The Tomahawk., 1919-10-02
Opportunity
r.
By v1NcENre. PERRY
,ht. 1919. by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicato.)

Harry was just like thousands OF
.other young men scattered about the
world-he was full of ambition and
longings, with a whole lot of ability
that every one save himself failed to
recognize, and even he had no idea
of it's extent. The ambition to be an
actor had grown on Harry from the
day he had seen his first play. Start
ing out with schoolboy recitations and
ending up with college dramatics he
had cultivated the taste for stage life.
But there he was in Bloomstead.
clerk in the drug store, his small sal
:ary going every week for the neces-
sites of life. There did not seem to
be q chance in the world for him to
get away from there, yet, somehow
he did not give way to that thought.
II have just got to get on the STAGE.
he told himself more than once day,
''that's where belong"
OF course, like every other helpless
young man with such ambitions. he
wrote to every play producer he ever
heard of, and poured out his story.
Some of them answered him, more OF
them did not. The answers were all
about the same. "Forget IT." was the
underlying thought, though they went
at it in q kindly fashion. enlarging on
the discouragements the theatrical pro-
fession offered to the novice. None OF
them did as he hoped; that is. write
and say "Come right along. We Will
give you q chance to make good and
we will pay you enough to keep you
from starving and to buy your ticket
home again If you don't suit. They
looked on him as just "moon-eyed
rube." They forgot the days when
they were longing for that chance.
when a helping hand would have put
them on their feet. That's what Harry
thought. anyway.
However, Harry was not going to be
denied all the pleasure of footlights
and applause. Amateur dramatics Of
fered little soothing to his longings.
As leading man and director of the
Bloomstead Dramatic society he was
filling in all his spare time. The Sec
.ond rehearsal Of 'The Romance of
Lillian" was scheduled for that night
at the town hall, and Harry was los
ing no time in getting there. He had
big hopes for his play. It gave him an
opportunity for some real acting In
the last act, and there was a vague
hope that some one Of influence In the
dramatic world might hear of his sue
cess in it. >
But at the town hall disappointment
was lurking. Clorene Colbert, the
chosen leading lady, baked at the kiss
ing scene. "Papa says If I am to be
kissed in this play can't be In II"
,Clorene' told Harry with rural tart
ness.
my mother thinks it would be awful
to have kissing in it," one of the other
girls In the case agreed. Right there
an argument started that ended In
rClorene's leaving in tears. The re-
hearsal was upset for the evening, and
further rehearsals were postponed
until q new heroine could be secured.
Poor Harry! He had never been so
disgusted as he was that night. What
did these rubes know about art, any
way, he asked himself. The idea OF
Clorene baking at the kissing. scene
AS If a stage kiss meant anything
Where could he get another heroine?
All the girls with any ability at all
were, in, the cast already. But no!
There was that new arrival, the young
lady from the city who was visiting
the minister's wife. Would she take
the part? There was only one way
to find out, and Harry started out to
put that one way into operation.
Ruth Hedley listened to Harry's plea
and smiled kindly. The ambition of
the young man before her could not
help making its impression.
LET me read your play" she said
when Harry had finished. The young
leader Of the dramatic society handed
over the manuscript smilingly. As
Ruth sat and read Harry watched her
face. He had not noticed before how
very beautiful she was. When she
smiled she was simply glorious. Why,
Clorene was not In it with her!
Ruth finished the manuscript. Read
that last act to me-" She handed the
play over to Harry for compliance.
Harry started to read, his voice and
expression gathering strength as the
act proceeded It was not a strong
play, but Harry certainly made the
best Of It
'Splendfd Ruth applauded when
he had finished. '.air. Thomas, you are
a born actor" ..-
At last some one had recognized his
ability. Harry blushed radiantly and
blurted out his thanks. Somehow this
charming young lady had left him be-
reft of words. -... .-...
'sWhy not get q stronger play-one
with more life in II and that will give
you chance to act!' Miss Hedley sug-
gested. II have the manuscript Of one
in my trunk that will be the very thing.
I would be pleased to play the leading
part in It"