The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-16
Through q
WO,nan'S Heart.
by Sidney Warwick.
by Sidney Warwick.

from all his friends. had no aim or
purpose.
II had come about through a half
playful remark he had dropped to
Grisson. that he felt almost inclined
himself TO apply for an engagement
with Chatterton. as scene painter. act
or-anything.
You are not serious, OF course?" Joe
had said.
Ii seemed SO unlikely TO him that
this new acquaintance. well dressed.
evidently with means. and gentle
man. should really want to attack him
self TO a travelling show.
why not? ] should be serious II
thought there was chance. Not be-
cause Of the salary-that would be
only a secondary consideration. I'm
a Bohemian with only myself 10 con-
suit. and 1 should enjoy the novel ex-
perience, the fun Of 1t. Only
shouldn't have the ghost of chance.
of course
I'm not SO sure of that. Quite
likely Chatterton hasn't filed all va.
cancies vet" cried Joe, quickly.
You're an artist: never been on the
boards, l suppose?"
Only in amateur theatricals.''
you'd be right enough In minor
parts, / expect: you'd have TO learn
to be quick study, that's all. And
II you weren't above doing the daily
poster-you see. It's a different show
every night. and few bills have TO
be done for 1t in colors-I don't see
why not. especially as you say It's
more for the fun OF II than any ques-
tion of salary. You leave II to me:
l know how to get round the guv'nor.
only | shall speak Of you as though
we were very old pals. My recon-
mendation will carry more weight"
They had not walked to Dalebfook.
They had found train at the station
to which Jack had walked when the
thought Of going TO Liverpool was still
in his mind: and early that evening
had presented themselves to Mr.. Egg
bert Macready Chatterton. a famous
man in his own line. whose portable
theater had been on the road a quar-
ter of century. A little. high-shoul-
dered man. with thin legs and glossy
locks, raven once. but now streaked
with gray, with a rhetorical manner
OF speech-a perfect type OF the old
vanishing school of the provincial
actor OF the legitimate"
tn IanLtp S,,enriea T,a.. ranav,,,nar
dstion and his skill with brush had
secured him an engagement.
He had satisfied Mr.. Chatterton. an
exaeting critic. by a specimen poster
he had sketched out, and there and
then he was engaged to produce the
daily eolored bills. combining small
parts with the assisting of my bet
ter half In the scene-painting depart
ment." II appeared to be a cherished
delusion on the managers part that
his wife WAS mainly responsible for
the scenic triumphs OF their produc-
lions. Not that she ever touched n
brush herself; she merely supervised
brought. as she herself put IL, her
artistic perceptions TO bear on the
work, leaving the mechanical part to
others. Which meant that she worried
the scene painter Out OF his life by
impossible suggestions. which were the
admiration OF her husband and the
despair of the artist.
Jack had been presented to her.
She was lady of massive proper
tions. with a penchanl for wearing
blue velvet and seqnins. who had re-
tired from the stage with increasing
years and bulk. One looked at her
and found 1t difficult 10 credit that
in her day she had played sentimental
heroines doomed 10 wander In snow
storms through four long acts. and
had ION her own authority been con-
sidered the best spectre" on the
brides" having been
her speciality.
Jack Lathom was 10 receive eight.
cen shiliings u week. the salaries
Mr.. chatterton paid could not be
called excessiye-especsaIly when IL
was taken into consideration that the
evening bin consisted OF a fiyc.aet
drama with a farce to follow. and that
IL was different play every night.
But the salary was a secondary con-
siderataoa with Jack. He wanted a
eompanionship aud an occupation
whilst his friends in Wiidfell were
working to prove his innocence. And
IL seemed to him that he was CON-
para,isely safe from the police, who
would hardly leok for him In tour.
ing theatrical company. They were
moving out of Dalehrook. out OF York
shire. In few days. going down
south.
S On an Impulse Jack Lathom crossed
over TO the window and looked out at
the quiet sleeping town where his
new life was beginning. There waS