The San Francisco call., 1904-09-18

answer would be to ask you to look at
that mirror and then at the poster
The poster is of 'Alcide' It's a dupli-
cate Of the French one"
Anna got up and looked at the mir
ror and then at the poster. The like
ness was ridiculous.
"Well?" she said, sitting down again.
i want an engagement"
"Capitali" Mr. Earles declared. ANY
choice as to which of the halls?'' You
can pick and choose you know. rec
ommend the Universal"
Il have no choice" Anna declared.
L can get you" Mr.. Earles said,
slowly. keeping his eyes fixed upon her,
forty at the Universal two turns
encores voluntary, six for matinees.
We should not bar any engagements
at private houses, but in other respects
the arrangement must be exclusive"
Forty what?" Anna asked bewil-
dered.
'Guineas. of course" Mr. Earles an
swered. glibly. Forty guineas week.
] mentioned sixty, 1 believe, when 1
was in Paris, but there are expenses,
and just now business is bad"
Anna was speechless. but she had the
presence of mind enough to sit still
until she recovered herself. Mr.. Earles
watched her anxiously. She appeared
TO be considering.
"Of course" he ventured, Il could
try for more at the 'Alhambra.' Very
likely they would give -"
4 should be satisfied with the sum
you mention" Anna said quietly, "but
there are difficulties"
Don't use such a word, my dear
young lady" Mr.. Earles said persua-
sively. Difficulties indeed. Well make
short work of Them
I hope that you may" Anna an
swered enigmatically. In the first
place, / have no objection to the posi-
ters, as they have no name on them,
but 1 do not wish to appear at all upon
the stage as 'Alcide. If you engage
me il must be upon my own merits
You are taking it for granted that l
am 'Alcide.' AS a matter of fact, 1 am
not"
Excuse me-" Mr.. Earles said, but
this is rubbish"
Call it what you like Anna an
swered. I can sing the songs 'Alcide'
sang, and in the same style. But 1
will not be engaged as 'Alcide' or ad-
vertised under that name"
Mr.. Earles scratched his chin for a
moment thoughtfully. Then a light
seemed to break in upon him. He
slapped his knee.
by Jovei" he exclaimed. "Of course,
l remember now. 1t was your sister
who married Sir John Ferringhall the
other day, wasn't it?"
Anna nodded.
1T was" she admitted.
You needn't say word more" Mr..
Earles declared. II see the difficulty.
The old fools been working on you
through your sister to keep off the
stage He's a prig to the finger tips,
is Sir John-doesn't know what an
rffc ic lrxrv. rH hr4f eraf
round it somehow. Now I'll tell you
what / propose. Let me run you for
six months. I'll give you, say, 80
guineas week clear of expenses, and
half Of anything you earn above the
two turns a night. What do you
say?"
L agree" Anna said coldly, IF you
viii make it three months"
Better say six,' Mr.. Earles protest
ed, seating himself before the desk and
dipping his pen in the ink.
-Four" Anna decided firmly. II
shall not agree to six"
1T scarcely gives me a chance" Mr..
Earles said with a resigned sigh, but
] shall rely upon you to stick to me
So long as 1 do the right thing by
you. You can't do without an agent,
and there's no one who can run you
better than 1 can"
You must also put in the agree
ment." Anna said. that 1 do not rep
resent myself to be 'Alcide,' and that
] am not advertised to the public by
that name"
Mr.. Earles threw down his pen with
a little exclamation.
Come this way" he said.
He opened the door of still another
room, in one corner of which was a
grand piano. He seated himself be-
fore il.
Go to the far corner" he said. and
sing the last verse of Les Petites' -
He struck a note and Anna respond
ed. Playing with one hand, he turned
on his stool to glance at her. In
stinctively she had fallen into the pos
ture of the poster, her hands behind
her. her head bent slightly forward,
her chin uplifted. her eyes bright with
the drollery of the song. Mr.. Earles
closed the piano with little bang.
You are a funny. a very funny
young lady" he said. But we waste
time here. You do not need my COM
piiments. We will get on with the
agreement, ard you shall have in it
whatever rubbish you like
Anna laughed and went back to her
easy chair. She knew that her voice
was superior to AnnabePs. and she had
no further qualms. While she was
wondering how to frame her request
for an advance Mr. Earles drew out
his checkbook.
You will not object" he said
glancing toward her, Ito accepting a
deposit 1t is customary, even where
an agreement is drawn
Il shall have no objection at ALL"
Anna assured him.
He handed her check for 81 pounds
10 shillings and read" the agree
ment through to her. Anna took up
the pen and signed after a moments
hesitation,
A. PELLISSIER.
Il will send you a copy" Mr.. Earles
said, rubbing his hands together, by
post Now, will you do me the
honor Of lunching with me, Miss Pei
lissier?"
Anna hesitated.
Perhaps" he queried, you wish to
avoid being seen about with any one
with the profession, un-
der present circumstances. If so, do
not hesitate to tell me. Be frank, 1 beg
yOu Miss PelliSSier / am already too