It seems that at a certain benefit in Virginia City, "Ingomar" was the play, Mr. McCullough sustaining the title role and Mr. Raymond played _Polydor_. _Polydor_, it will be remembered, is the old Greek duffer who has a mortgage on _Myron's_ real estate, and presses for payment in hopes to get _Parthenia's_ hand in marriage. The performance went beautifully, and the applause was liberal, for McCullough was playing his best. Raymond was the crookedest and most miserly of _Polydors_, and the savage intensity he threw into his acting surprised all who imagined he could only play light comedy. All went more than well until _Ingomar_ offered himself as a slave to _Polydor_ in payment of _Myron's_ little account. "What, you?" screamed _Polydor_, and, apparently overcome by the thought, he "took a tumble," and fell forward upon _Ingomar_. _Ingomar_ stepped back in dismay, when _Polydor_, on all fours, crept nimbly between his sturdy legs and tried to climb up on his back. The audience "took a tumble," and the roof quivered and the walls shook with roars of laughter. "D--n you," groaned _Ingomar_, _sotto voce_, "if I only had you at the wings?" But _Polydor_ nimbly eluded his grasp, and, knocking right and left the dozen supes, who were on as the army, he skipped to the front of the stage and climbed up out of reach of the projecting mouldings of the proscenium. Here he clung, and, to make matters worse, grinned cheerfully at the pursuers he had escaped, and rapidly worked the string of a trick wig, the long hair of which flapped up and down in the most ludicrous fashion. It was impossible for the play to proceed, and the curtain was rung down, leaving _Polydor_ still on his lofty perch, while the audience laughed and shouted itself hoarse. And this is the reason why Mr. McCullough said, "No, sir, never again!" to Mr. Raymond's offer. [Illustration: FAY TEMPLETON IN "BILLEE TAYLOR."] I may add that among the young people of the stage who are possessed of that personal magnetism that makes them popular, is Fay Templeton, who is not only pretty, but thoroughly original. CHAPTER XXIV. CHINESE AND JAPANESE THEATRICALS.