The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-16

out OF place. His shirt bosom was per-
haps a trife soIled. but this might easily
have happened on his way 10 the the
alter. one thing about his dresscoat,
however. struck me as being funny. II
seemed very shiny and thread-bare. but
even this 7 passed over as being merely
the evidence Of financial stringency. such
as artists often encounter. For. since ne
was friend Of an artist. I made up my
mind that he was an artist
You have an-er-studio2' I finally
hazarded. just before the curtain rose.
oh. Mr.. Potter ne said reproach-
fully. You know very well I haven't
only wish I could paint
of course" I said. laughingly, pre-
tending that It was only joke. But if
he wasn't an artist. pondered. who the
devil was he?
Further speculation was cut short by
the rising Of the curtain. and 1 sat back
TO watch the first act. When II was over.
the usual exodus to the lobby began, and
as my newspaper friends and the critics
passed me, they paused 10 shake hands.
The stranger had the aisle seat. so that
all who spoke 70 me had to lean over him.
and he seemed to attract unusual atten-
ton from the bohemian set with whom I
mingled.
"One OF the critics. who often lunched
with me. nodded TO the stranger, who
promptly recognized him, calling him by
name. The critic. after passing a few
words with me- made a remark that
greatly annoyed me. for I couldn't IN
derstand what he was driving at
Getting material for new comedy?'
ne asked with smile, and a nod In the
direction Of my mysterious companion.
Have you any idea what he meant?'
asked my friend in the aisle seat.
I'm sure l can't for the life OF me
explain. sir. returned the stranger.
Two ladies, one Of them a well-known
leading lady, sitting behind me. now en-
gagged me In conversation. and was on
the point of introducing my friend when I
remembered that didn't know his
name
During the second intermission was
visited by every one I knew. most Of
them newspaper and theatrical people
They all took the keenest interest in my
companion, who sat there without saying
a word. Afterward It occurred to me that
some one must have passed the word
around that was down front with q
stranger whom every one knew or ought
TO know, and found out afterward that
the friend critic who had tried to guy
me about getting material had told every
one he knew TO visit me and meet my
friend. Several Of them, in discussing the
play. obviously tried to get me to intro
duce the stranger. by turning from me 10
address some innocent remark or com
ment TO him. Each time his opinion was
asked, however, regarding the play. or
some actor. he would say. quietly:
Yes, SIR. quite agree with you,
sir.
once he forgot himself and said very
good, sir but even this slip Of the
tongue didn't give me an inkling as 10
who the man really was. though by this
time. as I afterward learned, the tip had
been passed from seat TO seat and many
opera glasses were being leveled in my
direction.
AT the next intermisslon there was
an even greater crowd around my seat.
I realized that was attracting atten-
ton for some unknown reason. or that
my friend was. At first I foolishly at
tributed it to the fact that I rarely at