence lib interrupted by a heurl voice that any American would have recognized In a moment In whatever part ot the globe lie might have heard It Hello Iknrj Here I am I start for Liverpool nt 418 I couldnt leave without bidding you goodby II mall John T Raymond lie com In with n valise In one hand anti nil mhrella In the other I think too he were n linen duster He began to speak eforo he was seen he was speaking asa h as-a entered and continued to speak with Scarcely an Interruption until lie made bin exit It was like his first entrance In a nw comely The scene II us his I and lie hol1 the stage until he left It I His 1IIlk was always funny and mi lie came forward to shrko hands II tilt him lanagirlal friend his business of slowing his umbrella I under the arm and bobling4lis r al ltl a7c hnlillnghls valise instead of placing both jet a chair or on the floor an he might have done altogether preitcs Ionel I Mr Abbey laid down his pen and Z I 1 4Y 4 I I looked up with a bored mlle as the com odian tratticA on all the time itn thulatIolly hklng the managers hand allot cocking Ills merry ee oroun1 at hi I 9 audience of omuBd clerk In a manner so entirely of the stage that It only needed Mr Abbeys taking the corner when nis hand wait fir and slowly separating his crushed fingers one by one to complete the old time stage business Yes Henr Iln going back to America today start for Liverpool In one hour take the 41S train LookIng LooK-Ing at his watch No by Jove I havent got an hour How time files Well goo < lh Henry old boy Any special message for your friends over the pond No 7 All right then Im off fr the great rpuhllcthe IAn of the free and the home of the brave lngUnds all right you Know Henr but then America ah America Well goo by old man Tile bust of luck to yt ou outloodby John The same to you ant a pleasant voyage 11 Mr Abbey had arisen and evidently glad the Interruption Interrup-tion was nearly at an end was smiling good naturedly but with a fired look and shaking hinds with the enthusiastic enthusias-tic comedian By the time John had reached the door Mr Abbey was seated at his desk again and with pen In hand 110 only wailing for the comedians at a pearance to resume his work On reaching the door however the retreatIng retreat-Ing actor utopped as If suddenly reminded > re-minded of something of the utmost Importance Im-portance dropped his valise to the floor and still retaining hh umbrella In one hand while fumbling In his trousers pocket with the other flew back to Mr Abbeys debk Henry before I GoIIe only pot one left one solitary English sovereign sover-eign Com now you match me or J match you which shall It her No no John You must excuse me Im cry bur and Call It then Here goes now tossIng toss-Ing the coin In the air What Is I It come now give It a name No John really protested the an no1 manager no longer concealing his Impatience to resume his work I cant 1 in very busy you know and All right Henry No sporting blood today eh I Then I suppose Ill have to 11 I I M I P I i < 1l I J I I I = I I J I 11 IIENItY n AMOY take this quid back to America with me but Id rather leave It with you making a pretense of going anJ returning I return-ing Immediate Come low Just once What Is I ItIo Head or 10111 No1 Very well Ooodb Henry This time Mr Abbey 30 not ailse when he shook hands Just then the comedians ee lighted on the magnlfleent writing care on the manager dek Well Henry that Is I a beauty Let me look at that for Just one moment taking It up without fuither permission Now Henr do pu know this la Pool lively the most magnificent thing I have over seen In all my life A writing desk iifl and Such a writing disk Ana I these silver sil-ver letters 11 E A Oh ye of course I we It n Annr i Abbey Ab-bey Well well Why this Is flna nouh for a Oft to an mcrorl A gift to an empirof Ah a good Idea I 9 give It to mel Make tna a Present or that writing desk Henry and Ill go back to America the Proudest man In the world Mr Abliter mildly rfud this ougge lion nn he hat the Propositlon tolmolelt sovereigns and seemed actually in pair between his desire td resume the Insur ant work before him and his desire not 10 be rude to the GaUd natured nuisance by his side You see Henry nothing need he changed about It I can take It Just ns It Is the H n A and all and when I get to America Ill go to a Jewelers noon soon as I land and right under the II r A Ill have him put To J T n Think of It Henry light here on thoU tho-U Id tf the box MI n A to J T It I Why my boy It will I Improve the appearance ap-pearance of the case 100 per cent Come now Henry what do you soy la tho box min Mr Abbey heaved a sigh nnd without a word opened tho case took out the stock of his jiennnal stationery which It contained part of It was mourning paper I remember as Mr Abbey had but recently lost his wife and handed the box td the comedian much Us the traveler might hand his watch to the road agent Looking around with a smile of triumph II umph upon his audience of thoroughly amused clerks the comedian tucked the rltlng desk under his arm na If It were so much legitimate spoil like a turkey won nt a shooting match shook Mi patient friend once more profusely by the hand all the while showering blessings upon his head got to the door talking ns he went lecovered his valise and with a final Ooodby God bless oul which was addressed to eOn body In the room went out of the door and I never now John T Raymond again NEWTON CHISNULL |
