The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-03-21

III JdCh-lu-tHe-DOx alarmed her. 81
II she faced it pluckily. She put on he
hat with trembling hands and wer
4 down In the elevator with Duane.
i They went up in an elevator at on
side of the lobby of the theater an
| stepped out at Reben's Office door. .
| number of somber and desponden
persons of a theatrical complexio
were waiting there also, the wretche
Lazaruses of art.
Duane spoke to a respectful offic
boy, who disappeared through a doc
and returned to beckon him In. Witt
heart bounding high and bubbling a
her throat Daphne entered the theat
rical world by one of its most gilde(
portals.
/ The great Reben sat bulkily behind
an ornate table-desk and dismissed
still more ornate stenographer with
a nod as he rose to greet Duane.
Duane did the honors: ''Mr. Reben
| want to present you to Miss Kip
Miss Daphne Kip"
II Reben greeted her with suavity and
MS 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 a large part of his
wares in trade.
Have you had any experienceT
"None"
Studied elocution?"
Never. l never spoke q piece in
my1ife."
Good! Amateur theatricals7"
"Never. I never seemed to care for
them"
Better yet! What makes you think
you want to act nowT
Money. l want to earn money
get rich"
Il see," said Reben, and fell into
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 and Daphne's |
vanished. Reben paced the |
floor as he talked. His path kept
slowly closing in around her like the
walls in Poe's story.
''You look like Miss KembIe," he
said. you have somewhat the same
You like her style of
play. That may be your line. I can't
tell. OF course I don't know how we'll
you can act. Perhaps you never could.
hemble is great, but she comes of an
I'D theatrical family. OF course you
AVE one great capital-your beauty
or you are very beautiful Miss Kip,
'ery. Let me see your eyes!" Ii
He had right to ask If he were /
'oing to hire her eyes. but she looked
u cravenly, for the burly satrap was
Gaming over her. His left hand was !
n the arm of the chair, his right on S
he back of it. His left hand was grad /
ally enveloping hers. 1t was fat, /
OF hand, and his face was so close {
hat it was blurred in her vision. c
Then she remembered Duane's t
'ords. She controlled herself enough
put them to the test.
She pretended to look coldly into
eben's face, and she said, with a h
rave show of calm Mr. Reben, p
dn't come here to fiirt with you and o
don't intend to. l came here for n
b as an actress If this sort of thing b
a necessary part Of the Job I'll go 81
mewhere else" fl
Reben backed away and stared at 81
r. He was rendered foolish by her W
buff and he stammered, "Why, + Of
meant no harm" IL
She went on with the Duane system D
treatment: 81 know you didn't. You n
cant to be polite, but you don't have
be so polite to me. / don't expect az
and don't like it." pl
"All right, all right I" Reben growled, til
cling the floor again. but in con- WI
unity receding path. He did not tn
eak. He felt that he had made or
d Of himself, and he was embar- ca
ssed.
Daphne was so frightened with her OF
ccess that she got to her feet, say tn
8: Il suppose this means that you he
Mt want me to work for you. It's
le. then, what they say about the Sh
ge.r VIZ
'Nonsensei OF course not! Rot ms
lever see most of my people except as
rehearsals or performances. I've
7er spoken to three-quarters of 'em. LIE
you want a job you can have 1t, and to
concessions are necessary. You In,
IT have to make love to me. You wi
Ike love to the audience, and II you gu
! capture that you can slap my face col
ry time you see me-"
Daphne was astounded. She was an,
aged! She was exultant and up
lied with gratitude to Duane for for
-oducing her to this marvellous OPP to
tunity and for the wisdom of hiss
nsel. mes
,eben said: 1.-THE general under pla
1y of the Kemble company has
wn tired OF waiting for chance out
appear In public. She's quitting me she
! week for small part in a road Xii
lpany. You can have her place II urs
want It, Do your" mn