The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-20

hind the scenes. His hand shook and
he was blushlng like a schoolboy when
Stella greeted him. He looked proud
and terriically In earnest as the mana.
ger introduced him to the company as
the hacker Of the enterprise. OF course,
Dale invited them all to q celebrating
supper at the village hotel.
After that the ambition Of tho mana.
ger essayed some lofty fights. He
made much Of Dale. He introduced
him to "emineat tragedians" when
they opened up at the Classic opera
house in the city. He constituted
Dale their "press agent" He managed
to get fulsome writeups on "the gifted
young owner Of the show"
One day while Dale vas alone in
his Office at the theater 4 pale. refined
young fellow. nome too warmly clad
approached him with a manuscript. He
had written : play. He frankly con.
fessed that 1t had been rejected at q
number Of theatrical sources. Dale
consented to have the author read the
play to him and took him to his room
at the hotel.
OF its dramatic merits Dale knew
little, but one point attracted him in
tensely. This was that Its heroine ex'
actly fitted the capabilities of Stella.
He paid the poor playwright a thou
sand dollars for the manuscript and
sent him on his way rejoicing.
The manager was furious when he
heard OF "this reckless waste Of
money! Stella felt complimented
from the fact Of the play pleasing Dale
because the portrayal Of It's heroine
suited her abilities. She read the
manuscript.
ut has great possibilities" she hon.
estly told Dale.
''Then lose no time getting 1t on the
STAGE" directed Dale.
1T will cost i've thousand dollars ia
get the play started" snarled the man.
ager to Stella.
"Well, 1t may better 60 on q promis.
ing experiment than on a sure dead
loss" retorted Stella. "Why don't you
tell Mr.. Arnold that NJ stock com.
pany venture Is a rank failure"
1T looks as IL you was acting guard
ian angel to get him to marry you! !"
snarled the manager.
"1'd take him, If he'd have me-" pro.
vokingly answered Dale's champion.
"He's 4 good man. l respect him."
The crash came with a s~uddenness
that Frustrated Dale. He had given
the manager carte blanche and the lat.
ter had used 1t to the limit. The mana.
ger eloped with the last few thousand
dollars left to Dale, and behind him q
trail Of debt. Dale was taken with a
fever that night, vas delirious for
three weeks came back to life at the
end Of two months, weak and enact.
ated. G. :
They told him at the hospital that
after paying the theater debts he had
a bare five hundred dollars left. The
troupe had disbanded. The star, Stella,
had called at the hospital several
times, but rumor had It had gone to
New York city to secure q new engage
ment.
"Ah, well, I've had my experience r.
sighed Dale, but his philosophizlng did
not carry him past many a heart pang
as he thought Of Stella.
Dale was well along in his GONZALES
cence when one day he was informed
that a lady was waiting him In the
parlor Of the hotel. He went down
to meet Stella. She was radiant.
II could hardly keep 1t from you all
this time" she burst forth in her i'm
passionad way, warmly clasping his
hand, but oh! I have been 80 busy
with the drama you bought. It has
been q marvellous success In the East.
I have made-look! Looki" and she
drew forth and showed Dale 4 bank
book. . 9
'Twenty thousand dollars from my
starring and q sale Of the drama
rights" she cried. 1--WE are quite rich"
"We7" Queried Dale.
my dear good man who did 30 much
Tor mel Surely, we are p%artners"
"You-you have thought Of me In al
this7" murmured Dale brokenly.
All the time-and ever will I" came
the steadfast reply.
Her glance fell. for she saw arise In
his eager face the glow Of hope that
answered that Of love In her own
beautiful eyes.