Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-08-11
3
1l5A How a Girl BIundered Into Coed Fortune (eV
~ Rose, In plain Dealer. J

= IS n
: .4May read it now?" she asked.
He nodded.
@You may read the cast and the
synopsis. You have synopsis?"
aoh, yes"
She had pleasant voice and she
read well.
Presently he checked her.
sam L to point out the faults as
you go along?"
"Of course.
4Freely and frankly?"
4Yes.'n
@Then I don't like your cast of
characters. You have too many peo-
pie to handle. Cut the crowd down
to nine. Those hackneyed lay figures
should be on the ash heap"
Then she began upon the scenery.
Presently he shook his head.
"You attempt too much in your
first act. Let the plot work itself
out. Too many people are trying to
develop it. And I can see that the
first act is short in action. You'll
have to change all thai"
The girl looked up.
I'll. wanted to make 1t seem
real," she explained.
"All sorts of crimes are committed
under the name of realism" he told
her. "It'sta sadly abused word. Go
on. please"
Isis it worth whtle?"
/ "Ot course it is. I.lis is your
golden chance. 1t is quite possible
you may never have the, opportunity
Of seeing me again.
And he. suddenly laughed.
@You are very kind" she said.
4You are SO differen-: from what !
feared you might be.
.You can't turn me from my high
purpose" he said. Il am the inexor-
able critic. Bear this in mind"
She had just resumed her reading
when there was sound of wild
| tumult in the hail.
The girl stopped 20 listen. The
man suddenly arose. The noise in
creased. There were distinct shouts.
The man opened the hall door. A
pungent odor instantly filled the
room. The hall was growing dim be-
hind blue haze.
@There seems to be a fire in the
building" said the man. He gave the
girl quick glance. She had arisen
and her cheeks had suddenly paled,
but she stood firm and erect.
us there any danger?" she asked,
and her voice was steady.
aI'll Investigate. Don't leave the
room. I'll let you know"
He closed the door behind him, but
in a moment was back again, choking
and coughing. He slammed the door
behind him.
"a good deal of smoke is coming
up the elevator shaft and the narrow
stairway" he explained. "The ele-
vator isn't running, and it wouldn't
be safe to try the stairway"
The girl glanced toward the win
dow. a
@Then there is nothing to do but
wait, {" she quickly ssid.
He looked at her. with strong ad-
miration In his quick glance.
Then he crossed to the window and
raised the heavy saslfs and looked out.
"a hoarse murmur cSme up from the
1 street far below. IL
The haze In the room was growing
bluer.
4Come," the man quickly called to
the girl. @There is plenty Of pure
air here. Don't lool; down. Do you
see this ledge here and the fire es-
cape five windows away? Yes?
Well, when the time comes-which,
praise God, it will not-you and ]
will walk along that ledge to the es-
cape"
~Yes,' said the girl. al under
stand" I
you are splendid" said the man.
II am horribly afraid" said the
gir.."
$50 am IT, said the man.
They knelt togetherby the window
and leaned out across the sill, and
both were silent.
The crowd shouted, the gongs
crashed. and then the smoke seemed
to lessen.
The man drew back.
"I'll investigate, he said.
When he came back he was cough
ing and laughing, too.
Dangers over" he cried. "They
checked the fire on a lower floor.
Now they are trying to get the ele-
vator up" He looked at her curious
lly. Don't they usually, faint when
it's all over??"
! She suddenly laughed. She laughed
Historically.
Don't" he gently cautioned her.
NeaNNNt