Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-08-14

been head and right hand and mother,
father and brother to me for years, as
we'll as the truest friend q maj ever
had, I'd have been in the gutter.
Enoch." Merry's face flushed, eff I win
out, it means more to me than fame or
wealth-it means the happiness of a
lifetime"
Andrew! A woman at last"
The actor nodded gravely. Eyes, a
woman at last"
Not Drusilla"
"Oh, curb your curiosity" he
laughed lightly; you can't have every
thing at once. Now I'm going to read"
Wentworth lit a. cigar, leaned back
in a leather chair, and turned his eyes
steadfastly upon the man opposite
him. Merry was a 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-
ton from his fellows.
Wentworth's cigar went out and he
forgot to light another. He sat in
utter silence, a silence which was half
critical, although at moments he was
deeply stirred, partly by surprise,
partly by unconscious emotion. He
breathed a half-stifed sigh. This task.
such a splendid achievement, had cost
one man a months labor! He remem-
bered the years of ardent toll he had
spent on what, as he realized sadly,
was poor. 1t was worse than poor-it
was futile. Even Dorcas had sadly but
truthfully acknowledged its impos-
sibility.
When Merry spoke the last word
and the curtain fell, he looked up with
triumph and joy shining in his eyes.
Then he waited in silence, as if for
ardent hands to clasp his own. 1t was
an actors pause for the thunder when
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 a chill, shiy-
ering note in it.
Say, old man, isn't it good? Tell
NEEDN'T you like it?"
Like it?" echoed Wentworth. He
turned his eyes straight on Merry's
questioning face. why, boy, it's mag
niicent. You'll pull Broadway to its
feet with that. Merry, you've done a
tremendous piece of work. That will
live fort ought to live for years"
Thanks, old man, thanks with all
my heart. You can't imagine how
hard it was to wait for your verdict"
IT'S wonderful" unused Wentworth,
its a corker!"
Now, old man." Andrew jumped to
his feet and began to pace the room
impatiently, 81 want to rush it on the
stage-quick. Quick, l say. Hecht
will take it, l know"
4 suppose you'll play the convict?"
Good God, what else could | play?'
Andrew stopped suddenly and looked
down at Wentworth.
You'll kill your reputation as q
comedian"
Perhaps you'll be interested in
knowing that I've thrown up my part
in The Leftover Bachelor No more
doddering idiots for me. Why, it will
be easy shedding to get this on"
Andrew, you're a steam engine"
did you think l was a steam
roller?"
well, it's walked you UP. That's
dead certain. Who did it?"
"The woman-I told YOU" Merry
turned aside and stood with his bach
to Enoch, running his eyes over a vol
ume he had lifted from a bookshelf.
Say, old man." suggested Went
worth. leave that with me over night
You've given me a lot to think about
want to read it again-when I'm
alone"
The closely written sheets fell re
~luctantly from the comedians hand
He fondled the paper as if it were a
beloved child.
you'll be careful of it, won't you
Enoch?" he said anxiously. Its all
have. My first draft was a garbled
dirty mess; / threw it away"
BLESS your soul, I'll be careful
When I've finished I'll put it in my
safe. Ill have it typewriter tomor
row.
Merry laughed. Good night, ole
pard; I'm grateful for your faith in
me-"
Good night, boy" Enoch gripped
his hand. 'I'm terribly glad to have
you make good. Your play is wonder
full"
Merry went down the stairs whfs
Ting. A few seconds later he turned
back. He put his head in at the door
and said in a melodramatic whisper:
Rush the business, my lord, I'm owing
thee a hundred and much else. 1t shall
be paid with compound interest from
the first nights returns" Then he
laughed and shut the door.
"A hundred!. whispered Wentworth
He dropped into the chair beside the
fire and covered his face with his
hands. The room had grown dark and
1xB