Evening star., 1911-08-10

her again. And she's way up top. She 8
a star.
"Oh. the girl YOU used to be in love
with at the theater?" asked Loveland.
Used TO be? Was, am and will be till
end my days. Gee, Every week, when
ever there was a spare dime. I've always
bought this paper. to see If l could run
acroSt her name, and know Where she
was or what she's doing. once l seen
a letter advertised for her, but that was
all. till now. And here she is. star. on
tour of her own. don' business as a
Little Human Flower. Great, amt it,?
'Modunk, Ohio Loveland read again.
rs that much of a placer"
Never heard of It," admitted Bill. But
geography amt been my speciality
1T doesn't sound like big town." said
Val.
NO that's so. But it's a lucky town.
because the Little Human F1OWer
bfoomin' there"
"Why don't you write and say you'd
like to have this engagement"
Me? Oh. Jimmy. am 1 a good locker.
am I under thirty with a fashionable
wardrobe on and off? Huh. Mines most
~ off Bill laughed and then sighed.
THE good Lord didn't make me for no
Juvenile lead.
But if she still likes you she'd stretch
point in your favor" Loveland sug-
gested.
"Jacobus wouldn't. He was the prop
erty man I told you about. that got me
the sack on account Of Lille"
by Jove" exclaimed VAL forgetting
his own troubles enough to be genuinely
interested in the dramatic development of
Bills love episode II say. you don't sup
pose he's married her since?'
Cant have; at least. not unless his
wife's gone off the hooks" said Bill. 4
heard of him not year ago from one of
the boys who used to supe with me. Said
Jacobus had married an actress named
Thora Moon. a big dark woman, in the
heavy line
THE heavy Iine?" asked Loveland.
Yes Does heavies. don't you know? ?
But YOU never can tell with pros. It's
married one year and a bachelor the
next"
''Widower. you mean," said Val.
mo. | don't, unless It's grass. and grass
don't count. I should feel mighty bad if
thought Liliie'd married Jack Jacobus
He amt the right sort. Jinks. / wish
they was advertising for scene painter
instead of juvenile lead. Wouldn't / just
whizz out to Modunk like shot? Say,
Gordon. you wouldn't like the Job. would
you? Great idea. Why. you're made for
it. And you could give the Little Human
Flower old Bills never failin' love-"
Il couldn't get them to take me. I'm
afraid said Loveiand. I'm not an
actor"
IAN actor!' repeated Bill, with mex
pressible scorn. LAS if they wanted an
actor in a show like that, or would know
one if they saw him You're a good look
er. you're young with tall, slim figure,
and all the other qualifications named"
Except the experience-and the ward
robe"
POOH said Bill. "Ain't you ever
played as an amateur"
Yes, once or twice. They roped me
in" said Loveland, recalling a brilliant
scene in the country house of duchess.
and another for the success of which
some of the young officers of his bat
talon had been responsible.
We'll. then, there you are with your
experience. And as for the wardrobe
my goodness. lad. what do you want more
than those swell tweeds of yours and the
dress suit you've got on? If il comes to
costoom parts, why. the management will
just have to fit you out with some of
their own glad rags-or make the ghost
walk your way in advance"
you don't seem to think much of your
stars company, il you believe a raw anna
teur, with hardly stitch to his back.
would be good enough for them," Love-
land said.
Il don't claim it's a Moo York COM
pany," explained Bill. Il guess they're
don' the transforming act. Perhaps I've
been kind of carried away, thinking of
Lille and what it would be to get the
news of her from chum. / don't sup
pose there's much in this for YOU Maybe
you'll do better at Alexander's, now
you're kind of star yourself
Look at me and see the marks I got
sliding down the sky
Then. for the first time, Bill noticed
that his friends hair was singed and his
face Redeemed on one side. his white shirt
covered with black spots, and his left
hand partly in. partly out of, a clumsily
made bandage.
Moses But you have been through
the wars" exclaimed Bill. And he lis
tened with growing excitement to Love-
lands version of the fire.
Alexander ought to give you a partner
Ship he commented at last though Val
had made no boast Of his own part in the
affair.
Hes chucked me-" said Loveland.
"Je-rusaiem, Why, in the name of all
that s decent?"
1t was in the name of everything in
decent-'villain. cheat. liar, coward'-that
lie did IT.. According to him / was all
those and ought TO be in prison; though
what he meant by his weird accusations
can't imagine, unless he just hit on
whatever came first. ] suppose 1t must
| have been that He thought I'd been
making love to his daughter"
Gee! And had your
mo. 1t was misunderstanding. But
couldn't explain. And the hong and
short of it is that / crawled In the dust
| for a few wretched dollars, which il
seems I've got to lose. after ALL ] don't
know how I'm to touch any more-unless
do as you say and get this place with
| your friend, the Human Flower
You'll go?' asked Bill. frightening.
Rather. If they'll have me. But |
haven't even Photograph"
| Come out with me- said Bill, seiZins
| him by his sound arm Il know a place
| where they do you tintype by fiashlight
/ for 10 cents and finish while you wait
ii ii stand the racket. You can turn you,
! good side 10 the machine: by the time the
| answer comes your hair'n have grown
cut and you'll be looking A !. Hurrah!
! Three cheers for Lille de Lisle, the Lit
/ tie Human Flower. and her new juvenile
Lead.