The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-04
EVENING STORY
Grabbing the Act.
(By Archey Cameron New.

d,
smiling friendliness from Dawson
Duquesne, who was busily engaged in
charming the Monday matinee crowd, |
to Forrest the manager, who lurked |
at his side. Then he hastily bent over
and threw. the stage into reddish
semi-darkness for Daquesne's nnal
number.
"Humph." 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. and
as Duquesnc bowed himself off the
stage after his last song, amid a thun-
derous volley of applause, Forrest,
standing in the wings, babe him take
another" which, in the parlance of
the mimic world, has manifold
meaning, chief of which is sincere APP
probation of the act on the part of
the stage director. So sDuquesne
took another greatly to the edifi-
cation of the multitude of chocolate
chewers," the dainty misses who went
to make the Olympia matinee an in
stitution.
Another new act on the Olympia's
bill was the Venetian Models"
group of attractive little seraphs, and
| among them as they waited in the
wings to follow Duquesne in the
spotlight" was Rita Young, whose
sun-kissed golden hair. clear blue eyes
and pearly teeth lost none of their
sheen in the semi-darkness. She. too.
| watched Duquesne as he gave his
fourth encore, and there was a ten
der look in her eyes as he GREETED her
| in the wings.
Great housed" he exclaimed, boy
ishly enthusiastic. Now go knock 'em
dead, Miss Young" And she gave a
/ little musical laugh and made her en-
trance with her fellow models. Then
Duquesne turned to O'Brien and
slipped something in his hand.
go have drink on me- he babe
O'Brien; you're great with the
And Duquesne, still radiating tre-
mendous good cheer, returned to his
dressing room, while OBJ ems gaze of
dumb admiration followed him.
The finest chap that ever played
this house, declared O'Brien to him
self as he looked at the coin still
clutched in his hand. For him I'd
pull every plug on this board
DuQuesne ten minutes later was eff
facing the last vestige of grease paint
and humming one Of the latest popu-
lar airs. when he stopped abruptly
and, crossing the room, leaned his ear
against the partition. For a minute
he stood in silent wonder. and over
his face there stolea rapturous ex-
preston, then he turned to Jack Full
Ter, who shared his dressing room,
and pointed to the partition.
Il Man, what voice!" he whispered
huSkily. .WhO is it ?"
"'Spose it's Belle Story" ventured
Fuller, indifferently. ''She's playing
here this week. But you've got your
ear on the wrong side. Her dressing
rooms over there pointing to the
opposite wall.
"Get out!" retorted Duquesne in
dignantly. st heard it in there. Who's
got that room?"
''Th' models" replied Fuller, shrug-
ging his shoulders. THAT shows
you're wrong. Maybe it's their lead
, er, old lady Sal Tompkins."
: DuQuesne grfmaced at him mock
ingly, but made a mental note to find
out the owner of that voice. and hur-
ried into his street clothes. What a
J partner she'd make for his acti That
) and a thousand kindred thoughts ran
t thru bis head as he speeded into his
coat and, flinging his hat on his head.
, | he threw an absent '.au revoir" to
Fuller and went out on the stage.
Outside the models dressing room
door he paused for a moment, unde-
> cided 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
l a frown.'
rebuked him, her eyes twinkling
5 nevertheless. "Eavesdropping? List
; ening to girls gossip
Emo" he stammered. Some
one was singing Celeste Aida Who
was it?y
She laughed merrily.
Guess I'm the guilty one," she
confessed modestly. Did it annoy
your
ANNOY me?" he echoed amazediy,
you sing instead of poser"
Rita with downcast eyes, dug the
! tip of her dainty slipper into a carpet
roll and smiled wistfully.
I'd like to-" she admitted slowly,
'sbut it's impossible
"Nothing's impossible" protested
Duquesne enthusiastically. gazing at her.
Then a sudden resolution seized him.
See here, let's cut Mrs. Gardens
: Monday night beef pie and go over to
have a talk with you"
: Later, as dessert was served, Du-
q3esne preached to her his PROPOSE
ton Why not join forces with him,
: in it for both of them. he urged. She
shook her head slowly.
It's very tempting" she admitted
toying with her fork. But can't
consider myself. Mr.. Duauesne. Two
2 years ago 1 got my start with Mrs
, Tomkins She's been almost a mother
3 to me- She worked hard to make me
fit to go with her act. My parents
were both dead and I was having ar
uphill time of it when she took me
WIN ner and kept me all thru the re-
nearsais Now she's getting too old
10 train any more. When this CT
breaks up she'll retire. but she must
be the one to leave me-not I. i
wouldn't ruin her act"
so you wouldn't crab her act. Ell. u
; Duquesne looked at her with deep ad.
II miration. We'll. little lady. you're All
wool and yard wide. But old Iady
fomkins strikes me as being a crab
herself"
! Just cranky. that's ALL" Rita de-
Tended her sponsor warmly ssI
love her in spite of it,
II Duquesne wanted to take her In
his arms then and there. but he re-
strained himself. and was silent or
: their walk back to the tl1eater