Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-24
Agreeing Wltb Bearnlsb.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Jessie Morgan.

Tt looks like a graveyard" said Au
 drey, with little shiver as she stared
 into the body of the theater.
 On the stage the open fire skylights flooded the bare space with light and
 created grateful draft, but the body
 of the house was swathed in white
 thin cloths over the rows of the round
 ed backs of seats, suggesting an order ly row Of tombstones.
 In the broad foyer back of the bal
 cony one of Manager Beamish's "No. 2" companies went through its re- hearsal, while still another touring or ganization occupied the side lobby downstairs, but it was the Avenue stock company, the pride of Bea-
 mish's attractions, that occupied the stage. Audrey Harwood smiled at the thought that this season she was re. hearsing with the crack company on the stage instead of one of the less i'm portant companies in the lobby.
 The year before she had labored through 0 small part with a road con- pany, and 1t had not been until the last of the season that Basil, the gen. eral stage manager for Beamish, had noticed her work on one of his trips of inspection and had promoted her to the metropolitan company.
 Its been the graveyard of many blasted hope" retorted Maida Terry. the leading lady, with a laugh, land Beamish is the ghoul that goes prowl- ing around the place seeking whom he may devour. There he comes now," she added as the burly form of the manager was discerned descending the staircase leading from the balcony, where he had been watching the re- hearsal of the minor company.
 Now he settled his huge bulk in a seat at the rear of the house, his pudgy hands clasped across his fat stomach, while he viciously chewed the end of an unllt cigar. Beamish was an inveterate smoker, but he lived in dread of a fire that might put his house out of business for a time, and he never smoked in the theater, even in his own office
 Ills presence made itself felt to How ard Basil, though the latter stood with his back to the auditorium. Some of the actors played better with the man. ager's eyes upon them, others grew nervous and confused, and Audrey, coming under Beamish's notice for the first time. failed utterly in her scene. As her voice faltered and broke there came a gruff shout from the rear of the house, and the company eyed the girl commiseratingly, while Basil drop ped the rehearsal to answer Beamish's 
 "Get another girl for that part of was the terse command. That stick you've got there is rotten"
 ''She will play all right" was the re- sponse. "She rehearses badly, and then she is nervous because you are out here"
 T want another girl" was Beam ish's emphatic answer. "It's only a bit that she plays. but 1t comes in Terry's big scene. and we can't have that spoiled. Get rid of her"
 "If I thought that she would spoil it. I should not have engaged her" Bash quietly. 'The girl will remain in the cast"
 Give the part to Ashton" ordered Beamish. "Let this girl out tomOr- row"
 'I have full control of the compa- ! aies," said Basil, whose face had grown very white. Miss Ashton can ] play the part at a pinch. Miss liar wood can live the part. If she goes, %"
 I've got you under contract sput- tered Beamish-
 'T just mentioned the important ! ,lause Of that contract" retoTted Basil . 'You viii break it by your own ac- ion"
 The younger man stood quietly for a while Beanish cheved his ' rigzr vicfOusIy. Basil was a man . sard to replace Moreover. he sad i 'eea the English productioa of the ,iece ard had read the play with the