Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
CHAPTER XVII.
Eta Romney's Return.

It would have been about half-past l
upon the afternoon of a gloomy November
day, some three months after Gavin Ord
set out for Roumania, that a hanson cab
was driven up to the stage door OF the
Carlton Theater. the Lady Evelyn, wearing
heavy black furs and a motor veil, which
entirely hid her face from the passers-by,
alighted timidly and offered the cabman
generous fare. Deaf to the mans ELUSIVE
assurance that he had no other ambition
in life but to drive the same fare back to
the place whence she came, Evelyn entered
the narrow alley wherein the stage door is
situated and at once asked the stage-door
keeper If Mr.. Charles lizard was or
not within the house? The simple ques-
ton provoked an answer that might have
satisfied a dplomatist, but helped Evelyn
not at all.
Maybe he is, maybe he amt. 1t de-
ponds on who wants him. Now, you take
a word from me, miss. Say to yourself
Shall 1 go and have dinner with the Prince
of Wales this afternoon or shall l not?
Thatu answer you and leave old Jacob
Briggs to finish his pipe in peace, he being
the father Of widows likewise of orphans"
Jacob, it was plain, had but just lunched
and was more affable than upon any less
benign occasion. He sat with his back
to bill which announced the concluding
nights Of that dismal play oliver Crom-
well, comedy, by Rowland Wales and
he smoked pipe with that which the
cient Weller would have called an ''uncom-
mon power Of suction" Here, said he is
another of en- meaning thereby another
candidate for histrionic honors which
twenty-five shillings a week should reward.
Jacob knew how to deal with them; but
said he, when I've got my dinner in me
then I'm blessed lamb" So he addressed
Evelyn humorous like and did not lose
his patience even when she would not go
away.
Il must see Mr. lizard today. am sure
Ia will fCh fn me M a l{l
my name into the theater-
Jacob Briggs, pulling the pipe to the right
side of his mouth, ate smile as though 1t
were good butter.
Perhaps he was a-going to send a car.
riage and pair for yer, miss. a motor
kar That's wot he does ordinary to such
wonder II you don't think as you can play
Miss Fay's part better'n she herself. I've
seed a many and most Of 'em do But,
lord, I'm too good-natured to take much
you ask for sufferin (sovereign), who
knows as you maynt get chilling? Wot
you've got to do. miss, is to go round to
the horfiss. They'll soon turn you out of
that and better for you in the long run"
And yet you used not to think so when
I was playing Di Vernon, Mr.. Briggs"
The smile left Jacobs face as though
some one had hit him. He slipped down the
board until he came near to sitting on the
pavement. Speech did not Immediately
assist him, and he could mutter nothing
else but the mystic ana entlrely lrreleNaiie
phrase, 'D--n my uncle which he con-
tinued to repeat until he had scrambled TO
his feet and dotted his carpenters cap
Good Lord, Miss Romney, IL you'd have
said so, why, I'd have pulled the theater
down for ye. and willing. Mr. lizard now-he
wont be glad neither. Briggs, says
he to me, she'll come back some day Just
az sure as Mrs. Briggs-but that's neither
here nor there miss He's over at the
tavern now and Mr. Lacombe with him
Let me say the word and he'll come back
In fire engine"
Evelyn protested that she Gid not desire
the word 10 be said but would wait In the
auditorium and announce herself 10 the ,
great man Understanding that the tav-
ern'' real-y meant the Carlton Hotel ana
that there was a rehearsal OF new and
modern play at 2 O'Clock she entered the
theater and sat, her ven undrawn. IN the
wings, whereby from time to time the ae-