Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29

- Townsend. esq, playwright, IS
go paced his study, impatientty await
ing the arrival of Leslie. she had
promised 20 come promptly az CROCK,
have a bite of luncheon with hun. ana
spend whatever part OF the afternoon
might be required TO help him whip
The second act OF The Blue Radish
into shape. As she had most OF the
lines and practically all the situations
Il, thar act. and as she was very clever.
besides being young and beautiiui'
Townsend felt that he really heeae"
her collaboration. The new play was
practically finished: the slump IN tne
second act had been bolstered up INTO
real action. and the playwright knew
hat a coup!s OF hours work with the
prospective star as q critic would put
;he whole Thing into shape JoSmah
Hanicd II begin rehearsals next week.
To@nsend experienced the glow OF ae-
carplishmcnt. and was mentally caress-
ing .he child or his brain.
Nevertheless, lie was a little irritated
IT the iadv's delay and he pushed the
i,.l button with vindictiNe Sisor
which seemed not wholly JUSTIFIED by
circumstances Ills placid little Jap
man slipped through the haif-open
dor rs silently and glo~lnsly az an
eastern dawn.
II rope ven have not prepared any.
xhtr.r tEat viii spoil by waiting,
gn,ycsent said. as he took another
lcok II his watch. and then TEL oact.
rcs.eiIediy into the arms of great
NO SIR" replied tho Jap. as he
r.,ycred silently round the little table
SCI for tive. Nothing spoil. sir. Every
thing lie al right. l know ladies be
mos: always late, sir.
Townsend liz another cigarette, and
was reaching over 10 a pile OF manu-
script that Jay his desk when the
electric bel! shrilled the. expected an
nouncement.
Toni" he called. rising quickly.
that's Miss Leslie now.
tall. golden-haired, graceful young
woman swept briskly into the room,
with one hand extended TO Townsend.
the other arm loaded with bundles. and
her face wreathed in propitiating
smile.
"Couldn, help it. Harry" she said
eleefully as ;hey shook hands.
.tOf course not"-good naturedly:
women never can: but you're forgiven.
II am only half an hour late, she
pleaded. heaping her bundles on a
small table nearby. 1T is just half
past one. And. really. il was not my
fault. I've had such a funny adventure"
She pulled off her gloves. removed
hair before the broad mirror that top
ped the quaint old sideboard at the far
end of the room.
IF your adventure would complete
the second act of my play" commented
Townsend selfishly. Il should not mind
But you are here to do real work this
afternoon. Laura, and the sooner we
get at IL the better"
Don't be such a bear. Harry! I'll
workout don't you want to hear
about my adventure with Jack Gray"
Jack Gray" he exclaimed. We'll.
well. well. l thought he had fallen off
the face of the earth. I haven't seen
him for weeks
Indeed, l have" returned Laura en-
phaticaly. I've seen him this morn
ing. and he has got himself and me
into nice mess. That's what delayed
me. Then 1 had some errands to do
Mountaineering. you know: that's
my plumber over there
Must be bargain day." observed
Townsend. noting the parcels
Talk about bargains" she cried. you
ought to see the dear little red slippers
| got for IS cents. and the silk stock
ings for s1.91-marked down from s6,''
NO matter about that now" inter
rupted Townsend. as Toni appeared
with two small glasses on a tray. "Sit
down: we'll have our luncheon first"
He pulled out chair for his guest.
and took his seat opposite, while the
Jap placed the glasses and disappeared
as noiselessly as he had come.
Now, what about jack" asked
Townsend. What has he done this
time? He has always had talent for
doing peculiar things"
This is the worst yet-the very
worst" And, after a pause, II am now
Jacks wife"
She leaned back in her chair. with
both hands resting on the table, and
stared at her host to note the effect
of this startling announcement.
Tn nd c1xy od xxyifb
vacant expression, and asked:
Whats the joke. Laura ?"
She laughed merrily: why, / am
now Mrs. Jack Gray"
How can Jack have two wives? You
know very well he has been married
nearly three years"
Yes. I know" she admitted. undis-
mayed, although I've never seen his
wife"
Neither have l."
But she exists-and have been i'm
personating her this morning l don't
like the part. ! like my part in The
calmly / will give you the whole story
from the beginning.
Townsend begged her to proceed.
Il was on my way downtown this
morning to see Ethel. my sister who
lives in Chicago. She and her husband
are here on trip. l met Jack on 5th
avenue. and we walked along together.
] wanted to stop at the hotel for mo-
fneNl, SO L let JACK go dlOnS with me.
Ethel insisted upon my bringing him
up-and / was never so mortified in all
my life. She asked us into the worst
looking room you ever saw. Her clothes
and her husbands were scattered all
over the place. 1t was pig pen. To
make matters worse. the first thing
Jack did in trying to find place to
sit down was to upset bottle Of shoe
polish all over his coat. He had on one
of those light gray. soda-water suits.
you know.
Clever Of Jack" commented Town
send.
Very OF course / had TO take off my
gloves and get TO work on that spot
with benZine. Just then Fred Ethel's
husband. telephoned from downtown
that they must leave on the limited to-
night and told her TO go right down
to the Office and see about the trunks
and about getting berths and all that
sort Of thing, as he would not have
time. So she rushed out. leaving Jack
and me in the ROOM
Fine observed Townsend
Fine nothing" retorted Laura Ethel
must have stayed down in that old of
flee for half an hour Meanwhile YOU
can see picture of Jack Gray wan
dering about the place in his shirt
sleeves. and me sitting on the bed in
his wilderness of wearing apparel
scrubbing his coat
How beautifully domestic"'
"Just so. Suddenly the door opens
and fat old party fops into the room
Thought il was his room, you know
They let him OFF on the wrong floor an
parently. He started to apologize, and
then all CT sudden he rushed up to