The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-09-11
AN ALL-STAR CAST
BY LESLIE BEACH.

going to the movies every night mad'
an inroad OF sixty cents week on hel
slender income and she realized thai
the dimes she paid to the cashier Of
the Bijou should be drawing four pei
cent with the rest of her rainy-daS
fund
but" she argued sensibly. "if I'm
happy in the evening / can work all
day without noticing ii. But il / don't
have a little diversion | just get sick
Of the sight of raisln rolls, angel food
and doughnuts. Besides, | make them
better and my customers buy more.
SO / don't know but that get a
hundred per cent on my investment"
Miss Harriet was as attractive as
she was sensible. And it was no fault
of hers or of the scores Of beaux she
had had in her teens that she had
never married. She had Just been
needed That was all. Now everyone
was gone and although she stayed on
/ in the old home she found il neces-
sary to eke out the family nest egg
by making goodies for the neighbors.
No one guessed that capable, good
looking Miss Harriet was having an
affair, not even the recipient of her
affectlons-fo she was in love with a
movie actor
Night after night she watched for
the Green Grab" to fash ON the
screen, the insignia Of the Morgold
Film company, because a thrilling
drama would likely follow in which
Carter Aylesworth was sure to feat
ure.
Now Carter Aylesworth did not take
the star part in these pieces, nor was
he young and strong and handsome.
TO be frank, his hair was thinning
and turning gray, his nose was long
and irregular, and his eyes had near
sighted, watery look trat told of the
habitual leRs-wearer.
Carter Aylesworth was the goat. Ev-
cry picture has one. If the place called
for poor devil Jailed for twenty years
by mistake he was the man. If the
pretty heroine had to hurry home at
night from the factory to her depend
ent old grandfather, it was Carter
Aylesworth who submitted to shawls,
crutches and hot-wat,r bags. If In /
dians caught and tortured lone white
man to be rescued later by husky
hero Carter was the victim. If a fam
lily starved, he was right there in the
limelight. He was confidence man,
book agent. shyster, thief. Anything
that was altogether and entirely want
ing In glory.
Poor thingl" Miss Harriet solilo-
Quized at first.
But as time went on with no inn
provement in the situations, she be- |
came indignant why can't they give
him decent part sometimes? Couldn't |
he save baby from a burning house,
or vent his righteous wrath on the |
villain about to murder somebody by |
hitting him with club? 1t isn't fair
for them to let that conceited young |
Fornsby have all the Monte Cristo
parts"
You know what they say that pity is
akin to. Yes-loYe came next.
IF had that poor man, I'll bet I'd
increase his self-respect in about two
days. It's just because no one cares
about him or takes an interest that he
has that meek, hangdog look. l know
that If he had some of my mince pies
and spieed ham he would chirk up
bit"
She was soliloquizing thus one night
before time to go to the show. The
dishes were done and she was crochet
ing on the front porch.
Tommy jenkins cut across the street
and up the path.
Miss Harriet, can you bake mother
another dozen rolls in the morning2
We got some swell company today
and he's going to stay until tomorrow
evening"
"Sure, Tommy Wait minute and
I'll give you cookie. Who's the com
pany?'
Il don't know. A fellah from New
York. think he came to see about q
house he wants to SELL"
The next day Miss Harriet was cut
ting out some biscuit when head
iarkened the window. Does Harriet
still live hereY' it asked.
"She does" affirmed Miss Harriet
and, looking up, she gave a little
scream of dismay, then paled and red
iened with embarrassment. Garter
Ayiea Sortht" she gasped
"Yes. And twenty years ago was
Bert Stebbins. who lived next door.
Don't you remember how used to tor
ment you to death to marry me. Hat
~? May l come in and talk things
over. Something smells better than
anything this old bachelor has tasted
since he left home"
"Yes. do come in, Carter. ! mean
Bert. / just thought from your pic
lures you were hungry And I've
been thinking they don't take very
good care of you. You look so lonely,
tool l have a notion to write a play
for you myself and give you a star
part Just to show them you can acti"
He laughed. Maybe it will comfort
you a little to tell you that they pay
me the same as Farnsby. Hatty. but
sympathy is "A rare thing and I'm grate-
rul. But you're right about me be-
I .r-,,. -r.,. 20 fs,e4e.,atd