Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-20

to his office without delay.
Opportunity bouncing out at her Xix
a jack-in-the-box alarmed her. Blu
she faced it pluckily. She put on he
hat with trembling hands and wen
down in the elevator with Duane.
They went up in an elevator at on'
side of the lobby of the theater anC
stepped out at Reben's Office door.
number of somber and despondent
persons of a theatrical complexion
were waiting there also, thWwretchet
Lazaruses of art.
Duane spoke to a respectful office
boy, who disappeared through a door
and returned to beckon him in. With
heart bounding high and bubbling al
her throat Daphne entered the theat-
rical world by one of its most gilded
portals.
The great Reben sat bulBily behind
an ornate table-desk and dismissed
n still more ornate stenOgrapher with
nod as he rose to greet Duane.
Duane did the honors: "Mr. Reben,
want to present you to Miss Kip,
Miss Daphne Kip"
Reben greeted her with sdavity and
his eyes were even more enthusiastic
than his words. Daphne was at her
superlative degree and anxiety gave
her usefulness that was appealing
to Reben. Women's charms and visit
illnesses made up large part of his
wares in trade.
"Have you had any experienceY
"None."
Studied elocution?"
"Never. / never spoke piece in
my life"
Good Amateur theatricals?
"Never. I never seemed to care for
them"
Better yet! What makes you think
you want to act now?"
Money. l want to earn money
get rich"
II see," said Reben, and fell into a
profound meditation, studying Daphne
searchingly.
Duane seized the opportunity to rise
and say: "Well, I'll leave you two to-
gether to talk terms. 1t would be in
delicate for me to know just how rich
Miss Kip is going to be-"
He had no sooner gone than Reben's
manner changed slightly as'' Daphne's
courage vanisheAls RebeF. Sd atheA|
floor as he talked. His path kept |
slowly closing in around her like the
walls in POe'S story
'You look like Miss Kemble," he |
said. "You have somewhat the same |
temperament. You like her style of |
play. That may be your line. / can't
tell. OF course / don't know how we'll
you can act. Perhaps you never could.
Kemble Is great, but she comes of an
old theatrical family. OF course you
have one great capital-your beauty;
for you are very beautiful, Miss Kip,
very. Let me see your eyes"
He had a right to ask If he were
going to hire her eyes, but she looked
Up cravenly, for the burly satrap was
Gaming over her. His left hand was
IN the arm of the chair, his right on
he back of it. His left hand was grad
tally enveloping hers. 1t was q fat,
lot hand, and his face was so close |
hat it was blurred in her vision. {
Then she remembered Duane's
words. She controlled herself enough I
o put them to the test.
She pretended to look coldly into
teben's face, and she said, with a /
rave show of calm: Mr. Reben, l |
idn't come here to flirt with you and 9
don't intend to. came here for +
Db as an actress. If this sort of thing ;
; necessary part of the job I'll go S
Omewhere else" t
Reben backed away and stared at
err. He was rendered foolish by her
bluff and he stammere1, "Why, +
meant no HARM"
She went on with the Duane system
treatment: II know you didn't. You
cant to be polite, but you don't have
} be so polite to me. l don't expect u
and l don't like it." p
"All right, all right !" Reben growled, q
icing the floor again, but in a con W
antly receding path. He did not u
'eak. He felt that he had made q
ol of himself, and he was embar- ca
ssed.
Daphne was so frightened with her OF
ccess that she got to her feet, say u
e: 81 suppose this means that you III
mt want me to work for you. It's
ne, then, what they say about the o
age" "
Nonsense! OF course not Rot III
never see most of my people except Us
rehearsals or performances. I've
yer spoken to three-quarters of 'em. III
you want a job you can have 1t, and to
concessions are necessary. You In
MT have to make love to me. You WI
Ike hve to the audience, and IL you gu
n capture that you can slap my face co
cry time you see me-"
Daphne was astounded. She was an
gagged She was exultant and up
-illed with gratitude to Duane for TO
reducing her to this marvellous OPP to
rtunity and for the wisdom of his n
unset. ne
Reben said: "The general under PHI
DIV IF fha Kap,hIa onp,pouv hos