Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-17
By FRANK LOWELL NELSON

ponderouS tread and pouches under his shifting black
eyes. Maximian Handel, in short, combined two in
divduates in a poseur who defed anything but the
cold figures OF the boXofce say which the real
Handel.
Helen Bri1lsley-but YOU may her features all
the dead walls pay your money down at the boxofce
The real Helen Brnslev, however, you will have to
read the story to know.
The woman weak and listess Her triumph
Henceforth the nightly passage up THE Rungs
of the Ladder all in the days work for her. The
was buoyant and ebullent. His greatest triumph
reserved the CRASHED teeth of rival managers
another Handel success the cry of the critics that
the New Handel Theater successfully launched
their prediction of two years life Broadway for The
Rungs of the Ladder.
a insist, my dear Helen, it is you alone Handel
was gurging. at was wonderfu-wonderful! No other
woman of the stage no. Bernhardt herself, could
have got OF the play what you did. Itiwas your
wonderful talent, your compelling personality, that put
it over
a am fully aware OF all that, the answered
listessly. But it quite too great strain upon my
imagination believe that you really admit it in your
heart of hearts. No, no, my dear Handel, you and
are both atrocious cyclists. suppose such
necessary each other So why cannot at least be
honest about it,?
II afraid you f1atter me, Helen returned Handel
with oily righteousness.
A NY reply the woman might have framed died upon
her lips. Her face went gray in the glare of the
path of the pair the lnousnes, had stolen shadow
One time, perhaps, it may have been Now it
was but shadow. Only the soul of the shadow looked
out through pair OF unathomabe the Slough
of Despond The eyes had met squarey the eyes of
Helen Brinslev.
Handel raised his ebony cane with an angry gesture
He was conscious only that his artistic soul had been
offended by with of those human derelcts
that drift about the bosom of the restless of
humanity. The gesture with the wasted. The
,o1o 1oJ tod into tho al
tced that the hand OF the woman upon his arm trem
bled as if she was in ague fit.
aTo my car, Handel, quck!7 she gasped.
"But, my dear Helen, you to in my car
You are to dine with tonight The gods have been
good to us this night The least offer them
return is libaton OF wine
"Not tonight. l am lila little fantness- anything
must get to my hotel Another time" she answered
in dsjointed phrases
The pose,1r Instantly gave way to the practical man
of business. To have his highly paid star i'll, right
the heels OF tremendous first night success-Horrors
He trenbled violently than the woman at the
very thought. Anxiously he commanded his own
make way for that of Helen Brlnsley, which
her maid already installed.
@You will have doctor, Helen ! will send you my
own. You will take care of yourself-for my sake
Everything, remember, everything depends upon you"
There was panic in his voice he assisted the
into the
at is nothing, Handel shall be all right in the
morning Goodnight, she replied sweety, laying her
hand upon his with gesture that, if it did not
betray Affection at least savored of good fellow
ship.
"You must take good care Of your mistress, Kitty
there's good girl said Handel patronizingly to the
maid as the door Of the motor closed.
The machine whirled noiselessv off Handel stood at
the curb and watched it, the panic in his heart not
sed lie thought OF the thousands of dollars in box
office potentiality that it carried He thought-he
could not be positive-that he the shadow drift
of he he he
street, and follow in the wake of the disappear
ing