The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-25
CHAPTER XII.
Anne's Victory

two weeks later. Tom lnsIee was
,ramping. ankle.deep In snowy
Rlunh. along the street Of small
town near New York.
Inslee scrutinized every house
with the hopeful eye OF n stranger
seeking marks OF Identification,
Presently hs spied n little man
clearing the walk In one OF the
Hey" he called out
Tho little man turned. stared. and
advanced. grinning. lie had on
shabby coat. evidently not made
for him. and a queer old cap with
enriaps. He held out his hand, aud
Inslce took Il. with a chncsls.
wal. I swan" he exclaimed IN
the broadest stage version OF "ru'
raj dialect How air ye. Unele7
And air the folks "a hum ?"
The little man nodded. and
moved toward the house.
lnslee went on. relRpaiug into
human speech Hos II shey"
walks miles"
Fine But knew she'd pull
thru. She's not the sort TO be
d0wned. even by bad heart
. Say! This Is all right"
he added. as the little man opened
the door and they went In.
Matte greeted them
Tom inRiea'" she exclaimed
holding out her hand.
What are sou two doing here,
anyaay7" he relolned.
Johns company was In New
Yofh nov, and they came down
Saturday nights after tho perform.
anes and stayed til Monday after
noon, abe explained. IL was rather
lonesome for Anne. with just Nina
for company. Doctor Wallace had
expected to be with them. but had
gone OFF on business trip tina;
was keeping him away much longer
than anybody had foreaeen.
"Annes almost well again. sup
posef" he asked
oh, yes. Yes. she's pretty we'll,
so far as I can see Ouly"~-she
hesltAted. with doubtful glance
at him
'Harlnnd'a coming out here to-
day With Elsie. ! hear" he OBJ
served.
with Elsie' Yes" She shifted
Indignantly. Il suppose he thinks
and maybe you do. too--tha; abe
runs out every day or so. like the
dear. sweet, attentive daughter that
abe la"
Doesn't sheg"
John coughed.
she didn't make me promise not
10 tell Tom. II was Hariand that
she"
"Old glrl,~ John spoke this time
"Oh. do be quiet minute. John,
and let me talki" And. turning her
back on john. she related the cpl.
sode Of the changed gowns on the
opening night. according 10 the yer.
sion Of Elslcs maid.
Tho habltually genial expression
went off iuslee's face while he lis
tened. Matte fcl, that his remarks
would be truly satisfying for any
friend OF Anne's TO hear. hut be
fore he could utter them, the door
opened and Anne came in.
Maybe this "a an invalid. but
she certainly doesn't look the
part" he said, as they shook
hands.
She smiled languidiy-or was II
indifferently7
Lets get right down to bust.
ness" Inslec said. briskly. First.
what about your health. Anne?"
AS good as It's been in long
time. Better. perhaps, for I've had
a long rest"
You know Elsie-Miss North
jumped into your part the next
nightT"
She nodded.
And that she's playing II YETI"
Il took that for granted"
His eyebrows went up. you
did! Then you thought she was
equal to it,"
'I--no. didn't But'-Mattie
had turned alertly. and Anne
glanced from one TO the other in
surprise. "oh. hasn't II been an.
nouneed YETI"
WHAT" they both asked.
Nothing, nothing" she said. hur-
riedly. IT'S OF no consequence.
TITS OF considerable consequence
to me that I've got an amateur play.
Ing the star part In my production"
lnslee said, with poorly repressed
irritation. i've let her keep on.
because, with you sick. there didn't
seem much OF anything else to do.
But II you're going to be able to
work again-why. that puts a new
face on things!"
She leaned forward. flushing
slowly.
You want me TO come back7
To play IT asaing After-after
what the critics all sald?"
They didn't realize how sick you
We're. They do now, and they'll
give you n fair hearing next time.
I'm not afraid of EN- know what
YOU can do"
ITS all happened so quickly! To
think ! shall play It again."
Next Monday night, II you're
able"
AS he was getting into his coat.
she asked in hesitating way what
was to become OF Elsie oh. he'd
lake care OF her. he answered care.
lessly she could have that part In
his Western company that he men.
toned before.
But she'll never play in the same
cast with You again. under my man.
agement," he declared with en-.
phasis, And by the way That |
Sunday Recorder story-have you
any Idea who was responsible for
~"
"She didn't see II, Tom" Matte |
nterposed. uncomfortably. "She |
wasn't well, YOU know, and We
thought