The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-02-21

Galbruith struck his hands together
for silence, and scrutlnizcd the now
motlonlcss group on the stage.
Were one shy" he said. who's
missingT" Aud then answered his own
question: "Grnnt!' He wheeled
around and his eyes searched the hnll.
Rose became aware, for the first
time, that n mutter Of conversation had
been going on necessarily since she
had ON In, In one Of the recessed
window seats behind her. Now when
Galbraith's gaze plunged In that d.
r%ection, she turned and looked too.
A big blonde chorus girl was In there
with n man, II girl who, with twenty
pounds trained of her, and that sulky
look out OF her fOce, would have been
Il beauty. She had reused herself with
a sort OF defiant deliberatlon at the
sound OF the directors voice, but she
still had her back to him and went on
talking TO the man.
"Grnnt !" snid John Galbraith again
and this time his voice hud II cutting
edge. "Will you take your place on
the stage, or shall / suspend rehearsal
until you're readyf"
For answer she turned and began
walking slowly across the room. She
started walking slowly, but under Gal
brnith's eye she Q%ulckened her pace.
invOluntarily. 1t seemed, until II was IA
ludlcrous sort Of run. Presently she
emerged upon the stage, looking rath-
or artlilclnlly unconcerncd, and the re-
henrsal went on again.
But just before he give the signal
to the pianist to go ahead, Galbruith
with n nod summoned Il young man
from the wings ind said something to
him, whereupon, clearly carrying QUE
his orders, he vaulted down from the
stage and carne walking toward the
doorway where Rose was still stand
ing.
But he didn't come straight to her
he brought up before Il woman sit
ting In II folding chair a little farther
along the wall, who drew herself de-
fenslvely erect when she saw him turn
toward her, assumed II look Of calculat-
cd diSdain, tapped II ~foot-gnve, On
the whole, al imitation OF n duchess
being kept waiting.
But the limp young man didn't seem
disconnected, and inquired In so many
words what her business was. The
duchess said In n harsh, high voice
that h wanted to see the director (;
a very particular friend OF his had
begged her to do so.
you'll have to wait till he's through
rehcarsing," said the young man. and
then he came over to Rose.
The vestiges Of the smile the duch-
css had provoked were still visible
about her mouth when he came up.
May ] whit and see Mr.. Galbraith
after The rehearsal?" she asked. IF
l won't be in the wayi"
sure said the young man. "HIe
won't b" long now. He's been rchcars-
ing since two" Then, rather explo-
siycly, "Iluvc II chair
He struck Rose ms being n little
ilustercG and uncertain somehow.
1t VAS II long hour that Rose sat
there In Il little folding chair-an hour
that, IN spite Of all her will could do,
took some of the crispncss out of her
courage.
When nj last, a little after six
o'clock, Galbralth said: Quarter to
eight, everybody" and dismissed them
with n nod for II scurry to what were
evidently dressing oomS mt the other
side of the hall, the ship of Roses
hopes had utterly gone To pieces. She
had II plank to keep herself ailoat on.
II was The determination to stay there
until he should tell her I'm So many
words that he hadn't any use for her.
The deprecatory young man was
talking to him now, about her and the
duchess evidently, for he pccrcd out
into the hall, then vaultcd down from
the stage and cuine toward them.
The duchess got up, and, with n
good deal Of manner, went over TO
meet him. Rose didn't hear what the
duchess said. But when John Gail
hrnlth answered her, his voice easily
filled the room; You tell Mr.. Pike,
II that's his name, we haven't any
vacancies in the chorus Mt present. II
"" find we need you, we can let you
know"
He said It not unkindly, hut he ex-
erclsed some power of making II evil
dent that as he finished speaking,
the duchess, for him, simply ceased to
exist. Then, with d~lsconccrtlng sud-
d%enncSs, he looked straight ut Rose
aud snid what do you want?"
She'd thought him tall, but he
wasn't. He was looking on a perfect
level into her eyes.
IL want n Job In the chorus" said
Rose.
"lou heard what I said 10 that 9TH
or woman, | suppose?"
"ScS," said Rose, "but :"
But you thought you'd let me say
II to you again"
Yes she said. And, queerly
enough, she felt her courage coming
back.