The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-21
BY JULIET @. SAGER.
Copyright, 1913, by
Frederick A. Stokes Go.
CHAPTER I.
The Leading Lady.
"Come in. Miss Houghton."


not trouble himself to rise, bu
did go the length of holding out
fat hand.
His leading lady Just touched Il
with her gloved fingers slim
ed-haired woman with that indie
Unable accent In her dress and
bearing that marks the actress SC
inevitably.
Graham said you wanted to
see me-" she said in assured tones
rather at variance with the tired
Ipallor Of her face.
"Sit down." Brauer said.
But It's after 1 O'Clock, and
the matinee"
i Never mind that"
Her reluctance reused him, as
usual, and she took the chair with
a shrug of her graceful shoulders.
"Anne, what the deuce ails
your" he growled; and getting
heavily on his feet. stood glover
ing down at her. What is it?"
She lowered her lids quickly,
for fear he might read her impa-
tent disgust. "Bruin," she had
nicknamed him once, on account
OF his surly temper and his I'M
wieldly frame.
But her protest came with
friendly lightness: Don't let's re-
open that question, Brauer. And
do you realize, sir, that it's al
most half past one?"
He scowled at her an instant,
then sat down again. Now let's
! get to business. Have you settled
/ for next season YETI"
mot exactly" she admitted.
Although"
"Of course. The usual actor
dope = several prominent man
ager negotiating with you," he in
terrupted, sneeringly. But sup
pose you know your little deal
with the Shumans has fallen
through"
Anne's lids dropped again, but
not before he had seen the ire
pressible flash of surprise and
anger.
He laughed. ooh, l know most
of what's going on in the offices,
my dear. | knew when you we're
camping on Heller's trail, and
Leo Stolpin's, too. And l knew
before you did that you hadn't
chance with either of them"
He was prodding on hurts to
her pride. her ambition, but she
gave no sign beyond a slight stiff
ening of her attentive smile.
"Really?"
"If you've set your heart on a
Broadway engagement, you'll
have lot more such bumps, I'm
afraid" he continued, watching
her slyly. when a woman's
been in stock as long as you have,
it's mighty hard for her to get out
OF it. The big managers don't
give hang for experience these
days. From all indications, next
seasons going to be fright. and
I'd hate to see you lying idle six
months of year."
II know you would" she said,
smoothly. "But isn't 1t early to
be worrying about that? This is
only April, remember"
II shall sign my leading woman
this week."
This week." in spite of her.
self, she betrayed her disappoint-
ment. "But last year you waited
till July"
This week." he repeated stub
bornly.
There was a short pause. Anne
had hoped to avoid this question
of re-engagement for some weeks
longer. Another season at the
Metropolitan was the last thing
on earth she wanted, but to refuse
| 1t, with nothing better In sight,
was too much like dropping her
bone for a shadow.
Shall l come in tomorrow to
talk ii over?" she asked, with an
effort.
There was wait that chilled
her anger into keenest anxiety. In
a flash she saw herself not only
out of this engagement, but ham,
pered and baffled in her search
for another by Brauer's influence,
exerted everywhere against her.
But: You can do as you
please about it," he flung out
viciously, at last.
Very well. After rehearsing.
then," she answered, and drew a
long breath of relief as she closed
the door between them.
There was a passage through
the theater from Brauer's office
to the stage. Anne went directly
to her dressing room, only stop
ping to take two letters from the
mail rack.
Since o'clock that morning
she had done some unavoidable
shopping, and had an exhausting
session with a stupid dressmaker,
and rehearsed over two hours on
the next weeks play.
But worse than physical weiri-
ness was the sense of depression
Brauer's glib exposition Of her
case had been only too logical
and shr,wd. A woman who has
been in stock as long az you have
finds 1t mighty hard to get out"
Year after year she had been
trying. Year after year she had
found that her coveted Broadway
engagement meant playing some
minor part at an fmposaibIe SAL