Cheyenne record., 1916-11-02
AN ALL.sTAR CAST
BY LESLIE BEACH.

Miss Harriet Longstreth had one
hobby-weakness, let us call 1t, fol-
going to the movies every night made
an inroad Of sixty cents week on her
slender. income and she realized that
the dimes she paid to the cashier OF
the Bijou should be drawing four pei
cent with the rest of her rainy-day
fund.
But" she argued sensibly, ''if I'm
happy in the evening l can work all
day without noticing it. But II don't
have a little diversion 1 just get sick
Of the sight of raisin rolls, angel food
and doughnuts. Besides, make them
better and my customers buy more.
So I don't know but that I get q
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 it neces-
sary to exc out the family nest egg
by making goodies for the neignbors.
No one guessed that capable, good.
looking Miss Harriet was having ap
affair, not even the recipient of hef
affections-for she was in love with a
movie actor!
Night after night she watched for
the "Green Grab" to flash 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 hal near
sighted, watery look that told of the
habitual lens-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 Eot-water bags. If In
dians caught and tortured lone white
man to be rescued later by u husky
hero, Carter was the victim. If 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 thing" Miss Harriet solilo-
quized at first.
But as time went on with no i'm
provement In the situations, she be.
came indignant. "Why can't they give
him a decent part sometimes? G, ildn't
he save baby from a burning house
or vent his righteous wrath on the
villain about to murder somebody by
hitting him with a club2 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-love 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 q
bit"
She was soliloquizing thus one night
before time to 60 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 mornlngi
We got some swell company today
and he's going to stay until tomorrow
evening""
"Sure, Tommy Wait a minute and
I'll give you q cookie. Who's the COM
panyT
II don't know. A fellah from New
York. think he came to see about a
house he wants to SELL"
The next day Miss Harriet was cut
ting out some biscuit when a head
darkened the window. "Does Harriet
Longstreth still live here2" 1t asked.
"She does" affirmed Miss Harriet
and, looking up, she gave a little
scream of dismay, then paled and red.
dened with embarrassment. Garter
Aylesworth |" 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
tyr May l come In and talk things
over. Something smells better than
anything this old bachelor has tasted
dnce he left home"
"Yes, co come in, Carter. l mean
L.