The Tomahawk., 1918-12-05

didn't mention that she was curious
to know how things stood between
Mart and Avis, but she was.
| And so it happened that Avis was
one of the enthusiastic audience which
applauded the voting playwright VII"
stood before the curtain after the third
act, hand in hand with Neala Travers.
the lovely star. And that night she
went home with her friends, her heart
in tumult-both proud and fearful.
But the next morning, late, she man.
aged to locate Martin Garland by telc-
phone.
"And so you liked it?" he asked
genially, although it seemed to AVIS
that he seemed not sufficiently sur
prised to hear her voice. 81,
YES" she said, lit was Splendid
and IL wanted you to know, Mart
how-how much your success means
to me-"
"All my friends have been very
kind" he said, land do appreciate it.
ALL Y.
But he didn't suggest seeing her, and
implied that he was very busy and
had just signed contract for the
writing of a new play that was al
ready under way. So with baf1led
feeling of defeat Avis tried gallantly
to enjoy her New York visit.
Once she happened to see him rid
ing in Central Park with the fascinat-
! ing Miss Travers. Once she and her
hostess were coming out Of a shop on
Fifth avenue and they met him face
to face. He was pleasant and friend
ly, but Avis seemed not to be able 10
break down the barrier that had risen
between them, and later that same at,
ternoon she saw him glide by in
fashionable town car with Neala Ira
vers at his side-and that night Avis
Ransome cried.
The next afternoon a pale, dark
eyed girl was ushered into Neala
Travers' apartment.
"Miss-Miss Travers," she began
| nervously, you are $3.50 splendid
in Martin Garland's new play. think
| it is wonderful for you to have worked
| with him and inspired him toward his
success. But please" she said earnest
~, please be good to him. He is so
gentle and fine-his ideals are sd high
and full of dreams. He believes In
women as few men do. The two OF
you have so much in cOmmOn-and
you are $3.50 lOvely-please don't
hurt him. 1t would mar his life-de-
stroy his ideals and dwarf his work
6ease don't"
And Neala Travers, who was a WOm-
an first and a star afterWard, under
stood, and put her arm around AVIS
Ransome and petted her into strange
sense of security. But that night when
Garland came to her dressing room at
the theater, as was his custom OF late,
the heart of Neala Travers ached just
a little.
"You never told me about the girl
back home-the little girl with the
tragic eyes," she accused him Whlm-
sically, yet half seriously:
"She threw me down." he said frank
ly, $50 there was nothing to tell"
But she's wild about you and you're
breaking her heart" she said gently.
you're quite Mistaken he answer
ed. "She's visiting in New York, you
know. I've talked to her once on the
telephone and even met her once on
the street, but there was not a single
sign that she cared"
did YOU ask herW
mo-"
'"Then do. Ask her tonight. You'll
need a wife like her to tie to-with all
the girls on Broadway making eyes
at YOU" She smiled frankly.
And thirty minutes later Avis was
clinging to Martin Garland murmuring
| pathetically, Il was afraid you didn't
love me any more-and do love you
so, Mart"
"How do you know you love me-" he
asked gravely.
"HOw do know when I'm hungry"
she smiled through her tears.
While at that very moment, in the
great third act of Garland's play,
Neala Travers was saying, mo hap
piness can survive that brings unhap-
piness to another"