Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-12-28

! with a halr hySter1cal caIcn IN ner
throat. "Thank God, it's over! Ny
knees were knocking so while was
waiting for my cue that l wanted to
run away and hide!''
81 know" he said. II was watch
ing you. You were green under the
paint, Grace"
eff you'd spoken to me just then,
I'd have screamed and had spasms, I"
she laughed; "but now she pointed
VIGOROUSLY to a mass Of roses on
her dresser" there are the flowers
that grow under glass, tra.la! You
wrote me the bulliest part ever play
ed, old pal. You have made me IA
NOUS" ~
| Outside, as we hailed a taxi, the
night-life of never sleeping places was
| racing at full tide along Broadway
and swirling in an eddy about Long
acre Square. It bore on its crest its
gay f1otillas of pleasure and its drift
Of derelicts. To me it pointed all the
| miserable morals Of contrast.
| Where to-" in quired Bobby. do
| you show yourself in triumph at Rec
tors, or go home to dream OF applaud
| ing thousands ?"
The woman shrugged her shapely
shoulders.
| "Me for the hay!" she announced
| with prompt decisiyeness. Jump in,
boys" she invited in afterthought.
| II may as well drive you down to your
| rooms and drop you first. ] need a
| breath Of air to quiet my nerves"
Out of the garish color and clangor
OF Broadway, we swept into the tenn
pered quiet of Fifth Avenue, stretch
ing ghostIike between its twin threads
Of electric opals.
1--WE must both be pretty tired" he
suggested when we reached Washing
ton Arch. 1--WE haven't spoken since
Herald Square
"I'm too happy to talk" she answer.
ed. For ten pretty rough years I've
been building. for tonight" She sighed
contentedly, then went on: 81 began
about the usual way musical COM
edy--in tights-carrying a spear. Ny
first promotion was to the front row.
I wasn't fool enough to kid myself M
to the notion that it was because !
was Melba Or a Fiske.
'If I used to go to my hall bed
room every night and cry myself to
sleep it was nobody's business but
my own"
She must have felt Maxwell's eyes
on her, for her voice took on a7note OF
the. defiant as she added: "And II !
didn't always go straight to my hall
bedroom, maybe that was my own
business, too"
She seemed to be reviewing her
struggle as she leaned restfully back
against the cushions with tonight's
roses in her Nlap. Her lids dropped
contentedly. "But tonight" she add
ed; well, tonight felt all that was
| paid for and the receipt signed. How
| do you feel, Bobby?"
"Glad it's over" said the man.
| at hasn't been just exactly a snap
for you, either" she sympathetically
conceded. when I first knew you,
YOU were haunting Park Row Tor
cheap job, and getting canned by Of
Ace boys It's been long way We've
come, boy; but we kept plugging when
| the going was bad, and now, thank
God, we've arrived"
The taxi drew up before the door
where Maxwell had his quarters. It
| was a dingy building which has har-
bored under its roof the beginnings OF
half dozen regulations.
"Bobby," said the young woman sud-
denly. "have you any Scotch In your
| rooms?"
He reflected.
II believe there's some Bourbon left
in the BOTTLE" he admitted.
"'Twill have to do" she said with
a grimace. II believe I'll climb the
steps and have highball. We ought
to toast the piece, you know. It's
| been good to U.S."
II thought you were. tired" suggest
ed the author in surprise. I'VE might
have stopped where they had cham
payne"
II didn't want that. But I need a
quiet little chat to work off this ner-
vousness."
In his sitting room Bobby announc-
ed: 1--WE got to pack. I'm leaving
| in the morning. Deprayne will enter
tain you with travellers tales"
Miss Bristol paused with her hands
raised and her hatpins half drawn.
Her face, for a moment, clouded.
"Where are you going?"
"Out west for a month or two"
"Oh," she said slowly. whats the
idea? Gir1?"
| He shook his head.
"Rest," he enlightened. "1'm tired"
The smile came again to her lips.
ooh, very WE'LL" she said. Get out
your bag. I'll help you pack it."
While Maxwell went in search OF
| glaszes and bottles. she sat waiting
on the Spanish leather divan in the
| glow Of the open fire. Her lips were
parted in smile and her eyes, fxed
on the bed of Goals, were deep with
reflection. The face became again the
| ~ haoy-inU M FRA ne,