Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-08-22
coryrisht possyrAe DoDDs.nEpRnI 90.

VI uouCudiduCe, anu IL Wdut Cih
make them double 1t, raise 1t to
quarter of a million. Two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars isn't SO
much when you've got millions in
trunks. What's that to the Ryans?"
She rose abruptly from her seat,
pushing 1t back and feeling that she
had better go before she said too
much.
As she rose, Hazel rose too. her face
full Of suspicious concern.
TITS not another woman. is 1t. Ber-
N.Y." she almost whispered.
Berny, had told so many lies that
she did not bother about few more.
Moreover, she was determined not to
non-not yet, anyway.
NO." she said with short scorn.
turning to pick up her feather boa.
"Of course it's not. He's not that kind
of man. He's too much of sissy.
Another woman! I'd like to tell him
that"
When she reached home. she found
on the hall table a note which the
Chinaman told her had been left by
messenger. 1t was from Bill Can
non and contained but few lines.
These, of a businesslike brevity. ex-
pressed the writer's desire to see her
again, and politely suggested that, If
she could come to his office on any
one of the three specifled afternoons.
between the hours of two and four,
he would be deeply honored and
obliged.
In his "Klondike Monologue" at the
sudden and unexpected hit. The morn
ing after his first appearance. both
Dominick and Berry read in the paper
eulog!stic notices of the new star.
Dominick was particularly interested.
He remembered Buford's state of wor
ry while at Antelope and was glad to
see that the unlucky player was. in
the parlance Of his own world max
ing good"
Now, from what he heard, Buford's
hard times should be at an end. Such
hit as he had made should give him
the required impetus. Men Dominick
knew, who had theatrical affiliations.
told him that Buford was made" The
actor could now command good sal
ary on any of the vaudeville circuits
in the country. and II "he had 1t in
him" he might ascend the ladder
toward the heights of legitimate com
edy. His humorous talent was unique
| and brilliant. II was odd, considering
his age, that II had not been discov-
cred sooner.
Berry was very anxious to see him.
| 10 hod
Of the first evenings and pronounced
him simply great" She extorted a
promise from Dominick that. at the
earliest opportunity. he would puy
tickets for her. and. If he could not
accompany her himself. she could go
with one of her sisters.
He stopped to buy the tickets one
midday on his way to lunch. He made
up his mind to buy three. then Berry
could either take her two sisters, or
Hazel and Josh, whose craving for
the theater was an unassuageable pas
sion. He was turning from the ticket
office window when q sonorous voice
at his elbow arrested him:
"Mr. Ryan" 1t doomed out, do ! see
you at last?"
1t was Buford. but rejuvenated
and prosperous Buford. the reflection
of his good fortune shining from his
beaming face and fashionable figure
The red rasped look had left his fea-
lures and the hollows beneath his
high cheek-bones were filed out
"Glad to see you. Buford," he said,
land glad to hear you've made such a
| success OF II"
Buford acknowledged these compIi-
ments with cool. acquiescent compla-
cence.
81 have struck my gait" he said.
nodding his head In condescending ac-
ceptance. Il have at last won my
spurs. The ways of fate-or let me
say Providence-are truly inscrutable
l turned my face to the North in a
bitter hour. and It was in bitter hour
that I adopted the. stage"
Then you went on the stage up
there? You've only been on a few
years?"
Nearly four" said the actor. He
looked down at his shoe for a moment
as If considering, and repeated with
out looking up, ut will be four next
September. Trouble drove me to those
far distant lands and hard luck drove
me on the stage. I'd never had any
thing to do with 1t till then; hadn't
stage game about me. There'd even
been time when had strong preju-
dice against the theater and never
went to one. But a man must live
| and"
He stopped. his attention arrested
by hand laid softly on his sleeve. A
youth of Hebraic countenance had is
sued from a door behind him, and,
touching his arm with hesitating, un-
clean finger, began to speak in low
tone.
| DUTY calls" said Buford. 81 am