The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-12-19
You covnt this change in the play

called" Wentworth's voice was impa-
tient. and frown chased across his
face. "Oswald's been asking for it this
morning When a quiet fellow like
him makes up his mind to have q
thing. he's apt to be confoundedly in
sistent."
Then you want 1t >?
Certainly"
Il sat up until daylight to write this
It's an improvement on the other act:
| can see that myself. Oswald will tell
you. think. that it carries out his
ideas exactly. Before l hand it over l
want to make a dicker with you"
Wentworth stared at him blankly-
"A dicker?" he repeated. is it
money!"
Money" Andrews face grew harsh
with scorn.
What is 1t them"
Il was dining last night at Colgaz-
zis /"
Wentworth's face grew suddenly
scarlet. then it whitened.
Il saw you there" Merry's voice
was relentless. Il don't know a blessed
thing about the Paget woman, for or
against her. l do know this. though:
every man who has lived among good
women knows she is not fit company
for-your sister for instance"
Who said she was?" snarled Went
worth. Il had not thought of throw
ing her into my sisters society. Dorcas
would not have to tolerate even pass
ing acquaintance with her behind the
scenes If l had my way"
She is not fit to be seen with a de-
cent man"
You give me the credit then CT be-
ing-a decent man." sneered Enoch.
ITO a certain limit do
Well what do you want" Went
worth turned an apprehensive glance
upon him.
Il want you to promise. before l
turn over this manuscript, that you
will have nothing to do with Zilla
Paget except in business way"
why, are you interested in her
yourself?"
MY God. Enoch." Andrew stuffed
the roll of paper in his pocket and
jumped to his feet.
Here. sit down. want this affair
Strengthened out-now."
| Merry did not answer. He walked
across the office and stood beside a
table where litter of photographs lay.
| He picked one up carelessly and
| glanced at 1t. 1t was an exquisite por-
trait Of Dorcas. Her eyes gazed into
his with a straightforward look which
was characteristic of the girl.
viii you tell me-" there was stern
in suriIl
| you explain why you are SO concerned
about my morals?"
Il don't care a damn about your
morals" answered Merry contemptu-
ously. Il was thinking about your SIS
ter. | am still fool enough to believe
that you have some decency left.
will hand over this act, rewritten as
you want 1t. when you promise to have
nothing to do with Zilla Paget"
| When Merry stopped speaking he
took a seat opposite Enoch and waited
for a reply.
| A visiting card lay on the table.
Wentworth picked it UP and tore it
into halves. He sat tearing and re-
tearing it in perfect silence. When 1t
was reduced to fragments, he gathered
| LLeLl luIO lue nollOW vi his udAu anu
| dropped them in the waste basket;
then he looked across at Merry.
That was Miss Paget's card" he
said harshly. Pm through with her"
Merry took the manuscript from his
pocket laid it on the table before
Enoch, and walked out.
A few minutes later Enoch opened
the door which led into the box Office.
A young man sat beside the window.
'Dingley." he said. Il have locked
the outside door. Don't let a soul in
on me- / can't see Mr.. Oswald even.
Tell him I am busy. writing"
Wentworth locked the door OF the
office, sat down in his dig chair. and
picked up the manuscript. He read it
rapidly. slipped blank sheet of paper
into a typewriter, and began to copy
1t with slow deliberation. When it was
| finished he read each typed page care
fully He tackled them together and
rose to his feet. He began to search
| the office rapidly with his eyes. then
he turned to wash bowl in the corner
He crushed into loose bunch each Of
the sheets which held Merry's writ
| ing and touched the paper with
match. 1t leaped into red blaze. He
watched it carefully, poking the sheets
over with a paper knife until each one
fell away into shivering black ash.
When every spark had died he turned
on faucet and the light ashes were
swept down the waste pipe. He
rubbed a speck of CRIME from his
hands and opened the box office door,
Oswald sat on high stool beside the
window.
GRO BE CONTINUED)
| Conclusive Evidence.