Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-07

IL MISS van CledNe WOuiu De the one
to meet him. 1t was only an hours
run from the city, and soon Benton
stood upon the platform. He looked
about him. noting the well kept, pros
porous appearance of the place and the
many handsome traps and carriages
awaiting their occupants. A groom in
surprisingly tight breeehes came up to
him and, touching his hat, inquired,
"Mr. Benton?"
Yes" said Benton. Mrs. Van
Cleave's carriage?"
Master Harry awaits you in the dog
cart. sir" replied the man, possessing
himself deXterously of Benton's luggage
and leading the way across the plat
form. Benton followed. A boy of six
teen or so was endeavoring to calm a
mettlesome cob that was trying to see
how straight he could stand on his
hind legs without falling over back
ward.
"Chuck those things in behind,
Burns, and get to his head" he or
dered. How de do. Mr.. Benton? Ex-
cuse my not shaking hands and climb
in"
Benton waited for a moment of COM
parative quiet and then climbed In.
He was not accustomed to a horse like
this. and the boy noticed it at once.
II hasn't been out for a week." he
explained, land he feels good. Let him
go, Burns" And. with a plunge, they
started, the we'll trained Burns clutch
ing the rail and swinging up behind
with the greatest imperturbability.
Once on the straight road leading from
the station the cob settled down to a
good steady gait, and Benton began to
enjoy himself. Young Van Cleave was
surprisingly easy for one of his years
and kept up a constant flow of talk.
THAT'S a corking good play of yours,
Mr.. Benton" he said. I'm going to be
James, and I'm dead letter perfect.
Got my clothes last night, aud Aunt
Fan thought 1 was the new nan and
asked me to get her a glass of water.
Say, can't James come on in the last
act with a letter or something's"
Benton good humoredly said that he
thought it might be arranged and in
quired who was to play Henry.
"Oh, Artie Brown, and he thinks he's
the whole show. Wanted to kiss sis
every rehearsal. Said he didn't want
it to go wrong the night of the play.
Sis couldn't see 1t and said she
thought that was something a man of
his experience could do without re-
hearsing. Rough on Artie, for he
knows it all and likes to have people
think he's a regular Killer Whoa,
boyl Easy now" to the cob as they
turned into a private roadway and
whirled up to the steps of a fine old
colonial house.
The groom was at the cob's head be-
fore they really stopped, and Benton
climbed down and followed young Van
Cleaye into the house. Mrs. Van
Cleaye welcomed him cordially and in
troduced him to her daughter and the
members of the house party, some of
whom were to take part in the play.
Miss Van Cleave showed him the mu-
sic room, where the performance was
10 De neid, anu exai6ftgu the srHge,
which was already set for the first act.
"Do you not feel very important"
she asked, when you consider that
you are really responsible for it all?"
mo" said Benton. 81 cannot say
that l do. After all, the real RESPONSE
bility rests with the players" 8
"You cannot shirk your share so
carelessly," she said, laughing. Stand
or fall, you are one of us in this, and
l shall see that you receive your full
measure of praise or blame"
"Let us hope, then, that 1t will be
praise-for all u sakes,'' he said, with
an admiring look at her.
Seriously" said Miss Van Cleave,
IT do hope you will not be disappoint-
ed in US, and you must not be too
critical"
81 shall not be disappointed in you"
he replied decidedly.
While Benton was dressing for din
ner some one knocked at his door.
ITS me-Jack. Can | ome in?"
said that ungrammatical young man
in an excited tone of voice.
Benton opened the door and inquired
what the trouble was.
Here's a gor' said Jack. "Artie
Brown has busted his leg or some
thing and can't act. Sis is having
fit, and the others are just wild. IT.
too late to put it off, and what are we
going to do?"
us there no one else to take the part
mo understudy?" inquired Benton.
mo one knows it except the prompt
er, and she's a girl. Father has just
come in. and he's tearing his hair. II,
plays the old man. you know. Got a
bald wig and whiskers. and he'll die if
he can't wear EN-. Say. what can we
do about it anyhow
Another knock at the door, and Mr..
Van Cleave. Sr.. appeared.
pardon ne, Mr.. Benton. for intro
ducing myself in this urceremonious
manner" he said. shaking hands. but
this is a serious matter. The tickets