results, and there the acting of Miss Bates rose to a magnificent climax of emotion, fully expressed and yet artistically controlled and directed,--a triumph of intellectual purpose. This was the original cast of “The Girl of the Golden West”: _The Girl_ Blanche Bates. _Wowkle_, an Indian squaw Harriet Sterling. _Dick Johnson_ Robert Hilliard. _Jack Rance_ Frank Keenan. _Sonora Slim_ John W. Cope. _Trinidad Joe_ James Kirkwood. _Nick_ Thomas J. McGrane. _The Sidney Duck_ Horace James. _Jim Larkens_ Fred. Maxwell. _“Happy” Haliday_ Richard Hoyer. _“Handsome” Charlie_ Clifford Hipple. _Deputy Sheriff_ T. Hayes Hunter. _Billy Jackrabbit_, an Indian J. H. Benrimo. _Ashby_ J. Al. Sawtelle. _José Castro_ Roberto Deshon. _Rider of the Pony Express_ Lowell Sherman. _Jake Wallace_, a travelling camp minstrel Ed. A. Tester. _Bucking Billy_ A. M. Beattie. _The Lookout_ Fred. Sidney. _A Faro Dealer_ William Wild. _The Ridge Boy_ Ira M. Flick. _Joe_ H. L. Wilson. _Concertina Player_ Ignazio Biondi. _Citizens of the Camp and Boys of the Ridge._ A THRILLING STORY--AND A TRUE ONE. One of the most tense and effective passages in contemporary drama is that contrived by Belasco, in this play, when the _Sheriff_ detects the concealment of the _Road Agent_, _Johnson_, in the _Girl’s_ home. Through the swirling snow he has caught a glimpse of a man’s figure near to the cabin of the _Girl_, has shot at it, and has, in fact, hit and grievously wounded _Johnson_, who has then been given refuge in the cabin and concealed by the _Girl_ in a low loft. _Rance_, having come to the cabin and been assured that nobody is concealed there, is about to leave. He goes toward the door, he is about to open it and step out, but turns to speak to the _Girl_, holding a white handkerchief with which he has wiped the snow from his face; as he does so, a drop of blood falls from the helpless wounded man above him upon the handkerchief, then another,--and _Rance_, watching the little crimson stain grow, instantly comprehends. Belasco, referring to this device, which, obviously, is as simple and as possible as it is effective but which was somewhat censured by captious fault-finders, writes this interesting account of its origin: