Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-03-11

LlLE, Oi.c Ol lue CluCe DSyS, Will d uel-
erence that he showed only to Hartley,
the dramatic critic, and Murphy, the
spcrtin" editor The sporting editor
could c;l all the baseball players by
&heir I'll names, but Hartley had only
to wTi,e en- a slip of paper and it
would take Jimmie into the much de-
sired show" Such small fry as ed
ndtoi1 and star reporters were not at
all III Tie same class with man who
carried passes in his pocket every day.
I've tod you hundred times to
get the name, Jimmie" was the testy
response Hartley was ill at ease with
the whole world that morning.
81 know" admitted Jimmie, with
unembarrassed truthfulness, "but, say.
Mr.. Hartley, she's a peacherino for
ifair!"
''Tm not interested in fruit" was the
cold response rs Hartley turned to his
desk. He hated all women at the mo-
ment, for he had had to do a thing
which would probably cost him the
love of the one woman he really 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 the
desk.
"She don't look like an actress" he
declared. using the argument he knew
to be most potent. can she's pippin
for fairv'
az 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 bit Of pasteboard.
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
coundings, he felt more safe than he
ever could in the parlor of the little
actress suit at the hotel. With a
sternness that indifferently masked the
misery that he felt he prepared to re-
ceive his caller
He had expected that she would
come storming in to denounce him for
his criticism and to declare him biased
and unfair.
He was braced for the shock and
lily prepared for the sight of the de-
5ected 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
admiring glance, and then the girl
raised her eyes to Hartley's and met
the pity in his bravely.
81 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-
formance in order to get the metro
politan notices, and in doing so 1 ex-
posed myself to every form Of critical
attack.
II suppose that you are expected to
be severe on beginners, to ridicule
them and beat them down and force
them into their proper places.
t'You demand that we start at the
bottom. l can see now that it was alb
surd to think that 1 could win favor
able comment from the great men who
have made their reputation more
through the savageness of thei, at
tacks than through their ability as
critics.
@And yet you said you had not ,oms
TO reproach?' he asked gently. Even
IN her bitterness he noticed a neV
note in the rich voice. 1t hurt b N to
think that he was in part respo sible
for that little catch Of pain vh.ch
would sound, try as she would to b4
hard and cynical.
1t was as If her whole quiy erina
soul was laid bare in spite oe the dreg&
of words with which she soug 1t Id
,clothe it.
II did not mean to say that, shA
cried. II only meant to come an ash
you If you would let me have my phdt
fographs back. You and the re It Of
your confreres have beaten me. I AM
m retreat. am going as far frou5
New York as I can. 1 want to tak4
with me everything that is NINE"
''You should have sent your agent
and spared YOURSELF he reminded he1l
gently. II will see that the pictures
are found for you. VIII you sit
down"
He indicated a chair as he rang for
a boy, and presently Jimmie went
away with instructions that Miss
Keatino's photographs were to be re-
turned BY the art department at once
Neither spoke until the boy had laid
Che package down and had departed
for the outer office. Then Hartley rose
and placed them on the chair beside
her.
"There is another one," she said un-
certainly, ''the one that I gave you.
May 1 have it back, please?"
~If you WISH" he promised as he
turned again to his desk to draw from
one Of the recesses a photograph with