The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-06


There Is a rule of the railroad that
all articles left in trains should be
turned In at the nearest terminal, and
l hoped to recover the play the next
day when | went into the city. 1t
had not been left at the lost article
office. was worried | called again
to inquire for it the next day and was
still disappointed. gave up all hope
Of recovering it and began to consider
devices by which might best get out
Of the scrape with Miss Weatherby.
1 had not promised to read the play
within any given time, so there was
no hurry in doing anything about the
matter. l was in hope that an ad-
dress was written on the manuscript
and 1t would be sent back to the au-
thor, who would turn it in again to
me. But when week passed | gave
up this hope.
l could now do nothing but confess
the loss to Miss Weatherby and in.
demnify her. But | was very busy.
as usual, and concluded to wait for
her to put in an appearance. when
would be very sweet to her with a
view to be let down as lightly as pos
slble. | was ready to pay her fair
price for the time she would spend In
making "A duplicate copy of the manu-
script.
1t was about ten days after the loss
that ! was called up on the phone by
Miss Weatherby, who asked in her
sweet voice if | had passed upon her
play, | responded that had not
This was as far as | got when she in
terrupted me, saying that she was
aware that | was very busy man.
Indeed. she wondered that | had not
broken down long ago. Then, saying
that it would be criminal for her to
take up my time about her small mat
ter, she hung up the receiver. and
was shut off.
did not know whether to feel glad
or sorry at this respite. | would have
preferred to make my confession and
have the suspense ended. And yet the
delay might bring forth some develop
ment-the manuscript might turn up;
something might happen either to me
or the young lady to render an expla
nation unnecessary. think that |
would almost have been willing to
break my leg if while l was laid up
the difficulty could be removed.
did not hear from Miss Weatherby
for some time after she had called me
up on the phone. A new play that
had been hawked about among film
manufacturers was meeting with great
success, and | was interested in max.
ing the acquaintance of the author and
getting some of his work, But the
name of the writer was not given.
and | failed to find out who he was.
1t was rumored that the play had
been written for the actress who play
ed the principal part lady who had
made reputation on the stage-Helen
Markland, though this was her stage
name ! had never seen Miss Mark,
land, having been so busy that l had
to work nights, and tried to get an
evening to attend the theater when she
was on the screen, but thus far had
failed
The next time Miss Weatherby call
ed me up to inquire about her play she
asked me If | had seen Helen Mark.
land in her new play. told her that
had not, but was trying to get an
opportunity to do so, whereupon she
went into ecstacies over the play and
the actress. I'm going tomorrow
night to see her." she added. IT wish
you would be my escort"
Here was an opportunity to break
the news of my carelessness under
great advantage. knew that for one
in my position to condescend to escort
one of the multitude of women ambi
tious to achieve reputation as play
wright would be considered q grea
honor | told Miss Weatherby that
would be delighted to escort her il
good time for the first performance
She replied that she should expect mt
to criticise the play, giving her th'
benefit of my knowledge in such mat
ters, that she might utilize 1t In i'm
provements in the scenario In my pos
session. | WINGED at this. but sale
nothing
The next evening | called for Mis-
Weatherby in carriage. She intro
duced me to her mother, who was {,
go with us to the play. We were lit
tie ahead of the main feature, durin,
which interval was delighted witt
my companion. who chatted charming
ly She seemed In the best Of spirit
and very proud of having secured tn
escort of manager Of studio. Whel
the main play came on she ceased Il
talk and sat with an expectancy upol
her face such as she might have showl
were she personally interested In tn
| play about to be produced.
A few minutes after the opening tn
heroine came on the screen. l started
To my astonishment. she might hav
been Miss Weatherby's twin sister.
photograph has certain differences fron
| its original. and I was not quite sur
Of the resemblance turned towar,
my companion and saw an amuse'