Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-16

NGdFteu Sdlely lHdl EuOCu udu Seeu him don with his stage garb. Still 1t was accompanied by dignity of. man. l ner odd to the comedian, a dignity 1 which had self-respect behind it. Went worth put an arm about him affection ately.
 Have you come into a fortune. boy?" he asked with laugh. Better than that-pm on the verge of making a fortune"
 "Good!" Enoch pushed him into a comfortable chair and stood looking I down at him. Let's have the news, boy" ' "I will" answered Merry slowly "I've got to-I want your advice and help. Ineed it as l never needed 1t in my life before. Only-Tm not going | to trot out a word of it until we are sure of couple of hours clear. l cant l Wentworth shut and locked the door, then he opened a small cupboard.
 "What'll you have?" he asked, lift ing down couple of glasses.
 Nothing" Andrew pulled large envelope frcm his pocket and sat 1 down beside the fire. Wentworth faced him with an expectant look upon his face.
 You never guessed, suppose, that l I'm an incipient playwright?" "Never!" Enoch's tone was en- phatic. 1ouuhnd hi1o rir.vc1v well, am, I'm the coming dramatist."
 q take off my hat 70 you, boy" Enoch swept him pantomime bow. Wait a minute." The comedian's face grew unusually resolute. Wait, old man, you've got to take this seri- ously. or I won't tell you a blessed word about it."
 Merry rose and laid his hand on Enoch's shoulder with an imploring gesture. Dear old man, I want your help and guidance. Pm such blamed unbusiness-1ike chump. If you hadn't been head and right hand and mother. father and brother to me for years, as we'll as the truest friend a man ever had, I'd have been in the gutter. Enoch," rMerry's face flushed, eff l win out, 1t means more to me than fame or wealth--it means the happiness of a lifetime" Andrew! A, woman at last"
 The actor nodded gravely. "Yes, woman at last"
 Not Drusilla?"
 ''Oh, curb your curiosity" he laughed lightly; you can't have every thing at once. Now Pm going to read"
 Wentworth lit a cigar, leaned back In leather chair. and turned his eyes steadfastly upon the man opposite him. Merry was singularly dramatic reader. Across his face flashed each human emotion as he put it into words. Enoch forgot the outer world when Merry leaped into the words with which he had clothed a daughters greeting to her outcast father-a father disqualified, hopeless, timid, stunned, dumb after the long separa- tion from his fellows.
 Wentworth's cigar went out and he forgot to light another. He sat in l utter silence, silence which was half critical, although at moments he was deeply stirred, partly by surprise, partly by unconscious emotion. He breathed halfstifled sigh. This task, such splendid achievement, had cost one man months labor! He remem- bered the years of ardent toll he had spent on what, as he realized sadly, was poor. It was worse than poor-it was futile. Even Dorcas had sadly but truthfully acknowledged it's impos- sibility.
 When Merry spoke the last word and the curtain fell, he looked up with triumph ard joy shining in his eyes. Then he waited in silence, as if for ardent hands to clasp his own. It was he knows he has won his audience. Enoch's fingers lay clasped together on his knees, his eyes bent on the glowing caves of the coal fire. AS the actor spoke his voice had chill, shiv ering note in it.
 Say, old man, isn't it good? Tell me-don't you like it?" 1/lk0 It eCnO0Q W0uIWOTIn. f1o turned his eyes straight on Merrys questioning face. Why. boy, it's mag nihcent. You'll pull Broadway to its feet with that. Merry, you've done 8 tremendous piece of work. That will live for-it ought to live for years"
 Thanks, old man, thanks with all my heart. You can't imagine how hard 1t was to wait for your verdict"
 Its wonderful" unused Wentworth. tits a corker!"
 "Now. old man." Andrew jumped to his feet and began to pace the room impatiently, T want to rush 1t on the stage-Quick! Quick. say. Hecht will take it, l know"
 T suppose you'll play the convict?
 Good God, what else could play?" l Andrew stopped suddenly and looked down at Wentworth. ri T ,'"You'n kill your reputation as a comedian" " #fi
 Perhaps you'll be interested in knowing that I've thrown up my part in The Leftover Bachelor No more