The Washington times., 1913-02-20
CHAPTER VII.
The Late Extra,


MPuLsIvELY Whitaker got up to
follow Max, then nesitated, and
sank back in doubt, his head
awhirl. He was for the time being
shocked out of all capacity for clear
reasoning or right thinking. There was
uppermost in his consciousness a half
formed notion that he wouldn't help
matters by intruding behind the scenes.
Beyond all question his wife mad
recognized him-the man whom she had
been given every reason to consider
Gead-a discovery so unnerving that she
had been temporarily unable TO con-
tinue. But il theatrical precedent were
reliable guide, she would presently
pull herself together and so on; people
of the stage seldom forget that their
first duty is to the audience. Now,
We're Whitaker to thrust himself in
upon her fight for self-control he would
probably only succeed in making mat
ters still worse. But IL he sat tight and
waited, all might yet be well-as well
as any such hideous tangle could be
hoped ever to be.
He arrived at this conclusion through
no such detailed argument: his mind
leaped to 1t, and he acted upon 1t while
still beset by a half-score of other con-
alterations. This, then, explained the
LII reluctance 10 nave MIN
bidden to the supper party: whatever
ultimate course of action he planned to
pursue, Drummond had been reluctant,
perhaps pardonably so, to have his ro-
nance overthrown in a single day
And Drummond must have known
who Sara Law was, even while denying
knowledge of the existence of Mary
Ladislas Whitaker. He had lied He'd
desperately, doubtless meaning to en-
compass marriage before Whitaker
ND Ia vurifn md fur ,fcl, hfr,,
with every reason that could influence
an honorable man to disappear again.
This. too. explained why the lawyer
had failed to occupy his stall on that
farewell night. 1t was just possible
that Whitaker would not recognize his
wife, and vice versa: but 1t was
chance that Drummond hadn't the
nerve to face. Even so. he might have
hidden himself somewhere In the house,
waiting to gee what would happen.
On the other hand. Max to a certain
ty was ignorant of the relationship be-
tween his star and his old-time friend,
just as he certainly was ignorant OF
her identity with the iong-lost Mary
Ladislas.
For that matter, Whitaker had 10
admit that. damning as was the evil
dence ccntroverting the theory, DrIim-
mond might be just as much in the
dark as Max was. There was always
the chance that the girl had kept her
neither her manager nor the man she
had covenanted TO wed. Drummond'
absence from the house might oe due
10 any one of a hundred reasons other
than that which Whitaker inclined to
assign to IT. 1t was only fair to sus-
pend judgment. In the meantime
The audience was getting beyond con-
troll. The clamor OF comment and lues-
tioning which had broken loose upon
TIE falling OF the curtain was waxing
and gaining a high. querulous note OF
tmpatience. In the gallery the gods
were beginning to testify to their nor
NAL intolerance whit snrlI whistles, |
catcalls. sporadic bursts OF handicap |
ping. and a steady. sinister rumble of
feet
In the orchestra and dress circle |
people were moving about restlessly |
and talking at the top OF their voices. |
in order TO make themselves heard |
above the growing din. Had there teen |
music to fill the interval they might |
have been more calm: but Max had |
fallen In with the theatrical dern!er cri,
and had eliminated orchestras from his |
houses. employing only a peal of goags
TO insure silence ana attention before
each curtain.
Abruptly Max himself appeared at
one side Of the proscenium arch. II /
was plain to those nearest the stage
that he was seriously disturbed. There
was a noticeable hesitancy in his man.
ner. q pathetic frenzy IN his habitually
mild and lustrous eyes.
Advancing half way to the middle or
the apron he paused. begging attention 1
with a pudgy hand. 1t was a full min
ute before the gallery would let him |
be heard.
ladies' and gentlemen" he an
nounced. plaintiyely. Il much regret |
TO inform you that Miss Law has suf-
fe-ed. serious nervous shock"-his |
gaze wandered in perplexed inquiry to-
ward the riGht-hand stage box. then
was hastily averted and will not be
2 Bile to continue for a few moments
tience for very few minutes =
He backed prec!pitately from view,
bounded by mocking applause.
A lull fell. but only temporarily. As
the minutes heightened the gallery
grew more snd more obstreperous and
swept through the auditorium, to break,
roaring. against the obdurate curtain.
When eventually o second figure an
peared before the footiights the audi
erce seemed to understand that Max
dared not show himself again. and
Why.
If was with difficulty that the man
evidently the stage nanager-contrived
to make himself discopnectedly heard |
Ladies and p. he shouted. sweat
beading his perturbed forehead
regret impossible 20 continue
money box Office"
An angry howl drowned hin, out. He
at accelerated discretion.
Whitaker slipDing through tho stage
ioor behind the boyes ran into the last
;reaker he@ide tho first enfrarcn. heat
,df-- e---1lrining tn "~v rne Who would
isten the utter futility Of offering box
,ffice prices In return for seat-checks
which In the majority Of instances had