Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1910 — McCLANAHAN'S UNDERSTUDY [ARTICLE]

McCLANAHAN'S UNDERSTUDY

Dan Lamed and Jessie Clifford of thaWUmerlng stock company were desperately in love. The contlgjiea delay of the actor and the actress in uniting their fortunes was a matter of no small wonder to the members of the troupe, but they were left to their own surmises in, figuring out the situation. 1 Finally an inkling as to the real reason they did not get married leaked out. The hill they were to put on Tuesday night was one of those home plays in which the marriage of the hero and heroine was featured in last act, the ceremony being performed to meet the request of the bride’s dying father. “I don’t like the play a little bit,’’ exclaimed Miss Clifford, at the conclusion of the rehearsal. “It wouldn’t _ be so bad if it wasn’t for the marI just simply" can’t bear the thought of a wedding, for some reason, and every time I go through that ceremony it makes me fpel so embarrassed I know I make a wretched failure of the whole thing. I feel like I would quit before I go through It again.’’ To most of the members of the company such an outburst meant nothing, for each of them had objections to something or other In every show they put on. But to Billy McClanahan the Jovial Irishman who doubled on the parts of the country boy In the first three acts, and the preacher In the lact act, the angry remonstrance of the leading lady held a different meaning.

“If she objects to a stage wedding It’s for certain she’d object a great deal more to the real thing, and if that Isn't what’s keeping her and Larned from ‘splicing’ I’ll be willing to spend the rest of my days as a hash slinger.” He muttered these words as he left the theater by the "Stage door. Then an Idea dawned upon him, and the fact that the street was thronged with people did not prevent him from clapping his hands and exclaimed l quite loudly: “I’ll do it!” With that he located Lamed and explained his plan, and the latter readily agreed to it, saying it would be bound to secure the results for which he had so long hoped in vain. Quickly they made the necessary preparations and then McClanahan Runted up the rest of the company to explain the scheme to them. The curtain had gone down on the third act when Lamed hurried to the door of Miss Clifford’s dressing room. Tapping upon the door, he exclaiiited: McClanahan has been arrested because some blundering officer thinks toe is wanted down in Texas and a friend of Jess Millman has agreed to go on as the preacher during this act. I wanted to tell you so you wouldn’t be surprised too greatly at the sight of a new minister. The last scene passed off better than usual that night, and the “sub” who’ took MoClanahan’s place appeared td>

be more at home as a man of the cloth than did the Irishman, versatile as he was. No sooner had the curtain dropped than the company gathered about the leading lady. “Oougratmjations, Mm. Lamed,” they shouted. Then McClanahan, the author of the conspiracy, appeared, smiling as though his experience with the “officer” had done him good. ‘“The preacher was a real one,” he exclaimed. “Dan and I got the license arranged for the minister this afternoon and so now you’re married and won’t have to worry any more about the wedding cereihony.” “Oh Dan, I’m so glad,” laughed the bride as she threw both arms about her husband’# neck.—Vance Crlss.