The Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1918-1919, 1919-04-10
BY
RUPERT HUGHES


Daphne's joy turned to lead.
Reben added: "But we don't pay by
performances. I'll pay you twenty
five a week. You wanted money.
There's a little of it for q start. Do
you want itT'
"will it lead to anything better"
1T might"
Am I to understudy Miss KembleT
Eyes. and all the other women
roles"
"And when do you suppose I'll get a
chance to play Miss Kemble's part7
SoonT'
"Never, I hope"
THAT'S encouragingw
If Miss Kemble fell Ill we'd ordi-
narily refund the money. because she's
the star. But sometimes we might
have to give performance at short
notice. Chances in the other parts
might come any day."
| "And you'll give me better chance
when you can?"
Indeed I will. If you have the gift,
the sooner I find it out and the harder
work 1t the more money 1 make.
The more you earn the more I make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand a
week."
I'D like to have you. All right,
I'll try"
He pressed button on his desk
once, then twice. The Office boy ap-
peared, followed by the stenographer.
Reben said to the boy: lis Mr.. Bat
terson here? Send him to me-" To
the stenographer he said: "Fill out
contract for Miss Kip-Miss- What's
the first manner Miss Daphne Kip.
Salary, twenty-five. Make it a three
year contract"
Reben motioned her absently to her
chair and said. rather for Duanes
sake than for hers. she felt: "Sit
down. won't you. till the contracts
come? and pardon me If L"
He finished the phrase by the deed.
The office routine went on and Daphne
might have been the chair she sat in.
for all the attention he paid her. She
felt rather ungallantly ignored. Still,
she had asked to be treated on a
business basis. He was taking her
at her word.
Before the contracts were ready
Mr.. Patterson appeared. He was one
of Reben's stage managers. a worried.
emotional little man, worn to shreds
with his task of stimulating and cor
recting the emotions by which others
earned their wages and fame.
Reben introduced him to Daphne
and explained her new office. Batter
son seemed none too well pleased with
the news that Daphne was ignorant
Of stage work to the last degree. He
had found it hard enough to make the
experienced actors read their lines as
they must be read and keep ON read
ing them so. To teach this dramatic
. infant how to walk and talk was al
unwelcOme labor.
! He took Daphne into his Office and
) pulled out set Of parts. When she
| stumbled over them he cast his eyes
heavenward in his swift impatience.
He explained them with a vinegary
, gentleness. He talked to her of the
canons of Interpretation. He walked
) through her scenes and spoke her lines
! for her again and again and yet again
But somehow he could not teach her
, He tried everything but beating
her. He flattered her, wheedled her
parodied, satirized, rebuked her, and
occasionally he cursed her. She did
. not rebel even against his profanity
, because she had no confidence in her.
, self to support her resistance. She
felt that she was far worse than he
{ said she was when he said she was
r worst. She used all her funds Of res
= olution in keeping from throwing down
the part and running away in tears
, She had none left for asserting hel
right to politeness.
: Once Daphne was out in the street
+ again and released from the ordeal OF
pleasing Patterson, youth and ambi
ton brought hope back again. Broad
way at twilisht was athrob with en-
t thusiasm and she caught zest from the
4 crowds. She was going home to study
: carrying her little set of textbooks like
a schoolgirl. But she felt the wing.
r Of conquest Hedging at her ankles OF
: the wheel Of fortune spinning under
i her toes.
$ Her very first effort had succeeded
e She was woman with a salary. Sh,
would be no longer a parasite on an,
!! man. She had career and q bushes.
t as well as the best Of them.
e Her mother was at home alone
!. Leila had gone from that tea part,
to another to which Mrs. Kip was no
u invited. Daphne's mother greeted he
Il with relief. She told her news with .
u gush of enthusiasm. It left Mrs. Xii
e cold, very cold.
She was pious, church-going WON
s an, Mrs. Kip. She had always locke,
d upon the theater as training schoo
r for the still lower regions. She wen
J. rto plays occasionally, but usually will