The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-06

hind the scenes. His hand shook and
he wal blushing like a schoolboy whea
Stella greeted him. He looked proud
and terrifcally In earnest as the mana,
ger introduced him to the company al
the hacker Of the enterprise. OF course
Dale invited them all to a celebrating
supper at the village hotel.
After that the ambition Of the mana.
ger essayed some lofty flights. HI
made much Of Dale. He introduced
him to eminent 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 1.-THE gifted
young owner Of the show"
One day while Dale was alone ID
his office at the theater a pale. refined
young fellow, none too warmly clad,
approached him with a manuscript. He
had written a 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 n 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 its heroine
suited her abilities. She read the
manuscript.
1T has great possibilities" she hon.
estly told Dale.
"Then lose no time getting it on the
STAGE" directed Dale.
1T will cost five thousand dollars to
get the play started" snarled the man
ager to Stella.
"Well, 1t may better go on a promis-
Ing experiment than on a sure dead
loss," retorted Stellar "Why don't you
tell Mr.. Arnold that our stock COM
pany venture is a rank failure?"
1T looks as II you was acting guard
ian angel to get him to marry you'll"
snarled the manager.
"1'd take him, If he'd have me-" pro-
vokingly answered Dale's champion.
"He's a good man. l respect him."
The crash came with a suddenness
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 a
trail Of debt. Dale was taken with a
fever that night, was delirious for
three weeks came back to life at the
end Of two months; weak and ENACT.
ated.
They told him at the hospital that
after paying the theater debts he had
a bare five hundred dollars left. Tho
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 a new engage.
ment.
"Ah, well, I've had my experience |"
sighed Dale, but his philosophizing 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
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
FASHIONED way, warmly clasping his
hand, but oh! I have been 30 busy
with the drama you bought. It has
been a marvellous success In the East.
| have made-look! Look" and she
drew forth and showed Dale a bank
book.
Twenty thousand dollars from my
and a sale Of the DRAMA
lights !" she cried. 1--WE are quite rich"
"We7" queried Dale.
my dear good man who did so much
or me! Surely, we are partners"
"You-you have thought Of me in all
his" murmured Dale brokenly.
"All the time-and ever will !" came
he steadfast reply.
Her glance fell, for she saw arise In
lis eager face the glow Of hope that
answered that Of love in her own
beautiful eyes.