The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-12

deeply stirred.
Good Lordi" said Singleton.
Oswald turned with a start as II he
had been aroused from sleep. The
newspaper man stood at his elbow
with a look of blank astonishmenf In
his eyes
What's back of all that?" he asked.
II can understand that Merry wrote
the play, I've known Enoch Went
worth for years. and ! was never so
staggered in my life as the first night
when 1 saw The House of Ester
brook. / went to the office afterwards
to write my stuff and / sat for ten
minutes-dumb, stupid-trying to fig
ure out how Wentworth. the Enoch
Wentworth l knew, could have writ
ten it, How long have you known
this?"
Il have known it," answered OH-
wald quietly. Just as long as you
have"
Then I'm right" cried Singleton.
Il knew Merry was lying when he
stood there on the stage giving US
that bluff about Wentworth carrying
the secret for him. Merry wrote it all
right. / might have guessed it long
ago. l say. do you know there's
devil of a big story back of all that?"
Oswald's face grew stern.
You see know both of the men
so well" went on Singleton eagerly.
Why. they we're regular David and
Jonathan pair ever since l met them
first Enoch was forever setting Merry
ON his pins. The actor would go on,
Heaven knows where. throw over
part. and drop off the edge of the
world. l don't believe he dissipated
exactly; he simply tossed his money
away and went downhill Wentworth
would hunt him up and drag him back
where he belonged He Strengthened
up suddenly when he began to play
John Esterbrook.' You can't even
pull him into poker game now. l
guess l took the winnings at the last
game he stood in for. That night
had a great mind to hand the money
back to him. We said Good-by about
daylight. He looked pessimistic and
glum. No. he wasn't -glum either:
Merry never gets glum. He had
down-and-out, don'tgive-a-damn eI-
preston that morning. l can see him
yet. Suddenly he disappeared again.
When he came back Wentworth and
he cut each other dead. That Paget
woman affair began, then Wentworth
saved Merry's life. Why, it's tre-
mendous story"
Oswald turned abruptly. Something
in his quiet gaze made Singleton shift
his eyes with start of guilt. Il want
to say a word to you." the English
mans voice was stern, 'and l want
you to repeat what say to every man
in your fraternity There may be a
big story somewhere behind this-I
cannot tell If there is, If an enmity
or a misunderstanding did exist, II
there was a wrong done, or If anything
lies behind these two men which We
do not comprehend. leave it to them.
They have buried 1t. Don't turn
ghoul," he pleaded. land dig 1t up.
simply to make a curious. heartless
world buy your paper for day or
two. l am told there Is a bond be-
tween newspaper men, like warm
hearted brotherhood. Wentworth be-
longed to that brotherhood: he does
yet-remember that"
Singleton stretched out his hand
with an tmpulsive gesture. Thank
you, Mr. Oswald. You're a good deal
of a mar l never knew you before.
We all need jog on the elbow once
in a while. A newspaper man grows
buzzard when story is in the air.
He forgets how the other fellow feels.
s'll pass the word around. i can prom
'se you that not a man among us will
do anything but take Merry's word for
il. His confession is big story in
ITSELF
Thank you,' said Oswald with
cordiaIity which few men had seen
in the dignified Englishman.
He stood talking with a group who
gathered about him at the close of
to discuss Merrys dramatic confess
sion when an usher interrupted them.
"Mr. Oswald, you're wanted back of
the scenes" said the boy.
Under the white glare of electricity
little group stood on the half-dis-
mantled stage. The people in the cast
were there-property men. the call
boy, electricians, ushers. and the
humblest employe of the house. The
actors still wore their stage garb and
makeup. Dorcas' hand was linked in
her brothers arm. For a moment Os-
valid stood watching her. Her face
was flushed, her eyes shone. she
seemed transfigured by happiness.
Merry stretched out q welcoming
hand to Oswald. We've been waiting
for you. Oswald. to round out our
CIRCLE he cried gaily. Il had Scotch
grandmother. When she reached the
western wilderness and built home
she made her husband carve over the
chimney-piece: We're a sibb tae ane