La Junta tribune., 1910-02-12
HARTLEY'S
CALLER.
~ BY COLIN S. COLLINS. ).
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.


sporting editor. The sporting editor
could call all the baseball players by
their first names, but Hartley had only
to write ON slip OF paper and 1t
would take Jimmie into the much de-
sired SHOW" Such small fry AS ed.
itors and star reporters were rot at
all In the same class with man who
carried passes In his pocket every day.
1--WE told you hundred times to
get the name, Jimmie" was the testy
response. Hartley was Ill at ease with
the whole world that morning.
II know" admitted Jimmie. with
unembarrassed truthfulness. but. say,
Mr.. Hartley, she's a .peacherino for
fair.
I'm not interested In fruit" was the
cold response AS Hartley turned to his
desk. lie 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. An she's q pippin
for fair
~ cant see any one who does not
send in a card" declared Hartley a.
be turned to his work again. and jim
mie dashed out presently to return
with u bit OF IAsteboard.
With a start Hartley read Norma's
name and gave orders that she b.
ushercd in. II was better perhaps
that since there was to be q quarrel
they should meet on his own ground
Somehow. with the ,fa amillar sur.
roundings. he felt more safe than he
ever could In the parlor Of the little
actress suit at the hotel. With n
sternness that indifferently masked the
misery that he felt he prepared to re.
ceive his caller.
He had expected that she would
come stormlng 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.
jected little woman who came timidly
into his dingy office. her rich furs
forming a strange contrast to the bare
wallis and cheap furniture.
Jimmie slipped away after one last
admIrinG glance. and then the girl
raised her eyes to Hartlsy's and met
the pity In his bravely.
II did not come TO reproach you for
your notice" she said. with q quick
appreciation Of his attitude. 1T was
your right to say what you pleased. !
paid a big price for the special per
formance In order to get the metro.
polItnn notices. and In doing 90 eX.
posed myself TO every form OF critical
attack.
II suppose that you arr expected to
be severe on beginners. to ridlcule
them and beat them down and force
them into their proper places.
"You demand that we start al the
bottom. can see now that II was alb
surd TO think that I could win favor.
able comment from the great men who
have made their reputation more
through the savaHcness OF their at.
tncks than through their ability as
critics"
And yet you said you had not come
10 rcpronchf' he asked gently. Even
In her bitterness he noticed 4 new
note In the rich voice. II hurt him to
think that he was In part responsible
for that little catch Of pain which
would sound. try ms she would TO be
hard and cynical.
II was Ms n her whole quivering
soul was laid bare In spite Of the dress
Of words with which she sought 10
ciothc II.
81 did not mean TO say that" she
cried. II only meant 10 come and nsk
you II yon would let me have my pho
togrnphs back. You and the rest Of
your confrcrcs have beaten me. am
N TctF"nt, ! hfH gotHg ns Inr ItoH'
New York ns can. want 10 take
with me everything that is mine"
You should have sent your agent
and spared yourself he reminded her
gently. Il will see that tho pictures
an found for you. VIII you ai'
DOWN.
lie Indicated a chair ms he rnng for
. boy. md presently Jimmie wcs'
away with instructions that Miss
Keatinr's photographs were TO b~ ~
turned by the art dcpa artmcnt at once,
Neither spoke until the boy had laid
the package down and had departed
for the outer ofiicr. Then Hartley ross
and placed them on the chair beside
her.
There Ia another one" she said un
certainly. "the one that gave you
May I have II back. piraser'
"If you wish" he promised AZ h
turned again 10 his desk 10 draw from
| a.