The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-10-19
CHAPTER ~.

Mr. Campbell Pope was a cynic. He
had cultivated a superb contempt for
those beliefs which other people cher
lsh. Most men attain success through
love of their work; Mr.. Pope had be-
come an eminent critic because OF his
hatred for the drama and all things
dramatic Nor was he any more enam-
ored OF Journalism, being in truth by
nature bucolic, but after trying many
occupations and falling IN all of them
he had returned to his desk after each
excursion into other fields. First-night
audiences knew him now, and had
come to look for his thin, sharp fea-
lures. His shapeless. wrlnIiled suit,
that resembled a sleeping bag; his fan
mel shirt, always tieless and frequently
collarless, were considered attributes
OF genius: and. finding New York to be
amazingly gulllble, he took certain
delight in accentuating his eccentrici-
ties. At especially prominent pre-
mieres he affected a sweater under
meath his coat, but that was his nearest
approach TO formal evening dress.
| Further concession to fashion he made
| none.
Owing to the dearth OF new produc-
tlons this summer, Pope had under.
taken a series of magazine articles de-
scriptive OF the reignlng theatrical
beauties, and, while he detested won.
en- in general and the painted favorites
of Broadway in particular, he had
forced himself to write the common
laudatory stun which the public de
manded. Only once had he given free
rein to his incllnations and writer
with a poisoned pen. Tonight, how
ever, as he entered the stage door oi
Bergman's Circuit theater, 1t was witt
a different intent. ~
Regan, the stage-door tender better
known since his vaudeville days al
'-The Judge" answered his greeting
with lugubrious shake of bald head
"I'm a sick man, Mr.. Pope. Sam'
old trouble"
"M-m-m. Kidneys, isn't itT''
"No. rheumatism. I'm a beehiv,
swarmin' with pains" The Judg'
leaned forward. and strong odor o
whisky enveloped the cellar. "CoulC
you slip me four bits for some lini
mentT
The critic smiled. There's a dollar
Regan. Try Scotch for a change. IT
better for you than these cheap blends
And don't breathe toward a lamp, o
you'll ignite"
The Judge laughed wheezingly. %
do take drop now and then. Sc
here, you know all the managers, MI
Pope. Can't you find job for Lotti
DevineT
"Lottie Devine. Why, she's you
wife. isn't she2 She's a trine old, In
afraid"
4 "Huh! She wigs up a lot better
some OF the squads in this troupe. Be
lieve me, she'd fit any chorus"
"Why don't you ask Bergman?"
Mr.. Regan shook his hairless heat
Hes dippy on types This show
full OF 'em; real blondes, real brunette,
bold and dashin' ones, tall and state
lies, blushers, shrinkers, laughers, an
sadllngs. He won't stand for makeup
he wants 'em with the dew on. They'v
got to look natural for Bergman. That
some of 'em now" He nodded towar
group of young, fresh-cheeked girl
who had entered the stage door an
were hurrying down the hall.
1--WE come to interview one OF Berf
mans types; that new beauty, Mis-
Knight Is she here YETI"
, Sure; her and the back-drop, toe
: She carries the old woman for seer
! cry" Mr.. Regan took the callers car
and shufiied away, leaving Pope I
watch the stream OF performers a
they entered and made for their quar-
. ters. There were many women in tn
number, and all OF them were pretty
| Most of them were overdressed In In
extremes of fashion; a few quietl
garbed ladies and gentlemen entere
the lower dressing rooms reserved 10
the principals
, Meanwhile he exchanged greeting
= with the star-a clear-eyed man wit
the face of a scholar and the limbs Q
] an athlete. The latter had studied 10
the law; he had the drollest legs in tn
business. and his salary exceeded tina
of Supreme court justice. They wer
talking when Mr.. Regain returned I
tell the interviewer that he would b
: received.
, Pope followed to the next floor an
entered brightly lighted, overheate
: dressing room, where Lorelei and he
, mother were waiting. II was a glal
inx. stufrY eubbyhols ventilated b