The Elbert County tribune., 1915-01-08

OF letting her CO.
Enoch was on the verge OF checking
him with an impatient exclamation;
but the Englishman interrupted. You
have had your say, now l am going
to have mine. You remember one day
during the early rehearsals l told you
all knew of Zilla Paget's story.
was beginning. then, to have qualms
of conscience about bringing her over
and setting her among decent people.
She is worse than 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 case of stirred-up emo
ton with the whole bunch of them.
They will take things normally in a
day or two. You had better have a
talk with Miss Paget She is anxious
to see you"
Il think" Oswald spoke coldly, 'it
would be better for Miss Paget il she
did not come to me. / might tell her
in plain English my opinion of her.
Hadn't we better let her go?''
IF we didn't have to take into con-
sideration the question of 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. "and
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 moral leper.'
That's scarcely fit name 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
successful run. 1t is not fair to her.
II an actress does the work you ask
of her, she has the right to make any
sort of-domestic arrangement she
pleases."
Wentworths tone was conclusive.
He lit his cigar again and stood ST.
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 stifiy Il hate to think
of quarrel with you, Wentworth. I'll
confess / have not a great deal of
fighting blood in me. We don't seem
to get along as well as we did at first:
| 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 at
work on another play?"
Enoch gave him savage look 1t
day long. Il will think of that when
get good and ready. The House of
Esterbrook is good for one season
probably for two" Then he
flung out of the office and slammed
the door behind him.
Oswald sat in silence for few min
utes His face was full of anxious
perplexity. He rose, put on his hat
and overcoat, and went out. In the
lobby he met Zilla Paget. She turned
eagerly as if to speak to him. He
lifted his hat with grave courtesy and
walked past her. She followed to the
door and watched him while he
crossed the street.
Her face famed scarlet and she bit
her lips, then she laughed contemptu-
ously and hurried through the dark
theater to the stage. The place was
| deserted She went straight to the
letter-rack In the shelf marked p
she found several letters for herself
She was turning away when her eyes
fell upon an envelope in the lower cor
ner of the rack. She picked it out and
stood for a moment staring at it blank
ly, then she gasped. The letter was
not for her. 1t was addressed in
coarse, shaky writing. Mrs. Alice ".
Bourne. Gotham Theater, New York" :"
1t bore the Madison Square postmark.
The woman's eyes were furtively
searching the gloomy theater in all d.
rections. She did not hear a sound;
nobody was in sight. She slipped the
letter into her muff and ran upstairs.
CTo BE coNTINUED.)
silhouette and Painting.