The Ozark spectator., 1917-04-11
SHADOWOFG GEORGIE BIRD
By JANE OSBORN.

The girl who sat before the roll-top desk in the little room next to the di- rector's office of the Star Motion Pic ture company had signed the name "Georgie Bird' so very much oftener than she had Aim Evans that she sometimes was half convinced that she was Georgie Bird-a sort of shadow or second nature of Georgie Bird-and that Ann Evans had been lost in the scuftse. And it had been scuffie for Ann. She had come to the city with asperations and here she was, at twenty-twO, still pounding the type Writer-working for $15 a week as GeOrgie Birds letter answerer. You couldn't have called her Georgie's sec retary, for she seldom saw the radiant Georgie and almost never talked to her. Georgic, you know, was at the height of her stardom.
 Of course, among those who admired ,he brilliant little actress there were always many who wrote, and to an- ~Wer these letters with heart-to-heart enthusiasm was the best sort of adver- tiSement for Georgie. That is why 1t was worth while to pay Ann $15 a week.
 'I know you girls that work in the movies have a real hard life," wrote one suitor. Its a hard life for any woman to lead, and if there aren't any city fellows willing to step in and help you out and give you a home, why just let me tell you there is one out here in the wilds that will. I've made quite a pile-at mines and cattle and one thing or another. l guess it's close to S100000. And just the sort of girl I'm looking for is nice little home body like you without any Jugs or style or smart manners. I got your address from the man that runs our movie place out here. He said to send the letter to the boss of your concern and he guessed maybetyou'd get it. lust let me know and I'll take the next train East. An old pal of mine that made good out here is in your burg and he'll vouch for me. We'll look him up first thing I get there."
 Ann reread the letter carefully, and spent five minutes staring at the face of the photograph that came with it.
 Perhaps he has got the right idea" she suggested to herself. Perhaps Georgie would be much better off" Ann knew that most of the men who knew the real Georgie would have been quite incapable of opening their hearts to her, just in deference to her superior bank roll and overtowering success. First Ann wrote the letter hat was to be sent, very much like all the other rejection letters; and then-and that was where she was wasting time-she wrote the sort of letter that Georgie might have written just for fun" as she told herself. And in that letter Ann who was beaten down and Stitled, Ann, the country girl. sick to death of the city, discouraged and disappointed, wrote from her own heart. For the first time in working hours in months she forgot Georgie md remembered Ann.
 It was not till week later that Ann discovered what she had really done. The manager strutted in. "How many proposals in the last two weeks, since he last reel has been runningT" he asked. He had come to take the num- Der of these declarations as an index of the heart appeal that Georgie was making. Mechanically Ann put her hand to the pigeonhole marked "Pro- posals" and counted them. Thirty nine" she answered, and her eyes caught sight of something that made her blanch.
 Ann looked at the calendar that hung over her desk. Yes, it was the 20th. The wrong letter-the 20th- the Central station-at 6 :45 when the western express came in. The words of the letter she had written and had sent by mistake came to her. A dozen wild schemes went through her mind. She might-of course it was out of the question but the thought presented it. self-she might ask Georgie Bird to keep the promise she had made for her. For after all the stranger was good to look at, unspoiled by the city. Unobserved by the manager she locked her desk and hurried to the boarding house. With what simple finery she had she arrayed herself. Then she hurried from the boarding house.
 She stood at the gate where those who meet friends from the West watch and peer expectantly every night at 3:45 as the Western express draws near "Shall I or shan't I?" she was debating. "Of course, he will know at a glance and then I'll have to explain. Perhaps he won't come" And then he did come through the gate. and she felt herself almost totter as he stepped quickly toward her and the big, boy ish man was shaking hands with her and telling her that he would have known her anywhere. "Only you are hundred times sweeter than the or iginal." he said with the sincerity and effectiveness of man who does not know the practice of flattery.
 But I am really afraid" Ann be- gan as her conscience pricked her re-