Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
HARTLEY'S CALLER-BY COLIN S. COLLINS
COPYRIGHTED. 1908. by Associated Literary Press.

Lady to see, YOU" anacunceI jim
ME, one of the office boys. with o def
erence that he showed only to Hartley,
the dramatic critic, and Murphy, the
sporting editor. The sporting editor
could call all the baseball players by
their first names, but Hartley had only
to write on a slip of paper and it
would take Jimmie into the much de
sired SHOW" Such small fry rs ed
itors and star reporters We're not at
all in the same class with Il man who
carried passes in his pocket every day.
I've told you a hundred times to
get the name, Jimmie" was the testy
response. Hartley was i'll at ease with
the underworld that morning.
81 know" admitted Jimmie, with
unembarrassed truthfulness. "but, say.
Mr.. Hartley, she's peacherino for
fairr
Pm not interested in fruit" was the
cold response us Hartley turned to his
desk. He hated all women ut the mo-
ment. for he had had to do a thing
which would probably cost him the
care for.
He had had to tell the cruel truth
about Norma Heating as an actress,
and he felt that the high spirited girl
| never would forgive him.
Jimmie, the persistent. hung over the
desk.
"She don't look like an actress he
declared, using the argument he knew
| to be most potent. AN she's a pippin
| for fair
81 can't see any one who does not
send in a card" declared Hartley as
he turned to his work again, and JIM
| mic dashed out presently to return
| with bit of pastcboard.
| With a start Hartley read Norma's
name and gave orders that she be
ushered in. 1t was better perhaps
that since there was TO be a quarrel
| they should meet on his own ground.
| Somehow. with the familiar sur
roundings, he felt more safe than he
| ever could in the parlor of the little
actress suit at the hotel. With a
! sternness that indiTerently masked the
misery that he felt he prepared to re-
ceive his caller.
He haaseXpected that she would
come stormfdgsin to denounce him for
his criticism and "a, declare him biased
and unfair
He was braced for the shock and
| lily prepared for the sight OF the de-
| jected little woman who came timfr1ly
into his dingy office, her rich furs
forming a strange contrast to the bare
walls and cheap furniture.
Jimmie slipped away after one last
admiring glance, and then the girl
raised her eyes to Hartley's and met
the pity in his bravely.
81 cid not come to reproach you for
your notice." she said, with quick
appreciation of his attitude. 1T was
your right to say what you pleased. 1
paid a big price for the special per-
Torrance in order to get the metro
politan notices, and in doing so l ex-
posed myself to every form of critical
attack
i IL suppose that you are expected to
be severe on beginners, to ridicule
them ard beat them down and force
them into their proper places.
i "You demand that we start Mt the
i bottom. can see now that it was alb
surd to think that / could win favor
able comment from the great men who
have made their reputation more
through the savageness of their at
lacks than through their ability as
critics."
"And yet you said you had not come
!: to reproach?" he asked gently. Ever
in her bitterness he noticed a new
note in the rich voice. 1t hurt him t.
: think that he was in part responsible
i for that little catch of pain which
/ would sound, try as she would to b
hard and cynical.
4 1t was as if her whole quiverinl
/. soul was laid bare In spite of the dress
!. OF words with which she sought Il
clothe it.