The bee., 1904-12-01
NO Delivery
BY HARRY w. FREES.

By HARRY w. FREES.
The stock company presenting the
matinee fayorites, Dale Jerome and
Adelaide Funston had been playing
that week at the theater. While not
generally known outside of theatrical
circles, the two len Eng members OF
the company were man and wife. For
professional reasons Adelaide Fun.
ston had not adopted her husbands
name.
II was Friday morning. and the
two were lounging in their room at
the hotel. On the bed between them
lay a magnificent Dresden doll, with
fuzzy fiaxen curls. and big blue eyes
that opened and shut. Attached to
one OF the wrists was a dainty white
tag, inscribed: ITO Baby Rose, from
mama and papa. with love and a
thousand kisses"
She'll be tickled all to pieces"
said Dale, laughingly, peering up into
his wife's face with a half-boyish en-
thusiasm.
The little DEAR" murmured his
wife, stroking the bonny head Of the
doll with fondness OF touch that dis
played the mother love within her.
Il wish she were here, Dale" she
said. tenderly, after while, with a
queer little catch in her voice.
80 do |, old girl" he answered as
steadily as he could; with all my
heart"
Then they both stared silently at
the doll, but their eyes were dim.
Four years before a baby girl had
come into their lives, and never was a
little visitor welcomed more royalty.
They had deemed II best to place the
little ones with some relative in New
Hampshire. apart from their life upon
the stage.
The bill that afternoon was to be re
yised version OF Uncle Toms Cabin, -
with Dale In the role OF st. Clair, and
his wife appearing as Ophelia. the
spinster. Upon leaving the hotel for
the theater they we're joined in the
lobby by the manager of the com
papy.
Say, Dale. what do you make out
OF this?" quried Farnell. in the course
of conversation, handing his leading
man a letter.
II was addressed to their advance
man at Topeka. Stamped across the
envelope in red ink was the advice OF
the receiving post ONCE :"No delivery.
Return TO sender.
mo delivery" unused Dale to him.
self That's strange" he said aloud.
'He gave you the date all right, didn't
he?"
"Sure," declared Farnell. Wrote
me that should reach him at Topeka
by the fifth. I'!l gamble II got there
a day earlier. The postmark's blurred.
so you can't tell. I've got an idea
there'll be a holy howl from Kansas
very shortly"
They all laughed. and the incident
was dropped.
As they entered the theater by way
of the stage door Dale was halted by
the man in charge His wife passed
on into her dressing-room, while the
manager walked to the front Of the
stage.
Here's a message for you. sir" ex-
plalned the doorkeeper. "It just
came"
Dale tore open the envelope. and
hastily scanned the inclosedre~ yellow
sheet. A single glance told him all.
The sudden thrust of dagger to his
heart could not have caused him more
acute pain. He leaned against the
door with his hand covering his eyes
81 hope It's not serious news, sir"
said the man, with ready. sympathy.
At the sound Of the others voice
Dale steadled himself with an effort
His wife must not know-not now
That the performance should go on
was of paramount Importance. She
could never go through it If she knew
When he Joined his wife behind the
scenes a little later he had gained con-
troll of himself She spoke to him
about his deathly pallor, and feared
that he was Ill. He tried to assure
her with a smile, but it nearly ended
in a sob.
During the course Of the play it be-
came painfully evident that he was
not in his usual form. Frequently he
fumbled with his lines and disconcert-
cd the other players by failing to give
the prGper cna ....