The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-18
Help Wanted .

Help Wanted" gripping play of
conditions in the business world of
today, will be staged at the Alcazar
theater next week, after which II Is
to be produced in New York CITY,
Charles Ruggles, who plays the part
of Jack Scott will appear in the same
role when the play has its eastern
premier. Help Wanted" was written
by Jack Lait, a Chicago newspaper
man. 1t tells the story of Gerald
Scott, Napoleon of commerce. who, al
though married and the father OF
family. seeks to crafty g. base pas
sion by hiring stenographers who are
good fellows" In the following scene
Gertrude, an innocent young girl, just
out of business college. meets Miss
Virgins, an experienced stenog-
rapher. Gertrude has been engaged
by Scott as his private secretary. al
though she is grossly incompetent.
wiggins-Did you ever work any
where before?
Gertrude-No.
Wiggins-How old are you?
Gertrude-17-past 17-1s next
July.
Virgins draws very close and
looks sharply into Gertrude's facet
Has that old Romeo tried to make
love TO you yet?
Gertrude (shocked)-No-no. He
has been very kind to me and very
patient.
Wiggins-Such patience is unusual
Kind to you? Put his hand on your
shoulder IN a FATHERLY way? Tell
you you were a brave little girl, In
FATHERLY way? And-how much
salary is he paying?
Gertrude-Ten dollars.
Virgins pointing to waste baskeD
For THAT? Gertrude is confused:
Virgins takes her Eand). Look out
grille, look out I only talked to that
man Scott two minutes, but I know
his kind That sort of man wouldn't
put up with an incompetent stenog-
EEpher for a minute; IL that poor old
Bookkeeper made one mistake he'd
throw him out of that window. When
he hires a new one. and young one,
and a pretty one like you, and pays
more than the market price. and puts
you in his private office where he
doesn't want outsiders to peep in--he
doesn't want a STENOGRAPHER-
Gertrude-What does he want?
Wiggins-A playmate.
Gertrude don't believe you?
Wfggins-Are you BLIND? You're
only a child. but even girl of II
ought to know SOMETHING. They
don't teach 1t OF you in business col
iege. but ii should be part OF the fe-
male instinct-here. give me that PEN
ell. (Wiggins writes In notebook).
You can't read your own stenography
see IL you can read mine. Can you
read that?
Gertrude-Stop.
WigRins-Yes, STOP. That's the
one word they don't teach you. Keep
1t on the tip of your tongue. You'll
need IT. You're in a new world now.
You'll meet lot of men of the kind
YOU never met before--men who DO
things and ARE things-men who
don't have to wait until Saturday
night for their incomes and their
holidays. They'll hypnotic you with
their forcefuIness. They'll have so
much to offer and you'll have so little
to give in return-and nobody-not
even a girl, likes to be a bad sport.
Gertrude don't think you Judge
Mr.. Scott right He is a gentleman.
He wouldn't think of such things.
Besides. he has a wife and family.
and he's so rich and important-he
wouldn't dare
Virgins - Dare? why. he'll dare
anvthfns. His kind will lie and act
and smile and tell you their wives
don't understand them. They wrote
the system and they can play IL safe.
It's the salt In their busy lives It's
he gambling fascination, it's the lure
,of the hunt They see you, they want
YOU. they take you and then drop you
s--dxon you Like o torn sollAd rag.