Smyrna times., 1908-06-03
Polly was to take part in an amateur


men,"
The ''real men" laughed There were
three of them. Two were old friends
and admirers of Polly. The third, Brad
ley Rogers, she approved the moment
he was introduced to her.
"Well," asked Polly gayly, looking
over the printed cast in her hand,
(which of you is my lover?"
Solemnly. with hands on their hearts.
all three bowed.
You are all very silly" said Polly,
blushlng. Now. please be serious.
Which of you is to be Captain Wheel
er, Claire's lover. absent on the feld?"
she continued, reading from the play
Il am cast for that unfortunate
part" Bert Crawford answered.
"Unfortunate?" queried Polly, and
she raised her pretty eyebrows haugh-
tily
unfortunate Bert hastened to ex-
plain, because absent on the field for
two whole acts, you notice, gives these
other fellows too much chance to cut
me out"
"Oh," smiled Polly graciously, "then
Mr.. Marshall and Mr.. Rogers are rivals
for my hand. too-Claire's hand, l
mean"
'No; haven't the pleasure" sighed
Jim Marshall. I'm only your brother"
"Never mind, jim" said Polly com
fOrtingly. "Ill be Il real sweet sister to
you. And what are you, Mr.. Rogers? p
''Your father" answered Rogers la
conicalIy.
Polly found the admission exceeding
ly amusing.
"But what possible chance do my
father and brother have of cutting you
Out? she asked Bert suddenly
"Oh." explained Bert carelessly, Il
meant they'll cut me out with the au-
dience. No chance to win any bouquets
and that sort of thing"
But you'll win me. l mean-what's
her name?-Claire"
"Oh, I'll come out strong in the fin
ish," Bert returned confidently, at
which Jim shot him a look that es-
capped Polly's notice 1t did not escape
Rogers observation, however and he
smiled at the thought of the fun to
come behind the scenes.
who's to be my girl chum, Nata-
lie|" asked Polly. again consulting
the printed cast.
"Mrs. Rogers" Bert answered. "And
she'll be dandy in that part too. Where
is she tonight, Brad?'
Couldn't come. The baby had the
Group or something or other.'
Polly wheeled around suddenly on
the piano stool and faced Rogers
do you mean to say" she asked ac-
cusingly. that you don't know what's
the matter with the babyY
Rogers, taken by surprise. looked
| very much embarrassed.
He began to stammer an explana.
tiOn, but got no further than "Well
you see, Miss NOyes," when the
''prompter" arrived and the reading
over of parts and the studying out OF
stage business began in earnest.
As the rehearsals of the play pro
gressed Polly found them absorbing
beyond all her expectations. AS II
happened, Mrs. Rogers, owing to the
baby's illness, had not been able tc
take the part of Natalie after all, and
Elsie Williams, Polly's intimate CIR
friend, was prevailed upon to try it.
This change in the cast, simple as il
seemed, was the cause of other changes
far less simple.
For one thing, Bert Crawford, whom
Polly had grown through force of habit
to regard as one of her most effective
satellites, suddenly wavered from hi.
accustomed course and began to re
vOlve at very dangerous speed around
Polly's friend Elsie
Now, Polly ought not to have re
sented this, for she knew very we'll IL
her heart that she never intended Ber
to develop, so far as she was con
cerned, into anything beyond an obse
quiOus and ornamental attendant
However, since he was her lover il
the play. it p!qued her not a little t.
have him constantly missing his GU,
while making love to Elsie behind tn
scenes instead
On one of these embarrassing Occa
siOns Jim Marshal came to the rescui
with what seemed to him nothing sor
of an inspiration.
''See here, Polly" he exclaimed jo
vially as Polly. alone in the center O
the stage, impatiently waited the dra
matte entry of Captain Wheeler aft
er his absence in the field" ''I've go
Il simply cOrking idea. Bert and l vii
change parts. You see, off the stag
he's Elsie's lover. and on the stage he
yours. Now, why not fix it as it reaIl
is and let me be your lover on tn
stage as we'll as off? Don't you thin
that would work out we'll? I'd be o.
hand for this scene. you can bet you
lifer'
But Polly received his suggestion
with anything but enthusiasm.
Don't be foolish, Jim, and pleas
hunt Captain Wheeler" was all sh
= answered.