The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03

6suctiOn, and L don't say that 10 get
better terms. Personally | don't think
there is any money In 1t, and Miss
Carew, who wants to play it, will get
very little out of 1t but reputation, and
I will probably lose something. l don't
know who the author is, but | should
say that 1t was man, and one who
l.rew very little of the stage-that is, its
practical side. He has written two
women parts of almost equal strength,
and that is, as you probably know, al
most fatal But Miss Carew wants to
play the part of Ellen, and l know why
she wants to play it. 1t is what we call
an actors part-it is the sort of part any
actress would enjoy playing before
critics or at professional matinee. And
about the same thing might be said
about the Mllicent part. If / had play
which would give Miss Carew nearly as
good chance as Ellen, and still have
the popular element in 1t, I should not
think of trying your piece, but / haven't.
canddly don't think this is going to be
popular, but it is not an expensive play
to put on, and 1 have decided to take a
chance. will give you $500 In advance
and per cent of the gross. That is not
as much as the big ones get, but l
IN agine the author is beginner and he
could hardly expect more"
Fielding nodded. II can answer for the
0pLnOr tndC the te1HlS Will DC dli iiBH.
When do you think we could get pro-
drction?"
"At once said the manager, briskly--
'thc sooner the better / should like to
begin rehearsals Immediately. Can the
arthor come to rehearsals?"
Fielding shook his head: I'm afraid
not, he sain.
rs he alive?"
yes"
I
mo, not far" Fielding said. Its hard
to explain
TITS hard on us, too. AS I said before,
the play must be changed in a number of
places to be effective. I'm sorry to In
sist but l wouldn't care to go on with
out him.
Every good" said Fielding, will you
give me until tomorrow noon?'
"Sure-if you can let me know the au-
thor's answer then. Good day."
Fielding did not wait for the elevator,
but went down the marble stairway two
steps at a bound. Then he took a cab for
the ferry and half hour later was on
the express for Pleasant Harbor He
found Kerrigan waiting for him in the
sitting room. ITS all right!' he cried,
Its all right You're going to get the
production. Miss Carew is going to do 1t
as soon as they can get ready. Just think
VI IT, your DiSt pay anu " 10 NOhS VII
Broadway-it's wonderful
Kerrigan stood looking at him from
| across the room as If he could not quite
comprehend the full extent of the fortune
that had come to him. Then he limped
over to the door with the little window
and looked out on the river. Since the
first days when he had begun to write
for his college paper he had looked for
ward to this moment The amount of
ha t,iu M had hardly,
occurred to HINT was the fame he
courted 1t was the cry of author" he
craved-the lights and the excitement and
the brill of facing that great critical
audience across the footlights. And now
1t had all come true. 1t would all happen
Just as he had planned and hoped but
he would not sit in the stage box and
he would not make that speech before
! the curtain after the "big'' scene in the
second act Instead he would look out on
the river that night from this little room
of his and be quite alone.
but there is one thing" Fielding said
at last that worries me a good deal.
Bronson says there must be some trifing
changes made at rehearsal 1t seems
there are certain places where the play
is not quite right-that is, not practical"
Kerrigan nodded. "Of course, of course,
I expected that but / can make the
changes down here"
For a moment Fielding hesitated. I'm
sorry, Kerry" he said, "but Bronson
insists that the author must come up to
town and work with him. He practically
makes it condition IL he accepts the
play"
Kerrigan looked at Fielding, but appar-
entity with unseeing eyes. Its too BAD
he said 'I should like very much to
have had the production" For a long
time the only sound in the room came
from the crackle of the logs and then
Kerrigan put out his hand and laid it
gently on Fielding's arm and looked at
him in the eyes. won't you go for me?
You understandable the author"
Fielding looked at his friend and smiled.
and then stretched his arms above his
head why Kerry he said. you know
I COUNT do that, not even for you.
Anything you can ask of me but that
1T understand" Kerrigan said but
who else Is there? You are the only per-
son who knows what the play means and
how it ought to be played You could