Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-10-02

who took him out of it?'
81 don't understand the situation.
Miss Paget knows, l fancy, but she
has not given me the mans name.
She says it was "a piece of nasty re-
venge."
She told you this?"
Yes, l have had a nice morning.
1t was gone owe step by step at home,
then again with Miss Paget. She
wants the child"
ITO care for?"
No" Wentworth turned his eyes
studiousl& in another direction. she
intends to send him back to England
Immediately. Why shouldn't she? The
woman has to be footloose in her
work. A blind youngster would tie
,her down neck and heels. They I'M
derstand that sort in an asylum.
There isn't a doubt that he would be
happier there"
THAT is. your honest conviction"
I'm sure of one thing. That brat
is not to be harbored in my house.
Suppose the mother made it out a case
OF kidnaping?"
Il had not thought of it in that
light"
We'll, think of it now" Enoch burst
out furiously. 81 am as fond of Dor
cas- as any brother could be, but she
is the sort of girl who can't be moved
when she takes a stand on anything.
Miss Paget is a clever, handsome
woman. | cannot be wholly at odds
with her. seeing her every day of my
life as l do"
That was in my mind when l spoke
of letting her 60"
Enoch was on the verge of checking
him with an impatient exclamation,
but the Englishman interrupted. You
have had your say, now 1 am going
to have mine. You remember one day
during the early ~rehearsals l told you
all | knew of Zilla Paget's story. l
was beginning, then. to have qualms
of conscience about bringing her over
and setting her among decent people.
She is worse than l imagined. In the
most degraded woman you find brute
feeling-brute motherhood l mean.
She lacks that"
Who gave you the version of this
story"
Merry told me last night"
You have not seen Dorcas?"
Il have not met Miss Wentworth
since yesterday morning"
1T was a cas- of s%tirred-up emo
ton with the whole bunch of them.
They will take things normally in a
day Or two. You had better nave q
talk with Miss Paget. She is anxious
to see you"
Il think" Oswald spoke coldiy, sit
would be better for Miss Paget if she
did not come to me. l might tell her
in plain English my opinion of her.
Hadn't we better let her go?"
III we didn't have to take into con-
sideration the question of a woman
fit to play her part, there's her con-
tract. 1t is iron-bound for the whole
season. There's nothing especially
heroic about Miss Paget. Get her
mad" Enoch laughed grimly. land
she'll give you trouble to burn"
I'll look out for that myself. I'm
responsible for her being here. Clean
minded citizens should not have to
herd in with a moral leper."
That's scarcely a fit lame for a
lady"
Grant Oswald's voice was emphatic.
Il never did class Miss Page with
ladies'"
Il might as well tell you before you
go in for anything of the sort that |
will fight you legally. 1t would be the
worst sort of business proposition to
drop Miss Paget in the middle Of a
successful run. 1t is not fair to her.
If an actress does the work you ask
of her, she has the right to make any
sort of-domestic arrangement she
pleases."
Wentworth's, tone was conclusive.
He lit his cigar again and stood 81
lently beside his desk. blowing the
smoke across the room in distinct
rings. You said you had several
business matters to talk over. Is this
everything for today?" He lifted his
hat from the rack as if anxious to end
the interview.
Oswald spoke stif1y. Il Hate to think
of a quarrel with you, Wentworth. III
confess l have not d great deal OF
fighting blood in me. We don't seem
to get along as well as we did at first;
L don't know whether it is your fault
or mine" He paused as if waiting for
Enoch to speak. Then he continued
There was one other thing. l have
been meaning to speak Of it for some
time. Probably others have men
toned it to you. The newspaper men
are asking me one question all the
time--they want to know if you are al
work on another play?"
Enoch gave him a savage look. II
was a look which puzzled Oswald al
day long. Il will think of that wher
l get good and ready. The House Of
Esterbrook' is good for one season
more-probably for two" Then he
flung out of the Office and slammed
the door behind him.
Oswald sat in silence for a few min
utes. His face was full of anxiou:
perplexity. He rose, put on his ha'
and overcoat, and went out. In tbs
lobby he met Zilla Paget. She turned
eagerly as if to speak to him. HI
lifted his hat with grave courtesy ant
walked past her. She followed to thu
6oor and watched him while b.
crossed the street.
Her face famed scarlet and she bi
her lips, then she laughed contemptu
ously and hurried through the darl
theater to the stage. The place wa:
deserted. She went straight to tn
letter-rack. In the shelf marked |
she found several letters for herself
She was turning away when her eye
fell upon an envelope in the lower cor
ner of the rack. She picked it out an
stood for a moment staring at it blank
ly, then she gasped. The letter wa
not for her. 1t was addressed Il
coarse, shaky writing, Mrs. Alice '
Bourne, Gotham Theater, New York.
1t bore the Madison Square postmarh