The Red Cloud chief., 1914-08-13

lid and the red scar cut lividly across
his forehead. A stiffness fell upon
the house. It seemed to Oswald as
II the people waited i~ntently for some
unusual event.
Enoch Wentworth raised his hand
with a gesture which was strangely
dramatic for q man who was neither
an actor nor an orator. Like q fash
Oswald remembered a day when he
sat watching q prisoner at the bar.
The man had been condemned to
death; a moment later, with a stified
cry Of terror. he stretched put his
arm for mercy and sympathy.
"Ladie and gentlemen" Went
worth began, In a voice which was
low. but SO marvelously distinct that
each syllable carried to the farthest
seat In the house, this Is not a curtain
speech-you have not called me be-
fore the footlights tonight; It ia an
explanation. 1t is a-confession."
Enoch paused as, II mastering
strength to go through an ordeal. He
felt the curious scrutiny Of a thou.
sand eyes. 1T is a confession" he re.
peated slowly, "a confession which has
been long delayed"
He never finished his sentence.
Merry stepped forward and laid his
hand upon the mans arm with a cling.
ing grasp which was full Of affection,
even while 1t pushed Wentworth aside.
ALLOW me-" Then he laughed.
Good people. n and all, who have
80 long been friends OF mine. this ia
my confession. late In the day. as my
friend Wentworth suggests. but 1t is
mine. He was simply breaking the
news to you that l wrote The House
of Esterbrook.'"
He hesitated for q moment, then
Enoch touched his arm as II in pro-
test. Merry smiled and gently put
him aside. A whisper Of startled sur.
prise ran through the house. followed
by a moment Of hush, then applause.
1t subsidized slowly. During the tu-
mutt men and women who kept their
eyes upon the stage say Wentworth
turn as II pleading vehemently. Merry
answered with a few decisive words.
then he stepped down to the foot.
lights.
we have saved this confession.
ladies' and gentlemen" he began grave
ly, not to create a sensation or to
further advertise the play, but each
one of you must realize how the pub.
lie distrusts q jack.of.alltrades. Many
Of you doubted the ability of q Merry
Andrew to touch human emotion ever
SO lightly. and came that first night
with eager curiosity to see him In the
character Of John Esterbrook.' How
much more would you have hesitated
II you had known that this same Merry
Andrew wal the author Of the play
Hence the secret, to deceive o until
an honest verdict had been rendered.
Tonight I release my friend Enoch
Wentworth from the role he has car.
ried for ten months. also wish, be-
fore you. to acknowledge a large in.
debtedness to him. For years he has
been the truest friend q man ever
had. He has believed in me. encour
aged me. and to his untiring labor you
are indebted for much Of the perfect
detail which has carried The House
OF Eastabrook' to success"
The audience saw Wentworth stare
as II In utter amazement when Merry
began his confession. Then his eyer
grew misty. and when the young actor
turned to him with an affectionate
smile, he gripped the hand held oul
to him as a man does when he can
not put love or gratitude into words
Across the footlights men and womer
realized vaguely. through the strange
, human insight we call intuition. tina
another drama was being played be