The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-08-20
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GRABBING THE ACT y y
by ARCHIE c. NEW.

Just a plain Incubator OF joy." The
speaker, O'Brlen, electrician at the
Olympia, turned face hrmful o,
smiling frendiiness from Dawson Du
quesne, who was huslly engaged IN
charming the Monday matinee crowd
to Forrest, the manager, who lurked
at his side.
"Humphw % grunted Forrest, but two
little lines In the corner OF his kindly
mouth attested the fact that he, too.
was charmed with this new act, ana as
Duquesne bowed himself on the stage
after his last song, amid a thunderous
volley OF applause, Forrest. standing IN
the wings, bade him take another"
which, IN the parlance of the mimic
world, has manifold meaning, chief
OF which rs sincere appreciation Of the
act on the part Of the stage director.
Another new act on the Olympia's
bin was the Venetian Models
group Of attractive little seraphs, and
among them as they waited Ia the
wings to follow Duquesne In the
Spotlight" was Rita Young.
Great housew he exclaimed, boy
ishly enthusiastic. "Now 20 knock
'em dead, Miss Young" And she gave
little musical laugh and made her
entrance with her fellow models.
Duquesne ten minutes later was ef-
facing the last vestige Of grease paint
and hummlng one Of the latest popu-
lar airs, when he stopped abruptly
and, crossing the room, leaned his ear
against the partition. lie turned to
Jack Fuller, who shared his dressing
room, and pointed to the partition.
Man, what a voice n he whispered
huskily. "Who Is it?n
'Who has that room2
9TH models" replied Fuller.
Duquesne hurried into his street
clothes and fiinging his hat on his
head, he threw an absent "au revor'
to RULER and went out on the stage
OutsiNe the models dressing room
door he paused for a moment, undecid-
ed whether TO wait and ask about the
voice or not, when the door opened
and Rita Young, dressed for the street,
met his startled gaze with a frown.
.Shame on yeu, Mr.. Duquesne,n she
rebuked him, ner eyes twinkling never
theless. "Eayesdropplng? Listening
to girls gosslp?a
''Er-no,' he stammered. "Some one
was singing Celeste Aida Who was
it?"
Guess I'm the guilty one" she con-
fessed modestly. "Did It annoy your"
"Annoy me?' he echoed amazedly.
"It-charmed me. Why--why don't
you sing instead of pose?"
I'D like to,2 she said slowly, 'but
it's impossible"
"Nothing's impossible" protested
Duquesne optlmistically. Then d sud !
den resolution seized him. "See here,
let's cut Mrs. Gardens Monday night
beef pie and 90 over to the Hofbrau
for dinner. I'd like to have talk with /
you"
Later, as dessert was served, Du-
quesne broached TO her his proposition. ,
Why not Join forces with him, he sug-
gested. There was big money in It.
Its very tempting" she admitted,
toying with her fork. "But can't con-
slider myself Mr.. Duquesne. Two years
ago I got my start with Mrs. Tomkins
She's been almost a mother to me. She
worked hard to make me fit to 60 with /
her act. My parents We're both dead
and | was having an uphill time Of 1t
when she took me with her and kept
me all through the rehearsals Now
she's getting too old to train any more.
It would ruin her act"
$50 you wouldn't crab her act, eh7y
Duquesne looked at her with deep adj
miration. "Well, little lady, you're all
wool and yard 'sitie.p
For tNo weeks the venetian Mod
els" continued to follow Duquesne on
the program, thpn one day, as Du-
quosne stood n the wings preparatory
TO making his entrance, he looked
arognd for Rita, but IN vain.
where's the models?" he inquired
Of O'Brien.
BUSTED |" answered the electrician
ehNNAtANAgt VIC y LII Eliln NDNh niNk
and grabbed the act. Tomkins went up
In tn air and left town. Left th' bunch
up at Mrs. Gardens broke. guess"
After the show Duquesne, with con-
stantly Increasing alarm, hurried hack !
to the boarding house, and learned /
that the sick girl was Rita.
pneumonia, fear" vouchsafed !
Mrs. Garden. "An' it's pretty tough !
On her-without any money. I'm afraid 3
III have to send her to public hos
pital'
Duquesne looked at her with horror.
Il guess you won't" he retorted
Send for trained nurse-at once.
Here's fifty. If you need more ask me
for it."
The weeks that followed had sorry /
effect on Duquesne. Ii
Somebody's grabbing this act" said t
o'Briens watching him work. IA
Then suddenly he appeared at the 7
heater one day with Rita, and O'Brien d
dellghtedly as they nude 9
heir entrance upon the stage-to- :
gether.
Gosh. but it seems good to see him
smile again be remarked 70 Marty Z
Miller. Z
"That doctor sure did pull her S
around all right. Look at the color he 4
lut in her cheeks" o