The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-11-06

tSu IL. now long nave you known
this?"
II have known It." answered o.
wald quietly, lust as long as you
have.
Then I'm right" cried Singleton.
Il knew Merry was lying when he
stood there ON the stage giving us
that bluff about Wentworth carrying
the secret for him. Merry wrote it all
right. might have guessed it long
ago. say, do you know there's a
devil of big story back of all THAR"
Oswald's face grew stern.
You see 1 know both of the men
SO WELL" went on Singleton eagerly.
why, they were regular David and
Jonathan pair ever since met them
first. Enoch was forever setting Merry
on his pins. The actor would go off,
Heaven knows where, throw over a
part, and drop off the edge of the
world don't believe he dissipated
exactly; he simply tossed his money
would hunt him up and drag him back
where he belonged. He Strengthened
up suddenly when he began to play
John Esterbrook' You can't even
pull him into poker game now. I
guess took the winnings at the last
game he stood in for. That night I
had great mind to hand the money
back to him. We said 'Good-by' about
daylight. He looked pessimistic and
glum. No, he wasn't glum either;
Merry never gets glum. He had q
down-and-out, n't-give-a-damn ex-
preston that morning. can see him
yet. Suddenly he disappeared again.
When he came back Wentworth and
he cut each other dead. That Paget
woman affair began, then Wentworth
saved Merry's life. Why. it's a ire
mendous story"
Oswald turned abruptly. Something
in his quiet gaze made Singleton shift
his eyes with start Of guilt. Il want
to say a word to you." the English
mans voice was stern. "and ] want
you to repeat what i say to every man
in your, fraternity. There may be a
big story somewhere behind this-I
cannot tell. If there is, If an enmity
or a misunderstanding did exist, II
there was wrong done, or If anything
lies behind these two men which we
do not comprehend. leave 1t to them.
They have buried it.. Don't turn
ghoul." he pleaded. land dig it up,
simply to make a curious, heartleSs
world buy your paper for day or
two. am told there is bond be-
tween newspaper men, like a warm
hearted brotherhood. Wentworth be-
ionged to that brotherhood; he does
yet-remember that"
with an impulsive gesture. Thank
you, Mr.. Oswald. You're a good deal
of a man. / never knew you before.
We all need jog on the elbow once
in q while. A newspaper man grows
a buzzard when story is in the air.
He forgets how the other fellow feels.
I'll pass the word around. can prom
Use you that not man among US will
do anything but take Merry's word for
it. His confession is a big story in
ITSELF"
Thank you" said Oswald with a
cordially which few men had seen
in the dignified Englishman.
He stood talking with group who
gathered about him at the close Of
the play, eager as Singleton had been
to discuss Merry's dramatic confess
sion, when an usher interrupted them.
"Mr. Oswald, you're wanted back Of
the scenes" said the boy.
Under the white glare of electricity
a little group stood on the nalf-dis-
mantled stage. The people in the cast
we're there-property men, the call
boy. electricians, ushers, and the
humblest employee Of the house. The
actors still wore their stage garb and
makeup. Dorcas' hand was linked in
her brothers arm. For a moment Os-
wald stood watching her. Her face
was flushed, her eyes shone, she
seemed TRANSPORTED by happiness.
Merry stretched out q welcoming
hand to Oswald. We've been waiting
for you, Oswald, to round out our
circle" he cried gaily. Il had Scotch
grandmother. When she reached the
western wilderness and built home.
she made her husband carve over the
cbimney-piece: We're a. sibb tae ane
another here Once, when / was a
little boy, she explained it to me.
understood. The English language
won't translate these words, but they
mean that there's nobody here but the
hest of friends. Because we are a
sibb tae ane anither here tonight l
want to break secret to you. 1t Is
a more wonderful secret than the news
7 gave to the audience"
Merry looked about him with a
quick, boyish smile. Il used to say
could not make a curtain speech to
save my life. Tonight I feel as IL
were poisoning out. / seem capable
of speeches behind the curtain as well
as in front. suppose happiness makes
an orator of a man." He laughed joy
ousIy. "But-to my secret. This dear
lady, whom you all love and honor.