Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-18
Mary Page
The Strange
Case of

Copyright, 1915. by Mcclure Pubiications.)
CHAPTER 4.
The New star.
The voice Of the stage director. shrill
with evaporation, became suddenly dis
tinct as Mary opened tho door OF her
dressing room. "Old Gex." as they called
him. was on his usual dress rehearsal
rampage and she smiled at the sound
as she picked her way lightly through
the heterogeneous mass Of piled-up props
to the wings. for she knew it meant that
things were going well and that only
one or, perhaps. two players were out
OF focus IN his stage picture.
The racuous voice. now vituperative.
now Satire In assumed pleading. came
In tonal waves as the director stormed
M and down the center aisle amid the
shadows while on the stage the players
themselves strove with unconsciously
comic grimaccs. to shield their eyes suf-
ficiently to see over tho flating fOotlights
as they listened to bis TRADE.
Take that scene overt he shouted at
last. Craig. begin your entrance cue.
Now And Nora-where's Nora? '
Mary drew back with little tremulous
sigh OF content. and laying caressing
hand on the canvas battlements OF n
towering castle. drew in deep breath OF
the conglomerate odors.
II was all so familiar. 50 much = part
OF her life! And yet IT seemed only yes
terday that she had stood in much the
same fashion In the wings shabby and
unknown. her lips dry and her hands like
ice. waiting for her rehearsal
II had not. after all. been so very
many years since that day. but they
had been long ones. fun OF dsillusion-
ment and hard work Yet to Mary. look
ing back at them through the glamour
OF their fruition. they seemed very. happy
years, leading up to the happier present;
for tonight the great flarlng electric let
tiers OF the electric sign would proclaim
TO all the world that Mary Page was-a
STAR Not the star OF second-rate road
troupe or a stock company. but Broad
way star in the exclusive Covington the
alter, that ultima thule OF the young
actress.
For moment the players blurred be-
fore her eyes. and her lips quivered
with an emotion deeper than tears, but
the sound of a familiar phrase brought
her sharply to herself. Her cue had
sounded. and she gave last little
feminine twitch TO her costume and
tripped lightly out upon the stage.
She had forgotten that she had been
In the theator since 2 o'clock In the
morning; the endless repetition OF scene
and act that had set every nerve jang-
ling slipped from her like dream. and
she remembered only that she was Nora,
playing the last splendid act OF the
drama she loved. And at the first
sound of her voice, so bravely gay. the
tired players were suddenly galvanized
into action. Some part OF her radiant
10y seemed 20 filter into their own souls,
and dropping shoulders were lifted and
dull eyes frightened. A new note crept
into the witty badinage OF the lines. and
with a sigh OF relief the director took
out his huge silk handkerchief and
mopped his brow.
! They've got it, he muttered to the
! two other men who stood. indstinguish.
able shadows among the shadows, "She
puts the punch into It all. eight" And
shuffling down the aisle ne climbed
clumsily into one OF the boxes and sat
down.
"Gex L. right" mumbled the shorter
OF the two onlookers. rolling an un-
lighted cigar between the thick lips OF
his weak mouth. This play is going
to get over big! You mark my words,
Dave. she's I'm for a seasons run as
sure as my name is II. H. Daniels. We