Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-06
The Argus Daily Short Story
BY GRACE OF GLADYS BY CARL WILLIAMS
Copyrighted 1908, by Associated Literary Press

She WAS the child star, the youthful
prodigy of Tie Little Gladys Dramatic
company. What made it worse. her
doting papa WAS the manager OF the.
show, which played repertory for !,
week in the smaller towns. always
dramas in which the small star could
shine to advantage.
AS n stage attraction the child was q
wonder. She could play little girls who,
like all the good. die young. and she
also played rough souhrette parts with
dash that made mere important
managers wish that there were no
children's societies in the large cities
to prevent her appearance in the big,
theaters.
Her father ice Glidden, had tried
the cities. but after half season he
reorganized his old company and ton!,
to the small towns. where the cli,d
was a favorite and where childrea's
societies were unknown.
There. among old friends. he felt safe
once more. He staggered about as he
to regard every stranger approaching
the box Office as a possible police Off
Ger in plain clothes.
Gladys, as though to make up for
lost time, became more incorrigible
than ever
Versatility, her precious dramatic
gift, she displayed only on the stage.
The members OF her fathers company
never were treated TO any private dis
plays of the angel children that Gladys
played to perfection on the stage.
In private life the child was steadily
and consistently torment. Jack Trent
and Elvia Mordant. of her patient sup
port. were her especial victims.
Gladys sharp eyes had discovered
the birth of love even before Elvia
was certain OF her own feelings and
announced that fact TO the rest of the
company at supper that evening. Her
shrill. piping voice, trained to fill n
| theater, reached to every corner of the
| dining room. and the gleeful statement
that Miss Mordant is awfuliy gone on
| Jack Trent set the room in roar.
With flaming face Elvia sprang 10
her feet and rushed from the room.
the laughter of the company and the
other guests ringing in her ears long
after she had reached her room.
Scalding tears stained her pillow
but she was at last certain that she
did love Trent, and. had he only known
he had cause to be grateful to the
| youngster. Instead he savagely sug.
gested to Joe Glidden that good
| spanking would be the salvation of the
| child.
Glidden knew better than to take THE
advice. Once, and once only. hat
Gladys been spanked. 1t had hap
! pened on a Sunday, and business was
bad all the following week. because
the child played abominably in spite
Of all threats. Not until the promise
was made that she should not bt
spanked any more did she appear a
her best again.
i Glidden only smiled indulgcntly a
Trent's suggestion, but Gladys hated
the man for ii, and thereafter she Sc
lected Jack and Elvia as her specia
victims.
II, 1t did not matter that on the train
they sat at opposite ends Of the car
Gladys would discover Trent gain;
intently into space and call attention
to the fact that he could not keep hi
eyes off Elvia.
The company laughed at her pert re
marks. because they were seltishl
glad that Gladys found vent for he
love of mischief that did not involv
themselves.
!, Their laughter encouraged the chill
to fresh endeavors, and since the tw
victims would not provide her wit
material for jokes off the stage sh
formed the habit of guying their pei
Torrance on the stage. g
Jack and Elvia were cast for lovers
roles, and 1t was disconcerting to hca
a sibilant "Ahy' as their lics met In