The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE PARTS HE PLAYED.
BY ANNIE HINRIcHsEN.
Copyright. Ia4)

an Immigrant train Under the canvas
tops of the wagons could be seen shah
bily-dressed women and half-clothed
children. Besides the wagons rode men
on horseback.
Blaine watched the slowly moving train.
Suddenly a band Of Indians galIoped
from behind the mountain and. firing
as they rode, swooped down upon the
emigrants. The noise of the guns was
terrific. The smoke almost hid the train
and its besiegers.
Sick with horror Marian chung to the
yeranda railing. Her maid screamed
steadily.
A clear bugle call rang out. From
the mountain dashed a cavalry troop
wearing the uniform OF the United States
army.
When the smoke cleared away the res
cued immigrants and the captured In
dams, surrounded by the victorious cav
airy, were passing around the mountain
road by which they had come into view.
The leader OF the cavalry troop left
his party and rode toward the cabin. He
raised his broad-brimmed hat and swung
from his prancing horse. He was a
remarkably handsome young man. His
X,
and his tall figure was perfect in pro-
portions. He smiled up at the charming,
frightened face of the girl on the YER
anda-
Il hope you we're not alarmed" His
voice was deep. rich and exquisitely mod
ulated. Those little scraps are quite
exciting"
Was any one killed.
Not a scratch ON any OF u.s." laughed
the officer. I'VE are so accustomed TO
these attacks that We manage them with
out the least danger to any one"
Il did not know there was an army
post near here. did not know there
were Indians in this country, nor that
immigrants were ever attacked
lie looked at her in surprise. 1T
was" Then he stopped. We SOL
diers have camp over beyond the
mountain" he said.
Marian Blaine had come West be.
cause she had developed a slight cough
which had refused to be healed. She
had bought a cabin on the plain and
had remOdeled il into a comfortable
home. Except for two servants
brought from the East. she lived alone.
Every day Capt. Barrett rode over
to the cabin. of immigrants, Indians,
and army life he seemed unwilling to
talk. He was a man who had Travelled
"IutlN. ne discussed literature, art,
and music freely. Drama apparently
bored him. for when Marian mentioned
the stage he became silent and inatten-
tive
Il am so glad that I know an army
officer Marian said. Il have never
known any Of our army men, and
have always wanted to. The army is
the noblest profession a man can en-
ter. Our officers are heroes. The res
cue Of those immigrants was the most
wonderful thing l ever saw. And you
We're maSniflcrnt. leading your meh
into battle
The look in Barretts eyes stopped
her words.
rs it because l am an army officer
fighting Indians that yOu-that you
like me-" he asked slowly. IF you
had known me in any other profession.
would you have let me be your friend?
The profession. for instance, of-or
acting"
cannot imagine il. You are an officer
and a hero"
Il am neither an officer nor a hero
Barretts voice Was harsh Il am an
actor-an actor in n moving picture show. /
The battle you saw was a mock battle
posed for the moving picture camera.
am the leading man OF a moving picture
show company which is camped over
beyond the mountain making pictures of
Western life.
Il deceived you not because I am
ashamed of my profession. / am proud
Of II. But l was tired of being treated (
as an actOr-s.ared at as IL ! We're an
imported freak. surfeited with questions
about the stage and its people never
regarded as just normal man making
a living in n decent profession. ! wanted
a vacation from being an actor. did
not wish to pos" as a hero or to win
your friendship through deceit. |.
thought he spoke as simply as a boy /
Il thought you liked me. ! did not rea- F,
lie until today that you liked the hero /
the army office. the wonderful person |
who is not l."
Mariam's face was set in hard lines |
The lovely color had faded out of it. |
Your camp-your picture show camp |
is beyond the mountain. Please return to !
il and do not come here again.
A few days later Marian's automobile
arrived from the East. The day it came /
she drove over to the picture cOmpanys ,
camp
The company was playing on the plain !
and the mountain side.
Barrett was a young cattle king riding !
horses, adOred by an army |
OF cowboys. He saved lives at the risk |
thieves and single-handed captured the |
bad man of the country.
When the picture was finished Marian |
waved to Barrett and he rode to the |
side OF her car.
II am sorry I was rude to YOU" she
said. Il liked you very much indeed as
a cattle king. Can We not be friends"
II think not he said quietly. II am
neither an army officer nor a cattle king.
I I he
you were beginning to care for me. Then
I discovered that it was the army officer
you liked. and I told you the truth about
myself You ordered me from your house.
Now you like the cattle king. I want
your love. but I want it for the man l
am. not for the men l impersonate. In
a few minutes / shall play the part of
thief, a gambler, a highwayman, a muir
derer. You will despise me because your