The Washington herald., 1908-08-04

Tt looks Ike a graveyard" said Au-
drey. with little shivsr. as she stared
into the body Of the thesrer-
On the stage. the open FIRE skyliEhts
flooded the bare space with light and Gre
ated a grateful draft. but the body Of the
house was swathed n white thin cloths
over the rows Of the rounded backs Of
seats. suggesting an orderly row Of tomb
stones
In the broad foyer. back OF the balcony,
one OF Manager Beamish's number two
oupanies went through their rehearsal.
while stiu another touring organization
occupied the side lobby downstairs. but it
was the Avenue stock Company, the pride
Of Bearnish's attractions. that occupied
the stage Audrey HarwoOd smiled al
the thought that this season she was re-
hearsing with the crack company on the
stage. instead OF one Of the less mpoT-
tant companies IN the lobby
The year before she had Iabored through
a small part with road company and Il
had not been until the last OF the season
that Basil. the general stage manager for
Beamish. had noticed her work on one OF
his trips Of inspection and had promoted
her 70 the metropolitan company
It's been the graveyard Of many
blasted hope" retorte6 Mazda Terry. the
Leading lady. with a laugh. and Beamish
IS the ghouI that goes proving around
the place seeking whom he may devOUE-
There he comes now" she added. as the
buFly form Of the manager was disCerned
descending the staircase leading from the
balcony where he had been watching the
rehearsal Of the minor company
]. ra--FE IN 2 seat
at the rear OF the house. his pudgy hands
cIasped across his fat stomach. while be
vIciously chewed the end OF an unlit e.
gar BeamiSh was an inTeteTate smoker.
but he lived in dread Of fire that might
put his house out Of business for a time,
and he never smoked in the theater. even
in his own Office
His presence made itself felt 70 Howard
Basil though the latter stood with his
back to the auditorium Some Of the ac-
tors played better with the managers S
l eyes upon them; others grew nervous and
confused and Audrey. coming under
Beamish's notice Tor the first time, failed
utterly in her scene As her voice fal-
tered and broke there came grun shout
from the rear OF the house, and the com
pany eyed the girl conmiseratingly. while
Basil dropped the rehearsal 70 answer
Beamishs summons
na- was the terse command That stick
you've got there IS rotten"
She will play all right" wGs the re-
sponse- she rehearSes badly and then
she is nervous because you are out here
I want another girl was Beamish's s
eufphatle answer IT'S only a bit that
she plays. but It comes in Terry's big
scene. and we can't have that spoiled Get
rid Of her"
IF thought she would spoil It 7 should
not have engaged her" answered Basil
quietly The girl VIII remain in the
cast"
Give the part 70 Ashton ordered
Beamish Let this girl out tomorrow p"
Z have fuu control Of the companies. "
said Basil. whose face had grown very
white. Miss Ashton can play the part
at a pinch Miss HarwoOd can live the
part II she goes, 1 go
I've got you under contract" spUttered
Beamish.
7 Just mentioned the important clause
Of that contract retorted Basil You
will break it by your own action"
The younger man stood quietly for q
moment. while BeaGish chewed his cigar
viciously. Basil was a man hard to re
place Moreover. he had seen the English
production of the piece and had read the
play with the author. II would never do
to let him go on the eve Of a production
Beamish rose heavily TO his feet
~ don't suppose that you VIII object 10
Ashton understanding? he asked gruffiy-
Not IN the least" said Basil III send
for her this afternoon
He returned to the stage Those better
voiced IN the Beamfsh methods had
guessed that the stage manager had been
fighting for Audrey and had told the girl
50. She flashed him grateful glance,
but be merely took his place by the table
and ordered the rehearsal Of the scene
over again- Il was not until after the