.. to the "girls"
in various houses of prostitution....
And "do you know Johnnie Gregory?" and "when is Johnnie Gregory coming
to see us again?" other students were asked who frequented the
"houses.")
"And what are you up to now?" asked Mackworth.
--"acting ... in Van Maarden's _Iistral_ ... leading role!"
"You look skinnier than ever!"
"I am taking the part seriously, and it's bringing me down. I like to
do real things when I get a chance, Mr. Mackworth ... and I am going
to make the two performances of _Iistral_ memorable ones."
"You need a new suit of clothes very badly."
"I know I do. But I have no money, and no credit."
"Well see about that, my young Villon."
Mackworth took me to one side and thrust a fifty-dollar bill into my
hand.
I hurried down to Locker, the clothier....
In a very little while I was again walking by the Bellman House,
completely togged out in new apparel from head to heel.
Mackworth was still standing there, and he laughed with astonishment at
the lightning-quick change in my appearance....
"You're a card, Gregory!"
He afterward repeated the story with gusto....
* * * * *
The day before the night of our first performance at the Bowersby Opera
House, Jack Travers, always turning up, came to me with a smile of faint
sarcasm on his face--
"How's the great actor, eh?"
"Don't be an ass, Jack!"
"I've got a good proposition to make for advertising the show--and
there'll be a lot of fun in it, too.
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