The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1916-09-30

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it all new he ordered cxpansively
Call on me for the checks Then l let
loose. You know I've had glad dream
about playing in the city-our own or
chestru. lots of advertising and all
that. Here's our angel. l shall make
the most OF him."
Stella placed hand gravely and inn
periOusly on the arm of the manager.
! do II square," she observed, "or
I'm not in on the deal. Your great
scheme might go. l don't know. I'm
willing to do my part.
That evening Dale Arnold came be-
| hind the scenes. His hand shook and
| he was bushing like a schOOlboy when
Stella greeted him. He looked proud
| and terrifically In earnest as the mana
| ger introduced him to the company az
| the hacker of the enterprise. or 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. He
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 in
his office at the theater pale. refined
young fellow, none too warmly clad,
| approached him with a manuscript. He
had written II play. He frankly con-
feSsed that 1t had been rejected at u
| 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 one point attracted him in
tenSely. This was that its heroine ex-
actly fitted the capabilities OF Stella.
He paid the poor playwright 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 cOmpimented
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.
ut will cost five thousand dollars to
get the play started" snarled the man.
ager to Stella.
"Well. 1t may better go on promis-
ing experiment than on sure dead
loss" retorted Stella "Why don't you
tell Mr. Arnold that our stock COM
pany venture is a rank failure?"
ut looks as If you was acting guard
ian angel to get him to marry YOU"
snarled the manager.
"I'd take him. If he'd have me-" pro-
vOkingly answered Dale's champion.
Hes good man. 1 respect him."
The crash came with 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
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
bare five hundred dollars left. The
troupe had disbanded. The star, Stella
had called at the hospital several
times. but rumOr had 1t 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
parlOr Of the hotel. He went down
to meet Stella. She was radiant.
Il could hardly keep it from you all
this time" she burst forth in her i'm
pnssiOned way, warmly clasping his
hand. but oh! have been so busy
with the drama you bought. 1t has
been a marvellous success In the East
l have made-lOOk Look :" and she
drew forth and showed Dale a bank
book.
Twenty thousand dollars from my
starring and sale OF the drama
rights! !" she cried. 1--WE are quite rich"
"WeT queried Dale.
"My dear good man who did so much
for me! Surely, we are partners?"
"You-you have thought Of me In all
this?" murmured Dale brokenly.