Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23
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better just go over to where it's warm.
They'll be glad to get me and-and. to tell
the truth. I'll be glad to get In with the
syndicate. even If 1 can't make as good
terms as 1 might have by selling that con-
tract. which-like the famous conspiracy
you're half mad about-never existed.
He sat down the edge of the desk. l
caught one glimpse of his face. 1t was
black: that was enough for me- 1 turned
to go.
"Ah. but it did. Miss Olden. it did, he
sneered
II won't believe 1t on the word of a man
that's been in the lunatic asylum ever since
he lost his theater."
Perhaps you'll believe it on mine"
jumped. "On yours!'
Didn't that little bully. when he lost his
temper that day at the Van Twiller. when
we had our last fight-didnt he pull paper
out of his box and shake 1t in my face,
and"
"But-you could have them arrested for
and the proof of it could be destroyed
and then-but l can't see how this inter-
ests you"
Mono" 1 said thoughtfully. Il only
happened to lump it in with the contract
we haven't-you and l. And as there's no
contract. why there's no need Of my waiting
till the end of the season..
do you mean to say you'd-youd-"
IF 'twere done, 'twere better it'd be done
quickly" 1 said Macbethically.
He looked at me. Sitting there on his
desk. his clenched fist on his knee, he
looked for a moment as though he was
about to fly at me- Then all of a sudden
he slipped into his chair, leaned back and
laughed.
1t wasn't a pleasant laugh. Mag. No
wait. Let me tell you the rest
You so shrewd Olden, so awfully
shrewd! Your eye is so everlastingly out
for the main chance, and you're still 50
young that 1 predict "a great future for
you. l might even suggest that by Guilt
waiting TauSig personally
you needn't"
mo. you're right; I needn't. You can
discount any suggestion 1 might make. You
just want to be the first to go over. eh? To
get there before Gray does-to get all
there is in it for the first rebel that lays
down his arms; not to come in late when
submission is stale-and cheap. Don't
worry about terms. you poor little babe in
the woods. Don't" His own words
seemed to choke him.
Don't you think" l began bit I'M
steadily.
Il thnk-oh. what fool I've been"'
That stiffened me.
''Of course, you have" I said cordially
ITS silly to fight the push, isn't 1T? It's
only the cranks that get cocky and think
they can upset the fellows on top. The
thing to do is to find out which Is the
stronger-if you're a better man than the
pion, enlist under him. But be In 1t.
What's the use of being kicker all your
life? You only let some one else come in
for the soft things. while you stay outside
and gnaw your finger nails and plot and
plan and starve. You spend your life hop
ing to live tomorrow, while the Tausigs are
living high today. The thing to do Is to be
humble II you can't be arrogant. II
but placate them. Think Of Gaffney herd
ing sheep out in Nevada; Of ringer in the
asylum; of Howison-'
"Admirable! admirable!' he interrupted
sarcastically. THE only fault I have to
find with your harangue Is that you've mis-
conceived my meaning entirely But I
needn't enlighten you. Good morning. Miss
Olden-good-bye.
He turned to his desk and pulled out
some papers l knew he wasn't so desper-
ately absorbed in them as he pretended to
be-
Won't you shake hands" asked. land
wish me luck?'
He put down his pen. His face was white
and hard. but 8 he looked a me 1t gradu-
ally softened
II SUPPOSE suppose I am bit unreal
sonable Just this minute he said slowly.
I'm hard hit and-and / don't just know
the way out. Still, haven't any right to-
to expect more of you than there is in you.
you poor little thing! It's not your fault.
but mine. that I've expected-oh, for Gods
sake-Nance-go, and leave me alone.
l had to take that with me to the Van
Twiller. and it wasn't pleasant But Tausig
received me with open arms.
Got tired of staying out in the cold
eh?" he grinned.
I'm tired of vaudeville" I answered.
Cant you give me chance in a comedy"
Him! Ambitious. amt you?"
''Obermuler has play all ready for me-
written for me. He'd star me fast enough
II he had the chance"
But he'll never get the chance"
''Oh. 1 don't know"
But 1 do He's on the toboggan: that's
where they all get, my dear. when they get
big headed enough to fight us"
But Obermullers not like the others
He's not so easy. And he is clever; why
the plot Of that comedy is the bulliest
thing"
You've read it-you remember it?"
ooh. I know 1t by heart-my part Of 1t.
You see. he wouldn't keep away from me
while he was thinking of it. He kept con-
sultlng me about everything in 1t. In
way, we worked over 1t together
The little man looked at me- slowly
closing one eye. 1t is a habit of his when
he's going to do something particularly
nasty.
Then. in way, you say, it is part
yours?''
Hardly! Imagine Nance Olden writing
"stiil you2collaborated; that's the word
1 say. my dear. IL 1 could read that
comedy. and it was-half what you saw 1t
is | might don't promise, mind-but I
might let you have the part that was writ
ten for you and put the thing on Has lie
drilled you any, ehI He was the best
stage manager we ever had before he got
the notion of managing for himself-and
running himself"
We'll. he's all that yet OF course. he
has told me, and we agreed how the thing
should be done. AS he'd write. you know
he'd read the thing over to me- and ="
'Fine-fne! A reading from that fool
Obermuller would be enough to open the
eyes of a clever woman. I'd like to read
that comedy-yes?"
But Obermuller would never"
But Olden might"
WHAT"
Dictate the plot to my secretary Ma
son. in there" he nodded his head back
toward the inner room. She could give
him the plot and as much of her own part
In fun as she could remember. You know
Mason. Used to be newspaper man.
Smart fellow, that. when he's sober He
could piece out the holes-yes?"
looked at him. The little beast sat
there, slowly closing one eye and openine
II again. He looked like an unhealthy lit
tie frog, with his bald head his thin-Iipped
mouth that laughed. while the wrinkles
rayed away from his cold sneering ewes
that had no smile in them
II wouldn't like to make an enennv NJ
man IKE Obermuller, Mr.. Tausig"
Ban! Amt l told you he's on the To-
| boggan?' va Tic To-
But you never can tell with man lilo
tnat. suppose he got into that combine
| stock?" oiiu "ein-
| "Whatre you talking about,"