The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-28
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
FR0m SCENES M THE PLAY
CoSVHdcHZ 80 TGR RNLkH1A4H COZ

the dreadful thought had been put into
execution. He had been certain he
would need some artificial courage
1t gathered in his soul and helped
him fashion an extraordinary smile
Yacuous and tremulous, but none the
less a smile.
Viola PSI hazarded a reckless youth
across the table, and Viola (who was
present in the makeup which she had
worn from the stage of a near theater.
where she had, that evening, acted
powerfully the part of a wronged and
innocent maidenhood) hoped wildly for
an instant. Perhaps Broadway, in his
cups, had decided on this most unusual
way of asking her the fateful ques-
ton! She had had high hopes of him.
Perhaps"
NO" he answered thickly. Guess
again. Three guesses It's going to
take some brains, tell you that In
tellect's the only thing'H do it. Who
ever guesses right gets a cigar
There was only one among the
ladies present who was not favored
by some speculative mind, and that
one was the right one.
Guesser after guesser named some
of the young and vivid creatures of
that almost wholly young and vivid
feminine company, none guessed the
only faded flower in the gay group.
Broadway, never dreaming Of the ag-
ony which filed the faded flowers
much powdered bosom because of the
omission Of her name, feeling few emo
tions, really, other than the keen SEN
sation of relief from his financial wor-
ries, stood smiling somewhat vacantly.
but, on the whole, without much pain.
upon the puzzled party
Go on, guess with your brains,'' he
geniaily suggested. It's mind, not
foot-work. that will win the prize"
But none guessed
Realizing that in this was something
like reflection on her fitness for the
covetable position Of consort to the
youth, Mrs. Gerard attracted every
ones attention, presently, by a won
derfully feigned embarrassment as she
rose and stood by Broadway's side.
The party gasped, but rose to the oc-
casion as soon as it could get its
breath again. 1t was incredible, and
there were those among the guests
who were so sure of this that they
believed joke was hidden somewhere
in the episode, but the majority were
so well trained to Broadway's genius
for producing mad extravaganza that
they simply charged this up as one of
them.
A dancer who had been brought up
from the cabaret below after one
o'clock and closing time had come
sprang lightly to a table. and, to the
destruction Of the floral lobster and
some notably fine glassware. did a gay
pas-seul among the wrecks Of sangui-
nary shells and emptied bottles. The
head waiter smiled. knowing that
whatever might be broken would be
charged up in the bill at double value
and paid for without question by the
sensational spendthrift, to whose OWL
wealth was now linked the extraordf
nary fortune of the recent John Gerard
| (wholesale leather) who had made his
millions, married very vital lady
of his own ripe years and then died Of
sheer antiquity, to leave her, trium
plant in superior vitality, reIict and
craving for that gaiety which life with
him had not provided
broadway" breathed the ancient
lady with a skillful stimulation OF EN-
barrassment. You naughty, naughty
boy."
Naughty, possibly; but how ex
tremely lucky" said the wholly I'm
expected bridegroom-elect without {
| culver, much to his own surprise and
self-congratulation.
AS it broke up the party rioted with
joy, very largely alcoholic Mrs. &c
rard's car, when it came up from its
hiding place around the corner. wa: