The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-21
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Nsu Week
A Novel The Secret of the Reef
A Week ey
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In. Miss HouFhton."

n. l.. ala not trouble himhei 10
rise. but did 20 the lensth OF hold
Ing out a fat hand.
His leading lady Just touched II
with her Hloyed flngers-a slim,
rod.haired woman with that indefin.
able accent In her dress and bear
ms that marks tho actress so inev'
itahly.
Graham said you wanted to see
me. she said. ir assured toner
rather az variance with the tired
pallor OF her face,
"Sit down." nrAuer said.
But it's after o'clock. and the
matinee"
Never mind that"
Her reluctance reused him, AS
usual. and she took tho chair with
a s1rug OF her graceful shoulders
Anne. what the deuce ais your
he growled; and getting heavily on
his feet. stood riowering down nj
her What Is IT."
She lowered her lids quickly. for
fear he might read her impatient
disgust. "Bruln. she had nick
named him once. on account OF his
surly temper and his unwieldy
frame.
But her protest came with friend.
ly iightncss: Don't let's reopen
that question. prauer. And do you
realize. sir. that It's almost malt
past onef"
lie scowled az her an instant.
then sat down again. Now let's
get 20 business. Have you settled
for next season YETI"
MOT exactly" she admitted,
"Aitho--'
or course. Tho usual actor
dope-'seyoral prominent man.
ayers negotiating With you. he In.
terrupted. snceringly. But sup
pose you know your little deal
with the shumaDs has fallen
thru
Anne's lids Greoped again. but
not before he had seen the lrro-
presslhle flash Of surprise aud
anger.
He laughed "oh. know most OF
what's going on In the offices. my
dear. | knew when you were
on Hslier'h trail. and Leo
Stclpins. 100. And knew before
you did that sol hadn't chance
with either ~ them"
lie was proddlng on hurts to Der
pride. her ambition. but she gave
no sign beyond a slight stiff.ning
OF her attentive smile.
Really"
III you've Sc, your heart on
Broadway engagement. you'll have
a lot moro such humps. I'm afraid"
he continued. wstching her slyiy.
When n vomaa's been In stock as
long as you have. It's mighty hard
for her TO get out OF II. The bis
managers don't give hang for
experience these days From all
neS- seasons going 70
be fright. and IA hate TO see you
lying idle ak months OF a year"
Il know yon would" she said.
smoothly. But Isn't II early TO be
worrying about that1 This ia only
April. remember"
Il shall sisn my leading woman
this week"
This week. In spite OF her.
self. she betrayed her disappoint.
ment. But last year you waited
tin July"
This week" he repeated. stub
borniy.
There was short pause. Anre
had hoped 20 avoid this question
l.
longer Another season nj the Mot.
ropolitan was the last thing on
earth she wanted. but TO refuse Il.
with nothing better In sight, was
too much hke dropping her bone
for a shadow.
Shall ! come ir tomorrow 10
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 Braues's influence. OK.
erted everywhere against her.
But: You can do as you please
about H." ne flung out viciously.
NJ last.
Very well. After rehearss;,
then" she answered. and a drew a
long breath Of relief as she closed
the door between them.
There was passage thru the
theatre from BtLuer's office To the
stage. Anne went directly TO her
dressing room. only stopping TO
take two letters from the mail rack.
Since o'clock that morning she
had done ZONE unavoidable shop
ping. had an exhausting session
with a STUPID dressmaker. and re-
hearsed over two hours on the
next weeks play.
But worse than physical weari.
ness was the sense OF depression.
Brauer's glib exposition OF her case
had been only too logical and
shrewd A woman who has been
In stock as long as you have finds
thetic. 'Sovo Cain" Most dental
L mighty hard to get out"
Year after year she had been try.
ing. Year after year she had found
hat her coveted Broadway engage
ment meant playing some minor
part at an impossible salary. and
had gone back. defeated. to the
Common sense told her that tho
turning point must come soon, IL Il
was ever to come at all, and she
had set this next season as ir.
-evocably the time.
Yet tomorrow she was going TO
sign another contract with Mr..
Brauer! She dared not do
otherwise.
A wry smile twisted her lips as
the caught sight OF the half-obliter-
ited white star on her dressing
room door.
What I've attained after 20
1ears' work." she thought, bitterly.
As she opened the door n stream
II hot air rushed out, close and
Weighted with the smell OF grease.
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