The Penn's Grove record., 1911-06-02
I[M ~ g.
A Lack of Temperament
BY M. ]. PHILLIPS
Copyright. 1911. By Associated Literary Press)


The most important thing in this
wandering life was the daily letter
from Jerry Valentine, back in dear
old Arcadia.
Jerry's vague. mysterious hint that
he might drop In on her some night
was frequently reiterated and proved
really exciting. Jerry had been q
good friend-a very good friend
back home.
They had been a month on the
road and were looping back toward
the east when Jerry zane. 1t was a
mild. starlit night in spring. Trixie's
blood was stirring e%xpectantly when
she strolled to the theater.
She knew the cause of that delight
full unrest when the curtain went up.
Jerry was in the right hand lower
box.
Trixie never did better than she
did that night in Mellonsburg. They
all admitted 1t afterward. There
was a soft, suppressed fire In her
acting and singing which brought the
audience forward in their seats and
caused that little, breathless hush. so
dear to the heart of the actor. be-
tween her closing notes and the
thunderous volleys of applause.
There was the usual crowd OF
"Johnnies" about the stage door when
it was all over. Jerry was among
them, standing modestly back near
the arc that lighted the brick-paved
court. His eyes quickened at sight
of her.
A man stepped out of the smirking
throng. He was in evening dress.
The other Washers shrank back.
He took Trixie by the arm. "Oh,
you kidd" he said. with thick genial
ity. Come on Fl a time with yer
Uncle bud. Muh cars out here"
Anger and dislike were mirrored IN
her face as she twisted out OF his
grasp. Let me alone!" she said.
trembling.
The m~asterful masher regarded
her a moment in ugly silence. Then
he said, deliberately, with an oath:
Say, kid, yuh can't put anything
over on me! Cut it out, an come
along. Why, you amt nothin' but an
actress!"
"Jerry!" she called, family. "Oh.
jerry"
Jerry was already there. He
whirled the big young man around
with his left hand. The nails of his
right hand were cutting into the
palm.
IAN actor{ne friend, eh!" sneered
the big man. Jerry. swinging vicious
ly, struck him in the mouth.
A policeman sauntered out of the
shadow when the fight was over. and
laid a friendly hand on Jerry's Shout
der.
Better beat It, sport" he muir
INJURED. THAT guy" he nodded to
where the masher, half-unconscious,
slumped against the wall, sis the
brother of the chief Of police. You
ought t. have a vote Of thanks for
trimmin' him, but they'll coax you If
you don't make a getaway"
Our Train l0dfeS lOI iOiSOfiAiS ~
half an hour volunteered Fftzmau-
rice. who had been, like his com
a witness of the battle. "Take
Miss Trixie, young sir, and hurry to
the station. Well look after her
baggage"
Were not going to P~ierceville,'
painted Jerry. mo more such stunts
as this. We're going back to Ar
cadia-to get married. Come on,
dearie!", He drew the girls hand
through his arm and turned away.
-"Ch, jerry" they heard her say. in
heartbroken accents. a world OF
shame in her voice, did you hear
him? He said l was nothing but
but an actress!"
Billy Langstroth loo'ed significant
" at the manager. Il told you she
didn't have the temperament, Junie!"
he crowed.