The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-06
THE EVENING STORY
Hartley,s caller.
(By Colin s. collins.)

AAAA icy = OSA110Es
(By Colin S. Collins)
Lady to see you," announced linn
me, one OF the Office boys, with a
deference that he showed only to Hart
Iey' the dramatic critic, and Murphy,
the sporting editor. The Sporting edi-
tor could call all the baseball PLAYERS
by their first names, but Hartley had
only to write on a slip of paper, and
Il would take Jimmie into the much
desired show" Such a small fry as
editors and star reporters were not
at all In the same class with a man
who carried passes in his pocket every
day.
I've told you hundred times to
get the name, Jimmie" was the testy
response. Hartley was i'll at ease with
the whole world that morning.
''I know" admitted Jimmie with un-
embarrassed truthfulness, ''but, say,
fair
I'm not interested in fruit was
the cold response, as Hartley turned
to his desk. He hated all women at
the moment, for he had had to do a
thing which would probably cost him
did care for.
He had had to tell the cruel truth
about Norma Keating. as an actress,
and he felt that the high-spirited girl
never would forgive him.
Jimmie, the persistent, hung over
"She don't look like an actress" he
to be most potent. "An' she's a pippin
for fair
st can't see any one who does not
send in a card" declared Hartley, as
he turned to his work again, and jim
mie dashed out presently to return
with bite of pasteboard.
With a start Hartley read Norma's
name. and gave orders that she be
that since there was to be a quarrel,
they should meet on his own ground.
Somehow, with the familiar surround
ings, he felt more safe than he ever
could in the parlor of the little actress
suite ct the hotel. With a sternness
that indifferently masked the misery
that he felt, he prepared to receive his
caller.
He had expected that she would
come storming in, to denounce him for
his criticism and to declare him biased
and unfair.
Ill prepared for the sight of the de-
jected little woman who came timidly
into his dingy office, her rich furs
forming a strange contrast to the bare
walls and cheap furniture.
Jimmie slipped away after one last
adniring glance, and then the girl
raised her eyes to Hartley's and met
the pity in his bravely.
''I did not come to reproach you for
your notice. she said. with a quick
appreciation of his attitude. "It was
your right to say what you pleased.
paid big price for the special per
formanee in order to get the
metropolitan notices, and in doing so
I exposed myself to every form of
critical attack.
ct suppose that you are expecting
to be severe on beginners, to ridicule
them into their proper places.
"You demand that we start at the
bottom. I can see now that 1t was
absurd to think that I could win
1n
men who have made their reputation
more through the savageness of their
attacks than through their ability as
critics.
come to reproach?'' he asked gently.
Even in her bitterness he noticed a
new note in the rich voice. 1t hurt
him to think that he was in part re-
sponsible for that little eaten or pam
which would sound. try as she
would to be hard and cynical.
1t was as if her whole quivering
soul was laid bare in spite of the
dress of words with which she sought |
to clothe it.
''I did not mean to say that" she |
cried "I only meant to come and
ask you if you would let me have my
photographs back. You and the rest
of your conferers have beaten me.
am in retreat. 1 am going as far
from New York as I can. I want to |
take with me everything that is
mine."
you should have sent your agent
and spared yourself" he reminded |
her gently at will see that the pic
lures are found for you. VIII you
He indicated a chair as he rang for
a boy, and presently Jimmie went
away with instructions that Miss
Keating's photographs were to be re-
turned by the art department at
once.
laid the package down and had de-
parted for the outer office. Then
Hartley rose and placed them on the
chair beside her.
"There is another one" she said
''The one that gave
YOU. MAY 1 have it back?"
''If YOU wish,'' he promised, as he |
turned again to his desk to draw from
one of the recessts photograph with
a flowing autograph across its face.
"Does YOUR anger go so deep that you
are unwilling to leave me even TINS
OF a friendship that I shall
always treasure in my memory? ne
"fTo add to your sacriicia1 heap?"
she retorted bitterly. Il suppose you
must have a goodly collection OF
those you have fayed."
ct have few photographs-and few
friends among the women of the pro-
fession," he said simply as he opened
a drawer for an envelope mad
hoped to number you first among
those few"
He held the envelope toward her,
and for a moment she hesitated. She
seemed about to leave the room out
she turned and faced him again.
You told me once that you never
would marry an actress" she said
tensely. WAS it because-because you
did not want me on the stage that
vou-that YOU wrote as you did?"
st have made no secret of my ad-
mfration for you," said Hartley sim
nIrz skand L NAV have made the re-