Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-18

picked a winner all right. and a dirt low
royalty at that Take Il from me, were
going to make a few trust managers look
sick with this play You WALTZ you're
from Missouri"
"Oh. the play!' sneered his com.
panion. THE play is rot. It's Mary Page
that gets It over
We'll. I'll grand you that. too,
acauiesced Deniels in some haste. his
eyes narrowing shrewdly. "She can sure
deliver the goods every time You didn't
think / was trying 70 hand her anything,
did your
But David Pollock didn't answer. lie
was leaning over the seat in front star
ing at that gay little figure in its quaint
costume. his eyes full o. broodlng ten.
derness his ears alert not so miss
single note i'm that clear. young voice
For to Pollock. Mary stood as the cpl
tome OF all that was lovely and desir-
able Her youth. her vivscty and per
haps most Of all the flower-like innocence
OF her filled him with tumultuous de-
sire 20 win her; to give her the world
for a piaything II she wanted It; to fln
her little hands with riches and jewels
II they pleased her-but 10 have her-for
himself
lie watched her now, as she moved
toward the wings, in her girlish lowell
ness. That head. crowned with mass
OF golden hair-how we'll it was set upon
her shoulders. and how charmingly simple
was the frock she wore. Mary Page wes
OF the rare type that looks lovely IN
anything. Her girl friends used to say
that II she threw on lampshape for a
hat 1t would become her. Her eyes,
fringed with heavy lashes. were deep
blue, and looked candidly into ones
own But young though she was,
there was always a little wistfulness In
her beauty. 1t was as IL some far-off
sorrow hao never been forgotten. David
wondered II she was really happy today
Ostensibly a wine merchant. Pollock .
financial interests thrust their steely ten
tacles into a hundred different endeavors,
not the smallest of which was the theat-
rical world. His ever-growing wealth. his
mastery virility and his ability to be a
good fellow" when he chose, marked
him as a big man. judged by the mate
rial standards of New York, and Daniels
was not the only satellite whose career
depended upon his careless within. II
was a saying that what Dave Pollock
wanted he got, and heaven help the man
that stood between; but back of his want
of Mary lowered an intangible doubt and
when he was sober-the bigger ques-
ton of his worthiness; and now as he
stood watching her the harsh lines Of
his mouth and chin softened and there
was an unfamiliar note in his voice as
he said musingly:
II wonder what she'll say when she
hears I've backed her to the limit-that
bought her stardom for her? Has she
asked about this side of it,"
mo" said Daniels. a little nervously.
shes such little kid about some things
she sort of takes Il all for granted. But
see here. Dave. don't you go tellin' her
today. Stars, the best OF 'em. are tenn
peramental as the deuce, and she's worn
our with rehearsin'. For the Lords sake
don't let's have any tears till tonight Is
overt
Don't be an ass" he retorted TN
going to tell her tonight-at the banquet
after the play"
"Ffne!" said Daniels, but somewhat IN
easily. Are you going TO stick around d
while? I'm going TO get drink"
TO Be Continued Tomorrow