After the curtain dropped, the “supers” complained to me about it.  Bill’s conduct made me angry, and I told him that he must either stop shooting the “supers,” or leave the company.  He made no reply, but went to the dressing-room and changed his buckskin suit for his citizen’s dress, and during one of my scenes I looked down in front and saw him elbowing his way through the audience and out of the theater.  When I had finished the scene, and had retired from the stage, the stage-carpenter came up and said: 

“That long-haired gentleman, who passed out a few minutes ago, requested me to tell you that you could go to thunder with your old show.”

That was the last time that Wild Bill and I ever performed together on the stage.  After the evening’s entertainment I met him at the Osborn House.  By this time he had recovered from his mad fit and was in as good humor as ever.  He had made up his mind to leave for the West the next day.  I endeavored to persuade him to remain with me till spring, and then we would go together; but it was of no use.  I then paid him the money due him, and Jack and myself made him a present of $1,000 besides.

Bill went to New York the next day, intending to start west from there.  Several days afterwards I learned that he had lost all his money in New York by playing faro; also that a theatrical manager had engaged him to play.  A company was organized and started out, but as a “star” Wild Bill was not a success; the further he went the poorer he got.  This didn’t suit Bill by any means, and he accordingly retired from the stage.  The company, however, kept on the road, using Bill’s name, and employing an actor to represent him not only on the stage but on the street and elsewhere.  Bill heard of this deception and sent word to the manager to stop it, but no attention was paid to his message.

Finally, Bill resolved to have satisfaction and he proceeded to a town where the company was to play; he entered the theater and took a seat near the stage, and watched the performance until the bogus Wild Bill appeared.  He then sprang upon the stage, knocked the actor clear through one of the scenes, and grabbing the manager by the shoulders he threw him over the foot-lights into the orchestra.

[Illustration:  GETTING SATISFACTION.]

The other actors screamed and yelled “Police!” The audience could not at first understand what it all meant, some of them supposing the affair to be a part of the play.

Wild Bill retired from the stage in good order, resumed his seat, and told them to go on with their show.  A policeman now appearing, Bill was pointed out as the disturber of the peace; the officer tapping him on the shoulder, said: 

“I’ll have to arrest you, sir.”

“How many of you are there?” asked Bill.

“Only myself,” said the policeman.

“You had better get some help,” said Bill.  The officer then called up another policeman, and Bill again asked: