The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-04-18


to place her at once II she could come
to his Office without delay.
Opportunity bouncing out at her like
a jack-in-the-bOx alarmed her. But
she faced it pluckily, She put on her
hat with trembling hands and went
down in the elevator with Duane.
They went up In an elevator at one
side of the lobby of the theater and
stepped out at Reben's Office door. A
number Of somber and respondent
persons of a theatrical complexion
were waiting there also, the wretched
Lazaruses of art.
Duane spoke to respectful office
boy. who disappeared through door
and returned to beckon him In. With
heart bounding high ard bubbling at
her throat Daphne entered the theat-
rlcal world by one Of its most gilded
portals.
The great Reben sat bulkily behind
an ornate table-desk and dismissed
a still more ornate stenographer with
nod as he rose to greet Duane.
Duane did the honors: "Mr. Reben.
j want to present you to Miss Kip,
Miss Daphne Kip"
Reben greeted her with suavity and
his eyes were even more enthusiastic
than his words. Daphne was at her
) superlative degree and anxiety gave
her a usefulness that was appealing
to Reben. Women's charms and visit
illnesses made up large part of his
wares in trade.
slave you had any experienced"
"None."
STUDIED elocutionw
"Never. ! never spoke q piece in
my life
"Goodl Amateur theatricals?"
"Never. / never seemed to care fol
them"
| Better yeti What makes you think
! you want to act now?"
money. l want to earn money
get rich"
~ see," said Reben, and fell into {
profound meditation, studying Daphne
searchingly.
Duane seized the opportunity 20 rise
and say: swell. I'll leave you two to
gether to talk terms. II would be in
delicate for me to know Just how ricl
Miss Kip is going to be-
He had no sooner gone than Reben'I
manner changes slightly and Daphne'i
courage vanished. lleben paced thu
floor as he talked. His path KEEP
slowly closing IN around her like thu
I walls In Poe's story.
"You look like Miss Kemble," h
said. "You have somewhat the sam,
temperament. You like her style o
play. That may be your line. ! can
tell. OF course l don't know how wei
you can act. Perhaps you never could
Kemble is great, but she comes Of al
old theatrical family. OF course yo'
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 II he wer
going to hire her eyes, but she looke'
up cravenly, for the burly satrap wa
leaning over her. His left hand wa
on the arm Of the chair. his right OF
the back of 1t. His left hand was grad
ually enveloping hers. It was a fat
hot hand, and his face was so clos
that 1t was blurred In her vision.
Then she remembered Duane
words. She controlled herself enougl
10 put them to the test.
She pretended to look coldly Int
Reben's fnce. and she said, with
brave show OF calm: "Mr. Reben,
didn't come here to fiirt with you an
don't intend to. / came here FOR
Job as an actress. II this sort of thin
, Is q necessary part of the Job I'll g
somewhere else"
Reben backed away and stared q
her. He was rendered foolish by he
, rebuff and he stammered. why, /
I meant no harm" &
} She went on with the Duane syster
! OF treatment: II know you didn't. 70
, meant to be polite, but you don't hav
: to be so polite to me. ! don't expec
> II and don't like Il"
E "All right, all right !" Reben growiet
t pacing the floor again. but In a cor
/ stantly receding path. He did nc
E speak. He felt that he had made
D fool Of himself, and he was embaI
5 rassed.
!: Daphne was so frightened with he
: success that she got to her feet, SAY
{ ing: II suppose this means that 20
] don't want me to work for you. 1t
q true, then, what they say about tn
stage
r "Nonsensel OF course not! Rot
e I never see most Of my people excer
Q at rehearsals or performances. "
I never spoken to three-Quarters Of zen
II you want Job you can have II, an
5 no concessions are necessary. 70
S don't have to make love to me. 70
b make hove to the audience, and II 70
can capture that you can slap my fac
{ every time ycu see me-"
Daphne vas astounded. She Wa
o engaged She was exultant an
y thrilled with gratitude to Duane fl
f,f-asansfnv her 70 fhis rnarvnl.1,1s a,