Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
CHAPTER v.
The Letter,

The sunny day. indeed passed all too
| quickly. A splendid telegram. fifty words
| long from the splendid Mr. Charles lizard
set the seal of that great mans approval
upon the verdict of the newspapers.
You have got right there" he wired,
the business follows See rae at o'clock
without fail -
That means long engagement" said
| the shrewd Dulcie. when she read the tele-
gram.
Lucy, prudent always, thought that Eta
| should have a gentleman to advise her.
Don't go to the theater lawyers" she
said they always make love to you. If
you had a gentleman friend, 1t would be
nice to speak TO him about it, Mr.. lizard
knows what hes got in his lucky bag. Now
don't you go to signing anything Just ne
cause he asks you, dear. Manys the poor
girl who S engaged herself when half the
managers In London wanted her. l should
hold my head very high if 1t We're me
That the only way with such people.
Eta promised to Go so, and having taken
them 20 lunch, as sac promised, she round
herself. al 4 O'Clock in the Afternoon, in
the elegant Office wherein the great Charles
lizard did his business. Then she remern-
bered with what awe and trepidaton she
had entered that sanctum upon her first
business visit to London. How different
it was today. and yet how unreal stilii The
little man had the morning and evening
papers properly displayed upon his immense
writing table; and, when Eta came IN;
he wheeled up a chair for her with all
the ceremony with which he capable.
why, now" he said what did tell
you? Afraid of the newspapers, Ell? Wen.
there they are, my dear. Don't tell me
you haven't read EN-, for l shouldn't be-
lieve you.
Eta admitted that she might have glanced
at them.
said. Il wish they had spoken as well
of the play; but l suppose they must find
fault with something. l know so little
about these things Mr.. lizard.
Then you'll soon learn my dear AS
for what they say about the play, that
don't matter two cents, while the business
keeps up. Well take 5000 this week or
1 know nothing about it. Let the newspa-
pers enjoy themselves while they can
l They've been kind enough to you; but
you're clever enough to understand the ad-
vantages my name gives you. Produce that
play at any other house and let any other
man bill it and they'd have the notices up
in n fortnight But they'll take Just what
| give EN- because | know just what they
want and how they want it, That's how
were going to do business together You
can earn good money with me and can
find you the plays My cards are all on
the table; I'll sign a three years engage
ment here and now and pay you Slee a
week-thats 500 sterling, English money.
If YOU want to think II over, take your
for the stage and my theater is going to
make you-that's what you We TO say TO
yourself. Charles lizard will produce me
and his name spells money AS say.
take YOUR own time to think 1t over. And
don't forget you are the hrst woman IN
all my life to whom l have offered 500
week on a first engagement.
Eta listened a little timidly to these
frank and business-like proposals. Such a
situation as this had never occurred to her
when she left her home in Derbyshire and
set out upon this mad escapade. She mad
asked for a hearing from a man who made
IiS ST
one who cared to approach him. The tone
of her letter, the restraint or II, the tact
that she had known Haddon Han an her
life that every bit of that splendid rum,
every tree in the old park, every glade In
the gardens were familiar to her. struck
a note of assent in the great Americans
imagination and compelled him to send for
her He believed that at the outset she
would serve for walking on" part. When
he saw her, he asked her to read scene
from "Haddon Half' and heard her on the
stage Then he said: Here is a born act
ress and not only that but an aristocrat be
sides" The secrecy which had attended
her application whetted his desire to en-
gage her. Il will play month for moth
ing" She had said. Even Charles lizard
did not feel disposed to offer her a smaller
sum
And here he was talking Of agreements
for a term of three years and of $50 a
week.
How to answer him Eta did not know.
She perfectly aware that her weeks
bring letter from her father in which
he would speak of return to Derbyshire.
The mythical visit to Aunt Anne, which
had been her excuse to the servants at I
home would be exploded in a moment |
should her father return. None the less,
the situation had its humors, IF I only
dare tell Mr.. Izard," she had said to her
self knowing well that she would not tell |
him unless It were a last resource.
You are as kind to me the critics"
she exclaimed upon pause, which had |
greatly alarmed that shrewd man of bust |
ness-he had expected her to jump down his |
throat at the offer. You are very kind to |
me, Mr.. lizard, and you will not misunder- |
stand me when I hesitate 1 have already |
told you that money is nothing to me. |
Perhaps I am tired of the stage already; l |
do not know. l feel quite unable to say |
anything about 1t today. 1t is all so new /
to me, I want to be quite sure that l am |
a success before accept anyones money" |
Her reply astonished lizard very much, |
though he tried to conceal his annoyance. |
Shutting his papers with fat hand, upon |
which a great diamond ring sparxled. he |
breathed a little heavily and then asked |
almost under his breath:
Anyone else been round?'
other offers?''
That's so.'
"As frankly, none-at present"
He looked at her shrewdly.
Expecting them, I SUPPOSE"
'sI have never thought of it, she said. |
greatly amused at the turn affairs were 1
taxing OF course, l. know tilat success
full people do get Offers
but not twice from Charles Izard, he
exclaimed very meaningly-then turning
round in his chair he looked her straight |
in the face and~said: Suppose I make it
s150?"
saoh." she reioined at really is not
question of money Mr.. lizard
NO" he said savagely, It's that-Be-
}inger. Been seeing you. hasn't he-taIking
of what he could do? Well, you know your
own business best. That man will be walt
ing on my doorstep by and by. and he'll
have to wait patiently. Think 1t over when
you're tossing US both in the blanket He's
a back number; I'm dozen editions"
Eta was seriously tempted to smile at
this frightened eafnestness and at the /
great mans idea of her shrewdness. She