The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-11
AGREEING WITH BEAMISH.
By LuIu Johnson.


 On the stage, the open fire sky lights flooded the bare space witn light, and created grateful drauRnI but the body of the house was swatn- ed in white thin cloths over the rows of the rounded backs of seats. suggest Ing an orderly row Of tomostones'
 Tn the broad foyer. back of the bai- cony, one of Manager Beamish's mum Der two" companies went through their rehearsal while still another touring organization occupied the side lobby downstairs. but 1t was the Ave nue Stock Company. the pride or Beamish's attractions, that occupied the stage. Audrey Harwood smiled at the thought that this season she was
 rehearsing with the crack company on the stage, instead of one of the less important companies in the lobby. |. The year before she had labored through a small part with a road com pany and 1t had not been until the last of the season that Basil. the gem eral stage manager for Beamish had noticed her work on one of his trips or 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, and Beamish is the ghoul that goes prowl- ing around the place seeking whom he 1T. added, as the burly form of the man. ager 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 seat at the rear of the house. his pud- BY hands clasped across his fat
 the end of an unlit 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 theatre-even in his own office.
 His presence made itself felt to Howard Basil though the latter stood
 with his back to the auditorium. Some of the actors played better with the managers eyes upon them: others grew nervous and confused, and Au- drey coming under Beamishs notice for the first time, failed utterly In her scene. Ae her voice faltered and
 broke there came a gruff shout from | the rear of he house and the company eyed the girl commiseratingly. while
 Basil dropped the rehearsal to answer Beamish summons.
 rGet another girl for that part of Mona," was the terse command. That stick you've got there is rotten" 'Sne will play all right was the
 
 then she Is nervous because you are out here"
 T want another girl" was Beam | ish's emphatic answer. Its only 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 1t
 should not have engaged her." ans-
 wered Basil quietly. The girl will re- | main in the cast"
 Give the part to Ashton ordered
 Beamish. Let this girl out to-mor row"
 T have full control of the compan-
 ies." said Basil, whose face had grown very white. Miss Ashton can play the part at a pinch. Miss Harwood can
 live the part, If she goes. go." | I've got you under contract" sput- | tered Beanish
 l T just mentioned the important
 clause of that eNrtract." retorted Bas-
 H. You will break 1t by your own &C., l tion."
 The younger man stood quietly for
 moment, while Beamish chewed his cigar viciousIy. Basil was a man hard | to replace. Moreover he had seen the English production of the piece and
 had read the play with the author. It
 would never do to let him go on the | eve of a production. Beamlsh rose l heavily to his feet.
 "I don't suppose that you will object
 to Ashton understudying?" he asked | gruffly
 Not in the least" said Basil 'I'n
 send for her this afternoon | He returned to the stage. Those bet | ter voiced in the Beanish methods had | guessed that the stage manager had | been fighting for Audrey and had told
 the girl so. She flashed him a grateful
 glance, but he merely took his place
 by the table and ordered the rehearsal of the scene over again It was not
 until after the company had been G;s- | missed that Audrey had a chance to ! speak to him.
 How can I ever thank your" she | said gratefully.
 Basil looked down into the wistful
 face. By doing as well as you DOS | sibly can," he said. T want you to 1 justify my judgement, and I am cer-
 tain that you can. There will be an
 understudy here tomorrow, but don't
 worry. If Beamish wants to pay any | extra salary, let him. It is seldom that
 he indulges in that luxury" He tuEned away to hide the real an- f swer to her question. The temptation
 was strong upon him to take her in This arms and tell her that he loved her
 and 1t was because of his love that he
 had fought. To do so would seem to be | preSumlnB upon ms acton. Mentally
 he cursed Beamish for raising this
 barrier against his hopes. | Miss Ashton appeared the following | morning. sitting in enc of the front
 seats and studying the business care- | fully. but Audrey played without a
 break, and at the dress rehearsal even
 Beamish was. pleased to grunt a grudging assent. to Basil's praise. Then came the opening nign:. Ths | house was crowded for It was an early | opening of the season, and ths other | theatres were still dark Beamish
 gleamed upon the crowd of notables | streaming into the house. He knew | that he had one of the strongest plays
 of the hour. To score a hit would
 mean perhaps an all-season run at the | home theatre. and a tremendous ad-
 vertisement for the road companies. But his hopes were dashed when
 Basil came out front with a worried l look upon his face.
 Terry was thrown out of her auto
 mobile on her way to the theatre" he l reported The physician thinks she has fractured her skull" And we've got to lose all this?" asked Beamish with a wave of his ci-
 gar. The accident to his leading wo-
 man appealed only to his own selfish
 ness and cupidlty.
 Miss Harwood is dressing for the
 part" explained Basil. She can play
 1t, I am certain. It would never do to
 turn the crowd away. We could never
 get them back on a later night"
 Beamish nodded a grudging assent. He knew that Basil had stated the